I quit Smoking and my GAME has gone to POT

I had my last cigarette on March 16th so I'm 30 days in. I've been using Dentyne and hard candy instead once or twice a day. I don't pay any attention to my weight, but don't feel like I've been eating any more than usual. I also cut down on the sodas. I've been in the habit of drinking 3 per day. Now I'm down to one and am drinking juice instead. Don't know what it's done to my pool game as I've been taking a lot of time off lately due to a torn rotator cuff. I can't tell if my drop in consistency was due to time off or no nicotine.
I tried quitting last year and made it a couple of weeks but ended up in a very stressful situation that put me on tilt. It's tough but doable. Congrats on your resolve.
 
I was reminded of a story I was told many years ago about a guy that quit smoking.

Every time he wanted a smoke, he'd go into his back yard and start digging the hole for his swimming pool. He quit in January (living in Memphis) and had the pool built in late April, just in time for the summer.

He never gained any weight and was always working on that swimming pool at night after work and on the weekends.

I'm glad that I haven't had a TOUGH time of it, I know I am fortunate, but I have done this before. I quit for 8 years during the 80s and for 8 months just 2 years ago.

I've already stared to cut back on the Chantix meds to one pill a day instead of the two a day. It is helping and I plan on cutting them out altogether in May.

I've been walking during the day (minimum 15 minutes in the morning and another 15 in the afternoon) and every other day I walk 2 miles (about 45 minutes)

I was already dieting and watching what I eat and drink since last November and can say that I have lost 20 lbs since then and still have another 25 lbs to go.

I never thought I would quit smoking again... just didn't give it much thought.
 
Scott Lee said:
Bastian...That's certainly open for debate. Splenda, on the other hand, is made from sugar, yet completely calorie-free! :D Several diet sodas are now available with this formula.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
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Scott,

Splenda is up for debate as well. Not saying I agree or disagree here as I just don't drink any soda or coffee, but check this out for some interesting reading.

http://www.holisticmed.com/splenda/
 
yep

uwate said:
Be careful with Chantix...it has side effects that include crazy dreams, suicidal thoughts and even violent behavior.

I am not a smoker but someone who worked in my dept at work was and he was taking Chantix for about 5 months. The only reason I bring this up was because of my friend. He went to lunch and never came back. I was the lucky one who found him in his car about 5 hrs later, dead from a stroke of some sort. After his death I research Chantix some to see if that could have been involved. No telling, but it was awfully odd to have a normal weight male in his very early 30s die from a stroke. He was a good guy and I think of him often. :(
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my wife had nightmares also, but she has always been violent lol:eek:
 
I would expect your game to go to pot when you make such a major change. Alot of things we do such as pool are tied to other actions. Sometimes good, sometimes bad. When you play well you may mentally tie that to smoking, whether you realize it or not. Some sort of mental trigger. We all do it. And some of us recognize that and learn our good triggers to perform well and learn our bad triggers to know what not to do.
The good thing is that not smoking is good for you and all you need to do is tie the good things that you did playing pool to something new and you will be back in old form.
 
slach said:
I've been clean for 18 months after 30 years of pack-a-day. I was skeptical but went to a hypnotist that some friends recommended. Smartest $80 I've ever spent. It was amazing. He basically got me to forget about smoking. Sometimes I start thinking about lighting up and the thought just leaves. His name is Robert Ash in Lansing, Illinois in case anyone's interested.
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I used to work for the Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce, back in the late 80's. They moved their offices over to Carew Tower and smoking was not allowed inside. They offered the employees that smoked to go to a hypnotist. Same as you I was skeptical but thought "what the hell, they're paying for it" so I went. It worked like a charm. I didn't smoke a cigarette for at least 6 months, didn't even have a craving. One night my friends and I were at a bar getting sauced and I honestly don't know why but I had a cigarette. It tasted horrible but the nicotine set in and I've been back on the filter ever since. I keep saying I'm going to quit but it never happens.
MULLY
good luck, Tom. I hope it sticks this time
 
Pushout said:
I hesitate to share this with you, but I wanted to smoke for 7 years after I stopped. I guess I just wanted to stop bad enough to hang in there. Just take it one day at a time!!
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That's interesting. Maybe it's no accident. I think the body replaces all of its cells every 7-8 years, so maybe it took that long to slough off the ones that were still hooked!

