Kick the Butts - Without Food or Drugs

Stop smoking without using drugs or turning to food by using these simple methods.

Short of locking yourself in a room by yourself for a month or entering into a voluntary coma, how can you quit smoking - without using drugs, eating yourself silly or alienating your friends and family? While it's never easy (but definitely worth it), there are things you can do to make the journey a little easier.

Make up Your Mind
One of the best ways to quit smoking is to make up your mind to do it. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but if you're doing it half-heartedly or doing it for someone else, your chances for success go down. Only you know when the time is right.

Talk it Up...Or Not
For some people, telling others about your plans to quit makes it more real. Then again, some people like to keep in quiet in case they don't succeed. That's a choice that you'll have to make for yourself. The upside to telling people you're trying to quit is that they'll probably be a little more sympathetic if you blow up at them for no good reason (other than you're missing your nicotine). And chances are, they'll do what they can to distract you.

Exercise
When the urge to smoke becomes overwhelming, go for a walk. Or if you can't go for a walk, do some squats or lunges. The craving will pass and your gluteus maximus will thank you. Any kind of exercise will increase the levels of dopamine and other feel-good brain chemicals that are similar to the ones you get from smoking. Who knows – maybe you'll get addicted to exercise instead.

Chew Gum
For some people, smoking is a very oral thing. If you're one of those people, try chewing sugarless gum instead. Not only will it get you through a rough spot, it will also help your concentration - so use it to concentrate on something besides smoking.

Start Drinking
Drinking a big glass of water (what did you think I was going to suggest?) helps dull nicotine cravings. So do yourself a favor - drink up! A few (or a lot) of extra bathroom trips are worth it. Plus, water is good for your skin, controlling food cravings and improving concentration.

Change it Up
Some people associate smoking with doing certain activities. If you like to smoke when you are drinking alcohol, start having your adult beverages someplace where you can't smoke – or even give up alcohol temporarily. If you smoke while you're driving, try wearing gloves (yes, it might look odd on a 90 degree day, but who cares) or even take the bus or carpool with a non-smoker. If you smoke to relax, try reading or meditation.

If you've made up your mind to quit smoking, you can do it, and you can do it without turning to drugs or food. Just implement some or all of the tips above to make your transition to non-smoking more bearable.

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