At NICORETTE® we’re always on the lookout for amazing quit stories. We understand that quitting smoking is far from easy, but we’re often reminded it’s one of the most amazing things you can do.
This is the story of Daan Verhoeven who finally quit smoking and has never looked back, surprising even himself with what is now possible.
| Name | Daan Verhoeven |
| Age | 41 |
| Hometown | Born in the Netherlands, but Cornwall is where I call home |
| Biggest Achievement | Quitting smoking and achieving several national freediving records |
| Previous Smoking Habit | 17 years, 20 a day |
“Quitting smoking and starting freediving really changed my life dramatically. I used to smoke about a pack a day. I tried several times to quit, because I didn't like being addicted, but also because my father died of lung cancer and that really frightened me. “
“I found freediving and it sparked a big passion in me. Suddenly my breath became much more important, much less taken for granted, and I could feel how smoking was holding me back - literally, I needed all the oxygen I could get in order to dive.”
“I started seeing quitting less as an obligation, and more as a present I could give myself. Give myself more oxygen. It was tough, but I allowed it to be tough; I'd learned from breath holding that if you relax once it gets tough instead of fighting it, you make it easier for yourself. Within a week I was holding my breath almost a minute longer than I could when I was smoking and the worst of the withdrawals were behind me.”
“A year later I went from being a withdrawn and rather depressed soul to being a national record holding athlete, with friends all over the world.”
If you need help quitting, visit our tips to quit smoking page
Nicorette contains nicotine. Stop smoking aid. Requires willpower. Always read the label.
- Nicorette contains nicotine. Stop smoking aid. Requires willpower. Always read the label.
- Mr. Verhoeven succeeded in quitting with willpower alone, but the data shows most benefit from a quit aid like NRT.*
- *NCSCT. Stop smoking services: increased chances of quitting. Robert West, 2012.
- Mr Verhoeven was paid by the makers of Nicorette for his time in producing this video. Mr Verhoeven does not endorse Nicorette products.