DENVER -- Since the statewide smoking ban took affect last month, many smokers say they've felt like second-class citizens.

A number of them have decided enough is enough, and they said they are using the ban as extra incentive to quit.

Ron McNurlen and his wife Mary Loos are both trying to quit. They have smoked for years but said with the new ban, it's become more of a problem.

"I used to like to go to a restaurant and just relax and have a cigarette while I was waiting on a meal," said McNurlen. "Everywhere you go it's an inconvenience. You have to walk across the block if you want to have a cigarette."

"It's just like the more places you go, you're shoved out the door," said Loos.

7News went along with McNurlen and Loos to a class aimed at helping smokers kick the habit. The instructor said she's seeing more people this summer than usual.

"People who are thinking about quitting may be a little more motivated, may have a little more energy added to their motivation with the change in the law and others may start to think more seriously about it where they haven't thought of it before," said health educator Nancy Montagnoli.

McNurlen and Loos were smoking up to two packs a day each. They said inconvenience is only part of their reason for quitting. There are also health reasons and the money.

"My smoking costs me about $450 a month. I just bought a new Harley and my payment for my bike is less than that," said Ron. "It's cheaper to buy a new motorcycle than it is to smoke."

Visit smokefree.gov, a free federal government website, for helpful features to quit smoking.