# When can I start calling myself a nonsmoker? Now would be nice. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 30, 2011, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-can-i-start-calling-myself-a-nonsmoker-now-would-be-nice/598177 "2011-09-30T18:08:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-can-i-start-calling-myself-a-nonsmoker-now-would-be-nice/598177/21 "2011-09-30T19:22:37Z")
Congrats on quitting, the first two weeks are the most difficult. That being said, if you really want this to stick, you gotta take yourself out of any bar environment for at least a couple months. As determined as you are _sober_, as soon as you become relaxed by a few rum and cokes, the whole effort begins to seem a little less important. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-can-i-start-calling-myself-a-nonsmoker-now-would-be-nice/598177/22 "2011-09-30T19:35:04Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Insurance companies don’t use hair follicle tests. Some might, but major carriers underwrite A LOT of policies, and using hair follicle testing would be ill-advised. > [@Leaffan](#): > > What were they testing for when they did a saliva swab from me: HIV? I’m curious about the connection between a saliva swab and a hair follicle test. What exactly do you have growing in your mouth? ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-can-i-start-calling-myself-a-nonsmoker-now-would-be-nice/598177/23 "2011-09-30T19:43:48Z")
> [@Moonlitherial](#): > > I’m curious about the connection between a saliva swab and a hair follicle test. What exactly do you have growing in your mouth? No, no, no… **MeanOldLady** seems to have some inside information on what tests insurance companies run on clientele. There’s no connection, just idle curiosity on a test I had done years ago. ---
**Author:** ![brewha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@brewha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brewha)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-can-i-start-calling-myself-a-nonsmoker-now-would-be-nice/598177/24 "2011-09-30T19:44:11Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > I’ve also been telling myself that it’s okay to fuck up, as long as I \*at least \*don’t smoke inside anymore, which I never intend to do again because that makes it WAY too easy to smoke more and more, and made my stuff smell worse. Although I haven’t fucked up, I think that telling myself it’s okay to fuck up has made quitting easier. That’s a slippery slope right there. You are a non smoker now. Non-smokers don’t smoke inside or outside. You’ve already gotten past the physical addiction phase. Any cravings now are purely psychological or habitual. Don’t get me wrong - those are worse than the physical cravings - but if you have a smoke now, even one, you start back on day one. You are back to dealing with three more days of physical addiction on top of the psychological addiction. You are on your way. Don’t give in - even for just one. Congrats on making it this far! ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-can-i-start-calling-myself-a-nonsmoker-now-would-be-nice/598177/25 "2011-09-30T19:45:39Z")
Thanks for the support =) I’m not talking about life insurance or urinalyses or anything like that, just employer-provided health insurance. I’m pretty sure they don’t require any testing to prove your nonsmoker status. Our re-enrollment period is in November of every year, and you just note whether you smoke or not. My mom works for the same company and painlessly went from claiming smoker to nonsmoker rates because she changed to an electric cigarette. Although she works from home now anyway, she could probably get away with lying about it. Anyway, not going to be a big issue. I guess I’ll skip the cantina for tonight just in case–I’ll hit them up next week if I’m still behaving. I have a few cigs left in a drawer here at work, and I’m really not tempted to smoke them. I don’t have any at home. I’m pretty sure I’ll stay quit for good. I already quit once in the past (a few years back) and was not even tempted to backslide until the reason I quit backfired on me–I had quit for a guy and he broke up with me. So I pretty much charged straight the fuck into a gas station and bought some out of rebellion and pissyness. This time, I’m doing it for the money and for myself. And I have a lot of willpower when I actually want to do something. Like, when I make up my mind to do something, it fucking gets done. It’s just that it’s really hard to get me to the point of caring enough to make a change in the first place. I can’t imagine restarting unless/until I am so overflowing with money that the cost of them is literally no object. Which will probably be never. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-can-i-start-calling-myself-a-nonsmoker-now-would-be-nice/598177/26 "2011-09-30T19:54:46Z")
