Long Term Benefits When You Quit Smoking
When we quit smoking, it's only natural to wonder how it feels years away from the habit that held us so tightly for so long. Read the accounts of those with 18 months or more smoke free. Life works better without cigarettes, and freedom from nicotine addiction is a gift beyond compare!
Mary's Quit Smoking Story
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.
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.
If I Can Quit Smoking, So Can You
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!
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!
CM Celebrates 2 Smoke Free Years
"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."
"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."
Dee Quit Smoking 18 Months Ago
"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."
"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."
Dee Quit Smoking 2 Years Ago
"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."
"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."
Dee's 3 Year Smoke Free Milestone
"Being able to quit smoking has changed me in many ways. I have more patience, more empathy and peace within."
"Being able to quit smoking has changed me in many ways. I have more patience, more empathy and peace within."
Dee's 4 Year Milestone
"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."
"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's 5 Year Milestone - Choose the Gift of Freedom
Dee quit smoking 5 years ago, and shares her journey through smoking cessation to the freedom from nicotine addiction she now enjoys.
Dee quit smoking 5 years ago, and shares her journey through smoking cessation to the freedom from nicotine addiction she now enjoys.
Donna Quit Smoking 3 Years Ago
"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."
"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."
Gaylene and Mikki Reach 3 Years of Freedom
"As we think back to the first day of this fantastic journey, we realize this is a feat we never dreamed we'd accomplish."
"As we think back to the first day of this fantastic journey, we realize this is a feat we never dreamed we'd accomplish."
Gay and Mikki's 4 Year Milestone
"It's been four years since we walked through the doors to freedom..."
"It's been four years since we walked through the doors to freedom..."
Jeff's 2 Year Smoke Free Milestone
"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."
"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."
Kae's 2 Year Smoke Free Milestone
"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."
"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."
Kathy Celebrates 2 Years Smoke Free
"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."
"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."
Kerri Quit Smoking 2 Years Ago
"You don’t just quit smoking and you are done. There’s a lot of soul searching and relearning to do."
"You don’t just quit smoking and you are done. There’s a lot of soul searching and relearning to do."
Kevin's 2 Year Smoke Free Milestone
"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."
"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."
Lane Baldwin - Quitting Smoking Isn't Tough
"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."
"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."
Lesly Quit Smoking 2 Years Ago
"In the beginning, it was very rough. I struggled, and I had constant visitors. Their names were anger, self doubt, anxiety and depression..."
"In the beginning, it was very rough. I struggled, and I had constant visitors. Their names were anger, self doubt, anxiety and depression..."
Lesly Quit Smoking 3 Years Ago
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.
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.
Linda Quit Smoking 3 Years Ago
"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!"
"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!"
Linda Quit Smoking 4 Years Ago
"Smoking isn't in my life’s equation anymore and it will never be. Smoking is my past and living is my future."
"Smoking isn't in my life’s equation anymore and it will never be. Smoking is my past and living is my future."
Lorilu Reaches 18 Months Smoke Free
"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."
"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."
Mary Reaches 2 Years Smoke Free
"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."
"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."
Michelle's(QUITWIT) 2 Year Milestone
"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."
"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."
Michelle's 3 Year Milestone
"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."
"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."
Michelle's 4 Year Smoke Free Milestone
"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."
"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."
Michelle's 5 Year Milestone - Forgiving Myself
"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."
"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."
Susie Quit Smoking Two Years Ago
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."
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."
Susie Quit Smoking 3 Years Ago
"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."
"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."
Terry's Two Year Milestone
"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."
"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."
Terry Quit Smoking Three Years Ago
"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."
"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."
Terry Quit Smoking 4 Years Ago
"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."
"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."
Theresa Quit Smoking 2 Years Ago
"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."
"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."