Good luck this time, Tom.
 
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I spent 2 years making Splenda in Georgia and Alabama. That stuff is strong in its original form; 600x stronger than sugar. The packets are cut 100x with fillers.

I've never noticed any ill effects from it, but I have heard that there is the potential for it to degrade to two separate compounds that have some level of toxicity.

I do know the FDA spent 11 years investigating it before approving it.

After it was approved, Johnson and Johnson built a 400 million dollar plant to produce it an hour north of Mobile, Alabama. BIG business. That stuff is everywhere now.

The main difference between Splenda and aspartame is you can cook with splenda, nutrasweet is not heat stable. They both taste like crap to me, though. Diet sodas are awful.

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.
 
Jam is right

those 'Quakes' are pretty good. The Caramel and the Apple Cinnamon ones are especially good.

I usually only drink Diet Dr. Pepper or Diet Root Beer.
 
Does this mean you will quit calling all my close shots bad so I can win a few more matches and get my entry money back atleast.....

Glad you this long thats a big step in the right direction.

Best of Luck,

Craig Herman
 
My wife and I both quit after Christmas this year. Smoked for 20 years (and I am not old... started at a shockingly young age). I still get cravings, but every week seems like they are less frequent.

Most interestingly for me, my energy level and attention span are both greatly improved since quitting. Stay strong, your health is worth the gut check.
 
Tom In Cincy said:
Yeah... 6+ weeks FREE. Using a great drug called Chantix...

Pool playing suxs, but I can deal with that until I get healthier.
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I quit smoking, drinking, and coke back in 91 and have been depressed since. It's like I lost a good friend or went through a divorce or something.

Used to, when I missed a ball, I would slap my wife, take a shot, and go do a line. It is hard to replace a good routine that works.
 
I started at age 11 and was shooting for my 50 year watch... or pin.. or whatever you get for being a 50 years smoker... but I just couldn't git'r done. I made it 49 years and quit! I'm just a weak willed quitter I guess. Seems a shame to work so hard and endure so much for so long and not make it but.... whadayagunnado.

Haven't smoked for 5 years coming May 1, 2008. Haven't had one YET anyway, and I'm not going to today.. unless somebody REALLY pisses me off. :D
 
bud green said:
I spent 2 years making Splenda in Georgia and Alabama. That stuff is strong in its original form; 600x stronger than sugar. The packets are cut 100x with fillers.

I've never noticed any ill effects from it, but I have heard that there is the potential for it to degrade to two separate compounds that have some level of toxicity.

I do know the FDA spent 11 years investigating it before approving it.

After it was approved, Johnson and Johnson built a 400 million dollar plant to produce it an hour north of Mobile, Alabama. BIG business. That stuff is everywhere now.

The main difference between Splenda and aspartame is you can cook with splenda, nutrasweet is not heat stable. They both taste like crap to me, though. Diet sodas are awful.

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.
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curious about splenda? Most people have no idea what it is or the ill effects it causes. check out this website.http://truthaboutsplenda.com/
 
asbani said:
Congrats man. I do smoke myself, and I know for the fact that If i ever quit. My game will be better. Thats for sure! because some days when I wake up in the morning very fresh, I don't smoke in the early morning, I go and shoot a few shots, i hit them really well.. then I smoke a cig, and it back to the normal playing ;p hehe
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It takes real guts to keep doing something that you KNOW will kill you. I, being a coward, quit 10 years ago. The first few weeks after quitting are really revealing. I had no idea how much of my personality was tied in to smoking 2 1/2 packs a day. It is one of the best decisions I ever made and I'm pulling for anyone considering giving it up. IT CAN BE DONE.
 
Tom In Cincy said:
Yeah... 6+ weeks FREE. Using a great drug called Chantix...

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