** March 9, 2009 Update: 1 year 4 months; No Smokie! I did gain some weight after quitting smoking. It seems that smoking is a stimulant, so your metabolism goes slows down after quitting smoking, plus you tend to substitute smoking for food. After being disgusted with myself on my weight gain, I started eating less food more often, and only natural foods. This caused some smoking cravings to come back. Doing a few deep breaths and other relaxation techniques and the cravings go a way. This will be a lifelong battle, but I am now officially a certified non-smoker. I hate to be around smoke or smokers!
** 6/14/08 Update: 7 plus months; No Smokie! If I can do it- anyone can do it! The secret is to chew lots of gum, take deep breaths when a craving comes on, and do not smoke no matter what!
On a cool evening in March, 1981, I arrived at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio Texas for Air Force Basic Training. At 17 years old, I was still basically a kid. I will never forget the nightmare that this night was.
I remember standing in formation with the other recruits after being screamed at by god knows how many an Air Force T.I.’s after getting off of the bus. The full realization and nightmare of what was to come had not yet hit me.
It was at this time that one of the Air Force T.I.’s stated, “Men you have 5 minutes to smoke your last cigarette for the next 3 days.” He then stated for those of you who want to smoke, fall out. The rest of you, stay in formation.”
Everyone and I mean everyone fell out of that formation to have a cigarette. Before this night, I had experimented with cigarettes before, but I was not a smoker. After this night, I became a full time smoker for the next 27 years.
Yes, cigarettes have been a very important part of every aspect of my life for the past 27 years. Well, no more god willing.
I officially quit smoking on December 11, 2007 at approximately 9:00pm. For the first time since that night in 1981, I have actually made a volitional decision to quit smoking. Right now I am on my 7th day without a cigarette, and have quit Cold Turkey!
This will mark the 2nd longest time I have ever gone without a cigarette since I started smoking back in 1981. The only other time since 1981 where I have quit smoking longer, was during a horrible respiratory illness that occurred about 3 or 4 years ago when I was so sick, I could not smoke. As soon as I got better after about 3 weeks, I started smoking again. It should be noted that during this time, I used nicotine gum to get through the period of non smoking. Now I am using nothing but will power.
This time I quit smoking because I finally told myself it is time to quit, and that I am not going to pick up another cigarette again in my life.
I will be brutally frank, if cigarettes were not so dammed bad for me, I would continue smoking. However, after being told countless times by doctors that I needed to stop smoking, and after coming to that realization in my head that it was finally time to stop, I stopped.
Now I am under no illusions that quitting smoking is going to be easy. The odds are against me. Most people that try to quit smoking fail. The reason that they fail is that nicotine is one of the most addicting substances known to mankind. Secondly, you flat out get used to lighting a cigarette up and inhaling it. That part of smoking is also an addiction.
The last 7 days have in two words been utter hell. I am not going to mince words. It seems like every time I turn around, I think, OK, I need a smoke! Smokers call this jonsing for a cigarette. Hell simple things like coming to the computer monitor or starting up my motorcycle make me want to light up a cigarette.
In order to quit smoking, I thought about using the patch, and actually had it prescribed to me by my doctor. I also thought about using nicotine gum. I actually filled the prescription for the patch, and spent another 40 bucks on nicotine gum. Both have been sitting on my living room table for well over two months without being used.
After already deciding to quit cold turkey and after not having a cigarette for 2 days, I found a site called on the Internet called WhyQuit.Com which espouses the cold turkey method of quitting, and provides many great links to resources, and a library of support video tapes for the quest. I did learn that most of the nicotine and byproduct toxins of smoking leave your body within 36 hours of quitting smoking. This was good news for me. I also learned that smoking was not only a mental, but it is a physical addiction!
I will admit I have heretofore used none of what I read on WhyQuit.Com to help me in my quest to quit smoking. I have just been struggling through it thinking in my head that it will eventually get easier. I am quite sure that I will eventually start looking at some of the videos!
