Don't Quit Smoking! Immediately Part III

The Ultimate stage Staying off

Hey, are you still with me?? Good. You have made it.

The changes you feel :
You will find a lot of changes in you. Improvements mostly. You feel more umm.. lets say Able. You have more stamina, you can walk faster, you cough less, perhaps your palpitations have stopped, you feel better with yourself. Medically, there are a thousand ways in which you have helped yourself and others.

one laughable change that I noticed was change in my body odor  funny, try sniffing your armpits and notice the difference.

now What??

now you have to protect yourself against a relapse. There is nothing much new to this. The keystones are the same as those for Strengthening Your Resolve.

There are likely to be some psychological effects e.g. depression, anxiety, mood disorder, increased appetite, maybe weight gain etc. but if you have prepared your grounds well, you will be able to overcome these.

If you have consulted a counselor/ friend/ medical worker, continue reporting your progress to them. You will find them co-operative, understanding and encouraging. If you are using any medicines / substitutes, do so under medical supervision and your doctor will wean you off them slowly.

What you really need at this tentative stage is the environment. You need to be around people who dont smoke, who don tolerate smoke, who dont even tolerate the smell of smoke. You need to be in no-smoking zones.

also, this is a very good time to begin some aerobic exercises or better still Yoga. sounds funny, huh? But the truth is, the worst times to control are the ones when you are by yourself. When you are with others, you can stay off. There are enough excuses as well as your pride to keep you off. But alone is the testing time.

This is when you need to occupy yourself with Physical exercises. The reason you can reach out to smoke when you are reading or watching TV, but you wont if you are working out.

I never said that quitting is easy. Its hard, very hard. But since you know that by now, you are prepared for it.

Also, now you begin to notice the smell of smoke. You will find yourself getting intolerant of cigarette smoke.

You will notice how, if someone smokes in your apartment or office, the smell can linger on for DAYS. It is also the time to turn into an evangelist and induce others to stop smoking.

Are you ready to quit smoking?

We can take this quit smoking journey together and make real progress to a healthier life.

This concludes Part two of the Don't Quit Smoking series

Discount Mat Yoga

Stress Relief - How Not to Get Worried Sick

"You are what you think. This statement and others like it can be found in the works of Shakespeare, Chekov, and Emerson, in the teachings of Lao-Tzu and Socrates, and even in the Bible. So, is there any current scientific proof or is this statement simply a wishful thought?

There is a great deal of evidence that shows that we really ARE what we think, in a genuine physiological fashion. The medical field of research is called Psychoneuroimmunology or PNI. It is the study of interactions between a persons perception of the world around them, their behavior, the way their brain functions, and their immune system. The field of PNI studies the measurable interaction between psychological and physiological processes. The psychological portion is the Psycho aspect, the central nervous system aspect is the Neuro aspect, and the body's defense against external infection and mutant cell division is the Immunology aspect. There is also an endocrine system portion of PNI involving the release of various hormones in coordination with the other three aspects.

UCLA has the leading research facility in the nation to explore the intricate relationships between how our thoughts directly affect the production of certain hormones that, in turn, causing identifiable reactions within our body. The overall concept is very simple. Positive thoughts lead to positive changes in the body while negative thinking results in negative changes. Basically, negative thinking can be viewed as placing stress on the body and its functions.

studies have shown improvement or complete remission in various diseases from such things as laughter, positive imagery, and other similar therapies. Likewise, research demonstrates that individuals that focus on the negative aspects of their life tend to deteriorate more rapidly. Clearly, the body responds better to a positive mental message. Perhaps Norman Cousins, researcher at UCLA, said it best:

The human body experiences a powerful gravitational pull in the direction of hope. That is why the patient's hopes are the physician's secret weapon. They are the hidden ingredients in any prescription. The human body experiences a powerful gravitational pull in the direction of hope. That is why the patient's hopes are the physician's secret weapon. They are the hidden ingredients in any prescription.

How can you take advantage of this connection between your mind and your body? There are several methods and each one is simple to put into practice. Being persistent is the biggest task. Developing the habit of positive thinking does require some practice but wouldnt you rather spend your time thinking about good things instead of focusing on the downside of life? Here are a few things that might help you get control of the dark side of your thoughts.

Nutrition is a good first step. If youre eating foods with antibiotics, pesticides, herbicides, and hormones in the food or on the food, then you are actually contributing to the imbalances and the negative thinking. You see, the channels are open both ways your mind affects your body and your body affects your mind. Take a look at your diet and see if you can eat more raw foods and less processed or pre-packaged items.

Stress places a drain on certain vitamins and minerals in your body. Deficiencies can lead to or contribute to a number of diseases. Take a high-quality multiple vitamin/mineral supplement to make certain that you are supplying your body the nutrients that it needs to repair the damage caused by stress and negative thoughts.

Exercise is another tool to good thinking. Its been said that every motion begins with a thought another indication of the connection between mind and body. Make an effort to move as much as you can; your attitude will reflect the difference that effort really makes. Exercise at any level has been shown to relieve tension and stress.

Meditation and other relaxation methods are key aids in clearing your mind of negative thoughts and alleviating stress in the body. Deep-breathing techniques, such as those practiced in yoga, are helpful and can be done anywhere at any time. The inward focus of the mind on the act of breathing in a slow, controlled manner quiets the complex web of thoughts that constantly erupt in a persons mind. Calming that bubbling fountain of thoughts allows you to focus on your connection to the higher power that we are all a part of. Keeping in touch with that higher power cleans up the negative thinking as you establish a pattern of positive thoughts and actions.

The information in this article is a small portion of my 8-week online class called The Answers Right under Your Nose. Find out more about this life-changing course at www.JerryRyanPhD.com under the Personal Coaching heading.

Jerry Ryan, Ph.D. is a Natural health Coach who teaches individuals and group classes on the scientifically documented benefits of natural health techniques. He is also an internationally published author and has been a guest speaker at such places as nike World Headquarters. For more information, his website is http://www.JerryRyanPhD.com

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