Hi Deba,

yes on the website I gave you there on the left hand side you can download this quit meter...it keeps track of those statistic's:)
I am glad you are hanging in there, trust me it will get better. I just broke my 3 week water bloat from the nicotine withdrawal and my weight loss is started again. See I still have a junk to lose and really did not want to gain weight either :p

Proud of you..if you need advise or just have to whine, visit me in my journal.

Mischa

Thanks, Mischa! And it's great and encouraging to hear that it only took your bod 3 weeks to start getting back to normal. I've had quite a time of it this past 7 days and I really appreciate your help. A few days ago I was real weepy and emotional. I haven't been able to work out in two weeks because I've had the flu - I thought I'd kick the nicotine last week while I was feeling pretty bad any way, not to mention it was my New Year resolution. I went back to the gym yesterday and today and I feel soooo much better - working out has always been one of my favorite stress relievers (besides smoking!). I have really enjoyed the website you turned me on to - I'm learning so much from reading all the articles. I just can't believe what nicotine has done to me!!!

Thanks again for your input. I tried to go to your journal, but I wasn't allowed in for some reason.

I hope you're having a great day.

Debra

P.S. Do you know anything about Malitol? Is it another sugar product?

Hi Debra,

I am glad you are doing fine and that the website is helping you to cope with the withdrawal. Just hang in there...it will get better. I have hardly any withdrawals anymore..just a few seconds a day I still think of my old habit.

Re. Malitol

Malitol is a member of a family of bulk sweeteners known as polyols or sugar alcohols. It has a pleasant sweet taste - remarkably similar to sucrose. Malitol is about 90% as sweet as sugar, non-cariogenic, and significantly reduced in calories. Malitol is especially useful in the production of sweets, including sugarless hard candies, chewing gum, chocolates, baked goods and ice cream." --Calorie Control Council"Useful in the Diets of People with Diabetes - Control of blood glucose, lipids and weight are the three major goals of diabetes management today. Malitol is slowly absorbed. Therefore, when malitol is used, the rise in blood glucose and the insulin response associated with the ingestion of glucose is significantly reduced. The reduced caloric value of malitol (2.1 calories per gram versus 4.0 for sugar) is consistent with the objective of weight control. Products sweetened with malitol in place of sugar may be useful in providing a wider variety of reduced-calorie and sugar-free choices to people with diabetes.

Just be aware that too much may give you an upset stomach and diarrhea.

Mischa

Wow, what a great site! I came here because I just started the Atkins diet and found this section of the forums.
I quit smoking two years ago yesterday using the gum. I went from the gum to regular gum (Extra, bubble gum flavor). I chewed like 20 pieces a day. After about 6 months I found that my toungue was very, very sore. I couldnt eat anything remotely spicey or hot. I then switched to Breathsavers and would roll them in my mouth hold them in my front teeth and whatnot to ease that anxiety type feeling. I was able to pull it off.
About a month ago I started chewing nico gum again, which it sounds like I will have to stop for the diet. Was stupid of me to start again, but I was going through kind of a down time, I guess you might say. I really like having something to suck on and found a post about cinnamon sticks, I think I will give this a try.
I smoked for 25+ years, I had asmtha as a young person and we got a cat and I found that I was asthma allergic to it. Oh, forgot, I am not known as smart :) Anyway I was waking up and hacking down a cig, it would take like half a cig before I could take a full pull, knew I had to stop. Was a great motivator, but hard on my lungs

woops, anyway I wish you all well in quitting, nicotine is a sneeky addiction. Good luck! And thanks!

Hi Ga625,

here is a good website that may help you with coping skills

http://groups.msn.com/FreedomFromTo...1st72hours.msnw

Don't start again...you made it over 2 years now.