Now don’t get me wrong, I am not sitting here blaming the United States Air Force, the cigarette companies, or other smokers for my becoming addicted to cigarettes. I am blaming myself. I knew full well that night in 1981 when I started smoking, that cigarettes were bad for me. I made the choice to smoke, and now I will suffer the rest of my life with that decision. I have been told by many smokers who have successfully quit that the incessant urge and/or cravings to smoke do dissipate in time, but they still come back years later, albeit not as strong. I am under no illusions that this is going to be easy by any means.
I have been told that my sense of taste, and smell will be much better, and that in time my body will start to repair itself. Hell, with some of the bikers and motorcyclist I hang out with maybe I don’t want my sense of smell to get better; just kidding.
You will notice in many of my pictures here on the Biker Law Blog that I appear in the pictures smoking cigarettes. Heck, all of my friends know that the first thing I like to do when I get off of my motorcycle is to have a cigarette. Well no more.
I would appreciate your prayers in my endeavor to quit smoking for good. For all of you smokers out there, who are thinking about quitting but are afraid to try, just do it. Hell, if I can do it, you can too. You just need to tell yourself, I am not ever smoking again, and don’t. I know it is easier said than done. I have found that if I take a few deep breaths when I have a craving to smoke, the craving seems to go away after a short while.
I will give you all a report on my quitting smoking in the future, whether it is good or bad.
By Norman Gregory Fernandez, Esq., © 2007
Welcome, my name is 
Quitting smoking is great news Norm. I too, used to smoke for many years and tried quitting many times before I finally did it and haven’t smoked now for 20 years.
What did it was seeing a black smokers lung and someone with lung cancer suffering. I asked myself, “is that what I want later on?” no, I want to see what being a healthy older person would be.
Just don’t ever go back to smoking Norm, remember and visualize the consequences when tempted.
Gary
Yes, that craving at morning coffee and donut and after dinners are very hard to resist.
The one thing that made me finally quit smoking was taking up a aerobic workout like cycling, a aerobic class or jogging. The fact you breath very hard makes smoking seem even more like a bad idea…LOL
Also having a girl friend that hates smoking helps too!
Gary
I’ve been going through the same trip (of quitting smoking) myself. I just hope that you didn’t end up the way I did (with COPD and chronic bronchitis), before you quit! Hang in there and don’t start up again (bikers can look like they have class with out the cig’s hanging from the lip) good move!
James
Good job. I quit cold turkey 2 years ago. It actually wasn’t that bad after the 1st week or so. You’ll see. Just move on and realize that its
a dumb habit and isn’t good for you. You will see people smoking and think how they are not cool and harming themselves.
Keep going you are almost there!!! That Monkey is almost off your back!
I quit smoking 15 years ago, had cravings for 2 years after smoking. When you smoke you breath in deeper, puffing on the cigarette, so when you quit and have cravings breath in deep, and cravings go away. I quit cold turkey.
Hi Norm,
This is a true story about a ham radio friend of mine. I knew this guy for about 20 years and he was a 1-2 pack a day smoker.
A year ago, I got a call from him but I didn’t recognize his voice at all, as it was course and muffled. He said he just had a lump removed from the back of the throat and a biopsy is being done.
This is a summary of what he said happened.
It was throat cancer so, the nightmare began. First, all this teeth had to come out so they can get the room to work back there. Then the radiation treatments began which they had to do from behind the neck to the inside throat area. This gave him a terrible, painful sunburn from the radiation on his neck.
After the radiation series, surgery followed to remove his voice box and install a device that will enable him to talk through a hole in the neck.
All the while, his eating was reduced to liquid meals and even those were painful for a while. This guy was thin before the diagnosis and now with the reduced eating, he’s like a toothpick.
MRI’s followed to see if the tumor has migrated somewhere else in the body and he is still going in for regular checkups today a year later.
Needless to say, he doesn’t talk on the radio anymore and he’s deathly afraid the tumor may be starting somewhere else. I assume, there must have been a question if they “got it all”.
Long before this incident with my friend, I had quit smoking and after hearing his story, I’m ever so glad I stopped.
Gary
Norm, I quit cold turkey back in November 2005 – I haven’t had even one cigarette since then. I was a pack day smoker for 12 years. Just remember this rule, which I had to find out the hard way: after you’ve gone without smoking for a while, do not smoke even one cigarette thinking, “I can handle it, just one cig to test my willpower”. That one cigarette will cause you to re-lapse every time. Before this last time, I think I tried to quit smoking maybe 10 times. Each time, it was that one cigarette that led to a total relapse.
