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The following message was posted by Michael who goes by "mapasone" on the board. Michael is 55 years old and joined our board in November of '03. He wanted to share this information with others since he was a "smoker" not long ago. Please read his very informative post and if you have thought about quitting in the past, after reading Michael's article, please think about it again. I'm sure he will be happy to receive PM's from members who may want to ask him questions. Thank you , Michael!
Michael writes: This answers a lot of questions I had about smoking while doing this WOL. Those stalls and sugar cravings are from the smoking and Atkins is the perfect way to live and kick the addiction of nicotine!
Light a cigarette and inhale. This takes 7 seconds. During this inhalation, nicotine enters the blood stream through the nasal membranes and rushes directly to the brain. This is a faster transfer method than direct intravenous injection. Once in the brain, nicotine causes large releases of Dopamine and Serotonin neurotransmitters. These neurotransmitters cause that 'relaxed and powerful' feeling. But soon the brain cells become resistant to these neurotransmitters. The brain then requires even more nicotine to create the same effect. Smoking becomes addictive and self-perpetuating.
Seven seconds to fifteen minutes later, nicotine also enters the liver, which in turn releases sugar into the blood stream. This results in a physical uplift, not from the cigarette, but from the release of sugar into the blood stream. Combined with the high neurotransmitter levels, you feel confident and full of energy.
Due to the high sugar content in the blood, the pancreas will release insulin into the blood stream and blood sugar levels will drop lower than when you started to smoke. At the same time, neurotransmitter release also stops. This combination makes you feel fatigued, irritable, hungry and craving another cigarette! This same cycle occurs when you eat candy bars. This is why it is important to avoid sweets as much as possible. Sweets can trigger the desire to smoke.
Fifteen to twenty minutes after beginning to smoke, the nicotine stimulates the nervous system and causes the release of adrenaline into the body, producing increased heart rate and respiration along with feelings of tension. This tension begins just when blood sugar and neurotransmitter levels are "crashing".
Because of the tense feelings, and because of the lower blood sugar and neurotransmitter levels, you begin to desire another cigarette, which has the false illusion of helping you to relax, and thus the smoking cycle begins again!
The addictive effects of smoking and nicotine appear very depressing when the true reality of it is presented as it is in the above section. But it is also a reality that this progression is physically rewarding and pleasurable while it is happening. Because of the physical pleasures, most people find it difficult to overcome the immediate pleasures despite the well-known health risks involved in smoking. Studies have shown that most of the decisions we make are made by the subconscious mind. Since birth, our subconscious minds have been programmed to seek pleasure and avoid pain. This lifelong programming makes it very difficult for most people to delay an immediate gratification in favor of future health benefits.
The Biology of Nicotine Addiction:
The physical brain is composed of millions of cells called neurons. In some ways, neurons act like computers. They receive and process messages and then send new messages to other neurons. The messages are transmitted using chemicals called neurotransmitters. Depending on the neurotransmitter used (more than 50 are known so far) the receiving neuron "understands" a certain type of message.
One of the most potent neurotransmitter is called Dopamine. The neurochemical message Dopamine produces is one of "feeling good", confidence, relaxation and a general sense of heightened well-being. Cocaine, Heroin and NICOTINE stimulate the release of Dopamine. This Dopamine release causes the relaxing, pleasurable effects of smoking. However, it is a false, drug-induced sense of relaxation and the body adjusts to these higher Dopamine levels.
After a while the brain's nerve cells become less sensitive to Dopamine. To prevent damage from the high Dopamine levels each nerve cell reduces the number of dopamine receptor areas it has. Fewer dopamine receptor areas means that higher Dopamine levels are required (more nicotine) to get the same pleasurable feelings from smoking. You smoke more and just to get the same feelings.
Once you stop smoking, Dopamine levels drop very quickly. Usually within 5-7days. But the brain's neurons need time to rehabilitate the Dopamine receptor areas from when the nicotine was over stimulating Dopamine production. Therefore, you not only may lose the sense of well being, relaxation and calm you experienced while smoking, you may actually become irritable, short tempered and lose concentration. Most importantly, your brain stimulates your body to get more nicotine so it can feel better again! You experience strong SMOKING URGES!
These urges combined with reduced brain functions may cause you to experience the dreaded withdrawal symptoms. Often accompanying the urge to smoke is an impulse to overeat. Sweets and sugars also stimulate Dopamine production and can sometimes function as "nicotine substitutes". They also cause weight increase (for some people as much as 30-50 lbs.) and physical problems of their own.
These symptoms are exclusively chemical in nature and reside in the physical part of the brain. The good news is that since they are chemically induced, they will gradually disappear as the neurons rehabilitate their Dopamine receptors. Over time, this rehabilitation process is complete. The brain is again sensitive to Dopamine and functions as it did before you started smoking. Smoking urges decrease in frequency and intensity. It becomes much easier to remain a non-smoker.
Realize EVEN ONE CIGARETTE WILL HALT THIS RECOVERY PROCESS COMPLETELY!
It will take several more weeks after that one cigarette for the neurons to again start rehabilitating their Dopamine receptor areas. During this time, the withdrawal symptoms will reoccur.
