Advantages of smoking

[mippus]

I quit smoking 5 months ago (Praise Champix!), and I am very proud of that and see the many advantages of being an ex-smoker.

However, being a smoker had some advantages in itself that I miss.
- It is easier to stand the smell of cigarettes if you smoke yourself
- It structures your day around your daily smoke-breaks
- Smokers form social subgroups. During smoke-breaks, we often had most interesting discussions that non-smokers don't seem to have.

Any thoughts or other advantages?

PS: thanks to Whatever for the inspiration
PPS: don't get me wrong, I wouldn't dream of promoting smoking...

[CaptainChick]

Expedition of death?

[CaptainChick]

But in all seriousness, I used to smoke, and I just enjoyed it, and goddamn it, that's as good of an advantage as an advantage can be.

[Thursday]

Originally Posted by CaptainChick

Expedition of death?

Zing!

Well,
Its probably the commradary and sharing of the tacit anxiety that was mutual,
which brought you to smoking and each other

[Metamorphosis]

It's not as bad as smoking blunts?

[AllAboutSoul]

I enjoy it and it's better than a nerve pill. But that's prolly about it.

[Edahn]

In the 3 months that I tried to get addicted to smoking (because it was cool) I noticed that smoking is a great activity to retreat into your introversion and focus inward, even if you're coughing the whole time.

[Seanan]

I've only read a couple of posts and the subject. I'm just going to throw this out. It is, naturally, not publicized very well but a good friend was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer and made what I considered an odd statement. He said "I knew it. I was diagnosed in the same week I quit smoking two years ago." I asked what that had to do with it and he said he knew so many people who were diagnosed with cancer right about the two year mark after quitting that he made it a point to research it. I have not done so but my Mother died of pancreatic cancer 2 years and 2 months after quitting. She died 2 months after being diagnosed.

[mippus]

That is a really scary thought.
What does it mean? Stop smoking or not?

[Jen]

mippus I would suggest anyone who wants to be healthier should quit smoking. Life's a crap shoot. You could walk outside and down the street and be hit and killed by a minivan, but preventative measures in my mind are the way to go.

I quit last year. Something I never thought would be possible, but I rarely have cravings and can actually breath instead of hacking and coughing with the occasional wheeze. Sexy right? I did put on a few pounds but that's the only disadvantage. Gaining weight after quitting has forced me to watch what I eat and also drink tons of water which also helps btw when you're trying to quit. I used the patch but it can be strong and make you feel nauseated, so I would suggest starting out small first and then if you need to go up several mg's you can do so. Or better yet, do what works for you.