Quit Smoking: A Guide to Knocking the Habit

Each person who quits smoking goes through his/her own personal battle. Everyone has heard the story of, or even seen, the person who smokes for twenty years and then just stops with what appears to be no withdrawal symptoms, agitation or weight gain. Most people are not this lucky and need more help and support to become an ex-smoker.

There is no fool-proof way to quit smoking, no magic pill or audio tape that will make it easy. Quitting is first and foremost a decision you make yourself. Smokers who try to quit because someone told them to, often begin smoking again or become "closet smokers". Remind yourself continuously why you are quitting smoking. Do you want to smell better? Breathe better? Save money?

Products such as nicotine gum, the patch, and the nicotine inhaler can all be helpful when you quit. Chantix is a new pill that is giving hope to millions of smokers. All of these products have produced ex-smokers but they are not all you should have in your stop smoking kit.

Many people have to quit multiple times before they succeed. It is not shameful to begin smoking again. Often this time can be used to figure out what made you begin smoking again and make preparations for that situation the next time you quit. If you find yourself lighting up after a fight with your spouse, look for other ways of dealing with your stress. Take a long walk or call a friend. Exercise is one of the best ways of dealing with stress and reducing cravings. It is also the best way to not have to deal with the weight gain that so many complain about when they quit smoking.