Knowledge Will Give You Strength

[Raider Nation Fisher]

I have decided im finally going to quit smoking. The time has come for the dirt sticks to go. I have gotten my metabolism sped up so hopefully fat gain will be negligible. I have finally gotten back on a diet and exercise program that is working amazingly for me. Ive been dieting for four weeks and am averaging right around 10 pounds a week in fat loss. However im not getting the muscle gains I was expecting. Heres where the knowledge comes in. Apparently smoking effects muscle growth! As in Testosterone production, protein synthesis, and the ability for your muscles to absorb nutrients! That is by far one of the most shocking and disturbing things ive ever learned. So as of Tomorrow morning the cigarettes are going bye bye. I mean that is just unacceptable. So fare the well dirt sticks, its been a blast. Im not compromising massive arms and legs for a stupid plant rolled into some paper.

[slonezp]

Good luck Homie. I quit cold turkey in '99 after smoking for 20 years. 3 packs a day for the last 3. Took about 2 months before I was home free. Prayers are with you.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

Good luck Homie. I quit cold turkey in '99 after smoking for 20 years. 3 packs a day for the last 3. Took about 2 months before I was home free. Prayers are with you.

Ive cut down to about a pack to 3/4 of a pack a day about a month ago. Was at 2 a day before. I just finally feel like my mind is completely made up, and have an insane drive to be rid of them.

[clayton86]

Everyones contimplating quiting and I'm thinking bout starting again lol. I have a pack in my locker I'll smoke a few then get sick of the smell and disgusted with myself and I throw em in the back my locker for a while then repeat lol.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

Everyones contimplating quiting and I'm thinking bout starting again lol. I have a pack in my locker I'll smoke a few then get sick of the smell and disgusted with myself and I throw em in the back my locker for a while then repeat lol.

Shame on you soldier! Now drop and give me twenty maggot!!!!!! :D

Oh and I got to ask. WHAT MAKES THE GRASS GROW!?!

[retiredbosn]

I've got the patches in my closet, I need to quit now I gotta find the will. I think my wife waits until I say I'm going to quit to pick a fight, lol. Always light up after a fight

[clayton86]

Shame on you soldier! Now drop and give me twenty maggot!!!!!! :D

Oh and I got to ask. WHAT MAKES THE GRASS GROW!?!

I just got done doing a PT test 20 minutes before posting that lol so no more push ups lol oh and blood makes the grass grow........theres no grass here though but neither is there blood anymore that was what 21 years ago Iraq came here. Theres still bullet holes in buildings and walls where they executed Kuwaiti officers plus there's tons of mortar impacts all over to I got some cool pics of them.

Smoking will hurt your muscle growth though it limits the amount of oxygen your blood will carry and as you know your muscles need that blood and oxygen for that pump. My old lifting buddy here he started at 112lbs hes tiny hes up to 120 now and he takes every supplement there is drinks tons of protein shakes trying to get to his goal of 150 which will never happen because he cant stop smoking. He smokes 2 packs a day he lights up on his way to the gym lights up after 30-45 minutes in the gym he takes a break to smoke then stops on the way out to smoke again. He smokes like crazy and wonders why hes not getting any growth hes cut and strong he puts up a lot of weight for his size but hes not getting the gains he wants. He tried quitting a few months ago but we wanted to kill him he got so uhm beachy lol it only last a few days and he went back.

[CoBass]

Good for you, I need to do the same. Deciding you want to quit is the best first step. Too many people quit to please others in their lives, not because they made the decision to quit for themselves. On top of all of the things you listed, smoking also restricts blood flow which is another inhibitor of muscle growth. Good luck, it sound like you have the right attitude towards quitting.

[Marty]

Congratulations, RNF, quitting smoking and losing weight are the two best things you can do for your health. They're both great for our economic health as well.

"Reuters is reporting that obesity in America is now adding an astounding $190 billion to the annual national healthcare price tag, exceeding smoking as public health enemy number one when it comes to cost."

[Raider Nation Fisher]

Update for day one.

Cravings have been manageable. Not as bad as last time I tried quitting. Wife has beyond gotten on my nerves. Especially in the last forty minutes. Grrrrrrr. I find the berry flavor Stride gum is helping out a lot. I must go get more tomorrow. As far as irritability goes, it doesnt seem much worse than my last test booster cycle which I just ended until the 16th of next month. Im impressed with how well I can handle my emotions and stress. Monday will be the real test of my fortitude in quitting. Ill update again either tomorrow or monday.

[Bluebasser86]

Good luck man. It sounds like you have your head right for quitting, you have to want it. I'm lucky that I only tried it once and didn't like it and chewing tobacco is disgusting so I've never had to try to kick the niccotine habit.

[clayton86]

I'm gonna be that guy and say no body likes a quitter lol jk keep it up man

[Jigfishn10]

I was just outside Albany, NY the other day and stopped at a Hess station for gas. I don't smoke,but I noticed most major brand cigs were $9.49/pack excluding tax. If you smoke a pack a day, there would be $3,467 reasons I would quit smoking...LOL

Good luck Bud!

