Smoking Cessation - One Year Later

My life as a smoker

In 1978 at 17 years old, I was given a cigarette by my mother who told me it would calm me down.

After several attempts to look good at smoking, I finally managed to swing my way up to a 10-cigarette-a-day habit and lost loads of weight as well.

I was always aware that smoking was bad for my health, but unaware of how highly addictive cigarettes were. I thought I could stop any time I wanted!

After 30 years of smoking, I found myself lighting 40 to 60 cigarettes a day, depending on stress levels and nights out.

Why and how I quit smoking

On the first of July, 2009, I stopped smoking.

I had been preparing myself for this day for several months. Hating every cigarette I smoked, I was determined to get myself centered in order to stop.

I was due to go with my daughter to a cheerleading competition for the weekend, and did not want to hear her saying "Uurghh, stop breathing over me, it's disgusting!" again as I tried to apply her makeup and do her hair for her.

I did not want to miss any of her events, as had happened before when I was outside getting my nicotine "fix". I wanted to be able to stay in the restaurant at the table enjoying the lively conversation between my friends instead of standing outside shivering in the rain, nodding at similarly pathetic strangers.

With three days to go, I read and re-read Allen Carr's Easy Way to Quit Smoking - and I stopped.

Advice

• Drink plenty of cold water
• Eat fruit
• Don't worry too much about weight gain - I am now tackling that part - one step at a time.
• Keep telling yourself that the addiction is strong but you are stronger
• Not One Puff Ever - I kept telling the addiction NOPE all the time
• Cry if you have to, shout too, just do not give in.
• Stay close to the forum until you are strong enough to do this independently

Terry Martin, Smoking Cessation Guide, says:

On to year two! I have a hunch you're going to enjoy it -- the benefits of smoke-free life have only just begun.