Cigarette Smokers

Nine Ball

Nine Ball

Certified Rail Tester
Silver Member
I'm a young guy of 23 and I have been smoking cigarettes for about 10 years now. On the average I smoke one pack a day and at times can be more depending on the situation and especially when gambling. I would really like to quit as I can feel it taking it's toll on me. Is there any nonsmokers or ex-smokers that have any suggestions that will actually work? Much appreciated.


Thanks,
 
Nine Ball said:
I'm a young guy of 23 and I have been smoking cigarettes for about 10 years now. On the average I smoke one pack a day and at times can be more depending on the situation and especially when gambling. I would really like to quit as I can feel it taking it's toll on me. Is there any nonsmokers or ex-smokers that have any suggestions that will actually work? Much appreciated.


Thanks,
Click to expand...

Here is a great way to start. I am not smoking and I don't think Cuetechasuras is. Still going strong. You can do it if you really want to. I started at 13 and am now 56. Go for it!
Purdman

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=28088&highlight=Quit+Smoking
 
There are two basic ways: cold turkey and assisted. Which is best is open for question. If you go the assisted way, I'd recommend complete assistance--patch, gum and Wellbutrin (aka Zyban). Use the patch as directed and the gum as a supplement for the times when you can't stand not to smoke. Wellbutrin will help mitigate depression from separating from your best friend.

Cold turkey for many is every bit as effective. Basically you withdraw in three days. After that, there is no more physical addiction; the rest is mental. Withdrawal can manifest as anything from depression to anxiety to lightheadedness. Basically, the more you think about not smoking, the worse it will be. If you considered that stranded on a deserted island, you could not smoke, you wouldn't and you'd deal with it. The withdrawal symptoms are mildly irritating, but nothing more than that.

As for the mental aspect, picture the person you want to be as a non-smoker. Return to that image when you feel an urge to smoke. The smoker you is a small, nasty smelling, unhealthy individual. The non-smoker is pure, clean, fresh, vital and vibrant (you can further that picture with your meaningful adjectives). In any case, those images are surprisingly effective and can help a lot. Quitting smoking is really about mind control, very little about physical addiction.

Good luck!
 
Nine Ball said:
I'm a young guy of 23 and I have been smoking cigarettes for about 10 years now. On the average I smoke one pack a day and at times can be more depending on the situation and especially when gambling. I would really like to quit as I can feel it taking it's toll on me. Is there any nonsmokers or ex-smokers that have any suggestions that will actually work? Much appreciated.


Thanks,
Click to expand...

Try the patches. Nicotine gum. All will work to help with the cravings. However the single most important thing is that you make up your mind to quit. You have to start looking at yourself as a former smoker. Not someone who is quiting. If you fail, you don't get down on yourself. You simply start over again. Make it a total quest and you will get there. Keep it postitive even if you start to slide. Just continually start again and don't give up. Good Luck.
 
Good luck! I am so glad you are quitting while you are still young. Let us know how you are doing. Purdman and Cuetechasauras has made us all proud. :D
 
Get a friend or two who can help you stay on track...reverse the peer pressure.

someone already said it... keep trying even if it is a struggle...start over...

You will look better, smell better, feel better (eventually...), be healthier, and have more money....

Kelly
 
Hey Josh. How you hitting them?

I started smoking when I was 14. I first quit when I was 19 (close to 20) and in USAF Basic training. Quitting was no problem, because you couldn't smoke...and you were busy 24 hours a day. Of course we couldn't have any sodas or candy in basic (not even gum). What we could have (of all things) was breath spray. Guess the MTI's didn't want our breath to stink when they were in our faces yelling at us. Everytime I wanted a smoke...I took a hit off of the breath spray. All of the newly quit smokers (most of the guys quit in the air port right before we drove off on the bus to Lackland AFB...LOL) were hitting those things like they were asthma inhalers.

Stupidly I started back as soon as basic was over. I knew I was going to start back the entire time, so maybe that made it easier as well. Who knows? Now my wife and I have made a commitment to quit this year after our b-days. Mine is the 22nd of July and hers is the 25th. We have a new little girl and want to be with her a LONG time...plus we don't want to smoke in front of her. So..one more month (give or take) and I'm quitting.

