David Tulugak of Rankin Inlet has a straightforward message for cigarette smokers in the Kivalliq region: you can successfully quit too.
Tulugak, 59, had no intention of giving up smoking until a health condition led to a throat infection that made smoking cigarettes very uncomfortable.
He sat at home with two packages of cigarettes next to him as the days slowly went past.
Tulugak said he started smoking when he was only 14 years old and, at his time of quitting, he had been smoking two packs a day for many years.
He said he stopped smoking just for awhile on a Friday and when Monday rolled around and he still hadn't lit up, he started seriously considering giving them up once and for all.
“I went down to Winnipeg on medical and when I came back home a few days later I still hadn't smoked,” said Tulugak. “My wife (Marlene) took the two packs away I still had next to me and I told her I'd get them back when I started smoking again, but I was already thinking I was ready to quit.
“After going about 10 days, or so, without a cigarette, I found I could breathe better and I could taste things better too. But, to be honest, as much as I wanted to quit at that point, I found the first two or three months very, very hard.
“I found myself getting short-tempered and I just couldn't stay calm. I would bitch at anyone around me. I also started eating a lot more but, for some reason, I'm not gaining that much extra weight.
“Once I hit three months smoke-free, I knew there was no turning back and now I'm nine months smoke-free.”
Tulugak said he doesn't crave cigarettes anymore and he's confident his smoking days are behind him.
Not only was he hooked on smoking but he truly enjoyed it too, he said, so he knew this wasn't going to be easy.
“It took four or five months for the cravings to finally go away. Those first five months were one of the toughest battles I ever fought, not to light up. I can honestly say I don't even like the smell of them anymore.
“My favourite cigarette was in the morning. I'd drink some coffee then bring a cup outside and enjoy a smoke or two with the coffee. When I no longer missed having a smoke outside in the morning, I knew I was well on my way.
“I would tell anyone if I can quit smoking, they can do it too. It's going to be a tough ride for awhile, but you can do it and it's well worth it when you're finally smoke-free.”
