I said it every day of the clinics, it's in almost all my posts, and you see it at the end of each of these short articles. Even so, I still feel I cannot repeat it enough - NEVER TAKE ANOTHER PUFF! It is not that I am afraid that you will like the cigarette and decide how wonderful going back to smoking will be. To the contrary, it will probably make you dizzy, nauseous, and generally sick. You may absolutely hate yourself for having done it. Even this, though, is not the problem.
The real danger is the reinforcement of the nicotine addiction. It is a powerful addiction. One puff can send you back to your old level of cigarette consumption within days. We have had clinic participants who have previously quit smoking for periods exceeding 20 years. One day they decide to try just one. Even after this great period of time, the first cigarette is enough to start the whole addiction withdrawal process. They are again hooked on a drug and within days their full chemical dependency returns. All of the physical dangers, psychological problems, and tremendous expenses return to their previous levels. If you do not believe this can happen to you, come into the first or second night of my next stop smoking clinic. Listen to all of the new enrollees who are there to quit smoking. These are people who were once off cigarettes for a substantial period of time before, people who liked not smoking, people who loved not smoking, people who now need help to once again reclaim their nonsmoking status because of one tragic mistake. They were not immune to the first drag. The odds are, neither are you. Consider this the next time you have a passing thought for a cigarette.
Now you have a choice. You can remain an ex-smoker or you can become an addicted smoker once again. Consider both options carefully. Which way of life better suits you - a slave to a deadly weed or a truly free person? The final decision is yours. If you choose the latter, simply practice the following advice - NEVER TAKE ANOTHER PUFF!
Joel
whyquit.com
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
"Never Take Another Puff!"
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Quit smoking guru Allen Carr: 'I have nine months to live'
By MOIRA PETTY, Daily Mail - Last updated at 11:07am on 14th August 2006
Allen Carr is philosophical. ‘I estimate I’ve cured 25 million smokers over the years,’ he says. ‘And if my illness is the price for that, it’s worth paying.’
Last month, Allen learned that he has squamous cell carcinoma, a form of lung cancer linked to nicotine intake.
The cancer has spread to his lymph nodes and ribs, and although Allen had hoped to keep the prognosis secret, he now admits it is ‘inoperable’.Publish Post
‘I have been given around nine months to live,’ he says. He plans to spend his last days promoting himself as an example of the foolhardiness of smoking — and the benefits of giving up the habit even relatively late in life.
‘It was a shock to start with, but the surprising thing was that I didn’t feel too upset,’ he says.
‘Smoking was virtually killing me 20-odd years ago. If I hadn’t given it up, I’m certain I would have died long ago. I see those extra years as the most marvellous bonus.’
He’s been told the tumour is the size of a bowling ball, but says he is not in any pain. ‘Suffering pain is my only fear, and if the illness gets to the stage where the pain cannot be controlled, I’ll nip over to Holland for euthanasia.’
For many years Allen, who will be 72 next month, has enjoyed reasonable health, apart from the occasional chest infection, the legacy of the 30-year habit that began when he was 18.
In February this year, while staying at his home in Spain (he also has a house in Surrey), he had a bad fall.
‘I don’t know how it happened, but I had been feeling a bit low. I landed flat on my back and found myself bleeding from the head. I was checked over at hospital, but then I began suffering excruciating headaches.’
Allen, who has been married to Joyce, his second wife, for 25 years, waited until he was back in the UK before seeking more treatment.
His GP referred him to Epsom General Hospital, where tests picked up a large shadow on his lungs. ‘I was aching all over the place, but the one thing that didn’t hurt was my lungs. Doctors found I had a very high calcium level in my body.’
Allen was suffering from hyper-calcaemia, or excess calcium, which was another clue that he had lung cancer. If the cancer has spread to the bones, the secondary tumours begin eroding bone mass, releasing calcium into the body.
In 30 per cent of patients with squamous cell carcinoma, the cancer produces a hormone, parathormone, which affects the body’s calcium levels.
