Smoking & playing sax

[Tears June]

How many of you are smoker? Do you think it really harmful on our skill (but many Master player are heavy smoker...)?

:cry:

[colibri]

I'm a smoker myself.
Besides the fact that I might get cancer someday, I haven't noticed it affecting my playing.

[Hurling Frootmig]

I would think that it would lower your breath capacity at some point.

[Gaijin-san]

What about the pads? What about the PADS???

[Hurling Frootmig]

I've heard that it contributes to pads wearing out quicker.

I would think that the bigger issue is death but that's my two cents.

If I purchased a vintage sax from a smoker I would send it off to my tech for a bath before spending serious time with it in the shed. Again a personal preference.

[JazzIsFreedom]

The only thing that should smoke is your sax.......lol

[psynobi9]

I smoked pretty heavily up until about two years ago...I definitely noticed a decrease in lung capacity after a point, which contributed to my quitting. I never heard anything about wearing my pads out quicker though...maybe I should take my horn down to the shop again...

[MusicMedic]

I used to Smoke and it did affect my playing considerably. In fact, I found that to play Bass and even to some degree Bari effectively, I needed to be in shape to make the phrases I wanted to. I had to quite smoking and start exercising. It's easier to play when you don't smoke, the smoking is just another thing holding the player back.

[Travesty]

I used to smoke all the time and I never noticed it effecting my playing. However after I stopped smoking I noticed that I have a lot of backpressure in my mouthpiece that wasn't there before. I suppose it's due to the added breath support I'm capable of now. I'm currently looking for a new mouthpiece that might alleviate some of that pressure.

[Subtone Sam]

I´m a smoker (but not proud to be one :( ).I haven´t noticed any serious negative effects to my playing but the fact that it MIGHT is a good reason to stop smoking.

[Cameron Wigmore]

Two years after I started smoking my lung capacity was cut almost in half. I lost half of my lung capacity. I was unable - and am still today - to put as much air through the horn as I want to.

And I stink.

[saxusa]

I believe that Paul Desmond was a "Master player" and he was a heavy smoker. In his later years he had difficulty with his breath control. Very sad. He died of lung cancer while in his early fifties. :(

[Hurling Frootmig]

I believe that he was dying during the 25th reunion tour and was constantly running out of breath. It's a mostly avoidable death.

[Ian]

I have no personal gripe against smokers. In fact, their habit and its detrimental effects on the human body keep me in business. However, lets not lose sight of the simple facts: smokers lung functions deteriorate substantially faster than nonsmokers, on average. We all lose puff after about age 23, but smoking is the best way to lose if faster. And 50% of smokers will die of a smoking related disease. There is a good reason that insurance companies load your insurance premiums!. The only good news is that whenever you stop you are likely to see some benefit.

[singlereed]

Anything that works against your breathing and your health is bad for sax playing. If that is enough of a reason to make you quit smoking, then that's great.

[Thomas]

I've played the horns over 50 years now and have smoked 40 of those years. I have no smoking related issues with blowing the horns. I believe that smoking should be mandatory and introduced at an early age the philosophy being that something's gonna kill you sooner or later so you may as well enjoy yourself. Personal observation proves to me that the propaganda generated by the anti-smoking folks is not true. Far more people smoke than do not. Tobacco is a huge generator of revenue for most governments and it would be unpatriotic to quit and the thought that my contributions to society,through taxes on tobacco, is a truely unselfish sacrifice gladly made for the betterment of my fellow man. Smoke often and heavily!

[Gaijin-san]

Those have got to be some of the most ludicrous statements I believe I've ever read...

[saxusa]

He can't be serious. :shock:

[stitch]

Dude's in denial - hey Thomas, smoke all you want - your choice - but you can't argue with science

[Bootman]

You guys forget the innevitable statement about death that Thomas made, we will all die one day. This is a given fact. Most players I know smoke. I wish I could quit but it seems to go hand in hand with an addictive personality.

[stitch]

We're not forgetting it Bootman, we're just in no hurry to get there...

[Jazzed]

It seems that many horn players smoke. I'm including our brass playing counterparts. I think it may be that we like the feeling of the smoke going in to our lungs- we are very aware of this part of our bodies. And hanging out in nightclubs is part of the lifestyle... nothing like a few drinks and then a smoke. We know that the alcohol isn't great for our health... what the heck...

