Read This Before You Quit Smoking

Everyone knows how bad smoking is for you, there are images from damaged lungs floating around in different quit-smoking campaigns, every cigarette takes away seven minutes from you life, passive smoking kills the people around you, and the list can go on and on.

The bottom point is that if you're a smoker you know how dangerous it is, and most likely you wish you didn't need the cigarettes.

So one day you sit down and finally decide that it's time to end this once and for all. Maybe you look at the calendar and jot down in the square one month from now: "No more cigarettes!". Perhaps you go out to a store and look in the aisles at the long line of products that is supposed to help you manage the difficult withdrawal process, or you get kudos and well-meant tips from you physician.

You probably tell all your family and friends that now is the time you have decided to turn you life around and finally give up smoking. They will all be very happy for you, give you more pats on your back and promise to support you, deal with mood swings, and excuse your attitude and behavior for the next few months.

Now let me tell you that neither them, nor you, know what you are getting yourself into. I am writing this article, not as a doctor, a pharmaceutical person, nor as an expert, but rather as you average smoker with failed attempts to quit behind me. Hopefully, by reading this it will give you some more insight on what you most likely will face when the last cigarette is lit, so you'll be very well prepared.

My first advice is simple, don't even think of quitting unless you are 100% committed to it. If you have any doubts, combat those before even starting to prepare for the quitting process.

This is so important, because already from the moment you thing of a firm date to quit, you'll find yourself smoking twice as much as before, and 70% of your thoughts will involve cigarettes. This will cause problems in your life, even if you still get the oh-so-relaxing smoke down your lungs every hour. So first make sure you are 100% committed to it, or you'll go through lots of useless difficulties.

The next step of preparing will give you insight on what you'll have to deal with later. Whether you purchase gum, plasters, inhalators or other things to help you, the need for nicotine will keep growing until the date arrives. My tip? Once you know that you are serious about it, don't postpone it for long.

The first three days after you quit will be tough! You might be up for arguments with the mailman because the sound of the letter box slamming shut disturbs you, or you'll run back to the grocery store in a fury to complain about anything you can find. On the third day you might start crying your eyes out for no apparent reason, everything will feel dark and bleak with no hope for the future. This is normal, the nicotine is leaving your body, and you are going through a very difficult withdrawal process. It's very hard to deal with, not only for you, but for everyone around you. So hang in there, and remember that it will get better. Don't give up, the next time would be even tougher.

After these few days of hell (it really is), things start to get more back to normal. You'll begin to smell again, and notice tastes you had forgotten about from before you started smoking in the first place. Also, you will be hungry and will probably notice a weight gain.

Here is my biggest advice, if you start smoking again you will not loose those 5 lbs you gained. However, at the next attempt of quitting another 5-10 lbs will build up on top of the one from before. If you are worried about weight gain, stay cigarette-free at your first attempt! Once your body gets used to the lack of nicotine, your metabolism will return to normal and your constant hunger will disappear.

This is where I failed the last time I quit. I got so worried about gaining weight, so I started smoking again thinking the weight would come off when I started again. This does not happen! The weight stays with you, and you're back to smoking. So accept those extra lbs, because once you have gained them, smoking will not help you loose them.

Another thing that is worth pointing out is that after two weeks of not smoking, a cigarette won't even taste good. You'll still crave it, but if you give in to the craving you'll find that your body has gotten over its years of poisoning and it will taste horrible.

Learn from my mistakes, stay strong and don't cave in to the temptation. Even after a week you'll feel your physical shape improving, so take advantage of it, and start exercising. In times of despair, remember that it's all worth it.

Good Luck!