You would think that to quit a nasty habit like smoking would be easy. But it isn't. The addictive nicotine has marked you for its own. For life. How can you break loose? Why should I, you argue?

I will defer that question to the American Lung Association. They say that "430,700 Americans die each year from smoking and other related diseases. In fact, smoking causes 87 percent of lung cancer and most cases of emphysema and chronic bronchitis".

Convinced? Then how, you ask, as you reach for a cigarette. Disturbing statistics like that calls for a tension reliever. Put it down! You haven't quit but you can space the time between your nicotine fixes. Wait at least an hour. In the meantime take a deep breath, get yourself a drink of water and take a walk around the block.

Join a no smoking group, such as quitnet. com or why quit.com, Joel Spitzer's site. Both of these have tips showing you how to help yourself break this crippling habit. From Joe's Reinforcement Library the first tip is ask those who have successfully quit for a year or longer, how they did it.

Wait. Don't take that first puff. It will lead to the second, third and fourth and back to where you were before you decided you needed help. Essentially what they, the online advisers advise is to simply quit. I agree, but forever is a long time, I suggest you be a weasel about it. Quit for only an hour.

No, no, don't reach for that cigarette. You've gone for a walk around the block but barely a half an hour has elapsed. Determine to wait out the hour. If for no other reason you will enjoy the next cigarette more.

They are expensive. Just think of all the money you will save when you stop smoking. You can almost feed yourself for a day on the cost of a carton of cigarettes. If for no other reason stretch you dollar by smoking less. You have ten left, why not decide to make them last for another twenty-four hours.

Joel Spitzer of why quit.com may think of you as week-kneed, but you must remember this about smoking, it must be your decision. If it isn't, the first time you get annoyed at your non-smoking advisor, you will light up just to spite them. So quit for an hour, it's better than nothing. Move on. Read the quit smoking tip sheet.

In tip number one Joel advises quitting cold turkey. But you don't like cold turkey. You like it warm, on Thanksgiving with mashed potatoes, piping hot gravy, dressing and all the trimmings. And that big day is only a month and a half away.

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