Robert Celebrates One Year Smoke Free

"I had a million reasons to quit smoking, as we all do..."

Today kind of snuck up on me, but yes, today marks one year smoke free, and I could not be happier!

It was so difficult in the early months that getting here seemed as if it would never happen, but with God, this forum, the support of my family and taking it one day, and sometimes one minute at a time, the hours turned into days and the days into months. Now, looking back, I wonder why I waited so long to quit.

I had a million reasons to quit smoking, as we all do, not the least of which was losing my Mom to cancer. Funny thing is, I had all of those reasons well before I started my quit too.

Going into September of last year, I went to the doctor and got the script for the nicotine patch and the Wellbutrin. I set my date, and on the 23rd started those first precarious steps towards freedom. Neither the patch or the Wellbutrin lasted long. I found my quit left me in a fog that was absolute hell (but nothing compared to the hell that could come from cancer or other smoking problems) and both seemed to make things worse for me.

Bottom line is that nicotine withdrawal was hell, and it sucked, and I do not ever want to do it again. I held to that and my mantra became "You only have to do this once" while the posts here showed me how that statement was true.

Things did subside considerably and after awhile I only had to deal with the occasional wave of desire, waves which have become very few and far between. Where once I thought I couldn't go more than a few hours without a cigarette, I now find even the smell repulsive, and I have gone a full year smoke free.

I am fortunate that since quitting, the only serious problem (and hopefully it will remain that this is the only problem) has been to my gums and teeth. I'd never have guessed that before and even now it sounds odd, but at the time all of this was coming out, I learned here that that is not at all uncommon.

My breathing has improved, my life has improved, and while I have gained weight (which I will lose), I am free and I know, having beaten the NicoDemon for a year that I can beat a few pounds with no problem. Maybe next year I'll run a marathon! I'll lose the weight, and I'll run in honor of my Mom and my Uncle Jerry, both of whom died due to smoking-related cancer. I miss them both so much!

Life is far too short to make it even shorter, especially for the benefit of sticking and being winded. Heck, had I kept smoking I would have had the honor of removable teeth!

I no longer have to worry about planning my day and my activities around my habit.

I no longer have to be concerned with what people will think of me because of my addiction.

I no longer fear the harm that I might be bringing to my family or myself.

I no longer have burn holes in my clothes and my car does not stink.

With every moment that I am smoke free, I gain minutes to add to my life to spend with my beautiful wife and my wonderful children! I save money that is better spent doing things with them (and this year we went to Disneyland AND Knott's Berry Farm).

I wouldn't be here today is it wasn't for this forum, and for that I thank you. I don't ever want to go back to the bondage that I was in before, because freedom is so much better!

No dots on this one... I'm ready for a key!

Robert