Yeah, but I've never heard second hand sugar linked to SIDS, asthma, increased ear infections, or other respotory ailments.

I started Zyban the same day as Atkins. About a month later I quit. It's been working ok.

quit smoking I meant.

I used that site and it's a great place for support. I also used the patch which helped. I quit for 8 months so I know I can do it again. But everyone has to be ready and do it themselves; you can't be lectured into it....that never works. Good luck to you!

No, but sugar is linked to obesity and that kills just as many; even though non-smokers do not want to believe that.

Yes, but only to those eating the sugar. Second hand smoke effects everyone around the smoker.

Nothing to add here. Great post, Frederick!!

LadyBelle,

Granted, second hand smoke at the very least is quite annoying to non-smokers in close proximity. However, there has never been solid scientific empirical data which asserts unequivocally that second hand smoke is harmful leading to the plethora of malevolent illnesses linked to it by popular assertion.

Have said that, I’m not narrow minded enough to suggest that just because there isn’t scientific proof (meaning the gold standard double blind placebo variety) doesn’t necessarily mean second smoke is purely benign. I’m merely suggesting that second hand smoke isn’t any more harmful than carbon monoxide exhaust from cars, or the variety of pollutants created by industrial plants, or even the pesticides used to mass produce vegetable fare. That being the case, why isn’t there more hoopla about people abstaining from driving? Shut down those industrial plants? Lets never use plastic or Styrofoam again?

Simple, we don’t because the majority still enjoys driving, drinking, cheap veggies, and coffee cups which doesn’t burn our fingers—and, therefore the side-effects, even if harmful, is acceptable. Smokers are the minority now, and their interests aren’t important enough to the majority to tolerate the possible side effects of their “smoking” leisure.

In my view, that’s basically it. Why don’t we berate alcohol consumption with the same vitriolic scorn, which we do with cigarette smokers in our society? Drunk drivers kill more people per year than second hand smoke every could in a 10 years even if the dubious assertions of it’s effects were somehow proven factual. Simply, the majority enjoys alcohol.

As Churchill said, “Democracy is the worst government imaginable, but it’s the best we have.” Too true, and for the minority, majority rules really sucks!

With kindest regards,

Frederick

To take things back to the original topic...

I've been low carbing for almost a full year. I quit smoking 6 months ago. My weight loss stopped entirely despite not changing my calorie intake or my exercise output. I've lost a grand total of 7lbs in the last 6 months, compared to 32lbs in the first 6 months.

I had a couple of packs of cigarettes over the last week, and 5 of those 7lbs walked out the door.

I'm not going to say it's good for anyone, or that I recommend it, in fact I quit 'again' this morning.. but that's what my experience with smoking and low carbing has been.

I used to smoke and still lost weight on the atkins diet. But, then I had to give up smoking, this thought terrified me, what if all the good work I had done was about to go down the swanney river lol.

Much to my suprise and delight, the atkins actually made it easier to give up smoking, simply because of the things I was able to snack on without putting on weight. Admittedly the first day of giving up Atkins fell by the wayside, just due to the stress, but the way I felt the next day, pushed me back on to the atkins.

I have never felt so good or so smug lol. I still haven't dared weighed myself just in case, but I am now fitting in to size 16 (12 US) which I wasn't before I gave up smoking, so at least I still know that I am shaping up, even if I feel like I have put on a pound or two, which is really odd lol.

But smoking doesn't effect the WOE or at least I don't think it does...BUT in one of Dr Atkins books,the age defying diet and the vita nutrient supplement book, he tells you all the bad things smoking does do, especially with the ageing process. SO if you want to look and feel younger longer give up the dreaded weed.

Oh hark ye miss ex smoker lol. I promised not to beo ne of those born again non smokers lol, kicks myself up the derriere.

Have a great day

Suzanne

Being a smoker, I think it is like any other habit that you are trying to break..one day at a time..but to all of you I am proud of everyone...even if you smoke or do not smoke just the fact that we all are trying to focus on losing weight..That is one HUGE STEP and I think that huge step may lead to other HUGE STEPS!

BEST OF LUCK TO EVERYONE..AND THAX FOR THE ADVICE.. I think a lot of people are dealing w/ the same issues I face almost daily.

Thanks for an excellent thread.
I think the original question was, does smoking interfere with weight loss. I think that we have anecdotal evidence that it does not.
Along the way we have explored some social issues! Fred is right, there is no real evidence that second hand smoke is causing cancer. I saw a 20/20 recently that explored that topic, and it is true. The argument has hung on the hinge of a discredited study.
Here in NYC, in Harlem specifically, they found one third of the children have asthma. Cause? Environment. I wish we were as passionate about environmental issues, as we are about smoking. Whats killing those kids are the toxins all around us, air and water, these things are killing us, but like the 90% of big fish missing from the ocean, they get little attention. The cost of Americans being overweight is far higher to each of us than smoking is. Again, there are no concrete steps taken by public interest groups or the industies fueling this obesity problem, thats why what Atkins has done is so right on. I wish he had lived to write his next book about the national epedemic of dia-besity.
We are all focusing on getting to a weight loss goal here. That step alone is an incredible one to make and our success average is expected to be about the same as someone quitting smoking, so we need to be strong for one another on that topic alone.
That said, I hope we get that national campaign to ban sugar going!

Fairchild, I agree with your first post that obesity causes more problems than smoking and apparently the insurance companies agree with you, too!!! Just before I started low carbing, I was looking at life insurance. Did you know that I could not get a quote unless I weighed less than 200 lbs??? There was a special number to call to speak with a "special services representative" to talk about life insurance for those who are obese.

Funny, though...when I put in 199 lbs. and that I smoked, the quote popped right up. I tried it without smoking at 199 lbs. as well, and while the quote was for less money each month, it wasn't a prohibitive difference. What I got from that whole thing was that insurance companies would rather insure a smoker than someone who is obese. Kinda makes you think, huh?

Anyway...I will be kicking the habit again. And yes, while I don't smoke I can preach with the rest of the reformed smokers, but then again...once a smoker, always a smoker in that you always have to watch yourself to make sure you don't start back again. My hubby quit for 8 years and started back. He's now been off them again for almost two years, but he knows the craving will never completely go away.


L

I guess what they say is true, there's nothing worse than a reformed smoker

Anyhow, I am a smoker and I haven't noticed any slow downs because of it, I think my rate of loss has been excellent. I'll focus on quitting the cigs later, if I choose to.

I really take offense at the implications that I'm some kind of nut because I am so anti-tobacco. I recently lost my dearest nephew to cancer of the mouth and throat. (He was only 24) I guess I am a little closer to that reality than some of you. Hope it never happens to you or yours.