FitSugar

New Moon Star Nikki Reed Says Relationship Keeps Her Slim

FitSugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:00:49 -0800

If Kristen Stewart needs any help kicking her nicotine habit, she can look to her New Moon costar Nikki Reed for advice. In the last few months, Reed has given herself a bit of a lifestyle makeover, thanks in large part, as she told People, to her relationship with Greek shipping heir (and Paris Hilton ex) Paris Latsis.

Reed and Latsis have officially been out as a couple since Summer, which was the perfect time for Latsis to introduce Reed to all the outdoor sports he loves. The pair spent the season hiking, windsurfing, and water skiing, and as a result, Reed says, the pounds started dropping.

Besides having tons of fun, Reed was so inspired by her boyfriend's love of the outdoors that she became motivated to get into better shape. First things first, she quit smoking. Now Reed hits the gym for two hours a day and says that being active has made her "much happier."

Last week I shared with you some ways that your relationship might be making you fat, but keep in mind that as with Reed, relationships can have positive effects on health. I personally am healthier now that I'm with a partner who likes being active as much as I do. He and I love riding bikes, climbing, and going on long hikes together. Do any of you credit your relationship for making you healthier?

Kristen Wants to Quit Smoking, Do It Too!

FitSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 04:30:06 -0800

Kristen Stewart made the first step in kicking her cigarette habit - admitting to Entertainment Weekly that she's ready to give it up, saying, "I'm going to stop smoking. I'm not such a good smoker, anyway. It's not in my bones. I'm gonna drop it." More power to the gorgeous Twilight star, and here's hoping she sticks with it. Now, if you're out to ditch your own smoking habit, read on to kick-start your plan to quit.

Get Support - If you're ready to quit, whether or not you have friends that are smokers, make your decision known. Spreading the word that you're quitting will let your friends and family know that you'll need support. If you're having a tough day, reach out to friends. Instead of caving for a cigarette break, invite a friend for a long walk, a movie, or a workout class. Having the support of your loved ones who back your decision to quit will help give you a united front against your bad habit.

Don't Underestimate the Power of the Patch (or Gum) - Forms of nicotine replacement therapy have been shown to double your chances of quitting smoking, and can help you fight the urge to light up when you're facing nicotine withdrawal, reducing your feelings of depression and restlessness.

For more ways to help you quit, read more.

Find Another Way to Relieve Stress - Since smoking can often be a way to unwind, you'll have to find a healthier outlet to relieve stress. Combat stress with an alternative that's good for the body like a yoga class, soothing massage, or aromatherapy. Natural herbal supplements like lavender, valerian, and passionflower can aid with feelings of anxiousness and help ease tension. Short bouts of exercise can help relieve cravings, too.

Don't Drink - Alcohol and smoking are social activities that seem to go hand in hand. Plus, since alcohol naturally lowers our inhibitions, it can be harder to resist the temptation of a smoke when you're out drinking. So, when you're trying to quit, it's probably best to avoid the bar scene altogether.

Get Your Fill of Fruits and Veggies - Since many smokers fear gaining weight when they quit, many choose to diet while they're trying to give it up. But it's not a great idea to limit your food intake or choices, which can leave you feeling even more irritable while you're working to quit. Instead, think of quitting in a healthier way - focus on how eliminating the toxins from cigarettes will help to purify your body, and choose healthy fruits and veggies to fill you up. You might even try juicing your servings of fruit and vegetables. The nutrient-rich juice can help to curb cravings and can even help flush toxins from the body.

New Law Bans Flavored Cigarettes

FitSugar — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:30:35 -0700

The FDA sees flavored cigarettes as a gateway drug, encouraging children and young adults to become regular smokers. So a new federal law enacted this Summer, which bans the production, distribution, or sale of flavored cigarettes goes into effect today. This includes clove and candy- and fruit-flavored cigarettes - anything but minty-fresh menthol. Tobacco companies enhance cigarettes with sweet flavors such as vanilla, berries, or chocolate to make them taste sweeter and more appealing to teens, which results in getting them hooked young.

This new law is an amendment to the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. The FDA is hoping they can target flavored cigars, chewing tobacco, and snuff as well.

Tobacco use causes 438,000 deaths a year, and studies show that smokers live an average of 14 years less than nonsmokers. About 90 percent of adult smokers started in their teens, so hopefully banning kid-friendly cigarettes will discourage the habit and prevent the deadly side effects.

Guess Who?

FitSugar — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:23:29 -0700

Can you guess who's burning calories and burning a cigarette?

Another Reason to Quit Smoking: Taste

FitSugar — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 03:30:14 -0700

If you're looking for motivation to quit smoking, I have another reason to tack onto your list: taste. A recent study performed in Greece found that smoking literally dulls the taste buds. In the small study, the smokers had flatter tastes buds compared with their nonsmoking counterparts. The shape of the buds may affect the sense of taste for Pavlidis Pavlos, the leading researcher in the study, remarked that,

"Statistically important differences between the taste thresholds of smokers and nonsmokers were detected. Smoking is an important factor which can lead to decreased taste sensitivity."

Food is fuel, but we all eat for taste as well and when you are missing out on flavor you might also be tempted to eat more to reach a satiation point. Need some more reasons to kick the habit? Check out all these reasons to quit smoking.