After even a few months of no smoking, you’re going to feel a pretty big difference in how you feel, your energy levels, no more body or lung aches, etc.
Hang in there, Norm!
I saw your update and Congratulations on still being smoke-free!!! I know you will make it and I will keep you in my prayers about this.
Happy New Year, Betty 🙂
27 years is a long time to, but like you said “take it one day at a time.” Maybe chew gum? Oh snap!! better yet, just ride your motorcycle whenever you get that craving 🙂
Hi Smokers,
The key to quit smoking is RESEARCHING yourself. Just try to quit everyday and dont give up trying, you’ll succeed.
You CAN stop smoking and the key is hidden in you… maybe you should digg very deep… but it’s there.
http://smokerness.com
Best regards,
Nenad
Hi….congratulations. I also quit on August 2008. Cold turkey just like you did. The first month is the pits, after that it gets easy. I ride a bike just like yours and have used your site to get good information. Through it I have added a couple of extras to my bike, including the mini beast, the hogtunes, a mustang seat and I am thinking about the easy clutch.
Anyway, the worst part of quitting is when you ride, I used to smoke like crazy when riding. Now I just pop some mints and make believe that it is a cig…. it sucks but well worth it for my health and for my family.
Keep at it…I smoked for 25 years….my wife still smokes and I am working pretty hard with my daughter to get her to quit too……..
I hope you are still not smoking, I have smoked for twenty three years, I had to quit
due to having asthma and that getting into more seriouse problems if I continue,also found out I am pregnant. It helps reading your story it makes me feel that I am not
alone dealing with the withdrawl issues. Personal stories are better than generalized
sites.I realize for the sake of this pregnancy and the children I have this is a no
option situation, but still does not make the withdrawls one bit easier.lol Well hope to
see you post your progress soon.
Becky
Norm! (Sorry, bad “Cheers” reference.
I found this site after typing in “Help!, I’ve quit smoking but still have cravings after I eat” I have been off nicotine for 18 days, 13 hours, 52 minutes, 15 seconds! I do well most times, but have the hardest time after I eat. Yes, I can get through it, but I don’t want to have the craving anymore! I want it all to be gone and to feel normal. Sigh. I, too, went to whyquit.com and it has helped me tremendously, and the videos are lifesavers to me. “Never take another puff”. And I haven’t. I smoked for 30 years and it was starting to show in my breathing and my decreasing tolerance to activity. As a nurse, I know what is happening and that I have to stop. No choice. But, the biggest thing I noticed was that I no longer wheeze at night, nor do I cough. Slowly, my energy is coming back, but man, can I eat now! My husband says what we are saving from cigarettes, we now are spending on food! Heh..
Anyway, just wanted to say…”you are not helping me by saying you are still having cravings after 55 days!!!!” Ha! I will pray for you at night, as I pray for myself. Congrats and keep going! We can defeat the evil nicotine empire. I, for one, am tired of making them rich, by killing myself.
Melanie
Woh !I appreciate your efforts to quit smoking..and after all you done it.keep it up.one more good news for you I have recently went one site which is all about quit smoking…
I quite smoking for 17 years and got a divorce and started smoking almost immediately. DEEP BREATHE it is better than smoking. Plus look at the $ you save by not smoking….you can spend it on gas for the Harley!!
i can’t drink the morning coffee without 2 cigarettes. i tried a couple of times but this is what gets me started.
I found this site this morning out of my desperation to quit smoking. All of the comments I have read have been an inspiration and I just returned to the computer after smoking my last cigarette. I threw the remainder of the $5.00 pack in the trash. I have been feeling terrible lately both mentally and physically and there has not been a day in the last 2 years I have not thought about quitting. My good friend Rob died August 14, 2007 from eshopogeal cancer and smoking. Even then I continued to smoke and today I woke up feeling lousy again.ck. I have always been pretty active but now that I am 50 have slowed down tremendously. I have smoked since I was 15 and I hope I am not too late. I will continue to read this website and look for the inspiration all of your comments have provided. Please pray that I can quit and I promise I will do the same for you. John
Thanks Norm. Today was a real Bit@%! I envy you having made it for 109 days. Tomorrow is day 2.