I have been know to smoke lightly, but I can go weeks without. When I was a heavy smoker for about a year it DEFINITELY effected my playing.

[Vortex]

One thing to realize is that even Cannonball Adderley smoked. In fact, he has a cigarette in his hand (or his mouth, or an ashtray on the table) in most of the photos that have been taken of him.

Here's the link to some of them, just click on "gallery"
http://perso.club-internet.fr/barybary/

The photo in the middle of the bottom row cracks me up every time I look at it.[/img]

[adrianw]

I tried to explain to a very attractive female acquaintence, who was a smoker, what a smoker smells like to a non smoker.
Next time there is a bushfire, take a frozen chicken out of the freezer and when it thaws soak it overnight in the cheapest perfume you can find.
Wait till the fire has been put out then take the chicken to the site and roll it around in the damp ashes until it's well coated. Then hold it up to your nose and inhale deeply.
She gave up!
:P

[Media Lint]

I smoke, I don't find it so much affects my playing as it does, say, climbing a long flight of stairs - which I have noticed isn't quite as easy as it was when I was 17. It's evil, it's nasty. Even though I smoke if I'm in a (California) resaurant and smoke wafts in from the outside while I'm eating I can smell it. Although I miss it in the bars, it helped mask the pungent odors of urine and stale beer.

I've heard that it contributes to pads wearing out quicker.

I would think that the bigger issue is death but that's my two cents.

ROTFLMAO

[Hurling Frootmig]

I've seen multiple family members of mine die from smoking related illnesses. It's not pretty and they all gave the same advice to all the young people around - "Don't ever start smoking".

Whether or not you perceive that your lung capacity is down - it is. There are numerous studies that prove this. Whether or not you have a family member who lived to be 100 and smoked every day for 80 years - we can point out lung cancer victims who die at 50.

Desmond died because of smoking.

Cannonball had a stroke with he was at a greater rick of having because he smoked. He was also overweight.

I don't smoke and make it a point to not frequent many places that allow smoking. Kudos to what they did in California with the smoking ban. I hope they do it in my neck of the woods. Frankly, any place that allows children to be present should have a ban on smoking. As adults we can choose to live our lives in ways that may not be healthy but I can't think of a single good reason to expose children (who don't have a choice) to these things. I also firmly believe that while you have the right to smoke I have an equal right not to be exposed to it since there is a good chance that my exposure to your second hand smoke can be bad for MY health.

End of rant.

[Gaijin-san]

Right on!

[WindMusician81]

I used to smoke 2-3 packs a week, and every time someone asked me if it affected my playing I would proudly say that it most certanly did not, and that my Sax playing was probably helping me keep a good lung capacity. Now I've all but quit. I still enjoy the occasional cigarette, but my average would probably be maybe a cigarette every other day... It's been about 6 months since I cut WAY back on the cigarettes, and now, from experiance, I can say that it definatly did affect my playing. I've changed nothing but my smoking habits, and I can play MUCH longer runs now, and can hold my longtones a LOT longer before running out of breath.

[electricninja]

I would like to quit smoking to help along with the bari, but I smoke to cope with loneliness.

[Randall]

I would like to point out that a lot of the great jazz musicians and non-jazz musicians have all succumbed to cancer or cigarette smoking related illnesses.
What is interesting is the kinds of cancer: throat, lung (overwhelmingly so), and liver (which is clinically proven to be related to smoking in combination with other factors).
It stands to reason that the part of your body you rely on for your craft should be the LAST part you would want to pollute with carcinogens, or anything foreign (ie: addictive substances) for that matter.
Forgive the analogy here, but it's like a porn actor willfully putting his "instrument" in a food processor and setting it on "slow puree". Guarantees a bad ending to your career, and a painful one at that.
Also, for every person who has a story of the "100 year old who smoked everyday" (and these anomalous people are as rare as hens teeth), there are a hundred thousand people going through painful, costly deaths and suffering. This doesn't even take into account the losses to the families of these people.
I have seen no less that 10 of my close relatives with the same fatalistic attitude about, "ya gatta die of sumthin" indeed die of "sumthin".
That "sumthin" is, lung cancer, heart disease, and liver cancer. Common factor? All smokers.
Smoking in public is a crime I believe.
We are all free to do to ourselves what we will, however we are not free to poison or harm another person to exercise our free will. That is what smoking does, and the sooner smokers stop their self denial of this fact, the sooner smoking becomes absolutely illegal in ANY public place. We all breathe the same air in any given place.
So Tears June, think of everytime you light up and look "cool" while posing with your sax, you are subtracting minutes from your life and all those people around you.
Frankly, I don't want to shorten my life and I certainly don't want to be responsible for hurting other people and SHORTENING THEIR LIVES.

