How many of you smoke?

[one_winged_angel]

I smoke cigarettes, i have for years. i have quit a few times and it seems whenever i do quit i lose alot of weight and most of my PCOS symptoms seem to go away.

I didn't make the connection untill recently so am going to quit again, this time permanently.

I've read a few medical articles linking nicotine to raising blood sugar levels. Caffein does as well so in combonation it can lead to insulin resistance. Nicotine also does more damage to a woman's hormonal balance than a man's, and it depletes a woman's body of calcium aswell.

Appearenly caffien isn't as bad as nicotine but i have stopped drinking coffee and in the first few weeks i noticed a difference. I wasn't holding on to any access water any more...might be due to caffien dehydrates you and your body holds on to the water to try and balance it.

Right now i have switched to a lighter brand and i have cut my smoking down to less than 10 cigs a day and already i am seeing some changes in just a couple of weeks. This week i am going to try the patch and not smoke cigarettes at all, and then go on without any patches.

I kid you not ladies, i have in the past quit smoking and lost all my acces weight, and then slowly gained it back when i started again, even though i still continued to excersise. I was in my late teens and early 20's when i did. Now i have just turned 30 and the hazzards from smoking seem to be catching up to me

So...has this happend to any of you smokers? I think we all ought to quit or cut down...i just have a feeling i am on to something here

[curlygrrl]

Although I don't have Type II Diabetes, I do smoke. I quit late in my pregnancy but went back not long after my return to work. I used to smoke a pack a day but now a pack lasts me 2-3 days. My work is having a "cold turkey" promotion where on Nov 21 (which I think coincides with the Great American Smokeout) if you turn in your cigarettes, you get a free "cold turkey" sandwich. Both DH and I are considering doing it.

I would be so thrilled if it helped my PCOS symptoms to quit. Maybe I'd finally have the incentive to never go back!! I tried the patch but it irritated the devil out of my skin and didn't fulfill my need for something to do with my hands and whatnot. I think my main problem is that while I know I should quit, I really like smoking. I'll work my way through it somehow.

[HISIRISHGEM]

I am a type II diabetic, however I have never smoked. I do drink soda with caffine, but drink more water that soda. It would interest me to find this out as well. You should go to edit and post a Poll on this!!

[one_winged_angel]

Okay a poll would be neat I think

Here's a site to check out:
http://www.quitsmokinguk.com/female_facts.htm

Very simple straight forward site, and a bit eye opening.

[JenJohn2001]

all I have to say is there HAS to be a link between smoking and insulin levels. I have been smoke free for 9 weeks now and my blood sugar was 126 WHILE FASTING and my latest blood test was 101 for NOT FASTING. SO I am not in that pre diabetic state anymore.And I cannot really contribute my lower blood sugar levels to diet and exercise because I have gained weight since I quit smoking.

[wombat42]

You have just given me a great reason to quit again. Like you I have quit several times in the past but always went back at it because I thought it would help me lose weight. wouldn't it be wonderful if i quit and lost weight instead.
Thanks for the info

[terilynn112]

Ok... I have to say this. Never smoked... Haven't had caffine in YEARS!

Sorry
teri