I'm celebrating my two-year anniversary of being a non-smoker

[prolesunited]

I NEVER thought I would be able to do it and today it just occurred to me that it's been two years since I had a cigarette.

Just wanted to say thank you to DUers for the support and encouragement to help kick a 25-year addiction (I started really young). A number of people were quitting at that time and posting their experiences and others were talking about loved ones they had lost to lung cancer.

The fact that I started to develop allergy-induced asthma gave me the scare I needed, but it was here that I found the support I needed, even if I didn't post a lot about it.

If you're still smoking (Frankly, I don't know how anyone can even afford it anymore.), please consider quitting. Everything people say is true. You can actually smell and taste again. You feel better and have more energy. You don't have to sneak outside to have a smoke or run out in the middle of the night to buy a pack anymore.

You simply are no longer a slave to your addiction and there is so much freedom to that.

[LARED]

1. congrats

It's been 11 years for me

[Champ]

2. Congratulations

It's good to quit a bad habit like that. :toast:

[jono]

3. Congratulations, prolesunited!!

That is SO excellent! I have been cigarette-free for two and a half months (ok, except for a couple early slip-ups) and it feels great. I'm finally past the point where the thought is crossing my mind constantly. Getting much easier! I didn't think it would be possible either - I started young and had already smoked nearly 10 years.

Here's to ditching cancer sticks!

:toast: :toast:

[BlackVelvetElvis]

4. Congratulations!

How did you get through the times when you craved one really bad?

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

5. Congratulations!!

I'm very proud of you. I've never smoked, but I know what a powerful habit it is and how difficult it is to quit. You can be very proud of what you've done, and your family will thank you, too.

[greatauntoftriplets]

6. Congratulations!

You can use the money saved to buy gas now! My parents both smoked (mother quit years ago) and that turned me off of cigarettes, so I never started. You made an excellent decision.

[Mrs. Venation]

7. Congratulations!

I quit in 1989. It's one of the best things I ever did for myself.

:yourock:

[TheDebbieDee]

8. Congrats...............

I had my first anniversary as a non-smoker on Monday, May 17th.

[salin]

9. congrats! and pass me

some of that will power (time for me to quit!)

[Teddy_Salad]

10. Well done!!!

6 years for me.

Geez, time goes fast.

[arwalden]

11. Outstanding... I know what you're talking about, because

I'm not far behind you. June 10 will be two years for me too.

Sometimes I think that it's very difficult for non-smokers (who have never smoked) to understand what an accomplishment it is to have given up cigarettes.

So... from a fellow ex-smoker, I say CONGRATULATIONS! A bit pat-on-the-back and a tip-of-the-hat to you my friend!!

Allen

[GOPisEvil]

12. Excellent!

Congratulations!

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

13. how did you do it?

i'm trying to quit myself

[NNadir]

14. Great! I'm really happy for you and for your family.

No one should have to watch they love die from lung cancer. I've done it, and if you have children, you have spared them many nightmares.

[BurtWorm]

15. Congratulations, proles!

I'm in my fourth month as a nonsmoker myself. Can't wait to get to your stage. Actually, I can wait, come to think of it, but I'll be proud when I get there, and you deserve to be proud too. :toast:

[prolesunited]

16. Thanks all!

Probably shouldn't have posted and left the house to run an errand. I'm at work now and I'll get to some responses later when I have time.

[NightTrain]

17. Good for you!!!

I wish my father had been able to quit. God knows he tried enough times. Unfortunately, the habit finally took its toll on dad and killed him in January 1998. He was only 62. :cry:

[SarahB]

18. Congrats!

I was a very light smoker and went back and forth with no smoking and my 3-5 cigs a day for years. Several times, I went years without one, but then pick it up again (just a little). Last year I had enough and even though it's been a stressful time, I haven't picked it up again. Haven't been sick in a long time either.
:toast: To smoke free lungs!

[SnohoDem]

19. AWESOME!

I know what it's like. I battled it off and on for years. Haven't had a cigarette in about nineteen months.

[dae]

20. Congratulations, I just made 9 years.myself and do not miss it.

[newyawker99]

21. Congrats prolesunited!!

That is great! Keep up the good work! :thumbsup: