'Quit to Live' Volunteers Resist the Urge to Light Up

Nov. 30, 2005 — -- Four long-time smokers accepted one of the greatest challenges of their lives: Could they quit to live? ABC News sent four producers to shadow them around the clock for one month to find out.

Thirty days have passed, and all four of our volunteers -- Tracy Bristow, Meg Blakeman, Jose Castro and Alyce Payne -- are still living smoke-free. But it has been quite a struggle.

"If you've never smoked, you don't understand how it makes you feel," said Meg. "And you don't understand how hard it is to quit."

"I have learned I don't need to smoke and life goes on and you get over it," Alyce said.

Jose looked at the problem differently, however. "I think I'll always be a smoker who doesn't smoke anymore. I'm one cigarette away from becoming a smoker again," he said.

"Will I stay quit? God I hope so," said Tracy. "I mean that's my intention."

For the quitters, November was a month of highs and lows.

"I just feel like crying," said Alyce four weeks ago. But today, thanks to knitting, lollipops and her "quit coach," Alyce says she is a different person.

"I am confident to say a year from now I will be tobacco free," she said.

For Meg Blakeman, the final straw was planning a January wedding on top of work and school.

"Your body -- it remembers how good nicotine made you feel, and the whole body screams out 'give me some,'" she said.

Still, Meg managed to stay away from cigarettes.

Tracy Bristow gives credit for her success to her two daughters.

"You are going to see us longer if you do this, and you're doing great. Perfect," said Tracy's daughter, Emma, reading a note she wrote for her. "I will never start smoking because I know it is bad for us."

After 30 days, Jose is disappointed his son is still smoking. Jose knows his struggle has only begun. Just yesterday, the cravings returned.

"You work long hours. You're tired, you get a little cranky. 'Give me one.' That's where it gets tough," he said.

With one month down, all four nonsmokers are determined to succeed and quit to live.

"I'm just thinking back to day number one -- that was a very hard time," said Alyce. "But I did it, and that's what counts."

ABC News' Elizabeth Vargas filed this report for "World News Tonight."