You're right, it is powerful...and I don't think I minded giving into a power that I could control in some sense. I smoked for 37 years, 2 1/2 packs a day. I was energetic, happy, on the run constantly...and 23 pounds lighter. Now I get out of breath, I retain water, my blood pressure used to be perfect, now it's raised, my body aches, I don't sleep well. Short of becoming anorexic or bulemic, no matter what I do, I can't get rid of this weight. I feel it's harmed my physical health and emotional wellbeing a heck of a lot more than smoking did. Sorry about the negativity, but I think people need to know it's not always a "yahoo!!" when you quit smoking and it will be a lifetime choice because there will always be triggers to remind you of a cigarette. And certainly, any positive effects from quitting might not be immediate (except the money end of it) and for a while there will be some very real physical downfalls.
Also, don't be fooled by gum and patches. As long as those are used as tools to quit, you are feeding your receptors nicotine and some day you will have to face the monster withdrawal. Or you could be like my sister, addicted to nicotine gum for the last 11 years.
Three months, two days, 12 hours, 58 minutes and 38 seconds as a non-smoker. That's 4429 cigarettes not smoked and a savings of $692.89.