Rose Ann Snow (Inuvik)

When did you quit smoking?

It will be 11 years this November that I quit smoking. My husband had quit 5 years before me, so it was a great encouragement for me to quit too. My coughing and clogged up lungs was sounding worse and worse. I had quit smoking in the house a long time ago and then quit smoking in the garage shortly after and continued to smoke outside. I had 13 entries in my bible for quit dates!  Each time I failed. I was in Calgary and heard about this quit smoking laser therapist and decided to try it. I never stopped trying and tried everything. The laser heightened my endorphins and then was given some pointers of how to handle the first week before my endorphins came down to normal levels. I had to mix cream of tartar with some orange juice because this would cling onto the tar/nicotine in my body and flush it out quicker.

How do you feel about having quit now, all these years later?

I feel so thankful to NOT be smoking anymore.  I feel good and healthy!

Was it difficult to remain smoke-free? What were the main challenges?

I had also got a new Samsung phone and that kept my fingers and mind busy for the first week. After that it was pure determination to keep smoke free. My first trip after this was to France and EVERYONE in France smokes!!!  But I made it through. I still have smoking dreams waking up disappointed I started again but overjoyed to realize it was just a dream and that I was still smoke-free.

What was the best thing for you about quitting?

The best thing about quitting is my health!!! It was making me so sick but thankfully I feel so healthy now!

What advice would you give to someone who would like to quit smoking?

Keep trying to quit! Find what works for you! It is so much healthier and cleaner and fresher not smoking!

William Koe (Fort McPherson)

When did you quit smoking?

Today, I have been smoke free for 11 years and on October 10, 2022 I will be smoke free for 12 years. In 2011 I went to a treatment program in Victoria, and I was told if I’m a smoker and I said yes, “well by Tomorrow you wouldn’t be smoking” and that was it! So, I made sure I smoked enough cigarettes that night and threw about ½ pack away in the bush and said, “good bye”.

How do you feel about having quit now, all these years later?

It was very difficult when I smoke, and it was hard on my body and I use to cough a lot and breathe very hard and it was hard to walk and do my physical activity.

Was it difficult to remain smoke-free? What were the main challenges?

The challenges were watching others smoke or smelling it. I had a smoke free home that way I don’t taste it or smell it.

What was the best thing for you about quitting?

The best thing about quit smoking…it is so expensive and costly, no one ask for cigarettes. You live a healthy life…you have good breathing system and it is free from all the sickness you get… and you don’t have to worry about cancer or any other sickness…

What advice would you give to someone who would like to quit smoking?

At 65 years old my best advice is to quit as it is a disease. It kills and you don’t know when you will get sick with a cigarette, and you save a lot of money that you can use for better purposes.

I took a pack at $22.00 x 30 days = $660.00/month x 12 months = $7,920.00 / year. x 12 years = $95,040.00

That is a lot of money to spent on cigarettes and then it kills you… so think about that and do what I did which was quit cold-turkey. I threw it away and never took it back.

Jennifer Konisenta (Nahanni Butte)

When did you quit smoking?

I quit smoking on December 25th, 2010.

How do you feel about having quit now, all these years later?

I feel amazing after all these years! There wasn’t a time I craved it, not at all!

Was it difficult to remain smoke-free? What were the main challenges?

No actually, it wasn’t difficult at all to quit, I know I had to quit once I found out that I was pregnant with my first child, I just knew that was it for me, I didn’t want to continue smoking.

What was the best thing for you about quitting?

The best thing for me for quitting is that I am healthy & happy!

What advice would you give to someone who would like to quit smoking?

Don’t give up! Once you know you want to quit just keep thinking positive, keep telling yourself you need to do what’s best for your health!

Steve Lacey (Yellowknife)

When did you quit smoking?

First of all, I don’t say that I've quit smoking. I know that if I have just one, just for the heck of it, in spite of not having had one for over thirty years I’ll be back to a pack or more a day within a very short time. Cigarette smoking is very insidious in that respect (and others, of course). So instead, I say that I’ve stopped, keeping me aware of the fact that I could start again.

Having said that, the last cigarette I smoked was around Christmas in 1987.

I started smoking in my mid-teens. I wouldn’t have said this at the time, but I started so I could feel like I was one of the crowd. I didn’t seriously try to stop until my late 20s. I wanted to take flying lessons, but they were expensive, so I made a deal with my wife and myself that I’d give the cigarettes up and use the money I saved to pay in part for the lessons. It worked, too, for that purpose. But after I achieved my private pilot’s license I suddenly found myself back to a pack a day.

About eight years later I made a bet with a colleague, that I would stop smoking if he--or she, I can’t remember which it was--also gave up something unnecessary, and again my memory fails as to what that was. I nearly succeeded: I managed to stay clean long enough to claim that I’d won the bet. But once again it was not long before I was back into the habit.

Three years after that, we were at my parents-in-law’s home for Christmas holidays. I came down with a strong case of a winter flu. It was hard to eat, difficult to drink, and impossible to smoke. I had heard—and I believed it was true—that stopping a bad habit can be a matter of threes: the first three days are the worst; if you get past that and up to three weeks, you’re doing pretty well; if you make it to three months, you’re justified in saying you’ve almost succeeded; and at three years you’ve done it. Well, it was about five days before I felt pretty well recovered from this flu—five days of no smoking. I realized I had the opportunity to make it really happen this time. And sure enough, I was able to pass the milestones successfully. And now, 35 years later, I think it’s fair to say I’ve succeeded in stopping smoking.

