In the United States, 24.8 million men and 21.1 million women are smokers, according to the American Heart Association. Those men and women set themselves up for a lifetime of heart and health problems, including cancer, infections and heart disease. If you've made the decision to quit, you've already fought have the battle. Now you need to learn to reduce your need to smoke. It's no easy task when nicotine is so addictive. By curbing cravings, you can learn new habits and make your history as a smoker a thing of the past.
Step 1
Exercise on a daily basis. A study performed by the School of Sport & Health Sciences at the University of Exeter and published in a 2007 issue of Nicotine & Tobacco Research found that subjects who exercised while quitting felt the need to smoke subside both during and after exercise, as opposed to subjects who didn't exercise. Walking, jogging, heading to the gym or biking can help curb your cravings on a case-by-case basis.
Step 2
Reduce the amount of stress you have in your life. Stress can have you searching for your cigarettes as a way to calm down. Work, family and relationship stress can make your cravings for cigarettes even worse. Learn new stress-reduction techniques like walking, meditation and deep-breathing exercises so you're less likely to turn to nicotine, suggests Health magazine.
Step 3
Swap herbal tea or lemon water for your typical cup of coffee. When you were a smoker, you likely enjoyed a cigarette with your morning cup of joe, and continuing the habit can cause cravings. The action of preparing and enjoying a different beverage may help you forget about your morning smoke and create healthier habits instead.
Step 4
Ask your friends and family to act as a support system for your efforts to quit. When you endure a moment of weakness, have a few phone numbers programmed into your phone that you can call for instant support. As you talk about your craving and your need for a cigarette, your support system can help explain the benefits of quitting and help you weather the sudden need for a cigarette. The American Cancer Society says that support can mean the difference between failure and success.
Step 5
Contact your doctor if you're having trouble curbing your cravings and managing your withdrawal symptoms. She may suggest that you use a stop-smoking aid, like a drug, lozenge or chewing gum, to help curb your nicotine cravings and wean you off cigarettes slowly.
