Dear President Elect Obama, You’re Cool without Smoking

Leno and Letterman were joking last night that Barrack Obama has made a commitment not to smoke in the White House. Of course, David Letterman started striking poses that made cigarettes look cool. When will this glamorization of cigarettes end?

 
Well. Not until people really realize what truly makes people look and feel more calm and centered when they smoke.

Tobacco is a stimulant so this phenomenon of relaxing while smoking is known as the nicotine paradox.

As I finally reveal in my book, “Stop Smoking for the Last Time”, why does a known stimulant, nicotine, mixed with caffeine and sugar (also found in tobacco) relax a smoker? Why do they feel more centered?

Well, think about it.

When smokers start smoking at a young age, it is before they have been introduced to any types of relaxation or stress management tools… and what does every relaxation technique on the planet teach?

Deep breathing.

What is the first thing a smoker learns to do?

Inhale.

Smoking is basically a breathing technique. Since it’s literally impossible for the chemicals in cigarettes to relax a smoker, it’s most likely that the breathing technique is doing the trick. When you control your breathing, you control your emotions.

I’ve literally had smokers in my office who’ve never taken a slow controlled deep breath without a cigarette. What a shame. They have also never taken a break without one.

Well, I can’t re-write my book here, but smokers simply need to realize, smoking has brainwashed them into thinking of a cigarette every time they need to breathe or take a break. This is NOT an urge for nicotine; this is simply a conditioning of the unconscious mind.

So, President elect Obama, it’s time to take a mediation or self-hypnosis class! Better yet, read my book then do my online program!

Michael Moore Where Are You?

Healthcare in America certainly deserves a lot of attention (bravo Michael Moore!).

 

But in this crisis, we are forgetting that one contributing factor is the medical monopoly and lack of choices we have.

 

For example, there are many natural and holistic approaches that can save billions of dollars, but they are not even considered in America.

 

Obviously, hypnosis is one of them.

 

For example, authoritative studies show that nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is as low as 7% effective (93% relapse rate) after 6 months [Hughes, Schiffman, 2003]. That Americans spend billions of dollars on this solution is basically just ignored.

 

Now, you may be thinking I’m quoting a controversial rate of failure (93%) of nicotine and science would be up and arms. But that is not the case. Science is basically ok with a 7% success rate. After all, it still boils down to millions of people stopping. But what about the 93% that fail? Who’s thinking of them? What about the billions wasted when virtually 100% of smokers are told to try it even though they may not even be addicted to nicotine? 

 

I would be out of business with a 7% success rate.

 

In my book, “Stop Smoking for the Last Time”, I make the case that smoking is primarily an emotional addiction. It is a literal brainwashing. The best way to break brainwashing is by changing your thoughts, beliefs and emotions about smoking. NRT simply can’t do this.

 

You may again be thinking, science would be upset with what I’m saying, but that is not true either. You see, science thinks smokers won’t seek real psychological solutions but, “at least they use the patch”.

 

Well, I don’t think science is right. Smokers WILL do what works but how would they know what really works if nobody tells them? Smokers are endlessly exposed to NRT propaganda, who tells them that hypnosis may be better? Well, not the medical community. You see, the medical community is legally obligated to prescribe medication as the first line of defense, even if they know hypnosis is better. Your Doctor is being told that they have to prescribe medication. Nevermind the fact that it can potentially kill you. What’s the deal with that?

 

How can the hypnosis community compete with the pharmaceutical companies’ buying power in the media, especially on TV?  How can it compete with the strangle hold on your family doctor? NRT will continue to win until a hero comes along.

 

Here’s where Michael Moore comes in. Natural cures are out there for many things, maybe its time Michael Moore blew the whistle on the medical monopoly and helped the holistic community as well! It’s certainly cheaper and safer, in many instances, for the American public!

 

Well, until Mike joins the team, one way to help the holistic community may be to vote for my idea on: http://www.change.org/ideas/view/unlock_the_shackles_on_holistic_practitioners  

 

You see, it’s not only a PR and money issue, the holistic community is shackled with fear that they can’t even talk about natural cures without getting arrested. Yes, arrested. This has got to stop! Thank God I’m an Interfaith Reverend, it makes me feel a little safer to speak my mind!

 

Keep the faith, change is coming. Michael are you out there?

Smoking and Weight Gain

I have to admit it, although my weight reduction practice is far from booming with ex-smokers, some of my 400+ smoking clients have gained weight after they quit.  I simply had to find out why.

Well, since I wrote a whole chapter on this in Stop Smoking for the Last Time, I’m not going to repeat it here (for my clients to get a free PDF copy see the Stop Smoking University post). But since the book, I’ve made some interesting observations.

