All these posts about the physical benefits...

I'm gonna be completely honest. I'm over 500 days in, and the only physical difference I feel is not waking up hungover.

No magic weight loss.

No fountain of youth for energy. I still wake up more tired than when I went to bed more often than I could even say.

No "bounce back" for skin. My hair has decided 40 is when we go whiter than my teeth.

My anxiety and insecurities are not suddenly cured as though a Disney genie granted me a wish.

For those of you that have experienced any or all of these benefits, more power to you. I hope they are a welcomed side effect.

For those of you looking to the future for those benefits, let me be a "cautionary tale" - they may not be coming. They may! But they also may not.

However, some things that I can almost promise (almost) *will* come are improved health (even if you don't notice it outwardly), far fewer mornings where it feels like a small child is using your head for a trampoline, far fewer "sick" days, and far fewer mornings where you're terrified of seeing the notifications on your phone.

Stopping is not all sunshine and rainbows, but it can still be profoundly beneficial and is something to be proud of yourself for each day.

For those of you, like me, still waiting on the potential side benefits, take stock of the tangible benefits you've already acheived - don't overlook them! Be proud of yourself, and allow yourself to feel some gratitude for those that you have received or acheived.

In the meantime, I'll keep my fingers crossed that the "sexy" benefits come your way soon as part of your quitting journey.

Be good out there, and be kind to yourselves, friends. IWNDWYT.