For this episode of the series, SCF Health and Wellness Manager Julie Dillon introduces us to Larry Sonnabend, a veteran professional driver who successfully utilized SCF’s Rigs Without Cigs program after struggling for years with attempts to quit smoking. In sharing his story, Larry looks back on the day seven years ago when, through the help of SCF’s first-ever driver health initiative, he was able to become tobacco free.

As you will hear, Larry notes the important role that Julie and the structure that SCF set up played in being able to go the distance after trying other programs and wanting to quit for years. Larry describes how smoking used to shape every part of life on the road, including route planning and choosing fuel stops in particular states based on cigarette prices.

Not long after joining the Rigs Without Cigs program, Larry encountered some major life stress points, with a separation from his wife that ultimately ended in divorce at the top of the list. Despite those personal challenges, Larry was able to stay strong in his commitment to stop smoking, and he credits the accountability check-ins and the steady encouragement from the Rigs Without Cigs program community as major keys to his success.

The conversation in this episode covers practical replacements that helped Larry stay tobacco free, especially sunflower seeds, flavored toothpicks, prepped food, and more water. Larry also breaks down the financial cost of smoking on the road, estimating thousands of dollars a year in cigarette spending. In addition, Larry talks about the health changes he noticed after quitting, including better sleep, less morning coughing, and realizing how constantly sick he had felt while smoking. To learn more about SCF’s Rigs Without Cigs Program, please click here.

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