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Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD wrote: > Dear Barb, > As always, you come straight to the point with grace and compassion. I > love your posts! > > You're the first PWP I've known who has quit smoking, so can't offer any > proven suggestions. However, I'm sure it must be very stressful, > and am concerned about stress's effects on PD symptoms. If it's > possible, I'd consider taking walks whenever you can, for walking is > rhythmic and increases blood flow and oxygenation to all parts of the > body including the brain; this may reduce stress. When I quit (5 packs a > day) it also helped take my mind off the need for a cigarette for a > little while. I hope you'll let us know how it goes. 5 packs a day? Wow, and double wow! and now you look so svelt. I kid some folks that I used to be 6ft 4 when I smoked, but had to quit when I shrunk to 3ft 4, but what I lost in height I gained in width. Actually, smoking about 1.5 packs a day reduced my hunger or, as some have suggested, holding a cigarette in my mouth was the equivalent of a pacifier which kept food away. When I quit cold turkey a month or so before the report of the s(t)urgeon general, I gained 25-30 lbs. within a year, and that weight kept increasing. Barbara smoked (question mark) but never inhaled; I think she wanted to be accepted among her peers in college. Conclusion: She has PD, but I do not. I suggested to my doctor that I might resume smoking as a dietary benefit, and he replied: over youir dead body (meaning mine). Ergo, I am still slightly overweight..(OK...shut up). But, I did buy Godiva ice cream for Barbara, and almost filled the freezer with Ben & Jerry for Barbara's return from the hospita. Bon appetit! Michel