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25 Years

Today, 25 years ago, I became a non-smoker. I started smoking when I was young, (10 years old) my friends taught me! I kept smoking until right before I turned 19. I didn’t want to be 19 and still be smoking. I was grown up at 19, or so I thought. Anyhow, I had been enrolled in a 6-week stop smoking class by my parents. I actually did the program unlike some of the others in the class. By the time I was ready, I was pretty much just sucking air out of a cigarette. So, I quit.

There have been a few times in the past 25 years that I have thought about buying a pack of cigarettes, usually under stress. I would have just smoked one, right? Haha, riiiiiiiiiiight.

It’s easier and cheaper to buy a pack of gum. I have chewed sugar-free gum as long as I can remember. Extra is what I chew now. Ever notice the way the new packaging looks like a pack of cigarettes. This cannot be a fluke. They know what they are doing. I usually have a piece of gum in my mouth at the gym, when I am watching TV and after I eat lunch and dinner.

If you go to my About Me page, you can see how many cigarettes I haven’t smoked and how much money I would have saved if I had actually saved it! *LOL* I started smoking when they were only 50¢ a pack, back in the day. Now it’s cheaper to fill up your car with one gallon than to buy a pack of cancer.

I’m actually very proud of this accomplishment. My body is too. I can now say that my lungs are at the capacity and health of a non-smoker. That actually happened at the 10 year anniversary. I cannot seriously see myself running on the treadmill at the gym and smoke. There are people that do, but doesn’t that defeat the purpose?!

I have to share that I’m really allergic to smoke now. I get an itchy throat, my nose gets all stuffy and runny and itchy, my eyes water and turn red and I COUGH. Coughing isn’t something I like to do. None of the above is.

I love being a non-smoker.

:cloud9:

Posted on Monday, October 13, 2008 ♥  
Filed Under Events, Health, Life, Me-Me

14 Responses to “25 Years”

  1. Hannah Says:
    October 13th, 2008 at 8:49 am

    Well done for giving up and staying that way!!!!!!

    $4,500 is a lot of money!! Do you feel like it’s a big achievement?

    I know what you mean about the smoker on a treadmill. My “best” friend (she was my best friend up until she decided that uni had changed me into a mean person - which i can definately prove is wrong!anyhoo!) She was asmatic for as long as i’ve known her and she played clarinet all the same. She used to go on about how smoking was a bad habit and that we’d never catch her smoking….

    She now smokes like a chimney and her clarinet lives at the bottom of her wardrobe.

    Hannah´s last blog post..SPS

  2. jesser Says:
    October 13th, 2008 at 9:10 am

    A wonderful accomplishment. We were around my inlaws all weekend who all smoke constantly (though not inside, thankfully) and I remembed once again how much I dislike it. The saddest one for me is my SIL who started when she was around 18 for all the wrong reasons (is there a right reason??). She says she’ll quit when she gets pregnant, but I wish she could quit for herself.

  3. Sugar & Ice Says:
    October 13th, 2008 at 11:20 am

    I have always been an anti-smoker…always hated when others smoked, especially if it was around me. Soo…I’m so happy that you’ve been a non-smoker for a larger portion of your life than you were a smoker. This is a major accomplishment and I’m so glad you were able to kick the habit before your children arrived :).

    Sugar & Ice´s last blog post..Day 2501: Welcome

  4. Kat Says:
    October 13th, 2008 at 12:26 pm

    I could have written this post. I have been a non-smoker for 14 years and I have to say it was one of the hardest things I have done. I also started with the gum and chew only the Extra sugar free bubble gum (love that flavor). Congrats on being a non-smoker for 25 years. It was well worth it. :hug: Kat´s last blog post..Grilled chicken

  5. Sara Says:
    October 13th, 2008 at 2:41 pm

    Hey Kat, I’m glad you quit as well! :hug: Thanks for the congrats!

  6. Sara Says:
    October 13th, 2008 at 2:42 pm

    Thanks Chas! :smile:

  7. Sara Says:
    October 13th, 2008 at 2:43 pm

    Thank you Jess! My SIL and BIL both quit about a year before they were trying to have kids. They haven’t smoked since. :smile: Sometimes it’s the person and how they handle the addiction.

  8. Sara Says:
    October 13th, 2008 at 2:43 pm

    Thanks Hannie. I actually do feel like it’s a huge accomplishment!

  9. Laurel Says:
    October 13th, 2008 at 4:02 pm

    Great job, Congrats!!! :pinkgrin:

    Laurel´s last blog post..Our Words Can Impact the Health of our Marriage

  10. Sara Says:
    October 13th, 2008 at 5:49 pm

    Thanks Laurel! :hug:

  11. cady Says:
    October 14th, 2008 at 9:50 am

    congrats! that’s awesome and quite an accomplishment.

    cady´s last blog post..E.R., Ipods and Cranberry Juice

  12. Cindy Says:
    October 14th, 2008 at 2:24 pm

    Congrats on quite the accomplishment!

  13. Julie Says:
    October 14th, 2008 at 3:34 pm

    Congratulations on your accomplishment! That is wonderful that you’ve gone so long without smoking! I’m working on getting Brad to quit again. He’s been smoking since he was 14-15, so at least 15 years. He quit last year for 11 months (January-December). I won’t let him around Braden (or the new baby) when he’s been smoking because if I can smell it, it can still cause harm to the little ones! Brad’s brother quit at some point this year and he has terrible addictive habits (he’s actually OCD, recovering alcoholic/drug addict), so if he can do it, Brad CAN do it! *Sorry I’ve taken over with this comment*

    Julie´s last blog post..36 week appointment

  14. Connie Says:
    October 15th, 2008 at 9:33 pm

    Congrats on your accomplishment! That is something to be very proud of.

    Connie´s last blog post..Marketing My Blogging Business With PictureItPostage