 |
| Courtney Force and Me |
I quit smoking over 15 years ago. Can you believe it! I still miss my smokes even now. As I write my blog I'm taken back to many years of smoking. I don't think the urge to smoke - for me - will ever go away, it just subsides for a while. I still dream about smoking. I will never go back to everyday smoking like before but Tobacco addiction (NIDA National Institute on Drug Abuse) is an everyday struggle. For anyone that is smoking now and is trying to quit maybe how I quit may help you quit.
Where does "Nitro" fit in? As a drag racing fan we will get to that later. For those of you that can't wait to know what Nitro is all about click here.
Please note: I am not a professional, nor a paid professional to assist, guarantee, prescribe or offer any type of medical treatment for stopping smoking. I do give all Praise & Glory to God.
For me there were no easy ways - only the will to stop!
Let's be real: Smoking kills. Statistics from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control)
A look back: Musician.
Back in the 80's I gigged in a Top 40 Band. Five nights a week.(Back then it was common place for a club to hire house bands for five nights) I still play bass & acoustic guitar today. Smoking was allowed in clubs. My smokes were on stage on top of my bass amp. Sometimes my lit cigarette was wedged in my tuning key & bass string.My smokes went with me when I left the stage to socialize on breaks between sets. My smokes were with me while I downed Stoli Kamikazes with friends.My smokes were with me while practicing scales 2 to 3 hours per day. My smokes were with me at band rehearsals. Everyday, every inhale I was damaging my lungs. Inside the clubs I was inhaling second hand smoke. That was the norm.I would have never thought of quitting.
San Diego 1994
I wanted to stop smoking "in my mind"
My first step to stop smoking.
I had to find a way to lower my dose of nicotine.
I switched cigarettes. I went from Marlboro reds to Marlboro Mediums. These cigarettes had a good taste, more so after dinner. Smooth not too strong. Not as strong as regular Marlboro's I smoked these for the next year.
In my mind I wanted to stop smoking. I noticed after smoking a cigarette I would get an ill feeling. Not all of the time - this happened gradually. Did this mean my body was telling me it's time to stop?
Year 2. I tried Marlboro Lights - Hard Pack. These were not too good. The flavor for my taste did not fit the bill. I noticed I could not inhale these things very long. I would only search for a taste. I went back to Marlboro Mediums. During this time as well I tried Nicotine Gum.
Nicotine Gum as a substitute for a cigarette (U.S. Library Of Medicine) The gum worked and it did not work. Right after a chew of nicotine gum I wanted to smoke a cigarette & I did smoke a cigarette.
This went on for a bit of time. I thought to myself "should I try the patch" The Patch I never tried it. I never went there with the patch. I have no excuse as to why. I wasn't interested in it for some reason. That's just me. I'm sure it works well for a lot of people.
The Model Builder
During year two I got back into my love for model building. Plastic models from 1/24th scale model dragsters & funny cars to RC gliders My smokes were right there with me. I would have one kit on the paint bench and I would start prepping another kit for paint.
I would take a break and have smoke. I love Sci-Fi models like Battlestar Galactica. See my latest work here. How to build the Battlestar Viper MKVII How could I do my hobbies without my best friends along for ride? After I quit for good I was able to continue my hobbies without any worries. My best friends of old "cigarettes" were always in reach but never touched.
Year 3 The last cigarettes I would buy.
Having lowered my dose of nicotine in the past I did not know this would be the last time I would have to lower it. By this time I had tried many brands of smokes. The final brand was GPC Ultralights. I might as well have been smoking paper because this is what they tasted like;however, this brand was just enough nicotine FOR ME to satisfy my craving(s) my time between smokes was growing. My body was telling me and giving me a little power over the addiction. I got back into running & cycling As a matter of fact during this time of my 3rd year, right after a ride a run or back from the gym I would lite up. Smoking was different. The taste wasn't there anymore. After each cigarette that I would smoke the satisfaction of the "Inhale" was not there.
Today I crave the smoke. The taste of smoke. (not smelling second hand smoke, I can't stand it") Does this make me a hypocrite. Probably because I'm human, I have smoked a few cigarettes in the last 15 years since I officially quit.
My wisdom teeth needed to by pulled
During my 3rd year of quitting smoking I had to have a couple of wisdom teeth pulled. I was instructed by the Dentist not to smoke for 24 hours. I thought to myself if I can go 24 hours without a smoke I can go 2 weeks. I did go two weeks without smoking not without going through withdrawals. I missed my friends. I missed reaching for smokes, lighting up & lifting my hand to my mouth. Which I found was the most addictive; the lifting my hand to my mouth to inhale. What got me through this part was chewing on plastic straws. I would fold the straws into about a 1 1/2" in length. I'd chew away on these straws. I chewed on so many straws I wonder if I wore some enamel off of my teeth. I did not chew very hard but I would chew a straw after meals or the moment I got into my car. I kept one with me all of the time. I would buy a box of straws sometimes.
The Straws allowed me to lift my hand to my mouth as a substitute.
The 4th year and beyond.
Nitro Methane, Dragsters, Sunday!Sunday!Sunday!NHRA Racing Series
As a kid I was invited to go to the drag races with a family friend who had a dragster A/ED (A Econo Dragster) What a joy for a kid. Being at the track, fast cars, the smells of rubber & nitro. I found after my friends (cigarettes) were gone, a whole new way of life was within me now. Being at the races was my therapy. I think being at the track as a kid and a fan has helped in many ways. Maybe the smoke, the BBQ, Pinks Hot Dogs at the NHRA events helped curbed my addiction to smoking. Who knows.
Once I quit it's been an everyday healing process. After a while I did notice food tasting a little different. It's true for me anyway.
After all of these years of not smoking. I have fallen a couple of times and smoked a cigarette, here & there. As I mentioned before I like the taste of smoke. I smoke cigars once in a while.
I will never go back to smoking cigarettes as a habit.
To be honest my hobbies, my music never suffered for it.
I do have to give a lot of credit to my Father who was an alcoholic for many years. The turning point for him was either loosing his family or quit drinking, he chose to quit drinking. I was 9 years old at the time. When he finally stopped drinking. The emotional toll was high for all of us. The credit I have to give him was his ability to quit. In many ways it helped me quit smoking. That's what love does it stays with you and me.
If you are in the process of quitting smoking I applaud you.
I know what you are going through. I've been there. It takes a lot of time and effort but keep trying. It may take you weeks, months or years like me. Once you have it set in your mind to quit you will quit.
We all know the dangers. It's a vice that can be conquered. Just don't give up. What worked for me may not work for you. That's okay too. To me they are lost friends, damaging friends that only bring lung cancer & death. I used the term "Friends" because at the time they were my best friends. For you they may be something else. What ever they are to you, you can let them go.
Greg G - Author.
One mans way to stop - quit smoking. Quit Smoking - it's a challenge for some of us.
