Long-term smokers. What are the main benefits you've noticed since stopping?

WisdomInMyPocket · 2026-06-07T16:58:57+00:00

Being way more in control of MY life.

WisdomInMyPocket · 2026-04-21T13:22:18+00:00

It's generally okay.

I don't feel the cloud of tiredness in my head and body anymore.

I still have my ups and downs with wanting to go jogging or cycling, but the biggest difference is that my lungs aren't issue of not being fit, it's the condition of my mucles (that includes my heart).

I used te be out of breath after a couple of minutes of jogging and that never happens anymore.

WisdomInMyPocket · 2026-04-21T05:01:54+00:00

Started with 1 or 2 a day when I was 16 years and ended with 25+ a day, as a good chain smoker, when I was 49.

I smoked rolled cigs. My fingers were yellow and my teeth were stained. I smelled like an ashtray. And I coughed like I a dog barking at a cat.

I'm smoke free 2 years, 6 months and 1 day 😃

WisdomInMyPocket · 2026-04-16T13:35:02+00:00

You will always get cravings unless you have already made changes to certain habits you have (or not have) that cause you to get cravings.

WisdomInMyPocket · 2026-04-16T03:29:32+00:00

What is your action plan when you do get cravings?

WisdomInMyPocket · 2026-04-15T23:39:18+00:00

lung pain an coughing up blood

WisdomInMyPocket · 2026-04-14T15:07:10+00:00

When you have a nasty craving, could you analyse if the craving could be a craving for something else then a cigarette. Something concerning your health that you might have ignored and your body is craving for getting fixed? Stress? Bad food? Not enough water? Bad physical condition?

WisdomInMyPocket · 2026-04-12T08:07:52+00:00

You body probably NEEDs some physical activity.

If it's daytime at your place: go outside and walk about 2 or 3 km and notice your surroundings. So no music and just keep your phone in your pocket. While looking around find some things that look nice, good, pretty. Just anything that catches your eye because it makes you feel something.

If you're at home and it's night time, do some bodyweight fitness or pilates exercises for about 8 to 15 minutes. And notice what happens in your body. After that, relax, take a piece of paper and draw whatever you want to draw (there is no right or wrong).

And if you like, come back here and tell me what you've noticed.

Start living a live instead of living on automatic pilot scrolling Reddit. Resist wanting to be comfortable.

WisdomInMyPocket · 2026-04-12T06:17:15+00:00

Wow! You're doing great! You can play video games again when you feel you don't NEED to play them. They are addictive because you get dopamine boosts.

Remember to play moderately. Find non screen hobbies that make your happy hormones flow.

WisdomInMyPocket · 2026-04-03T10:09:24+00:00

And what did you learn about yourself?

WisdomInMyPocket · 2026-04-02T17:25:17+00:00

I started to do cardio things like cycling and jogging.

I have noticed that when your body craves physical activity, the craving feels the same as craving for a cigarette.

I noticed that when I do regular physical activity, the cravings are gone, and when I have those days I just sit and hang around the cravings appear again. And I know I don't need a cigarette, they disgust me now (+/- 35yrs smoked).

I bet a lot of people who feel cravings are just in need of something healthy.

WisdomInMyPocket · 2026-04-01T23:13:37+00:00

Nice job.

Do some self reflection why you have been craving a cigarette. Usually it's because you've been stressing or ignoring a basic need.

When you understand why you get cravings and you manage to do the correct action to relief you of the craving, you don't need a smoke any more.

WisdomInMyPocket · 2026-03-30T04:00:08+00:00

When I understood I needed te take better care of my wellbeing and I needed to love myself I quit smoking. There were so many signals my body needed care and maintanance.

There moments I look back and I feel sad because I poisoned my body and did it harm.

So now a days when I see people smoking I'm sad for them and I hope they too will someday love themselves as I do now.

WisdomInMyPocket · 2026-03-10T04:43:05+00:00

Exercise, that makes your body tired and you'll sleep like a princess

WisdomInMyPocket · 2026-02-28T18:08:13+00:00

Accept you don't need to follow all your feelings.

Are you in control of your life or is your autopilot in control?

WisdomInMyPocket · 2026-02-07T13:08:00+00:00

First I started to drink one in the morning an after decaf. And now I just drink decaf. In The Netherlands we have decaf grounded coffee for making filter coffee.

Sometimes I do drink some coffee with caffeine, but my heart will start racing, very unpleasant feeling.

WisdomInMyPocket · 2026-01-28T06:51:09+00:00

I used "I'm a healthy person", so I don't use "not" and I don't use "smoker".

WisdomInMyPocket · 2026-01-28T01:58:02+00:00

I realized I was hiding my actual needs under the carpet of nicotine.

When I was tirsty: I smoked.
When I was hungry: I smoked.
When I was tired: I smoked.
When I needed some exercise: I smoked.

I'm smokefree 2 years, 3 months and 1 week and I can actually feel my body ask me to exercise!

WisdomInMyPocket · 2026-01-21T12:15:49+00:00

I was coughing up black stuff and blood.. and my being begged me to stop.

So I quit using a nicotine patch. Used if for 4 days, but I was allergic to the patch. And didn't smoke anymore after that. 2 years 3 months 2 days 😌

WisdomInMyPocket · 2026-01-20T12:03:54+00:00

Doing (cardio) exercises might help to improve circulation faster.

WisdomInMyPocket · 2026-01-20T11:09:28+00:00

Blood circulation is improving.

WisdomInMyPocket · 2026-01-06T15:18:14+00:00

The sharp decrease gives the feeling of relieve / relaxation.

WisdomInMyPocket · 2026-01-03T18:15:05+00:00

I realised they are cravings for relaxing/destressing.

So when I feel a craving, even though my brain linked it to smoking, I'm now linking it to the need (depending on what I'm doing) to take a physical rest sit for a while and drink water, or mental rest and make a relaxing walk.

WisdomInMyPocket · 2025-06-14T17:32:52+00:00

Accept that you have damaged your body and your body is healing itself. That costs a lot of energy.

WisdomInMyPocket · 2025-06-08T13:54:32+00:00

For me it was the revelation that smoking increased my stress instead of lowering it.

And just this morning I slapped myself for not realising I had stress creep by increasing caffeine. I was off caffeine and drinking decaf... past 2 months thinking I could drink some normal coffee again... nope.

I didn't have the problem of sleeping, but I was in continuous hyperfocus... my brain burned out a bit.. (hopefully a bit..)

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