:idea:

[saxusa]

Make smoking illegal. Then we can have a 'new' grime wave. Like prohibtion which made it possible for the mafia to gain power. Illegal cigs will still be sold and used in this country just the same as drugs,illegal firearms, terrorism, and prostitution. Get real people. We'll have to build and pay for more prisons to house all the smokers.

[saxusa]

Also, there has never been a documented case of anyone dying from second hand smoke. If your paranoid, then buy a gas mask.

[Morry]

So, I have no right to sit in a restaurant and enjoy my meal without inhaling your smoke, unless someone dies first?

[Hurling Frootmig]

Also, there has never been a documented case of anyone dying from second hand smoke. If your paranoid, then buy a gas mask.

It depends on which bit of research is to be believed. Some of the research shows that you have an increased likelihood to suffer from smoking related illness due to the exposure of second hand smoke. You may choose to live in denial - that's your choice.

I do not advocate making smoking illegal. You can kill yourself with any legal vice you choose. What I do believe is that you shouldn't have a legal right to expose me to it in public places.

[paulwl]

Tears, I understand smoking in Japan is often called "smorking". Why is that?

I even have a T shirt that says "No Smorking." Makes me smile whenever I put it on. :D

[Randall]

Paul wrote:
Tears, I understand smoking in Japan is often called "smorking". Why is that?


Paul, that is simply a result of poor English skills at the shirt maker. This kind of fractured "Engrish" is rampant here!
There are books devoted to this topic even.

There is no "r" pronunciation in Japanese, so 99.9% of the Japanese cannot say this, even if they wanted to. :lol:

[markieg]

I've been playing for 10 years and smoking for 5 (I started smoking at age 16, about a pack a day since). I never once had a problem. I ran cross country and the 2-mile in track, and even got kicked out of these sports for smoking, but I never once had a problem with lung capacity. I play on a LaVoz hard or VanDoren 4 and I can tell you that my lungs are a lot stronger than my lips. Part of the reason I have good lungs is possibly the exercise in sports, but I haven't ran in 3 or 4 years. The most physical thing I do now is bowling, when I smoke the most.

[Randall]

Markie...slow pureee..... :?

[stitch]

Well, of course you don't notice a difference Markieg - you're only 21 - you have youth on your side!

Even if there were no evidence, it seems to me to be pretty obvious that smoking's no good for the lungs - you're inhaling smoke, tiny particles of dust, and they don't all come out when you exhale. Those particles gotta be somewhere, and that somewhere is the lungs; if you're putting dust in your lungs, stands to reason capacity decreases.

It always amuses me when people say they have an 'addictive personality' (and this isn't a dig at Bootman, he just happens to be the one that mentioned it): it makes it seem like they can't help themselves, and even sounds kinda romantic and out there - 'hey I'm the kinda guy that does it all 100%, baby, it's just in my nature'. Two things come to mind here: first, it looks to me to be a manifestation of the 'I'm not to blame' culture - 'it's not my fault, I have no choice, it's just the way I am' - WRONG: nobody forced you; and second, yes, there is an addiction, but it's to NICOTINE, a drug widely held to be more addictive than heroin (oh yeah, and how many of our sax heroes were heroin addicts as well...?). In plain terms, most smokers are junkies, it's just that their drug is legal.

OK, end of rant. Once again, this is not aimed at anyone in particular, just my tuppence worth.

That's one of the great things about this forum - you can have your say without anyone interrupting you!

