However there are factors that need to be taken into account when thinking about quitting.

I’ll say it time and time again. The struggle isn’t to put out that last [...]]]> There has been a little debate as of late as to whether quitting cold turkey really works and from experience I can only say … YES.

However there are factors that need to be taken into account when thinking about quitting.

I’ll say it time and time again. The struggle isn’t to put out that last smoke, the struggle is to never light up another one. Its the relapse that more often then not causes problems.

Each and every time I have given up it has been cold turkey or a form of cold turkey. Maybe I read a book and then just stopped, cold turkey, maybe I listened to a CD and quit cold turkey.

There are aids that will compliment your journey to quit but for some it seems unnatural to replace the nicotine with another form of nicotine, regardless of the small amounts that are contained.

However, as ive stated many times, the goal here is to quit and never smoke again so if Nicotine Replacement Therapy works for you and helps take the edge off quitting or helps stave off a relapse, then by all means my friend, keep on keeping on!!

For me personally, im a strong believer that replacing the addiction with another form of nicotine can only cause more problems. Hence the reason I have never used patches or gum to become a non smoker.

So if the gum and patches arent available then what should you use?

Support – support from your friends, family, colleagues, church members, whereever you can find them.

Thats a huge part of how I have been able to stay smoke free.

Infact support yourself!

Take out that video camera, dust it off and film yourself.

Have your own video diary where you are able to follow your own progress, voice your frustrations and triumphs.

We are part of the digital age and if placing a video of yourself on youtube helps you to stay smoke-free, then do it, by all means, do it!

The set of advertisements that Ieremia and I made have been a great reminder of the life I dont want to return to.

Watching myself smoke makes me cringe and reflecting on those advertisements helps to re-enforce my decision to be smokefree, to be free of the nicotine addiction.

Its been over 2 years, almost to the day since I stopped smoking.

I still marvel at my achievement but I dont forget what it was like before I became smokefree.

My health, life and path were all so distorted but now I have clarity, the smoke has cleared and so has my mind.

I strongly feel that quitting helped cleanse alot of things in my life that were being masked by the cigarettes. I used to use them for self-confidence, to socialise, as an excuse to not fit-in, to be anti-social, and so many other things. I now have to deal with those feelings myself and im so much more better at it now then when I was a smoker and id have to attribute that to quitting.

I wanted to write these words of encouragement for those of us that choose to quit cold turkey. Theres nothing wrong with that method. What is wrong is quitting cold turkey without a plan and without support. That in itself may cause a relapse.

So prepare for the worst (that you’ll go back to smoking) and hope for the best (that you’ll quit smoking) in any attempts that you have to quit smoking.

It doesnt always come down to the method but most certainly comes down to how you prepare for and manage a possible relapse.

Write me, Im always open to your opinions, comments and feedback.

Like every other day to follow!

2 years ago this September we kicked the habit in search of a healthy lifestyle, longer life and the chance to enjoy parenting 11 wonderful children.

That day was Father’s Day.

We had a huge family gathering with my whole family including [...]]]> What does day 1 of your smoke free days look like?

Like every other day to follow!

2 years ago this September we kicked the habit in search of a healthy lifestyle, longer life and the chance to enjoy parenting 11 wonderful children.

That day was Father’s Day.

We had a huge family gathering with my whole family including my Dad, Mum, all my siblings, in-laws, nieces and nephews.

It was our first big challenge as the previous night we had smoked our last cigarette, gone to bed and woke up to getting our family ready to celebrate Father’s day.

A little on the mushy side but I woke up that day beside my smoke free love, knowing that this was going to be one of many smoke free days together.

Our family usually has a feast on Father’s Day, but the big test would be the fact that my brother-in-law, sister-in-law and 2 of my nieces are smokers.  I was slightly apprehensive but prepared myself knowing that I wouldn’t be able to avoid the fact that some of my loved ones are smokers.

The day went without a hitch.  It was an amazing first day as a non smoker.  I felt no pressure at all to smoke, in fact I sat outside with my in-laws and nieces while they smoked.

As a result of that great day it was captured on film, and now I can share my thoughts and feelings with you on that day.

