3 ways to prevent smoking again

I can't tell you the amount of time I spend telling smokers that they need to put some serious effort into preventing smoking again.

It is one of the most important parts to stopping smoking. The easiest way I can clarify this is by using an example. Imagine you are smoking a cigarette right now, or in fact go ahead and light one up. Seriously, light a cigarette right now and keep reading!

Ok so you're smoking a cigarette, and now I'm going to ask you to put it out. So go ahead put your cigarette out. You know you can do this easily.

If you want to you can put your cigarette out after only a few drags, it's not a big problem. But now what are you going to do and how are you going to feel when I say - don't light another cigarette?

This is the hard part! Not lighting a cigarette again is the bit you struggle with!

You can put them put but you can't prevent yourself from smoking again! Let me tell you why, it's because you and every other smoker out there have Reasons For Smoking! And yours will differ from your friends.

Ok so you're thinking - well I smoke again because I'm addicted ... Right? I'm sorry but that is wrong! For the most part anyway. Yes nicotine plays a role but, you struggle to keep that cigarette unlit and out of your mouth for many, many other reasons!

You have smoking routines, these are the daily cigarettes you have on your way to work, with your coffee, after your meal, after sex and at least a dozen other things make you smoke again.

These play a bigger part on your life than addiction.

So what are my 3 ways to prevent smoking again? Firstly there are many, many things you can do, so I'll give you three of my best ones.

But remember - that you cannot prevent smoking again in a matter of hours or a day or so - you need to do several things in preparation for over a week before you actually stop smoking.

1. Find out what things make you smoke - like the things I listed again. If you find that you smoke because you are stressed, find another way to relax - spend a weekend at a spa, treat yourself to a massage.

Make sure stress is not thing that will make you smoke again.

2. Get it out of your head that you need cigarettes. If you rely on cigarettes when you lack confidence, when you feel insecure, when you get a flat tire, burn your dinner, hear some bad news, or need to let off steam, then you really need to look at other ways to do this.

For years now you have consciously and subconsciously told yourself (by smoking when you're upset of lacking confidence, composure etc.) that you really need cigarettes.

To prevent smoking again you should remember that you are the one that deals with the problems - the cigarette does not magically help you cook dinner or make your first meeting with your new partner's parents go well.

You don't need cigarettes - you have told yourself that you do but it is all in your head!

3. Prevent smoking again by preventing withdrawal syptoms and cravings. Yes I'm 100% serious when I say this can be done, and it must be done, or else you will have a miserable time.

You get withdrawal symptoms because your body is going through a heavy cleansing process - getting rid of the 4,700 chemicals in our body found in each cigarette. And how do you normally help to ease this discomfort?

Eating. And actually the best thing you can do to prevent withdrawak symptoms is eat! But the thing is you eat a bag of chips, junk food and processed food that has very small quantities of the vitamins and minerals your body needs at this crucial time.

So to prevent withdrawal symptoms you should eat three square cooked meals a day with plenty of fruit and veg and take multi vitamin supplements to help give your body the foods that you have been denying it when you smoked.

Those are symplified versions of my top 3 ways to prevent smoking again. But if you do just this alone you will be miles ahead of your friends who are using their will power (which is useless by the way) and those that are using patches.