72 days without smoking

Hello there.

After 19 years of smoking and numerous failed quitting attempts, I finally think I made it.

I was never a heavy smoker. The days when I'd finish a pack were few and far between. But still it took me 19 years to come to my senses and throw that stuff away.

Throughout the years there were a few attempts to quit. All failed due to lack of will. Two years ago I tried quitting with cytisine tablets. It didn't work out, again. Actually it went quite badly as I managed to become a 3 year old kid that was throwing temper tantrums every 5 seconds.

I knew I failed but smoking was on borrowed time with me. Evry 2-3 months since then I was thinking that I should try again and quit.

The breaking point was this May. I was in the yard, sitting, smoking, when my two year old daughter came to me wanting a hug. Sadly my first thought was "ah! Now I won't be able to finish my cigarette. I should tell my daughter to go to her mother, so I can finish the cigarette.". Dad of the year if I may say so myself.

But this event ended up being the light bulb that went off. Those cigarettes were not as important as my kids.

On the 2nd of June I had to go to the office(return to office policy baby) and I forgot my cigarette at home. Went to the office, realised that I had no smokes and instead of going and buying a pack I went to a pharmacy and bought cytisine tablet. I saw the potential of going to the office as a gtreat opportunity to break the habit to which I was used to at home. And it worked.

Interestingly enough, I managed to forget the cytisine tablets at home for my second day and I didn't use them any more.

The first two weeks were the most difficult. But I was a man with a plan. I replaced smoking with a cup of water. Every time I wanted a smoke, I got up, got a glass of water, went outside for 5 minutes and came back inside. I was basically replacing the smoking break with water drinking. And yes, I felt quite hydrated. But I felt hungry as well and I bet I put up 5 kilograms in that month.

After those 14 difficult days I think my need for a smoke dissappear like 95%. I even started going with colleagues on their smoke break and I did really get the urge to smoke.

And now, 72 days later I don't feel that much different to when I was smoking... However, my sense of smell... I think I know what it's to bea dog. So many things smell so much better and much stronger than before. Before my gf would be going around the house, talking about odd smells and for the life of me, if it wasn't in my face I wouldn't have sensed it. Now I'm the one going around the house looking for sources of various aromas.

But most importantly, my kids won't come to me and smell the horrible smell of an ashtray that has been soaking my clothes and skin for 19 f'n years. They won't be passive smokers like I was when I was a kid. That is the important bit.

To finish this post, I just want to say that I feel super proud that I managed to quit smoking. And if I did it, so can you!