5 Helpful Tips to Quitting Cigarettes & Link Up On the Edge #286
In one of my previous posts, 4 Healthy Lifestyle Changes to Make Now, I shared a few easy ways to help improve your overall health. Living a healthy lifestyle begins with developing healthy habits. If you smoke cigarettes, quitting them would be a great start to making that transition to healthier living. While we know without a doubt that quitting smoking is better for your health, it is not the easiest thing to do once the addiction has taken hold. Different people need different methods to reach the end goal of smoking cessation.
There are a variety of methods that you can employ to quit smoking, but keep in mind that some will work better than others. Very often, the best method generally comes down to personal preference. What has worked for your friends or relatives may not necessarily work for you. With so many available options in smoking cessation programs and products, you can try more than one way to give up smoking on your road to improved health.
Today I am sharing 5 things you can try if you want to quit cigarettes.
1. Nicotine Gum
Nicotine gum has been one of the most common forms of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) since the 1980s. The gum contains nicotine and it looks and feels like regular chewing gum. This alternative to smoking is a great way to still get the nicotine ‘fix’ without having to light up a cigarette in a public area, which can be offensive to non-smokers. Brands like Nicorette chewing gum are often preferred for their bold flavors and convenience of carrying around. One of the greatest things about nicotine gum is that it can be purchased over the counter, so you do not need a prescription or a visit to a health professional to obtain it. Nicotine gums can be purchased at local supermarkets or pharmacies such as Walmart or Walgreens.
2. Nicotine Pouches
A newer alternative to nicotine gum that recently hit the market is nicotine pouches. Prilla defines nicotine pouches as tobacco-free pouches that come in many different types, flavors, and nicotine strengths. Basically, they are little bags of nicotine that are placed in the mouth between the upper lip and gums. Just like nicotine gum, the pouches release nicotine into the mouth, which is then absorbed through the soft membranes and enters the bloodstream, without the harmful side effect from inhaling smoke into the lungs.
Nicotine pouches have gained popularity in recent years due to the wide variety of flavors they come in. Popular consumer favorites are mint, citrus, coffee, and berry. Because this market is on the rise, you can find other unique and robust flavors such as hot chocolate, peanut butter, and coconut.
3. Hard Lozenges
Hard lozenges, also known as nicotine lozenges, are a similarly convenient NRT. They are small candy-like tablets that are placed into the mouth and release nicotine in an effort to ease the cravings. Lozenges are better for the heart and lungs as well since the nicotine intake does not require smoking. Brands like Kirkland Signature Quit and Equate are among the most popular consumer choices because they are offered in two flavors with two different strengths: mint and cherry at 2 mg and 4 mg.
4. Healthy Snacks
Another helpful alternative to quitting smoking is adding healthy snacks into your daily routine. Assorted nuts are a great snack because they packed full of healthy fats, vitamins, and fiber and they are easy to grab and go when you are on the move. Raw vegetables such as sliced carrots or celery sticks are also a wonderful snack to help satiate the craving to smoke a cigarette. By slowly replacing cigarettes with healthy snacks, you are improving on two healthy habits at once.
5. Drink More Water
Some people opt to replace smoking with drinking plenty of refreshing water. Some even prefer special types of water like mineral, glacier, alkaline, or infused. It does not really matter which type of water you prefer, the bottom line is that drinking more water is a healthy replacement for smoking since it satisfies the urge and oral fixation. And extra hydration is always a very good thing for our bodies.
If you are a cigarette smoker, quitting it is an important step toward a healthier lifestyle. While it may be difficult to do, it is possible.
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Shelbee
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shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.
28 Comments
Jill
There are so many options available now to help! I never heard that about drinking more water! Thanks for sharing!
Jill – Doused in Pink
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
I have never been a cigarette smoker but I know lots of people who have complained that when you quit smoking you want to eat and drink more just to fulfill that need to have something in your mouth. Weight gain is a common complaint during the quitting process so I guess using no-calorie water would be the best substitute! It will reduce weight gain and cleanse your body from the inside out, killing two birds with one stone!
xoxo
Shelbee
Kathrine Eldridge
This is such an important post because my first husband died of lung cancer because of smoking. That was pretty rare for his age but it does happen. I hope this helps people ditch this terrible habit. Thanks so much for the link up my friend!
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Kathrine, thank you so much for sharing this comment. My father died from lung cancer as well after 40 years of smoking cigarettes. He tried to quit so many times and it took a lung cancer diagnosis to finally get him to quit. By then, it was too late, of course. I grew up in a family of cigarette smokers and am the only one who never picked up the habit. Thankfully. Because it is a very difficult addiction to conquer.
xoxo
Shelbee
Joanne
What an honor to be a featured reader favorite!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks for always joining my little parties, my friend! It is an honor to feature you!
xoxo
Shelbee
Jennifer
I’ve never smoked!
Jennifer
Curated by Jennifer
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
I was never a cigarette smoker either. But I grew up in a family of smokers and watched so many people close to me go through the smoking cessation process. It really is an awful addiction to conquer. It took a lung cancer diagnosis for my father to quit smoking. By then it was too late.
xoxo
Shelbee
Lauren Renee Sparks
I have my vices, but this has never been one. But I know this thoughtful article will help many!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
It has never been one of mine either, but I grew up in a family of smokers. It took lung cancer to get my father to quit but much too late for any good. I hope this post can help someone else before too late!
xoxo
Shelbee
Donna B Reidland
I smoked for a while when I was young. Quitting was very hard so I know these suggestions can make the difference in whether or not someone succeeds.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Donna, thanks so much for sharing your experience with smoking. I was never a cigarette smoker but my whole family was and so was my husband. I watched them all struggle to give it up…most after we lost my father to lung cancer. So I am happy to share any helpful information that I can on my platform! I hope you have a lovey weekend!
xoxo
Shelbee
Anita Ojeda
I’ve read that smoking is a more powerful addiction than cocaine :/. And for years it was touted as ‘good for you.’ I also read somewhere that deep breathing techniques can help, too (after all, part of smoking involves deep breathing–so learning to breathe deeply without the nicotine makes sense).
