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Observation and Perspective
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| Ride Stats |
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Distance:
8.98 miles
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Time: 00:46:00
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Max Speed:
0.00 mph
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Avg Speed:
11.72 mph
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Temp:
Min: 55
Avg: 56
Max: 57
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Category: general: errand -
solo
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Route:
east to Spencerport
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Weight:
235
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Altitude Gain:
0 ft
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Avg Power: 0 W
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Calories Burned: 500
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Avg HR: 0 bpm
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Terrain: Road: Flat
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Bike: Specialized 40lb-Globe 700c Hybrid
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Club: USA Towpath and Trail Riders association |
| Weather Conditions: Overcast and cool; NW winds U/10MPH |
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Distance:
17.11 miles
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Time: 01:24:30
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Max Speed:
0.00 mph
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Avg Speed:
12.15 mph
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Temp:
Avg: 60
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Category: general: commute -
solo
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Route:
Commuting to and from Hilton
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Weight:
235
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Altitude Gain:
0 ft
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Avg Power: 0 W
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Calories Burned: 900
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Avg HR: 0 bpm
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Terrain: Road: Flat
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Bike: Bianchi 32lb-Castro Valley Road
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Club: Commuter Cycling Century |
| Weather Conditions: Sunny but cool; Northerly winds@5mph; |
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Today my dental appointment went exceedingly well! My lack of tobacco consumption for the past few months means less staining on my teeth, consequently less Plaque. Today that translated over to an easier time in the dental chair. Michelle my Hygienist, says this is the best condition my Gums have been in ever!
My relationship with smoking is all about Nicotine addiction, which for me has been life-long. For several years now I have not consciously inhaled tobacco smoke. That is to say, I have made a specific effort not to draw tobacco smoke into my lungs, while still puffing on the smoldering nicotine delivery component(since 1996, pipe and cigar only).
My Mother who has not smoked tobacco in 40 some & odd years, and my Father who has been clean for almost as long, are responsible for my initial ADDICTION to Nicotine. There it's been said! I was born addicted to Tobacco, Nicotine specifically.
Growing up with my parents meant a constant supply of stale and sometimes fresh second hand smoke. By the time I was 5 or 6, I had picked up more than a few discarded smoldering butts, discards from my Father mostly, from the lawn or along the driveway. By the age of 9, I was stealing whole and partial packs of cigarettes. By age 11, I was purchasing cigs from the corner Bodega for about 35 cents a pack. By age 16, I was fully hooked psycho- as well as physiologically. It was a pack-a-day habit comprised of ritualistic moments of consumption through-out the day. And YES, it was an expression of defiant independence.
All through my day to day living, smoking had become an integral part of my breathing. I was totally wrapped up in the rituals of smoking. It was comforting somewhat -everything except the hacking cough. Smoking after: meals, sex, etc...I couldn't crap with out a smoke. Smoking was a natural extension of a coffee break, partying, wine and liqour consumption, social activity... 5 hour marathons of chess were even more grueling with a pack of smokes(20 cigarettes and sometimes more, smoked in the course of an evening of games).
Often, first thing in the morning my lungs ached from so much smoke. One way you can tell your Nicotine addiction is for real, is when you aren't brand restricted, or mode of delivery restricted. In times of poverty I rolled-my-own. Must've rolled 10,000 -It definitely was thousands! I remember rolling 200 at a time, consuming 7 ounce cans of Top or Kite every a week or so.
I smoked everything through the years. By the beginning of my "Thirties" I had made a few feeble attempts to quit, mostly by substituting one form of consumption with another. By the time I finally managed to give up cigarettes in 1990, I had smoked dozens of different brands, filtered, unfiltered, mentholated and not.
I bought a lot of pipe tobacco and cigars over the years -love the stuff! By the time I was in my 50's, I had grown, harvested, and cured a couple of pounds of my own tobacco. Still got about a half pound of home-grown tobacco bagged up, and stored. Of the five humidors I own, only one has cigars in it now, about a dozen or so well aged stogies. I do expect to smoke a cigar or a pipe every once in a great while. Emphasis on "once-in-a-great-while"!
I have said for years and I believe it to be a truism: The insidious part of smoking is INHALATION. Stop inhaling the smoke and the addiction begins to subside (though never is the urge completely at bay). See, inhaling is breathing, a most basic auto-reflex. That's what makes the addiction so complete. If you could smoke without direct inhalation (you'll never escape the "second hand" aspect) you still would not be out of the wood so to speak. Nicotine is easily absorbed through oral and nasal membranes. Not inhaling, may be a step along the path to quitting (perhaps a first step in reprogramming the habit). Stop inhaling and your lungs will immediately begin to improve.
How to quit Smoking:
Quitting must involve some lifestyle changes!
First, don't light that first one of the day. If you do, you've "smoked the day". Try again tomorrow.Second, use a nicotine substitute(I tried the gum once, it didn't work for me). When I tried the Nicorette I did not have an exercise regimen. I believe exercise is essential to successfully quitting.Third, An exercise regimen during times that you might think would be ideal to be smoking. To quit, try a lifestyle change with exercise, nicotine substitution, and liberal use of sugar free gum and/or mints, It could be your method to complete success!. The exercise is a critical part of the formula! It could be a brisk walk if you've got the knees or ride a bike.
The point about quitting is to change your ritual and in the process change your lifestyle. Retrain your brain! Don't be discouraged with failure. You may fail multiple times but don't stop trying to quit. You will accomplish the goal if you don't give up!
So am I truly nicotine free? Right now -YES!
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