I'm Quitting Smoking

from JoeUser Forums
The past few months I have been very focused on my health and fitness as I have been recovering from my injuries. I've started cycling as a means of physical therapy, transportation,and exercise. I am becoming more of a cycling addict as I go along. Smoking slows the healing process, reduces my breathing efficiency, and generally poisons my system. I smoke 3 packs a day. WAY too much, even for lights.

I have hopes that as I progress, I will eventually be able to participate in organzied cycling rides and perhaps one day a century ride. There is no way I could possibly do that if I continue to smoke. I enjoy riding more than smoking.

So, in the interest of my health, fitness, and healing I have made the decision to quit smoking. Cigarettes just don't fit into the new healthier lifestyle I want.
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3,057 views 16 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top

Wow, Mason...that's a lot of nicotine you're feeding yourself! 

You know that smoking inhibits bone growth and bone healing.....so I'm not going to tell you anything you don't already know.  I'll just wish you luck on your quest to get healthier!

Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
Good for you. Enjoy your cycling
Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
Thanks Dharma and Danny. Yeah I do know it slows bone healing. That's one of the many reasons I decided to quit. I honestly can't think of any reason to NOT quit.
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
Yay, Mason! Congratulations on your decision. It's *SO* hard to quit...I hear, anyways. Maybe every time you feel the urge to smoke you should go for a bike ride instead. My mom felt so much better when she quit smoking (she's got horrible, wretched osteoarthritis on top of rheumatoid arthritis), and the smoking makes her meds less effective, and she knows all this, she just can't come up with a better way to calm her nerves.

Maybe she should start drinking.
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
Maybe every time you feel the urge to smoke you should go for a bike ride instead

That's the plan.

money saved after quitting=cost of new bike

Now why didn't I think of that?

Yes I'm planning to use the saved money to buy a shiny new Trek.
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
Try quitnet Link

It helped me bunches when I quit over 7 years ago. Also, read Addiction & Grace by Gerald May I can't tell you enough how good this book is on understanding addiction. If I can do this, you can do this!!!Link
Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
Try quitnet

Signed up yesterday
Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top
Cool, found it. I've actually been a member there for 3 years, from previous quit attempts. Reactivated my account there yesterday.
Reply #11 from JoeUser Forums Top
I'm on final countdown to my quit. I have 18 smokes left. When I wake tomorrow morning it will be the start of my quit.
Reply #12 from JoeUser Forums Top
Good for you MasonM. it won't be easy, unless of course you're one of the relatively few lucky ones who escape the pain of withdrawal. There again, they don't get the same sense of achievement when they succeed. And the benefits - financial of course, but in terms of your health and (to use a bit of a cliche) quality of your life - can be breathtaking (ha ha). I'm with Mark Twain, who is reputed to have said, 'Quitting smoking is easy. I've done it many times.' Me too. But it doesn't matter how you get there, just get there. Good luck.
Reply #13 from JoeUser Forums Top
Yay, Mason! I wish you luck and success. You can do it!
Reply #14 from JoeUser Forums Top
Quitting smoking is easy. I've done it many times


I've been known to use that line myself a few times. This sin't my first quit, but it's damn sure going to be my last!

I wish you luck and success. You can do it!

Thanks a lot.

I appreciate the supportive comments. It's gonna be a rough few days coming up. I'm going cold turkey. No patches or gum or any of that. After what I've been going through with the busted hip I've had enough of crutches for a good while.
Reply #15 from JoeUser Forums Top
Way to go Mason As you already know, it is one of the toughest things to do.
I punched a hole in the phony wood paneling of my mobile home one night when I
wanted a cigarette. It was January in Mn. and I'd pace the hallway of the trailor hitting the wall literaly.
I had vowed to quit because of the heart attack and I'd walk for10-15 minutes until
the craving stopped. Sometimes I had to walk most of the day, Ihad been smoking up to two and a half packs a day.
I tried reverse psychology by keeping a pack handy and giving myself permission to
smoke, but only if I walked first everytime I wanted one. Eventually the walks became
more fun than the smokes, and I had also started meeting people
Best of luck and prayers for sucess!
Reply #16 from JoeUser Forums Top
I punched a hole in the phony wood paneling of my mobile home one night when I
wanted a cigarette.



I'm doing reasonably well so far today. Got a little edgy right after eating lunch so I went for a bike ride which seemed to help a bit. It isn't easy, but it's better than smoking.