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
I would believe that statistic, Anita. My father and I battled fiercely through my whole life about his cigarette smoking. He tried to quit dozens of times and never succeeded. What got him to quit was a lung cancer diagnosis, a little too late. I find deep breathing techniques help with just about anything! Cheryl stated in a comment that a simple mantra about cigarettes not bringing her happiness did the trick for her smoking cessation. I think these are all brilliant techniques and hopefully someone who needs them will stumble upon this article and get one step closer to healthier living! I hope you have the most wonderful weekend, my friend.
xoxo
Shelbee
Nancy
I see so many young people smoke, unbelievable. You would think they know better….
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
I just mentioned something similar in my response to Marsha. We know so much about the damage caused by cigarette smoking that I can’t understand why anyone would start smoking now. I’ve tried a few cigarettes in my life but never picked up the habit. I grew up in a family of smokers and lost my father to lung cancer so it’s really not for me. Unless it’s a marijuana cigarette, of course, then I’ll smoke it all day long!
xoxo
Shelbee
Laura Bambrick
I’m so glad there are many resources for people to help them quit smoking! I’m glad I never started- it is too big of a misstep as a runner! I know it can be so addicting though!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Laura! I was never a cigarette smoker either. It is terrible for swimmers, too! But I grew up in a family of smokers and it took lung cancer to get my dad to quit. By then it was much too late. So if I can help even one person on their journey to healthier living, then something good has come out of it all! As I am quickly approaching the ages my parents were when they passed away, I am getting much more serious about healthier living. I want to live for 100 more years! Have a wonderful weekend, my friend!
xoxo
Shelbee
Di
So sorry to hear about your father. I am not a smoker, but I have seen friends and family members struggle to quit this habit. You have helpful suggestions. Thanks for sharing and have a good weekend!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Di, thanks so much! Smoking cessation is definitely something that is important to me. And I never know who will stumble upon these articles and find them helpful. Hopefully, I can help at least one person on the road to healthier living. My parents were not much older than I am now when they passed away and that has put pressure on me to ensure that I am healthy to be around for my children! I hope you have a wonderful weekend, my friend!
xoxo
Shelbee
Cheryl Shops
Aww, thanks so much for the feature, Shelbee—this made my day! And, I quit smoking with a mantra: Cigarettes are not the source of my happiness. Bizarrely, that’s what worked for me!
Cheryl Shops | http://www.cherylshops.net
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Cheryl, I freaking love that your mantra worked for quitting smoking! That is brilliant and so inspiring! Jeff went through this whole Army smoking cessation program after he tried a few times on his own. I never picked up the habit myself but most of my family members have so I am familiar with the difficulties involved in quitting. Good for you for ditching the ciggies! Now we should smoke a joint o celebrate! Haha.
xoxo
Shelbee
Marsha Banks
First, I’m going to tell you I didn’t even read the article. I’ve never smoke a day in my life. My dad had his first heart attack at 38; his second at 44. He died at 45…I was 16. My mom smoked and had lung cancer (which she beat) and continued to smoke. Three years before she died from COPD and pneumonia, she finally quit smoking. So, smoking is a huge evil in my world. In fact, I told my kids from the time they could understand me if I EVER caught them smoking, I’d rip their tongues out with pliers! They believe me to this day and they’re in their late 30s and 40s! I always taught my students if they only remembered two things the first was to always vote and the second was to never ever smoke.
I guess there wasn’t a second…oops…
Thanks so much for the link up, Shelbee!
https://marshainthemiddle.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Marsha, thank you for sharing your smoking history…mine is very similar. My father died from lung cancer at the age of 54 when I was just 20. He and I battled ferociously over his smoking for my entire life. But my entire family smoked…except me…and all the battles were essentially lost. I never picked up the cigarette habit either (marijuana is a whole different story though! Ha.) But I do feel like the next generation of youth have so much information to keep them from even trying it. I don’t know why anyone today, knowing what we know about cigarettes and nicotine, would even want to “try” a cigarette. But maybe I’m just weird like that!
xoxo
Shelbee
Patrick Weseman
Great tips. Wish that my parental unit didn’t smoke. Thanks for hosting this great party.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks, Patrick! Same here!
xoxo
Shelbee
Laurie
These are some great ways to kick the habit.
Drinking the water is a great way to help to detox too, which helps the nicotine to leave more quickly.
One thing I’ve heard also for the oral habit is to chew on flavored toothpicks. It can help the fingers to have something to do, and sometimes helps to have something in the mouth.
Thanks for sharing this helpful post at the Sunday Sunshine Blog Hop
Laurie
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Laurie, thanks so much for sharing these extra tips! Now that you mentioned the flavored toothpicks, I do remember my father trying that when he would try to quit. It does offer a two for one benefit by satiating the need for something in the mouth and something for the fingers to do. As for water, that is my first line of defense for just about everything. Headache? Drink water. Feeling fluish? Drink water. Bad mood? Relax in water. Anxious? Relax in water and drink hot lemon water. Tired? Drink some lemon water. Hungry? Drink water first. Quitting smoking? Water helps. It really is one of the most wonderful resources this planet has given us!
xoxo
Shelbee