Hey there,
Are you still not smoking?
This site is pretty amazing. Today is day 2 for me. Please tell me how you are doing. I realize it’s all a personal journey but your story is intense. This story made me caused me to have day 1 yesterday….
TY Norm. YOUR HONESTY AND SINCERITY IS AN INSPIRATION……..
JENN
Congrats Norman! I have a question. I have been quit now for 11 months today. It has definitely been a rough road. I quit cold turkey and have not had a cigarette since. I’m am extremely happy with that. My problem has been achy lungs and still coughing up “junk” I smoked for about 15 years. I had chest xrays, ct of chest and lung tests and all ok. Some people say they had achy lungs and coughing up stuff for a year. Was wondering did you have achy lungs for any length of time? thanks.
I have also quit smoking, I am not able to do it because me and my wife both smoke cigarettes together. We both want to quit it due to our newly born baby and I know tat it would be harmful for her too. After tried many tips we go for marriage counselor advice. Surprisingly he helped us a lot to make us mentally prepared to quit smoking. It is a kind of behavior modification program. Really thanks to him.
I am on day 8 of not smoking after a 27 year habbit. It is hell!! I’m glad to have found this site. Reading about your journey helped with my own:>)
Has anyone heard of these new electronic cigarettes that you can get for like $100? You can buy the nicotine charges to put in them. They are smokeless cigs and release nicotine into your system. Apparently you can use them anywhere. The rechargers are like $60 each. Is something like this safe since you are not actually smoking? So what I am trying to ask is, is this a safe alternative to smoking?
Comment from: subliminal [Visitor] · http://www.subliminalsales.com
Has anyone heard of these new electronic cigarettes that you can get for like $100? You can buy the nicotine charges to put in them. They are smokeless cigs and release nicotine into your system. Apparently you can use them anywhere. The rechargers are like $60 each. Is something like this safe since you are not actually smoking? So what I am trying to ask is, is this a safe alternative to smoking?
09/09/09 @ 12:33
————————-
Yes i thnk its safe. becase im using e-cig for a month and i dont fell of having a hard of breathing.. if u cant quit with a conventional smoking… try electronic cigarette.
Congratulations Norman. As of today it has been one week without a cigarette. I was diagnosed with breast cancer last year and went through therapies and radiation,I will be taking medication for five years and you would think that would have made me quit. Not me, I used the excuse of stress from hearing you have cancer to keep smoking. So one year later, I got Chantix from doctor,since I have smoked for 36 years and tried the patch, cold turkey,gum etc nothing worked. Well,after one week I want to scream, this isn’t easy, I am tired,it is hard to breathe(seems like I was breathing better while smoking),and I am so irritable. It got so bad I cleaned off my husbands trailer,by arranging garbage and recyling cans, while my neighbor was outside smoking a cigarette (just so I could smell his smoke). I have chewed lots of gum,toothpicks etc,does this ever get less intense? My husband told me to wait to quit until after all the medical tests I need next week, I thought well damn why didn’t you say that before I have gone a whole week without a cigarette. He hates smoking and wants me to quit, but seems to be enabling me to smoke.
I hope you journey is getting better, saw this web site and needed to talk to someone who won’t try to help me rationalize smoking again for a short time,until stress is less, which will be never in my present rationalizing mindset.
Man, I seem to encounter a lot of people who managed to quit smoking. But I can’t seem to do so. It’s really, really hard to let go completely. I would go on for months without cigs and then the habit comes back. Congratulations, really.
Thanks for your support Gary. I find that when the cravings start at least at this point, doing deep breathing is the only thing that helps. If I try to rationalize it in my head, I will probably smoke! I have been rationalizing it for 27 years if you know what I mean.
The cravings are still real strong. I am just not going to pick up another cigarette again, no matter what, one day at a time!