Since I’ve never smoked I have no advice for you to avoid backsliding, but I did want to pop in to say Yay For You for quitting. Best of luck staying quit! You have my permission to call yourself a nonsmoker. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-can-i-start-calling-myself-a-nonsmoker-now-would-be-nice/598177/27 "2011-09-30T19:57:11Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > Thanks for the support =) > > I’m not talking about life insurance or urinalyses or anything like that, just employer-provided health insurance. I’m pretty sure they don’t require any testing to prove your nonsmoker status. Our re-enrollment period is in November of every year, and you just note whether you smoke or not. My mom works for the same company and painlessly went from claiming smoker to nonsmoker rates because she changed to an electric cigarette. Although she works from home now anyway, she could probably get away with lying about it. Anyway, not going to be a big issue. > > I guess I’ll skip the cantina for tonight just in case–I’ll hit them up next week if I’m still behaving. I have a few cigs left in a drawer here at work, and I’m really not tempted to smoke them. I don’t have any at home. > > I’m pretty sure I’ll stay quit for good. I already quit once in the past (a few years back) and was not even tempted to backslide until the reason I quit backfired on me–I had quit for a guy and he broke up with me. So I pretty much charged straight the fuck into a gas station and bought some out of rebellion and pissyness. This time, I’m doing it for the money and for myself. And I have a lot of willpower when I actually want to do something. Like, when I make up my mind to do something, it fucking gets done. It’s just that it’s really hard to get me to the point of caring enough to make a change in the first place. > > I can’t imagine restarting unless/until I am so overflowing with money that the cost of them is literally no object. Which will probably be never. Hmm…It seems a bit concerning that your only motivation for quitting seems to be a financial one. That you seem to entertain the possibility of starting again if/when your finances pick up, in my opinion, dooms the _long-term_ prospects of your efforts. Have you no concerns for your long-term health? For your well being and happiness? In order to make it through everything, all the turmoil, all the doubt and rationalization for giving in, you must have a solid foundation on which you are basing your efforts to quit. And you **must** replace the habit of smoking cigarettes with something else, hopefully something more positive than smoking. This is crucial in my opinion. And if it wasn’t for exercise and working out, I would have failed (yet again) in my efforts to quit smoking. Perhaps I’m wrong, though. Perhaps for some, the initial reason is somewhat unimportant. Whatever it is that got them _off_ the cigarettes is a good thing. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-can-i-start-calling-myself-a-nonsmoker-now-would-be-nice/598177/28 "2011-09-30T19:57:23Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > What were they testing for when they did a saliva swab from me: HIV? I don’t know, maybe. The swab test can be used to collect fluid from cheek and gum tissue for HIV/AIDS testing, but it can also be used for drug testing, so it’s hard to say what specifically they were swabbing you for. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-can-i-start-calling-myself-a-nonsmoker-now-would-be-nice/598177/29 "2011-09-30T20:03:57Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > So I guess I finally decided I wanted to quit. I totally didn’t want to quit, then I really didn’t want to quit, then I kinda didn’t want to quit, and then I maybe didn’t mind the thought of having more money and my clothes not smelling smoky anymore. I kinda didn’t care for cigs all that much anyway, so why not quit while the quittin’s good? So, … improving your health isn’t a reason? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![BetsQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@BetsQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BetsQ)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-can-i-start-calling-myself-a-nonsmoker-now-would-be-nice/598177/30 "2011-09-30T20:17:37Z")
I’ve never smoked, so I’m just popping in to say good luck. I have tried to kick my Diet Coke habit a few times, to no avail, so my hat’s off to anyone who can manage quitting something truly addictive! ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-can-i-start-calling-myself-a-nonsmoker-now-would-be-nice/598177/31 "2011-09-30T20:23:26Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > It’s been almost 7 months for me and I still don’t consider myself a non-smoker. I’m a smoker who fights every day to not smoke! > > Isn’t not smelling like smoke awesome? That’s my favorite part. That and the $$$$$$$!! > > It is pretty weird going out and doing stuff that previously involved smoking. The first time I went to a concert I said to my friends “this is what you losers do between sets? Just stand here? Jesus!” > > Good luck! Keep going! Between sets you stand in line to use the bathroom. StG ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-can-i-start-calling-myself-a-nonsmoker-now-would-be-nice/598177/32 "2011-09-30T20:28:54Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > I don’t know, maybe. The swab test can be used to collect fluid from cheek and gum tissue for HIV/AIDS testing, but it can also be used for drug testing, so it’s hard to say what specifically they were swabbing you for. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-can-i-start-calling-myself-a-nonsmoker-now-would-be-nice/598177/33 "2011-09-30T20:32:59Z")
