Two Months Smoke Free ~

I haven't had a cigarette for two months now -- but that doesn't mean I'm out of the danger zone!

This seems to be the time most people -- including myself many times in the past -- experience a relapse. Our biggest challenge isn’t always the quitting, it’s the staying quit. One ingredient to a successful quit plan is to be prepared to handle difficult situations that increase cravings and ‘triggers’ when they occur or are at their most intense. See Combating Those Nasty Triggers ~

From the Center for Disease Control and Prevention:

* The greatest risk for relapse is with in the first three months of quitting.
Plan ways you can cope when you are around other smokers or in difficult situations where you're tempted to take a puff.

* If you used to smoke to handle stress or calm your nerves, (and you know we all do or did), it's important to find other ways to do that. Integrate stress reduction into your daily life. I took up not only deep breathing but also I try to walk some daily.

* If you do slip and have a smoke, don't beat yourself up, and don't give up.
This has always been my downfall in the past -- thinking I could ‘handle’ just one and then not stopping there rather thinking I would stop again after this pack or the next!

* Recognize these ‘triggers’ and try to avoid them if possible. But lets face it, its not always practical -- one of my triggers was spending the morning writing out my monthly bills. I had to change the way I did that and not give in during this time.

* Limit or monitor your use of coffee and alcohol; these trigger the urge to smoke for many people. (I had to do that during the monthly bill paying I wrote about above.)

* Eating healthy food and exercising is important. I already spoke about my daily walking but I also have take up eating a lot of Popsicles -- maybe not the most healthy but they are only 35 calories each. (Did I ever mention I am handsomely slender and that’s not really an issue for me anyway.) However, research shows that large weight changes are unusual and there’s medication that can help limit weight gain.

* Don't forget to remember all the benefits of quitting smoking. (This is important. It’s really helped me this time.) One good thing to keep pictured in your mind is this PSA I posted last month. ~I Heart New York ~ (This video creeps me out, I’m so glad I didn’t see it until after I quit smoking!)

* Finally, read the exercise article I posted Monday of this week (8~31~2009) & Kevin's comments below... I keep saying I've taken up walking to combat my cravings, triggers and desires; I believe it's helped a great deal. I would encourage anyone to do the same.