Long Term Benefits When You Quit Smoking

At four years smoke-free, Deb has plenty of gratitude and tips to share about how to stop smoking for good.

At three years smoke-free, Tom's quit smoking story reflects the growth and value smoking cessation has brought to his life.

At five years smoke-free, About.com Smoking Cessation forum member Pancake has plenty to share.

At 10 years smoke-free, Michelle understands that it takes more than abstinence to quit smoking successfully.

Building a solid foundation for smoking cessation is much like building a home, as this ex-smoker illustrates for in her quit smoking story.

In the 5 years since she quit smoking, Sally has blossomed in body, mind and spirit as this milestone story shows.

Two Years Smoke-Free - The Lessons Learned at Two Years Smoke-Free

This past week I celebrated a big smoke-free milestone -- 8 years since my last cigarette. There was a time when it was hard to imagine 8 days in a row smoke-free, let alone 8 years. Yet, here I am today, looking back with more than a little amazement and so much gratitude at how far I've come.

This article spans the first three years of About.com Smoking Cessation forum member Sally's smoke-free journey. Read from start to finish, this personal quit story is a powerful testament to the healing that we can all hope to achieve when we quit smoking.

Kevin shares his view of nicotine addiction after 4 years smoke-free. Kevin's quit smoking story is a must read for those of you who want to quit smoking.

Mary quit smoking with the help of the support forum here at About.com Smoking Cessation. She recently returned to the forum to update us on her continued success at four years smoke-free and offer some beautiful words of hope and inspiration to those just starting their own journey to freedom.

With the right information and a plan, we all have the ability to quit smoking once and for all. And that, after all, is what we all want - permanent freedom from this addiction!

"I am living proof that it is possible to re-train your mind to believe it is a non-smoker. Always remember that that’s all that quitting smoking is; it’s deciding that you are going to re-train your brain to become a non-smoker."

"The difference between now and 18 months ago is, neither my body or mind is demanding that I smoke a cigarette. I have the freedom of choice to smoke or not to smoke."

"When I started this journey two years ago, I knew with absolute certainty that after 32 years of smoking I was soooooooooo tired of it. I’d had enough. I hated it, absolutely hated smoking with a passion that was quite fierce at times."

"Being able to quit smoking has changed me in many ways. I have more patience, more empathy and peace within."

"At 4 years in, I am smoke-free, crave-free and sure that there is nothing and no one that can make me pick up a cigarette again."

Dee quit smoking 5 years ago, and shares her journey through smoking cessation to the freedom from nicotine addiction she now enjoys.

"I began smoking at age 13. Back when I was a teenager, that was the "COOL" thing to do. I wound up being addicted to cigarettes for 45 years."

"As we think back to the first day of this fantastic journey, we realize this is a feat we never dreamed we'd accomplish."

"It's been four years since we walked through the doors to freedom..."

"I remember watching my Dad and some of his friends smoking cigars. I watched with admiration, thinking how cool they looked smoking those big ole’ stogies. So I picked one up from the ashtray and tried it."

"A little voice that told me I could do this - told me I could rely on myself and not the addiction. That one little piece of courage got me on my way."

"Yesterday, I celebrated 2 years since my last puff, and I couldn't be more amazed. I smoked 34 years, and never DREAMED I'd even be able to last one day, let alone 2 years."

"You don’t just quit smoking and you are done. There’s a lot of soul searching and relearning to do."

"To newer quitters: While you’re in for a tough time, you’re in for a "do-able" time. Second only to knives and bullets (and, well, maybe a few other weapons), smoking is the worst thing you can thrust upon your body."

"When I quit smoking four years ago, I never in a million years thought I'd ever be counting the years since my last cigarette. And yet, here I am celebrating four years of smobriety."

"In the beginning, it was very rough. I struggled, and I had constant visitors. Their names were anger, self doubt, anxiety and depression..."

Three years ago I was a desperate woman. I was desperate to quit smoking – I was desperate to smoke. I was sick to death of smoking – I loved to smoke. I hated how I smelled – I loved the smell of my smokes. I hated the burn holes, fears, sickness – I loved the rituals. I hated being told I should quit - I knew I should quit.

"Today I turn three years old. My body is feeling better than when it was first born on that day, October 2, 2002. My lungs do not have a rattle when breathing, even at rest. My heart rate is normal. My life is, well, terrific!"

"Smoking isn't in my life’s equation anymore and it will never be. Smoking is my past and living is my future."

"It may seem like you are on a long endless road going no where fast, but one day you are going to realize how free you really are."

"I am 2 years smoke free today. What that means, in a word, is freedom. I don't have to smoke. I'll never have to smoke again. That's a very powerful feeling. That's freedom."

"After 2 years without a cigarette, I have never felt freer. To those who are having a tough time right now, I say HOLD ON with everything you have. It will get better."

"What can I say to help those of you who are struggling decide that this is not so bad and might even end up being the best thing you have ever done for yourself? The benefits are many, physical and emotional."

"When I think of why I am still smoke-free today, I think it is largely because of my investment in my smoke-free future."

"This past year for me has been about coming to terms with the fact that my active addiction to nicotine caused me lasting harm. It’s about regrets and the role they played in my recovery process."

From Susie: "I will never, ever forget my last cigarette - December 1, 2002 at about 9pm in the garage at our home in Mesquite, Nevada. But, two years later, the memory of me as a smoker has grown quite dim - very surprising for someone who smoked for about 35 years."

"Quitting tobacco is not about punishment and reward. It’s not about denial. It’s about wanting and choosing a different way to live. It’s about life without cigarettes (or any tobacco), not life without fun and friendship."

"Smoking is a way of settling for so much less than we deserve. It tends to trickle down into other areas of our lives, and once we drop the habit, changes are bound to happen all around."

"Today, three years after I quit smoking, I’m not just 1095 days away from that last cigarette I smoked, treading water and forcing myself not to smoke. I’ve changed what cigarettes mean to me, and in the process, I’ve also learned that I can control any event in my life with a shift of attitude."

"I had no idea then, but October 29th, 2001 was destined to be one of the top ten days of my entire life...the day I quit smoking, once and for all."

"Once upon a time there was a little girl who thought watching her father and mother and older brothers and sisters smoke was just fun and the coolest thing to do."