I vote now! Congratulations, and may it stick for good. You will be amazed at how much better things smell. (I think. I’ve never smoked, so I’m guessing here.) ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-can-i-start-calling-myself-a-nonsmoker-now-would-be-nice/598177/34 "2011-09-30T21:03:30Z")
No, long-term health improvement has never been a motivator for me. If it was, I wouldn’t have started in the first place and/or I’d have quit a lot sooner (and I wouldn’t be so overweight). I live my live in a fairly, uh, Bacchanalian fashion–not the orgy part so much, but I am fairly shameless about my hedonistic tendencies. I do enjoy the little health benefits like 1) inhaling without feeling harshness at the back of my throat with every breath, 2) never needing to hork like a phlegm-coated maniac anymore, and 3) a decrease in heartburn/GERD symptoms, but these aren’t sufficient motivators for me to quit on their own. I’m sure it all sounds very odd to someone who is more used to caring about their health, especially to someone who lifts weights on a regular basis. But the alternative to quitting for mercenary reasons (as I’m doing) is not quitting at all. And I think the outcome is more important than the impetus. I could get into why I think this way, but it’s all pretty boring and speculative and frankly doesn’t matter. Suffice to say that I’ve never planned on living much past 50 or 60. Although it would be nice if it happens, I’m not planning on it. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-can-i-start-calling-myself-a-nonsmoker-now-would-be-nice/598177/35 "2011-09-30T21:09:07Z")
You are a non-smoker as soon as you put that last one out with the determination that you will be a non-smoker. Congratulations! I’ve been a non-smoker myself for 3 years, 8 months, 2 weeks and 2 days. Best decision I ever made. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-can-i-start-calling-myself-a-nonsmoker-now-would-be-nice/598177/36 "2011-09-30T21:15:21Z")
I quit 16 years ago - best decision I ever made. You will be amazed at how much extra cash you have. You know the day before you get paid and you’re trying to decide if you should spend your last $5 on ciggies or something to eat? Yah, thing of the past. What I would do (and what I did) just to treat yourself and give yourself a pat on the back, is take all the $$ that you usually spend on smokes and stash it in a jar. At the end of a month or two months or whatever, go out and buy yourself something you’ve been wanting for a really long time - a stereo, new TV, cute outfit, whatever. Anyway, I think you’re a non-smoker once you decide you’re a non-smoker. If you want that to be now, good for you - I say go for it! ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-can-i-start-calling-myself-a-nonsmoker-now-would-be-nice/598177/37 "2011-09-30T21:21:29Z")
I’ve saved $10,000 from not buying cigarettes over the past 3 years. Well, I didn’t _save_ it, I spent it. Mostly on food. ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-can-i-start-calling-myself-a-nonsmoker-now-would-be-nice/598177/38 "2011-09-30T21:23:38Z")
I think your chances of success are better if you start considering yourself a non-smoker right away. Also, a tip: you can take the edge off a craving with hard candies like Lifesavers. You will be able to taper off them after a few months. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-can-i-start-calling-myself-a-nonsmoker-now-would-be-nice/598177/39 "2011-09-30T21:27:24Z")
What insurance are you guys getting where they are performing any kinds of tests? Life insurance? I have never been asked for anything like that at all. But I don’t have life insurance. ---
**Author:** ![Jaledin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jaledin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaledin)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-can-i-start-calling-myself-a-nonsmoker-now-would-be-nice/598177/40 "2011-09-30T22:06:11Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > from 3-4 up to 20 days depending on the level of tobacco use. That jibes with what I’ve heard – if you have to fill a cup, just lay off the gum or whatever for a while, maybe drinking lots of OJ/water/coffee. You’re a nonsmoker now, if you’re not smoking. If you have a cigarette, then you can still be a nonsmoker who has just had a cigarette. Nothing’s set in stone. I’m a non-smoker, but I have a pack every few weeks – I don’t drink, either, but I’ll have five or six liters of wine every week or two as well. No biggie to call it like you see it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-can-i-start-calling-myself-a-nonsmoker-now-would-be-nice/598177.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-can-i-start-calling-myself-a-nonsmoker-now-would-be-nice/598177.md?page=3)