I quit Smoking and my GAME has gone to POT

[powerlineman80]

I quit cold turkey about 5 years or so ago myself. I still dream that I smoked but hardly ever have any cravings anymore. I can tell a HUGE difference in my body but people have to realize it takes longer than a week or two to feel that difference. Glad to hear you quit a nasty habit!

 

[powerlineman80]

As far as smoking goes, I thought most people gained weight instead of lost it. I think Grady said he played much worse for awhile after he couldn't smoke while playing, but Diliberto has commented that certain players quit smoking and started playing better.

Yep I gained weight instead of losing it.

Efren quit as well (or said he did at one time) and thats where his weight come from I'm sure. I dont know when he quit but his game has stayed pretty strong. I wasnt shooting much when I quit so I never could tell a difference.

 

[kvinbrwr]

Congrats Tom! I'm approaching my 4-year mark on May 15th and am so glad I did it. The Nicodern patch worked for me but only after the second stab at trying to quit. One thing I do remember about the patch was having strange dreams. Didn't think anything of it until I read the box. It said something about possibly having "vivid dreams." Anyone else experience this?

Anyways, my game also took a dive during the 1st few months but then I got used to it and regained what was lost. Stick to it and good luck. I'm sure your game will pick back up. Hopefully sooner than later. Take care!

Regards,
SoCal Abe

Abe

I quit about 8 years ago using the patch, which worked like a charm, I couldn't go 2 hours without a cig cold turkey, but it was easy with the patch. The 90 days I wore the patch were the only time in my life I can remember where I dreamt in color.

Kevin

 

[powerlineman80]

Its mainly mental when it comes to quitting cold turkey. I was like every other smoker that tried to quit 100 times, but the last time I told myself I was ready to suffer and wouldnt come up with every excuse in the book to smoke a cig. I was finally right in the head and after a week or two it was not that bad at all. I still have maybe one craving a month and its not bad at all. When I'm around a smoker these days I cant stand it thankfully. The only time I almost smoked one was two years ago when the docs thought I had Lymphoma.

 

[Tom In Cincy]

I was ready... and the extra $150 amonth savings will go to my new car I plan on getting a the end of the summer.

Every time I get the urge, I take a deep breath and let it out slowly... the urge passes.

Quitting isn't easy.. and there are chemical changes your body goes through.

I wish I could find it, but there was a 'time chart' of body changes after you quit... after a week... so and so starts to improve. after 2 weeks so and so starts to work easier.. and so on... I think it is 3 years that your lungs have regenerated, but I may be wrong...

 

[powerlineman80]

Have you started coughing yet? After a few weeks I was coughing alot, I heard that was your lungs or something trying to clean themselves out like the rest of your body. You are correct that your body goes through changes as it weens itself off the nicotine and other chemicals in cigs and cleans itself.

I had bronchitis alot and the smoking made it even worse. I can tell a HUGE difference in breathing now than when I was smoking. I can do things without being breathless and wanting a cig.

Its always great to hear of another person quitting. My mother quit right before me and she smoked for years. So I quit right behind her and we tried to get my father to quit but he still chain smokes and wont quit till he dies sadly.

 

[JimS]

This might be what you were looking for...

As soon as you snuff out your last cigarette your body will begin a series of physiological changes.

Within 20 minutes: Blood pressure, body temperature and pulse rate will drop to normal.

Within 8 hours: Smokers breath disappears. Carbon monoxide level in blood drops, and oxygen level rises to normal.

Within 24 hours: Chance of heart attack decreases

Within 48 hours: Nerve endings start to regroup. Ability to taste and smell improves.

Within 3 days: Breathing is easier.

Within two to three months: Circulation improves. Walking becomes easier. Lung capacity increases up to 30 percent. j

Within one to nine months: Sinus congestion and shortness of breath decrease. Cilia that sweep debris from your lungs grows back. Energy increases.

Within one year. Excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a person who smokes.

Within two years: Heart attack risk drops to near normal.

Within 5 years: Lung cancer death rate for average former pack-a-day smoker decreases by almost half. Stroke risk is reduced. Risk of mouth, throat and esophageal cancer is half that of a smoker.

Within 10 years: Lung cancer death rate is similar to that of a person who does not smoke. The pre-cancerous cells are replaced.

Within 15 years: Risk of coronary heart disease is the same as a person who has never smoked.


I can't remember what the source was. Cancer society I suppose. I cut the article out of a newspaper and had it stuck in a place where I would be able to find it. And I actually did!!! Wonder of wonders!!!!

 

[i4pool]

As soon as you snuff out your last cigarette your body will begin a series of physiological changes.

{snip}

I can't remember what the source was. Cancer society I suppose. I cut the article out of a newspaper and had it stuck in a place where I would be able to find it. And I actually did!!! Wonder of wonders!!!!

JimS - Good stuff! Thanks for sharing the info. For me, after 4 years of not smoking, it's nice to know what improvements were made.

