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Style Bites: Smoking not 'vogue' anymore
Sun, 09/21/2008 9:47 AM | Lifestyle
It's been a while since the last time I've seen models posing with cigarettes for photo shoots in fashion magazines. During the early 90's, I often questioned myself why it seemed very "in" to smoke and then capture it as images for fashion spreads? Slowly those burn-y and smoky butts which normally act as must-have accessories are fading away from the fashion fierce frame these days.
Is it not "vogue" anymore to smoke?
Apparently it's not just happening in magazines, but obviously also in many public places which normally were hazy from burn-y cigarettes. Now it is banned to light the little poor sticks, leaving the smokers feeling alienated by only allowing them to take their puffs in a special incubator-like room.
Smoker and non-smoker are the new categories, added to the other previous wide-ranging groups such as ladies and gents, single and married, conservative and liberal, straight and gay, carnivore and herbivore, etc.
Aren't we always living in such categories, and unconsciously we, ourselves, on either side. And lately more people have shifted and prefer to stay in the non-smoker section, as no smoking is the new trend for health and beauty -- for not having ashtray breath and flaunting yellowish teeth.
Don't get me wrong, I am not an anti-smoker, hell I was a smoker myself! Well, sort of. I'm in the process of quitting now having been a nicotine addict for 15 years.
You can imagine how hard these past few weeks have been since I decided to quit. People say when you decide to quit smoking you must go the extreme by stopping totally, not gradually. So that's what I did, but it's one of the hardest temptations I have ever faced. Going cold turkey is such a bitch. At this state, I have settled for one cigarette every four to five days. So I can't call myself a non-smoker yet, can I?
Despite a strong warning on every cigarette pack about what smoking can cause, smokers don't seem to care and paltering those warning signs and photos of rotten lungs are only seen as art on the packaging.
And many happy smokers up until today actually still can't give a solid answer as to why they smoke. "It feels good" is normally the basic expression about smoking. But how can this be good if it's only an activity to inhale burning tobacco into our lungs? Some people say and assume that smoking is stylish -- it reflects modern city culture.
It also works to reduce stress, lessen the tension and for me it helps to get some inspiration -- which works best in the toilet too. Most girls prefer to smoke as it helps to keep their bodies slim. Hello Kate Moss! But are those entirely true?
If we think about this whole smoke thing, it's all just in the head. Yeah, I know it won't be as easy to do as just saying it, especially for smokers, and quitters have been thinking more of smoking than worrying about its deadly effect. These nasty tasty-flavored sticks packaged in a stylish box have so much charm it makes us go weak and worship them.
But why is there no strong discrimination against alcohol? It has similar damaging effects such as cigarettes do, it even can cause instant death!
I have never heard or seen people being abused by a smoker, nor have I ever seen people getting killed in car accidents because the driver was under the influence of cigarette smoke. Alcohol can psych our brain on the spot, but yet I hardly see any "no-drinking" sign but many a "no-smoking sign". Did I get your eyebrows raised just now? People -- did you start to wonder how plain this world would be when there's also discrimination against alcohol?
People surely don't want to miss everything they can cling to in their lives. It seems okay to say good bye to the long-term damaging ciggy, but not okay to be separated from the instant abusive boozy. Whichever your decision, again, it's just your human nature speaking.
What's life when there's no variety and balance in it? Where would be the thrill if we can't taste a bit of a bad thing among the other good things we've done? Being is one choice, but I doubt everyone can stay calm and serene in this stressful city life without some toxic help. With this concept, we are willing to risk our well being, get out of our logic, feel the fun and get relieved by it from time to time. Irresistibly, most of the bad things usually come with addiction bonus. D'oh!
Let's not continue blabbering on about the scary details of smoking's bad effects, we all know that already. Let's instead share a few quick tips for those who are still struggling to quit:
-- At the beginning of your "suffering" consume a lot of water or juice, it helps to replace your craving and wash away the piled up toxin in your body.
-- Supply your fridge and snack drawer with a lot of healthy and low-fat foods, including fruit. Trust me, you'll need them before you end up scratching and tearing all the cushions in your house during those cold turkey moments.
-- It's also handy to suck on sugar-free candy; I go for herb lozenges and clove mint types. Chewing gum is what most people prefer, but I just don't find the idea of chewing severely attractive.
-- Take a deep breath; it's the easiest way to kill an urgent smoking desire. You may need to do it for five minutes as it's the length of "smoking calls" peak time.
-- Do not hang out with your smoker friends for a while -- this cuts the temptations from them and also avoids you seeing pitiful and cynical looks on their faces toward you.
-- Do not keep or buy a cigarette, even if you think it's just for an emergency.
-- Cut down on alcohol, coffee, sugar and fat, as these four will increase your desire to smoke again. Fatty food is most dangerous as your metabolism is getting slower without nicotine, so don't let the fat settle on your body.
-- Gym: Cardio is best to exercise your lungs, and at the same time shed fat and toxin from your body.
-- Lastly, get someone -- family or close friends -- just to support you, as there's no special doctor to help you quit smoking.
Good luck to all quitters. The first week ain't easy. I won't sugar-coat the situation, it's hell! I still need some luck as well while "adjusting" to my weight gain after replacing my nicotine addiction to food consumption and exercise.
Yes I've developed six fabulous and firm kilos these past two months, and never felt better! I feel more like a stud now than the skinny twink I used to be. And yes I feel one level more confident to kiss someone now, too!
--Diaz
