I am Wahyu Lelo (45), an Indonesian journalist, who has documented how I changed when I quit smoking by making selfie videos everyday for the past year.

Timelapse footage documents moments of change during the first month from 30 May 2022 to 30 May 2023.

At first my face looked pale and lifeless with sunken cheeks and the back of my head, but after a year like at the end of the video my face looks brighter, fuller cheeks, more confident and looks excited.

“The first three months after quitting smoking I feel like a healthier man. And in the following months I feel better that I have lived for a year today,” I said happily today (31 May).

I started smoking when I was 15 and continued until I became a heavy smoker, who smoked more than 20 cigarettes without a filter every day. On my cigarette pack it says it contains Tar 39 MG and Nicotine 2.3 MG.

I lived in Bukittinggi, West Sumatra Province, a few months before quitting smoking, I felt my body was in a bad condition. Thin body, lack of enthusiasm, shortness of breath, cough and nasal congestion. There are patches of dry skin on the hands, body and feet.

"Having difficulty breathing when going to sleep makes me feel close to death and always makes me want to quit smoking. Concerned family and friends often suggest that I quit," Wahyu added.

Until one day in the early hours of the morning around 1.00 am (30/5 2022) I left the house to smoke two clove cigarettes while burning trash.

About an hour later I came in, went to the bathroom. I coughed and spat pitch black slime onto the floor. "I flushed the slime but it was so heavy, and it didn't wash off easily from the tiled floor in the bathroom."

Seeing how thick the mucus was coming out of his throat, the father of three decided to quit smoking.

I spent the first day of quitting smoking with my usual daily activities as a journalist. That day I also had time to document it by making a video of myself.

24 hours after quitting smoking in the early hours of the morning, I realized that it was World No Tobacco Day, which is celebrated every May 31.

"I feel very happy. Like the world supports me to live a healthier life. I also thought of documenting every day with a selfie video what happened to my face and body after quitting smoking," Wahyu said when remembering that moment which was priceless as it couldn't be repeated.

I felt various conditions after quitting smoking day after day. Starting from breathing more easily, starting to be able to feel good or not about food and drink, more confident and excited.

My breath began to lighten, and I felt the pull all the way to my lungs. Dry skin on the body begins to gradually recover. My sense of taste seems to function again, so I eat and drink more.