[Media Lint]

ATTENTION MARKIEG

I've been playing for 10 years and smoking for 5 (I started smoking at age 16, about a pack a day since). I never once had a problem. I ran cross country and the 2-mile in track, and even got kicked out of these sports for smoking, but I never once had a problem with lung capacity.

Reality check: You and I are the same. I too started around 16, I too played sax since grade school, I too ran cross country and I specialized in the 880 (1/2 mile) in track, I was a regular 1st or 2nd placer in that event. The difference is I'm now 35. It really didn't start to bother me until my late 20s. Now it bothers me a lot more. Not lung capacity, per se, but it's not like I don't feel my lungs are coated with tar. I'm developing a mild smoker's cough. Some mornings I wake up feeling like my lungs are on fire, especially if I smoked Marlboros. And when I got GERD (stomach acid coming up the esophogas) I freaked out that it was something worse. It felt like it. Now, I'm "only" 35. You'll be thinking about this too in ten years. I also quit for a year or two around age 19 or 20, then took it back up. I am still kicking myself for that, it's a terrible burden of an addiction and it's a lot more expensive than it was 20 years ago (when I was buying packs for 75 cents).

[/b]

[Tenorsaxer]

how about smoking pipes? has that affected any of you?

[Bootman]

Place some keys on it and play it like a sax!!!!

Man that cat is smokin' :roll:

[Gandalfe]

This is kind of a sad thread. I suspect the question is not a sax question as much as a habit thang. Let's say we convinced you that you would be better off not smoking. (You could buy more reeds at the very least.) Could you quit, just like that. Yeah, kinda sad...

[Alex]

I've smoked on and off for a few years.. I found at some points it made me feel pretty damn unhealthy, but never really affected my playing. It's odd how many horn players I know who smoke.
Most of the kids I'm in jazz school with are full on serious and won't do anything to jeopardize their lung power, but all of our teachers smoke.

[Huggy Bear]

I smoked habitually in high school for about a year, but have now again started smoking habitually. Not heavily, only about half a pack a day, usually only 8 cigarettes. I actually came here looking for advice on the subject, as I have worried about it effecting my playing, and intend to quit. Ironically, I promised myself I wouldn't buy another pack, but broke down since I was getting nervous and irritable, and I needed to play for my sax jury! :lol:

Here's a tip, something I did to help my lungs a bit: I know some of you guys smoke the other stuff. I mean, you are musicians! I built a vaporizer according to instructions at www.potcooker.com. I'm not affiliated with the guy (a fellow musician), so this isn't spam. It saves alot of money, and it's been proven to eliminate carcinigens and tar, as long as you don't run it too hot.

[msdickerson]

Also, there has never been a documented case of anyone dying from second hand smoke. If your paranoid, then buy a gas mask.

Yea sure - :roll:

Nor is there any problem with drinking and driving. Just keep the stupid people off the road that don't want to get killed.

Smoking is stupid in all cases.

I figure I lost about 5-10 years of my life expectancy from playing in bars during the 70s/80s. Breathed in lots of other peoples crap. :evil:

[Thomas]

and what would be so important that you'd be contributing in those 5-10 years you think you lost, that you can't do now?
Smoke 'em if ya got 'em-get some if you don't!

[Hurling Frootmig]

I don't think you should be telling anyone to get into smoking.

What a stupid retort. :x

[stitch]

I've played the horns over 50 years now and have smoked 40 of those years. I have no smoking related issues with blowing the horns. I believe that smoking should be mandatory and introduced at an early age the philosophy being that something's gonna kill you sooner or later so you may as well enjoy yourself. Personal observation proves to me that the propaganda generated by the anti-smoking folks is not true. Far more people smoke than do not. Tobacco is a huge generator of revenue for most governments and it would be unpatriotic to quit and the thought that my contributions to society,through taxes on tobacco, is a truely unselfish sacrifice gladly made for the betterment of my fellow man. Smoke often and heavily!

and what would be so important that you'd be contributing in those 5-10 years you think you lost, that you can't do now?
Smoke 'em if ya got 'em-get some if you don't!



That makes two inflammatory :!: statements Thomas has made, Hurling. He seems to be trying to justify his drug addiction; I don't think sensible people would take him seriously.

[Hurling Frootmig]

If you ask me he sounds like a bitter old man from Mass.

[stitch]

If you ask me he sounds like a bitter old man from Mass.

