Kick the Butts!

This is a time of year many are thinking about new resolutions for the coming new year.  For some, that means promising themselves they'll exercise more, eat healthier, lose weight, read more, spend more time with family and many other changes they'd like to make to better their lives and change their lifestyles.

One of the most often made new year's resolutions is to quit smoking.  It's also one of the hardest resolutions to keep.

I smoked for 25 years and stopped completely for 9.  Just to prove I could still be just as stupid at 49 as I was at 15, I started again a few years ago.  I quit smoking again in August of this year.  The first time I stopped smoking, I did it with the help of nicotine gum.  Earlier this year I tried to quit by using the medication Chantix.  It didn't work for me.  I decided to try the nicotine gum again, and once again, I was able to completely stop smoking.  I haven't had a cigarette in over four months.  I'm still using the gum.  Soon I'll switch off to using half nicotine gum and half regular chewing gum.  In a few months I hope to be using regular chewing gum all the time.

This is being posted to support those of you who are starting now to mull over the changes you'd like to make in 2009.  Quitting isn't impossible, although sometimes it does seem to be.  Nicotine is a powerful addictive substance and it's extremely hard to overcome both the physical and psychological habit of smoking.  But, you can do it.  We all know someone who's done it.  Use those people as your inspiration.  Explore your options of quitting assistance - there's the gum, patches, lozenges, prescription Chantix, and many swear by accupuncture.

If you're thinking of breaking the habit, start thinking now about what it would mean to your life to live without cigarettes.  Start forming a plan.  Talk to people who've quit and ask them how they did it.  Maybe start thinking of a date you'd like to quit.  It doesn't have to be January 1.  Read online about different techniques and support groups for quitters.

I was totally addicted to smoking, and I enjoyed smoking.  But I didn't enjoy what it was doing to my body, I didn't like causing my family worry, and I was tired of being a social pariah which smokers are now.

Think about it.  Make a plan.  Research the information, and good luck!