I cannot help but impress on you that if you get your thoughts and feelings right on becoming a non smoker then you have half the battle won.

Take every day as it comes and deal with every obstacle as it occurs.

You can’t foresee everything, that would be just too stressful.

Today is the beginning of many more smoke free days where you will daily strengthen your resolve to being smoke free.

Be brave, take small steps to achieving a lifetime commitment.

You have every reason to look forward to the future, purely for the fact that you have taken control of your life and in becoming smoke free you have gained years back in your life.

For each successful attempt of more then 12 months, that I have had at becoming a non smoker there is one thing that has always remained the same when I have decided to quit:

I always quit just before bedtime

Welcome to the first day of your smoke free life!! How has your day been?

For each successful attempt of more then 12 months, that I have had at becoming a non smoker there is one thing that has always remained the same when I have decided to quit:

I always quit just before bedtime

I believe the reason for quitting just before I sleep boils down to a couple of things:

1. I want my last thoughts before I go to sleep to be a reminder that I have made a great decision to be a non smoker
2. The need to deal with the nagging feeling to smoke doesn’t occur because I go to sleep within an hour of my last cigarette
3. Its like a switch that tells me, yesterday is gone, when you open your eyes you truly will be … A NON SMOKER
4. The adrenalin from doing something completely out of my normal routine is a wonderful natural high and I will fall asleep with these warm, fuzzy feelings

As soon as the next morning arrives and I feel myself rousing from sleep, I immediately focus on the fact that I am a non smoker.

I reflect on the warm, fuzzy feelings concerning my decision to have a smoke free life and I awake refreshed and ready for my day.

If you are like me and your first cigarette used to be immediately after waking up, instead of walking towards your favourite place where you would smoke, walk straight into the bathroom, look into the mirror, and say loudly and proudly I AM A NON SMOKER.

Turn on that shower, shake your tail feather and get on with your wonderful smoke free day!

I used to make up my own little tune to … wooohoo, I am a smoke free woman, I love my smoke free life … la dee da dee da … and that would sometimes get me through any little temptation.  In fact I would hum this tune to myself even when I wasn’t tempted to smoke.  It was part and parcel of reinforcing the fact that I made a great decision to be smoke free.

Make plans with your smoke free life.  Celebrate each hour, each day, each week, each month, each year, that you are smoke free.  Keep celebrating until it is part of your normal life and the fact that you are smoke free isn’t even an issue.

Ingrain being smoke free into your everyday smoke free life.

When I first became smoke free, I didn’t avoid smokers.  During my breaks I would continue to go outside with all the smokers and I would quietly pity each and every one of them.

I know it may be difficult for you to be around the cigarette smokers, and if it is, then please, don’t feel like you have to take my path and put yourself amongst all the temptation.

For me I still liked the social chit chat of being around my peers and didn’t have an issue with them smoking.  I concentrated more on the conversation that was at hand then the fact that they were smoking.  If at any time I started to feel tempted I would hum my little tune and if this didn’t work id just quietly walk off.

Each of us has our own strengths and now is the time to find your individual strength when it comes to accepting your smoke free life.

Please take note:

The only change to your life will be that you no longer smoke

Beyond that fact there is not going to be any fanfare or ticker tape.  There will be no magical or mystical revelation.  Life will be normal.  You will remain the same.

Keep these facts in mind and they will become precious tips on your journey.

You’ve come this far.  Stay focused.  Be true to yourself and your commitment.

Welcome to the beginning of your smoke free life!

Well let me explain.

Or more so let me show you …

Click here to view the embedded video.

I remember the filming of that video like it was yesterday.

It was late, after 10pm, we were both completely [...]]]> Smoke your last cigarette with my last smoke – HUH?? I thought that title might bring those thoughts to mind.

Well let me explain.

Or more so let me show you …

I remember the filming of that video like it was yesterday.

It was late, after 10pm, we were both completely fed up with smoking that week. The filming had required us to do take after take and it usually involved smoking.

By the time we shot this video, I was just sick of breathing it in and blowing it out.