Thanks,
Norm
I hear you man. If I did not do 30 minutes of cardio at the gym 6 days a week, I would not be able to breath. Now that I am not smoking I cannot wait to see how it feels. I am fighting a bad cold right now so I have not been to the gym. My current fiance is a militant non-smoker and bitched about the smoking constantly. I did not quit because of her, but it does help to hear her not bitching about the smoking. I do not know what she is going to do; she will now have to find something else to bitch about 🙂
Take Care,
Norm
I hope I did not end up with anything James, although I have had bronchitis in the past. I do have one hell of a cold right now.
I am just finishing day 8 going on day 9. Day 8 was hell!!
Norm
Ed this is my 10th day I believe. I am in serious hell right now. I would love to have a smoke. The cravings are real bad. Nonetheless, I am not going to pick up a cigarette. Like I said in the article, 27 years of my life, well over 1/2 of my life revolved around smoking. This is not going to be easy. It is like the turtle and the hare! This is not going to be I quit and that is it for me. I realize that now. There is going to be suffering involved! One minute at a time sometimes. I hope the intense cravings I am having will pass soon.
Thanks for your comment.
Norm
Thanks Robert I will give it a try. Every minute is touch and go right now so anything I can do to help get rid of the cravings is great.
Thanks,
Norm
I really thank you for this story Gary. My ENT was one of the Docs that flat out told me to stop smoking. Long Story.
I am sorry to hear about your friend. I am glad I stopped smoking too although this is only the 12th day going on the 13th day.
I only hope that my body will somewhat recover from the long term damage that I did smoking. Even knowing this, I still crave a cigarette. It is a horrible habit!
Norm
Thanks for the advice Eugene, and by the way its good to see you here on the Blog. Well today is going to be a big test, my mom smokes more than I did. It will be my first real exposure to heavy smoking since I quit. This is my 14th day!
You are right about one thing; i know if I have one I will not be able to stop. I know it will take some time for the body to feel better, I am wondering how long it will take for these intense cravings to end. Yesterday was real bad.
Anyway take it easy and Happy Holidays!
Norm
Thanks for your prayers Betty, I need them. I am actually on Day 26 now. This is a one day at a time thing, especially after smoking for 27 years. I am still having cravings but they are not as bad. I still need to learn how to replace the ciggs with something else other than food!
Norm
Thanks for the advice Betty. I am already chewing gum. The motorcycle is a great idea!
Norm
Thanks for the comments Tito. Yes I smoked a lot when riding too as you can see from my pictures. I always had a smoke in my mouth. My damm mouth is sore from chewing so much gum the past 37 days. It is getting easier but I still have the cravings!
You should get the easy clutch installed on your Harley. It is probably the single best upgrade I did to the motorcycle. I almost got carpal tunnel syndrome in my left wrist before getting the easy clutch. Since the install the ride on the Harley is enjoyable!! I would say that the easy clutch is a mandatory upgrade unless you don’t clutch very often. I don’t care how strong you are, the stock Harley clutch will get to you on long runs where you have to work the clutch.
Anyway thanks for your comments,
Norm
Thanks for your comments Becky. Well today is day 55 and it is tough but getting a bit easier. I am chewing gum and sucking on hard candies like crazy right now. I have gained about 9 pounds since quitting smoking but it is getting easier. I still do get intense cravings but they go away pretty quick if I do some deep breathing exercises. The bottom line is that I know I will have cravings the rest of my life. Hopefully they will less intense as time passes. I will just choose to not smoke one day at a time. Easier said then done right?
Take care,
Norm
Thanks for your excellent comments Melanie. Unfortuantely, I have heard the cravings will last to some extent for the rest of our lives. I have spoken with people who have quit for 5 years, and even 10 years, and they still have cravings. They say the cravings decrease in frequency and intensity over time but they never go away. This is the insidious nature of nicotine addiction.
I too have been eating a lot, chewing tons of sugar free gum, and sucking on sugar free hard candies. I have gained 9 pounds in the past 64 days. I guess it could be worse. I have started taking brisk walks everyday on top of doing 30 minutes of cardio at the gym each day otherwise my weight gain would probably have been even worse.
Eventually, I will get back to my normal diet. I don’t want to replace the cigarettes with diabetes type 2 if you know what I mean!