After treating the hyper-calcaemia, the medical team turned to the tumour. It was, indeed, malignant.
‘In this case, there was no point operating. We had missed the boat,’ says Allen’s consultant, Dr Peter Mitchell-Heggs.
Instead, it was decided Allen would benefit from chemo-therapy. ‘If we can bring down the tumour’s size, it will produce fewer undesirable side effects,’ says Dr Mitchell-Heggs.
Allen’s father died of lung cancer in the Seventies, at the age of 56, when Allen was in his 30s. ‘When I was told I had lung cancer I felt so stupid, having watched my father die of the same disease. I thought back to the way he had suffered.’
Allen was at his father’s bedside as his six-month battle against lung cancer neared its end. ‘He was so brave and didn’t complain at all. He tried to say something to me. I put my ear close to him. He could hardly speak, but the message came through loud and clear: he wanted me to promise I would stop smoking.
‘I was so ashamed because I made that promise, and the minute I left the hospital I broke it by lighting up.’
Years later, his older sister, Marion, died of breast cancer at 56 — the same age as their father when he died.
‘She was ill for three years. I was in denial and couldn’t believe it was happening, so it came as a great shock to me when she died. She was such a robust person, I thought she’d get over it.’
By then, Allen was an evangelistic non-smoker, and the loss of his only sister — which he believes may have been hastened by her own smoking — spurred him on to spread the anti-nicotine message.
He had given up the habit on July 15, 1983, at 48, following many failed attempts.
‘The miracle is that I have survived as long as I have. I was smoking 100 cigarettes a day. The first thing I did in the morning was light up. A cigarette would be stuck to my lips all day.
‘I couldn’t understand why my friends could control it to ten or 20 a day while I smoked 100. The reason was the body becomes immune to all that nicotine, so you need more and more to get the same effect.
'I was a physical fitness addict when young, but my lungs got into such a state that I suffered regular bouts of bronchitis, asthma and smoker’s cough. I probably also had emphysema.’
On the morning Allen finally gave up smoking, a coughing fit brought on a nosebleed. ‘I was having them nearly every day.
‘That morning, the bleeding stopped and I reached for a cigarette. It started up again, and Joyce came to see why I hadn’t gone to work. I was a pathetic spectacle, blood pouring onto a cigarette that dangled from my lips.’
His wife persuaded him to see a hypnotherapist that day, but he found the session embarrassing. ‘We use hypnotherapy to relax people at our clinics, but they don’t do any of the exhibitionist stuff they used in that session.’
Later that evening, he began perusing a medical book with a chapter on the biochemistry of smoking. ‘At first it was all meaningless medical jargon. Then I reread it, and like one of those patterns you can’t see first time round, my eyes seemed to refocus and suddenly it made sense.
‘What I understood was that when nicotine leaves your body, it creates an empty, insecure feeling, and when you light a cigarette again, you feel confident. From that moment, I knew why I’d been addicted to smoking — and I knew I’d never do it again.’
Allen says what smokers need to understand is the fallacy behind their habit. He says that as nicotine leaves the body, it produces feelings of edginess and insecurity that smokers think can only be assuaged by another cigarette.
But rather than producing the feelgood factor that smokers claim, it is actually promoting the opposite. Once smokers have this confidence trick explained to them and accept it, most find it relatively easy to quit.
Allen says he felt almost instantly better after giving up.
‘Most of my smoking-related illnesses cleared up after six weeks, and within six months I ran two half-marathons in the same week. When I was smoking, I couldn’t even run around the block.’
Soon, he was preaching what he practised, teaching his method to smokers in one-to-one sessions. Initially, this was in tandem with his other work (he originally trained as a chartered accountant then went into business). But in 1984 he decided to concentrate on Easyway.
Last year, his clinics worldwide treated 45,000 smokers. Among the celebrities he has helped are Sir Anthony Hopkins, Sir Richard Branson, Charlotte Church, Martin Clunes and Ruby Wax.
His clinics charge £150-£200 for a four-hour session, and subsequent classes if necessary, with a three-month money-back guarantee if smokers fail to quit.
