After 28 years of smoking two packs a day, Bennington man finally kicks the habit

[Omaha Steve]

CHRIS MACHIAN/THE WORLD-HERALD
David Olsen and his children Aidan, 6, (left) Abby, 11, (right) work on craft projects at their Bennington home last month.


http://www.livewellnebraska.com/health/after-years-of-smoking-two-packs-a-day-bennington-man/article_256b9665-6131-54aa-bf62-c8c265b7972d.html

After 28 years of smoking two packs a day, Bennington man finally kicks the habit

Posted: Monday, January 5, 2015 12:00 am
Katy Glover / World-Herald staff writer

David Olsen looked like the other parents clapping and cheering on his daughter’s soccer team, but unlike the other parents, at halftime he snuck away to the parking lot to have a cigarette.

The longtime smoker lit up again when the game ended; for him, an embarrassing but hard habit to break. At home later that evening, he realized he was out. Then he made one of the most important decisions of his life: to go to bed instead of heading to the store to buy another pack.

The next morning, he quit.

That was 77 days ago. For any smoker, but especially one who spent 28 years lighting up, the number is remarkable.

FULL story at link.

[onethatcares]

1. 42 years of impersonating a chimney

up until 10 years ago. Cold turkey. 2-3 packs a day depending on whether I was drinking or not.

Pat that man on the back.

[Mojorabbit]

11. 39 for me

quit 6 years ago and am still amazed that I did it. I used e cig and chantix.

[Historic NY]

12. 10yrs for me......

I think off all that I saved.......including my life.

[bigwillq]

2. Good for him!

[Phentex]

3. Hope he keeps it up.

[Journeyman]

4. My best wishes for him. Toughest addiction I ever faced . . .

After fifteen years of 3 to 5 packs-a-day, I quit 29 years ago today. I still struggle with it. Most of the time, I catch a whiff and it nauseates me. But sometimes an errant cloud of smoke will draw me in and awaken the old desire. Either way, I beat a hasty retreat.

Best of luck to everyone who struggles to break addiction of every sort.

[Hekate]

5. How I wish my daughter would do that. My brother couldn't & now has emphysema

They were both about the same age when they started -- 12 y.o.

[Renew Deal]

6. This is good news, but why is it news?

[zappaman]

7. Incredible!

[WhiteTara]

8. The hardest part of quitting cigarettes is

the decision to quit. After the decision, it's all easy. But deciding...now that takes lots of guts.

[madokie]

9. I started puffing on cigarettes before I was in the first grade

and smoked them for years. finally on august 14 1977 I quit cold turkey. I was born in march of '48 so I puffed on them for years. I smoked two packs a day for at least 20 of those year.

[Jackpine Radical]

10. I quit after 20-some years in 1984. Went cold turkey.