Smokerings & stereotypes, what should I quit?
 

An aquintance of mine that I've cycled with for over three years, just about fell over with a cardiac when he stopped by my garage for some help with his bike and he caught me smoking. "I didn't know you smoked", says he. "Yeah, I do", I confessed. I went on to explain the health benefits of smoking. He didn't pay any attention at all. I told him I was Catholic and all Catholics smoke. Still no bite. "But, I'm in the Knights of Columbus and we have special rituals that require smoking". He almost took that one since he's Baptist and they don't know much about the Catholic cult. Am I being stereotyped for smoking? I've been enjoying pipe smoking for many years. Should I keep this perversion of mine hidden? I want to hear from other smokers on this issue.

As a devote non-smoker, I'd imagine you don't want to read this, but I'm going to say it anyway. For God's sake man, give up! We all know how bad smoking can be (me more than most it damn well nearly killed my Dad), but what good is it doing you? The pros of quitting massively outweigh the cons.

I dont care what you do one way or another, just dont do it near me. I can stand riding/walking by a smoker, or talking to one while they are smoking. The smell is too strong and just lingers. Anyway, smoking isnt good for your lungs and cycling being an aerobic sport I would imagine you need your lungs to some degree.

My grandfather on my dad's side died when my dad was only 7. This was because he had lung cancer from smoking all his life. My other grandfather on my mom's side also has lung cancer due to smoking even though he quit about 10 years ago. As Johnny B said the pros of quitting outweigh the cons. I would advise all smokers to quit, but the final decision is yours.

As an ex smoker (3 years) I understand what you are going through, but quitting is better for you. As a commuter I don't think that smoking was doing any more damage to my lungs then sucking in all those exhaust fumes

Ever watch somebody die from lung cancer? I have.

I don't know what you expect to hear from asking a question like that. You don't need to hear from a bunch of strangers that smoking is disgusting, harmful and an awfully expensive way to kill yourself - I suspect you know all this already.

My personal experience has been that a smoker will only quit when they are damned good and ready to quit. No amount of cajoling from those around them will make them quit. I suspect you already know this too. So, if you're thinking of quitting - good for you. If you're not, stop talking about it because nobody cares - least of all you.

I also sense a tone of denial in the original post (i.e. "I went on to explain the health benefits of smoking"). To be honest, I'm close to calling "troll" on this one, but I'll refrain for now and give it the benefit of the doubt. Regardless, I'm ultimately with Tri Devil on this one. Do whatever you like, but leave me out of it.

Why would you share something like this on a fitness type of newsgroup in the manner it was shared?

Sounds like someone wanting to create a stir and get a reaction - in other words, a "troll."

If not, someone needs a brain transplant!

"The health benefits of smoking." Goodness, such denial.

But until someone really wants to stop, they won't!

Like ngateguy, I quit smoking about 3 years ago. Best thing I have ever done. If cancer doesn't motivate you to quit, then perhaps the following will:

COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)

I used to work in a Hosptial and got to see these patients quite often. The diehards were even out in the smoking area with us. Anyway, enough preaching. ;)

I quit using Wellbutrin It was really painless. Just stopped with little to no cravings.

What ever you decide, good luck!

Yep used the same method not only no cravings but it makes you feel pretty good also. :D

Beginning March 1, my company (a large industrial/aerospace firm) is banning all tobacco from company property. Cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco, everything. They have gone so far as to ban the possession of tobacco, not just using it.

Whether this becomes enforceable remains to be seen, but the point is that employers have decided that smokers cost them money in lost productivity and increased medical expenses. So employers are trying to make it harder to smoke in the hope that smokers will either quit smoking or quit the company.

The writing is on the wall. In case anyone has missed it, smoking has almost completely become socially unacceptable. Life as a smoker is likely to get a lot worse before it gets better (if ever). Consider that 20 years ago, there were virtually no restrictions on smoking anywhere and try to imagine what it will be like 20 years from now.

My wife has mentioned this as well. I'll have to consider it.

Go for it! It is also an anti-depressant, as ngateguy eluded to. :D
Now, if they could make a weight loss pill that worked as well... ;)

The only time I get depressed is when I consider quitting. :rolleyes:

Eventually I'll just have to cowboy up. I know this is a filthy and unhealthy habit, and if the DevilBeDamned tobacco companies sank into the bowels of the Earth tomorrow I'd cheer among the loudest of revelers (between bouts of cold sweats and grinding teeth).

Yea, I used to feel that way too. But I gotta say, this drug works on the receptors in your brain that are effected by the smoke. After a short time on the pill, you don't even get that "buzz" anymore.

I like to say it helps ya quit and makes you happy to do it... :D

Anyway, YOU have to be ready to stop. Nobody can make that choice but you.

Good luck, Rob!

Thanks much. :)

Well, my mother has smoked for a long as i can remember. 80% of my friends smoke, and I do not. I can tolerate it to some extent, up you should give it up. Life is to short to life it making it shorter!

Someone mentioned being an expensive way to kill yourself. Think of all the money you spend on cigarettes a year, that could easily add up to some nice new bike parts, maybe a new bike if you are a chain smoker!

You're partly right DnvrFox. Much of my post was intentionally provocative and a bit silly. It was my attempt at providing some entertainment while trying to ask a legitimate question. That is; if there are any other cyclists that use some form of tobacco, do they attempt to hide it from other cyclists for fear of being sent to the back of the bus? I'd never thought about my tobacco use as being a contradiction to enjoying riding a bicycle. But the cycling buddy I mentioned seemed shocked when he found out. That said, you are indeed correct in stating that the general public is more than just a little aware of the health implications of tobacco use. This debate has gone on for 40 plus years and clearly the loser is tobacco. And rightly so. My post wasn't in any way a justification for tobacco use. Nor an invitation to this forum's frustrated pedagogues.

This same thread decay happens on so many issues when the topic is some cultural or societal hot button. If I had posted a question like, "what's so bad about tobacco?" I could understand the flood of opinions regards the evils of tobacco. But, I didn't did I?

Considering this is a cycling forum where people cycle and smoking would make that harder then it is and 99.9% of the people on here are into healthy habits,non-smoking would be the rule of the day.Go to a drinking forum and you'll have a lot of smokers on your side,to smoke is ok i mean.

Anybody out there quit smoking a notice or document an increase in performance on the bike?

My uncle used to smoke, A LOT. He is both biking faster and feeling better since quitting...

I know how you feel. I still miss my pipe. I quit 3 years ago - I was in the hospital getting the tendon reattached to my knee so couldn't smoke from after breakfast Friday untill I came home Sunday. And I still had some pain pills that I used for about a week so that helped. I didn't inhale much but my teeth were getting loose and I suspected the heat from the pipe was doing it. Hay it saved me $10 a month.

But it sure was nice to fill up a pipe when some one asked a really dumb question instead of telling them how dumb the question was.

Joe

Eleven months, five days, 21 hours, 57 minutes and 32 seconds. 10287 cigarettes not smoked, saving $1,800.30. Life saved: 5 weeks, 17 hours, 15 minutes.
:D
And I expect (rather, hope) that all the cycling is negating some of the damage that I did to myself through all the years of smoking. As a former smoker (the worst kind) I'm confident in saying that smoker=dumbass. Furthermore as a former dumbass, I can say that I feel a heck of a lot better since quitting and find the thought of smoking as well as smokers themselves less attractive with each passing day.