Too much at once?
 

Hi everyone :) I just happened upon this website a few days ago and really liked it so I thought I would join. Please have patience while I learn the 'ins and outs! So I was a full-time smoker for about 9 years until 3 weeks ago when I had to have an emergency appendectomy..I was in hospital for 5 days and did not have or think of having a smoke. Once home, it was too painful to move about and go outside for a smoke (never smoked in the house) so I was on week 2 smoke free. Interestingly, my average of 5 caffeine drinks/day addiction disappeared at the same time! As I started feeling better, I of course thought more and more of cigs, especially with the weather getting nicer! So in 3 weeks I have had 1 cig (broke down when a smoking friend came over). I want to quit and am fighting the urge every day. Having scotch mints and a steady flow of ice water has helped a lot (scotch and water, lol). So here I am with 2 more weeks off work for recovering from surgery and thinking about going l.c. (again). I thought, we'll, I have time to cook properly , rest if I get the 'atkins flu'. I 'really' want this for me..is it too much at once? The smoking and the eating change? Am I setting myself up to fail? I'm scared for when I return to work as I have a lot of smoking friends (why are there so many smokers in social services..hmm) and a lot of work stress. I am feeling great right now, just fighting the psychological triggers. I have never smoked around my kids so I am now home alone all day while they are at school but have not caved:) I have set up a savings to transfer my 'smoke money' to an account so I can take the family to Disney next year. I have never been known for my will power (have many pounds to lose:(..just need some support I guess? Sorry for the length..and do I have to give up my scotch mints??

Hello & Welcome!

I joined a couple years ago, then forgot...just came back!

I quit smoking three months ago (almost-5 more days!) and also went Low-Carb the same day. So far, so good. I HAD to do both same time. If I can do it you can do it! Tell all your smoking friends so they can support you. I have used sugar-free gum and lifesavers. Those lifesavers are bad unless you limit them severely. Malitol is very bad, and it is in a lot of this stuff. At ask.com they have tons of info, as well as here. We didn't smoke in the house either, so that makes it a little easier. Hope you're feeling better now! Don't let the smokers get to you!! If they make you want to go with them and keep trying to get you to, keep saying no! The ones that bug you most are jealous. We're in the same boat, I have a lot to lose, too. So I hope you come back. We can be buddies for sure!!

Oh, and the becomeanex.org is a great website for quitting smoking, too. I go there sometimes. Nice folks and lots of great help and tips!!

I quit smoking 11 months ago, and I've only been low-carbing for a few months so I'm not an expert on the combination. But I had to chime in and say: good for you!! Quitting smoking is so hard, but so worth it!! And I think if you start low carb eating at the same time, it will give you something to focus on and take your mind off smoking. You have to research and plan and find recipes and you'll be too preoccupied to obsess over smoking. Sounds like it would work to me!
Best of luck to you, and keep the quit! (By the way, I used the free forums at quitnet.com for support while quitting; reading and posting really helped while in the thick of withdrawal hell).

Thanks so much! I appreciate all the support! You are right, thinking about the food has put the cravings for smoking on the back burner! I will check out those websites for sure. Rainydays-are you following any specific low carb plan?