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Home » Lifestyle » Health & Beauty

12/21/2014

Kicking butts- I've been cigarette free for 1 year #HealthYourself

I only recommend products I use myself and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission.

My mom was a smoker. Many of my friends in high school were smokers. I eventually became a smoker too. I smoked cigarettes for years. I stopped when I had my sons then secretly started up again. When my step dad was sick with his brain cancer I found myself coping with cigarettes heavily. You'd think watching a 40 year smoker deal with not smoking while in the hospital and the toll it took on him would drive me to quitting but it didn't. Watching him die in the hospital made it worse. At the same time I was dealing with a separation. I felt all kinds of feelings I couldn't deal with all at the same time and smoking made me feel better, at least that's what I was thinking at the time.

Last December I had a falling out with some very close family members and then I had my first Christmas without a husband and my two kids. It was a very difficult time for me. It was then that I decided that I didn't want to deal with my issues and "cope" by smoking. I was hiding it from my kids. Staying in the bathroom in my room with the window open, going outside a lot when we were visiting others, going through a lot of Febreze and perfume. I'd finally had enough and didn't want to hide it anymore. If I had to hide it from my family it wasn't something I needed to be doing. I decided to stop buying cigarettes and told those closest to me to not buy or let me bum cigarettes from them. It was hard at first but I was determined. My boys deserved to have Mom around for as long as possible and with each cigarette I smoked I was taking time away from them because I know the tobacco and everything other horrible thing in a cigarette was doing all kinds of disgusting things to my body. Who wants to kiss a smoker? If they don't smoke it's like licking an ashtray. No one wants to buy items from you off eBay because you aren't a smoke free home. Cigarette smoke stinks and it turns things in your house yellow. Cigarettes were expensive. $3-4 a pack with me going through a couple packs a week. I was literally burning that money away.

I'm happy to be able to say that as of December 26, 2014 I have been cigarette/smoke free for one year. A great way to start the new year, right? New Years is the perfect time to focus on a new, improved you. Recently, CVS removed tobacco products from the shelves of all CVS/pharmacy stores nationwide and the company began a smoking cessation campaign to help patients become tobacco-free.

Studies show that smokers assisted by a health care provider have a greater chance of quitting smoking. MinuteClinic has a program to help those over 18 kick the habit, which includes personal counseling with a practitioner. What do you recommend for someone who says they are ready to quit?

· Ask for help and support from your family members.
· Consult with your primary care provider or MinuteClinic practitioner.
· It can be helpful to get the type of one-on-one education and coaching that MinuteClinic or another medical professional can offer.
· If you don’t have access to a MinuteClinic, any local CVS/pharmacist can also help you start on a customized smoking cessation program.

Is the MinuteClinic Smoking Cessation Program only for cigarette smokers?
No we can help those who use smokeless tobacco and some nicotine replacement therapies are effective for these users.

What is the cost of the program?
$69 for your initial assessment and visit and $59 for subsequent follow up visits and coaching sessions. Consult with your insurance provider, because visit costs might be covered under your plan.

How do the CVS/pharmacy and MinuteClinic smoking cessation programs differ?
Both the CVS/pharmacy and the MinuteClinic are safe and effective programs and offer patients a customized treatment plan that includes Nicotine Replacement Therapy. The MinuteClinic program, however, allows more time for one-on-one education and coaching with a nurse practitioner.

In addition to the smoking cessation program, MinuteClinic also offers Eyelash Lengthening Consultations, and a comprehensive Weight Loss Program, complete with personalized assessment, plan and ongoing coaching. Visit your local MinuteClinic in your CVS/pharmacy for more details and to get on the road to a better you for 2015.

disclaimer: This post is sponsored by CVS MinuteClinic but my story is my own.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mommy Mafia says

    December 22, 2014 at 12:09 pm

    Wow, the amount of strength it must have taken you to finally decide to quit. Bravo! I'm sure others are going to read your story and will want to take that step to be cigarette free too. The Minute Clinic program sounds like it would be awesome for people who are intimidated to go to a traditional doctor's office for help like this.

    Reply
  2. Dawn says

    January 26, 2015 at 3:50 pm

    Congratulations, and here's to your continued success. It's SO hard to stop smoking. =(

    Reply
  3. Robin (Masshole Mommy) says

    January 26, 2015 at 3:52 pm

    That is great - congrats. I often wonder what makes people take up smoking in the first place.

    Reply
  4. Tracie says

    January 26, 2015 at 5:19 pm

    Congratulations on being smoke free for a year. That is a really big accomplishment.

    Reply
  5. Debbie L. says

    January 26, 2015 at 5:23 pm

    CONGRATS!!!! One Year Anniversary!! Huge deal - I quit 10 years ago on 12/7/04. Before you know it you will be celebrating 10 years! Every smoker past & present knows that quitting smoking is a big deal and you desire congrats!!!!

