I was watching my favorite cartoon, “Tom & Jerry”, with my 4-year-old son and was reminded of those moments you have when you think about smoking.  Tom was trying very hard to be a good cat, but he had this little Red Devil on his shoulder reminding him of how much he wanted to eat Jerry Mouse.  And the minute he started to take action on his “evil” thoughts, he was quickly reminded of his goals by a little White Angel on his other shoulder.

Poor Tom the Cat struggled the whole episode with his thoughts.  And eventually (in a fist-fight of course) the little Red Devil ended up overcoming the White Angel on his other shoulder.  Tom went back to being a cat who loves to chase mice.

My point is that everyone who has smoked for some time as a certain makeup within them that makes them want to revert back to being a “bad” cat.  But it’s not a little Red Devil on your shoulder who pops up at inopportune times to tell you that you want to smoke.  The culprit is your brain.

It is amazing how powerful your brain is.  If you don’t constantly tell your mind that you are a Non-Smoker, it will always tell you that you want to smoke.  It takes months, and even years of convincing your mind you never want to go back.

This is the key: There is a big difference between a Smoker who is depriving themselves of nicotine than a Non-Smoker who never wants to go back to having to smoke.  You have to convince yourself that you are a Non-Smoker – That’s the battle you must win.

Who will you listen to?  If you do not remind yourself every day of how much you like being a Non-Smoker, that little Red Devil inside you will inevitably creep up on your shoulder and tell you that you can handle “just one cigarette.”  Realize that there is never just one.  Listen to the soft voice of the White Angel on your other shoulder telling you that you are worth it.  Thank yourself for quitting, and realize that being a Non-Smoker is easy as long as you never take another puff again.

 — Brian Frank

Once again I want to welcome you, and congratulate you for reading and searching for answers.
I suppose that you want to stop smoking and you want to know how. In this post I want to remind you of your power, the power of decision, the power of action and the power of your focus. Also I want to assure you that you know how to quit, you were born as a nonsmoker, right?
The real problem is the decision process. That’s right, it’s a process. It’s not a simple decision. It’s a decision that you want to change your state and your behavior. How will you replace something you’ve enjoyed doing with absolute nothing? The process for becoming a smoker is the same. That’s the main reason why some people eat like crazy, when they quit. They miss the behavior, the everyday routine. Maybe you were never in the situation to understand how powerful a habit can be. The everyday repetition of the same process creates a very powerful link in your brain and your whole being. So, how to stop this behavior? How to decide to quit smoking?As I already said in almost every post that I write, the decision is a process. I quit after 1, 5 years of trying to quit. What happened in that period? Well, first of all I questioned myself, and my habit, with all sorts of questions, and at the end I convinced myself that smoking is a very powerful habit, more emotional than physical, and I don’t need a cigarette anymore to control my state. I will do that without a cigarette.Let me ask you something, is it really so important to inhale something bad, just to control your state? Here are some questions and tips that can help you understand your habit more. The key to deciding is to understand your habit and yourself.

All the information you need to decide to quit smoking.
Carefully selected resources from ex-smokers who can help you stop smoking.

Article source: http://smokerness.com

To most smokers, the thought of quitting is one of the most prevalent  things on their mind.  All smokers know they should quit.  But the  pressures to do something about it soon are getting more and more  difficult to ignore.  It’s not just the fear of health risks anymore.   Pressures to quit smoking are everywhere. 

Most notably, smoking has now been banned in 31 states, including Illinois, where a new bill will take effect on January 1st.   Violators of the ban will be slapped with hefty fines of $100 to $250 per instance.  Smokers will literally be left out in the cold as they will be prohibited from lighting up within 15 feet of entrances or windows of restaurants, workplaces, public buildings, and bars.  Yep – even bars!  Now that’s pressure!   

430,000 Americans die every year from smoking-related diseases. That’s equivalent to about 144 times the amount of people killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.  But what smoking costs our society beyond mortality could be what has led to so much policy-making and legislation recently. 

Smoking costs money.  Lots of it.  Nationwide, medical care costs attributable to smoking (or smoking–related disease) have been estimated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to be more than $50 billion annually.  They also estimate the value of lost earnings and loss of productivity to be at least another $47 billion a year. 

In capitalistic America, there is no pressure more motivating than the  almighty dollar.  Senior executives lose sleep about their bottom line.  They constantly wonder where they can cut expenses and improve productivity.  Now’s the time to grab your lighter if you are a  smoker…The following info will make you want to smoke: 

The Surgeon General estimates the additional cost per smoker to a business is $3,400 per year.  And you thought the ultimatum from your wife or your mom was bad?   Just wait and see what happens once your employer catches wind of what  your smoking habit is costing THEM! The wave of corporate interest in the personal lifestyles of employees  is already building like an offshore tsunami.  And smokers are like  sandcastles. 

An example is Michigan-based Weyco, a medical-benefits  administrator.  After announcing it would no longer employ smokers,  the company fired four employees who refused to submit to a breath  test. It began testing the spouses of its employees, too, levying an  $80-per-month surcharge on those who don’t test clean. 

So what’s a nicotine-addict supposed to do?  Regardless of the direction the pressure is coming from – social, political, medical, or monetary – the time is now for smokers to finally quit for the last time.  Confucius says, “A journey of a thousand miles always begins with a single step.”  That’s the way quitting needs to be looked at.

Quitting is a personal decision that undoubtedly must be undertaken with a high degree of determination and will power.  But the beginning of the journey is simple.  Step one: Decide to quit and Set a Date. 

New Year’s Day, 2008 will mark the ritualistic day of New Year’s resolutions as many smokers like you will vow to quit smoking (probably for the 10th consecutive time).  With the Smoking Ban looming ever-closer, the pressure to stick to your annual resolution to quit smoking will be paramount.

So why don’t you finally admit to yourself that now is finally the time to do it once and for all?  Make today the day you decide to change your life forever.  Decide to quit now.  Not next week, or 6 months from now, or when you get back from your next vacation.  Not after your next major life event like getting married, or having a baby, or (fill in the blank).  

Be a quitter for once in your life….it will do you good. 

You can do it!  Just set a date to take the first step.  

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

 - The Achieve Laser Team

The bottom line is that it is about to get really inconvenient to be a smoker. Time is ticking away and there is now less than 4 months until the law goes into effect. If you have tried other smoking cessation methods before (chewing gum, the patch, cold turkey, hypnosis, etc.) and have not been successful quitting long-term, we encourage you to call us for a consultation to see how our 3-step process can work for you.

Call today to schedule an appointment … (847) 517-6363 or 1-877-QUIT-USA.

It is unfortunate that a teenager feels the need to start smoking at such an early age.  Whether it’s peer pressure from friends or they think it will make them look cool and be more mature, it all starts with trying just one cigarette.  More than 3,000 teens under the age of 18 begin smoking cigarettes each day.

Our Schaumburg office is open Monday - Saturday.  We are “by-appointment-only” and we offer flexibile hours that can accommodate your busy personal or work schedule.  Call today to schedule an appointment … 847-517-6363.