Topic: Quitting Smoking

[Chocobo609]

Well, I'm new to Parkour, and this forum as well. I'm going to have to quit smoking obviously, so I've searched through the threads, and have come across a few older ones. I would like to keep something open on the subject if we could. If anyone else is quitting, feel free to add to this, there's strength in numbers and I'll admit I could use all the help I can get, lol.  I'm going to finish this pack I have now, and I simply won't buy anymore! Any other advice out there would be appreciated. Thanks everyone!

[Brett Robert]

I haven't had a cigarette since May 5, 2008.  After 15 years of smoking a pack a day, it took just 2 months of parkour to get me to quit cold turkey for good.  I'm so grateful.

What I did:
1) Became aware of the whys and whens of my personal smoking patterns.
2) Paid attention to the consequences of smoking.
3) Decided to quit, and picked a date.
4) Stuck to my date.
5) Purchased, but never used, "The Patch."  I figured, if I couldn't make it cold turkey, better to slap on a patch than to smoke.
6) Got support.
7) Planned healthy snacks for times like breaks at work when I would normally smoke.
Kept my eyes on the prize: parkour and a healthier life.


Good luck, you can do it.

[Muse_of_Fire]

Good luck to you on your journey! Brett has great advice. I myself have never smoked but I have battled other demons and I admire anyone who can commit to quitting.

Maybe watch a sweet parkour video, and/or do the APK warmup, next time the urge strikes?

I will say that what it says in the other threads, about having to abandon your former social circle (if your friends are smokers) is pretty true. Something pretty serious to think about.

We're here for you, buddy! Let us know how you progress!

[Logan Lay]

Smoked Really heavy for a year & a half - two years & I quit cold turkey. My advice is don't finish your pack, toss it now. It's not worth finishing. If you say I'll quit then you give yourself chances for prolonging your quitting, ultimately to the point of never quitting. Quit now & be done. It sounds rough but it's as easy as any decision. The word decide comes from a combination of greek words that basically mean "kill the alternative": de-cide.

Also, half of the smoking habit is psychologically just the oral habit. Get some regular gum, it can help    Keep fighting, You will suceed!

[Happy Fries]

I've smoked on and off again since high school, but I've pretty much stopped altogether now. There were a number of influences for me stopping, but really, I kinda feel like the reasons I stopped were (comparatively speaking) pretty dumb.

I didn't stop because of my dad, who told me "You can get arrested. You can wreak your car. You can have kids. Don't smoke cigarettes." I didn't smoke for my girlfriend, whose mom's side of the family all smokes (and other things....)

I stopped because it was too damn expensive, and I lost the taste for it!

A normal pack is around 6 bucks now. A pack a day makes this habit cost $42 bucks a week. I can't afford this! So, one of the things you can do is save the money you would send for cigs, and buy something nice for you as a reward, like a good dinner, or a video game, or some new clothes.

The taste thing happened after I caught a cold. My smokes just started tasting flat, like I was smoking postcards or something. After that, I realized, "Man, this sucks...." I threw my pack away, and that was that.

Good Luck, You can do it!

[Chocobo609]

I'd really like to thank you all for the support, I woke up today and for whatever reason, after 15 years of smoking, I had no urge what so ever. I feel a little odd right now. I'm just go out and have a good run,  I'm looking forward to being able to breathe in the coming weeks and months. 

[Brett Robert]

That's so awesome!!!  Keep it up!  Cherish the benefits of not smoking and abhor the consequences of smoking.  Good luck!

[GoldenSlumbers]

I'd really like to thank you all for the support, I woke up today and for whatever reason, after 15 years of smoking, I had no urge what so ever. I feel a little odd right now. I'm just go out and have a good run,  I'm looking forward to being able to breathe in the coming weeks and months. 

Good luck, it's been a few days so I'm hoping you're staying strong!

[Chocobo609]

I've had four cigarettes today, I feel odd from the severe drop in nicotine, but I'll know i'll be better off for it! It won't be long, and all the training and support I've received  has been immeasurable!

[sparta98]

im not sure how it works, but ive heard that you can make things less desirable by making your mind asociate them with negative experiences...

i doubt it helps anybody, but it might be interesting to somebody

[Colby Zayne Gamache]

i know this topic is dead, but i'm putting it out there that i'm quiting. Ive been smoking for 2 years now, and im ready to put the pack down...me posting it on here is going to be a motivator really...this community means a lot to me, so me promising this community is going to help me hold to this...

[StefanS]

I'm with you man it's time to quit the non-sense, I've been smoking for about 7 years and I know quitting will improve my PK skills amongst all the other benefits. Good luck to everyone else out there who smokes and is tryin to quit!

[Colby Zayne Gamache]

lets make this a challenge to all smokers who want to quit. post daily if u succumbd to the craving or how may days its been since your last cancer stick!

[Dan Elric]

I have no experience quitting smoking (because I never started), but I have had experience in the whole will power thing.  From what I read, it takes 72 hours to get your body completely detoxed from nicotine, after which the addiction will spike, but then steadily drop.  Also, the most effective way to quit is cold turkey.

What helps me when I'm struggling to push on (though it is usually exercise-related) is to remind myself of who I am.  I am a traceur.  It may help you to do the same.  Whenever you feel like you need to light-up just reaffirm your conviction.  You are a traceur.  No obstacles can stand in your way.

[Colby Zayne Gamache]

thanks for the info and the motivation bro. im positive i can do it now.

im gunna use freerunning instead...i practice parkour but i just cant seem to keep myself from going inverted...

[Andrew Mumu Trahum]

lets make this a challenge to all smokers who want to quit. post daily if u succumbd to the craving or how may days its been since your last cancer stick!

have a contest, who can quit first
but seriously, that'd be some good motivation right there

[Colby Zayne Gamache]

its been an hour since i quit. lol

[StefanS]

 You are a traceur.  No obstacles can stand in your way.

Respect. If that's not inspiration, I don't know what is...

[Colby Zayne Gamache]

damn straight

[Andrew Mumu Trahum]

its been an hour since i quit. lol

it'll be worth a lifetime if you keep up with it, APK night hawks will make sure you dont go for a midnight smoke