Allen had his first chemotherapy session last Thursday and was up bright and early the next day working on his new book, which traces the web that allegedly connects the nicotine and pharmaceutical industries as well as successive governments and the NHS.
‘When I have finished my book, I want to enjoy whatever time is left. We can continue my treatment in Spain, so we may spend time there as well. I also might have a few celebrations of my life while I’m still alive.’
He says that during his smoking years, he thought the habit ‘gave me courage’. In his final battle, he is proving he has plenty of courage without the need of a cigarette.
For more information on Allen Carr’s Easyway methods, go to www.allencarr.com. Allen Carr’s Easy Way To Stop Smoking is published by Penguin at £8.99.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
American Cancer Society: Tobacco-Related Cancers Fact Sheet
* Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States for both men and women. (Source: Cancer Facts and Figures 2007)
* Lung cancer is the most preventable form of cancer death in our society. (Source: Cancer Facts and Figures 2007)
* 87% of lung cancer deaths can be attributed to tobacco use. (Source: Cancer Facts and Figures 2007)
* Lung cancer estimates for 2004 (Source: Cancer Facts and Figures 2007):
o New cases: 213,380
Males: 114,760
Females: 98,620
o Deaths: 160,390
Males: 89,510
Females: 70,880
* Besides lung cancer, tobacco use also causes increased risk for cancer of the mouth, nasal cavities, larynx, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, kidney, bladder, uterine cervix, and myeloid leukemia. (Source: Cancer Prevention and Early Detection 2005)
* In the United States, tobacco use is responsible for nearly 1 in 5 deaths or an estimated 440,000 deaths per year during 1995-1999. (Source: MMWR, CDC, Annual smoking-attributable mortality and years of potential life lost and economic costs-United States, 1995-1999. 2002: 51:300-303.)
* In 2006, more than 170,000 cancer deaths will be caused by tobacco use. (Source: Cancer Prevention and Early Detection 2006)
* Tobacco use accounts for at least 30% of all cancer deaths and 87% of lung cancer deaths. (Source: Cancer Facts and Figures 2007)
* Per capita cigarette consumption is currently lower than at any point since the start of World War II. Nonetheless, an estimated 25% of men and 20% of women still smoke cigarettes, with approximately 82% of these individuals smoking daily. (Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Facts and Figures 2005)
* Cigarette smoking among adults aged 18 and older declined 48% between 1965 and 2005—from 42% to 21%; nevertheless, an estimated 45 million Americans are current smokers. (Source: Cancer Facts and Figures 2007)
* In 1997, nearly one-half (48%) of male high school students and more than one-third (36%) of female students reported using some form of tobacco—cigarettes, cigars, or oral tobacco products—in the past month. The percentages declined to 32% for male students and 25% for female students in 2005. (Source: Cancer Facts and Figures 2007)
* Each year, about 3,000 nonsmoking adults die of lung cancer as a result of breathing secondhand smoke and causes an estimated 35,000 deaths from heart disease in people who are not current smokers. (Source: Cancer Facts and Figures 2007)
* Cigars contain many of the same carcinogens that are found in cigarettes. Cigar smoking increased 146% from 1993 to 2004. Cigar smoking causes cancer of the lung, oral cavity, larynx, esophagus, and possibly the pancreas. (Source: Cancer Facts and Figures 2006 and Cancer Facts and Figures 2007)
* Among adults age 18 and older, national data showed 6% of men and 1% of women were current users of chewing tobacco or snuff. Nationwide, 14% of US male high school students and 2% of female high school students were currently using chewing tobacco, snuff or dip in 2005.(Source: Cancer Facts and Figures 2007)
* Oral tobacco products contain 28 cancer-causing agents (carcinogens). It is a known cause of human cancer, as it increases the risk of developing cancer of the oral cavity. (Source: CDC Website, Smokeless Tobacco Fact Sheet, 2005)
* Smokeless tobacco use can lead to nicotine addiction and dependence.
