What's so great about not smoking?

[d2e8b8]

Being able to run.  I still can't believe that these lungs after years of abuse are able to cope with running.

[sgt.barney]

17 minutes ago, d2e8b8 said:

Being able to run.  I still can't believe that these lungs after years of abuse are able to cope with running.

Sarge ran his first Marathon as a smoker.
Time: 5:48

Sarge ran his second marathon as a non-smoker
Tme: 3:49

Same training plan. 
Same miles logged. 
Same race course. 

2 hours better simply by being able to breathe properly during training (and race day).

EZPZ 

[garry mhudson]

Congratulations Sarge! I remember running a couple myself before I became addicted to smoking in the late 1970`s. Wish I could return to running but just walk now. Still, that is a huge improvement and a wonderful accomplishment. Best wishes.

[brand.new.ela]

Discovering that I in fact like sport and being a couch potato isn’t my true nature. 

 

Taking a long look at myself and deciding to change concrete behaviors, and discovering the roots of those. 

 

Having this thing to be proud of, the quit. 

 

Not having to plan whole life around cigarette breaks. 

 

I could go on and on

[Christian99]

I had no idea--and I think few smokers do--of how the benefits would continue to emerge many years after the quit.  The quit helped/forced me to develop psychological resources that I still draw on today when I face different kinds of challenges.  Relatedly, I'm more patient, humble, and humane, and these things have made me a better friend, spouse, father, and teacher.  Now, I'm also more than a decade and a half older than I was when I quit, and I guess I'd hope that I'd grow as a person in such time regardless of quitting smoking; however, I'm convinced that the quit has directly impacted much of these positive changes--especially since I regularly use explicit imagery of my quit success to inspire or calm myself. 

 

Christian99

16 1/2 Years Quit