#QuitStories Shawn's Story
I don’t really know how I quit to be completely honest. I had been smoking for 18 years and had attempted to quit countless times.
I play a lot of sports, and it truly started getting embarrassing how fast I would be out of breath. In hockey there are three guys on each line, and I would be coming off the ice so early because I was out of breath all the time, so much so that the lines would get messed up for the team. The fact that I was so young, yet so out of breath that I couldn’t play my usual level of hockey with my friends started weighing heavily on my mind.
I’m in the military and they require you to complete a fitness test when you apply to join – it is an extreme test of your cardiovascular strength. With 12 years of smoking under my belt, I really struggled throughout the fitness test and almost didn’t make it. I was very close to not passing and having to go on the waiting list or waiting a year to try again.
Trying to quit smoking was especially hard in my social life. I would go out to socialize with my friends on a regular basis and one of the hardest things for me to do was to make it through an evening without giving into the temptation of smoking a cigarette.
When it came to quitting smoking, I tried everything. I used patches, prescription medicine, vaping, hypnotism, almost anything to stop, but I kept picking it back up. Then one day, I just got so sick of trying to quit smoking. I believe my body did too, I knew it was over.
I strongly believe that when your mind and body are ready, you’ll quit smoking.
“I wanted to inspire others to quit smoking, give it another try, it could be the one.”
Shawn's tip to quit smoking:
"If I were to give one piece of advice to someone who is trying to quit smoking, it would be to not give up. Never stop trying. Yes, you’re going to fail, and when you do, just try harder the next time – you will get there."
Shawn's quit story (transcript) |
Words on screenLiving a smoke-free life is possible. I failed over and over again until I knew I was ready to quit smoking. This is Shawn's quit story. Video descriptionClose up of a man with red hair and a red beard, sitting in front of a blue fabric background. ManI'm Shawn Sager I'm from Napanee Ontario. I'm currently working up in the base in the military. Words on screenDid smoking have an affect on your physical health? ShawnGetting into the military, it does have a large fitness test. The required part of it is a good, like, a test of your cardiovascular strength, I guess. I struggled. I struggled and I know I struggled because, well, if I was just... I think if I was a normal person who wasn't smoking, just right off the street, that would have been a breeze. I would have just walked right through it. But doing it with, you know, probably... 12 years of smoking under your belt, it was really difficult for me and I almost didn't make it in. I was very close to to not being accepted. Words on screenHow man times did you try to quit smoking? ShawnI'd say thirty plus times I tried to legitimately quit and just failed over and over until I knew I was ready. When I knew I was ready was I went to a musical festival with some friends and I think smoked five or six packs of cigarettes in a weekend. And I said I'm never going to smoke again when I came back, and I never did. Words on screenHow did you quit smoking? ShawnI tried Champ X, which I was actually successful with but then I just went back to smoking after. I tried with patches the gum, you know, cold turkey that was how I finally ultimately quit smoking. Words on screenWhat supports or programs are available at your workplace? ShawnMy workplace... yes, they do have multiple programs for people to aid in quit smoking and the number one being the Butt Out program, which is very hands on. I think they meet, like, once a week and they go in and talk you know, "how did things go?" And they'll get you in there and they'll get you any sort of patches or gum or even like Zyban, Champ X or any thing you want. Words on screenHow long did it take for you to feel better physically once you quit smoking? ShawnI feel like... a week after. I started noticing. Like, your sense of smell and food, food tastes so much better, going up a flight of stairs, you know... you don't get winded. Like, there's so many benefits to quitting smoking. Words on screenWhat advice do you have for someone who is trying to quit smoking? ShawnMy advice for someone trying to quit smoking is, honestly, is to not ever stop trying. Like, you can't... you're going to fail. You are, you are going to fail and you shouldn't be ashamed of that. Just know that you can always try again. Words on screenWhy did you want to be a part of the #QuitStoires campaign? ShawnI was kind of proud of myself for quitting and it was something I wanted to do for so long. I just wanted others to hear it, like, I don't know, it seemed like the right thing to do. Come and spread your story and maybe inspire others to give it another try that could be the one. Words on screenWhat will inspire you to become smoke-free? To quit smoking, talk to a health care provider. |
Resources:
- Tobacco - Getting Help - KFL&A Public Health
- Become Tobacco Free - KFL&A Public Health