I did it! I am $2,860 richer because one year ago I quit smoking! (ETA: Thanks!)

[Jackpine Radical]

71. I quit at age 39, more than 30 years ago. Tips from my experience:

1) The first thing that happened, starting the morning after the night of my last cigarette, is that my hemoglobin started to clear itself of carbon monoxide, so my blood's oxygen carrying capacity increased by about 25% within a day or so. I took advantage of this energy rush by dramatically increasing my level of exercise. I was at a time & place in my life where I could devote some time to biking, hiking & canoeing, and did so. The exercise caused my body to increase production of endorphins, which helped to quell some of my cravings.

2) I discovered that I actually didn't have a grand "smoking habit." I had a thousand little smoking habits--the first cig in the morning; the cig I grabbed when I started a phone call; the cig I lit when I got in the car; the cig with coffee, etc., and I had to figure out a way to confront and break each one of them. It isn't enough to just suppress the urge to smoke; it really helps to have a substitute.

3) For the first year or 2, I found tobacco smoke alluring. At some point, this turned to revulsion.

4) I still have dreams about relapsing. I think, even more than is the case with alcohol or certain other drugs, once you are a smoker, you remain at high risk of relapse for the rest of your life. People tell me of having been off cigarettes for years, then smoking one (maybe for a social reason), and instantly finding themselves with their old nicotine urge back in full force.

5) Whatever I had to go through to get off the damn things, it was worth it. It's like a rebirth of sorts. My quality of life improved hugely when I got off tobacco.