I think a true non smoker is someone who nver smoked and they deserve that recognition. Think of all of the work and pain that all of us on this site have to go through to slay this dragon. A non smoker never had to do through that and never will. They reap the just rewards of never starting in the first place and deserve kudos for not falling prey to the habit. Having said that. Non smoking works as a moniker when we are asked what section of the restauraunt we want to sit in and our lifestyle choices in general. But to fair and true to ourselves none of us will be true NON SMOKERS until ALL of the damage we inflicted on our lungs, brains and vascular systems have been cleared. It's a hell of a long time and we need to be vigilant about setting that date as a true milestone. Your body needs to forgive you first. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 9/13/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 1 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 13 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $3 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 5 [B]Mins:[/B] 22 [B]Seconds:[/B] 18

I've been thinking about the words "ex" and "non" only because I am looking forward to a day when I don't want a cigarette for the entire day. This is my first week so every day I have cravings (despite using the patch) Somedays they are bad, sometimes only last a moment. Right now when I wake up the first thought in my head is that I cannot smoking...but I want to reach a point when the first thought is "do I want cheerios or scrambled eggs" (without even thinking about smoking) How long has this taken for other people? Windy [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 9/11/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 4 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 98 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $20 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 11 [B]Mins:[/B] 17 [B]Seconds:[/B] 1

Dont worry WIndy, I remember those days of wanting a cigarette ALL the time, (last week!) but this past week I find myself thinking about it less and less. In my case at least the urges are getting fewer and fewer, and lasting for shorter durations, though they feel stronger then they did the first week, but I bet thats because I'm not fighting them every second of the day. I still haven't gone a full day without wanting one, but by the begining to middle of week two you should be feeling much better on the cravings. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 9/4/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 12 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 281 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $42 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 1 [B]Hrs:[/B] 11 [B]Mins:[/B] 27 [B]Seconds:[/B] 13

Alright, I'm happy I get to be the first one to bring a little geek into this discussion. Acording to most dictionaries, Non means 'not' while ex means 'former' IMHO you become an ex-smoker as soon as you put out that last cigarette and never stop being one. Non-smoker is a little more tricky. I think you're a non smoker when you can say beyond a shadow of a doubt that you will never smoke again. For me personally sitting at day ten I can't say that for sure. Ive made it over 2 months a few times and for one reason for another always gone back. so for me I need at least three months before I could consider even thinking about myself as a non smoker, though it could take much longer. I don't know when it will happen. My father smoked for many years, then quit for about 10 years then started again for about 10 years. He will never smoke again and knows this. He's a non smoker. To me it's what I'm shooting for [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 9/4/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 10 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 237 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $35 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 1 [B]Hrs:[/B] 5 [B]Mins:[/B] 46 [B]Seconds:[/B] 8

Who cares? Ex or Non? If you are divorced do you have a non husband of course not! I am an exsmoker a nonsmoker whatever anyone cares to call me at the end of the day I don't smoke!! Phil [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 8/9/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 37 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 745 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] �166.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 7 [B]Hrs:[/B] 16 [B]Mins:[/B] 30 [B]Seconds:[/B] 47

I see myself and call myself a NON smoker. The reasoning behind this is that if I was to call myself an EX smoker (as I have done in previous quits) I find that I am more tempted to become an ex-ex smoker... If I say to people that I am a non smoker they tend to be more considerate and not smoke around me as opposed to when I have said I am an ex smoker and people just light up with no regard. Besides, I associate the title EX smoker with a rather obnoxious bunch of people (not anyone here) who have the whole "holier than thou" attitude to smoking. I swore I would never be one of those.. I firmly believe that eveyone has the right to decide if and when they want to quit and I won't pressurise anyone. Either way, it doesn't really matter what you call yourself so long as you are not smoking right?? Krissie Non Smoker for 1M 2W 4D 9h 46m (49 days). Saving �218.86 by not smoking 988 ciggies, adding 3D 10h 20m to my life span

If I was seriously involved with you, I would care if you were ever married or not. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 9/2/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 15 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 600 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $111 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 1 [B]Hrs:[/B] 12 [B]Mins:[/B] 0 [B]Seconds:[/B] 2

I'm around again, Missy. Just got a busy schedule right now. I think you're right. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 9/2/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 14 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 598 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $103.6 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 1 [B]Hrs:[/B] 11 [B]Mins:[/B] 59 [B]Seconds:[/B] 53

It's been called to my attention that I don't seem to think of myself as a nonsmoker. I think that is right. I think of myself as an ex-smoker, maybe because my smoking memories are still very clear. At what point and why did you start thinking of yourself as a nonsmoker? [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 7/11/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 47 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,907 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $347.8 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 4 [B]Hrs:[/B] 18 [B]Mins:[/B] 28 [B]Seconds:[/B] 49

My take on it after reading the responses it that medically it does matter. I'm happy to say that I don't smoke to, but medically I won't be out of the woods for about 15 years. From what I know about addiction-oriented 12 step programs, once an alcoholic or addict, always one. The junkie never dies. Just get quieter when it gets ignored enough times, but we always have to be on the look out for it. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 7/11/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 47 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,915 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $347.8 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 4 [B]Hrs:[/B] 18 [B]Mins:[/B] 59 [B]Seconds:[/B] 9