| Ordinarily you would think that quitting smoking is the | | | | with the above issues can help tremendously :-Weight |
| same for both sexes. Whether you are a man or | | | | FearsIf you worry that you may put on weight when |
| woman there can be a variety of common reasons | | | | you stop smoking, make a plan to deal with this |
| for starting smoking in the first place and another | | | | possibility before it happens such as :- |
| range of common reasons for quitting smoking across | | | | 1) Increase the exercise you currently undertake such |
| the sexes. Whilst on the surface this may appear true, | | | | asa) If you go to the gym, do a few more repititions or |
| there are important differences to understand which | | | | push yourself a bit harderb) Introduce a form or |
| can definately aid quitting smoking for | | | | exercise that is fun and social such as line dancing, |
| women.According to research women start smoking | | | | salsa dancing or even a social game of barminton, |
| and quit smoking for different reasons to men. For | | | | table tennis etcc) Instead of riding up escalators, get |
| instance weight control is seen as a perceived benefit | | | | into the habit of walking up themd) Instead of taling the |
| of smoking. Although smoking can help with weight | | | | lift, walk up those flights of stairs2) Reduce the amount |
| control it does not help as much as it is perceived to | | | | you eat. Cut out something like an unncessary snack. |
| help. As a clinical hypnotherapist I invariably ask my | | | | May be that biscuit with a cup of coffee3) Substitute |
| female clients who want to stop smoking this question | | | | ehealthier foods for fattening ones. Instead of that bag |
| "What would you rather deal with, a few extra pounds | | | | ofd crisps have an apple or better still a citrus fruit |
| of weight or cancer?". Often the response will be that | | | | such as an orange4) Introduce more water into your |
| they fear the extra weight. Of course this can be | | | | daily lifestyle even if it is just a couple of glasses of |
| because the weight gain can seem more immediate | | | | water a day. A glass of water that is taken 10 minutes |
| and possible, whereas cancer seems more distant and | | | | before a meal will take the edge of your |
| less likely to happen.Another reason why women may | | | | appetite.Empathising With Friends1) Find a more |
| smoke is because of their closer emotional bonding to | | | | supportive way of helpibng your friend other that jointly |
| other women. Women are natural empathisers and in | | | | poisoning yourselves. This can be by :-a) Making |
| empathising with a close friend, if that friend is a | | | | yourself available at anytime on the telephone to give |
| smoker, by also smoking themselves they may | | | | your friend supportb) Being a non-judgemental and |
| perceive or feel that they understand their friend's | | | | solution orientated listenerc) Letting them know you are |
| issue. To a lesser degree this response is true during a | | | | there for themd) Suggesting forms of help or available |
| work break when a number of female colleague's will | | | | supportTimingChoose a time in the month when you |
| smoke together and is another way of keeping strong | | | | know you are at your peak physically, emotionally and |
| bonds intact.Stopping smoking, when female friends | | | | mentally and not when you are about to enter your |
| are continuing to smoke, can make the new quitter | | | | cycle. Quitting smoking just after your menstrual cycle |
| feel isolated and distant from formerly close friends | | | | and when you are feeling good and on the up can be |
| and colleagues.Yet a third influence on women quitting | | | | great timing.We are all different whether men or |
| smoking is their cycle. For those women who suffer | | | | women and ultimately knowing yourself, what makes |
| irritability or worse during their cycle, it would not be a | | | | you tick and when the best time is here for you to |
| good idea to add to this by quitting smoking at the | | | | stop smoking, is the biggest asset to your |
| same time.In order to make your chances of success | | | | success.Steven A. |
| in quitting smoking increase following these tips to deal | | | | |