Qiut smoking day for AZers and support.Monday.

Roadking said:

That about sums it up.
Ohio is a smoke free state but a lot of bars still let people smoke & I have to say it sucks. When you leave there you smell like an ashtray. Your eyes are burning.
And when you wake up in the morning it feels like you smoked a pack.
I know, just don't go to those places. It's the league I'm playing in.

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That's exactly the same description/problem i have. No smoking town but with the room owner spending thousands and thousands to fight 50.00 smoking tickets and not spending a penny on smoke eaters. I won the Friday night tournament here this week. I lost my first match and had to go through the losers and double dip. It got over at 4:30 am.. Saturday i felt like i was hung over all day along with sinus problems and i don't drink. Even people who smoke agree its bad in there...I do have a choice of course, i could give up pool again like i did last time for a year. Its a shame.

JAM said:

Well, interestingly enough, I just learned of a new pool sponsor of electronic cigarettes. Currently, Jayson Shaw, Scott Frost, and Earl Strickland are being sponsored by this company of vapor cigarettes.

Here's the website: http://kingsofvaporohio.com/

Gone are the days of the smokey pool rooms in the year 2014, I guess.

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My buddy gave me an e-cig that he wasn't using any more. The tank leaked so I got a new one for about $20. Another $20 for a 30 mL jar of 18 mg nicotine e-juice (equivalent to about a carton or so of Marlboro Lights) and I haven't smoked a cigarette in a week. I was a pack-a-day smoker before that.

Last Tuesday I went to go test my resolve at the weekly 9-Ball tournament, played at a super smoky dive bar in my hometown. Didn't smoke even one "analog" cigarette, even though I was literally the ONLY one in there not smoking. There were 10 players so the tournament took about 5 hours. The 5 hours I was there I went through about 0.75 mL e-juice (half-a-pack or so), so my nic intake was actually less than it historically would have been (not including second-hand). It was the first time I had been drinking beers and shooting pool without cigarettes. It went surprisingly well. I won the tournament and netted about $50 after my entry fee and bar tab.

I tried cold turkey a few years ago and I relapsed after a month. I was just as edgy and irritable after a month as I was the first day without cigarettes. Smoked for another 4 years after that. I am literally not craving them at all using the alternative nicotine delivery method of e-cigs. They are about 1/3 of the cost too. My plan is to gradually decrease the nicotine concentration of the juices I'm vaping, then quit vaping altogether. I don't know what the side effects of vaping are, but I am definitely feeling better and happy to say that I don't miss cigarettes one bit, even after only a week. I couldn't say that after a week of cold turkey. It was pure torture.

Anyone interested in vaping, there are an overwhelming amount of options related to batteries, tanks, juice, etc. so I thought I could save people some headache and introduce a solid setup up front. All these components came highly recommended from many different sources and my buddy agrees. He had personally tried a lot of different setups and he is sold on this one. Works great for me too.

Here is what I use:

Battery: evo-C Twist 650mAh variable output
http://www.joyetech.com/product/details.php?gno=111

Tank: KangerTech Mini Protank II ~1.5mL
http://www.kangeronline.com/products/kanger-mini-protank-2-clearomizer

Atomizers: 2.5ohm - supports voltage up to the max that my battery generates
http://www.kangeronline.com/products/kanger-protank

Current Juice: 7's 18mg nicotine (Tobacco flavor)
http://www.my7s.com/e-liquid/e-liquids.html


Much more info can be found here:
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/

Highmiles said:

I am a smoker.
I have been on the fence about quitting.
I intend to quit this Monday, and this thread is the reason. I had been thinking about it, and just happened to see this thread at the perfect time, to make up my mind. I wish I could say it was some specific thing that I read, but the bottom line, is we just have to make up our own mind and then be grateful for support, like this thread offers.
Thank you to Genomachino for starting this thread, and to all who have contributed.

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Good luck to you. One day at a time becomes a week at a time, then a month, then a year. The longer you stop, the easier it is to stay that way.

genomachino said:

For many of us the damage is done and we just have to do the best we can do from now on.

The good news is we can share our stories with others. Our loved ones that are gone would love to see us help others that are now fighting this battle.

The info on this site is invaluable.

Thanks for sharing..........

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The day you quit you are on the road to a better life. You will live longer and the quality of your live will be much better. It is never too late to quit.

Those are are struggling and really trying hard, when you get weak, just watch this video. It will really help you relax and stay strong ---> HERE

JAM said:

I hope you read what I wrote in post number 7 to this thread. Hey, number 7, lucky number.

That really helped me get through the first few weeks. Now that I am at the 6-year mark, I'm feeling pretty good about my decision to quit.

Best of luck to you. If you want this, you can make it happen for sure, and you will be so glad you did. :yes:

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I did read that, and found it accurate based on prior experience. I had quit for 3 1/2 years, and started again when riding with some smokers on a Harley trip.