Want to Quit Smoking?

FitSugar — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 10:00:19 -0700

Quitting smoking is just about the best thing you can do for your health. Countless studies have shown smoking can lead to serious health problems, not only for the smoker, but also for non-smokers breathing secondhand smoke. It's never too late to quit, and if you want to call yourself a non-smoker like some of these celebs, here are some tips to help make it happen.

Think of a powerful and specific reason you want to quit. Something that's as important as wanting to avoid having your family visit you in the hospital because you have lung cancer will be strong enough to outweigh your craving to light up.
Don't try quitting cold turkey. Stats show that 95 percent of people who quit without therapy or medication end up going back to their old ways. So ween yourself off of nicotine slowly. Use nicotine gum or patches to minimize the overwhelming symptoms of withdrawal that include depression, restlessness, and anger.
Get rid of the evidence. Once you decide to quit, get rid of your secret cigarette stash, lighters, and ashtrays. Wash all your clothes, curtains, blankets, and anything else that smells like smoke. Use air fresheners in your home or car, because the slightest smell may make you relapse.

To see the other tips, read more.

Avoid triggers that make you want to light up. Drinking, hanging out with fellow smokers, and stress are common triggers that boost your urge to smoke. So know what sets you off and avoid it at all costs.
Have a support group to lean on. If your family, friends, and co-workers know you're trying to quit, they can encourage you to stick with it. Joining a support group with other people trying to quit can also up your chances for success.
Fill up on fruits, veggies, and lowfat dairy products. A Duke University study shows these foods make cigarettes taste terrible.
Exercise. Working out can curb nicotine cravings, so keep up with a regular exercise routine. It'll also help prevent weight gain while trying to quit.
Don't give up. It's common for a person to quit smoking several times before they quit for good. So keep trying until you can call yourself a non-smoker.

Smoker or Nonsmoker: Celebrity Edition

FitSugar — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 04:30:00 -0700

Smoking cigarettes not only leads to asthma, bronchitis, lung cancer, and other health issues, it also stains your teeth, causes wrinkles, and gives you bad breath. Can you tell I am not a fan of the habit? It is a stereotype that actors smoke, but some have wised up and quit. Take this quiz and see if you know who still smokes and who has given it up.

Question 1 of 8

Matt Damon

Reality Check: Electronic Cigarettes Are Not So Healthy

FitSugar — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 11:00:29 -0700

Smoking regular cigarettes is known to cause a whole slew of health problems from asthma to emphysema and lung cancer. For some reason though, people keep smoking, so someone came up with the brilliant idea to make electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigarettes.

These battery-powered electronic cigarettes provide inhaled doses of nicotine, although no flame, tobacco, or smoke is involved. E-cigs might give the impression of being healthier than regular cigarettes, but this illusion is mostly smoke and mirrors. When the FDA tested 19 varieties from two companies, they found toxic chemicals, one being a key ingredient in antifreeze. Why am I not surprised?

E-cigarettes aren't regulated like other nicotine products, so their ingredients aren't regulated either. They also tend to be easier for minors to get a hold of. Since some e-cigarettes were designed to mimic real cigarettes - you light them and smoke puffs, these electronic smokes are considered a gateway drug to actual cigarettes. The FDA is "planning additional activities" to deal with the safety of e-cigarettes, which may result in recalling them or taking lawful action. Tell me, have any of you ever tried electronic cigarettes? Do you think they should be banned?

Quitting Smoking Emotionally Loaded For Women

FitSugar — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 03:33:04 -0700

We all know that quitting smoking is difficult, and unfortunately it looks like it may be harder for women to kick the habit. NPR recently reported that although federal household surveys indicate that the success rate for quitting is close to equal between the sexes, women might actually have more difficulty giving up their smokes.

Carolyn Mazure, a psychologist who specializes in addictive behavior, believes that the relationship women have with cigarettes is emotionally loaded. She explains,

"Women often report smoking is helpful in reducing negative mood, even enhancing positive mood, managing the stress of daily life and also managing appetite and weight gain. Women are looking to cigarettes to help them with those different situations, and as a consequence, it's often more difficult for women [than for men] to give up their cigarettes."

Mazure adds that women are more prone to depression and negative moods, and that when stressed, they're more likely to relapse and light a cigarette. This could be why timing your attempts to quit smoking with your menstrual cycle is considered a key strategy for women.

Are you trying to quit smoking? Are you having a rough time? Here are seven tips for quitting smoking, and I hope they help.

A Big Blow to Big Tobacco

FitSugar — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 03:00:00 -0700

On Monday the The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act was signed into a law, which is great news for lungs everywhere. So why is the word "family" in the name of the law? This piece of legislation gives the FDA authority to ban tobacco products that appeal to first-time smokers (who are primarily children), like candy-flavored cigarettes. It also bars the use of terms that make cigarettes appear healthier, like "low tar," "light," and "mild." The new law mandates that tobacco companies decrease the nicotine levels in cigarettes as well. Before signing the bill into law, President Obama acknowledged how difficult quitting smoking can be, especially those who start young. He said, "I know because I was one of those teenagers. I know how difficult it can be when you get started at a young age."

Looking to give up cigarettes? Here are some tips on how to quit.