Every successful person I've seen that hit smoking did it just cold turkey..suffered through it..and went on. I think a great way is start exercising vigorously every day. You will get a nice burn, and be so tired it may help you not have an urge to smoke. Also, have a lot of breath mints or gum on hand...and I've also seen people start drinking a LOT of water. Keep a water bottle handy, and when you get the urge take a few big swigs (you might be drinking a lot of water, but it is better than cigs).

Keep us posted on your progress, and I'll be right there with you quitting on July 26th. Until then...smoke 'em if you got 'em.
 
Well said, TedKaufman
I smoked from 14 til 45, quit for 6 years now. I HIGHLY recommend any smoking cessation program, class, or treatment you can find. I couldn't have done it without.
DougT
 
I have smoked off and on for years. I never was a real big smoker....maybe 5 a day...more if I"m drinking. I quit the longest when I had a really bad hangover....smoked a few early in the morning, and was never so sick in my life!:D....just the smell made me green....so...go get wasted, get up and smoke til you puke!:D j/k

the other good thing is peer pressure. Tell EVERYONE you know your quitting, it will put added pressure on you to quit.

Gerry
 
I'm 29 and I have been quiting for years. Nothing like a smoke when your gambling but oddly I have decided to quit yet again as well. Sure its going to suck balls but I need to quit.

Here are some things I am going to do to help me and if you would like to try some of them it might help you as well.


1. Don't drink. Yes I know this sucks as well but its necissary. When I gamble I like to drink a little to get me loose so this leads to tip #2.
2. Stop gambling for a while. (at least at the casino or on pool...a little poker on the net might not hurt but keep one eye open about it you know what I mean. I love to light up when I get the pocket rockets or when I'm about to go all in...or God forbid make it to the final table...then I'm chain smoking and calling someone to bring me a drink.)
3. Right when you get the urge to light one up convince your brain you just smoked one and amazingly the urge goes away...kind of...sometimes. (hey if it works one out of ten thats just another tool to add to your arsonal right.)
4. Find a hobby. Anything with your hands. I enjoy modeling clay and making chess pieces. One day I will make a mold and make them out of plastic. I started this when I quit and enjoyed it alot but then when I started smoking again I stopped. Go figure. Maybe you would even enjoy playing chess if you dont already. It keeps your mind occupied. Go out and buy Chessmaster for the PC.
5. Run, jog, lift weights, something that benifits you from quitting smoking.
6. Remember the feeling of satisfaction you get when you look in the mirror as a non smoker. If you smoke again immediately go to the mirror and compare which feeling is better. If you want to quit than we already know the answer.
7. Be a kid again. Simply start enjoying life again through new eyes.


Theres more but thats just a few. I don't want to right a book or anything...well maybe I do but not about quitting smoking. I'll quit with you if you want to. I'm quitting anyway. In fact tonight is my last night and then hell begins.:( ...which actually reminds me of another one.

8. Don't go into this lightly. It will be a fight and a tough one at that. Hell its a war to be more accurate. Trust me I know. When you get the urge you will want that cig. no matter what so just be prepared to suffer but when the urge goes away repeat #6 and you just won 1 battle out of many more to come. I like a good fight so I am pumping up for this.

P.S. DO NOT OVER EAT AT MEAL TIME! Eat smaller meals throughout the day. Instead of eating 3 big meals eat 6 small ones. Maybe a big one at night right before or during a good movie but be careful.

Good luck dude.:)
 
Nine Ball said:
I'm a young guy of 23 and I have been smoking cigarettes for about 10 years now. On the average I smoke one pack a day and at times can be more depending on the situation and especially when gambling. I would really like to quit as I can feel it taking it's toll on me. Is there any nonsmokers or ex-smokers that have any suggestions that will actually work? Much appreciated.


Thanks,
Click to expand...


