Preparing for the battle THE FIRST thing I started to think about when I entered the Quit to Win contest last month was ‘‘What strategy am I going to use to quit smoking this time?’’ Although I've made at least six attempts to stop in the past, the only time I ever gave up cigarettes for a reasonable period was in 1988 when I kicked the habit for six months. I would hesitate to say that was a success, though, because I replaced one addiction for “Quit to Win April 10 to May 31 another: I stopped smoking and became hooked on nicotine gum. Aside from nicotine gum, there are at Jeast a dozen other smok- ing-cessation methods on the market, ranging from hypnosis to acupuncture and laser therapy to hand-held computer beepers. There are lots of strategies, but there is no single method that works for ali of the people all of the tine. Each person must choose what suits him or her best. lam skeptical of most profes- sional stop-smoking methcds because they all hold the same philosophy: ‘Success depends on the individual’s desire to quit smoking.”’ To my way of thinking, it is obvious that success would depend on the individual’s desire to quit smoking. Folicwing that logic, it wouldn’t really matter which method was chosen. 1 think the main reason these raethods work, though, is because, along with the desire to quit smoking, people want to believe in miracle cures. People need to believe in some- thing. Desire and faith are two key elements of success. Our organization By Robyn Brown Contributing Writer However, instead of having faith in a treatment or device, 1 would rather have faith in myself. More than anything else, a posi- tive attitude and the belief that ‘‘! can do it’’ will enable me to rise to this challenge. Therefore, I designed a personal quit-smoking strategy that com- bines optimism and good old-fashioned willpower. I took a number of ideas from the Lung Association’s Freedom from Smoking in 20 Days. (1 received this workbook when I was one of the first 10 people to register in the Quit to Win con- test.) My strategy started with setting April 9 as my official quit day. I circled the date on all my calen- dars. Next, I started taking note of how much I was smoking, then I systematically cut down on my daily number of cigarettes. | went from 20a day a month ago down to between five and 10 a day last week, Also during the past month I saved all my cigarette butts. I emptied the contents of my ashtrays into a glass jar which is now on dispiay in my kitchen. It’s a constant visual reminder of what a dirty habit smoking is. And if Il ever get a real strong urge to smoke, ! can always open the lid and take a good whiff. My quit-smoking plan was fol- lowing merrily to schedule, when something totally unexpected happened last weekend — ! was stricken with a bout of the flu. if [hadn't already been prepar- ing to quit smoking, I know I never would have considered mak- ing the attempt while I was sick. No ailment ever prevented nie from smoking. Yet, because I was already psyched up to quit, I saw my ill- ness 4S a signal from above, and my white flag went up. It turned out to be the perfect escape. While I was stuck in bed recovering from the flu, my body was going through physical withdrawal from cigarettes. And voila!, five days later when I crawled out from ander the covers, I was completely detoxed from nicotine -- and a week earlier than planned! That was just the first step. The real challenge is what comes next — staying off cigarettes for good. Right after quit day: ® Be ready to deal with the fact that you can’t block out cigarettes completely in just a few days. ® Take advantage of non-smoking areas as much as possi- ble. Go where it’s impossible to smoke — try libraries, — museums, theatres or department stores. ® Drink large quantities of water and fruit juice. ® Avoid alcohol, beverages containing caffeine and any others you associate with smoking. ® If you miss holding a cigarette, keep other objects at hand: paper clips, beads, keys or a pen. ®» If you miss having something in your mouth, try a toothpick, stir stick or sugarless chewing gum. ® Make use of the places where you used to keep cigareties and ashtrays with flowers, plants or books. — Reprinted from the B.C. Lung Association’s ‘‘Tips to Help You Quit for Good.”’ is pleased to be making a presentation to the B.C. 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