A bloke who smoked for two decades has revealed the good, the bad and the ugly parts of giving up nicotine for good.
Carl Goodwin knocked his 20-year habit on the head in 2023 after deciding to concentrate on bettering both his mental and physical health.
Despite admitting there were a 'couple blips here and there', he has managed to stay on the right track, and cigarettes are no longer a part of his life.
The Welshman, who boasts more than 75,000 followers on TikTok (@daddyandtheo), said he used a nicotine-free vape to help him along the way while he worked towards leading a smoke-free lifestyle.
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Carl managed to kick his compulsion for smoking cigarettes after a whopping 20 years of lighting up, which is really quite the triumph.
In a video he shared to social media shortly after expelling nicotine from his routine, he explained that he had 'smoked for more of his life than he hadn't smoked'.
"I've always hated that I do, but just never been able to get on top of it no matter what I do," the dad said. "But I'm in a place now where I'm trying to get better at my mental health as well as my physical health."
Deciding you're ready to quit smoking is half the battle; however, there are also some very real side effects which come with doing so.
Carl confessed his experience hadn't been completely smooth sailing, as there were a 'couple of bad things' he had encountered in the weeks since he gave up cigs.
"My sleep is horrendous as it is, but since I've stopped smoking for a couple weeks it's been non-existent," the content creator said.
"My concentration levels as well have been horrendous, especially with that tiredness on top. So, work has been a real struggle the last few weeks."
According to Nicorette, former smokers can have 'sleep disturbances' after they quit as the body is adjusting to a lack of nicotine - AKA, the 'tobacco withdrawal process'.
It adds: "The reason some people struggle to sleep after quitting smoking is because of the fluctuations in the levels of certain neurotransmitters caused by nicotine stimulation. Tobacco is a stimulant, so while disturbed sleep may be a temporary withdrawal symptom of quitting, smoking itself can cause insomnia."
But don't worry, as Carl said, it's really not all bad - as he had welcomed a host of perks since ditching cigarettes weeks earlier, especially when it comes to the power of his senses.
The TikToker said: "My smell and taste have started to change. Things just taste so different, way more intense, and I've just forgotten what things are supposed to taste like.
"And the smell of someone who's had a cigarette or having a cigarette...it is so strong. I'm like, 'That's how I smelt to other people!'"
Carl went on to say that his skin is 'so good at the moment', while he explained that he had also somewhat recovered from his bout of insomnia and felt tons better.
"I used to be really heavy, really groggy waking up in the morning, which I'm not at the moment," he said. "I'm waking up and just having a lot of energy straight away. But that's only just started recently now my sleep is getting better."
Social media users seemed to be fans of Carl's candid approach to discussing his stop-smoking journey, as they flooded the post with congratulatory comments.
One person wrote: "Well done! You should be super proud! I'm on a fitness kick at the moment and it's hard to make those changes but so worth it!"
Another added: "Very inspiring," while a third wrote: "I've quit 1,000 times and here I am still smoking. Congrats to you! It's so hard."
Olivia Burke