quit smoking and starting Dr Atkins diet
 

:wave: Hi I just signed up today after reading some of the questions in this forum for the last week. I too will be starting Dr.Atkins diet on Monday. A little (alot) scared because I have quit smoking, this is my 4th week now. I have been taking zyban and it has helped. One thing I have done is when I would have a craving I would take a sucker and go outside. Just like I was smoking. The hand and mouth motion seemed to help. One thing I'm worried about starting this diet on Monday. Is that you can't have any sugar. :( Does any one have any suggestion on what I could be doing instead of grabbing a sucker? Sure drink some water but any thing else.

Congratulations on quitting smoking!

How about a cinnamon stick or a stalk of celery?

Karen

Got any more ideas
 

Thanks for the ideas but I'm not really big on celery but I'll try the cinnamon sticks. Got any other ideas? Any one? :idea:

Not really...
 

I just wanted to pop in and say hello and welcome! I quit smoking 4 months ago. There is a ton of support here, so you have come to the right place! I hope all goes well for you.

I can't answer your question, because when I quit, I made a conscious effort to not replace it with anything else. I just wanted to make a clean break. I like the cinnamon stick idea. I have recently started taking a cup of coffee outside, just because I have realised that I don't take coffee breaks at work anymore. Why would I? I don't need a smoke! So that's what I do now. I don't know if you plan on going off coffee as part of the new way of eating or not. I opted to keep my coffee, but that's a decision that you will make for yourself.


Anyway, take care and if we can help, just holler!!

Congratulations on your decision to quit smoking and start Atkins. I am a 6 week quiter myself and what has helped me is coffee stirrers. I chewed on those things for weeks, no calories, no carbs. Try it and see. And good luck to you, you can do it. We are all here to help :wave:

I'll have to try
 

I'll have to try those coffee stirrers. I know when you have a drink with straws I tend to chew those. Thanks. :D
Good for you Dizzyd on your 4 months quitting smoking :D . I know Dizzyd I shouldnt have started on the suckers. But I did try last year to quit and that didn't go well. I think it's all has to do with the hand and motion. Thanks again all you internet buds. :spin:

I think that is great that you all quit smoking. i will be starting that struggle soon, but have been doing atkins for the past three months, and am afraid to gain the wieght back if I quit. Any suggestions???? :confused:

Try this
 

Welcome, :wave: I just started this forum a few weeks my self. This is a great place for support. :D On Monday (July 8) will be my 8th week as a non smoker. Sure there is times I miss it. I changed my routine. If I'm craving a smoke I'll sometimes take a stick of gum(I know some gum can be 1 grams of carb :( .) Some time just taking a drink of water or going for a walk. Every one is different.
I'll tell you what I do I take a deep breath like first taking a drag of a cig. (in hale xhale) Then a piece of gum goes straight to my mouth. Before going on Dr. Atkins diet I used to have a sucker and go outsite (I didnt allow smoking in the house.) I think it was the hand and mouth motion. IT HELPED. Even when the phoned rang I would take the cordless and a sucker and head outside. It's all a habit. So you need to change those routine. I always find first thing in the morning is tough.( Thats when I really enjoyed my smokes.) So now I go to the computer read my mail. I forget about having that morning cig.
I'm also on Zyban. That REALLY helped too. Maybe think about that also. Just go the your doctor and ask about Zyban.
I hope these ideas helped you on trying to quit smoking.

These are great ideas. I will be trying soon :rolleyes:
Does the Zyban not effect the Atkins program, due to it being an anti depressant? I tried the generic brand, Wellbutrin when I first started Atkins and cound not reach my ketosis, so I thought the rx had something to do with it, as soon as I stopped, within a week I hit ketosis. Any thoughts on that?? :q: :q:

Hi, :wave: I just started Dr. Atkins diet and tomorrow will be two week. I have lost 6 lbs in those two weeks. I throught I would try the Dr. Atkins even when I'm on the Zyban. I only have 2 1/2 more weeks of zyban and then I'm on my own. Maybe I will lost more weight I feel I didnt lose that much weight in those 2 weeks.
I have a few friends that have said I looked like I have lose a lot more then 6 lbs. Maybe it's inches I have lost?
I have been using those ketostix and just did it now and it was purple. Not the darkest purple, the one below it. So I guess I am losting fat.
If you decide to go on Zyban take it 8 hours a part. One in the morning and one at supper. Take it with food. Last year when I was taking it. After 3 weeks I had to quit. I was feeling sick to my stomach. This time I told the druggest and she told be some medication should be taken with food and to take it aleast eight hours apart. This time I never felt sick to my stomach.
So what ever you do, take one day at a time. Remember smoking is NO GOOD and the PRICE. :D

Thanks for the advice.... I think I will try the Zyban again. I have lost 30 pounds in four months, but I am still not there yet, so I am leary on trying to quit smoking yet.
I will get ready soon, thanks... gotta go.