Good luck

Mischa

Two Week Anniversary
 

Today's my two week anniversary, so thought it would be good to post my stats here: :cheer:

Time Smoke-Free: 14 days, 17 hours, 36 minutes and 53 seconds

Cigarettes NOT smoked: 589

Lifetime Saved: 4 days, 11 hours

Money Saved: £130.76


I can't believe the number of cigarettes I HAVEN'T smoked in two weeks - that number is appalling :eek: - how could I have managed to actually smoke that many before :confused:

Demi, it's shocking to see the number of cigs eh? I can not believe what I pumped into my lungs.

Demi I am so happy for you...you are doing so great. Congrats on the 2 week Anniversary :D

I am a non-smoker for: 4 Weeks 2 Hours 31 Minutes 43 Seconds
Cigarettes not smoked: 365
Money saved: C$132.45
Life saved: 2 Days 12 Hrs 53 Mins 41 Secs

Still Going Strong
 

Hi Mischa & Company,

Sorry I haven't written for a bit - I've had two major projects due and now I'm officially out of the woods. I'm happy to report that I've now been off the nicotine gum for 15 days and I'm starting to feel MUCH better. Also, I haven't gained any weight (so far - keeping my finger crossed!).

Mischa, the website you turned me on to mentioned all the withdrawal symptoms I would experience and when to expect them to lighten up. Just by reading that I would probably only have one physical craving by day 10 really helped me get through the worst of it. I have had to deal with my psychological cravings much more - I really like to reward myself after completing a project with a cig or some form of nicotine. But, after looking at that website, I'm truly convinced I can do this! Thanks so much for the info. I am also chewing TONS of "Extra" gum for now.

Also, thanks for the info on Malitol. I was very concerned that it would break down into one of those "hidden carbs" you hear about. Take care all and here's to our fantastic accomplishment with our nicotine demon!!! :wave: ;) :thup:

Deba, I am really proud of you:) Keep on reading the Freedom Website, I really find it does help and you see that you are not alone with all your withdrawals and feelings you go through. I am 1 calendar month tomorrow :)

You will do it!!!!!

Mischa

I am a non-smoker for: 4 Weeks 2 Days 5 Hours 31 Minutes 30 Seconds
Cigarettes not smoked: 392
Money saved: C$142.46
Life saved: 2 Days 17 Hrs 29 Mins 55 Secs

Just thought I would post my stats today. I'm really happy I decided to change my WOE and WOB (way of breathing)!
<IMG SRC="http://xnet2.com/quitmeter/graph.cgi?Year=2003&Month=0&Day=0&Time=6%3A08%3A26am&Zone=14&Cigarettes=25&Periodicity=1&Price=3.50&Perpack=20&Template=ELAPSED%20since%20quitting.%20CIGARETTES%20cigarettes%20not%20s moked.%20%24SAVED%20saved.&backgroundcolor=%23CAFAFB&textcolor=%23000000&fontsize=1&Transparent=&savedata="><br><font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" size="1">QuitMeter Counter courtesy of <a href="http://quitmeter.com">quitmeter.com</a>.</font>

Krista good idea...here are mine

I am a non-smoker for: 1 Month 3 Weeks 2 Days 3 Hours 42 Minutes 2 Seconds
Cigarettes not smoked: 704
Money saved: C$255.20
Life saved: 4 Days 21 Hrs 20 Mins 2 Secs

love to see this:)

Here are my stats.
Smoke fre years 6
Money saved about $9,800.00
Cigs not smoked 131,400 about give or take a couple thousand.

Fred

Smoke-free Zone
 

Yesterday was my 2 month non-smoking anniversary :yay::Party:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today's stats:
Time Smoke-Free: 60 days, 7 hours, 14 minutes and 1 second
Cigarettes NOT smoked: 2412
Lifetime Saved: 18 days, 10 hours
Money Saved: £560.40
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

January 8th 2003! I'm going to make it this time. The longest I went before was 2 months (a couple of years ago), but life happened.

I went on the patch and welbuprin for the first month. When I was ready to switch down to the 14 mg patch, I decided that I had the will power to quite. I just stopped using the patch and my welbuprin. I did have a 2 days of withdrawl but they were containable.