I was a smoker for 11 years and my wife and I got the laze accupuncture treatment...or however you spell it...and April was a year of non smoking for the both of us. Quit on a time where you can be away from your normal everyday things like poolrooms, work etc... It also helps to run....hit a punching bag ...something to let out fustration. The 4th and 5th day for me was the hardest, and if you can get past the cravings that really only last for about 5 minutes at a time you will be on your way to being a non smoker. Remember when you do quit that you really want to quit, you will try to tell yourself that you like to smoke and that is ok with you but stay strong. It's the best thing that you will ever do for yourself. And when your playing pool you wont have the distraction of wanting a smoke...good luck
 
Nine Ball, I smoked 3 to 4 times as much as you. Although I tried to cut down, that did not work for me. It was all or nothing. I went cold turkey.

Since that time, I have had other health issues and I have been told by several doctors that, quiting smoking saved my life.

I suggest you try any method to quit. If one method doesn't work, try another method. The result is much more important than the method. If you really want to quit, you can.

Quit as soon as you can. You never know when some doctor will tell you that quiting saved your life. :D
 
Thepoolroomchef said:
I was a smoker for 11 years and my wife and I got the laze accupuncture treatment...or however you spell it...and April was a year of non smoking for the both of us. Quit on a time where you can be away from your normal everyday things like poolrooms, work etc... It also helps to run....hit a punching bag ...something to let out fustration. The 4th and 5th day for me was the hardest, and if you can get past the cravings that really only last for about 5 minutes at a time you will be on your way to being a non smoker. Remember when you do quit that you really want to quit, you will try to tell yourself that you like to smoke and that is ok with you but stay strong. It's the best thing that you will ever do for yourself. And when your playing pool you wont have the distraction of wanting a smoke...good luck
Click to expand...

Well for me it was a simple answer. I had chronic bronchitis 28 months ago (FEB. 4, 04) that just would not go away. I had had it for about 3 months. My Doctor sent me to the hospital emergency room to have a chest x-ray done. The Emergency room Doctor that i saw that night told me that although i did not have pnuemonia i did have the beginnings of what he called COPD. When i asked what that was he told me it could be chronic bronchitis, asthma, emphysema, etc,etc. well when i heard emphysema it scared the hell out of me cuz i had 2 friends that had passed away from it. So i went home, found my cigarettes and threw them away and i have been smoke free ever since. i quit cold turkey. this after smoking 2 to 3 packs a day for 40 years. I guess the thought of emphysema scared me more than anything else. Just throw your smokes away and put yourself into situations where you can't smoke. thats what i did. I found that the hardest cigarette to get over was that 1st one in the morning. If you can get past that one you can beat it. good luck and keep us posted on your progress.......................mike
 
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Wow! This is the last place I thought I would find some help. After smoking
for more than 10 years, I decided to quit after feeling that I have this smoker's cough that won't go away for month's already. It's already my fifth day today being smoke free. I know it's not much yet but its a start. I'm planning on staying smoke free this time around.
 
This is great. Thanks for the replies. Although I'm smoking a cig while I write this my start will be tomorrow. I once quit years back but it only lasted for about two days and I actually started smoking more afterwards. I remember having a lot of trouble sleeping and the worst was after eating or when gambling. Oh, Can't forget that first cig of the day when you awake. Someone made a comment about playing chess might help. Well, I do play chess or used to and while playing smoke a lot thinking of all the moves to come ahead. hah. I play cards too and that also leads to an easy pack during the game. I just feel the way I smoke I'm going to be in big trouble in the future if I don't quit and that's not something I want. I'll post a day by day blow of this torture I'm about to go through. heh. Thanks everyone.


Josh
 
At my weekly Friday night poker game a guy says to someone that was thinking about quitting, "Ah hell, any puss can quit smoking but it takes a real man to smoke 5 packs a day with lung cancer.":eek:
 
5 packs a day

Hey you can quit cold turkey I did after 26 years last 15 or so 5 packs a day when I quit on jan 2nd 2000 I was spending 90 bucks a week and thought dang I can buy a new tricked up truck and some nice cues with the money and maybe feelbetter and live longer. now I think it would cost me about 125 bucks a week. try it cold for 2 weeks and your done Good luck
 
remember this. tomorrow is just the first day. that is where you have to start. the first day...................mike
 
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