An interesting article on the sciencealert.com website...

The main thrust of the article/study is that if you smoke and manage to quit by the age of 35 y/o, there is negligible damage later in life. However, if you quit at a later date, there is damage, but even then, the earlier and sooner you quit matters.

"Cigarette smokers who quit before age 35 have similar death rates within a given time period to those who have never smoked at all, a large study suggests.

Those who stopped smoking at later ages still saw substantial benefits, the research found, but their death rates exceeded those who quit before they reached 35 years old.

For example, former smokers who quit between ages 35 and 44 showed a 21 percent higher rate of death from any cause, compared with "never smokers". And those who quit between ages 45 and 54 showed a 47 percent higher all-cause mortality rate than never smokers."

(from the article; link below)

Before anyone asks, yes, I am a former smoker and yes, I wish I had quit sooner. No, to date I haven't suffered any significant health mishaps from my (long!!!) time as a smoker, but statistically I will.

The crux of the matter is this; there really is no good reason to smoke, or vape, as all that you are doing is addicting yourself to Nicotine and paying your hard-earned cash to Tabaco Company Exec A-Holes who profit from your mistakes.

What are the benefits of smoking/vaping? There aren't any. 

None.

What are the downsides to being a smoker/vaper? You damage your health, your pocketbook, your friends and family, your lifespan, your quality of life and more specifically, your sex life. And, you reek.

My message is quite simple; you can quit. I was a smoker for several decades, and I managed to quit, and if I can do it, then anyone can. If you can do it alone, great. If you need some help, there is a wealth of information on-line, at your doctor's/public health office, or you are welcome to drop me a PM.

Everyone who smokes knows that they shouldn't and, if you are reading this, that means you.

You have nothing to lose by trying to quit, and everything to gain.

So, try.

https://www.sciencealert.com/giant-us-study-identifies-best-age-to-quit-smoking-to-avoid-death-risks

Today I am five years clean. 

If you see a BWG (Big White Guy) today walking about with a grin that can be seen from space, that'd be me. Yes, I know, "Pride Goeth..." and "Ex-smokers are the WORST...", yada yada yada; today I don't give a Rat's Ass, I am proud of myself and don't care who knows it.

I thought that I'd write it up in the hope that a current smoker, or vaper, sees this and makes the decision to quit; if I am able to influence even one person, I'd be happy as hell.

How did I do it? 

The first step, and the key to it all, is the decision to quit. Every smoker, and I was one for decades, knows that they should quit, but always wheedles the issue with phrases like "yes, I know that I should quit, but I have too much on my plate" or 'Yes, I know that I should quit, but it's not a good time" or "Yes, I know I should quit, but I tried and I can't so I am not going to try again" or "I can quit, but I like smoking". I can't emphasize this point enough; this step is the key to it all. Yes, I can already hear people saying "Well, Doh!" and "No Shit, Sherlock!" and "Score another win for Captain Obvious!", but it is everything. If you are serious, you stand a great chance of quitting successfully, but if it is half-assed, you stand no chance at all. None.

What prompted my decision? Many, many things, but one stood out; I became an early morning cyclist many years ago, ironically as I was worried about what cigarettes were doing to my health, and used to sprint home for the last 2-3 kilometers to get a heightened blast of endorphins. I started noticing that as I got home and caught my breath, I was getting "Lung-Burn" (think heartburn from too much spicy food and raise it 6 inches to your chest); it felt like my lungs were scraping the inside of my rib cage. That was the final straw, and I am happy to note that it went away within a month of quitting.

I made the decision to quit cold turkey and chose a Monday about 10 days in the future. I chose a Monday as it seems like this sort of thing should occur at the beginning of a new week, and I used that 10-day period to reinforce mentally and prepare. When the Monday arrived, I had already been psyching myself up and the prep time was invaluable. The night before you begin, destroy any/all remaining cigarettes, hide all matches/lighters, and wash/hide all ashtrays.

The first few days are unpleasant; there is no getting around it. The key is distracting yourself, breaking patterns and getting through it 5 minutes at a time. Usually have a smoke with morning coffee at the table? Have your coffee outside and when the craving hits, run around your house. Break the pattern. Usually have a smoke after writing an e-mail? Finish your e-mail and do 5 push-ups. Break the pattern. Usually have a smoke when you turn on your computer and wait for it to start? Hit the button and re-arrange your sock drawer. Break the pattern. Usually have a smoke during a work break at XX o'clock? Start a small, new task just before the regular time. Break the pattern.

Break the pattern. Break the pattern. Break the pattern. Break the pattern. Break the pattern.