 

[i4pool]

Have you started coughing yet? After a few weeks I was coughing alot, I heard that was your lungs or something trying to clean themselves out like the rest of your body. You are correct that your body goes through changes as it weens itself off the nicotine and other chemicals in cigs and cleans itself.

I had bronchitis alot and the smoking made it even worse. I can tell a HUGE difference in breathing now than when I was smoking. I can do things without being breathless and wanting a cig.

Its always great to hear of another person quitting. My mother quit right before me and she smoked for years. So I quit right behind her and we tried to get my father to quit but he still chain smokes and wont quit till he dies sadly.

powerlineman80- I remember the coughing stage well. Sounds disgusting but... there was a strange satisfaction of coughing up smoker's phlem and spitting it out. It was a cleansing experience.

 

[Cuebacca]

Yeah... 6+ weeks FREE. Using a great drug called Chantix...

Pool playing suxs, but I can deal with that until I get healthier.

Congratulations to you, Tom. Keep up the good work!

 

[monica]

Thats awesome. I quit some years ago. I got hot flashes and was moody. I didn't go in a pool room for at least 2 months. I promised myself not one more ever again for any reason. I think that has made it easier to not be finding excuses to have just one. No matter what happens in your life in the future it is not an excuse to have another cig. That's what worked for me and I quit cold turkey after I had suffered from a cold. My game is MUCH stonger now as well as my stamina. Your's will too as soon as the tuff part is over. Hang in there.

 

[JimS]

. I promised myself not one more ever again for any reason. .... No matter what happens in your life in the future it is not an excuse to have another cig. . Hang in there.

Bingo. Not now. Not today. No cigs today no matter what. That has worked for me for 1822 days.... and counting. No booze (or pot or any of the other drugs I was into) for 9649 days. It works.

Not now. Not today.

 

[TATE]

Yeah... 6+ weeks FREE. Using a great drug called Chantix...

Pool playing suxs, but I can deal with that until I get healthier.

Tom,

Arnold Palmer's golf game went downhill too when he quit smoking a long time ago. That's OK, he's still alive to laugh about it now. A lot of others are not.

I enjoyed smoking until it became an unmanageable addiction. Quitting smoking was one of the most difficult things I've ever done, and it is also one of the most rewarding. Quitting cigarettes was not so hard, - dealing with the inevitable depression that followed was. I found that the longer you go, the easier it is. I dragged on my quit and made it a living hell by not totally abstaining.

Thank god it's behind me. I feel better every moment of the day than I ever did when I smoked.

Whatever you do, just stay with it - best wishes and congratulations!

Chris

 

[Tom In Cincy]

I quit!!!

Sorry to BUMP this, but I have to say... I QUIT, yes, I am somewhat PROUD of my success, and I am definetly happy to be able to be living to say it.

My weight has stayed down and in fact I have lost about 10 pounds.

For those that are 60 years old and have been smoking for 40+ years.... it can be done... I AM LIVING PROOF.

I quit.

 

[Snookerd]

Congrats Tom!!! Way to keep driving through it, I commend you in your accomplishment... I am sure it was hard.:thumbup:

Sorry to BUMP this, but I have to say... I QUIT, yes, I am somewhat PROUD of my success, and I am definetly happy to be able to be living to say it.

My weight has stayed down and in fact I have lost about 10 pounds.

For those that are 60 years old and have been smoking for 40+ years.... it can be done... I AM LIVING PROOF.

I quit.

 

[Holly]

way to go Tom! You are my inspiration as I tuck tail and admit I started again this past spring and boy can I tell the negative diffrence too! I am considering the patch again as it helped a few years back.

Hope to see you in Jan. at the qualifier at HardTimes.

 

[crosseyedjoe]

Yeah... 6+ weeks FREE. Using a great drug called Chantix...

Pool playing suxs, but I can deal with that until I get healthier.

It's because nicotine can make you calmer, more relax and more alert.

 

[Scott Lee]

Congratulations Tom! You have done what countless other tobacco addicts claim they can't! I applaud your willpower! Keep up the good work!

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Sorry to BUMP this, but I have to say... I QUIT, yes, I am somewhat PROUD of my success, and I am definetly happy to be able to be living to say it.

My weight has stayed down and in fact I have lost about 10 pounds.

For those that are 60 years old and have been smoking for 40+ years.... it can be done... I AM LIVING PROOF.

I quit.

 

[smoooothstroke]

good news

Sorry to BUMP this, but I have to say... I QUIT, yes, I am somewhat PROUD of my success, and I am definetly happy to be able to be living to say it.

My weight has stayed down and in fact I have lost about 10 pounds.

For those that are 60 years old and have been smoking for 40+ years.... it can be done... I AM LIVING PROOF.

I quit.

Great going!

 

[Fatboy]

I stopped the pills a month ago and my back stopped hurting AFTER I stopped taking them, they were the source of the pain. I feel great!!! I wasnt addicted but my body was dependant on them-i got sick if i didnt take them, when that started I stopped the pills, it was uncomfortable for a week but since then WOW i feel great and i'm playing ALOT better.

Smoking killed my mom.