Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire For all you smokers-

In the 1960's the smoking rate was in the 40% range for adults. It is now at about 19%.

I don't know anyone who smoked because it made them feel better, if they're honest with themselves. They smoke because they feel bad if they don't.

The addiction is physical short term and psychological long term.

I quit years ago due to a course called SMOKENDERS after trying many other times. SMOKENDERS only offers their classes today in New York and Washington state but sells a self tutoring program you can do at home. I'm not sure the self-tutoring program would be as effective as the classes.

I understand the American Cancer Society's program is very similar to the original SMOKENDERS.

A lot of people who don't smoke die younger then 66.

Death is part of life and it gets us all.

Just a matter of what odds you want to face, and what kind of health you want to have while you are walking around.

Some choose to take chances with that.

Some choose to take another path when faced with reality.

I used to say the same thing when I smoked.

Quit a long time ago. Then the hunting buddies got me onto cigars.
Now Twice a year I'll smoke one or two at a hunt. That's about it.

OK, Now how many above gained a lot of weight right after quitting.

I went from 180 to 210 in three months. Eating food and drinking took place of smoking. Still at 215 after 30 years. topped out at 260.

Sorry to hear of your sisters passing, My condolences to you and your family.

I lost my mother to this same disease in 2008, it was not pretty.

Anyone know what the cancer numbers are now compared to 20 years ago? Just curious as the smoking rates were so high back then compared to now, you'd expect cancer rates have fallen along with it.

I'd never advocate smoking or pretend its not harmful to a person, but I think sometimes when someone gets a sick its automatically assumed to be due to their smoking.

A friend of my older brother died before his 20th birthday of lung cancer, never smoked. An uncle of mine died of cancer last year, also non-smoker. My father, who is active and always jogged or walked several miles a day had a heart attack a couple years ago, never smoked or drank. My mother was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last month, never smoked or drank.

I agree that smoking increases the odds of getting some sort of debilitating or fatal illness, but by how much I'm not sure. Seems people are dropping like flies at a relatively young age anyway despite the sharp reduction in smokers. Those stories about someone dying at 80+ years old due to something possibly caused by smoking? Thats a success story! The guy got to do something he enjoyed all his life and lived to a ripe old age! Not too many people get that old and just die of nothing, in the end something will get you.

I agree that in order to have the best chance of living a long and healthy life, smoking is a bad idea. Still, seeing all the "healthy" people sick and dying of various illnesses, I can understand why some say phuggit and take their chances.

I don't smoke except for an occasional cigar (like a few a year) but I do base my outlook on such things on life experiences. For example my Mother didn't smoke,worked out almost every day,ate right,and died at 54 from lymphoma.

Her Mom smokes daily,doesn't work out or even leave the house daily,and she's still alive.

But yeah smoking is terrible because it catches up to some people in their 60's.

At noon today,I'll be on day 23 !
Mike

I worked as a cemetery superintendent for 10 years. In that time I buried one helluvalot of people in their 40's , 50's and 60's who never smoked. Most common causes of death for people in that age range were heart attacks and cancer.

I'm thankful that I never took up the habit. I've got enough vices but thankfully smoking is not one of them. My mom and dad smoked, dad gave it up cold turkey around 1980, mom smoked until the day she died, even after cervicl cancer treatments. I had an uncle that from COPD after having half of his colon removed from colon cancer, they got all the cancer but his body was weakened by the surgery and he refused to quit smoking. A couple of months later he was back in the hospital on a respirator and never came off. He would have likely been fine if not for the smoking even though the smoking didn't cause the cancer.

I'm a live & let live kind of guy and know that preaching to an adult does no good, it just makes them dig in their heels harder. Truthfully I get tired of hearing others complain about smoking, I've got a couple of buddies that'll start doing the fake hacking thing anytime they smell smoke to let everyone know how annoyed they are. It's embarrassing and a childish way to try and make your point. A little whiff of smoke as you walk into a restaurant isn't going to kill you. It's a nasty habit and I don't like it, but it's not the end of the world and there are far more annoying things. Ghetto music being blasted from a vehicle makes me wish I had a rocket launcher in my hand at the time.

Keep at it! After 4o years, I quit cold turkey on October 20th, 2014. I gained about 18 pounds.

Weight gain is somewhat of a given after quitting smoking, if you substitute exercise for the smoking the weight can be lost and kept under control. A daily walk of about a mile or so has helped me lose 50# in the last year, I try not to miss more than one day a week or three to five days a month. Once a week I'll walk farther, one to two miles this program has kept my weight stable and also helps maintain stable blood pressure and blood sugar levels.

Unfortunately there is another "quality of life" perspective to this issue so I don't judge those who Smoke anymore.

Rest Homes all across the Country are chocked full of healthy non-smokers who have no idea who they are or where they are due to Alzheimer's and Residents who have healthy Heart and Lungs but can't get out of bed to feed themselves or take care of their own bodily functions.

Good for you GW, 50# loss is quite an accomplishment.

Awesome mike I'm on day 2292! You can do it. It gets easier the longer you are smoke free, Cig smoke is absolutely disgusting to me now but I still get an urge now and then but it is only a fleeting thought now.

Keep at it.

My Dad quit cold turkey the day the Surgeon General's report came out in the '60's, he live to be 89 years old. My Mother and her sister continued to smoke, she died of a massive heart attack just after getting up from having a couple of cigarettes, less than two months past her 50th birthday. Her sister had throat cancer surgery in her early fifties and died of bladder cancer at age 81. The last year or so after having her bladder removed she had absolutely no quality of life.

So very sorry for your loss.I smoked for 57 years.I quit when my heart specialist told me if y0u do not quit you are going to die from them.I had open heart surgery 3 years ago and I'm proud to report I have not had a cigarette in 3 1/2 years and do not miss them at all.

The only advice I can give to someone who wants to quit,dont go back once you are smoke free.I thought I could have just one at the end of the day.That lasted about a week,then went to two a day,then three.....pack a day again.I quit again last June and havent touched one since.I get an urge every now and then but it quickly goes away.It isnt easy but it can be done.

ps,I used Chantix to quit