I hit on something that greatly helped me as I live a frugal life (He's cheap as hell! Ed.). My bedroom doubles as my office (one AC) so when home, I spend a lot of time there. I had a clear plastic container on my desk and each morning put in what I would have spent on cigarettes that day; when I quit it was two packs at 174 Baht a day. So, with my morning coffee, I had a small ceremony in which I put a One Hundred Baht note, a Fifty Baht note, a Twenty Baht note and Four one-Baht coins into the jar. The first day or two it didn't matter, but after 4-5 days I had a spectacular visual reminder of all the money I was saving. By the way, if I hadn't quit five years ago, I would have spent 317,550 Baht (minimum!) on cigarettes and gotten SFA in return. Think of what you would do if gifted 317,550 Baht; a kick-ass motorcycle? A no-expense limit weekend? Refurnish your house? A special gift to your wife and/or child?

Once you get to the end of the first week, it is just determination and willpower. And, once you get to the end of the first week, people usually realize that it can be done and it isn't as bad as they thought it'd be. Each person is different, but you can expect any physical reactions to end in either a few weeks or at worst a few months, getting easier every day. The psychological aspects of being addicted are different; in my case I was mostly (MOSTLY!) over cravings and the worst aspects in about a month or two/three. 

What are the positives? No more sickly-yellow sputum drooling out of your mouth. No more tar-covered fingers. No more rasping smoker's hack, especially at night when you sleep. No more planning your every move based on whether you have enough cigarettes or not. No more stinking up a room merely by entering it. You can climb stairs without gasping. You can exercise. Your skin is better. Your sex life is better; one side effect that I didn't know about was that women can tell when a man has quit smoking, and when they sense it, they take him aside and 'rock his world' as a reward (this may or may not have occurred. Ed.). You sleep better. Your health is generally better and you get sick less often. In the age of Covid, a respiratory infection, the benefits are obvious. You will live longer, and have less chance of dying in a hospital bed harking up a lung. To sum up, your life is just better. Much better.

Finally, there is one aspect that I haven't mentioned, but really matters. I started smoking in my early teens as I didn't know any better and got addicted by Big Tabaco corporate a-holes who made a living off of my illness. Are you happy being an addict and lining the pockets of unscrupulous Big Tabaco a-holes? I very much doubt it. Being as addict diminishes a person, and ridding yourself of that (proverbial) 'Monkey on your Back' is a truly wonderful feeling. And, stopping some Big Tabaco a-hole exec from getting his annual bonus just magnifies it.

Any residuals five years later? Sadly, yes, but I have a genetic predisposition to addiction (many alcoholics in the extended family). I still get an occasional... urge(?), not craving, to have a cigarette, but I resist easily; I am adamant that I will never allow myself to become addicted to Nicotine again.

You don't have to be an addict; you can choose to stop. 

I was a heavy smoker for 30+ years and I managed to quit. If I managed to quit after 30+ years, anyone can. Literally anyone.

It is really, really worth it.

Good luck!
.

I am approaching five years smoke-free and am fiercely proud of myself; when I was a smoker, I really didn't believe that I'd ever quit. I thought that I'd offer up some thoughts, especially to the smokers out there, in the hope that it'll assist you in quitting; please note that I said "assist", if you want to quit, you have to do it yourself. (Full disclosure; I was a heavy smoker for several decades.)

I am not going to bother with all the medical reasons for quitting; if you don't know them, it is because you don't want to know them and I can't help you with that. I can only say that sticking your head in the sand like the proverbial ostrich isn't a productive approach to life; if you had a tumor growing out of your neck the size of a cricket ball, you would do something about it. If you don't see that smoking is worse than that, then... put your affairs in order while you can and have a nice day.

What is smoking? 

It is a process whereby a drug, nicotine, is delivered/injected into you so that you'll want more and thus create profits for some A-Hole who got you addicted as a money-making scheme. 

What are cigarettes? 

Cigarettes are nicotine delivery/injection devices that deliver a dose or a 'hit' intermingled with burning, acrid smoke. Seriously, would you put your face over a newly-lit bar-b-q and inhale the acrid smoke? No. Why? Because there is no 'reward', i.e.. no nicotine. Would you put your face over the smoldering embers of a camp fire and inhale deeply? No. Why? Because there is no 'reward', i.e.. no nicotine. Would you approach the exhaust pipe of a racing car, bend over and suck it all in? No. Why? Because there is no 'reward', i.e.. no nicotine. Would you go outside in the fall, collect dried leaves, crush them up and roll them in paper, light them on fire and inhale them? No. Why? Because there is no 'reward', i.e.. no nicotine.

But you do with a cigarette. 

Because it gives you your drug, nicotine.

Smokers will often say (remember, I was one for a very long time) "It eases my stress levels". No, it doesn't. It eases your addiction/withdrawal symptoms. Smokers will often say "it compliments my beer/alcoholic drink". No, it doesn't. It eases your addiction/withdrawal symptoms.  Smokers will often say "I could stop if I wanted to, but I like smoking". No, they couldn't or they would have. Smokers will often say "It gives me something to do with my hands". No, it doesn't. It eases your addiction/withdrawal symptoms. Smokers will often say "I know that I should quit". But, they don't. I know all the self-deluding things to say as I said them to myself again and again and again and again.

