I'm approaching 15 months quit now, and found myself yesterday actually noticing that I don't smoke anymore, something I haven't done for a while.
My neighbours insist on standing at their front door to smoke, so we either get a lungful when we open ours, or just smell it after they've gone back in. I promised myself when I would quit that I would not become evangelical about it, and I haven't I don't think, but this just highlights how lingeringly antisocial smoking is, and I waded through another cloud coming in last night.
So this put smoking in my mind a little, and I found myself adding up, for the first time in a long time, how long it had been since I smoked. In the early days I knew exactly how long it had been, but now? Without working it out I didn't know for sure.
I didn't save a lot of cash as I smoked roll-ups, so I didn't have that incentive, but apart from the health benefits, ie ability to breathe, clearer teeth & skin, and the social side, ie more time not spent standing outside, etc etc the biggest gift for me is the one of forgetting.
I have forgotten what it's like to want a cigarette on a day to day basis, like a normal smoker does, like I did. I don't see the attraction in it now although I realise there was one or I wouldn't have smoked for 22 years. I remember the first month of my quit, which is enough!
Things have not been the easiest in general this last six months or so, with life doing what it does, and the idea of having a smoke has never entered my mind. The only time I felt I was missing out was seeing cheap fags while we were on holiday abroad last month, but this wasn't a crave, just a feeling I had missed out on a deal. Weird or what!
I completed a half marathon last March and am running another on behalf of Diabetes UK in 29 days time (my wife is type 1). We raised over a grand for Cancer Research in March, something that would not have been possible without this forum, because I couldn't jog 50 yards before; I tried it.
So I suppose the point of this ramble is that I am grateful to be quit, I know what's possible and I urge anyone new to it to hang in there; it CAN be done, stick to this forum like glue and soon you may forget not only that you're trying to quit in the first place, but what it was like to smoke at all.
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AngryBear
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You have had quite a journey Steve and one that I have been witness to every step of the way. We are quit buddies and like you, I know I could not have done this without this forum and people like you. Well done and thanks.xx
Kat, the link to the next one is in my signature, the leg's OK at the moment, I had a painful but effective sports massage on it not long ago that must have ironed a knot out! I did 7 miles last Monday and 3 miles on Thursday, out again tomorrow.....
This is exactly the post i was looking to find! It feels good to know you were once in my shoes and its even better to know that one day i will be be in your shoes where you are now! 15 months is amazing well done! and also amazing that your putting that extra lung function to good use!!
I think ill always look at the price of duty free as well lol! amazing.
I am a nearly newbie Steve...Great inspiration and so good to read for us who are just into our quits....I'm about 12 months behind you, but like you I have discovered jogging starting 3 weeks into running 5k and loving it....GoodnLuck with your half marathon and congratulations.....HAPPY HEALTHY HELPFUL BEAR
Glad it's been of use; this forum will get you there Nikki, it did for me, I had a horrible start, hence my username. I was the smokiest person anyone in my family knew; my son still worries that I'm going to start again. Not bl*ody today I'm not, I can promise him that much!!
And Woo, find a local organised 5k, preferably something like a Fun Run, one that gives medals out I did, it was my incentive, I did two of those then carried on from there. I'm not getting any faster but I can plod for longer!!
Very kind Kat, made me blush the link's in my signature anyway, any fivers are welcome!! Did a couple of km this morning before the weather closed in, wished I was in Newcastle!!
I'm approaching 15 months quit now, and found myself yesterday actually noticing that I don't smoke anymore, something I haven't done for a while.
My neighbours insist on standing at their front door to smoke, so we either get a lungful when we open ours, or just smell it after they've gone back in. I promised myself when I would quit that I would not become evangelical about it, and I haven't I don't think, but this just highlights how lingeringly antisocial smoking is, and I waded through another cloud coming in last night.
So this put smoking in my mind a little, and I found myself adding up, for the first time in a long time, how long it had been since I smoked. In the early days I knew exactly how long it had been, but now? Without working it out I didn't know for sure.
I didn't save a lot of cash as I smoked roll-ups, so I didn't have that incentive, but apart from the health benefits, ie ability to breathe, clearer teeth & skin, and the social side, ie more time not spent standing outside, etc etc the biggest gift for me is the one of forgetting.
I have forgotten what it's like to want a cigarette on a day to day basis, like a normal smoker does, like I did. I don't see the attraction in it now although I realise there was one or I wouldn't have smoked for 22 years. I remember the first month of my quit, which is enough!
Things have not been the easiest in general this last six months or so, with life doing what it does, and the idea of having a smoke has never entered my mind. The only time I felt I was missing out was seeing cheap fags while we were on holiday abroad last month, but this wasn't a crave, just a feeling I had missed out on a deal. Weird or what!
I completed a half marathon last March and am running another on behalf of Diabetes UK in 29 days time (my wife is type 1). We raised over a grand for Cancer Research in March, something that would not have been possible without this forum, because I couldn't jog 50 yards before; I tried it.
So I suppose the point of this ramble is that I am grateful to be quit, I know what's possible and I urge anyone new to it to hang in there; it CAN be done, stick to this forum like glue and soon you may forget not only that you're trying to quit in the first place, but what it was like to smoke at all.
Wow. Just wow
A huge well done for reaching the 15 month mark and, more so, for reaching that point where being a non-smoker is just a way of life. You have been, and continue to be, a great inspiration to people like me.
I myself am now feeling (after almost 7 months) like I made the best decision in my 25 years of being on this planet. But I really look forward to a time that I can "forget" about what smoking meant to me.
There have been a couple of smokers approach me at work and tell me that they want to give up, asking how I did it. And nothing beats that sense of pride when you think "that was me, and look what I have achieved!"
Also, a massive congratulations on all that you have done/are doing for some amazing charities! It's a mean feat running such long distances for anyone, let alone someone who, not so long ago, was poisoning themselves by smoking. I hope you're really proud!
Thanks for all of your input and words of wisdom over the course of my journey. It's people like you who spur others on to stay positive!!
It's members of this forum like yourself who encourage us and help us look at a smoke free future! So thank you and everyone in the forum, because it gives us so much encouragement and when needed strength.
It's members of this forum like yourself who encourage us and help us look at a smoke free future! So thank you and everyone in the forum, because it gives us so much encouragement and when needed strength.
Well said.
Mr Angry Bear, Sir. I've read a few posts, and really love the way you look at things.
Congratulations on your 15 months, I have no doubt that you've got a long smoke free road up ahead.
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15 months is amazing well done! and also amazing that your putting that extra lung function to good use!! 
the link's in my signature anyway, any fivers are welcome!! Did a couple of km this morning before the weather closed in, wished I was in Newcastle!!