* Smoking caused more than $167 billion in annual health-related economic costs, including adult mortality-related productivity costs, adult medical expenditures, and medical expenditures for newborns (Source: Cancer Facts and Figures 2007)
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
World Health Organisation - why is tobacco a public health priority
Tobacco is the second major cause of death in the world. It is currently responsible for the death of one in ten adults worldwide (about 5 million deaths each year). If current smoking patterns continue, it will cause some 10 million deaths each year by 2020. Half the people that smoke today -that is about 650 million people- will eventually be killed by tobacco.
Tobacco is the fourth most common risk factor for disease worldwide. The economic costs of tobacco use are equally devastating. In addition to the high public health costs of treating tobacco-caused diseases, tobacco kills people at the height of their productivity, depriving families of breadwinners and nations of a healthy workforce. Tobacco users are also less productive while they are alive due to increased sickness. A 1994 report estimated that the use of tobacco resulted in an annual global net loss of US$ 200 thousand million, a third of this loss being in developing countries.
Tobacco and poverty are inextricably linked. Many studies have shown that in the poorest households in some low-income countries as much as 10% of total household expenditure is on tobacco. This means that these families have less money to spend on basic items such as food, education and health care. In addition to its direct health effects, tobacco leads to malnutrition, increased health care costs and premature death. It also contributes to a higher illiteracy rate, since money that could have been used for education is spent on tobacco instead. Tobacco's role in exacerbating poverty has been largely ignored by researchers in both fields.
Experience has shown that there are many cost-effective tobacco control measures that can be used in different settings and that can have a significant impact on tobacco consumption. The most cost-effective strategies are population-wide public policies, like bans on direct and indirect tobacco advertising, tobacco tax and price increases, smoke-free environments in all public and workplaces, and large clear graphic health messages on tobacco packaging. All these measures are discussed on the provisions of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
Monday, July 9, 2007
Anti-smoking guru Allen Carr dies from lung cancer, aged 72
Independent, The (London), Nov 30, 2006 by Matthew Beard
Allen Carr, an anti-smoking campaigner who helped millions quit by showing how he kicked a 100-a-day habit, has died from lung cancer.
The 72-year-old claimed to have helped 25 million people to give up, including leading figures such as the Virgin boss Sir Richard Bran-son, the actor Sir Anthony Hopkins and the footballer Gianluca Vialli. He sold millions of books on giving up smoking and opened 70 clinics in 30 countries. He was diagnosed with inoperable cancer in July and died in his sleep at his home near Malaga, Spain, with his wife and daughters at his bedside, his spokesman said yesterday.
"Our hearts go out to Allen's family and the millions of former smokers who will be saddened by his passing," said John Dicey, Worldwide Director of Mr Carr's Easyway group. "He was an iconic figure and a real inspiration. His refreshingly different approach to stopping smoking earned him the position as the world's leading expert on helping smokers to quit."
Doctors were unable to say whether the disease was linked to his habit or his clients, who were allowed to continue smoking during their treatment. "I estimate I've cured 25 million smokers over the years," Mr Carr said in a recent interview. "And if my illness is the price for that, it's worth paying."
The former accountant claimed a 90 per cent success rate. He told smokers to focus on their addiction to nicotine rather than relying on willpower.
He said smokers were locked in a cycle of replacing the nicotine in their system. The pleasure they felt after each cigarette came from feeding the craving for nicotine. He further asserted that smoking was less addictive than is commonly assumed, that withdrawal symptoms are actually created by doubt in the mind of the former smoker, and that stopping smoking was not as traumatic as commonly assumed if that doubt can be circumvented. His contention was that fear of giving up was what causes people to continue smoking.
"I never wanted to be a smoker," Mr Carr said. "No one actually chose to become a smoker and there's not one smoker on the planet who wants their children to smoke. Basically, we are in it because we fall into a trap that we just don't know how to get out of."
When he read a medical book given to him by his son, he learnt that when nicotine leaves your body it creates an empty, insecure feeling. "When I was without cigarettes I got the panicky feeling, but when I lit up, the panicky feeling left so I was fooled into thinking that each cigarette was giving me some sort of crutch or benefit," he said. "Once I knew that it wasn't a weakness in me, which I'd believed before, I knew I would never smoke again."