There is no other way to say it; smokers are drug addicts (and again, I was one too).

Smokers; when was the last time you went to bed without checking that you had smokes for the morning? Smokers; when was the last time you went out in shitty weather to get more cigarettes? Smokers; when was the last time you were beginning an event, a nature hike for example, without ensuring you had enough cigarettes to tide you over? Smokers; when was the last time you left your house without your smokes? I could write pages and pages of similar questions, but why bother? When I was a smoker, I know what the answer to the questions was, and so do you.

So, what to do?

The key to quitting smoking is the decision to do so; everything before and after that are merely details.

I hear you saying "that's pretty obvious, you lemur-brain monkey!" or "Doh!" or "Spot on, Captain Obvious!" or "Way to go, Einstein!" or "No Shit, Sherlock!". However, it is the key to it all. If you make the decision and prepare yourself to implement it, then you'll have a very good chance of succeeding quickly. If you say something like "I know that I should quit, but..." or "I'm too busy to do it now..." or "I'll do it another time..." or "I tried, but it didn't work..." or some other no-good reason, you will fail. In my case, I decided, with utter determination, to quit on the ensuing Monday; I gave myself about a week of constant re-enforcement before D-Day. If that works for you... great. If not, then do what you need to do. 

What to expect? 

One thing that I have learned is that everyone is different. Some people, after making the decision, just breeze through it all and never smoke again (I really, really want to smack them in the head, unfairly). Others go through utter hell, but do come out the other side. I was more to the 'utter hell' side, but not all the way; you'll learn where you are after you begin.

The rest is details. Some people use drugs to help them (Chantix?). Some people switch to vaping and quit that way; I have always felt that vaping is merely switching nicotine delivery devices, but it seems to work for some, so... fine by me; whatever works. Some need to try a few times until they get there. Some find it too much, but I have to say that if I could quit, then anyone can; if at first you don't succeed...

Is it worth it?

Yes. 

Your general health will get better. Your lungs will begin repairing themselves that very day. You'll have more energy.  Your sex drive will greatly improve. You won't threaten loved ones with your second hand smoke. Hot girls will throw their bras and knickers at you while you walk down the street. Bikini models will beg you to go to their place for an afternoon of fun. 

If you don't quit, it is just a matter of time before hot girls stop in the street, point at you, laugh, and say "What a loser". And, you'll die much younger than you should and your life won't have been all it could be. Being an addict diminishes you as a person, and it doesn't need to be that way.

So, give it a try. Make the decision, prep yourself to handle it, grit your teeth, ask a loved-one to help, and go for it.

The only guaranteed way to fail is not to try.

So, try.

Good luck.

any sauna lovers here? 

as am from cold country, in winter times i was in sauna up to 5 times a week.

even summer time, still couple of sessions of sauna was always something that i looked forward to after long day. 

better sleep and even better vitaliyzed mornings.

here in Thailand not so much sauna time over last half a decade. 

living in CM i used to visit CR every now and then and there stayed at pimaninn hotel. they have fitness and pool center there and a little sauna for cheap. 

In CM i have been some resorts and spas with saunas but nothing too great for atmosphere or price wise.. 

Hows your sauna experience here? 

ps: i did findout when i moved here that there is saunas here and there and those kinky guysaunas not me style:)

Today is my nine year anniversary since I gave up smoking cigarettes and it was one the best decisions of my life. Back in May 2012 I became ill with influenza and had to go to bed for several days to recover and during this time I was unable to smoke, which actually helped me to give up.

I had tried several times over 15 years to stop smoking and always failed even going back onto cigarettes after three and a half years. Sure it’s never easy to stop smoking and after all of the failures I finally succeeded “Do not give up on giving up Cigarettes”

The basic idea (see news articles) is to outlaw the selling of cigarettes' to young people and progressively raise the age limit so that eventually no one can legally buy them. 

"Under proposed new legislation, the legal age of 18 for buying tobacco will be raised progressively, Associate Health Minister Dr. Ayesha Verrall said at a news conference Thursday. "We want to make sure young people never start smoking so we will make it an offence to sell or supply smoked tobacco products to new cohorts of youth," she said. "People aged 14 when the law comes into effect will never be able to legally purchase tobacco." (CNN)

This is an elegant idea; it deals with the issue of stopping young people from getting hooked, and it has an outlet for the older addicts.

If this approach works, and while there will be bumps in the road I think it could, it is a given that other governments will enact similar laws; governments the world over copy each other far, far more than people realize.

I think it is an inspired idea that has the potential to rid the world of those cancer-causing death-sticks and stick it to those heartless corporate bastards who profit off of human misery and addiction (why yes, I am a reformed smoker; how did you know?).

What say you, TT?

https://edition.cnn.com/2021/12/09/asia/new-zealand-outlaw-smoking-intl-hnk/index.html

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/09/new-zealand-to-ban-smoking-for-next-generation-in-bid-to-outlaw-habit-by-2025