But giving up ain’t easy. As an ex-smoker I’m well aware of this.
Over the years, companies have gathered huge profits by urging you to quit smoking through hypnosis, pills, patches, and gum.
Now high tech smoking gadgets are in the limelight. Here’s five that sound interesting…
1. The E-Cigarette
Looks like a cigarette. Feels like a cigarette. Acts like a cigarette. But isn’t as bad for your health. That’s the spiel that Golden Dragon Group Ltd, a Chinese company marketing this ‘electronic’ cigarette, claim.
The e-cigarette is battery operated and works by hearing and vaporizing tobacco instead of burning it. As a result, you get the nicotine fix and smoking experience without the harmful toxins.
You have to wonder, though, where these e-cigarettes will help you give up or simply create a surrogate for the real thing.
2. Nico-stopper
Looks like an MP3 player but don’t expect it to play your favorite songs. This nifty little gadget locks in your cigarettes and only releasaes them at preset intervals. And as the cigarette is released, the LCD screen flashes with self-help messages. (source)
3. Smoke Signals
Enlist your computer into helping you give up smoking with the Smoke Signals package that consists of
- a smart interactive case that holds a pack of cigarettes and monitors your habits and signals when to smoke.
- a personalized Quit Plan that is built to not only match your profile but also adjusts your profile as you progress.
- access to an online progress page which acts as your personal coach.
- daily emails and tips
- a DVD that offers a step-by-step guie to the Smoke Signal Process.
4. Quit Key
A handheld computer that creates a personal quit smoking program based on information that you provide.
5. Quit Smoking Plugin
Give up smoking by public exposure with the Quit Smoking Plugin. An interesting tool for those who have their own or are thinking of creating a word press blog. The plugin will display a counter on your blog showing all the relevant numbers – the time quit, how many not smoked, how much money saved, and how many lifetime hours regained.
So smokers, what do you think ?
1. Don’t smoke any number or any kind of cigarette. Smoking even a few cigarettes a day can hurt your health. If you try to smoke fewer cigarettes, but do not stop completely, soon you’ll be smoking the same amount again.
Smoking “low-tar, low-nicotine” cigarettes usually does little good, either. Because nicotine is so addictive, if you switch to lower-nicotine brands you’ll likely just puff harder, longer, and more often on each cigarette. The only safe choice is to quit completely.
2. Write down why you want to quit. Do you want to—
- Feel in control of you life?
- Have better health?
- Set a good example for your children?
- Protect your family from breathing other people’s smoke?
Really wanting to quit smoking is very important to how much success you will have in quitting. Smokers who live after a heart attack are the most likely to quit for good—they’re very motivated. Find a reason for quitting before you have no choice.
3. Know that it will take effort to quit smoking. Nicotine is habit forming. Half of the battle in quitting is knowing you need to quit. This knowledge will help you be more able to deal with the symptoms of withdrawal that can occur, such as bad moods and really wanting to smoke. There are many ways smokers quit, including using nicotine replacement products (gum and patches), but there is no easy way. Nearly all smokers have some feelings of nicotine withdrawal when they try to quit. Give yourself a month to get over these feelings. Take quitting one day at a time, even one minute at a time—whatever you need to succeed.
4. Half of all adult smokers have quit, so you can— too. That’s the good news. There are millions of people alive today who have learned to face life without a cigarette. For staying healthy, quitting smoking is the best step you can take.
5. Get help if you need it. Many groups offer written materials, programs, and advice to help smokers quit for good. Your doctor or dentist is also a good source of help and support.