It is very important to resist the smoking urges that occur! This will make complete recovery possible in the shortest amount of time. I hope this information helps others as much as it did me! The Atkins diet is the best thing for those trying to quit smoking.
Overcoming Addictions and Atkins Low Carb Dieting (New!)
Michael writes: This answers a lot of questions I had about smoking while doing this WOL. Those stalls and sugar cravings are from the smoking and Atkins is the perfect way to live and kick the addiction of nicotine!
Light a cigarette and inhale. This takes 7 seconds. During this inhalation, nicotine enters the blood stream through the nasal membranes and rushes directly to the brain. This is a faster transfer method than direct intravenous injection. Once in the brain, nicotine causes large releases of Dopamine and Serotonin neurotransmitters. These neurotransmitters cause that 'relaxed and powerful' feeling. But soon the brain cells become resistant to these neurotransmitters. The brain then requires even more nicotine to create the same effect. Smoking becomes addictive and self-perpetuating.
Seven seconds to fifteen minutes later, nicotine also enters the liver, which in turn releases sugar into the blood stream. This results in a physical uplift, not from the cigarette, but from the release of sugar into the blood stream. Combined with the high neurotransmitter levels, you feel confident and full of energy.
Due to the high sugar content in the blood, the pancreas will release insulin into the blood stream and blood sugar levels will drop lower than when you started to smoke. At the same time, neurotransmitter release also stops. This combination makes you feel fatigued, irritable, hungry and craving another cigarette! This same cycle occurs when you eat candy bars. This is why it is important to avoid sweets as much as possible. Sweets can trigger the desire to smoke.
Fifteen to twenty minutes after beginning to smoke, the nicotine stimulates the nervous system and causes the release of adrenaline into the body, producing increased heart rate and respiration along with feelings of tension. This tension begins just when blood sugar and neurotransmitter levels are "crashing".
Because of the tense feelings, and because of the lower blood sugar and neurotransmitter levels, you begin to desire another cigarette, which has the false illusion of helping you to relax, and thus the smoking cycle begins again!
The addictive effects of smoking and nicotine appear very depressing when the true reality of it is presented as it is in the above section. But it is also a reality that this progression is physically rewarding and pleasurable while it is happening. Because of the physical pleasures, most people find it difficult to overcome the immediate pleasures despite the well-known health risks involved in smoking. Studies have shown that most of the decisions we make are made by the subconscious mind. Since birth, our subconscious minds have been programmed to seek pleasure and avoid pain. This lifelong programming makes it very difficult for most people to delay an immediate gratification in favor of future health benefits.
The Biology of Nicotine Addiction:
The physical brain is composed of millions of cells called neurons. In some ways, neurons act like computers. They receive and process messages and then send new messages to other neurons. The messages are transmitted using chemicals called neurotransmitters. Depending on the neurotransmitter used (more than 50 are known so far) the receiving neuron "understands" a certain type of message.
One of the most potent neurotransmitter is called Dopamine. The neurochemical message Dopamine produces is one of "feeling good", confidence, relaxation and a general sense of heightened well-being. Cocaine, Heroin and NICOTINE stimulate the release of Dopamine. This Dopamine release causes the relaxing, pleasurable effects of smoking. However, it is a false, drug-induced sense of relaxation and the body adjusts to these higher Dopamine levels.
After a while the brain's nerve cells become less sensitive to Dopamine. To prevent damage from the high Dopamine levels each nerve cell reduces the number of dopamine receptor areas it has. Fewer dopamine receptor areas means that higher Dopamine levels are required (more nicotine) to get the same pleasurable feelings from smoking. You smoke more and just to get the same feelings.
Once you stop smoking, Dopamine levels drop very quickly. Usually within 5-7days. But the brain's neurons need time to rehabilitate the Dopamine receptor areas from when the nicotine was over stimulating Dopamine production. Therefore, you not only may lose the sense of well being, relaxation and calm you experienced while smoking, you may actually become irritable, short tempered and lose concentration. Most importantly, your brain stimulates your body to get more nicotine so it can feel better again! You experience strong SMOKING URGES!
These urges combined with reduced brain functions may cause you to experience the dreaded withdrawal symptoms. Often accompanying the urge to smoke is an impulse to overeat. Sweets and sugars also stimulate Dopamine production and can sometimes function as "nicotine substitutes". They also cause weight increase (for some people as much as 30-50 lbs.) and physical problems of their own.
These symptoms are exclusively chemical in nature and reside in the physical part of the brain. The good news is that since they are chemically induced, they will gradually disappear as the neurons rehabilitate their Dopamine receptors. Over time, this rehabilitation process is complete. The brain is again sensitive to Dopamine and functions as it did before you started smoking. Smoking urges decrease in frequency and intensity. It becomes much easier to remain a non-smoker.
Realize EVEN ONE CIGARETTE WILL HALT THIS RECOVERY PROCESS COMPLETELY!
It will take several more weeks after that one cigarette for the neurons to again start rehabilitating their Dopamine receptor areas. During this time, the withdrawal symptoms will reoccur.
It is very important to resist the smoking urges that occur! This will make complete recovery possible in the shortest amount of time. I hope this information helps others as much as it did me! The Atkins diet is the best thing for those trying to quit smoking.
Overcoming Addictions and Atkins Low Carb Dieting (New!)
