The real problem is the decision process. That’s right, it is a process. It’s not a simple decision. It is a decision that you want to change your state and your behaviour. You should replace, something you have enjoyed doing with absolute nothing. The process for becoming a smoker is the same. In both cases the point is the same, you want to make a habit of a particular state, that you enjoy being. That’s the main reason why some people eat like crazy, when they quit. They miss the behaviour, the everyday routine. Maybe you were never in the situation to understand how powerful a habit can be. The everyday repetition of the same process creates a very powerful link in your brain and your whole being.
So, how to stop this behaviour? How to decide to quit smoking? Some say “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”… our award winning 12-week Habit Former program has proved that wrong!
The decision to quit is a process. I quit after 5 years of trying to quit. What happened in that period? Well, first of all I questioned myself, and my habit, with all sorts of questions, and at the end I convinced myself that smoking is a very powerful habit, more emotional than physical, and I don’t need a cigarette anymore to control my state. I will do that without a cigarette.
Let me ask you something, is it really so important to inhale something bad, just to control your state? Here are some questions and tips that can help you understand your habit more. The key to deciding is to understand your habit and yourself.
Every time you light a cigarette, ask yourself why did you do that? Was it necessary? How did you feel? For example, if you were anxious, after smoking that cigarette did you gather strength to solve some problem? When you’re relaxing, notice what’s relaxing you, is it smoking, or the thought that you deserve to relax? Question yourself with as much question as you can, and you’ll find the solution.
Will I gain weight when I quit?
Lets take a look at what all of the factors are that cause such weight gain in people who quit smoking and see if maybe this weight gain may be able to be controlled to where it does not have to be a factor when you decide to put the cigarettes down for good.
The fact is you do not have to gain weight when you quit smoking. There are a lot of people who quit smoking who don’t gain any weight at all. On average, people who quit smoking gain only up to a couple of kilos. Studies have shown that people who have smoked for 10 to 20 years or more, or who smoked one or more packs of cigarettes a day have a higher tendency to gain weight than short time smokers and those who smoked less than one pack a day.
Nicotine, which is a chemical found in cigarettes, does to a small degree keep your body weight down. When you quit and the nicotine begins to leave your body, you may see a marginal amount of short term weight gain, but usually it will be no more than a kilo, mostly due to water retention.
The major reason why so many people will gain a significant amount of weight however, has more to do with replacing the smoking habit with excessive eating habits. Many will substitute sucking on hard lollies all day to replace the cigarettes. Others will begin to simply snack on various foods throughout the day as a replacement for the old habit. The cigarette break at work becomes a snack break. The after lunch cigarette becomes the after lunch snack. It is this new habit, which is done almost unconsciously, that is mostly responsible for excessive weight gain when people quit smoking.
When you quit smoking, keeping aware of what you eat, when you eat, and how much you eat along with some physical activity will keep that weight gain to a minimum and may keep you from gaining any weight at all. With a little effort on your part to keep your eating habits in check and incorporate some exercise into your daily routine, weight gain can and will be at least kept down to a minimum when you quit smoking. You will be in better health, feel better, and have a more positive outlook on life when you make the decision to put those cigarettes down for once and for all.
Cashed up!
Finally, the other great reason to give up the smokes is the cash you will save. According to the Cancer Council NSW, the average smoker spends $6,000AUD on cigarettes a year. Take that cash and invest in your greatest asset – you! Buy better food for your body, take classes or buy equipment to move your body. You know that you should, today is the day to take action.