I've put on 20 pounds in the 3.5 months since I quit smoking

[DFW]

27. I developed severe heart problems almost ten years ago

So, while I never smoked, I did have diet issues.

By the way, nicotine acts like an opiate on your senses of taste and smell. These are nerves that can regenerate their functions if the nicotine bombardment stops, so EVERYthing tastes "better" when you stop smoking, and eating gets to be fun again.

I loved cheese and ice cream, and when the cardiologist told me in 2004 that THAT portion of my life was over, it was like a tragedy, although it was pretty clear that it was better to make cheese and ice cream a spectator sport than to not have any more chapters of my life at all. As it is, I have two stents keeping two of my arteries open. I would very much like to keep it that way. I don't envision retiring for another 25 years or so. I'm only 60, after all. Places to go and things to see, and all that.