How do you feel about having quit now, all these years later?

I feel that I still have to be careful. I’m not tempted to start again, even when I’m near someone else who is smoking (and others smoking doesn't bother me), but because of the earlier failed attempts I can’t be sure enough of myself, so I speak sternly to myself and so far I’ve not regretted it. 

Was it difficult to remain smoke-free? What were the main challenges?

The main problem was thinking that just one wouldn’t hurt. In my first attempts to stop, I let myself believe that, and the consequence was that I got hooked back in. My flu-driven attempt has so far been successful partly because I don’t allow myself to think that way any more.

What was the best thing for you about quitting?

Saving money. Back then, everything was cheaper, including cigarettes—a 25 pack might cost less than a dollar—but the drain on the family finances was still noticeable. Today, of course, it would be twenty or fifty times worse, so I sometimes remind myself of how much worse our financial position would be if I were burning that much money. I feel that I’ve done something worthwhile for my family in that respect, if no other, by stopping smoking.

What advice would you give to someone who would like to quit smoking?

Remember the rule of threes: three days and you’re past the very worst; three weeks and you’re nearly there; three months and you can start feeling that you’re succeeding; three years and you can start bragging.

Also: find the method that works for you. Some folks can’t do it without “the patch”; some can do it if they remind themselves of the money they’re saving; some can do it only if someone helps; and so on. I don’t recommend using the method that worked for me, though: stopping a long-time smoking habit can make you feel physically rotten, and having the flu or something worse at the same time makes it lots more than twice as bad.

And finally, don’t say you’ve quit. Be realistic. Take pride in stopping but remember that you might get hooked again very easily, and use “I stopped” rather than “I quit."

Jessica Falconi-Rossouw (Yellowknife)

When did you quit smoking?

On July 15, 2020, I found out I was pregnant. It was not a planned pregnancy and up until that day I was smoking 1/2 pack a day.  I had many previous attempts to quit smoking but all failed, but finding out I was pregnant meant I was no longer quitting for myself.  I quit cold turkey the moment I got my positive pregnancy test and have been a non-smoker since. 

How do you feel about having quit now, all these years later?

I feel healthier, my lungs feel cleaner and stronger.  I also feel proud of myself when I think about how long it's been, how hard it was, and I feel proud to say I am a non-smoker.

Was it difficult to remain smoke-free? What were the main challenges?

I struggled for YEARS to quit smoking. I would quit temporarily for maybe a week or two, and fall back into it one way or another.  I found if I had a drink of alcohol, it would make me want a smoke even more and that is usually when I'd cave and start smoking again. When I found out I was pregnant I knew it was time to quit for good. For the first week or so it was really hard to quit because I was a bit in shock that I was pregnant, it didn't feel real.  In a way it made me want to smoke more, but I forced myself not to and my partner was very supportive in helping distract me from it as well.  Once reality set in after the first week, it felt way easier to stop and anytime I had a craving I just thought about the little life growing inside me.  After a couple weeks, I didn't even think about smoking anymore.  My mind was occupied thinking about the new chapter of my life that was about to begin.

What was the best thing for you about quitting?

The best thing about quitting now is to no longer have to battle with myself trying to stop.  It's like some evil demon was finally gone away for good and even when I think about how much I enjoyed the act of smoking, I don't want to have one again because I know where it will lead me.  It feels amazing to have my daughter and not have to worry about her breathing second hand smoke or smelling the nicotine on my hands or clothes.  It is the best to be her mom and know I am setting a good example for her.

What advice would you give to someone who would like to quit smoking?

Get pregnant! Just kidding. It is hard to give general advice because quitting is a personal challenge that looks different for everyone.  So, what I would say is this: never give up trying to quit.  Even if you fail, and you probably will at least once, it IS possible to quit again and for good.  Try to find what it is for you that makes you succeed, even if it means quitting for someone else; a kid, a spouse, a mom, dad, friend who has cancer, etc. Because doing it for someone else is still saving yourself when you're successful.  Just don't give up.  And any amount of time that you do succeed is still a success even if you go back to smoking.  Anytime smoke free is better than nothing

Jenny Wasylkoski (Yellowknife)

When did you quit smoking? 

I quit smoking November 2020  (smoker since high school). I quit because I got health scare, was told they found spots in my right lung so I quit a week after I was told (waiting for meds to help me quit so I didn’t quit right on the spot). Turns out, after another X-ray, the spots were not there after all. Not sure what happened. But it helped me quit and I have been smoke free since. And hoping this is it.

How do you feel about having quit now, all these years later?

I am feeling a lot better, less headaches, not stinky. And having more time to do things, when you look at all the times you go outside for a smoke, like for example going out every hour for 5-7 mins that’s like 90 mins in a day that you spend smoking in a 16 hr day. I think that says a lot. 

Was it difficult to remain smoke free? What were the main challenges?

Yes, it was very difficult for me as it was both a stress releaser and also enjoyed smoking in the spring time especially ice fishing season. Also, most of my friends/family are smokers so it was kind of hard to be around smokers at first. But now I can tolerate it.

What was the best thing for you about quitting?

Feeling healthier, less headaches, money of course, and hearing from my grandkids that they are happy that I don’t smoke anymore.

What advice would you give to someone who would like to quit smoking?

First all, quit for yourself, you will quit when you are ready. Don’t get discouraged if you tried to quit and didn’t succeed, keep trying, don’t give up.