I quit smoking and I feel weird...

[camera]

A few weeks ago I was sick with the flu & a cold. Terrible time it was, couldn't eat, couldn't stay awake, and couldn't smoke. So I stopped smoking. I figure I was so sick that my withdrawal (I had been smoking since I was 19 and I'm 29 now) probably occured but I was asleep most of the time and numbed by Nyquil and thank the heavens for that! lol

I got better... and I tried smoking (I was not ready to quit) and couldn't. I tried about 6 times - each time putting the cigarette out after one attempted inhale/puff. I have the same pack of cigarettes from two weeks ago sitting in my car as "emergency", untouched, unsmoked.

It's great... I'm happy I don't need to smoke.... really... but I feel odd. I can't explain it... I feel like I'm missing something. I am certainly eating more, bc I have nothing better to do with my hands and mouth! Does anyone have any advise for that?

I'm so glad I am on Atkins, getting healthier, and now not-smoking. But something just isn't right. Maybe I need a lollipop?

[Desertthorn]

Camera, I started smoking when I was 15 and continued for the next 30 years and I can really relate about that habit. Your looking for something to do with your hands and mouth also. If necessary sick a toothpick in your mouth and worry beads for your hands. LOL
I am really glad that you quit. You will not be sorry and your pocket book will love you also.

[Peterlock]

Hi Camera, :wave

After smoking between 2-3 packs of cigarettes a day for the past 25 years, this past Friday at 7:30 AM I smoked my last one, threw out cartons of cigarettes in my freezer and every ashtray in the house.

The withdrawal is pretty terrible, that odd, misplaced kind of surreal feeling you're experiencing is your bodys reaction to being deprived of Nicotine, you're in withdrawal.

Spend a few minutes on the site I'm going to suggest to you and then do yourself a favor, go down you your car and throw away that pack of smokes. Keeping them there is the equivalent of an alcoholic keeping a bottle of Vodka in the glove compartment - what's the point?

when you have your drug of choice so accessible and so handy your chances of success are slim. And this fight is hard enough without the added triggers and temptations.

Here's the link:

https://www.whyquit.com

I wish you - and myself! All the luck in the world. Keep us posted as to how you are doing - now check out that site.

Peter ha

[ravenfan]

Hey there,
I have decided to quit smoking as well (as of yesterday). I don't smoke much, but I have decided to stop for good. I started at 18 and am now 29. I quit while preggo, but smoked at all other times. I know what you mean about feeling weird. I think it's just that I need to do something with my hands, I'm so used to it, that by not smoking, I'm "not feeling normal". Also, in the last two months I have given up coffee, ciggies and alcohol. That's alot to do and for sure we won't feel "right" for awhile. Atkins is helping me rid myself of my addictions and for that I am grateful. Just keep up saying no, I will as well. You can pm me anytime, maybe we could give each other support. Good luck.
Kim

[Peterlock]

Hi Kim! :wave

That's great news! tomorrow will be 6 days for me without a cigarette...hard to believe ..for me anyway,

Remember smoking isn't cumulative so it doesn't matter how much you smoke two cigarettes a day could wreck more havoc on your health and someone exactly your age, height, weight etc. etc. etc. who smokes 5 packs a day.

Lite cigarettes are even worse because so many studies have proven that smokers of lites pull the smoke much deeper into their lungs. No matter we look at it's not good - what definitely is good is you've quit! and with absolute sincerity I wish you all the luck in the world..I hope none of us ever takes another puff again.

Peter ha

[spydergrl80]

I don't know if you do any kind of crafty stuff, but what helped me the most was knitting, cross stitching, or crocheting and chewing gum. AS silly as that sounds, it worked (along with Wellbutrin). The knitting was great, since I had to use both hands...I got all my Christmas gifts made that year too. Another good one that I've heard is origami, which I am also a big fan of.

[goin2Bgood]

I've never been much of a toothpick person but I found out I love these. I found mine in a local health food store: Simply Australian Toothpicks/Chewing Sticks (there's even reviews at the bottom of the page lol)

[camera]

I don't know if you do any kind of crafty stuff, but what helped me the most was knitting, cross stitching, or crocheting and chewing gum. AS silly as that sounds, it worked (along with Wellbutrin). The knitting was great, since I had to use both hands...I got all my Christmas gifts made that year too. Another good one that I've heard is origami, which I am also a big fan of.

Hi spydergirl80 I can crochet (uh... like... beginner level, lol), want to learn how to do more than make simple scarves, lol. That's a brilliant idea.... in fact last night, I took the money I would have spent for the week on cigarettes, and spent it in a giant craft store. I bought card stock and embossing tools, embellishments, paint... you name it... crafty stuff to keep me busy (that i can also sell too!). And the best thing about the crafts I'll be working on now is that they won't smell like smoke

I saw origami kits... considered them, but I have to wait til next payday to buy the one I saw. It looked pretty cool!
Definately gonna check those out.

What does the Wellbutrin do for you? My fiance is on Zyban (basically same thing) and he's really edgy.

[camera]

Camera, I started smoking when I was 15 and continued for the next 30 years and I can really relate about that habit. Your looking for something to do with your hands and mouth also. If necessary sick a toothpick in your mouth and worry beads for your hands. LOL
I am really glad that you quit. You will not be sorry and your pocket book will love you also.

