Anyone else have the occasional few cigarettes on the weekends with drinks? .. . how does it affect your stamina? . . .unfortuantely I've gotten into a bad habit of smoking on Sat nite when I go out after a few drinks . . it seems like it has hurt my stamina some but don't know if it is a mental thing or what . . . I know this is not a good thing but just curious as to other players' thoughts on this . . . I used to play on a semi-pro German team where all of the players smoked (even some at halftime) but some still had great endurance
smoking decreases the amount of expansion of the lungs needed for beathing in air, thus making you have to breather more frequent and harder to get enough oxygen to your blood so your muscles can operate at peak performance. This will all effect your endurance and it will only get worse as you start smoking more once the addiction kicks in (I have a friend who only smoked when going out on weekends, now is a pack a day smoker...it's only a matter of time) and also as you get older. Best bet is to quit now while you still can. Your lungs can recover in a few months time if it's not too late.
NOTE TO ALL NON-SMOKERS: Listen to this guy! He's definetly right. I have been smoking for about 5 years now, and although my skills have gotten better, my endurance is at an all time low. Because I smoke and I'm out of shape right now, I'm at about 25% fit, when I get in shape I'll be at 50% maybe at 75% the most. This is about the level that I was at when I wasn't fit and I wasn't smoking. I know for a fact that if I could actually quit smoking right now, I could last a heck of a lot longer on the soccer field. But beeing that this addiction is hard to break, I'm good for 10 or 15 hard minutes, after that I need a breather. Basically what I'm trying to say, is that if you're young and want to enjoy playing soccer to your full potential (whether PRO or REC), don't smoke. I for one now regret the fact that I have to pay $5 per pack of cigarettes and not being able to fully enjoy myself on the soccer field.
thanks guys for helping me decide to give it up once and for all . . .i think I just needed that re-inforcement . . .It felt like my lungs hurt a bit last week playing indoor and it really made me nervous - I don't want that anymore
I used to smoke when I drank and it never affected me. Now it's not too bad, but I can definitely feel a difference and it's only been a few months since I started smoking about 4-5 cigarettes a day. So I have to quit, and soon.
I drink occassionally on saturday nights, I'd say like once every 6-8 weeks or so. But I have a friend who does it every weekend and smokes as well, and it has obviously affected his stamina on the field. He was the guy who chased everyone and played very aggressively, and while he still does, his productivity has decreased. And while he used to be better than me, I have now at least caught him and likely surpassed him. Smoking does nothing good for an athlete so there is no reason to ask this question. If you possibly can, stop now, before its too late, because it most definitely affects soccer players.
You know, I've been smoking for years now and it just seems to me that my stamina gets better and better...oh, we're talking about playing soccer, not watching it. My bad...
I agree with Dr. Leary. Cigarettes are good for you. Well maybe not, but a half pack a day was a nice crutch for me during a hellish college year overloaded with classes, work, etc. It has definitely had an impact on my stamina. However I am pleased to report as my lungs have gotten stronger since I've cut done from just over a half pack a day (12-15 cigs) to now about 2 or 3 a day. For those of you just starting to smoke, DON'T. If you need it for stress or whatever you're way better off chomping on sugarless gum.
It all depends Hey only my second post since joining today, but I thought I'd chime in since I'm half-way in school to being an MD. I used to smoke ocassionally in high school while I played and it didn't affect me. However, my other buddy smoked a little more often and it definitely affected him. So yeah, its really a matter of frequency. Three cigarettes every other week on a Saturday night isn't going to hurt your performance. The real problem you have to consider is that those three cigs eventually have the potential to turn into a pack a day. Then your in some trouble and your game will not be the same till you quit. Actually MatadorCE, certainly his lungs are not permanently damaged. I've seen 30 pairs of lungs in one day and they all have a considerable amount of black stuff (carbon deposits) in them. Even if you've never smoked or been around ciggarettes everyone has this. Its really those 50 year olds that have been smoking a pack a day for 30 years that have the permanent damage. There's no reason not to quit!