FitSugar

Would You See an Unhealthy Doctor?

FitSugar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 03:47:00 -0700

Whenever I go to the hospital I see a group of doctors and nurses huddled together on the sidewalk smoking. A co-worker recently told me how she was given diet advice from a physician who was visibly overweight. In college I worked at a deli and I can still remember the lunch order of a doctor who came in four times a week - french fries, a Coke, and a pastrami Reuben.

It seems logical that a doctor should be a model of health, but the message some physicians are sending is, "Do as I say, not as I do."

Doctors often work long hours in stressful environments. Top that off with being surrounded by vending machines full of junk food and bad coffee, and you have the beginnings of an unhealthy recipe.

Should doctors be forgiven, then, for picking up a few bad habits? Is it what's "up there" that counts the most? Would you feel comfortable taking advice from a doctor who seems unhealthy?

Your Top Five Tips for Kicking the Soda Habit

FitSugar — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 03:30:00 -0700

Recently a user asked for advice on kicking the soda habit and you came through with some fabulous tips and advice, especially since many of us have had to kick our own Coke guzzling practices to the curb. Your top tips are:

Switch to seltzer water or sparkling water. You'll get the fizz, but not the sugar. If you miss the flavor try the flavored varieties. If possible find those flavored without high fructose corn syrup.
Find a healthier drink to be addicted to. Suggestions include iced tea, milk, and Kombucha tea.
Drink water. Lots and lots of water. If you can't stomach the plain water, try flavored. Think about adding your own flavors like a splash of 100 percent fruit juice or Crystal Light.
Cut down. Don't deny yourself your pleasure, that could only make you want it more. Slowly eliminate it from your diet.
If all else fails, go cold turkey. Sounds hard, but many of you guys think that stopping drinking soda completely is the only way to ultimately quit.

To see all the great advice, check out the comments here.

Source

Five Lifestyle Habits to Break

FitSugar — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 03:00:00 -0700

Some bad habits are worse than others; in fact, some bad habits could shorten your life. In an effort to live a healthy long time, you may want to make a few changes to your lifestyle. Researchers looked at death risk and lifestyle factors, and here are the top five habits that could shorten your life:

Cigarette smoking
Being overweight
Low physical activity
Excessive alcohol use
Low-quality diet

Do you have or do any of the above? Well it's time for a change, especially since researchers found that having all five of the risk factors increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease times eight; the risk of dying from cancer was three times higher and the risk of dying from any cause was four times greater.

Source

Speak Up: What Unhealthy Habit Are You Trying to Break?

FitSugar — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 13:00:00 -0700

Sometimes doing the right thing for your health can be tough, especially if you've been routinely doing something for a long time, like cleaning your ears with a Q-tip, dumping salt on your food, or continuing to join your co-workers for a cigarette break just because it's social time. So tell me, what unhealthy habit are you trying to put an end to? You never know, another reader might have some good advice to help you kick your habit.

Source

Seven (Bad) Habits of Unhealthy People

FitSugar — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 03:00:00 -0700

Earlier this year, I presented the top 10 habits of highly fit people, but there's just as much to be learned from bad examples. This list of seven bad habits of overweight people from 24 Hour Fitness is a good reminder of what you shouldn't do when trying to stay slim and healthy. To see what they are, just hit "start."

Source

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Don't Blow Your Healthy Habits at the Movies This Weekend

FitSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:00:53 -0800

It's a big movie weekend, for sure. With New Moon finally out, I've already committed myself to spend an afternoon at the theater - the only complication is that I'm not so fond of the movie-theater fare. It's an admittedly challenging place to stick to healthy food choices, since there usually aren't any to begin with. Just in case you don't believe me, recent research is revealing just how unhealthy movie popcorn can be - and it's probably a lot worse than you think.

An article from WebMd highlights the Center for Science in the Public Interest's findings on the state of popcorn, which claims movie theater popcorn is just about as bad for you as "a pound of baby back ribs and a scoop of Haagen-Dazs ice cream or maybe two Big Macs" - and that's before you even add the butter. For the study, researchers sent samples of popcorn and toppings from three different movie theater chains and compared their findings to the chains' own nutritional information. What they found is likely to make you rethink how you view your movie treat.

The study's results show that the calorie count of movie theater popcorn ranges from just about 400 to 1,200 calories, and contains an alarming serving of saturated fat that's equivalent to three days worth of your daily recommended portion, and anywhere from 200 (in the smallest 6-cup size serving) to 1,500 milligrams of sodium. Additionally, the study revealed that both AMC and Regal theaters pop their popcorn in coconut oil, which has a saturated fat content of a whopping 90 percent. Cinemark theaters, which pops their popcorn in canola oil, earns the rep as the healthiest chain, with a significantly lower saturated fat content - ranging from 2 grams in the 420-calorie small size to 5 grams in the 910-calorie large popcorn bucket. But, keep in mind that popcorn is usually just a part of the order - add a soda or your choice of candy, and your order is easily nearing 1,700 calories.

