Quiting smoking is one of hardest things one can do.

I think I mastered it!!!!!!!!!! NO DRUGS, NO PATCHES, NO EXTRA MONEY!!!!!!!

I know allot of people who have spent allot of money on technique to quit smoking. I couldn't really afford the expense or it was just as expensive as continuing to smoke. I began thinking about the strategy the patch, the gum and doctors use to help you quit smoking. Now, I have to say I haven't tried any of them. This hub is not to dis-spell these items, it is to give you an inexpensive way too quit that I think follows the same concept.

Now you would think that because of all the problems with smoking that I would've quit smoking along time ago. Oh, I am one of those people who made excuses. I have family members who died of cancer without ever smoking a cigarette. If you smoke you die 7 yrs. earlier, who cares the last 7 yrs. are spent in a nursing home anyway, right. Oh my goodness, I am laughing my butt off as I write this. How funny the excuses we make regarding our health.

I looked at the actual process the over the counter and doctors use to help you quit. They all have a common denominator, wean you off of nicotine. So here is my solution.

Don't start this until all of the excuses are gone. Mind over matter. No well I am stressed excuses, no it's friday night excuses. NONE!!! Give yourself no options to mess up and you won't.

Things you will need:

small pocket notebook, pen, about 4 packs of your favorite cigs., maybe a friend to support you or even quit with you, and a pack of sugar free gum(or sugar free candy if you don't like gum)

Write in your notebook first pages the benefits of quitting smoking. You will need to refer to this during your quitting process, so make it clear and passionate. Mine had one reason, my four daughters. I wrote that I didn't want my daughters to watch me die of something horrible I could've prevented. Wow, writing this down made me feel very selfish.

In your notebook write down places you smoke the most. Avoid these places. If you can't avoid them, make a plan right now that will help you avoid smoking. Right now you need to give yourself support. Don't put yourself in a situation before clearly telling yourself you will not smoke. If you have to look into a mirror and actually say out-loud, do it. I found if I look in a mirror and talk to myself I am more honest with myself, crazy huh.

Next, don't smoke areas!!!!!!!In your home or any one's home, in your vehicle or anyone Else's vehicle. This is very important because these are the two places we smoke without even being aware we are lighting up. Most the time we let these cigs. burn out.

Most important!!!!!!!!!Pick a day to start quitting smoking that isn't going to be too busy so you can get off to the right start. If you start this process and give up on it only one day, starting over is inevitable.

The first day: Count out the amount of cigs. from your pack to allow yourself only one cig. every 20 mins. Put them in a pack by themselves. On the first day you can only have a cig. every twenty minutes. Now, if you are not able to smoke every twenty minutes, it doesn't mean you can have two when you are able to smoke. This also doesn't mean you can smoke another one before twenty minutes is up. This is going to be a tough day. Keep your notepad handy to read the reasons you are quitting, over and over. Hang in there you can do it. I have faith in you so you should have even more faith in yourself. Now if you don't feel like having a cig. after 20 min. make yourself wait the whole 40 min. Don't decide to have one at 35 mins. Regarding the food issue so many people have trouble with, chew gum, or candy. Make sure you don't allow yourself to go from on habit to another. Do not start eating more. The pen doubles as a fake cig. Keep it with you and hold it like a cig if you need to.

The second day:First of all pat yourself on the back, you are doing a great thing for a really good reason. Count out enough cigs. to have one every 40 mins. Put them in a pack by themselves and that is all you take this day. Same rules apply. Congratulations, you made it a whole day with with control of yourself. You are in control, today you will be also. Believe in yourself. Now, on this day you might have an easier time of it. Remember, if you don't have a cig. at 40 mins. you will have to wait till the next 40 mins. But, today use a little more thought process regarding it, do you need a cig. or are you just at your 40 mins. This will give you a great since of accomplishment if you really don't need one.

The third day:Yes, yes, yes, you are almost there. At this point you should maybe be on the path of not even thinking about having a cig. Today it is every 1 hour. Not very many cigs. to pack today. Keep up the good work.

You carry on this process daily as you need to until you are not even needing a cig. or forget you are a smoker.

Now, I figured this would work so I tried it.

Why did it work? It works because cig. smoking is a addiction to nicotine. As you cut down slowly the amount of cigs. you also cut down the amount of addiction your body thinks it needs. Also, I found out not only was I addicted to the nicotine, I was also addicted to holding a cig. With this method, unlike the patch, or the gum, it allows you to zero out that this part of the addiction.

Print this out if you need to and carry it with you.

Please try this if you are a smoker. Let me know if it also worked for you. I would love to get messages updating me on your daily progress and how proud of yourself you are. Sometimes writing this to someone will also help you stay on track.

Good luck!!!!!!!!

Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars!!!!!!!!!!!!