If you're stopped smoking, congratulations!

Anyone who has stopped smoking knows what an important and difficult accomplishment that is. You deserve to feel proud. You already should be enjoying many of the benefits of quitting: less coughing, more energy, no longer feeling tied down by cigarettes and more self-respect. We're not going to kid you. There will be some tough moments ahead. But you can make it through. Keep on your guard for temptations and ward them off.

If you've started or continued to exercise, keep it up! If you haven't started yet, think about walking. Keep trying to find other, more positive ways to deal with stress and hard times. Over time, youre urges to smoke will get fewer and fewer. You'll start to see yourself as the nonsmoker you really are. Other people's smoking may even start to bother you. Celebrate your first month off smoking, six months off smoking and then really go all out at one year without cigarettes. You've done domething special for yourself and the people who are about you. If you haven't stopped smoking, think about what you're missing and go for the gold. Be a winner!!