The previous night Ieremia and I discussed our commitment to quit smoking again, we went over all the scenarios that might cause us to relapse (smoke after quitting) and came up with creative ways to combat these.

We were both convinced that the key to quitting was all in the mind. Sitting here today, I can tell you that 90% of the withdrawal you go through once you become a non smoker is majorly in the brain.

The video you have just watched was our last smoke and has been for almost 2 years.

I still occasionally get the urge to take a puff, those feelings usually coincide with high stress or emotions but I just remind myself that I AM A NON SMOKER and after a while the urge to smoke goes away.

You don’t need that cigarette but because you feel that you can’t smoke that cigarette it has now become precious.

Get your thinking right.

Its not a matter of you not being able to smoke, get that idea out of your head right now!!

Its all about you deciding to become a non smoker. There ain’t nothing wrong with that.

Before you decided to take your first puff you were a non smoker. So you are just returning to that state.

I’ve listed my top 10 alternatives for you to use if you feel the temptation or manic need to have a cigarette:

1. Keep a water bottle or glass of water close by and take sips whenever you feel the need to smoke.

2. After meals do one of your favourite activities so that you start to change your previous routine of having a cigarette after meals. It is important to enjoy the activity you are doing.

3. Lie down, close your eyes and have a quiet moment. This only requires a few minutes to refocus yourself and reconfirm your decision to be a non smoker.

4. Take a walk around the block. Enjoy your surroundings, take the time to notice things that you had not noticed before. Become conscious of every breathe of fresh air that you take.

5. Pat yourself on the back and welcome every compliment and encouragement you receive for becoming a non smoker from others. Quietly think to yourself, “I’m awesome, I am a non smoker!”

6. Go outside, look at the smokers and pity them. Pity each and every smoker that is outside sucking years of their lives away with each puff. Remember to take in the moment and congratulate yourself again on making a life changing decision.

7. Think of the money you are saving. No doubt these funds will get absorbed into something else but sit down and work out how much money you have been throwing away on this addiction.

8. You are a non smoker and you are in control of your life. Celebrate that fact.

9. Workout, exercise, hit the gym.

10. Find your support person and discuss your feelings. Even better, bookmark this page and come back as often as needed to ensure you are completely supported in your journey to quit smoking.

So there you have it, and yes you’ve done it!!

YOU ARE OFFICIALLY A NON SMOKER!!

Are you going to:

If you ask me I’d take the first option.  And if its the second, then [...]]]> Here we are again, staring down what seems a barrel with your quit smoking plans.

Are you going to:

• take the leap and use those plans? or
• are you going to silently reflect for another few weeks so that you can continue to smoke?

If you ask me I’d take the first option.  And if its the second, then you may not be reading these words!

Like I’ve been saying over the last few posts, the decision to quit needs to be firm and the commitment to this needs to be solid in order for you to succeed.

I tried many times to quit smoking before I came to where I am now.  In fact I could  probably count the number of times on all my fingers and toes!

What I can tell you is this … if you make the firm decision to quit, then keep going with that momentum and never look back …  success is yours!!

The last time I tried to quit smoking I read a book, well actually I did a number of things before I read a book, all of which had an effect but did not curb the habit for longer then a couple of days.

Apart from the book that is!

1.  I listened to a CD

This was painful to say the least.

It worked but the side effects were tragic.

The only reason I wasn’t smoking was because I wanted to vomit whenever I smelt cigarette smoke.  If I tried to puff on the cigarette, I was sphewing!!

I listened nightly to this CD, fell asleep infact while I listened and it basically was the sound of gentle fountains and streams, and lilting musical themes.

Not something i’d be in too much of a rush to try again.

However, what doesnt work for one, may work for some, so dont completely outrule this option.

2.  I read a very interesting book

I say interesting for this reason.  I didnt really have any intention of quitting, just decided I would give the book a go.

I had received the book as part of a course I had signed up for some years before and so while smoking in my garage I found this book in an unopened box.

I got a little bored and so started to read this book.

The first few pages tell you to keep smoking, so I did, and continued to read it over the next couple of days.

At about 10pm one night, I was coming to the end of the book and I had smoked heavily through every page.

