OK, who smokes?

[irishsquid]

....Why not just choose not to light up any longer and live with a few days of discomfort? It worked for me and I know it's worked for many other people as well. Just make the decision, it can be done!

When I quit cigarettes "cold turkey", people asked me about the discomfort of quitting. I agree with you. I chose to start smoking which, let me tell you, was a heck of a lot more discomfort; choking till I thought my lungs and throat were coming out, nausea, dizzy, etc. (Why the hell did I start)
The choice to quitting was; don't light one right now, the next time I made the same decision, and just kept doing that. No nausea, coughing, dizziness, etc. Quitting was a much easier and comfortable process.

 

[Jupiter31]

Smoked cigaretts for 20 20 years, quit in 1991 - In 1997 began smoking cigars - like Bill Clinton, I don't inhale - no ill effects

If I could smoke u/w I would, gladly

I do know many divers who smoke cig's however -

 

[irishsquid]

Smoked cigaretts for 20 20 years, quit in 1991 - In 1997 began smoking cigars - like Bill Clinton, I don't inhale - no ill effects

If I could smoke u/w I would, gladly

I do know many divers who smoke cig's however -

I too started smoking cigars years after quitting cigarettes. It shouldn't be too long before someone will chime in that regardless of whether you inhale or not, you risk cancer of the mouth, throat, etc. Can't win with the anti tobacco crowd.

 

[oilyocean]

well as a heavy smoker (2-4 packs depending on days events) I am in the process of trying to quit--very hard but using the gum and nicotine lozenges as needed--putting on a few pounds but will take that off late--I never had a problems from smoking while diving and generally used way less air than most people on a dive. I can also free dive to 70' and goof off on the bottom for a bit but I grew up in the water so might be technique more than anything---To anyone quitting..good luck (it is very hard)

 

[Paleface]

Thanks for all the replies and advice. I started smoking when I was 12,stopped at 40 for 8 years and started again. Cant explain that. Now that I am diving and want to live I am quiting again. So far I have given them up unless I am having a beer,not to bad. I might have to quit the beer until I can get over that. Keith

 

[wreckless1]

I chewed for years, I've been quit for sometime now and I don't crave it but I LOVE it. If they came out with a dip that didn't rot my face off and give me cancer, I'd never quit.

Snus. It's very popular in Scandinavia, and studies there show that users of snus don't suffer from more cancer than the general population. The theory is that it's steam cured, which produces less carcinogens than regular chewing tobacco, which is fire cured in the absence of moisture. (Just like cooking methods that don't include moisture produce more AGEs (advanced glycation end-products) and increase cancer risk for people who consume a lot of grilled and fried meats.)

Not that I want to encourage tobacco use, but the debate is whether or not to encourage those who cannot quit nicotine to use safer products. The only US product I'm aware of is Camel Snus, which is pretty good. I use it at work and during air travel.

---

I dive and smoke. I quit for my birthday, on the 8th, for about a week. Two years ago I quit for six months but had a cigarette while having a drink, and that's all it took to get me started again.

The only method of quitting that really seems to work for me is cold turkey. The benefits start more suddenly so I can take comfort in them, and having something to fight and apply willpower toward is also good for me.

I desperately want to quit again, but I can take a little comfort in the quote in my signature ;-)

 

[wreckless1]

Smoking increases the risk, of a sport with "many" risks. It's not 'A' risk, except to your health in general. It is also linked to impotence - which for most men is far scarier than cancer and heart disease.

One of the benefits of quitting cold turkey is getting to walk around all day with an erection ;-)

 

[Jupiter31]

I too started smoking cigars years after quitting cigarettes. It shouldn't be too long before someone will chime in that regardless of whether you inhale or not, you risk cancer of the mouth, throat, etc. Can't win with the anti tobacco crowd.

Sadly, you are 100% correct

I'm not quitting cigars - if the smoke bothers you, move

I for one have had enough of the "Nanny State"

Its like those morons who brought suit against McDonalds a few years ago b/c their son ate like 3 meals a day there for years, and sued them b/c he was fat and had health problems :doh2:

Or the person who spilled hot coffee and sued b/c it was.....HOT

We have gotten away from taking personal responsibility for anything - nothing is ever anyone's fault - its "society's" - the "system's" - the "government's" and so on.