Smoking

[Guts]

I'm a smoker, around 25-30 a day and while I know it's not a good thing, I've been smoking since I was 13 (about 33 years) out of habit.

How many do you smoke a day?

[Big_fat_kiddo]

Eh-he about 5 a day, not each day... but when im not at home.
Started a few weeks ago i gues

[BigBellyDude]

I smoke a little more than half a pack a day but if I'm pounding the beer, forget it! I just about chain smoke.

[Guts]

Hehe, same here - it really helps you feel good in the morning :D

[Fat_jack101]

Well my dad is a big smoker, so I have seen what it does. He always has to cough stuff up and crap and I would rather not end up like that. I fear for him when he gets into his 50's and 60's.

[BigMick]

I.m with BigBelly Dude. If I'm sinking beer, I smoke, otherwise not at all. Strange habit, I don't know why, but i just don't crave them any other time.

[Guts]

...otherwise not at all.A purely 'social smoker', I envy people like that ;)

[BigBeerBelly]

I was a big smoker until about 2 months ago, just decided one day to quit. Still crave them like mad though!

[Guts]

Smart move - I've been trying to do that for about 30 years :(

[BigBellyDude]

The last time I quit I made it through 3 days. So I'm weak!

[BigMick]

I know they say smoking is bad for ya, but then so is being overweight. I enjoy it anyway. These mad crazy people would have us all living like robots if we'd let them. Anyone who enjoys a smoke, well good for them. I enjoy beer and good grub too, so according to the professionals I'm for the scrap heap. Enjoy life while your alive because we're a long time dead. That's my motto.

[buffetbelly]

I was downright skinny until I quit smoking. The way I quit was to eat constantly so I didn't have a chance to smoke. Kept my hands and mouth busy and carried a bag of hard candy with me at all time. I went from 200 to 262 im six months --took years to lose even 10 pounds of that.

Gainers who smoke are rediculous. Quitting smoking is the most powerful weight gain formula you could ever hope for!!

[BigMick]

Buffet
That made me laugh, You got a great sense of humour. I'm not keen on candy, infact with the exception of milk chocolate, I'm not fond of sweets at all. But when I'm smoking, I'm dinking too, so that's gotta count for something!!!!LOL. Besides after I've had a few beers I always get the midnight munchies and crave something good to eat, and just before bedtime too, even better eh? :rolleyes:

[buffetbelly]

I was serious, man! I really did keep candy handy for that critical 3-month period after quitting. It wasn't the candy that made me gain though --it was mostly the lunchtime pizza buffets, which I still do of course 20 years later.

Lose the smokes --they kill your sense of smell and taste. I was amazed at how good food tasted and smelled once I became an ex-smoker!

[BigMick]

Hi Buffet

Tell ya wot, I'm going to the States on Saturday with my wife and daughter. I never smoke around her anyway (my daughter), so that will be a sixteen day vacation without a smoke. I'm gonna really enjoy the food, you guys sure know how to serve up a good sized meal.

So no smokes, loads of grub, a beer or three and I let you know how I'm feeling when I get back! ;)

[buffetbelly]

Yay! The US is also good place to buy pants in a bigger size, which you'll porbably be needing!!

[diamone]

I found out through many facets of research and clinical trials, that for baby boomer men, especially blue-collar (see other post under Gaining and Guilt) after the man quits figting society's ``norms' ', and learns to validate himself, only then will he be ready to go through the 13 weeks of hell that it takes to stop smoking and get any success at it.

The best way to do that is take half a dozen of similar age, size and interest men to a mountain or lake cabin for the holiday weekend. (I tell guys to use Memorial Day and Fourth of July in succession---usually with fantastic results)

This can serve one of two purposes, both of which are necessary for success:

1. A great last hurrah for smoking (or drinking or running around or take your pick) among similarly minded bretheren, with nobody to as they say `throw a wet blanket on the party'' . Many such groups indulge in everything under the sun for those first three days, similar to what took place in the 40's 50's and 60's known loosely as ``male bonding sessions'' or in college known as ``average everyday college life'' in that period.

Upon returning to the ``normal'' world, the men in question all go back to their ordinary normal lives for the next few weeks, trying neither to outdo one another in doing the vice(s) in question or in undoing the vice(s) in question.

During the ensuing weeks as the men are in frequent contact and psyching themselves up for the next element in the process, in the meantime, the men will be explaining to their families, acquaintences and co workers that the next thirteen weeks will be hell on wheels as they (quit smoking quit drinking quit drugs etc etc etc) and for the rest of the world to not take it personally.