You really need
 

Hi :wave: Congrad... :D for losing 30 lbs.
You REALLY need to have your mind set to quit. Other wise I believe you may not successed. :(
For my self I had to quit so it was a little easier.
I had tried quiting many times on my own, without any aid. I believe Zyban really works wonders. I know many people who use Zyban and it worked for them.
So when the time comes have that willpower, you can do it.
P.S . It also helps when there is no one else in your home smokes. If there is get them to quit at the same time as you.
Good luck.

Congrats to everyone for quitting smoking, or even thinking about it!

I quit on May 26! Yipee! Hubby had quit a week earlier. I am now in my 4th week of Atkins. Three weeks after quitting, I had gained 5 pounds! Yikes!

Somehow, I was able to quit cold turkey. The funniest thing has kept me smoke free...I like the way that I smell now! I put on my perfume every morning! It's nice to be able to hug people and not be embarrassed about smelling like an ashtray!

So anyway, having the will power to quit smoking has given me the strength to stay on Atkins!

Good Luck everyone! You can do it!


:cheer:

Good work!
 

Congrads :D on doing both. I am also on Atkins it only been 4 weeks. I too tend to go up and down on the scale. I'm in my 9th week of quiting smoking and I have notice I smell things that I had never seem to smell. :cool: I mean my sense of smell have gotten stronger. Now I also really notice how people smell after they had a cig. Yike (did I smell like that?)
Good luck to you all.
Remember take it one day at a time. We can do it. :spin:

Congratulations on those great quits! I quit July 12, 2001. I just celebrated one whole year quit, and does that feel good! I had never been able to quit before in all my 49 years, and I started smoking when I was only 12.

When I first quit, I put on 20 pounds. That eventually came off, but I was already heavy when I stopped smoking. I admire your ability to quit smoking AND diet. I could never have done it. I ate so many Tootsie pops I should have bought stock in the company :) But I still think that it should be easier to lose these 50 or so pounds than it was to quit smoking, so I am finally ready to tackle that.

There was a fantastic website that I used for support when I quit that helped tremendously. I still drop by! It is called http://quitnet.com, and it is very similar to this site.

Hi :wave: WOW one year as a non smoker. Good for you, I'm sure it feels good to be a non smoker. I signed up to this forum and been doing Dr. Atkins diet for a 4 weeks now and been on a stall. I think it all the sugar free gum and no sugar/ no fat jello and drinks. I going to cut those things out of my routine. I found that if I was craving a smoke and piece of gum was going in my mouth I'll have to change my habit. I took at look at the quitnet site. I roamed around there for abit. I was thinking may be this and that forum could help me with those habits I have. And continue with me being a non smoker. :D

I'm glad you checked out Quitnet. I love that site!!! I am "sandybeach" over there. I know what you mean about the gum. I think I was chewing gum for about 8 months. After I stopped using Nicorette gum I switched to plain gum, then gradually lost interest in it. If you need to chew gum, chew gum. You can't do everything at once, I wouldn't worry about stalling. Your metabolism slows down from quitting smoking. But think how healthy your lungs are getting!!!!! That is so fantastic. And the fact you are doing Atkins too is double fantastic.

I quit smoking on July 1st with the aid of Nicoderm patches, 14 mg. I started Atkins on August 12, after a 10 lb weight gain. I was starting my first week of the last stage of the patch, 7 mgs. I used them for three days only as I found that once I started low carbing my cravings didn't seem as bad. I wonder if it has something to do with more even blood sugar levels. Anyway, I am still smoke free and have lost 12 lbs. Whenever I feel like "just one puff" (hubby smokes), I just remember how good it feels to run 2 or 3 miles every morning, something I couldn't do when I was smoking. Although my family thinks I'm going through some midlife crisis with all the drastic changes, and maybe I am, but I feel better than ever. I really do believe low carbing has a possitive effect on cravings for nicotine.

I didn't realize there was a forum for quitting smoking and carbing, just found it today. It's nice to know there is so much support.

