Mark Ballas is a two-time winner on Dancing with the Stars, an Emmy award-winning choreographer, and musician. And while he is known for winning on the dance floor, Mark is also a champion at something that’s even more difficult to master: quitting smoking. As you’ll see in the Q & A below, he’s as proud of quitting as he is of his dance career.
There are plenty of reasons to quit smoking. Your heart, lungs, even your finances will see an improvement!
Here are just a few:
Q: Can you talk about your decision to quit smoking?
A: Lots of people in the dancing community smoke, and it was a big part of my life. Since I was a teenager I was always around it—both my grandmother and my mother smoked. I grew up in England and it’s a big part of that culture. I wanted to quit because smoking was really starting to affect my dancing. So I said to my mom, “I’m ready to quit and I want you to quit with me.”
Q: Do you think quit-smoking products like Nicorette® Gum and NicoDerm® CQ® Patches can help?
A: Well, it worked for me. I could just put on [the NicoDerm® CQ® Patch] and go about my day. Then you wean yourself off. When you’re smoking and taking in that much nicotine a day, the patch helps reduce your cravings for cigarettes because your body is still getting a controlled amount.
Q:How did you stop?
A: I used the NicoDerm® CQ® patch. My mom chewed Nicorette® Gum.
Q: Would you give different advice to a longtime smoker who wants to quit versus a relatively new smoker?
A: No, I would give the same advice. Whether you’re a longtime smoker or a relatively new one, you’re still a smoker. I do think if you’ve been smoking longer, you’ll be more stubborn [about quitting] and it might be a little harder to quit, but I’d give the same advice.
Q: Is it easier to quit if you have support from a family member or friend?
A: I think it’s easier when you have help for when you say, ‘Oh, I’ll just have one.’ It’s like when you’re training, it’s easier to have a coach. They’re like a teacher - they talk to you and you can move yourself along with the problem. Some people can’t cope, and a partner helps them stay on track. But if you don’t have a partner you can go to Quit.com and see things like What’s Your Why - those stories really help you realize you’re not alone.
Q: What are your favorite songs to dance to?
A: So many. Old school Michael Jackson, like “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough.”
Sourced from Fox and Friends and The Celebrity Cafe.
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