Power Kite Forum

Kite/Smoking

Sthrasher38 - 11-9-2007 at 06:03 PM

Not what you might think. Don't worry Pablo I didn't burn up the Brooza:smilegrin: I just wanted to share that kiting is not a sport to have with a cigerette hanging out of your mouth! The other day I thought it was overcast and I was out flying and was choking coughing and didn't know until later that there was a fire in the hills and it wasn't cloudy it was smoke! Bad combo. Anyway I have been smoking for about 15 years and now and have decided to quit!:wow: for me my kids and kiting! Besides I was counting all the money I will save by not smoking between me and my woman we spend about $50.00 a week! Thats $200.00 a month! Un-acceptable. So bear with me if I am a #@%$#! for awhile but I will get over it! I am 40 now and would much rater kite for the next 40 rather than smoke.:saint:

Pdxnebula - 11-9-2007 at 06:57 PM

Sounds like a good reason, & I've been smoking since about 75... & I'll be 50 in Nov, so its NOT EASY & im still trying to begin to quit... Sounds like my Reason to quit... I havent even had the new ProFoil up yet & already know I want a Bigger one!!!
:spin:

tridude - 11-9-2007 at 07:07 PM

That 4.9 will make you quit if the winds are up!

GulfSandEater - 11-9-2007 at 09:37 PM

Sounds like if you quit you could have a nice new kite every month or two with the money you save!!! :saint:

Pablo - 11-9-2007 at 09:39 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by GulfSandEater
Sounds like if you quit you could have a nice new kite every month of two with the money you save!!! :saint:


Beat me to the punch, $200 a month in gear will make for a happy camper for sure, won't take long to build up a wicked quiver. Should help motivate you to quit smoking.

Bladerunner - 12-9-2007 at 10:03 AM

I'm with you Sthrasher !

I go in for an operation on 2 of my 3 hernias at the end of next month :wow: ( little guys try harder :wink2: ). I understand that the one on the belly will be a real pain if I cough like I presently do. :megan:

It's going to be hard for me. I love smoking ( everything ) ! I'm going to end up hating brownies by the time I'm better :wink2: I would love to stop the cig's for good. Maybe I'll be lucky on this my ??? 15th try !!!!!

crosshatch - 12-9-2007 at 06:23 PM

I remember that I quit smoking a few months before I started kiting. With only a few months in, I was still kinda of shaky, but I found that after I got a kite in the air, the cig-cravings usually passed pretty quickly; usually within several minutes.
I don't know how scientifically accurate this is, but here's what I reasoned out for myself, and it worked for me....
Since I got happy every time I got a kite in the air (especially if there was enough wind for any kind of pull), I figured some amount of dopamine got released in my brain.
Puffing on a cig also releases dopamine in your brain.
So if those two are true, and I wanted to stay quit, it was simply my decision to make. Smoke, or fly a kite.
Couldn't really say, "Oh it's too hard to quit" anymore. Wasn't too hard...I could get the dopamine from another, much healthier activity (healthier, assuming protective gear is on, and attention to land/weather conditions is paid:). )
And after a while, I didn't even think about it anymore.
Plus...accidentally putting a cig burn in one of my kites would probably send me right around the corner. :)
[note: Definitely not condemning smokers..just sharing what worked for me when I decided that I did want to stay quit.]

Bladerunner - 13-9-2007 at 09:27 AM

I agree,

When I started flying I had just lost a series of very close people. I was fighting depression and found kiting to be just the "pill" . When I am kiting the whole world goes away. I am living very much in the moment and LOVING IT !!!!
It's also true about the dopamine and the natural high. I love showing up at home hair all over the place and a grin that just won't stop ! I pause to tell anyone who will listen that " THE FEELING LASTS " !!!!!!! :rolleyes:

crosshatch - 15-9-2007 at 03:20 PM

I'm witchya, Snowbird...:thumbup:
When kiting I'm not thinking of anything else; probably as close to being a Zen Master as I'll ever get. :)

'Course today the weather is absolutely gorgeous...winds 15 to 20 alllllllllllllll day...sunshine by the pound,...and where am I?
Sick at home with a nasty bug. *Grumble*
Ah well...did a tuneup on my truck, since I couldn't kite.

