Smartphone apps to help you quit smoking

Let me begin with this disclaimer: I do not smoke. I tried cigarettes three times in my life and never cared for them. That said, I cannot personally attest to the helpfulness of these apps. I did want to share them, however, in hopes that they may help someone who's trying to quit. I've included an app for the major types of smartphones (iOS, Android, Windows and Blackberry).

And I'll add this bit of encouragement: My father smoked for 40 years when he decided to quit. It was very difficult for him, but he managed it and reversed or diminished a lot of his health issues. He did it by staying busy, prayer (if you're the praying type) and by chewing gum. Lots and lots...and lots...of gum.

iCoach: This app is free for both iOS and Android devices. It takes you through a five step process to wean you off of cigarettes. You'll fill out a few questions and receive a personalized program. You'll receive daily tips and have access to lots of informational tools. The developers claim that over 40 percent of those who use the app quit smoking. One of the features it has is to show you how much money you'll save by not smoking. The amount isn't shown in American dollars, but you can look up a currency converter online to get an idea of how much you'd save.

Quit Smoking Tracker: This app is $1.99 in the Blackberry App store. It helps you track how long you've gone without a cigarette and tracks the amount of money you've saved by not smoking. You'll see the minutes your life has extended, which is proportional to the number of cigarettes you've avoided.

KickSmoking: This app is for the Windows phone and is free. There's a paid version available that eliminates ads. The app helps you resist cravings and lets you know when you've reached certain healthy milestones. It records the time you've been smoke free, how much money you've saved, how many cigarettes you've avoided, how many cravings you've overcome and much more.

Good luck to anyone out there who's trying to quit!

Photo courtesy stevendepolo via Flickr.