You may be right Hurling, but he has the same right to add his tuppence (two cents?!) worth as the rest of us .... even if it is a load of fetid dingo's kidneys.

[Thomas]

HF & s-gentlemen(or ladies)........correct on all six observations!

[stitch]

HF & s-gentlemen(or ladies)........correct on all six observations!

er ... just so we know ... which six? :P

BTW, dunno about Hurling, but I'm a gentleman .... well, male anyway :)

[Hurling Frootmig]

Let's hope no one would name their child Hurling if the child was a girl.

[stitch]

Let's hope no one would name their child Hurling if the child was a girl.

I don't mean to offend you Hurling, but I truly thought your name was a nom de forum! ... :oops:

[Hurling Frootmig]

I don't mean to offend you Hurling, but I truly thought your name was a nom de forum! ... :oops:[/quote]

You are correct. Now off to lunch! :D

[shmuelyosef]

I think that Commander Cody (Lost Planet Airmen) said it best, and I quote:

"Tell St. Peter at the Golden Gate
...that you just hate to make him wait.
You just gotta have another cigarette."

He drank heavily...

[brassnaked]

I smoked for a few years and was smoking when I started playing sax a year ago...I quit smoking 12-03 and can HONESTLY say that I can't tell a damned bit of difference? Of course I STILL go to the gym for 1-1/2 hours EVERY day without fail and NEVER inflicted that guilt trip on myself while I was smoking. The REAL reason I quit wasn't health or anything else so wonderfully dramatic. The SMELL started bothering me...I didn't like the SMELL...that's all. Besides, you are either pre-disposed to the negative effects of something or you're not. This explains why my Dutch grandfather smoked EVERY day of his life, ate an incredibly high fat diet of eggs, butter, lard, cheese, whole milk, whiskey, rum, beer, etc. and died at the age of 98! You mean if he didn't do ALL of these "BAD" things, he might have lived another year? If you think you're going to get sick...guess what? YOU'RE GOING TO GET SICK!!! If you don't think about it at all, it probably wont effect you adversely. JUst my opinion...I could be wrong,

"Always & Never the Same"

[saxobell]

You guys forget the innevitable statement about death that Thomas made, we will all die one day. This is a given fact. Most players I know smoke. I wish I could quit but it seems to go hand in hand with an addictive personality.

Hey, Bootman! That sounds like something I used to say. You're right about addictive personalities. I even got hooked on nicorettes for 2 years. Smoked for 41 years and smoked myself right into emphysema/COPD. Now instead of playing sax for fun, I'm playing sax for theraputic purposes (hehehe its still fun). Turns out that its a great therapy instrument as it helps me blow out the poisonous gases that get trapped in my lungs, strengthens the diaphram to make breathing easier and keeps me a few steps ahead of hauling a tank of oxygen around with me. One thing is for sure, you'll either quit smoking or smoking will quit you.

QUIT SMOKIN' AND KEEP ON SAXIN' http://pages.prodigy.net/bestsmileys1/emoticons1/AMIGOS.GIF

[Randall]

brassnaked,
I buried a buddy who said EXACTLY the same things as you, with exactly the same workout regime. He looked the picture of health....
Except he didn't quit.
Cancer started in the lungs, went into the lymph system, spread to the brain and then all over.
Try watching someone suffer through chemo-therapy, lose control of their bodily functions, then have strokes and then not be able to even control what words spill from their mouth becasue the brain cancer has eaten up the speech centers of the brain...then watch them stuggle for every breath of air for a few weeks before they finally expire, gurgling in their own fluids.

Just saw my cousin go through the same thing. He managed an incredible 18 months of chemo....then the same gruesome end.

I urge you all to put them down. You WILL meet the same end.

I am counting 9 friends and relatives as of today....

[Ian]

You've gotta love smokers. They keep me in business (cardiologist). Even though you tell them their bypass grafts are twice as likely to block up, they keep at it. Even though you tell them they have double the risk of another heart attack, they keep at it! You gotta admire their balls, if not their brains. But Thomas, more people smoke than do not?? Where do you come from?
For some, this is one seriously tough addiction to get rid of. Both psychological and physiological. So if you never got hooked, understand their difficulty and give them a little breathing space.
Luckily a dying pasttime in most Western countries, certainly amongst men. But a growth industry in third world countries where there often is not the legislation to curb advertising and sales to minors.
Great debate, if you want polar opinions.

