Hello Susan:

For some reason I am having trouble getting a post up at the board. I will probably try again later.

I am going to attach a series of articles that address the different concerns you have raised. I hope they answer all of your questions.

Joel

Weight concern articles:

Minimizing the Weight Gained 

Patience in weight control issues

“I would rather be a little overweight and not smoking than underweight and dead

“I’ve tried everything to lose weight but..."

After I Lose Weight I Will Quit Smoking

Crutches to Quit Smoking

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Quitting for Others 

Buddy Systems 

"My support group is responsible!"

"Can you recommend clinics in my area?" 

On the issue of whether or not you should tell others that you are quitting, my personal feeling is it is best to let others around you know you are quitting. People often won't tell people around them that they are quitting because they will look bad in these people's eyes if they fail. Well by not telling them you are making it just a little easier to fail. The one thing that may stop you at a given moment is the fact that you will look bad in the eye of the person in the room after you made a point of telling that person that you have quit. It is not the main reason that you quit but it may give you a momentary edge just when you need it.

The other reason I think it is a good idea to let people know that you are quitting is by the way you may act the first few days into a quit. If people do not know that you are in the middle of quitting they may think that the way you are acting makes it seem you are on some sort of drug right now as opposed to the more accurate reason for the way you may be acting at the time because you are literally getting off a drug now--the drug being nicotine.

Actually, I always tell my clinic participants that if there were any people that they wanted to tell off over the past ten or twenty years, they should do it the week they are quitting smoking. The reason I suggest it then is that they are probably going to do it whether I mentioned it or not, and that they have what will be viewed as a temporarily good excuse for saying certain things. A few days later if the person realizes that they probably were out of line and shouldn't have made the particular comment, he or she could take it back simply saying, "Listen, I was quitting smoking and was a little out of my mind." Usually the other person will understand. Often though the person making the comments will realize that they should have told the person off years ago and are glad it was finally out. Again though, you have a short term built in excuse for having made the comment.

I wouldn't advise making such an excuse weeks into a quit though because by that point in time most people won't buy it.

Feel free to write me anytime. Again, I may get this up at AskJoel later to help others who have similar concerns. I could wish you luck but in all honesty, luck is going to have very little to do with your ultimate success. Even during your unluckiest times your quit will stay strong and secure as long as you stick to a personal commitment to never take another puff.

Joel