Anyway, no matter what, just don’t light up another cigarette and the craving you are having at the time will go away. You need to do this one day or even one minute at a time. When you are having a craving, take a long deep breath to the count of one one thousand, two one thousand, and let it out slowly to the count of 4 one thousand. The craving will go away. The problem is that you have to learn how to replace the stress relief that the smokes gave you, with something else!!
Good Luck,
Norm
I am still not smoking. Riding with my brothers, and a whole bunch of other stuff makes we really want to smoke real bad. So far so good, we will see!
Norm
Good luck John. I quit for physical reasons as well. Cigarettes are flat out not good for you.
I am on day 109 of no smoking, over 3 months. I am not going to lie and tell you that it has been peaches and cream. I have had some intense cravings and still do. I wish I could still smoke. But I don’t, and the cravings eventually go away. My friend now is sugarless gum. I use it just like cigarettes. I am constantly chewing and need it like I needed the cigarettes. Hopefully in time, I will be able to get rid of the sugarless gum 🙂
Good Luck,
Norm
Quitting smoking is great news.
Heck, don’t envy me, I am suffering just like you. It would be real easy to just go and buy a pack of smokes. The cravings never go away from what I hear, they just get less frequent and less intense.
I still have cravings on a daily basis and am chewing lots of gum.
You just have to resist the temptation to smoke when you get the craving! Pop some gum.
Norm
I am still not smoking. It has become much easier. It has been over 1.5 years now!
Norm
Congratulations Jennifer. The first week is the worst. Get yourself some sugarless gum and sugarless candy and use them whenever you want to smoke. I now chew gum like I used to smoke.
I am still a non smoker. It has been over a year and a half. I realize that I will have the urge to smoke probably the rest of my life, but it certainly has gone down with time. The way to become a non smoker is to just not smoke no matter what. The urge will pass in a few minutes.
Keep me updated with your progress Jenn!
Norm
I heard the same thing. I even heard that some people about a year after quitting have a massive cough session and then it ends.
I have never experienced the achy lungs or coughing up junk although I have gotten a cold and/or flu that made my lungs burn. I do not think that has anything to do with being a past smoker though.
I think my secret is cardio. I do lot’s of cardio even when I smoked. At this time I do at least 50 minutes of cardio 6 days a week, and walk 30 minutes on Sunday. Sometimes I even do more including martial arts workouts 3 days a week.
I betcha if you get to a gym and do 30 minutes a day on the elliptical trainer or treadmill your lungs would feel much better.
Norm
You can do it Pamela. If I can do it, you sure can do it!
Norm
I have heard of them and do not have an opinion. As for myself, I chose not to use the patch or gum notwithstanding the fact that I had both because I knew I would probably become addicted to the patch or gum. I am sure I would probably become addicted to the nicotine in the system you describe.
My bottom line at least for me is that cold turkey is the only way to really quit smoking.
Norm
Congratulations Caregivermom on your 1 week. All I can say is that you should not smoke no matter what. If you have gone one week, the worst is over. The cravings will diminish and become less and less. You will find that you will jones for a few minutes than it will go away. Get yourself some sugarless gum and sugarless candy and pop that into your mouth instead of the smokes. This too shall pass.
Good Luck,
Norm
Wow! this is a very moving and encouraging story. I am eager to share it with some of my friends who are trying to quit smoking. What made you decide to quit? that is such a hard thing to do but the dedication in your desire to quit is what makes all the difference. Hey, I heard that grapefruit juice helps you to quench the desire for a cig. Best of luck and you are in my prayers.
Well Doc to be frank, I started getting massive sore throats that were so painful they made me sweat. I saw a ENT specialist numerous times. The stuck a tube through my nose down to my throat to look at my throat at least 3 times. They told me that there were some changes in my throat due to smoking, and that if I did not quit I may get cancer. On top of that, they wanted to take my tonsils out.
That was enough for me. In June it will be 3 years of no smoking.
Norm
Quit smoking gives the ways to the people to improve health.Nicotine is an extremely addictive drug. If the addictive qualities of nicotine begin to get too much, you can try using a nicotine patches or chewing gum. Patches and gum are the two most popular aides used by somebody trying to quit smoking and do not require a prescription. They work by releasing a small amount of nicotine into your bloodstream but not the dangerous levels released by the nicotine in tobacco.
smokeless cigarettes