If you've decided to give up smoking, good for you! Smoking damages many parts of your body: your liver, lungs and heart to name a few. Smokers are at risk for a myriad of health problems like emphysema, bronchitis and lung cancer. Not to mention the stinky clothes, gray palloured skin and stinky breath. Although quitting might not be easy, it's better for your health and well being. Not only will your body start to repair itself in many ways - nerve endings recover, heart attack risk drops, and lung volume increases - but you'll be able to taste your food again and your cough will disappear. Not being prepared for the physical and emotional cravings for cigarettes while quitting smoking are what cause many people to give up. It's important to have a detailed plan before you quit, something you can refer to when the going gets tough. First, make a list of all of the reasons why you want to quit, including health, family, and saving money. Tape a picture of your child or spouse to the list to refer to if you have a craving, or keep a jar to hold the money you would be spending on cigarettes - which you'll now have for spending. Keep the list or jar somewhere you'll see it often: on your desk at work or on top of the fridge at home. Next, pick a date to quit smoking - and not in ten years! Prepare for this date by slowly tapering off the number of cigarettes you smoke in a day. If you have trouble sticking to a lower amount, give your cigarettes to someone else so you have to ask them each time you want to smoke. Make sure that you get rid of any remaining cigarettes on your quit date. Consciously acknowledge you are quitting as you smoke your last cigarette. Once you've quit, you'll find the plan that works for you. Some people are able to quit cold turkey, while others need to follow many steps or use a nicotine patch to give up the habit. If you slip up and light up, don't view quitting as a failure. Try again and repeat as much as you need to until you're a non-smoker.