Smokers...

[magman007]

ive been smoking for oh... about a year and a half now, quit once and i dont know why i started again, i guess it found it as a relief from hard days of schooling, etc etc, not to mention the fact, that it can be enjoyable some times. this being said, it doesnt effect my paintball game, the fact that im out of shape, does a bit, but as most will attest, i still hold my own.

You need to quit on your own, and if you arent enjoying it, then quit, its really the best thing for you.

[jewie27]

Whatever it is, smoking is expensive and not good for you. Dipping my not affect your lungs, but it will definetly cause other problems. Not an alternative to smoking.

I've never tried smoking or dipping once in my life and never will. I'm smart enough to avoid it in the first place. No matter how many times I've been offered anything, I've never had the urge to try. I don't need more problems.

Why would I want to pay to die? I call them cancer sticks.

[felony]

I call them cancer sticks.

wow

original

[LudavicoSoldier]

I smoke. I tend to smoke more at the field, i.e. in between games. No shame about it, doesnt affect my game, though I am not really accomplishing any great feats of athleticism...

[warbeak2099]

The way I look at it is smoking is a social thing. If people do it alone or something that's kind of sick. Try smoking clove cigs. They aren't addictive and are fine for just smoking when you're with some friends once in a while. Just don't do it all the time, they're not that great for you. Worse than regular cigs. But they do taste good. I couldn't justify smoking anything other than those, cigars, or a pipe to myself. Something that gets you hooked and wastes your money when you could be spending it on cool stuff is useless to me. I'm a 17yr old working as a cashier in a supermarket. I need all the money for paint I can get!

I also don't relish the idea of cancer or not being able to walk up a flight of stairs. I've got a friend/acquaintance at school that smokes menthols all the time. He's hooked and he admits it. I used to be able to tolerate him, but now he just stinks and is a useless, lazy bum. He tried to quit but ended up trying to lick the niccotine off the patch instead. He's the last thing I'd want to be. He also used to be a great lacrosse player. Can't do that anymore.

Basically, even if smoking cigs doesn't do anything bad to you, it doesn't exactly do anything for you. So why do it? Need to relax? Have a beer.

[ApexAZ]

quit while your ahead. It's not worth it.

[deathstalker]

also, i actually hate it when ppl smoke in the staging area. it forces the rest of us to breathe it and choke on it. the last thing i want after a game when im sweaty and coming back to refresh/refill is to be smothered in tobacco smoke.

Just a few comments on this side of the fence. If, at the staging area, I must be subjected to people blasting their stereos, kids dry-firing (I go hoarse from yelling at children, not smoking), people barbecuing, yelling, throwing paintballs, trash, barrel condoms off, sore losers, cheaters bragging about how awesome they are, people taking over the bench you were using to stage from with your car parked less then three feet from it, thieves, and countless other annoyances, I really don't think smoking in the staging area is such a bad thing.

As far as smoking and playing goes, I think my current out-of-shape body is more a hindrance to performance than smoking could ever be. I know quite a few athletic people whose only vice is smoking and they are satisfied with their own abilities. If you are into or get into competitive paintball, you will probably reach a point in your playing experience when you realize quitting smoking is the next best way to improve your game. I myself only play rec, so I really don't think paintball itself will ever be my motivation to quit.

[Irelandunfree]

Try $6.15 a pack in Jersey, thats why I quit about a year ago. Since smoking effected my running....even going up stairs....it played a major role in my paintball game. I would quit before you get seriously addicted, im a half quiter....I stopped smoking but started dipping, now im up to a tin every 3 days. Im old enough to realize tobacco is bad, but too young to care

[ben-afficial]

i dont think too many paintballers smoke...i know a couple but there old any way....one time i saw my friend rick lite up and go into a game ...he dropped to his knees koffin 5 min later...it was hi-larious

[SteelSoul]

quit now
I dipped snuff for 15 years and it is very hard to quit, it took me like 3 months to get over it and to this day I still want to dip.
Best way to quit, tell everyone you know that you are going to stop. Set a date like the 1st of next month , make sure you tell every person you know that you are going to stop. This does 2 things, everyone will know if you cheat, and you need to tell them you are going to be a butthead for a few days.
I used the gum to get off and it worked, only bad thing I gained 30 pounds in 3 months, but I worked them off later. It has been 2 years and no dipping.
Good luck and if you need some support PM me


Peace
SS

[Lohman446]

Smoking can influence your game - if you are that physical pinnacle where each small thing makes a difference. Few of us are in shape enough for casual smoking to really effect our performance in paintball as we know it now.

That being said there are a multitude of reasons not to smoke, and if you are smoking to quit. I am sure you have heard all of them, and know it. For those who say its idiotic not to stop - I can also point to you a multitude of reasons why most of America's sugar intake is ridiculously high. And yes, sugar does effect you, its just most of us are used to the effects. I had a few high sugar "treats" this weekend after not having for some time and there is a noticeable high and low from it.

There are also a number of things that most of us do that we should not... and some would argue that subjecting yourself to the strain on your body of paintball - the repeated trauma of bruising etc is dangerous. It may be.

THe point is it is a personal decision. I smoke about twice a year for social reasons. Done in moderation its effects are likely negligible, and science supports this Most things done in moderation... tempered, are not that bad for you.

[skife]

i am not a smoker (only 14) but i see the signs outside of the gas stations and i am assuming you mean cigaretts and it's like 2.50 a pack right? i would try to quit and spend that money on paint... but that's me... and i don't know how it is or how hard it is to stop, but my 93 year old aunt stopped smoking after 60 years of doing it, and i bet since she can you can...

there is my 2 cents... cool

welcome to AO
a dancing bannana for you

double that price and add 50 cents here in michigan.
thanks god i dont smoke.

[Cowboy97]

Smokin

I acutally used to smoke IN games. I'd squeeze the stogie between the vents in my xfire. Had some really nice pics from a Splat-1 Tourney in Knoxville. Refs were , couple of my ex-teammates got pretty annoyed about it, but they were already eliminated so it didn't matter.

But smoking over a long period of time will affect your playing. It reduces the oxygen flow through your veins and starves your muscles. It makes you far more prone to cramping during and after a game even with large amounts of Potassium. That 10yd sprint from bunker to bunker becomes like a 15 or 20 after time passes as well. If you are going tourney ball, quit now. If you are just rec-balling, quit now. After about 3 months, you'll gain your wind back, you'll not breath as hard and you'll feel (depending on how long you've smoked) years younger.

As far as supplements to help you quit smoking...they don't work. They subsidize the nicotine, and are supposed to help ween you off it. What you are actually doing is trading one dependancy for dependancy in another form. Cold Turkey it and chew gum and toothpicks/drinking straws. Fair warning, you'll be a prick for about 2 weeks, REALLY on edge, high strung, very irratable. If you have a GF/Wife, warn her first, then your teamates, and don't be afraid to ask someone that is smoking nearby to move, or just move yourself...that smell makes it 10 times harder.

Hope this helps

[kevdupuis]

I smoked for almost 20 years but quit a couple of years after I started playing paintball. I'm definatly glad I quit.

[felony]

Fair warning, you'll be a prick for about 2 weeks, REALLY on edge, high strung, very irratable. If you have a GF/Wife, warn her first, then your teamates, and don't be afraid to ask someone that is smoking nearby to move, or just move yourself...that smell makes it 10 times harder.

Hope this helps

I remember those weeks after i quit. i just about punched a hole through walls.. and almost lost a few friends based on my attitude.. all is well now htough