Avoiding a Smoking Relapse

If you follow the walking plan, the average weight loss in 30 days is 1.4 pounds. If you're concerned with weight gain, try:

• Accepting a few pounds because being thin from smoking is associated with poor health
• Eating more healthy foods, eating more slowly (put your fork down between bites) and learning to enjoy food more while taking your time
• Drinking a glass of water before you start a meal so you can feel fuller and less hungry
• Developing new rituals to end your meal, like taking a walk or brushing your teeth.
  

In general, try to distract yourself when you get a craving, urge or even thoughts about smoking. Remember, these won't harm you and usually ease with time. If they don't, consult a health professional. Also try to continue walking or another exercise, not having cigarettes at home, drinking from a water bottle and staying away or limiting coffee drinking. Develop new rituals like drinking water with lemon or tea instead of coffee.

Take an active part in finding rewarding life activities. Develop new, positive and creative outlets or "healthy escapes." The greater your sense of well-being, the less likely some negative emotion will overwhelm you and trigger you back to old rote and automatic smoking behavior. Remember your emotional life is like a garden. You must work on weeding out problems and cultivating living and growing life projects. Smoking addiction tends to feed on and crop up in unweeded gardens. Live well without tobacco!

Where to find the support you need to stop smoking.