(Smokeless-Tobacco)-Less

After 14 years of using smokeless tobacco (aka dipping), I have decided to quit. I'm actually a full week into the process. I'm using Nicorette gum to assist in the quitting, so it's not a cold turkey quit. The difficult part of quitting is the oral fixation portion: always having something in my mouth and always moving my mouth. Smokers have the same problem with the hand-to-mouth motion they grow accustomed to during their addiction.

• I'm going through roughly 20 pieces of gum per day. 8-9 pieces of Nicorette. The remainder is a variety of Orbit gum flavors.
• I'm also going through many, many Gobstoppers throughout the day. This would be a good time to still be working at Nestle.
• As a motivator, I told myself I would reward myself after 4 months with a gift. I was thinking of getting a new lens for my camera. Before I told Allison what I my idea for a gift, she blurted out "I'll buy you a Mac!". Her reward beat mine.
• Side Effect 1: Lots of peeing. I've been drinking a lot of water lately. Not sure why, but I am. I literally peed 14 times today. I was getting strange looks from my co-workers. I also think that the fact that I'm not spitting all my fluids out during the day adds to this. Neat thought, eh?
  
• Side Effect 2: My throat is sore. This has to do with all the swallowing. Thankfully, this has subsided a lot after the first few days. Who would have thought you could get a sore throat from actually swallowing?? I guess after 14 years of NOT swallowing much, this is a big change for my body.
• Side Effect 3: Weight Gain. Nicotine is a stimulant, thus increasing your metabolism. Without it, ex-nicotine users blimp up after they quit. This is a mix between shoving anything in your mouth so as to not put a dip or cigarette in there instead and the slower metabolism. That's just not fair. I figure if I can quit dipping, I can suck it up and do some exercise to counteract this effect.
• Scripture memory has helped a ton to ward off urges and temptations. Specifically Romans 12:1-2. My spiritual life is actually one of the biggest reasons for me quitting. That's an entirely other post, so I'll just leave it at that. Maybe as a celebratory post after 4 months. I'll write it on my new iMac!