Quitting smoking

Smoking is bad for you. About that no one really has any doubt. If you smoke, quitting would be one of the best things you could do to improve your health - and your life. It doesn't matter how old you are or how long you have smoked: anyone can enjoy health benefits from quitting.

If you smoke, you will likely go through 5 stages in the process of quitting smoking. It is important to determine what stage you are at, since the most effective strategy is different for each stage.

The most common reasons for relapsing to smoking are a lack of commitment, a lack of preparation, and unexpected situations/stressors. Of these 3 reasons for relapse, lack of preparation is the most common.

There are many methods to quit smoking. Consider and select the method you are most comfortable with.

Medications are not the silver bullet, but they might help! Smoking addiction is a complex issue with physical, psychological, social, and even spiritual components. A pill, a patch, or a piece of gum is not going to miraculously fix an addiction that is woven throughout every aspect of your life, but medications can help reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms during the first weeks to months of smoking cessation.

Whether you're thinking about quitting or have quit, this article will give you valuable tips on dealing with cravings and weight gain.

Your main goals after you successfully quit smoking will be to maintain your success and stay smoke-free. At some point, being smoke-free will replace the habit of smoking and it will feel more natural than smoking. Until that time, keep your attention focused on the things that keep you smoke-free.

While some people are successful at quitting smoking without any help from a health care provider or smoking cessation specialist, research shows that even brief counselling improves your chances of successfully quitting smoking.