Why do I feel so tired?

[jaimejo]

This is week 4 that I have been trying to quit smoking. I've also been going to Curves 3 times per week and have been doing fairly well on my low carbing. The first week or so, I felt great and energized. This past week, however, I have been feeling very tired. Has anyone else experienced this? I've read that your metabolism slows down when you quit smoking. Is this true and could this be contributing to my feeling so sleeeeppppyy all the time? :o If so, when will I start feeling energized again and when will my metabolism be normal again?

[LUVTRISH]

i do smoke too and its hard to quit. Did you quit already.. You're tired maybe you're not eating enough, not sleeping enough and are u taking any vitamins/// not to mention that you exercise..

[jaimejo]

i do smoke too and its hard to quit. Did you quit already.. You're tired maybe you're not eating enough, not sleeping enough and are u taking any vitamins/// not to mention that you exercise..

Luvtrish, Yesterday started my 4th week of quitting. I have been on the patch the entire time. I've had a couple of "slip-ups" but that's it. For the most part, I went from smoking about a pack a day to slipping up and having 1 cigarette every now and then. I take it day by day and it's getting easier everyday to go without smoking. I'm definitely eating enough and have been low carbing for 2 years now. I joined Curves 3 weeks ago so I have been going there 3 times a week. I also normally get 7-8 hours of sleep a night, so I think I am getting plently of rest. I guess my main question was this:

Am I feeling tired because of the patch, quitting smoking, in general, after smoking for so many years, or might it have something to do with my metabolism. The reason I ask this is because I heard that your metabolism goes a bit out of whack after quitting smoking and I was wondering if a slower metabolism and feeling tired might be related? If so, how long before I am feeling like myself again?

[LUVTRISH]

You go research about the effects of quitting smoking. I really dont know a lot about it. I did quit a year ago for 3 months and i didn't feel any difference. I felt like my skin was a little bit clearer.
yOU SHOUld be proud of yourself for quitting almost 3 weeks? wow.. i wish i could do the same thing.. Is the patch expensive?

be strong and stop smoking
goodluck!

[missbitty]

Hi Jaimejo-

Congrats on quitting! I'm glad you're trying so hard. I quit on Nov. 29 and I was a 1 1/2 pack a day smoker. I only quit one other time- last Nov for 40 days. Your fatigue is perfectly normal. I slept all the time at first and then was generally just un-energetic for some time after I quit-probably about a month or so. I remember having to really force myself to get ready for a Christmas dinner party. It was so hard to get the energy to decorate the house and clean & cook- something I normally really enjoy. It did pass and I'm back to feeling energetic. I was sort of low-grade depressed & really tempermental, too. That passes, too. If there's such thing as "induction flu," believe me there's definately the "quit smoking flu". Hang in there & try out www.quitnet.com. LOads of friendly supportive people that are great inspiration.

[jaimejo]

yOU SHOUld be proud of yourself for quitting almost 3 weeks? wow.. i wish i could do the same thing.. Is the patch expensive?

Thanks Luvtrish. I'm feeling very good about quitting. Sunday will be the end of 1 month! I take it day by day. I don't think about yesterday if I smoked a cigarette, and I don't stress myself out thinking about tomorrow and how I might have to handle a situation with a cigarette. It's working well for me.

The patch has really taken the edge off (at least I think it has. I feel very calm, but DH thinks I'm very cranky?) I buy the Nicoderm Patch at Super Walmart for 38.00 (this is for the 14 day supply of Step 1). I did, however, see an off brand in Rite Aid for 23.00, but I just don't know if I trust it. So, I'm spending the extra money on the Nicoderm because I've heard so much about it.

If you decide to quit again, let me know. It really helps to have someone to talk to when you get the urge for a smoke.

Your fatigue is perfectly normal.

Missbitty, thanks for the encouragement about the fatigue. I knew it had to do with quitting smoking, quitting drinking alcohol, and quitting drinking caffeine, joining a gym, and keeping up with my family's extracurricular activities, but I was wondering if my metabolism was going a little whacky and if this also causes fatigue. I've been trying to read more about metabolism and see what I can find out. I'm definitely looking forward to my body adjusting and getting back to feeling like my energetic self. :)

Thanks again! :)

[coasterrr]

Hello Jaimejo,
Well I have gone 3 weeks and a bit without a smoke, and too have been feeling tired. I see you posted this in 2005, hopefully you are still smoke free, did things improve with regard to the energy levels?
Thanks,
coasterrr