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It is all about commitment. You don't need nicotine gum, patches, hypnosis, or any of that stuff if you just commit yourself that failure is not an option.

Case in point, 17 years ago I was up to almost a pack a day. One day I decided to QUIT. Not, just try to quit, but QUIT. Now. Period. No more smoking ever, amen.

So, I broke up all of my cigs into a trash can at work. I made sure my co-workers knew what I was doing. I was very public about the whole quitting thing and it worked. I never smoked another cigarette in my life. I chewed a hell of a lot of Juicy Fruit and put on 20-30 lbs, but I totally quit.

Over the last 17 years I've put on some weight. My job is sedentary except for when I travel and even then it is sitting in the airport, in the plane, on the shuttle, etc. Not much activity at all. Obviously, I needed to exercise and diet but I never made my mind up to do so until last September.

So, I quit the behavior that was causing me to gain weight. I didn't just try to quit, I QUIT. I bought a treadmill so that I could regularly exercise and I started eating right. I tracked all of my food intake (using www.fitday.com), cut my caloric and fat intake, started exercising, and changed my lifestyle again. Over the past 4 months I've lost nearly 40 lbs. I didn't need some diet like Atkins to drop the weight, I just needed to commit to eating right and exercising.

You can do it. Just commit and be strong. Remember that you're in control, not your addiction or habits.