It is a great tool for getting through this.. Thanks.

VF-31 said:

Chantix Chantix Chantix. Smokeless for 7 years. Easiest thing I ever did. Wish I had done it sooner. You need a prescription from your doctor. Take pills for two week. Never had a desire for another smoke. Been dealing with COPD for the past two years. Hate it.

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I tried it and had a bad reaction, rash and shortness of breath. I'm afraid it will have to be cold turkey, like last time.

I quite a two pack per day habit over 7 years ago, menthol to boot. Haven't had a single cigarette since. I didn't smoke anything for over 6 months, then started smoking cigars. Not good, I know, but a lot better than cigarettes.

I used Chantix. My biggest challenge was my morning cigarettes, particularly with coffee. I decided on the 8th day to see if I could give up the morning cigarettes. At noon, it wasn't bothering me much, so I decided to not smoke any for the rest of the day. None since.

I would add, if you want to quit, don't "try". Trying means you'll give it an effort but will relapse relatively soon. You have to be absolutely committed to quitting for it to work. It isn't easy but the Chantix really helps getting past the most difficult period, that being the first month.

The non smoking stuff has made it more difficult for me if anything. All the smokers go outside for a quick smoke which simply doesn't work with a cigar. Despite that, I've never really had much temptation to go out and bum one. I had quit several times in the past and the first "just one" always led to a second, a third ... and then a pack. All over from there.

Even though I quit, I still don't agree with the Government mandating no smoking in privately owned establishments. In general, I am glad most establishments I go in are non smoking, I'm just against having the Government take away a freedom regardless of the justification.

Good luck to all those who take a shot at quitting. I'll be the first to admit it is a disgusting, filthy habit that not only shortens your life but also deprives you of quality of life.

FairladyZ said:

The failures and sideaffects of chantix far outweigh the success stories. I'm sorry, but there is no gimmick, pill, or magic solution for good 'ol fashion willpower. Someone mentioned earlier, quitting must be a selfish act.....doing it for your spouse, kids, or your dog are not going to work, and no pills will change that. When you make up your mind to quit, simply don't buy anymore, and that's that.....when you have weak moments, that's the true test of your will power....hang in there, you can do it!!

For me, the first 2 weeks were the worst.... I quit Feb 3rd, 2011. I never had cravings, ever....but rather for me, it was breaking my 'routine'. I never smoked in the house, that's just nasty! I'd always keep my smokes (Camel Wide Lights) in the junk drawer in the kitchen right next to the back door. I'd grab one, step out, and light up. The first couple weeks, I'd walk to the kitchen, open the drawer, and realize there were no smokes in there.... That went on for about 2 weeks, and that was all.

I gained about 30lbs within the first few months....and that is not from eating in place of smoking, I didn't do that. When you quit smoking, your metabolism slows as your body detoxes the nicotine, and a little weight gain is perfectly normal. Within a year, I had it back off, I just had to put in a couple extra miles at the gym per week... My recommendation when you quit would be to eat lighter/smarter for the 6 months following, so you dont end up with a pot belly like I got. I'm 5'10" and was 165lbs... When I stepped on the scale one day about 4~6 months after quitting and saw it at 195, I about crapped my shorts....so yea, I began a gym regimen and wisely gave up a lot of the junk food I ate, that crap can be as bad for you as the cigarettes!! It took me another 6 months, and I was back down to my normal weight....so take this lesson from me so it doesn't happen to you, prepare to change your eating habits a little when you quit.

YOU CAN DO IT, now get 'er DONE!!

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All of what you say is correct. Even though I never smoked like I said I took the course at the ALA with my wife as she was quitting. One thing I learned in the course was that the addiction of nicotine is actually gone pretty quick, only a few days and it is out of your system.

The real addiction was, people like to smoke and they usually had rituals that went along with it. They like that first cig in the morning or they smoke in the car, any number of things that trigger the craving for a cig. You have to identify the times you like to smoke and the activities that you associate with smoking and change them. In the beginning of the course they ask you to keep a log and when you want a cig to give it a number like 1 to 10 how much you want it..

If it is like a 3 and you can wait then don't smoke the cig wait till later. The following meeting when people reviewed their logs they found they hardly wanted the cig most of the time and without even trying had already cut down like 50% or more. Most of the time they were lighting cigs out of habit not because of some uncontrollable craving.

You were told in the beginning that you can smoke for the first two weeks of the program but when quit night comes that will be it. The funny thing was, most on quit night had already quit. They were so into it they could not wait to quit even though they had been told it was OK to smoke.

I learned that quitting smoking is easier then dieting. You do have to eat and it takes meal planning doing calorie counting and so on to diet. To quit smoking requires nothing on your part to do. You just quit and never look back. I don't mean to over simplify it, but once you make the honest choice it is what you want it will be easier.

