I'll try not to sound too much like a parent lecturing a child on this. I only bring this up because I was blown away yesterday, while going out to inquire about a PT. I saw people go outside after a workout to grab a few puffs before they went back in. Oh my goodness, like I said, it blew me away.

Some interesting did you knows about smoking

each cig takes 8 minutes off your life, 1 pack takes 1 month a year, and 2 packs a day takes 12-15 years.
cigs have over 4000 known poisons
one drop of pure nicotine acid can kill a grown man.
a fetus absorbs nicotine, CO2, and tar in the womb
smokers are prone to heartburn and ulcers
smoking reduces the size of a mans erection
all muscles grow slower and need longer recovery time
smoking constricts blood vessels, deprives tissue of O2 and vits. A B C an D, causing damage to connective tissues
nicotine depletes elastin (soft, pliable skin)

the following info is from the ACS

what happens after you quit

20 minutes
BP drops to normal
Pulse rate drops to normal
temp of hands and feet normalize

8 hours
carbon monoxide level in blood drops to normal
oxygen level in blood increases to normal

24 hours
chance of heart attack decrease

48 hours
nerve endings start to regrow
ability to smell and taste enhanced

2 weeks-3 months
circulation improves
walking becomes easier
lung function increases up to 30 %

1-9 months
coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, and shortness of breath decrease
cilia regrow in lungs, allowing lungs to handle muccous, keep clean and reduce infection
body's overall energy rises

1 year
coronary disease risk is half that of a smoker

5 years
Lung cancer death rate from average former pack a day smoker decreases by almost half
stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker 5-15 years after quitting
risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, and esophagus is half that of a smoker

10 years
lung cancer death rate is similar to non smoker
precancerous cells are replaced
risk of cancer of mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, cervix, pancreas decreases

15 years
risk of coronary disease same as nonsmoker

All I can say is if you or anyone you know is addicted to smoking....please please please consider quitting...most important for yourself ( as thats where the most damage is being done), but dont forget about all of your loved ones that are suffering from the second hand smoke.

Its never to late. There are many things out there now to assist in kicking the habit, and while I am not big on pharmaceuticals, I would be more than happy to offer suggestions as far as herbal supplements to help curb the cravings and assist the body in starting the repair process.

I'd say don't consider quitting, just do it. If you value your health, or your ONE life at all, just stop if you do do it.

Damn, this is a hard thing to deal with. All of my friends are smokers, I am not and never will be, but if im ever with them, we are usually indoors, and most of the time in a small room, with no window open or ventilation. I was reading today about second hand smoking, and the facts that I read were quiet disturbing.

Heres a small passage I found from cancer.org website : "Non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke have an increased lung cancer risk of between 20 percent and 30 percent, and a 25 percent increase risk of heart disease."

After reading that I don't want to be around the second-hand smoke, but it's hard because they are my friends, and it's not my place to tell them how to live their lives, I think I will have to have a long hard think about this one really.

Are any of you in the same situation as I am, or have ever been? If so how did you deal with it?

yes..that is quite the delima......my feelings and experience with it is this....Tell your friends how you feel...what the second hand smoke is doing to you...why you chose not to smoke yourself...becuase you dont want the same effect on your body.
Friends that care will honor your request...and not smoke around you...and if you feel that strongly about it..and it does continue...well...whats more important ..that cig..or your friendship!....and while it may sound harsh....your true friends will respect and honor your request.

Your absolutely right, thanks for that .

I quit smoking earlier this year, best desicion I have mad the whole year. I breath better, sleep better and my head feels 10 times lighter in the mornings.