Of course the best thing would be to telecommute from the same mountain cabin with the other five guys doing the same, along with a moderator whose done the same thing the previous year and can act as everybody's older brother. But the realities of the modern workaday world often prevents such drastic measures, so we go with the next best thing.

Then, the week before departure, different guys go up to the cabin one night each and stock the cabin with food, and whatever OTHER vices they still have left (for example if the group is quitting cigarettes, make sure there's enough beer booze and food up there). It needs to be OK to have all the REMAINING vices they want during this period, and use the time to work through the worst of what will soon become their worst demons.

The middle step of the process is having those same group of guys go back to the same mountain cabin for the same three days as before. It takes 72 hours for the initial shock of withdrawal to pass through a man's mind and his body so that he's no longer physically addicted. So therefore the six guys will symbolically as well as physically dispose of whatever they are trying to rid themselves of. They may gather around a trash barrel and burn all their cigarettes collectively for example before heading off to the mountains.

They will then spend those three days feeling free to express themselves in any way they see fit, and each man experiencing each emotion fully as it washes over him, without trying to bottle it up like he may have had to do at home or work. Here a man is in the company of his bretheren, all of whom understand exactly how it is.

After the second three days, the men go back to their ordinary lives, maintaining contact woth one another and `kidnapping' one on one if he has to in order to keep the man smoke free (or alcohol free or whatever). After the first thirteen weeks of hell, the men in question will notice as will the rest of the world, the increase in contentment and comfort within the man's life.

Our suggestion is to quit cigarettes first, then (if desired) not less than 18 months later, try for drying out and/or any other vices.

And yes, as mentioned above, quitting smoking WILL put on the Freshman Fifty. The man in question needs to be OK with that and accept it as part of the process. Over the ensuing 18 months (if desired) most of the Freshman Fifty will drop off all by itself as the man's metabolism recovers.

We hope this information will help those smokers (or drinkers or druggers or runners around etc) who wish to engage in vice management first---and then vice elimination.

[Guts]

Great post diamone :)

[Tipical]

Depends on if i'm with friends or not and depends on what i've got. Marlboro reds I smoke till I can't smoke no more, and everything else 5-6 in succsesion( is that how you spell that word? ).

[young gain]

i don't smoke but would like to pick up the habit to rebel against my parents and to see what it is like.

[chubby_guy89]

haha young gain no u dont! i did and i got caught cause i nearlly burned the house down with them lol and i got in big trouble. remember if u do it they will find out sooner or later and then youll wish u shouldnt have.

[young gain]

yeah i guess your right chubby guy89. I don't want lung problems and don't want to be cought.

[diamone]

Don't even bother. You'll get hooked and be wheezing and huffing and puffing by the time ur 30. Wanna rebel? Take up drinking instead. Beer puts on a GREAT belly especially the 18 percent European beer.

[Guts]

...especially the 18 percent European beer.
:eek: Sounds great, and a lot better than my Australian Foster's at 5% - what's that brand name?

[BigLee]

I smoke about a pack a day, sometimes more, never less than a pack though.

[greggut]

i quick smoking a while ago, but started again a year later. i gained 10 lbs or so after quitting but didn't loose any weight after starting again. maybe i would have gained more without smoking? wondering though if I should quit again to gain a few extra pounds even if I eventually start to smoke again.

smoking also prevents me from excercising too much. i get out of breath quickly. a good thing to conserve energy?

anyone know of health issues for big gut guys other than the ones listed on the pack?

[BigMick]

Not sure where you're at, so not sure what it tells you on your cigarette package, but smoking also causes fatty deposit in the arteries over and above those deposited by being overweight. This then gives added pressure to the heart for pumping blood arround the body. This can lead to blood pressure and heart disease and even a stroke. I used to smoke, but stopped. I don't preach about it though, everyone has their own life to lead. I just feel very much better for not smoking. Hope this helps. ;)

[diamone]

Oh sure---besides the excess arterial fatty deposits there's the sleep apnea and the narrowing of the asofagus and all kids of things. (as Bing Crosby) It's one or the other Bub. Food or smokes. (as John Wayne) Ya don't wanna bite off more'n ya can chew now do ya? (as Jimmy Cagney) cuz ya suuuuure gonna hava big price ta pay later, y'understand? (as Cary Grant) and it aint pretty.

[greggut]

yeah, i am a little overweight, at least in the medical sense, and definitely overfat. so i'll have to deal with heart problems and clogged arteries anyway. don't want the lung and breathing issues though.

maybe i will quit again and hopefully stay off this time. probably not a good idea to double up on health risks - fat and smoking.

any thoughts on smoking things other than cigarettes?

