I smoked for about 30 years. Quit 3 1/2 years ago. No desire to smoke now, at all, even when I'm drinking and around people smoking. I did gain 10 pounds that I still haven't been able to lose, but I'm still not overweight anyway. I was really hardcore, and it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be, once I realized that I truly had to do it for my health. Funny thing is, I didn't have any health problems and don't feel any healthier now, except psychologically.
Yeah, I don't actually feel any better than I did when I was smoking.. but then again maybe giving up just stopped me feeling worse.
Honestly.... I still can't breathe out of my lungs just as badily as when I smoked. I had a cough though that went away.