Them are some smokin' comments

[foofighter]

that's what i'm saying...mutants i tell ya!

but i am surprised that there are so many ex-smokers on this board

[Abstrakt77]

Started smoking roughly when I was 15. Really started to smoke quite heavily starting around 17 through my twenties at about a pack or 2 a day. Started on the Reds, ended on the Parliament Menthol lights.

Sept of 2006, happened to stumble across mountain biking and fell in love instantly. That love helped me eventually quit cold turkey on Nov 21 2006.

True story.

Oh, and congrats to all the born again non smokers on the board. Only we know the hell it is to try to quit.

[un-kola]

Started smoking cigarettes at 19ys/o when I was drafted into the Army.Smoking 2pks/day when I was in Viet Nam along with weed,and oj's,later hash when when I was stationed in Germany.Quit weed when the company I work for started random testing in '93.Quit cigarettes in '94 when I met my girlfriend,who's now my wife because she has asthma.I had never tried quitting cigs.before so I tried to make it a one shot deal.I used the nicorette gum for two weeks and regular gum for another two weeks,and it worked.It's been 14yrs.without smoking and I hate both cigs.and gum equally,but it was the best decision I ever made! - Lloyd

[foofighter]

all i have to say is god bless the people that invented the nicoderm patch i went through the first box and went through the 2nd box and i kicked it...i have to admit that the 3rd week was the worst for me; one weekend i felt like a crack head looking for the next score and was out of money...it was sad.

[jayman_29]

I just went cold turkey. The thing that sucked was that I had some A-Hole friends who'd lay one down in front of me while saying he's going to have a smoke! Good thing I had some good willpower and other friends who'd just pick the cigarette up, break it and throw it away for me.

[J_Sims]

Smoked on and off since I was about 13... Left it for years at a time and then a clove here or a cigar there and next thing you know BAM back on Cigs,,, I quite March 31 2007... I bought my way back into MTB as my reward a new Yeti 575 that I had for 2 weeks. That was the beginning of a whole new addiction thread right there

[un-kola]

Originally Posted by foofighter

all i have to say is god bless the people that invented the nicoderm patch i went through the first box and went through the 2nd box and i kicked it...i have to admit that the 3rd week was the worst for me; one weekend i felt like a crack head looking for the next score and was out of money...it was sad.

For me it was the cost of the gum.$54.00 a pop.After the re-fill I said regular gum should work well enough,and it did.I'd say the toughest for me was the second week.I told the wife she might want to stay at her folks house for a few days! She was very supportive though,and later told me that I didn't get as grouchy as she thought I would..at least no more than usual. - Lloyd

[SScheetz]

Arturo Fuente Opus X

[surlygal]

Started smoking when I was 13, lived in a new housing development and found some Marlboro Reds in the street - smoked the whole pack that day with a friend - didn't smoke again until I was 14. 14 - 18 was a little of everything (if you know what I mean) I wore a ton of black as a kid, I went to boarding school and my parents made a deal with me *if I didn't wear black* I could smoke Although before boarding school, my high school Saugus High actually had a smoking area.

Quit before Neil and I started to try and get pregnant, started back up after Maddie was born - my girl friends would smoke at work - I'd go out with them and eventually started again. I had been off ciggies for 2 years

Quit again before we moved to So-Cal. 1 year

Quit again last spring when I too got the mtn bike bug! didn't smoke for 3 months that time.

Quit about 2 months ago - this one lasted a month.

Next quit date is this Friday - already have the patches but also am going to try the new medication - I've heard really good things about it. FWIW - I had this date planned before we started discussing smoking here on this board.

Camel lights have almost always been my choice of drug!

Great job to all those that have quit! and to those that still do smoke - We know what it's doing to us! Good Luck if you want to quit!

So, next time you see me I won't have a smoke in my hand but may be a bit cranky, so I'll say i'm sorry for being cranky now!

[papisimo11]

Started smoking when I was 17, right when I started college.
Quit when I was 19(when I got my first mtn bike in 92) for about 2 years but then a trip to Europe started a relapse that lasted until 4 years ago.
A trip to Banff with my bike convinced me that I could ride a lot harder if I didn't smoke.
Quit cold turkey the day I got back and delved into the wacky world of racing.
Props to all that have quit. It is some powerful stuff, even the smartest seem to fall to its power.
paz afuera

[allison]

Originally Posted by surlygal

Next quit date is this Friday - already have the patches but also am going to try the new medication - I've heard really good things about it. FWIW - I had this date planned before we started discussing smoking here on this board.

What's the punishment if we catch you thinking about it this weekend?

[northshore]

For me....ummmm 'stuff' I won't admit to.....

[genusmtbkr5]

Started in 1979 (Marlboro reds/cloves) and quit in 2003(Marlboro ultra lights). I use to light up before and after a ride. You should see the looks I got, even better when I'd pass them on the climbs. I went on the Nicoderm CQ patch and STUCK TO IT! Now I have my lungs back. If I only had my knees back too. I'm working on it though.

[Fired Yo Momma]

I used to smoke a lot when I was in school. When I drink hard I want a cigg. Its such a disgusting habit but once in awhile I will want one, like a steak. After quitting smoking a pack a day I went to chewing tabacco (Kodiak). I love chewing I can go into a room a smell that one dude out of 15 find him and beg him for a chaw. I used to do it at work all the time nobody knew.

To quit bad habits I have found (at least for me) you need to seperate yourself from people that do the same bad habits as you and associate yourself with people that are into a more healtheir lifestyle that you desire.

[foofighter]

Tracy, you went to saugus high up in valencia???? if you've tried the patch you know not to wear it at night cuz it is wicked. LOL i took mine off at nights so i would avoid the lucid dreams.

[surlygal]

Originally Posted by allison

What's the punishment if we catch you thinking about it this weekend?

How about I have to ride with you guys on Sat and keep up NOT! (in my wildest dreams) plus Justin would kill me about the 1st hill - the walking, the tears, the not breathing and almost dying - it wouldn't be pretty.

Oh i'll be thinking about it, the plan is to when I think about it, just not do it

Honestly the good ole STR peer preasure (plus the Maddie - Daddy) may be just what I need

Originally Posted by foofighter

Tracy, you went to saugus high up in valencia???? if you've tried the patch you know not to wear it at night cuz it is wicked. LOL i took mine off at nights so i would avoid the lucid dreams.

Yep up there in Valenica - Although - I only went to Saugus High for 9th grade - then up in N. Ca for Borading school (best thing my parents ever did for me)

[allison]

Originally Posted by surlygal

How about I have to ride with you guys on Sat and keep up NOT! (in my wildest dreams) plus Justin would kill me about the 1st hill - the walking, the tears, the not breathing and almost dying - it wouldn't be pretty.

Oh i'll be thinking about it, the plan is to when I think about it, just not do it

Honestly the good ole STR peer preasure (plus the Maddie - Daddy) may be just what I need

Maybe we can do an evening lap just for fun though?