[Big_fat_kiddo]

You gould try Nicotine gum ;) to get you off smoking..

[greggut]

nicotine gum and patches are a good idea when going cold turkey (they were the last time around). they help dampen the physical withdrawal symptoms.

this is not what i meant by "smoking things other than cigarettes". big fat kiddo if you live in the netherlands you should know what i'm talking about. :D

[Big_fat_kiddo]

:p Hnmmm... i think i know what you mean... but then you'll get an even worse addiction ;)

Though allmost everyone around my age does it around here, it happens just as much as smoking.

But The Netherlands isnt only Amsterdam, Drugs and Wooden shoes.
We are just the same as the rest of the world... :p

We wear normal shoes for about 500 years now.

[greggut]

:p Hnmmm... i think i know what you mean... but then you'll get an even worse addiction ;)

Though allmost everyone around my age does it around here, it happens just as much as smoking.




Once in a while can't really hurt. helps people relax ;)

[Big_fat_kiddo]

Thats true... but it does work highly addictive, if it first is once a month, it soon gets once a week.. and once a day.. untill you do that just as much as smoking sigarettes. ;)

I know that because a lot of people i know went like that. And they started out with "Once in a while" ;)

[greggut]

some people are able to keep it at "once in a while" for years and years.

not so easy with cigarettes though, if everyone else around you smokes all the time (at the bar, etc.).

[BigMick]

Smoking is going to be banned here in Northern Ireland in all public places from 2007. That is bars, cafes, restaurants, offices, everywhere. I think this is great, I don't mind the smoking but the smell it leaves on your clothes is pretty crap. Smoking drugs of any kind in public here is a big no go, unlike in The Netherlands. By the way BFK I think that the style of shoe available in the Netherlands is far from Normal by British standards. Shoe shops there have shoes with vibrant colour and style. We like to buy shoes there for ourselves and our children. Much better than 'normal' :D

[greggut]

according to this the combination of being fat and smoking is really bad

http://www.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/diet.fitness/01/06/obesity.mortality/index.html

not sure if i can do without either one long term. i think i'll give laying off the smokes a shot though.

[diamone]

Well as a man (vs a woman) he has to understand that the male body physically gets over nicotine in three days.

Getting over the original emotional causes takes FAR longer.

When we have stop-smoking camps, we get the guys up in the mountains or at the lake with other overweight/obese similar-age/culture guys (i e white collar w white collar and blue collar w blue collar etc) so that the guys are already emotionally comfortable in a `just the boys' type environment.

Only when a man is in an emotionally comfortable environment is he gonna be able to let his guard down enough to express his frustrations and annoyances with himself and his life to his peers.

This is especially true with the blue-collar crowd.

Once the intense connections to others have been made a-la military boot camp, then the success rate of staying smoke free afterward multiplies tenfold---mostly due to the camaraderie the guys have from being able to see each other thru the emotional meltdown that usually happens in the early days of nicotine withdrawal.

and THEEEEENNNNNNNNNNNN:

the guys have to understand that their REMAINING vices will spike for awhile and to understand that's NORMAL. The man in question just has to ride the wave of the other vices and go w the flow until the other vices ebbs by themselves.
If the man tries to rush through this process or either hold it back all that does is send the man back to the beginning.

So--like for instance if the man's alcohol or food consumption increases---let it alone and go along with it til it peters out by itself. Men may gain anywhere between 25-50 pounds in the first months following nicotine withdrawal. This is partly due to the munchies that have been scientifically proven to increase upon nicotine withdrawal, and the secondary effect of not having the stimulus of the nicotine. In less than 18 months, the man's metabolism will recover on its' own and he will begin to go back to ending up at his normal weight.

Then he can go back to gaining on purpose if he wants.

Hope that helps.

[Guts]

Good post diamone :)

[greggut]

that explains a lot of things. last time i quit amoking cigarettes i got over the withdrawal symptoms over the first couple of days using nicotine patches. kept smoking other stuff once in a while.

none of my (blue collar) friends and peers have any serious interest in quitting. that made it ten times harder for me to stay off the smokes after i quit. that environment made it so easy to pick it up again, triggered by job stress and family issues. i'm not making excuses but not smoking did become a non-priority after a year. once you smoke a few you are back to a pack a day pretty quick...

i only gained 10 to 15 lbs and didn't see any reason to do anything about it. the gains levelling off pretty quick. i never felt my metabolism pick up or food intake slow down. i new i would have to go on a massive diet and excercise program to go back to my prior weight - never happened. didn't loose any weight when i started again. not sure if i drank more after i quit.