Find Professional Support for Quitting

By Dr. Daniel Seidman
Original Content | March 14, 2008

Important Non-Replacement Therapy

Don't forget that there are other therapies that are just important to your success as whatever you are doing to replace nicotine— patches, gum or inhalers—or medication.

Phone or e-mail your buddy daily to discuss your overall progress and when you walked that day.
Keep up your daily 30 minutes of walking, but do not increase your physical activities by more than 10 percent a week.

After the six month program is over—that's how long you will need to keep in close contact with your buddy and healthcare professional support team—you still have more to do.

First, help someone else. Second, keep your buddy's contact information close by so you can use it if you get an increase in cravings. And third, keep your nicotine patch, gum or inhaler with you at all times to use when you get the urge to smoke.

Ways to survive your first tobacco-free day

Going smoke-free: tips and ideas for quitting for good