We all know about the belief that metabolism slows when you quit. Well the 1988 Surgeon General’s report concluded that this really isn’t the case. Increase in weight is usually due to increase in consumption.

Also, as I’ve pointed out to all of my clients, cigarettes contain sugar, so it’s very important not to satisfy sugar cravings with white sugar. Fruit usually does the trick.

But what I’ve recently discovered is many ex-smokers are carboholics — they eat a high percentage of “simple” carbohydrates. This is simply a ticket to weight gain.

Now, I’m not a doctor or nutritionist (you need to check with them before changing your diet) but I believe any smokers that gains weight needs to look at the amount of simple carbohydrates they are eating. Books like The Atkins Revolution and The South Beach Diet do a good job on explaining a diet that helps reduce weight using the low-to-no carb solution.

What’s a “simple” carb? Almost anything bleached, sugared, yeasted and/or baked by man (or woman). Also, if it crunches and comes in a box or bag at from the supermarket, it’s most likely a” simple” carb.

Examples are candy, cake, cookies, crackers, muffins, bagels, most breakfast cereals, pasta, white rice and anything with sugar, yeast white flour and/or corn syrup. Bread is also in this category, especially since most bread contain corn syrup (so does most catsups and many fruit juices). Also, soda is an obvious no no.

My theory is that once a smoker becomes healthier, certain yeasts in the body that feed off these simple carbs can thrive. These yeast conditions can cause weight gain. Also, allergies to wheat and pasteurized dairy can have the same effect. Now, this does not mean smoking keeps you thin, it means that this condition can be dormant in a very unhealthy body, after all, smoking greatly reduces anti-oxidants levels in smokers, it probably also kills yeast (while it may also be killing you!)

I admit, my conclusion about yeast is a hypothesis, but I helped one client lose over 200 pounds based on eating protein and helping them discover their yeast and allergy problems.

So, to conclude, quitting smoking does not make you gain weight. But if you are one of the unlucky few who have allergies and Candida/yeast infections a change in diet and supplementation may be a solution for you (again, see your doctor, although you may need to talk to a Naturopath to have these conditions taken seriously).

For further assistance, read chapter 8 of Stop Smoking for the Last Time and read up on low carb diets.  

 

 

 

 

Stop Smoking University

You may or may not already know this but I’m a crazy perfectionist. It really irks me that the devious smoking addiction is winning the battle with some of my over 400 smoking clients. It really drives be bonkers! So much so that I was driven to write my book and give it away to all my clients for free. (remember, e-mail me for your free PDF copy gawissing@aol.com ).

Unfortunately, I don’t think the book alone is enough to make sure EVERYONE really quits for the very last time. I know for a fact that it’s possible to get to a point where quitting is easy, and I want that for every one of my clients. I think an online course can help.

For the past 3 years, I’ve been thinking about and working on an online program for smoking cessation. I’m working this project under the code name ”Stop Smoking University”. I’m looking for your feedback on what you think you would need most in an online/home study course. Maybe you can start by asking me your top two questions or tell me what you think about an online program like this.

I currently envision using audio and video to do more education on the process of detaching from smoking, more education on why nicotine addiction is blown way out of proportion and more about how to do self-hypnosis… so you can train your own mind to get what you want out of life.

I would assume you’d also like to see more on weight loss and stress management?

Also, maybe to know why urges can be emotional and why I think smokers have very strong willpower after all? 

I look forward to hearing from you! I really do. Sure, it irks me to know that hypnosis was not a completely bullet proof answer for some of you, but let’s not quit now! If you’re still struggling with the devious smoking habit, I want to hear from you!  

So please, click on the comment link below and tell me what’s on your mind! 

Nothing is 100% successful, nothing. But that doesn’t mean we can’t find the right answer for you — if we keep working on it together.

Thanks for a great five years!

Hello to all my clients…

Thank you for helping me celebrate my 5th anniversary of practicing hypnosis in Larchmont, NY. I look forward to hearing how these last 5 years has made a difference in your life! 

Also, my clients still struggling against the nasty demon of smoking addiction, I hope you took me up on my offer for a free PDF copy of my book, “Stop Smoking for the Last Time”. You can e-mail me on gawissing@aol.com to get access to the whole book online (make sure you tell me who you are!).

Feel free to comment here on the book also.

And don’t forget, there’s a free audio program on www.hypnosis4smokers.com to help you deal with stress through the holidays and throughout the year. Remember, your first defense against stress is BREATHING and your imagination!

I look forward to reading your stories!