Sir Anthony Hopkins described his method for giving up "not only easy but unbelievably enjoyable".
Mr Carr said he would have died 20 years ago if he had kept smoking. He smoked for more than 30 years, starting aged 18.
He also wrote a number of other "How To" books, on subjects such as losing weight and controlling alcohol consumption. He also wrote instructions on how to stop worrying, how to enjoy flying and how to be successful in business.
But he will be best remember for the book that started it all off; Allen Carr's Easy Way to Stop Smoking, sold more than seven million copies and has been widely praised by smokers who have used the self-help book to finally kick the nicotine habit.
He is survived by his wife, Joyce, four children, two stepchildren, 11 grandchildren, and a great-grandchild.
Copyright 2006 Independent Newspapers UK Limited
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.
Get Rich: Quit Smoking
IF YOU'RE LOOKING for reasons to quit smoking, we've got $5,977 of 'em.
That is, $5,977 in savings each year. And we're not just talking about the annual cost of cigarettes to fuel that pack-a-day habit, which at an average cost of $4.36 per pack will set you back $1,591.40 annually. We calculated other ways you'll save — most likely in areas you never thought about. (How much you specifically will save will obviously depend on your situation.)
"The savings on the cost of buying the cigarettes is relatively minor," says Frank A. Sloan, author of "Price of Smoking," and the director of the Center for Health Policy, Law and Management at Duke University. Smokers spend more on health care and earn less from Social Security (sadly, early death leads to fewer Social Security payments). Figuring in the varied long-term costs, he says, each pack actually costs a smoker $40.
Quit, and you'll start seeing some significant financial savings immediately. Here are a few ways you'll save:
Life insurance: $940
Insurers have completely different mortality expectations for smokers versus nonsmokers, which creates staggering gaps in life insurance premiums, says Steven Weisbart, an economist with the Insurance Information Institute. Consider this: A 40-year-old man in decent health would pay just $460 per year for a 20-year, level-term $500,000 policy. If he smokes, that cost would more than triple to $1,400. That policy for a woman of the same age and health would cost $400, or $1,000 if she smokes.
"Most companies want at least one year of nonsmoker activity before you'd qualify for the lower rates," says Weisbart. And expect to be asked for a blood test to prove it. The good news? There's no "former smoker" distinction in life insurance. Even if you smoked two packs a day for 20 years, you'll go right back to that lower rate.
Auto insurance: $42
Like any in-car distraction, smoking causes its share of accidents. "Smokers are notorious for not paying attention while looking for their lighter," says Sandy Praeger, Commissioner of Insurance for Kansas. Be sure to tell your insurer that you don't smoke — they may offer a specific nonsmoker discount, or include it as part of a safe driver discount. Citizens Insurance Company of America, for example, offers a 5% discount on comprehension and collision coverage if no drivers have smoked in the past 15 months. The average American spending $838 on such coverage would save about $42.
Car resale value: $1,910
"Consumers just love that new car smell," jokes Joni Grey, consumer advice editor for Kelley Blue Book — and they're just as particular about the scent in that used car they're considering buying. Vehicles owned by nonsmokers are easier to sell, and retain their value better than those owned by smokers, she says. Under Kelley Blue Book pricing guidelines, just "some" smell of smoke is enough to drop an otherwise perfect car from excellent to good condition, an average decrease in value of 7% to 10%. A 2005 BMW 5-Series 525i in excellent condition might fetch $35,730 in a private party sale, for example, while one in good condition is valued at $33,820.
Homeowners insurance: $33
Just consider the statistics: Smoking causes about 23,000 residential fires each year, not to mention millions of dollars of damage, according to the U.S. Fire Administration, a government agency. So it's not surprising that some insurers reward nonsmokers with discounts, says Jean Salvatore, a spokeswoman for the Insurance Information Institute. Concord Group Insurance, for example, gives a discount of 5% for nonsmoking households. Homeowners pay an average premium of $668, according to the III, which would translate to annual savings of about $27.
