Keeping Your Resolution to Quit Smoking

Of all the thousands of people who try to quit smoking each year, only about five percent succeed. Dr. Robert Shipley of Duke University Medical Center has developed a program with a success rate about 10 times greater than the national average. It's called "QuitSmart." Professionals come to his clinics each year to learn the method, take it home and set up stop-smoking clinics of their own. Shipley says the first step is to set a quit date, then gradually taper off as that day approaches. He calls the approach "Warm Chicken," as opposed to "Cold Turkey." Once the stop date arrives, Shipley says give it all you've got:

"If you're going to do it, do it right the first time. Use medication, use hypnosis, go to a support group. Get all the help you can get so you only have to do it one time. Throw everything but the kitchen sink at it."

Shipley says physical addiction is only part of the problem. You must also learn to handle the emotional and behavioral aspects if you are to become a successful non-smoker. I'm Tom Britt.

Shipley says about 75 percent of new non-smokers do gain between two and five pounds the first couple of years, but he says this is a small price to pay. He says not to worry about possible weight gain while you are going through nicotine withdrawal.

Cut 2...the other...: 17 . . . (Preview this in a WAV file in 16-bit mono.)

"There are studies showing that if you try too hard to control your weight at the same time you're quitting smoking, it's too much on your plate - if you'll forgive the pun. You're likely to fail at both, so we suggest you do one and then the other."

[Ed. note: http://www.quitsmart.com includes a listing of stop-smoking clinics in your area.]