Smoking

[Garland]

Alright, I know I'm going to get shit for this, but here it goes.
I'm honestly tying to quit, I'm down from 2 packs a day (when I can afford it, if not one pack a day and however many I'm able to bum of other people)...but I haven't noticed an incredible difference in my cardio or stamina from when I wasn't smoking...I can still run about as well as I used to, even though I haven't focused on cardio in awhile, but how do I kick this.
Basicly, I'm under a shitload of stress, and smoking cigarettes helps to settle my nerves, what do I replace them with, should I start buying mas gum or tooth-picks, or get a bit to gnaw on, or what?

[Broadsword2004]

Well I am no expert, so I'd suggest you google "quit smoking." That is such a common thing, there are probably whole forums devoted to it I'd bet.

Smoking is bad for you obviously, and will most likely ruin your lungs and such in the long run, HOWEVER, sometimes (though quite few) that doesn't happen bad enough to be a severe health hazard. Like that one guy who is 105 years old and smokes 5 cigars a day!! Yet he still takes care of himself and is fine pretty much, no problems.

I guess I mean, stress is very bad for a person as well, so if you can smoke and settle the stress and feel cool, or you can not smoke and feel really really stressed out plus yearn and yearn for a smoke, I think it'd be "healthier" right now to smoke, then try to quit later on when not under so much stress.

Just my 2 cents, but ask people better educated on it, and find people who have actually quit and ask them for advice to.

[EmptyneSs]

smOke bud, not tobacco. bud will help ur stress way more than cigs, and is way less harmful to ur lungs and cardio. bud may be more expensive, so get a few buddies and all throw 5 on it. its effect lasts longer than niccotine and are way more enjoyable.

[KonrinzaiKirema]

You might be surprised to learn that marijuana contains the same cancer-causing chemicals as tobacco, and at higher concentrations. Smoking five joints a week is the equivalent of smoking an entire pack of cigarettes every day which, even in the short term, leads to lung and respiratory problems-wheezing, frequent chest colds and-yick!-a nasty phlegmmy cough. Long-term use increases the chances of tissue damage and lung cancer, and also causes changes in the brain similar to those caused by long-term use of cocaine and heroin.

http://www.freevibe.com/drug_facts/mj.asp

[EmptyneSs]

u dont have to smoke joints. there are much cleaner ways to smoke marijuana, like bongs and bubblers wich reduce toxin levels by filtering the smoke through water, and vaporization which eliminates almost 100% of all toxins and pretty much just gives u pure thc since nothing is actually being burnt.

also 5 joints a week is alot, assuming ur smoking it all to urself. most of the time people will share a joint between a few people, so its not like they will be smoking the whole thing by themselves. a person only needs a few puffs to get high. marijuana really isnt that harmful, especially not as harmful as alcohal and tobacco. plus, there is no way u can compare smoking bud with doing coke and heroine, thats just plain rediculous.

also, that site is so rediculously biased. all that info is trash. the truth is most of these anti marijuana commercials and anti marijuana info out there are funded by alcohal companies. isnt that funny?

heres the real deal with marijuana

http://www.drugtext.org/sub/marmyt1.html

http://www.drugpolicy.org/marijuana/factsmyths/

http://www.marijuana.com/myths.php3

[KonrinzaiKirema]

indeed
just depends on the persons chemistry, because results always vary when it comes to that shit

i need a lot of puffs to get high

[GeorgeK]

Garland,
I was a smoker for 10 years and smoked a pack and a half a day. Attempted to quit like 10 times for as long as 6 months at a time. Then, finally, I just got sick of this game and quit completely. I've been off for two years and trainig hard, and getting much more fit. You just gotta do it, and never look back. Wait for a less stressful time to do it though, like on a break from school or work. I sat at home for the firtst month, and didn't see anybody, especially the smokers, and then, I came out a new man. Excercise will help to clear your system, but it's as much a mental thing as it is - physical. I can't stand ciggarette smoke right now, and can't even conceive an idea of me smoking again. You gotta remember that it's a powerfull drug, much more powerfull that they want you to believe, and they success rate of those who quit and stay off is very low. So, you got a tough struggle ahead of you but it's damn worth it. Not smoking makes a world of a difference compared to smoking. Good luck!

[HtTKar]

You gotta remember that it's a powerfull drug, much more powerfull that they want you to believe

Indeed, now when I take a puff all I can ask is "How do people smoke a whole one of these" One hit gives me a sickly rush.

I smoked for many many years before finally quiting. I had to find out exactly why I liked smoking. Saying it is stress is not enough, because smoking in-itself causes stress. What kind of distress is causing you to smoke? I found that eventhough I am not shy at all, it was kind of a social distress. Its easier to ignore people if you're smoking a cigarrette. If your suddenly left alone at a table, people light up to keep from looking out of place. Or if your standing in a group of people, but just dont feel like talking, people light up. Its funny now, because I can see why people light up, and its usually from social distress. Same thing happens when you hang out in front of a bar, or somewhere where everyone is smoking. The Social pressure keeps you lighting up. Once you can find out what the root of your smoking is, you should be able to beat it. And remember, as a martial artist you should strive for independance and self-dependability. Be a responsible smoker if you're going to smoke, and support your own habit. Bum'ing off others is a bad signal. Also Remember; Addiction is a weakness.