Hi :wave: Welcome, it's nice to hear you have lost weight and quit smoking :D . I'm sure having a hard time losing weight I only lost 10 pounds. But I have been jumping off the wagon and then back on. During the summer months is really bad for me :( . All those BBQ/pot luck dinner. (this month was really awful) Will this Monday I'm back on doing Dr. Atkins again.
I joined the gym also. This Monday will be one month (measuring and weight in on Monday, I wonder if I lose any thing) :D
I did have people tell me after you quit smoking your metabolism slows down. So I quess I could say I have lost 10lbs instead of gaining like most people do.
Keep up the good up. :D

EzasPie.... thanks for the info, it is very inserpational. I am trying to get the courage to quit smoking, but have just lost almost 40lbs ,and am very afraid. But the way you descibed your "route" makes sense, and I think I am going to get readdy to give it a try. Did you set a date for big day of non smoking?? :wave:

Hi Spazz,
I think your fears are well justified!!! It is so scary to quit smoking!!!

I quit 14 months ago. I messed around with trying to quit for a couple of months before I actually quit. I was VERY frustrated because I had gained weight. My doctor suggested I take Wellbutrin or Zyban, and that should stop the weight gain. Well it worked for me. I also used the patch when I needed it, and the Nicorette gum, 2 mg., orange flavor if I was having really bad cravings. I didn't know you could use the patch AND Nicorette, but I found out you could on Quitnet.

I don't really think about smoking anymore, it is almost as if I had never smoked. If you look at Lilwannabe's journal, she quit about a month ago, and is STILL losing weight!!!

Sandy
Good luck!!!

HI Spazz:

I did set a quit day of July 1st. I had days were I'd sneak a puff over the first four weeks. But it seemed that when I started on Atkins I didn't have the same craving for them. I decided to do induction and then get back to the gym and I have lost 12 lbs which is about what I gained in two months. Now I'm working on toning up and getting fit.

I think if you try to quit and you are on a low carb WOE you won't gain weight. You may stall as I have heard that when you quit smoking your metabolism changes. But even if you gain a little back, you can get more active because you'll be able to breathe better and then your workouts will be more productive. I gained 10 lbs and I didn't eat more when I quit but I was eating more sweet things because they tasted much better to me. If you are low carbing you likely don't have bad sugar cravings. Wow you've lost 40 lbs so I'd assume that you have very few sugar cravings. Give it a try it's a good feeling to feel in control of what you put in your body. You're already in control of your eating. Talk to your doctor about the different means of quitting. My doctor was very supportive. Good luck
:roll:

I too quit smoking 6 weeks ago. Although I've put on maybe 7 or 8 pounds, I also starting running/jogging. To be truthful, it's almost become an obsession, but I feel great! However, can anyone tell me if they experienced a problem with acne a week or two after quitting, at my age it's quite a problem.

Hi Constance,
They're called quitzits! I never got em but I heard people talking about them on the quit smoking site I go to.
Sandy

I didn't quit I STOPPED for 5 years so far.

Fred :wave:

Thought I was the only one that quit smoking and started Atkins. Have a good tip for your problem -- a straw! Cut to the size of a cigarette and puff away. I keep one in my car and a couple in the kitchen for after meals. It has really helped -- good luck.
Donna

fantastic sugesstion about the straw Donna Jo I'm going to give it a go !!1

:daze: That sounds like the healthiest option.... Thanks Donna Jo. I still have not attempted to quit smoking again, but I have maintained my 45 pound weight loss for nearly one year now, so that is just the next step in my lifestyle change. :p

Congratulations on your weight loss, Spazz33. Was it all on Atkins? But since you checked out this forum, you must still be pretty interested in quitting smoking. I started diet/quit smoking last week simultaneously and crazy as it sounds, has thus far worked out pretty well. So busy concentrating on Atkins, I kind of forget about missing cigarettes. And drinking ALOT of water helps. Gets the toxins out of your system faster and lessens withdrawal. I know I won't lose as quickly due to metabolism slowdown, but at least I'm not gaining. Good luck. :daze:
Donna

Hi all,

Thought I'd throw in my 2 cents here - I quit smoking/started Atkins on Jan 2 (ah, those New Years resolutions!). Both have gone very well. I've lost 8 pounds (not a lot, but it's going in the right direction :thup: ) and have been totally smokefree. A few thoughts from my experience:

1 I think lo-carbing makes quitting smoking easier. No more carb highs followed by cravings. I really feel like everything has evened out.

2. I'm using a nicotine patch. Started out with 4 weeks on the medium level (2); following with 4 weeks on low (1). When I have had a strong urge to smoke - and this has happened only a few times - I'll chew a piece of nicotine gum. That takes care of it.

3. I've been reading about ongoing nicotine replacement therapy, and am remain open to the possibility that this may be a permanent way of life for me. There has been little to no research regarding this, but the medical community does agree that the health risks of smoking come from the smoke, not the nicotine. So - I may always have some gum in my purse, or a patch on my arm. But never again a cigarette in my mouth!!!

Good luck to all of you - nothing feels better than to take control of what you put into your body.

Pat