Any lifters smoke?

I smoke a couple of cigarettes a day, mostly socially. Still, I want to quit as I feel it would benefit my lifting a lot. Any lifters out there who are ex smokers? Please show me the ways

Ughhhh. You're better than that kushy.

Only that good purple kush or trainWreck before working out to stay cool and relaxed.

As far as quitting, your brain will kick out the habit if you stay away for 18 days. It's all mental, just resist it for 18 days. Every time you have urge to smoke go jerk off, bang a girl/guy/dog/chicken, play video games, or lift.

How does it feel to want?

Ugh.....I smoke a dart here and there when I drink and if I'm under a good amount of stress. Not a daily smoker, but it's gross all the same.

I smoked in college, cigarettes and that kush. I didn't think I smoked cigarettes a lot until I tried to stop, that was the single hardest thing I have ever done.

Mentally, I had to convince myself that I no longer had to convince myself to smoke. Can't believe I even smoked. I just told myself I cannot be an athlete, healthy, in shape and smoke. Plus after college, I felt like only douche bags smoked.

I quit smoking many years ago while still in the Army. That was pretty hard. Anyone who's been in the military knows how hard it is to NOT smoke.
I kept recreationally smoking cigars, but after a little while, the lifting took priority and it became apparent to my that my lungs weren't really appreciating the pollution. Regardless of how you smoke a cigar, you still get some inhaled. Still not good.

If that's not enough, consider this:

Originally Posted by evolved

Ugh.....I smoke a dart here and there when I drink and if I'm under a good amount of stress. Not a daily smoker, but it's gross all the same.

My disappointment. It is immense.

Originally Posted by VaderDave

My disappointment. It is immense.

Agreed

Never had even one drag of a cigarette in my life

Smoked on and off from the age of 14 until 21. Quit cold turkey and haven't smoked in over a year. Now the smell/thought of cigarettes disgust me and I have 0 cravings.

Originally Posted by DME46

Smoked on and off from the age of 14 until 21. Quit cold turkey and haven't smoked in over a year. Now the smell/thought of cigarettes disgust me and I have 0 cravings.

I know have only been smoking when I'm drinking / socially. Gives me hope that you have no cravings!

Originally Posted by kushy

I know have only been smoking when I'm drinking / socially. Gives me hope that you have no cravings!

I don't smoke, so I can't really comment on the toughness or lack thereof of quitting, but I do offer this:

Kushy you workout hard. I see that in your threads, your progress, and how determined you are to improve yourself physically. The mindset that you use during your workouts needs to be applied to getting ciggs out of your life. If someone told you that it is extremely hard to dumbbell flat bench press 70's, so you probably shouldn't try... you'd tell them to F off and watch you throw 70's up 10 times. That person thats afraid to take on the challenge and admits that the challenge is too great for them will never accomplish anything, won't get bigger; healthier; stronger etc. Not just you, but anyone who is trying to quit smoking and is just too afraid of the uphill battle ahead of them, won't quit. You can quit man! You demonstrate the mental necessity in your workouts, now go apply it ciggs and tell yourself you are stronger than those fvckin things. No matter how bad the cravings are, you will ONLY get healthier. 18 days is all you need to make it before you are physiologically home free. Now go get it!

Athletic performance aside, you should know that smoking (even socially) significantly increases your risk for heart disease (in addition to the whole Lung Cancer thing of course).

Learning this was all the motivation I needed..

I quit cold turkey 6yrs ago