    Reply
  6. Felicia says

    January 26, 2015 at 5:41 pm

    What a wonderful accomplishment! I know it is not easy. I am so glad that their are programs that help as well.

    Reply
  7. Shop with Me Mama (Kim) says

    January 26, 2015 at 6:04 pm

    so happy for you! Good for you! Must take a lot of strength to do this!

    Reply
  8. Kecia says

    January 26, 2015 at 6:16 pm

    Major kudos to you for quitting smoking! I can't stand the smell, and you're totally right about the eBay thing. I even ask before making a purchase in local FB groups.

    Reply
  9. Debbie Denny says

    January 26, 2015 at 6:22 pm

    Good for you. Great to have support.

    Reply
  10. Pam says

    January 26, 2015 at 8:36 pm

    Congrats on being smoke free for a year! That takes a lot of willpower. Cigarettes are so expensive, like you said!

    Reply
  11. Liz Mays says

    January 26, 2015 at 9:42 pm

    It's so cool that CVS has the MinuteClinic now. Congratulations on your smoke free year!

    Reply
  12. Theresa says

    January 26, 2015 at 10:00 pm

    Congrats on your 1 year smoke free! I am 12 years this summer. I quit cold turkey, but I am glad to hear there are resources at the Minute Clinic for those who need a little help along the way.

    Reply
  13. Crystal says

    January 26, 2015 at 11:38 pm

    Congrats! That's such a huge accomplishment. I have seen family members in their journey, and quitting is no small feat!

    Reply
  14. Kay Adeola says

    January 27, 2015 at 5:26 am

    Congrats on managing to quit that is a great achievement.

    Reply
  15. Rosey says

    January 27, 2015 at 8:41 am

    Congrats to you. One year is a big deal. It's nice to be smoke-free too, huh? 🙂

    Reply
  16. Jeanine says

    January 27, 2015 at 9:40 am

    Wow that's amazing! Great for you! Hoping my husband has such success as he's trying to quit himself!

    Reply
  17. Elizabeth says

    January 27, 2015 at 9:50 am

    Congrats- what a huge accomplishment!

    Reply
  18. Christie says

    January 27, 2015 at 10:27 am

    What an amazing accomplishment! Quitting smoking is no easy feat, congrats!

    Reply
  19. Melissa says

    January 27, 2015 at 10:50 am

    Congratulations! That is huge! I love what CVS is doing.

    Reply
  20. April Decheine says

    January 27, 2015 at 11:46 am

    That is so awesome, I am trying to get my husband to quit, he only smokes when he has a beer, otherwise he hates cigarettes!

    Reply
  21. Beth says

    January 27, 2015 at 11:53 am

    Congrats on being smoke free for a year. Such a healthy decision for you and your family.

    Reply
  22. Chrystal says

    January 27, 2015 at 4:00 pm

    My mom is a smoker. She has been for most of my life. She lost her dad a few years ago to lung cancer. I had hoped that would get her going on quitting.

    Reply
  23. Amber C. says

    January 27, 2015 at 7:05 pm

    Congrats! That is so awesome! I have quiet many times over the past few years, but I believe I have recently quit for the last time! No going back for me!

    Reply
  24. Chrysa says

    January 27, 2015 at 9:58 pm

    What a huge accomplishment. You should be very proud of yourself. Thanks for sharing the clinic info, too.

    Reply
  25. Jessica (Savory Experiments) says

    January 27, 2015 at 10:02 pm

    Good for you! What a huge accomplishment. It takes a lot of will power to do something like this.

    Reply
  26. Mary O'Malley says

    January 28, 2015 at 2:05 am

    Congrats on being smoke free for a year! That's fantastic.

    Reply
  27. Tiffany (A Mom's Take) says

    January 28, 2015 at 10:24 am

    That's great! Good for you 🙂 That's a huge accomplishment. I wish I can help encourage my husband to stop smoking. It's not easy though when said person isn't ready.

    Reply
  28. Camesha says

    January 28, 2015 at 10:32 pm

    Bravo to you for quitting! Both my parents used to be smokers. It drove me nuts. I'm relieved they both quit.

    It's awesome that CVS has stepped up to encourage and support people to leave the cigarettes alone!

    Reply
  29. Gabriel Bregg says

    January 29, 2015 at 12:18 am

    Well done! I have a friend who started smoking just because he noticed they got more breaks at his job. 25 years later, he's still smoking. He's tried a few times to quit but hasn't gotten it to stick yet.

    Reply
  30. Melissa says

    January 29, 2015 at 1:37 pm

    That is awesome that you have been smoke free for so long. I wished my parents would take that step too.

    Reply
  31. Kelly Hutchinson says

    January 30, 2015 at 11:01 am

    Good for you! I have been smoke free for almost 3 years and it feels great!

    Reply

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