[saxyclarinet]

You've gotta love smokers. They keep me in business (cardiologist). Even though you tell them their bypass grafts are twice as likely to block up, they keep at it. Even though you tell them they have double the risk of another heart attack, they keep at it!

Holy cow! My father had a heart attack in October, a week after my birthday, and he has since lost 50 pounds, changed his diet almost completely, and quit smoking cold turkey. Hence, the men around his age at his place of business began a health program because some of them are at equal or greater risk for a heart attack than my dad. I can never get over people who just go back to old habits after having heart problems.

[altoman]

Reading this topic made me think very hard. I have been smoking for 18 years now and i am 35. As a result i decided to quit. That was two months ago and going strong. Difference is unbeleivable. I can't beleive what i was doing to myself all these years. I WILL NOT SMOKE AGAIN EVER. Everytime i get the urge to smoke i start playing. Problem solved. :lol:

[stitch]

A number of people commented that they have " addictive personalities". It always amuses me when I hear that. Seems to me it's a way of passing the buck - "not my fault, it's just the way I'm made ..." what a load of (insert epithet here). It's not your personalities that are addictive, it's nicotine, a drug that is reputedly harder to kick than heroin. Face it guys - you're junkies, pure and simple. Anything else is an excuse, and hey, nobody forced you to start.

There can be very few smokers who can honestly and truly, hand on heart (or what's left of it) say that they didn't know the dangers of smoking when they started. But like all young people (and the vast majority started when young), they're going to live forever, so what the hell. Next thing they know, they're drug addicts.

Don't mean this to come over as a rant - if you want to smoke that's up to you, just don't make excuses for it.

[Chris S]

stitch,

1) There are such things as addictive personalities. Go look it up in any half-a**ed psychology book. I happen to be one of these people, and I resent the fact that you're accusing me of 'passing the buck.' I've never once used it as an excuse, and I never will.
2) Yes, nicotine is addictive, but having an addictive personality (obviously due to the namesake) predisposes you to become addicted to things (nicotine, alcohol, etc.). It also makes it more difficult to beat an addiction. Go read.
3) You said it yourself, nicotine is harder to kick than heroin. I don't make excuses, and from what I've read of this thread, not many other people are either.

4) As you've obviously never dealt with any kind of an addiction, I suggest you keep your negative comments and unfounded conclusions to yourself until you've done a bit more research on the subject.

Chris S

[jazzbluescat]

I'm no expert but, somebody addicted to smoking or anything else may or may not have an "addictive" personality, per se. An addictive personality is/can be a pretty heavy psychological disorder or imbalance.



Anyhow, I hear ya Stitch. :twisted:


Way to go, Altoman. 8-)

[saxobell]

Well, some of you will continue smoking and get away with it - just look at Bette Davis. She was well into her 80s before she died and I don't think she had any smoking related illnesses.

Others will continue to smoke and die young or worse, be like me, quit too late and have to use a 1 or 1-1/2 reed. I wasn't one of the lucky ones but I'm still kicking very slowly getting weaker with emphysema. I'm not happy with the tone I get with those soft reeds on an alto but its better than nothing. It also means no more basking in the fact that you are lead sax and no more solos except at home with artificial background music.

The best to all of you who have decided to continue to smoke and the best to all of us who have quit - it ain't easy!!!

[stitch]

stitch,

1) There are such things as addictive personalities. Go look it up in any half-a**ed psychology book. I happen to be one of these people, and I resent the fact that you're accusing me of 'passing the buck.' I've never once used it as an excuse, and I never will.
.....

4) As you've obviously never dealt with any kind of an addiction, I suggest you keep your negative comments and unfounded conclusions to yourself until you've done a bit more research on the subject.

Chris S

Believe it or not Chris I did actually put some thought into what I wrote, and it wasn't meant to be insulting to you or anyone else. I was wary of it turning into a major argument and the last thing I want is to generate hostility.

However, I still believe what I wrote, at least in part. While I don't doubt that an "addictive personality" is a recognised clinical disorder, I suspect that very few of those that claim it have acually been diagnosed as such - in that sense they are using it as an excuse.