Hi Desertthorn Thanks for the suggestion! I don't have any worry beads (fab idea tho!) but I did manage to find some Tangles (www.tangletoys.com) in my desk drawer (don't ask lol), they're doin' the trick!

[camera]

Here's the link:

https://www.whyquit.com

I wish you - and myself! All the luck in the world. Keep us posted as to how you are doing - now check out that site.

Peter ha

Hi Peter
I saw that link in one of your posts yesterday and checked it out... pretty disturbing... I still haven't explored every bit of the site yet.. there's so much there.

I'm gonna pitch the cigarettes on my lunch break today. Thanks for the inspiration

[camera]

Hey there,
I have decided to quit smoking as well (as of yesterday). I don't smoke much, but I have decided to stop for good. I started at 18 and am now 29. I quit while preggo, but smoked at all other times. I know what you mean about feeling weird. I think it's just that I need to do something with my hands, I'm so used to it, that by not smoking, I'm "not feeling normal". Also, in the last two months I have given up coffee, ciggies and alcohol. That's alot to do and for sure we won't feel "right" for awhile. Atkins is helping me rid myself of my addictions and for that I am grateful. Just keep up saying no, I will as well. You can pm me anytime, maybe we could give each other support. Good luck.
Kim

Hey Kim
That's great! You can do it!
How'd you cut coffee? I cut out caffeine... I drink decaf now... I just love the taste...
By default I've cut out alcohol as well simply cus I can't have it on this WOE right now, I wasn't much of a drinker anyway, but gosh what I wouldn't give for a bloody mary right now lol.
That's what I like about Atkins... it's given me so much willpower. I know that if I'm able to avoid macaroni & cheese (my absolute favorite food) and italian bread (my second fav) I can do anything, lol.
I am so much stronger, stronger than I've ever been in my life because of this.

My only real issue the past few days with no smoking is there are moments where I feel absolutely blank... time is blank... life is blank... moments where usually I'd be smoking.... it's empty time, I don't know what to do with myself.

If you need any support let me know, I know I will probly need some too, especially since everyone I work with 8 hours a day smokes and right now on break time I'm sitting here typing to keep busy instead lol!

[camera]

I've never been much of a toothpick person but I found out I love these. I found mine in a local health food store: Simply Australian Toothpicks/Chewing Sticks (there's even reviews at the bottom of the page lol)

Those look interesting... I'm not into toothpicks either but at this point maybe I have to be. Thanks for the link

[ravenfan]

camera,
I switched to decaf, but I sure do miss my caffeine. I wasn't much of a drinker, but I (was) really into drinking good wine and would try different ones out all the time. My family is in the wine business, so that is really tough. For me Atkins is about the only way I could quit smoking, drinking and eating crappy food all in one. The other way was being pregnant, but we know that's only for 9 months. I'm in for the long haul though, and will likely be posting on this board much more. I have a huge problem with everyone around me smoking as well. I don't know one person who doesn't smoke that I am close to. Oh well, I will succeed! And you will too! I have never felf so in control in my life, it's so great. Good luck, and hope to see ya around.
Kim

[camera]

camera,
I switched to decaf, but I sure do miss my caffeine. I wasn't much of a drinker, but I (was) really into drinking good wine and would try different ones out all the time. My family is in the wine business, so that is really tough. For me Atkins is about the only way I could quit smoking, drinking and eating crappy food all in one. The other way was being pregnant, but we know that's only for 9 months. I'm in for the long haul though, and will likely be posting on this board much more. I have a huge problem with everyone around me smoking as well. I don't know one person who doesn't smoke that I am close to. Oh well, I will succeed! And you will too! I have never felf so in control in my life, it's so great. Good luck, and hope to see ya around.
Kim

Kim, I hear you on tasting good wine... I sure do miss that. I did find some low-carb wine, One.9 Merlot and One.6 Chardonnay .... I picked up a bottle of each a few weeks ago, I haven't opened them yet because I'm staying on induction, etc., also there is no nutritional info on the bottles... obviously they claim they're 1.6 & 1.9 carbs but I don't know how accurate that is... because sometimes you see things like 4 carbs but they're all sugar, plus they have added sugar, etc. I emailed the makers of the wine but they never got back to me. Grrr. So I don't trust them at all.

Smokers now smell to me. I think it's so disgusting to walk by the public ashtray outside at work, and when people come inside from smoking it's especially rough on the nose. I can't believe I smelled like that. It's embarrassing in retrospect.

So, cheers, a toast, with uh, a glass of water, to ours, and everyone else's many successes with this WOL!

[ravenfan]

camera,
Being in the wine business I know that the 1.6 chard, and 1.9 merlot is correct, but I think it's for 5 oz. or something. Here in Md. at least, they are discontinuing those products. I am not sure about other states. I don't think they did very well because chardonnay, merlot and cabernet, red zinfandel, and other dry wines are all naturally low in carbs. I don't know exactly how much, and it never lists in on the bottle, but the winery should have the info. I think it's around 2 or 3 carbs per 5 oz. Not very much. When I quit smoking when I was pregnant, my sense of smell returned very quickly like yours. I am starting to feel that way now, and it's only been 3 days. I feel pretty good so far, only a few cravings. I am afraid when I do start introducing back alcohol, I will crave ciggies even more. Have to be prepared for that. Have a good one!