Anyway, to cut a long story short at the end of the book, and after many packets of smokes, you’re advised to finally put out your smoke … I did.

What happened next was absolutely astounding, well for me.

I went to bed after that cigarette and 2 days later thought to myself, hmmm, somethings different, and at that moment I realised I had not had a smoke for 2 days.

Freaky?? … DEFINITELY!!

I didnt have any cravings or withdrawal symptons and it was incredibly funny because I at the same time had started a diet and exercise regime.

I didnt think many more weirder things could happen … but they did!!

After a few weeks of the dieting, exercising and being smoke free, I found out I was pregnant with number 9!!

I guess that on both occassions, somewhere in my subconcious, I did want to quit.

Why would I read a book on quit smoking if I had no intention of quitting?

Because I did want to quit.

The best laid plans won’t always go to plan but I know that you’re plan to quit is going to be one of the best decisions that you have ever made in your life!

At this point in time you may be humming and harring but do this one thing for yourself … now … TAKE THE LEAP!!

Don’t continue to keep yourself in limbo …

• Smoke your last smoke

• Get rid of the ashtrays

• Take a deep breathe

AND BECOME THE NON SMOKER THAT YOU WERE BORN TO BE!

A question often asked and here’s your answer:

Whenever YOU are ready!

You’ve already:

In all honesty I suggest you encourage your loved one. There’s nothing wrong with suggesting [...]]]> Ive thought about this question often, How To Help Someone Quit Smoking and ive come to the decision that there are a couple of angles that this question has.

• Maybe you are trying to get your loved one to stop smoking.

In all honesty I suggest you encourage your loved one. There’s nothing wrong with suggesting … OFTEN.

What I must warn you is this, they must firstly make the decision to quit.

If they do not consciously make the decision to quit then it will be extremely difficult for them to keep the committment purely for you and it will seem like an upward hill battle for you to make it happen.

Be part of the solution ... I help Ieremia quit smoking

I know of people that have decided to quit for their significant other, children, family members, best friends or colleagues and it hasnt worked.

Its a great start to want to quit for whoever, I did.

I wanted to ensure that I spent more quality time with my 11 children and Ieremia. I wanted to see the future without being tied to a oxygen tank. My quality of life in the future in addition to my family, those were huge incentives BUT I had to want to quit.

Quitting with a incentive and goal, can go hand in hand but the important decision is wanting to quit.

By all means set goals,  you may want to use the money saved to buy a new outfit, to get some new exercise equipment, to plan a romantic or family holiday, or even to just put away for a rainy day.  But the key is to ensure your someone is ready to make the commitment.

You may initially have success with quitting for someone or something else without wholeheartedly wanting to yourself.

But ultimately its bound for failure, misery, or most likely both, because that person did not want to quit.

Go over the steps and tips here.  This will help you both to refocus and prepare.

• I suggest the best people to support are those family, friends and colleagues that are considering quitting or have decided to quit.

Thats how you can help someone quit smoking, when they are ready.

So if you know someone that has made the decision to quit, here are my 5 best tips on how to help someone quit smoking:

1. Discuss why they have decided to quit and reaffirm their decision

In the early days a relapse is always just around the corner but with a little bit of extra support you can help someone become a non smoker. Gentle or comical reminders are a great form of refocusing on the reason for quitting.

2. Setup a plan of action or some agreed upon distractions should the need arise

For example its been a stressful day and a smoke would seem like a great idea. What can you do to curb this? Go for a walk around the block? Make a cup of coffee or tea? Drink a glass of water?

3. Listen to any difficulties they may have and help to find a solution

A great ear works wonders!! It provides a sounding board for the frustrations and menacing addiction that nicotine causes. Listening also allows you to find positive solutions for a difficult situation.

4. At any place that there may be other smokers make yourself available as a buffer

There’s no need to avoid social gatherings, life should carry on as normally as possible. What can sometimes be difficult is being faced with groups of smokers, or even just one. I suggest that in the first few days to avoid the smokers. Find a smokefree area and breath in lots of that fresh, clean, free air!