[tomustang]

Chantix, it got me quitin'

[Alpster]

22 years at 4+ packs a day (anxiety disorder) at 35 years old I got the chicken pox in my lungs (vericilla pneumonia) very close to death. Spent a month in the hospital and half of that time with a respirator tube down my throat. Turned out to be a great blessing. Quit 20 years ago and I feel great now. I would likely be dead by now. My mom died from enphysema (sp) after smoking all her life. 2 uncles died of larynx & throat cancer in their 40s. There are few things in my life that I am more thankful for than quitting smoking. I had to nearly lose my life to wise up. Don't put yourself through something like that. No matter how hard it is to quit, IT IS WORTH IT! It will kill you, I have seen it. God bless you.

Ronnie

[Fishing Rhino]

Congratulations, RNF, quitting smoking and losing weight are the two best things you can do for your health. They're both great for our economic health as well.

"Reuters is reporting that obesity in America is now adding an astounding $190 billion to the annual national healthcare price tag, exceeding smoking as public health enemy number one when it comes to cost."

There is another side to that coin. While the results of smoking and obesity do add to the national healthcare price tag, living longer does too. At some point, barring dropping dead suddenly, we all will need more health care services in order to maintain life or help maintain a reasonable standard of living. I'm 71, pain free, and reasonably healthy. But as a consequence of aging, I've had two prostate biopsies (both negative), stress tests, sigmoidoscopies and colonoscopies, surgeries for dupuytren's contractures, and torn menisci in my knee. I'm on medication for hypertension, high cholesterol, and enlarged prostate. I also take a fish oil capsule, vitamin pill and glucosamine,chondroitin. I also needed glasses for reading in my forties.

I'm a realist, so I know that as long as I live, the list of "problems" will increase. Not only will they increase, but the cost of treating future problems will cost more than treating my current problems. While I doubt it, it's possible I'll need joint replacement surgery, maybe open heart surgery, a prostatectomy, etc. When all is said and done, I may add more to the cost of national healthcare than someone plagued by obesity who has a relatively short life span.

One more thing to consider about those who abuse their bodies with whatever substance or lack of activity. Many of them die before they can collect a cent of Social Security, or Medicare benefits. While I, on the other hand am in the process of depleting those "resources". Who, when they assume room temperature has cost more to maintain, one who dies young from obesity or tobacco related illnesses, or someone like me?

[shootermcbob]

There is another side to that coin. While the results of smoking and obesity do add to the national healthcare price tag, living longer does too. At some point, barring dropping dead suddenly, we all will need more health care services in order to maintain life or help maintain a reasonable standard of living. I'm 71, pain free, and reasonably healthy. But as a consequence of aging, I've had two prostate biopsies (both negative), stress tests, sigmoidoscopies and colonoscopies, surgeries for dupuytren's contractures, and torn menisci in my knee. I'm on medication for hypertension, high cholesterol, and enlarged prostate. I also take a fish oil capsule, vitamin pill and glucosamine,chondroitin. I also needed glasses for reading in my forties.

I'm a realist, so I know that as long as I live, the list of "problems" will increase. Not only will they increase, but the cost of treating future problems will cost more than treating my current problems. While I doubt it, it's possible I'll need joint replacement surgery, maybe open heart surgery, a prostatectomy, etc. When all is said and done, I may add more to the cost of national healthcare than someone plagued by obesity who has a relatively short life span.

One more thing to consider about those who abuse their bodies with whatever substance or lack of activity. Many of them die before they can collect a cent of Social Security, or Medicare benefits. While I, on the other hand am in the process of depleting those "resources". Who, when they assume room temperature has cost more to maintain, one who dies young from obesity or tobacco related illnesses, or someone like me?

As always, well thought out and provides a viewpoint I had not considered.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

There is another side to that coin. While the results of smoking and obesity do add to the national healthcare price tag, living longer does too. At some point, barring dropping dead suddenly, we all will need more health care services in order to maintain life or help maintain a reasonable standard of living. I'm 71, pain free, and reasonably healthy. But as a consequence of aging, I've had two prostate biopsies (both negative), stress tests, sigmoidoscopies and colonoscopies, surgeries for dupuytren's contractures, and torn menisci in my knee. I'm on medication for hypertension, high cholesterol, and enlarged prostate. I also take a fish oil capsule, vitamin pill and glucosamine,chondroitin. I also needed glasses for reading in my forties.

I'm a realist, so I know that as long as I live, the list of "problems" will increase. Not only will they increase, but the cost of treating future problems will cost more than treating my current problems. While I doubt it, it's possible I'll need joint replacement surgery, maybe open heart surgery, a prostatectomy, etc. When all is said and done, I may add more to the cost of national healthcare than someone plagued by obesity who has a relatively short life span.