Health insurance: $480
"We're seeing a lot of focus on wellness," says Praeger. "The insurance companies know it's in their best interests to get smokers to quit." Consumers who purchase health coverage on their own can expect slightly higher rates if they smoke. You may also save even with an employer-sponsored plan. Government employees in Georgia, for example, are charged an additional $40 per month for health insurance if they smoke.
Health-care costs: $281
Over the course of a lifetime, smokers spend an additional $17,973 on health care, according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, an advocacy group. By quitting, you'll save an average $9,851, depending on how long and how heavily you smoked. If you live for another 35 years after quitting, that's about $281 a year.
Employer incentives: $700
Check your employee benefits manual for wellness incentives, suggests Bob Nelson, author of "1,001 Ways to Reward Employees." Employees who smoke tend to incur more health-care costs and take more sick time than employees who don't, he says, so more companies are rolling out rewards for those quitters. Dallas-based Pioneer Natural Resources Company, for example, offers workers up to $700 a year for healthy behaviors such as not smoking, minimizing sick days and exercising regularly.
Quotable Quotes
After years of denial and deception, the Philip Morris company has admitted that cigarette smoking causes lung cancer and other diseases. This formal acknowledgment comes far too late but still we must all welcome it. It can be the beginning of clearing the air.
Bill Clinton
Sometimes I just sit in front of a mirror and watch myself inhaling
that poison gas. If I was in a concentration camp and someone tried
to make me do that, I'd want to kill them.
anonymous smoker
Cigarette smoking is clearly identified as the chief, preventable
cause of death in our society.
C. Everett Koop, former Surgeon General
If you took 1,000 young adult smokers, one will be murdered, six will die on the roads, but 500 will die from tobacco.
Richard Peto
If you are thinking of giving up smoking, I'd recommend it. The first week was the most difficult. I used apples and oranges. Oranges were better as they took a while to peel so were more hassle than an apple, also very good from a health point of view. You have to change your routine and habits completely, avoid situations where you'd usually smoke. It's nice to have energy, it's nice to have good skin, its nice to not cough up chunks of blackened lung tissue every morning, it's nice to taste food properly, it's nice to be able to run, it's nice not to stink like an ashtray.
Nick Simpson from www.oceanfoods.net
Take your life back from the tobacco companies. They don't own you anymore.
Duane Alan Hahn
Researchers linked smoking to cancer in the 1950s. Doctors believed them in the 1960s, but it was not until journalists believed the doctors in the 1970s that the public took notice.
Richard Peto
A cigarette is the only consumer product which when used as directed kills its consumer.
Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland
When are people going to realize that breathing in smoke from anything that burns is not a good idea?
Duane Alan Hahn
Get me well so I can get on television and tell people to stop smoking.
Nat King Cole
Smoking is the now the principal avoidable cause of premature death in Britain. It hits the worst off people hardest of all. Smoking is one of the principal causes of the health gap which leads to poorer people being ill more often and dying sooner.
Frank Dobson
I'm more proud of quitting smoking than of anything else I've done in my life, including winning an Oscar.
Christine Lahti
10 Strategies to Start Taking Control of Your Life
When you are trying to quit smoking it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or negative about things. Lots of people experience moodiness when they are trying to stop.
Here are ten ways to change your thinking patterns, improve your mood, and ultimately succeed and stop smoking.
1. Take Good Care of Yourself
It’s much easier to be positive when you are eating well, exercising, and getting enough rest. Remind yourself that not smoking will help you live longer and healthier.
2. Remind Yourself of the Things You Are Grateful For
Stresses and challenges don’t seem quite as bad when you are constantly reminding yourself of the things that are right in life. Even when things seem bleak you can remind yourself of all that is good in your life.
Taking just 60 seconds a day to stop and appreciate the good things will make a huge difference.
