Quit Smoking With The Help Of Smoothies

Readers may remember that when I first gave up smoking I substituted my first cigarette of the day with a glass of fresh juice (a far healthier alternative to look forward to in the mornings). It really seemed to help the cravings in the first weeks after kicking the habit, as well as providing that all-important boost of vitamin C to help purify the body from years of nicotine dependence.

A year on and I have gone a step further and replaced the fruit juice, and indeed my usual breakfast of toast, with a healthy vitamin rich smoothie. I'm currently experimenting with different recipes but my favourite at this time has got to be Carrot, Apple & Banana with a couple of extra ingredients which I am calling "Foxy Lady". It is dead easy to make a smoothie, just throw everything into a blender and switch it on. Here is the full recipe:-

Foxy Lady - serves 3 - 4

2 Medium Carrots (peeled)
2 Apples (peeled and cored)
2 Bananas
3 teaspoons Ground Flax Seed
1 Handfull of Blueberries
12 Ice Cubes
1 Cup Water (add extra for a thinner texture)

Smoothies really are very simple to make, and in addition to the great detox properties which are ideal for anybody quitting cigarettes, they also give a real energy boost that set you up for the day ahead. Try one today!

Gain Status as a Non-Smoker

Well here I am in 2007 and still a non-smoker - yes, it is over a year since I gave up smoking so congratulations to me! I won't pretend that it has been easy the whole time; and in fact there are still times when a cigarette seems quite appealing even now (especially during times of stress or worry); but my willpower has stayed with me and I have never seriously considered lighting up. I believe that once I made the decision to quit smoking then it was simply a matter of sticking with that decision and not changing my mind.

I suppose it is much the same with alcoholism; i.e. once a drinker, always a drinker - for "drinker" substitute "smoker". The thing to understand is that the drink (or the cigarette) is not going to make the problem or the stress go away - you will still have to deal with it in the end - so why bother trying to mask it with another fix of your preferred drug?

Anyway, enough of my waffling. The point is that it is over a year since I had a cigarette and it is easier than ever not to smoke. Yes, it would be easy to start smoking again but I can't afford to - either financially or otherwise. And to tell the truth; I simply don't want to - I am enjoying my status as a non-smoker far too much!