[Memnoch1207]

Being an ex-smoker. The most important thing is being mentally ready to quit. I smoked for 15 years. I had tried to quit a couple of times, but never succeeded. Then one day I just decided I didn't want to do it anymore. I wanted to be able to play with my children without having to be on oxygen or a ventilator. I wore the patch for about a month and that was it. I haven't smoked since and that was May 5th 2003. Everytime I got a craving, I just thought to myself, "I'm not going to give in and let this beat me".

You just have to want to do it.

[Brian]

From a Friend

Garland,

I came across this and it hurt me. I want you to do your best. Try and get away from that stuff. Not because it will improve your fight game, not because it will save your money. People care about you and you deserve not to be a slave to something exterior to yourself.

My grandfather just passed away on Dec. 5th from some unidentified degenerative lung disease. While sitting with my grandmother a week or so ago, reminicing and helping each other coupe, I remember my grandma asking how anyone could smoke. We had to watch my grandpa struggle for every breath at the end of his life. And although he inspires me both with how he lived his life and how he faced his death, I would never wish that way out on anyone. He did not suffer too much, but believe me, the pain in the heart of this proud and honorable man weighed much heavier than any pain in his lungs. At the end he had to be fed water from a plastic spoon by his daughter who had to watch this great man wither in his final days. My grandfather was Samurai.

I don't want your end to be this way. With our without smoking, our times come when and how the fates decide, but don't tempt fate by stacking the odds in an unfavorable light.

For anyone else, I probably wouldn't go to the trouble of writing this stuff, but for whatever reason, Khuen Khru Will has always had a soft spot in his heart for you. I have learned from him and the other great influences in my life (my grandparents, all of them, my parents and family, and family in the arts), how better to show compassion and I know he would want me to tell you to continue down this road of recovery. Down the road towards your original and true self. We all wander and sometimes grow confused during our travels but remember, it is not how we begin a journey, or where it meanders throught the seasons, but where we find ourselves down the road despite the bumps and rocks.

A true warrior is the one who conquers these challenges. 9 minutes in a ring, is no more significant than a teardrop in a vast ocean when compared to the way a man lives his life and vanquishes those enemies that would distract him from his true and honest self.

"Endeavor to Perservere" and win this battle!

Kaiten totemo shinan. Shikataganai. Ganbare Yo!
(sorry about the pigeon pseudo nihongo)

[ChunGi]

Smoking can be helpful in stress rduction simply becasue it is a action that people with obsessive compulsive tendencies become "addicted" to, or more so dependent on. If u really want to quit u can go to your doctor and talk about drugs that will help you seperate the feeling of stress relief from the smoke action. Or try using one of those "stop smoking inhaler" deals

[krn3115]

Listen Man!@!

hey i use to smoke alot of packs a day also but i quitted in basically in one day i off and on smoke occaionally maybe like once a week not even a pack so doesnt effect me at all if you cant quit right now this second your not very determined deep down in ur head just get determined and just do it its that simple you must decide what is more important ur body that cant be repaired or ur stress which you can find other ways to deal with... i delt with my stress just hitting the bag an extra hour or go lifting or better yet just do something fun go race ur car lol go drive i love driving do anything man or just actually do something constructive about ur stress

i know it sounds a little harsh but its the pure truth

[krn3115]

Listen Man!@!

hey i use to smoke alot of packs a day also but i quitted in basically in one day i off and on smoke occaionally maybe like once a week not even a pack so doesnt effect me at all if you cant quit right now this second your not very determined deep down in ur head just get determined and just do it its that simple you must decide what is more important ur body that cant be repaired or ur stress which you can find other ways to deal with... i delt with my stress just hitting the bag an extra hour or go lifting or better yet just do something fun go race ur car lol go drive i love driving do anything man or just actually do something constructive about ur stress

i know it sounds a little harsh but its the pure truth

[HtTKar]

cutting down to a couple cigarrettes a week is not quiting...you're still smoking. It's just cutting down, and you'll soon be addicted just like everyone else again. Anybody that has ever tried quiting has at one time or another cut down like this. It doesn't work. What is the point of only smoking a couple cigarrattes a week? Is it only when you're drinking or around friends -social pressure. Either you're addicted and smoking, or it social pressure.

[NickL]

If you're still having a problem quitting, try a cup of herbal tea every time you crave a smoke, or drink a big glass of water. Try some chi kung type breathing exercises if you're feeling stressed and need a smoke. You must change your bad habits to healthy ones. Avoid smokers and alcohol. Get out of mind frame of a cigarette being a reward or something that's going to ease your troubles.