To learn about healthier options at the movies read more.

To avoid a serious caloric overload on your movie outing, the solutions are simple. Opt to share a small, unbuttered popcorn, and request that it be popped without salt (according to the article, these chains will happily oblige), or knosh on something healthy before you head out. If you can, bring a small bag of almonds or a piece of fruit along. Be smart about your choices, and don't let one afternoon at the movies spoil your healthy habits. It's totally fine to indulge every now and then, but a 1,200-calorie serving of popcorn that packs more saturated fat than you need in three days is hardly a treat for your bod or health.

All You Can Eat - Recession Buster or Fat Maker?

FitSugar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 03:00:15 -0700

Taybarns restaurant is introducing a new dining concept to the English - all you can eat. It's nothing we haven't seen in the United States. We have all-you-can-eat baked potato and pizza bars, endless breadsticks and salad, and the kind of buffets that would make Elvis weep if he was still kickin' it in Vegas.

The Taybarns message is clear: "Enjoy as much as you like, as many times as you like. All for one fixed price!" That fixed price gives you a 111-foot counter filled with pizza, Chinese food, carving stations, fry stations, desserts, and more. The English are going crazy for the buffet-style chain, and while neighboring restaurants continue to close, Taybarns is on the up.

During tough economic times, giving people the most bang for their buck seems like a smart business model, but at what cost? As reported by the BBC, not everyone likes Taybarns. They think the chain encourages unhealthy eating habits and will cause England's collective waistline to expand.

It's a common argument, and one that's been batting around in the US for some time. Is it the fault of (insert any fast food giant here), or does the responsibility fall on the individual? Does walking into Taybarns rob a human of their free will, and why isn't healthy food more accessible to the masses?

Is America's Antifat Rhetoric Out of Hand?

FitSugar — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:00:18 -0700

Being obese is unhealthy for many reasons - most recently, we learned it could lead to brain degeneration - but does that mean we should demonize overweight people?

A recent story on Newsweek.com questions whether this antifat rhetoric is totally out of control. From the "real" sized model featured in Glamour to outrage over President Obama's nomination of a heavyset woman, Regina M. Benjamin, as surgeon general, the story posits:

Virtually any news article about weight that is posted online garners a slew of comments from readers expressing disgust that people let their weight get so out of control.

As fashionistas like Anna Wintour say the media focuses too much on anorexia, Newsweek sites an endless parade of pundits who openly express a fat bias. Many of the haters seem to believe that overweight people should do something about their condition, but who's to say they aren't? Why don't we have more compassion for people who are trying to change?

Not to mention that some research suggests that it's possible to be both overweight and fit, and many of our country's unhealthy habits are the result of widespread cultural and dietary changes that go far beyond individual lifestyle choices.

Do you think the antifat criticism in this country has gotten out of hand in our culture? Or do you think it's a necessary step toward changing our habits?

Fitsugar Roundup

FitSugar — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 05:50:10 -0700

Feeling sleepy? These seven foods could be zapping your energy.
If you love going for a run, take this quiz to see what you know about this popular sport.
Calling all vegetarians. These foods are high in iron.
Test your smarts on these healthy brands.
Stop the Press. Cindy Crawford has cellulite.
Is there such a thing as too many trips to the ladies room?
Do you wear rings when you work out?
One of Anna Paquin's healthy habits is to avoid unhealthy habits.
What do you know about your anatomy?
Avoid the Freshmen 15 with these tips.
Ice cream just got healthier.

Anna Paquin Shares Her Healthy Habits

FitSugar — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:30:08 -0700

With her fresh face and healthy physique, True Blood star Anna Paquin has made a graceful transition from child star to sexy vamp. In this week's issue of Us, the recently engaged, 27-year-old actress talks about the healthy habits that keep her feeling and looking great.

Paquin understands the importance of mixing up her fitness routine. "I'm obsessed with Pilates," says the star. But she also loves swimming in the ocean and recently took her first surf lesson.
A big fan of watching gymnastics on TV, Paquin once dabbled in trapeze arts: "I've always wanted to be a circus performer, so I took aerial silks classes at Trapeze School New York a few years ago."
Since staying healthy isn't just about exercising, Paquin gets plenty of rest and avoids unhealthy habits. She says she takes a lot of naps and that "Kombucha and coffee are my two biggest vices."

If those are here only vices, I can understand how she looks so good! Do you think she's a good role model?