3. Look for the Proof Instead of Making Assumptions
A fear of not being liked or accepted sometimes leads us to assume that we know what others are thinking, but our fears are usually not reality.
If you have a fear that a friend or family member’s bad mood is due to something you did, or that your co-workers are secretly gossiping about you when you turn your back, speak up and ask them. Don’t waste time worrying that you did something wrong unless you have proof that there is something to worry about.
4. Refrain from Using Absolutes
Have you ever told someone “You’re ALWAYS late!” or complained to a friend “You NEVER call me!”? Thinking and speaking in absolutes like ‘always’ and ‘never’ makes the situation seem worse than it is, and programs your brain into believing that certain people are incapable of delivering.
5. Detach From Negative Thoughts
Your thoughts can’t hold any power over you if you don’t judge them. If you notice yourself having a negative thought, detach from it, witness it, and don’t follow it.
6. Squash the “ANTs”
In his book “Change Your Brain, Change Your Life,” Dr. Daniel Amen talks about “ANTs” - Automatic Negative Thoughts.
These are the bad thoughts that are usually reactionary, like “Those people are laughing, they must be talking about me,” or “The boss wants to see me? It must be bad!” When you notice these thoughts, realize that they are nothing more than ANTs and squash them!
7. Give Your Family and Friends Hugs
You don’t have to be an expert to know the benefits of a good hug. Positive physical contact with friends, loved ones, and even pets, is an instant pick-me-up.
One research study on this subject had a waitress touch some of her customers on the arm as she handed them their checks. She received higher tips from these customers than from the ones she didn’t touch!
8. Increase Your Social Activity
By increasing social activity, you decrease loneliness. Surround yourself with healthy, happy people (who don’t smoke), and their positive energy will affect you in a positive way!
9. Volunteer for an Organization, or Help another Person
Everyone feels good after helping. You can volunteer your time, your money, or your resources. The more positive energy you put out into the world, the more you will receive in return.
10. Use Pattern Interrupts to Combat Rumination
If you find yourself ruminating, a great way to stop it is to interrupt the pattern and force yourself to do something completely different. Rumination is like hyper-focus on something negative.
It’s never productive, because it’s not rational or solution-oriented, it’s just excessive worry. Try changing your physical environment - go for a walk or sit outside. You could also call a friend, pick up a book, or turn on some music.
Conclusion
I hope these will help you get through this difficult time while you are trying to quit smoking. It is worth all the difficulties and pain and moodiness to succeed and quit.
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Famous people who died from smoking related illnesses
Wilhelmina Cooper, 40, modeling pioneer, lung cancer
Judy Holliday, 43, actress, throat cancer
Nat King Cole, 45, singer, lung cancer
Nancy Gore Hunger, 46, Al Gore's sister, lung cancer
Clark Gable, 59, actor, heart attack
Errol Flynn, 50, actor, heart attack
Steve McQueen, 50, actor, lung cancer
Jack Cassidy, 50, actor, died in a fire from smoking in bed
Carl Wilson, 51, Beach Boys, lung cancer
Wayne McLaren, 51, Marlboro Cowboy from posters, lung cancer
Roger Maris, 51, New York Yankees, lung cancer
Roy Orbison, 52, singer, heart attack
Babe Ruth, 53, baseball player, oral cancer
Jerry Garcia, 53, Grateful Dead, heart attack
Michael Landon, 54, actor, pancreas and liver cancer
Betty Grable, 56, pin-up girl & actress, lung cancer
King George VI, 56, Father of Queen Elizabeth II, lung cancer
Humphrey Bogart, 57, actor, esophagus cancer
Edward R. Murrow, 57, reporter, lung cancer
Gracie Allen, 58, actress (wife of George Burns), heart attack
R.J. Reynolds, 58, tobacco company founder, emphysema
R.J. Reynolds, III, 59, tobacco company heir, emphysema
George Harrison, 58, The Beatles, advanced throat cancer.
Friday, July 6, 2007
ASH Fact Sheet
Beneficial health changes when you stop smoking
http://www.ash.org.uk/html/factsheets/html/fact11.html