I don't really want to personalise it, but I am genuinely interested: to use you as an example (and I'm sure you're representative of many) - you're 20 years old; you absolutely MUST know alll about the health implications of smoking - how could you possibly not? - and yet you STILL chose to take it up! You still chose to start taking a drug worse than heroin! It's your choice, and fine, you do what you like, who am I to tell you otherwise. I merely wonder why you would make that choice, knowing what you do.

[pixel]

I'm 29 years old. I smoked 20-30 cigarettes a day for more than 11 years. I couldn't play 15 minutes without a break. Over a year ago I quit. Every aspect of my playing is now three times better. Playing can be SO easy. I can now produce a fat long tone over a minute and play for hours! Also, my thinking is much faster than before and I found something I missed for years: relaxation. But the best thing is: I'm now even more addicted to my sax. ;^p

[jazzbluescat]

Odd story, as far as quitting smoking:

I started smoking at 7, inhaling at 11, smoked for 25 years.
Tried to stop 1/2 doz times over the years with no lasting effect, obviously.
Then I quit, like flipping a light switch. Just thought 'hmmm, whatever is making me smoke is never going away, so why (really) smoke, learn to live with the "habit" sans smoking.' That did it. 'Course, I've gained a heck of a lot of weight; but, I'm much more health being fat than I was smoking.
And, I've found that eating is easier to control than smoking.

[Chris S]

While I don't doubt that an "addictive personality" is a recognised clinical disorder, I suspect that very few of those that claim it have acually been diagnosed as such - in that sense they are using it as an excuse.

I understand better what you meant by your previous statements. I do have a clinically diagnosed addictive personality. Partially I think becuase of my parents (blame everything on your parents :-) ), alcoholic father, and both my parents have smoked since they were 17 or so.

you're 20 years old; you absolutely MUST know alll about the health implications of smoking - how could you possibly not? - and yet you STILL chose to take it up!

I started smoking when I was 16, and as proposterous as it might sound I started because I had just moved away from home (and all the second hand smoke) and was taking care of my neice and nephew (7 and 5 at the time, respectivley). I'm not trying to make excuses here mind you, just telling you how I came to be a smoker. I went through a sort of 'withdrawl' after having been around smoke for my entire life. I haven't read any scientific data to show that someone can become addicted through second hand smoke, but I believe that maybe this had something to do with why I started. Also, when you're 16 and watching 2 small children.... stressed out doesn't even begin to describe it. So, I started smoking as a way to relieve stress. Come to find out many dollars and years later that smoking actually causes stress. At the time I started, I knew they were bad for you, but at the time I was young and invincible ;-) . Did I choose to start, yes. Is it as easy to choose to stop.... that's a battle I'm not willing to get into.

I merely wonder why you would make that choice, knowing what you do.

I believe you meant 'made that choice.' We can argue day and night that every day you wake up and you choose to be a smoker, but then again... that's a battle I'm not willing to fight.

No hard feelings were intended when I wrote what I did, though after reading what I wrote I understand how it came across that way. Hadn't a nicotene dose in a few hours :-) .

Odd story, as far as quitting smoking:

I started smoking at 7, inhaling at 11, smoked for 25 years.
Tried to stop 1/2 doz times over the years with no lasting effect, obviously.
Then I quit, like flipping a light switch. Just thought 'hmmm, whatever is making me smoke is never going away, so why (really) smoke, learn to live with the "habit" sans smoking.' That did it. 'Course, I've gained a heck of a lot of weight; but, I'm much more health being fat than I was smoking.
And, I've found that eating is easier to control than smoking.

CONGRATS! I found that this is working for me also. Weird for this to have happened as I got to this topic, but my step-father passed away a week or so ago due to decreases lung capacity from 40+ years of two packs or more a day. From what I understand the non-breathing wasn't what actually did him in, but something associated.... some kind of organ failure. If what I understand is correct, this doesn't go on the tabbaco companies 'death toll,' because it wasn't 'directly related' to his smoking. Well, after I watched him fade (we weren't really very close) I decided that I didn't want to end up like that. So the day he died I quit. It's been a week and two days without a cigarette, and so far so good (minus some headaches, shakiness, and grouchiness).


