How your life changes when you quit smoking and alcohol

My name is Irina, I’m 37 years old, 20 of which I’ve been smoking. During this time, my lungs were destroyed, my skin turned pale, and other health problems appeared. That is why half a year ago I decided once and for all to give up cigarettes, and with it alcohol.

readers of incredible.clubtoday I will tell you what tricks I used and what I had to go through to get rid of these bad habits.

At 17, I smoked my first cigarette. That’s why, today, I have 20 years of experience as a smoker. During all that time, I don’t remember a single day when I went without smoking of my own free will. I was very fond of smoking, I did not intend to give up and never tried. The only time nicotine left me was probably during cold spells.

I’ve heard many stories of people who simply made the decision and let go of their unhealthy habits. They seemed invented to me, as I honestly believed that habits are stronger and not so easy to get rid of them.

To get back to my long-lost fitness, I signed up for the gym, and after the first workout, I realized that my respiratory system wasn’t working so well anymore. When I did my exercises with a trainer, I felt terribly uncomfortable because after two minutes on the treadmill I was like a horse finishing a race and unable to catch my breath.

That’s why, when I left practice, I grabbed a pack of cigarettes that was still unopened in my pocket and threw it in the trash. That’s where I started my journey towards a nicotine-free life, which I’ve been on for half a year now.

The first night without cigarettes was easy: the workouts in the gym left me so tired that I fell into bed exhausted and fell asleep as soon as I walked through the door.

Finally, the first nicotine-free Friday in 20 years arrived. During the day I had a lot of work, so I spent it thinking about cigarettes. But that was just the beginning.

On Friday afternoons, I used to relax with a few cans of beer and a movie. But, not to complicate the nicotine anxiety, I also made the decision to forego alcohol. I bought a two liter bottle of Coca-Cola, about the same amount of beer I would drink, and started watching my favorite series. Previously, I took a break every half hour and went outside for a smoke. Now, to satiate my craving for nicotine, I went to the kitchen and tried to eat something healthy. This did not help: after an hour, the desire to smoke became unbearable, and I decided to go to sleep.

On Sunday, I didn’t feel like smoking. In the morning I got up with a terrible cold; so I couldn’t even think about food, let alone cigarettes.

On Monday I felt better, but the addiction came back again. Since it was very difficult to fight the desire to smoke, I decided to try electronic cigarettes. On Tuesday afternoon, the electronic cigarette ran out. Its effect was nil, and the desire to smoke has not gone anywhere.

To cheer myself up, I’ve listed here some of the “+” and “-” advantages of a tobacco-free life during that time.

Shortly after, I was about to explode. I attacked my friend and the cat, then apologized to both of them. On Thursday afternoon, I completely stopped replying to my friends’ messages. I went to sleep at 10 pm, although usually by then I was just ready for dinner. I dreamed of cigarettes.

Not caring that by the end of the week my nerves were about to explode, I didn’t go out and talk to anyone. The first week without cigarettes was successful.

The second week began with the fact that you could smell the tobacco smoke coming from the front door: my neighbor likes to smoke in the hallway, and if I had not noticed this before, now, by the strong “aroma”, I literally started to feel nauseous. The fourth week was New Years, and I withstood my first rigorous test: being in the company of four smokers, who took a smoke break every five minutes. Each time, I felt like going out with them, but I was stopped by one thing: the result I got was very valuable. One incomparable feeling was that, the next morning, I was the only one who didn’t have a hangover or a cough from the massive amount of cigarettes. Thus began the new year. I made a list of the things I wanted to do. Over the holidays, it was the first time in 15 years that I had put on my skates again. Also, when the weather allowed, I went skiing. My lungs worked well, they breathed easily and freely.

The bike I bought with the money I saved.

Half a year has passed. The desire to smoke rarely visited me, and in those 6 months I only drank beer twice, at parties, and it was only one glass. Going out with company has become rare, now I much prefer an active pastime and have returned to my English course.

What has changed in my life? In general, nothing. Just a few things.

Disadvantages:

I began to communicate less often with some acquaintances. Apparently, the only thing we shared was going out to the pub together. It was harder to let go of the stress. Physical exercises, which many recommend as a means of relieving nervous tension, in my case, work poorly. I became more moody in general. Possibly, this will pass a little later, but I still try to deal with it in my own strength. I started chewing sunflower seeds instead of smoking cigarettes and this had negative repercussions on my teeth. I intend to end this habit soon. Instead of beer, I opted for diet soda. I consume it once a week, on Fridays, when I watch series. But I intend to exchange it for tea, I even bought a large cup.

Benefits:

The constant cough, which had been with me for 10 years, disappeared. The lungs are clean after 20 years of smoking, for which I thank my organism that I poisoned it for so many years. My memory has improved. It is possible that this is related to the rejection of alcohol. A friend, whom I hadn’t seen for a year and a half, said that my complexion had improved a lot and my wrinkles had diminished. My financial expenses went down, and with the money saved, I bought a bicycle: I spent approximately 100 dollars a month on cigarettes and alcohol, so I saved for three months to buy a simple bicycle. Now I can go up to the ninth floor without suffocating. Possibly this is related not only to the absence of cigarettes, but also to physical activity.

Of course, stopping nicotine and alcohol won’t solve all of life’s problems, but it will certainly make you healthier and I’m sure it will be for a long time. So, join!