Barbara Mascio

Thirty Days Later – 36% Have Abandoned Their New Years Resolution

40 to 45% of American adults make one or more ... each year. Among the top new years ... are weight loss, ... and stopping to ... ... shows how many of these resoluti

40 to 45% of American adults make one or more resolutions each year. Among the top new years resolutions are weight loss, exercise, and stopping to smoke.

The following shows how many of these resolutions are maintained as time goes on:

• Maintained past the first week –75%
• Past 2 weeks -71%
  
• After one month -64%
  
• After 6 months - 46%

While a lot of people who make new years resolutions do break them, research shows that making resolutions is useful. People who explicitly make resolutions are 10 times more likely to attain their goals than people who don't explicitly make resolutions.

For smokers, one slip and the old internal negative language starts up again. Don’t think about that one slip, think about how many times you chose not to smoke!

Smoking Cessation

Tobacco is an addiction, not just to tobacco but to the feel of the cigarette in your mouth, holding the cigarette in your fingers, the visual appeal of the flame and smoke, and even to the camaraderie of smoking buddies.

All these and many other behaviors serve to meet a psychological or emotional need. This helps to explain why it can be so difficult to break a smoking addiction.

Ray Charles admitted to having been addicted to alcohol, heroin, and cigarettes but broke each of these unhealthy habits. Which habit did he consider the hardest to give up? Smoking.

A low-level laser treatment, which removes the physical cravings, along with the support of a licensed addiction counselor is now available in Ohio.

The program even addresses weight gain. You can quit smoking without gaining weight and without the physical withdrawal symptoms! See http://www.seniorsapprove.com/stopsmokingnow Or contact Advanced Laser Solutions in Garfield Hts Ohio at 216-663-7360.

QCO conducted an independent survey of clients that have used the services at Advanced Laser Solutions. Contact Quality Care Options at 877-620-6448 to learn about the success rate of this treatment.

Here are some helpful hints for long-term success with your resolution:

• Visualizing yourself smoke-free makes a self-fulfilling prophecy. A helpful book is ‘The Power of Visualization’, by Lee Pulos.
  
• Realize that some people do not want you to quit because it emphasizes their behavior and puts pressure on them to quit. Avoid them temporarily.
  
• Making positive statements to yourself is helpful. For instance, "I am enjoying being able to breathe better," "I am free of the desire to smoke," and "I am relaxed and calm."
  
• Stress is a trigger to smoking. Learn new ways to deal with stress.
  
• Smokers who embrace a regular exercise program have about twice the success rate of non-exercisers. The higher the level of activity, the higher the success rate.

The Ohio Quit Line (800) 934-4840) will offer you additional resources and assistance. See http://www.standohio.org

Auld Lang Syne: Success predictors, change processes, and self-reported outcomes of New Year's resolvers and nonresolvers, by John C. Norcross, Marci S. Mrykalo, Matthew D. Blagys , University of Scranton. Journal of Clinical Psychology, Volume 58, Issue 4 (2002).
John Norcross is a co-author of Changing For Good. http://www.proactive-coach.com/resolutions/theory/index.htm

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