Also, for those interested, ther was at one time a pretty good FREE book at the Jamey Abersold site about quitting smoking, though after searching for it just now it seems to be gone. If anyone's interested, email me and I'll see if I can find the copy that's on my hard drive somewhere.


Take Care,
Chris S

[jazzbluescat]

...It's been a week and two days without a cigarette, and so far so good (minus some headaches, shakiness, and grouchiness).


Way to go. Ain't it amazing what we all can do if we put our mind to it. :thumbrig:

I haven't had a smoke in 25+ years, still would kinda like one after a nice meal w/coffee though.

[potatosax]

hi there everyone,
kinda new here.gave up smoking 6 months ago(hypnotherapy!). always thought i was pretty fit, love my windsurfing,playing and cycling! im 38 and feel 22,i mean it!! if you are in any way active, you will notice it! my playing has improved-ie.i can hold and emphasise my notes longer! it will kill you mate!! the hypnotist i saw did work,immediately! it may just be suggestion, but if there is a chance it gives me more life,im taking it!!!
keep blowing dude

[Randall]

In August of last year I ended my post on this entirely evil and totally worthless habit with the following quote about the death count of people near and dear to me due to smoking,
"I am counting 9 friends and relatives as of today....

Let's now revise that to 11 and one cousin (former HEAVY smoker) just diagnosed with breast cancer, hoping it hasn't gone to the lymph nodes yet.
:( :( :( :(

[rini]

I started smoking when 17 and quitted when 36. Cold turkey.

I wanted to show my girl friend (she's now my wife) I can do it.

It took two weeks to overcome the neurotic panic of my nerves, but I succeeded.

Have never smoked since then. It's over 30 years now.


rini

[Vortex]

Think of the evil beasts (aka TOBACCO COMPANIES) to whose faces you're bringing wide smiles by your smoking. They're getting paid to kill you off one by one and they love it. They practically run the U.S, and have influence all over. They profit off your addiction and deterioration.

Why not give 'em the big middle finger by quitting? :protest:

[Super 20 Player]

http://tinypic.com/4g3out

[EL_Seano]

I'm 16 and having a hell of a bad time quitting. Any tips anyone?
It hasn't affecting my playing on sax, but flute is making me dizzy.

[Andrew D]

I gave up smoking in February after smoking for 25 years, guess I started real young.

My real enjoyment was smoking a Sp*** and not the tobacco, but still I smoked around 20 cigs a day. Some I know never smoke cigs and just occasionally smoke a sp***. For me though one leads to the other. So I've given up everything smoking related.

I had been trying to give up for maybe 2-3 years without success, I'm just taking it 1 day at a time but things are looking good as it's been around 5 months.

I have put on some weight and stated going to the gym only last week. I will surely get this under control.

To those who want to give up, never give up on trying!!!! you will get there it just takes time for some.

To those that do not want to give up, I understand where your coming from.

Andrew

[retread]

I smoked unfiltered Camels for 45 years, about 1 1/2 packs per day. I must have quit at least a dozen times, but always started again. It wasn't unusual for me to cough when I first woke up, but in the past year I would get coughing fits during the day. I finally realized it was making me miserable and that it was less painful to forgo the pleasure (largely psychological because I considered myself a smoker and rewarded the completion of any activity with a cigaret) in favor of better health.

I have not tasted tobacco in three months and, surprisingly, don't really miss it. The coughing stopped almost immediately and my wind is slowly improving.

Here's what has workled for me. First, remembering how I felt when I was smoking. It's surprising how easy it is to forget that. Secondly, nicotine gum. It does offer a healthier substitute for tobacco. Less than a week after quitting I was on an out-of-town consulting job that involved dinner and drinks every evening with smokers. I chewed 16 pieces of 4 mg. nicotine gum per day. My jaws ached, my mouth was sore. But no cigs! Now I'm down to six to eight 2mg. pieces per day.

In my case, and I suspect with most smokers, the true desire to quit is the key. There are a lot of ways to quit, but none of them work if you continue to think of yourself as a smoker. Alchoholics may need to always remind themselves that they are alchoholics, but former smokers must remember that they ARE NOT smokers.