"Don't let the fear of losing be greater than the excitement of winning."
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I started smoking when I went to National Service (NS). The people around me were all smoking. I also felt at that time,
like a real grown-up - I wanted to be "abang-abang" big brother!
My family members were initially shocked to see me smoking but they accepted it. It was to them like I had grown up -
going through the rite of passage because my father and brothers are all smokers.
I did not start smoking at school although my father and brothers were already smoking, partly because I had no money to
buy cigarettes. I also felt that the influence was not as strong as in NS.
I started off smoking about 5 sticks per day and over the years it had increased to 20 sticks per day. I remember at some
period of my life when I was working on a very tight schedule while completing a project,
I could easily smoke 30 - 40 sticks per day without realising it.
I thought I felt very relaxed when I smoked. I felt it helped me to think whenever I am stressed at work. However, looking back
after I have quit smoking, that is not so! Without cigarettes,
I am more relaxed and can actually think better.
I tried about 4-5 times to quit but each attempt lasted only about 2 weeks. I think I failed at that time because I did not have
much support. I felt that I was on my own to ward off the influence.
I had no direction and did not know where to get help. I gave up after the urges became too strong.
Mohd Yusof with his family in Bali.I then saw the newspaper report on the Muharram Challenge and decided to take up
the Challenge. I had been waiting for an opportunity to quit.
My children were also rejecting me from hugging them because of the smell of cigarettes! I am glad I joined the Challenge as it
provided me with the support and direction that I needed to quit.
I felt that the Challenge was an effective quit plan for me. I became very serious in my attempts. My family members and I had
to prepare ourselves for the random smokerlyser tests and the quizzes.
The phone quizzes also helped reinforce my willpower and increased my knowledge on smoking and its health risks.
It was tough to stop smoking. I gained 3-4 kg because I replaced urges for cigarettes with food. I was really enjoying the food,
as somehow the food tasted better after I quit smoking. During the initial period,
my weight increased from 71 kg to 75 kg. After 6 months of staying smoke-free, my weight reduced to 68 kg as I started jogging.
I feel much healthier and more relaxed now.
Out of curiosity, I tried taking a puff. It tasted horrible and I wondered how I could become hooked in the past.
I am very glad that I am smoke-free now.
I had been smoking for about 20 Years, inlcuding 6 years of "trying" to quit... What a journey!
But when I realized what it was all about, I was able to call it quits in the blink of an eye. That was over 6 years ago. I stopped counting the days at week 1 because my new identity was being a non-smoker again.
I didn't see the need to drag on counting how far I have moved away from being a smoker. I simply switched identities! One day you smoke - next day you don't. Loved it! (still do)
I wish everyone could do quit smoking like that. I feel for all those who have trouble quitting. There is really no way around it, but the ciggies don't fly into our mouth by themselves. We put them there.
And if we honour our own spirited choices, why would we ever have another puff?
When I was a smoker, I thought it was who I am. Once I discovered I could simply call myself a non-smoker and then behave like one... that was it - I made my choice and haven't regretted it since, on the contrary!
Just be gentle on yourselves, friends of all genders and nations - we all got scammed by what we thought was some cool and neccesary skill to aquire - when we were young and dumb. (remember the sick feeling in the beginning?)
Now that I know much about how smoking made me feel and how it made me a slave to the nicotine $$ industry.
I am FREE!
To all who are on this journey right now - bless you, you can be a non-smoker again - because you are born that way. All you have to do is...
Remember your natural non-smoker and let go of the poison!
Quit smoking happy :-)
I have been a smoker for over 43 years and never tried to quit. But with 3 young grandchildren under the age of 2, I realized they needed me to be there for them. Today is day 19 of not smoking and I'm not sure how I even feel.
I can't stop coughing and the last couple of nights wanted a smoke! I went for COPD tests recently and got some tips from the technician too. My main reason for quitting - I want to breathe!
COPD is not fun and it really does feel like your lungs are squeezing in.
I can't do that to myself anymore.
I started smoking at age 15 and quit at the age of 51. 36 years is a long time and quitting was not easy, but it was well worth the effort. I decided to quit one morning when I felt that my chest had a little more wheeze than normal.
I used nicotine lozengs for about 2 months and that was that.
I have been quit now for over 2 years. My clothes don't smell, my fingers are clean, I am no longer a slave to nicotine and my kids are proud of the old man.
I still get cravings,
but I have come too far and I am too stubborn to give in.
I do feel better and I do breathe easier.
Good luck to all starting down the quit path. Don't give up. You can do it.