One more thing to consider about those who abuse their bodies with whatever substance or lack of activity. Many of them die before they can collect a cent of Social Security, or Medicare benefits. While I, on the other hand am in the process of depleting those "resources". Who, when they assume room temperature has cost more to maintain, one who dies young from obesity or tobacco related illnesses, or someone like me?

Wow, your a burden on society. Any other problems you forgot to mention?

And yes you are also draining the social security fund as well. You expensive old goat.

[retiredbosn]

I really offended a nurse once who decided I needed a public lecture on why I should quit smoking. After putting up with her for some time, I rudely told her that my smoking was a lesser offense than her excessive obesity and short skirt. I really think I offended her, though some of the veterans who witnessed the event applauded!

[Fishing Rhino]

Wow, your a burden on society. Any other problems you forgot to mention?

And yes you are also draining the social security fund as well. You expensive old goat.

That's my point. Obesity, tobacco, drugs, alcohol misused or abused saves us money in the long run. Those who shorten their lives by their lifestyles are actually doing society a favor. It's peole like me who are truly a drain on our economy. But since Uncle Sam took my "contributions" by the force of law, I'm perfectly happy to drain the system, and celebrate everyone else who does so. May you live long, and prosper as well.

[CoBass]

That's my point. Obesity, tobacco, drugs, alcohol misused or abused saves us money in the long run. Those who shorten their lives by their lifestyles are actually doing society a favor. It's peole like me who are truly a drain on our economy. But since Uncle Sam took my "contributions" by the force of law, I'm perfectly happy to drain the system, and celebrate everyone else who does so. May you live long, and prosper as well.

Yes and no to them saving us money. Most of those people don't just drop dead one day out of the blue. A forty year old who winds up on disability because they are obese and had a stroke or abused their bodies to the point they are unable to work wind up costing a lot more than someone like you who worked and paid taxes their whole lives before they started reclaiming their contributions.

Working in healthcare, I've seen the uninsured people in their twenties who show up at the ER on a regular basis because of alcohol and drug abuse. It's a revolving door for them. Substance abuse until they are at deaths door, then come to the hospital and stay until they are healthy enough to go home and do it all over again. Yes, they typically die younger than most but they can run up a heck of a tab in the mean time.

[Fishing Rhino]

Yes and no to them saving us money. Most of those people don't just drop dead one day out of the blue. A forty year old who winds up on disability because they are obese and had a stroke or abused their bodies to the point they are unable to work wind up costing a lot more than someone like you who worked and paid taxes their whole lives before they started reclaiming their contributions.

Working in healthcare, I've seen the uninsured people in their twenties who show up at the ER on a regular basis because of alcohol and drug abuse. It's a revolving door for them. Substance abuse until they are at deaths door, then come to the hospital and stay until they are healthy enough to go home and do it all over again. Yes, they typically die younger than most but they can run up a heck of a tab in the mean time.

They can run up a heck of a lot of medical expenses, but so do those who live beyond their three score and ten years. The difference is that in one case the medical expenses can be directly related to lifestyles, while for those like me, it's the natural aging process when the machinery of the body begins to wear out, and malfunction. Alzheimers units are filled with patients/residents whose bodies may be healthy. In other cases, there are those who are totally debilitated, yet their mind still functions well. All of us, who do not drop dead out of the blue, are likely to incur considerable end of life expenses, be it in our forties or our eighties and beyond.

My dad lived for ninety plus years. He had relatively few medical expenses until his last five or so years. On top of that, he collected SS benefits for thirty years, give or take.

My only point is that solving obesity will not save the money being projected by the pols. I don't know the final average cost of either. Just putting out another point for consideration.

Until her retirement two years ago, my wife's profession was a registered nurse working in bedside nursing and administrative positions. Our older daughter works in an ER.

[Bankbeater]

X2 on the $$$ that you will save. Just think of that fishing trip you will be able to afford now.

[Fishing Rhino]

I really offended a nurse once who decided I needed a public lecture on why I should quit smoking. After putting up with her for some time, I rudely told her that my smoking was a lesser offense than her excessive obesity and short skirt. I really think I offended her, though some of the veterans who witnessed the event applauded!

Reformed smokers are often the most obnoxious anti-smoking proponents. Perhaps her weight was due to smoking cessation. A rude public personal tirade deserves a strong rebuke. Should have asked her if she was so fat because she gained weight from conquering the habit, and if that was not the case, what was her excuse?

[slonezp]

I like your thinking Rhino. "Kill 'em all and let God sort them out"

Unless you are uninsured or participating in fraud, I disagree that YOU are contributing to the high cost of healthcare. As far as I'm concerned you are a job creator. I quit smoking 14 years ago and have gained almost 100lbs. I was skinny beforeI quit. 6' tall and 170lbs I looked my best at abut 210. Quitting smoking does not cause weight gain. Unhealthy eating and drinking with lack of excersise does. Or should I blame it on my thyroid Aside from the multiple injuries I experienced from work, I'm healthy and more importantly happy, and don't give a crap if people want to smoke. I've got better things to do than get up in peoples business.

Smoke 'em if you got 'em