Returning to normal status after quitting smoking

When I Quit Smoking, I Got My Senses—and My Life—Back

A few days after I stopped smoking, something remarkable happened: I began to smell again. Not just faintly, but vividly—almost overwhelmingly. It was as though my nose had come back to life. Smoking, I realized, doesn’t just stain your fingers and blacken your lungs—it dulls your senses, poisons your bloodstream, and coats every cell in your body with toxic residue, including nicotine, which is also used in pesticides.

For four years, I had followed the same routine: wake up at 5 a.m., get dressed, and leave the house by 6 to drive to work. But one morning, shortly after quitting, I stepped outside and noticed for the first time the intoxicating fragrance of my mother’s jasmine, which climbed across the front rail of our porch. Then came the sweet, floral scent of the rose bushes my father had meticulously pruned and planted in a straight line along the north wall of the house.

It hit me like a wave. I stood there, stunned—feeling both delighted and ashamed. Delighted by the beauty of the scents I had missed for so long, and ashamed that I had deprived myself of such simple pleasures for over a decade.

Food Became a Celebration

As my sense of smell returned, so did my sense of taste. The experience was extraordinary. Suddenly, the aromas wafting from the kitchen became an event: roasted vegetables, simmering sauces, fresh herbs. The flavors hit my tongue with an intensity I had forgotten even existed. It was like waking up in a new world. I began to make little satisfied noises at the table, savoring each spoonful as if I were discovering food for the first time.

I hadn’t felt this way since I was a teenager—before I began smoking at 18. I remember sitting at the table one day, chewing slowly, my palate alive with sensation, and tears welled up in my eyes. I cried—not from joy, but from regret. Regret that I had spent years locked inside a self-inflicted prison of nicotine. One puff back in 1993 had led to years of dull senses, diminished health, and emotional detachment.

The Weight Gain Trap

But quitting wasn’t a magic fix. I faced another challenge—weight gain. At the time, I didn’t know what nicotine actually does to the body’s metabolism. It tricks the liver into releasing glycogen and fat into the bloodstream, fooling the brain into thinking it’s not hungry.

When nicotine left my system, I found myself constantly hungry. I had no idea that smoking had been suppressing my appetite by delivering empty calories. Without a plan, I turned to fast food, sugary drinks, pizzas, chips, and soda. Within a year, I had gained 22 pounds, and instead of getting healthier, I found myself in worse shape due to the added weight.

Abusing your body for years means it takes time—and knowledge—to heal. You can’t just quit smoking and expect your body to bounce back. It needs help.

From Setback to Comeback

The weight gain turned out to be a blessing in disguise. It got me running again. I dropped the extra pounds and, in the process, discovered the benefits of a plant-based diet. That shift supported not only my recovery, but also my new lifestyle as a long-distance runner—including marathons and 50K trail races.

Time Isn’t on Your Side

There’s one more truth that former smokers often overlook: you’re not getting any younger. When you first started smoking, you were likely in your teens or twenties, full of energy and resilience. But when you quit years later, your body is older and slower to heal. It needs more time, more care, and more support.

That’s why it’s so important to adopt healthy habits early. Even just walking a few minutes a day and gradually increasing your activity will help your body flush out toxins. And adopting a plant-based diet can accelerate recovery, reduce inflammation, and boost energy levels.

That’s exactly what I’ve been doing since 2013. Today, I feel better than ever. My energy levels are so high that sometimes I find myself wishing I lived on Mars, just to get those extra 40 minutes in each Martian day. I could get even more done. But here on Earth, I’m just grateful I finally got my time—and my senses—back.