My wife has a pot she keeps as a reminder. On out first christmas I gave he a set of very expensive cook wear. During her time starting to quit smoking one night she freaked out and smashed one of the pots I gave her. She was so upset by what she had done and what those F'n cigarettes had made her do they really became her enemy.

There was no way they were going to get the best of her and she knew it. From then on it was easy she hated the cigarettes, she would not have smoked another if you put a gun to her head. That is when it is really over when you yourself have made up your mind what is really important in your life. You can't be wishi washi you are fighting for your life.

It Even Gets Worse Than Cancer - But 1st... How I finally quit...

good luck to all

Pulmonary Pool Ain't Pretty...

can't change the header... killed the story. TMI to leave up forever here.

Great thread Geno.
You've got some serious good karma coming your way.

My mom had a bout with bronchitis and it was hard on her... the constant coughing
and spitting up phlegm and feeling sick all the time.
A non-smoker can can recover, but if you smoke while having a bout of bronchitis,
you can damage the parts of your lungs that help you get better,
and eventually it becomes a chronic and permanent thing.
AKA COPD.

She was scared to smoke while she was sick, and afterwards she'd keep a carton around,
but didn't touch it. She never told anyone she was quitting. But in the back of her mind
she knew she wanted to. Once she was sure, she was able to toss it.

For those who say "don't try some gimmick, you just have to want it, willpower is the key"...
it's true you have to want it, but even if you want it, it can be tough to quit.
There's a physical addiction and a mental addiction.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution, so forget any "do this, don't do that" attitude.
Try EVERYthing. You never know when one particular drug or treatment will do the trick.
I don't care if it's chantix, nicoderm, or hypnosis. Don't rule out something just because
you heard it didn't work for someone. None of them work for 100% of the people who try it.
But you won't know until you try.

Blue Hog ridr said:

This March has been one year for me Geno. I smoke a couple of cigars a day, no inhaling.

Now, if I could get my wife to quit, my clothes would smell like nice cigar smoke and not stinky cigs. I know to a non smoker, there is no difference but I would prefer the smell of a cigar or pipe tobacco over stinky cigs any day.

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Oh believe me, we know the difference!

I thought it was really strange... my smoking buddy was complaining about how this one guy at our pool room
"is always smoking those nasty stinky cigars".
I was baffled. Compared to his marlboros, a cigar smells like potpourri and air freshener.

A guy I played league with bet me $50 and I had to give him 5/1 odds. I smoked from when I was 18/19 until I was 28. I quit on Thanksgiving 2009. The bet was I had to quit until we went to BCA Nationals in May. My wife had wanted me to quit but I just hadn't wanted to. This gave me the motivation for 7 months and after that it didn't make any sense to start again.

I still love the smell of cigarettes and miss everything about smoking (except for the fact it can kill me) so I don't smoke cigars or anything cause I'm afraid I'd fall right back into smoking all the time.

Not sure it's helped my game but the fact a friend 40 years older than me cared enough to pay up $50 for me to quit is all that matters. I didn't want to take his money but he insisted so we put it on roulette when we were in Vegas.

I am in....My last cigarette was last night before I went to bed. I have been smoking for 21 years and have been smoking about 15 a day.

I am almost 45 and about 3 months ago I started doing Crossfit and have been working out at 6am every morning 5 days a week and have not missed a weekday workout since I started. I have gotten stronger and in much better shape over the last 3 months but the smoking has been holding me back. I am very competitive and do not like being the last person to finish a timed workout because I am so out of breath from smoking so I finally am saying enough is enough. I woke up this morning at 5.15am and went and worked out as usual but did not smoke before the workout (like I always do) and have not smoked since.

I believe that I can do this and I know I am strong enough to make this change. I also know that any other AZer that is a smoker and is reading this can do it too. Just make the decision and stick to it.

A few tips on what helped me over the rough spots, I found sipping warm liquids, like tea or broth or soup or coffee, worked well. Hot liquids take a while to consumer, and it helps with that oral fixation you miss from smoking.

As strange as it may sound, I would walk fast as I could up hills in my neighborhood. When I'd get out of breath and start panting like a dog, that inhale/exhale felt good.

Also, Brachs cinnamon disks were the nuts. They last a long time and keep your mind off the ciggies.

JAM said:

A few tips on what helped me over the rough spots, I found sipping warm liquids, like tea or broth or soup or coffee, worked well. Hot liquids take a while to consumer, and it helps with that oral fixation you miss from smoking.

Also, Brachs cinnamon disks were the nuts. They last a long time and keep your mind off the ciggies.

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Good tip, also I found that having poker chips or even quarters that you can do "tricks" with to keep your hands busy. To this day, 5 years later, I still have poker chips in my office and quarters in my car that I mess with. It's just a habit now and don't even notice I'm doing it.