5. Bookmark and subscribe to http://quitsmoking.4my11kids.com

If you run out of ideas, need some extra support or just a sounding board of your own, then we’re here for you!!

I needed the support of my friends and family to become a non smoker

So there you have it … some quality tips and information for the support people …. family, friends, colleagues and loved ones. Whoever you are … you’re a smokefree angel in disguise!!

Keep up the great work!!

Today is a great day because you have completed all the steps from my last Start Quit Smoking post.

Ieremia and I decided to start this site, purely to show others how much easier it was for us to quit then we thought possible.

We’ve decided [...]]]> Are you ready to quit smoking? Lets get this party started!!

Today is a great day because you have completed all the steps from my last Start Quit Smoking post.

Ieremia and I decided to start this site, purely to show others how much easier it was for us to quit then we thought possible.

We’ve decided to give you our behind the scenes action.  What we were going through during the filming of our adverts for the Quit Group.

The first video was an introduction to our family, alongwith:

• Some of our reasons for quitting
• A little bit about our previous quit smoking attempts
• To see how good my New York Queens impersonation was ;P (it was a tad on the nasal side)

This was our first day of filming and prior to this we had done some filming at our eldest sons Rugby Finals.

To be honest, I think we must’ve smoked a packet and a half between us that day.

It was our first day of filming and reality was setting in that we were going to have to give it up in a few weeks.  For any smoker that sets off alarm bells, i’m sure you can relate at this very moment.  You continue to put on the brave face but inside the addiction is already starting to gnaw away at you.

My best advice to you is this:

• You’ve made the best decision and that is to quit
• Don’t ever regret or second guess your decision to quit
• You’ve told your family and friends so that they can provide their support
• You’ve set a date to quit
• Now its time to start kicking the habit, but lets take small steps

Re-affirm your decision daily and visualise every morning when you first wake, that on X date you will be a non smoker and that you are so happy that you are on your path to being a non smoker.

Continue to smoke as per normal, infact, smoke more because the more you smoke, the more you will become fed up. Get it out of your system. Go through the process of breathing in the filth and breathing it out. As you take each puff just reflect on what feelings you have while you smoke. What is this doing to your body? To your family? To your children? And then remember, you have decided that you will quit on X date.

You want to give up and thats the beauty of this whole exercise.  You just need to beat the addiction, that gnawing, pestering feeling in the pit of your stomach.

You were born a non smoker and you will soon be returning to that state!!

So bookmark this page and we’ll see you back again.

As always, if you need some extra support, advice or just an ear … leave us a comment or contact us below.

Here are 5 easy steps to start you on your journey:

I had been smoking for over 25 years when I finally [...]]]> So how do you start quit smoking you may ask?

Here are 5 easy steps to start you on your journey:

1. Decide you want to quit
2. Comit yourself to quitting
3. Tell all your friends and family your goal
4. Set a date to quit
5. Focus daily on quitting until the date arrives

I had been smoking for over 25 years when I finally decided that enough was enough.  I was pregnant with my 11th child and once again the guilt was overwhelming.  I had gone through all the standard excuses:

• it’s my body
• i’ve smoked with nearly all my other pregnancies
• i’ve never had any issues with my pregnances due to smoking
• all my children are strong as oxes

But I knew, knew it better than ever that I could possibly be killing myself and taking my baby along for the ride!

Our smokefree saviour *giggles*

The very day that sealed my fate to become a non smoker was an email I received from my now sister-in-law, Natalie.  Infact Nat and my brother Tuna are in one of the Adverts we filmed.

It was one of those standard forwards:

• looking for people, to do whatever tickles the creators fancy

This email was to quit smoking on national TV.   It was a no brainer, straight to the deleted items, but not before I forwarded it to most of my smoking colleagues and family.

When I was a smoker I would have said bad luck would have it, but now I am a non smoker I will rephrase that.  Good luck would have it that my partner Ieremia would open the message up in his inbox and before we knew it we were being screened for auditions!!

So now that we all know where the motivation came from to stop smoking, how about you find yours.  Follow the 5 easy steps and then check back here.

If you for any reason need to contact me for inspiration, support or whatever reason, please leave your comment at the very bottom or send me your message.