One in two long-term smokers will die from a smoking related illness. The dangers of smoking have been studied and analyzed for years. The detrimental effect of smoking on people’s health and their activities is now public knowledge. The vast majority of smokers say they want to stop. Why don’t they?

It’s hard to stop smoking even when you know intellectually that you should. That’s because the habit of smoking is not maintained by an intellectual decision. Smoking is a habit and an addiction to nicotine. Smoking is self-perpetuating-your body craves the powerful stimulant to which it has become accustomed.

Hypnosis works at eliminating the desire to smoke, whether it is from identification or replacement, the two principle reasons for smoking.

Identification is when the smoker indulges in the habit because he admires (or associates) with others who smoke, i.e. parents, peers, or celebrities. Identification smoking is the most common and the easiest to eliminate.

Replacement is when smoking takes the place of a previous habit (such as overeating), is used to replace something that is missing, (such as companionship, love, acceptance, self-esteem, security, independence), or when it fills a void created by anxiety or boredom. Replacement smokers often receive sensual gratification from smoking. They enjoy the feeling of the cigarette in their mouth or the taste of the tobacco. For cigar and pipe smokers, the act of lighting often becomes a ritual.

For both types of smokers, smoking is both a physical and mental process. So to be effective, the stop-smoking program must address both aspects.

Hypnotherapy can help you stop smoking in four ways: (1) by helping you discover the subconscious needs that smoking fills for you, (2) by reinforcing alternative means of meeting those needs, (3) by creating a strong image of yourself as a nonsmoker, and (4) by serving as a means of relaxation during the jitters of nicotine withdrawal.

As you prepare to stop smoking, you may want to print this page and post it in a highly visible place in your home or office. Read it frequently, to build and maintain your motivation.

Adapted from material developed by the American Lung Association (ALA)

Here's What Happens When You QUIT

Immediately Air around you no longer dangerous to children and other adults.

20 minutes Blood pressure drops to normal.

Pulse rate drops to normal.

Temperature in hands and feet increases to normal.

8 hours Carbon monoxide level in blood drops to normal.

Oxygen level in blood increases to normal.

24 hours Chance of heart attack decreases.

48 hours Sense of smell and taste improves.

2 to 12 weeks Circulation improves.

Breathing improves.

Walking becomes easier.

1 to 9 months Coughing and sinus congestion decreases.

Shortness of breath decreases.

Overall energy increases.

Lungs increase ability to self-clean and reduce infection.

1 year Risk of premature coronary heart disease is half the risk of a smoker.

5 years Risk of stroke comparable to that of a nonsmoker.

10 years Life expectancy comparable to a nonsmoker.

Lung cancer death rate is about half the rate of a smoker.

Risk of cancer of mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney and pancreas decrease.

15 years Risk of coronary heart disease comparable to that of a nonsmoker.

Before age 50 Risk of dying in the next 15 years decreases by 50 percent compared to continuing smokers.

                      Take This Short Quiz

Do you want to eat healthier, but have no will power ?

Do you want to exercise regularly , but lack motivation ?

Do you crave certain foods and find it difficult to refuse them ?

Do you get close to your ideal weight and then sabotage yourself ?

Is your metabolism Sluggish ? Do you think of yourself as a fat person  ?

                                       Are you

A conditioned eater Meaning you were told as a child to clear your plate or to think about the starving people in the world .

A subconscious or unconscious eater

Meaning do you eat without realizing what or how much you are eating , possibly  while watching TV  .

A emotional eater 

Meaning do you eat when something upsets you also known as comfort eating .

WEIGHT RELEASE AND MANAGEMENT

A recent show on Dateline did a follow-up on the diet challenge. They compared several different diet programs and then interviewed and weighed the people three months later. After the struggle and the attempts at discipline, one thing stands out. It is really hard to lose weight and be happy at the same time. Struggle, starve, exercise like a fool, give up every form of pleasure available and then realize you are now 3 pounds thinner and it will take you only a scant pizza slice to put it back on. You just need more discipline.
The contenders- Weight Watchers, Slim Fast, Atkins, Extreme exercise and calorie counting, a personal coach, and Hypnosis.

You could have saved a lot of time if you just asked a few hypnotists about the effectiveness of weight loss programs. But I guess that would not have been as interesting on TV. Hypnotists see people who are trying and failing at their weight loss plans, feeling horribly discouraged and hopeless. Hypnotherapists know how difficult it is to struggle every day being overweight and feeling out of control. Their clients moan and groan about it daily. By the time someone decides to use hypnosis they are thinking of it only as a last resort.
When you read the Dateline story, you will wonder why it is not the first resort! Us hypnotists wonder that all the time. We know that the first place to start making any change, not just weight loss, is by creating a motivation in your subconscious mind, stopping self sabotage, create internal discipline, etc.

Will power just does not work. How many times have you said TOMORROW I will start, and then about half way through tomorrow you remember - oh, yeah, I was going to start my diet today. Oops!
Well here is the short version of the results of the challenge.

Slim Fast:

Three weeks into his Slim Fast diet, he admits he’s starving.
I am hungry. I am hungry most of the day.... I am still going to bed hungry and waking up hungry. After three months, it begins to pay off. Gio has dropped 10 pounds.

Exercise:

With her marathon training in full swing and consuming 1,300 calories a day, Lynne’s not losing weight. Training hard for the marathon, she has almost lost the least — only 14 of her 35-pound goal

Coach:

The author of “Eight Minutes in the Morning,” weight loss coach Jorge Cruise, will be her personal guide. And right on target at two pounds a week. After three months, Eleanor has lost exactly 24 pounds.

Hypnosis:

Over at the Merlis household, someone’s happy with the hypnotist. Now, the man who couldn’t get motivated can not be held back. Marc’s got himself a fitness trainer, religiously listens to tapes made by the hypnotist, and all he wants is healthy food. After only three months under hypnosis, Droopy Drawers (because his pants are too big now) has lost the most so far, a staggering 40 pounds. (the first week he lost 13 pounds)

Weight Watchers:

The first week Kathy kept herself at the minimum of 20 points, hoping for big results.
But she’s not happy. I lost 4.8 pounds, and I was disappointed because I starved all week.
After three months Kathy has lost 18 pounds.

Atkins:

He has had some diet-related problems, including headaches and severe constipation.
I am just not getting enough vegetables and salad. After three months on Atkins, the former football tough guy has lost more than anyone — 50 pounds. (but I am sure enjoying the bacon and cheese and salami pizza without the crust.)

The most interesting part of the show was that the man who chose hypnosis was obviously the happiest. He said it was easy, he loved to get to the gym to work out (previously hated exercise) and just naturally wanted to eat healthy foods, felt full sooner.