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be more emotional; you may laugh at trivial things and, for a while, be tense, jumpy. But
gradually the nervousness diminishes. You will be calmer, more poised. For when you stop
slowing down your body and cutting your energy with tobacco you will find that you have
much more energy. There will be more time to get things done.
(3) A word of caution here. It is generally believed that a reformed smoker gains weight. If you
have trouble with your waistline, remember this: when you stop smoking, you will not gain
more than a few pounds. When you stop smoking, you will have a great increase in energy.
In using up that energy, you will burn away a lot of the weight that you would otherwise put
on.
(4) If you have read this far, you probably think you are about ready to swear off. Don't do it yet.
c. To stop smoking, follow these rules:
(1) Watch and wait until some time when your life is on a fairly even keel. Don't try it when you
are leaving on an important trip, or preparing to give a big party, or when you are facing some
personal emergency. Don't postpone it too long, either, or you will lose the momentum you
are gradually building up.
(2) But some sunny morning -- maybe on a weekend -- you will wake up feeling especially good.
You will have had a good night's sleep; you will feel fit for anything. The idea of stopping
smoking will pop into your head. Why foul up a wonderful day with the noxious fumes of
burning tar and nicotine? Decide, then and there quietly and firmly, that you are through with
smoking! This is the moment, intelligently selected and properly prepared for, when you can
get off with a running start.
(3) After you have started yourself off with as much momentum as you can, tell your friends that
you have given up smoking. Don't be smug or complacent or boastful, but let people know
what you are doing. Then, at some point when you are seriously tempted to smoke, the
thought of all the derisive laughter you will get for giving in may well carry you over the crisis.
(4) Most smokers have fixed ideas about the occasions when a smoke tastes best. The first
cigarette after breakfast, or the one with a cocktail before dinner. If such associations are
likely to tempt you to smoke, brace yourself in advance for such temptations; tell yourself that
such an occasion is coming, and that you must be prepared to want to smoke badly. If you
hold out only for a moment, that sudden strong temptation will die almost as quickly as it
arose.
(5) Don't permit yourself to make a single exception. Until the non-smoking habit is firmly
implanted, "don't". If a habit is not fed, it dies relatively quickly, but it can subsist for a long
time on the slightest food. If you occasionally let yourself have one cigarette or pipe on the
ground that "just one won't hurt", you will keep alive the desire to smoke. Just one drink is too
many for an alcoholic, as one cigarette is too many for the heavy smoker who is trying to
reform. Win the battle of the moment -- every time you say no to the temptation to smoke,
you are making the next "no" easier.
(6) Baby yourself to an extent. Most of us are inclined to launch sudden, ambitious programs of
self-improvement. We try to do more than we can reasonably expect of ourselves. On the
contrary, indulge yourself a little. Eat what you want and enjoy it. Make it a habit to carry
mints, gum, or salted nuts. During the first few weeks keep substitutes on hand -- and pop
one into your mouth whenever you feel like smoking.
(7) Let your sleep work for you. On the night of the first day that you give up smoking, think for a
moment when you go to bed of how today you did not smoke. Then tell yourself, "Tomorrow I
am not going to smoke". Repeat it to yourself as you get drowsy. This will be the last thing in
your conscious mind as you drop off to sleep. When you wake in the morning, remind
yourself that you are going to get through this day, too, without smoking. Don't make a big
issue of it; just briefly say: "This day I don't smoke". Even if you don't follow the other rules set
down here, this exercise in "controlled sleep" could get you over the hump. You will find a
sense of freedom and independence and self-assurance results from simply going half a day
without tobacco. This is a sharp, continuing pleasure, and every minute helps to strengthen
you against the next minute's temptation. Above and beyond this pleasant, heartening
knowledge is the awareness that you are doing something of which you will be proud -- not to
mention healthier and happier -- for the rest of your life. Six months or six years from now,
when someone offers you a cigarette, you will refuse it, but not weakly or defensively. You
will say "Thanks -- I use to smoke, but I gave it up.".
5. Expense: If a man smokes two packs of cigarettes a day for 365 days it will cost him $290.00 a year!
Quit smoking and automatically you save money, remain healthy, and start winning pistol matches.
This is a bargain you can't afford to overlook.
E. DRUGS
At one time or another some shooters have probably tried a sedative drug or tranquilizer to see what
effects it would have on their shooting. Drugs affect different people in different ways, so dosage would
be a problem even if they did any good toward reducing anxiety, nervousness, etc. Any time medication
or drugs are used that affect the body functions, there is a chance that the side effects will do more harm
than good to the shooter's performance.
Some shooters no doubt prescribe certain remedies for themselves when they have a cold, a stopped-up
nose or a headache. Here are some of the effects of the drugs found in these and other preparations.
Most of the effects are not conductive to good shooting. Most drugs are habit forming and all are a
deterrent to good health if used frequently without proper medical advice. There is not substitute for good
clean living, a healthy body and just plain GUTS!
1. A depressant slows reflexes, lessens the desire to win, promotes carelessness, causes loss of
concentration and coordination.
2. A stimulant causes nervousness, hypertension, increases heartbeat, excessive movement of the
hands, trembling, etc.
3. Drugs in daily use.
a. Barbiturates. (To induce rest and sleep)
Phenobarbital has special effects against insomnia. Continued use increases tolerance and leads to
dependence. Acute anxiety may result if the drug is abruptly discontinued after long use. Alcoholics
substitute barbiturates for alcohol and become just as devoted to it. Even after moderate doses,
lassitude, dizziness, headache, nausea and diarrhea may occur. Other toxic effects are respiratory
depressions peripheral vascular collapse, feeble heart beat, low body temperature and continued
stupor with depressed reflexes.
b. Analgesic (Pain relief and reduction of symptomatic discomfort)
Aspirin - acetylsalicylic acid (relief of headache, fever and other symptomatic discomfort).
Gastrointestinal distress due to irritation is common. Continued dosage symptoms same as
quinine (Cinchonism): Dizziness, ringing in ears, impaired hearing, acidosis and depressed blood
clotting mechanism.
c. Stimulants or adrenergics (Relief from drowsiness, depression, curbing the appetite and relief
from nasal congestion. )
Benzedrine, amphetamine and ephedrine elevate blood pressure, accelerate the heart beat,
causes headaches, nervousness, insomnia and spasms of the urinary bladder's sphincter.
(Muscular control that permits urination)
d. Antihistamines (Relief of colds and fever and relief or prevention of allergy symptoms)
Exerts a potent sedative effect. There is a danger of toxic action, especially drowsiness. A form of
antihistamine namely, methapyrilene, is used for sedative purposes. Used in conjunction with
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