But I was thinking of kiting all day :)

jablonski - 1-10-2007 at 05:27 AM

Good on ya sthrasher!!! Live long and prosper eh!!

acampbell - 1-10-2007 at 06:00 AM

I quit for the last time when I got my hypertension diagnosis.
I had tried all the medical approaches (patches, pills, gum).
Finally...
Don't tell any freinds or family that you are trying- that adds the stress of failure. Then you want a smoke. Quitely walk away from it.
Don't count the hours or days; that adds stress and then you want one.
If you sneak a smoke, no big deal. dont stress; then you want another.
It will quitely fade away, eventually.
Fly on handles and not a bar; it's harder to smoke then;-)
I can't remember how long it's been; I just never counted and never looked back.

code - 12-10-2007 at 06:08 PM

Damn... and here I thought I was the only one in the kiting world puffin a drag.
I tried quitting a few months before my son was born. Had pretty good progress, but then I fell right back into it following his birth, and my job change... a little too much all at once. Needless to say, Chantix really did a good job with me, but I ran out and didn't get the second setup like I should've. Going to try again sometime soon, as I hate going out snowkiting or doing anything and feeling winded before I even get started.
Kudos to all of you that have quit and are thinking about it!!!
~Joe

Sthrasher38 - 20-10-2007 at 07:25 PM

Thanks everyone Yes kiting is my high now. I get so pumped up flying I dont need anything else. At least thats what I try to tell myself. I try not to fly when upset or angry Because I get the No-Fear all balls out mode and that will get me hurt. I have to maintain lots of respect for the wind. Really gusty around here. And my 6.4 Blade 2 will snatch your a** if I am not careful. But some times I just want to see what it can do.:borg: And if I can quit so can you if you really want to.

Bladerunner - 21-10-2007 at 08:25 AM

I've done the deed and have a month of no-smo' :wow:
Knowing I have to for an operation has made it a bit easier. I truly hope that I can say good bye to smoking forever.
I need to get one of those little indoor kites so I can fly it for the 5 minutes needed to beat a craving :wink2:

crosshatch - 21-10-2007 at 05:34 PM

Snowbird, that is awesome, Dude!

Something else that helped me was to remember that immediately after I'd smoked my last, I wasn't a smoker anymore. Ya don't need to torture yourself hoping you make a month, two months, a year... You're already done with it. Pat yourself on the back. You won.

Now figure out where you're gonna spend all that extra money :) and time :) and energy :)

:singing::spin:

5m1FF - 23-10-2007 at 02:16 AM

My old man did exactly what you did. He had smoked for 25 years, and at 41; he quit. And spent all the money he would have spent on cigars/cigarettes on toys - in his case bikes (hes a crazy nutter cyclist now) and in your case kites.

He's been smoke-free for 6 years now!

Keep it up man, good going. You now have longer kite sessions with nice shiny new gear to look forward to. Oh .... and no lung cancer or emphasema! haha.

Quitting

Deadhead - 23-10-2007 at 01:17 PM

Been smoking about 40 years or so, and have finally come to the realization I can't do both - power kite and smoke. Any suggestions out ther on how to quit? I've tired the cold trukey approach, but i tseems to last only for a few days. Keep thinking about all the kites I cuold buy by not spending money on the cigs, but end up doin both.

Cheers!

Bladerunner - 23-10-2007 at 01:43 PM

I'm on BOTH the patch and the Pill ( Welbutran / Ziaban) The Pill seems to help with the " habit " side and the patch is feeding me lots of Nicotine 24 / 7 :piggy: It hasn't been as tough this time :puzzled: Crazy dreams for the 1st few weeks.

I'm telling myself I can buy a carton of smokes for my 70th B'day but if I want to see my 70th I can't visit my "old friend" until then :smug:

Gronniger - 23-10-2007 at 02:30 PM

Congrats! And the best of luck to you!

Sthrasher38 - 23-10-2007 at 05:52 PM

Deadhead, Do you want to quit? There is your answer on how to. If you do you will if you dont you wont.:borg:

Rye - 25-10-2007 at 08:46 AM

Get on the patch, and stay on it as long as needed. It is far safer then the smoke in your lungs, and eventually, ease off the patch when you're ready. Stop putting s**t in your lungs! :)