Much to Be Thankful For After Quitting Smoking

I've officially been smoke-free for nearly three weeks. Eighteen days, to be exact. That's 18 days without a singular puff of a cigarette.

If you listen to the Morning Show, you've likely heard me talk about my smoking addiction, and my 13-year "love" affair with cigarettes. You've also heard about my struggles to quit, and how this time, I'm doing it with no nicotine replacement, i.e. cold turkey, a method that often gets a bad rap, but is really the quickest way to get over the nicotine-withdrawal stage of quitting.

I feel stronger every day and no longer longingly look at convenience stores as I drive by them, fantasizing about the colorful boxes behind the counter. In the early days of quitting I took things at 15-minute intervals: Assuring myself through cravings that I could make it another 15 minutes smoke-free. Now I'm taking it a day at a time, promising myself each morning that I won't take a single puff that day.

The best part? According to the Smoke Free app I've been using, not only have I been smoke-free for nearly 19 days, but have also saved $110 and not smoked 284 cigarettes that I would have smoked had I not quit — that's more than 14 packs! With Thanksgiving tomorrow, I have a lot to be thankful for.

I cannot urge any smokers out there to give quitting a try as well. I swear that if I can do it, so can you and there's free resources out there to help you. The folks at A Smoke-Free Paso del Norte initiative have helped me, and can do the same for you. Visit them online to set your own quit date and follow my quitting journey here.