FitSugar

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.

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.

Another Reason to Quit Smoking: Third-Hand Smoke

FitSugar — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:30:00 -0800

I've heard of first-hand smoke, the smoke you inhale directly from a tobacco product, and there's also second-hand smoke, the smoke that is given off by the burning end of a cigarette, pipe, or cigar. Now research shows there's another type of smoke that can cause harm - third-hand smoke. It's the invisible toxic gasses and particles that linger in the air, carpet, curtains, clothes, and hair long after a cigarette stops burning. Running a fan or opening a window don't get rid of third-hand smoke, and studies show that it poses the same cancer dangers and other health risks as first- and second-hand smoke. Watch the video below to hear more.

If you're interested in hearing more about third-hand smoke, check out this New York Times article.

What's the Deal With Hypnotherapy?

FitSugar — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 03:30:00 -0700

Let's face it: It's not easy to lose weight, or quit smoking, or get your stress under control. But if you've ever struggled with any of these health concerns, you know that the best solution is simply the one that works for you! So, why not give hypnotherapy a try?

We've heard that Lily Allen used it for weight loss, and I know several other people who have lost weight through hypnosis. Though it may sound a little new age-y, the method really makes a lot of sense, since it gets to the root of your self-control.

When used for health-related matters like dieting and smoking cessation, hypnosis is usually referred to as suggestion therapy. The therapist uses guided relaxation to put the subject into a sort of trance wherein she is susceptible to suggestion. Far from mind control, the trancelike state simply makes you more responsive to ideas - like the fact that you can live without cigarettes or a second piece of pie- that you might normally reject. To hear more about it, read more.

When you are in a hypnotized state, you will likely feel comfortable and relaxed but not really awake, almost as if you are dreaming. The hypnotherapist then makes suggestions in line with your treatment. If you are trying to lose weight, she might tell you that you should always stop eating when you are full. If you are trying to kick the smoking habit, the therapist could suggest that you think cigarettes taste yucky.

Hypnotherapy can be used to treat addiction, as well as anxiety, phobias, insomnia, and depression. The technique is often used in tandem with standard psychotherapy or, in the case of smoking, along with other cessation programs. Regardless of whether you're using it to lose weight or tackle another problem, make sure you're working with a licensed professional.

Have you tried hypnotherapy, or do you know anyone who has? If so, tell me about it below.

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How Much Exercise Do You Really Need?

FitSugar — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:00:00 -0700

If finding the time to head to the gym is stressing you out then this roundup of studies from WebMD will please you. See, the thing is, it's not always quantity that matters, but the qualitity. And in the case of exercise the old adage is true, "something is better than nothing." Here are highlights:

A study published by the American Journal of Sports Medicine in 2006 showed that short walks after dinner were more effective than long exercise sessions in reducing the amount of fat and triglyceride levels in the bloodstream after a hearty meal.
Research published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health showed that short bouts of exercise helped lower blood pressure as well as shave inches off the hips and waistline.

There's more so read more.

In a study published in Preventive Medicine in 2006, researchers found that multiple workout sessions as short as 6 minutes apiece could help sedentary adults reach fitness goals similar to those achieved by working out for 30 minutes at a time.
In a finding published in the journal Psychopharmacology, doctors found that short bursts of exercise could help reduce the craving for cigarettes and help people quit smoking.

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The Next Time You Wanna Light Up, Ask Yourself. . .

GiggleSugar — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 00:02:00 -0800

It's a very telling question, really.

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Another Reason to Quit Smoking: Sleep

FitSugar — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 11:00:00 -0800

If you're still smoking and looking for more reasons to quit . . .

New research has found that smokers are four times more likely to feel tired when they wake up and they spend less time in deep sleep than nonsmokers do. Why you ask? Well researches think smokers experience nicotine withdrawal each night, which disturbs the smoker's sleep. I don't know about you, but I value my sleep far too much. So take this as just another friendly reminder to try to quit smoking if you haven't already started.

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Today Is the Great American Smoke Out

FitSugar — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 02:30:00 -0800

Today is The Great American Smokeout, sponsored by the American Cancer Society (ACS). So if you are looking to quit smoking, today is the day!

There are amazing health benefits to giving up the smokes. Here are highlights of the health improvement from the first 365 days of being smoke free.

20 minutes after quitting: Your heart rate and blood pressure drops.
12 hours after quitting: The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.
2 weeks to 3 months after quitting: Your circulation improves and your lung function increases.
1 to 9 months after quitting: Coughing and shortness of breath decrease; cilia (tiny hair-like structures that move mucus out of the lungs) regain normal function in the lungs, increasing the ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce the risk of infection.
1 year after quitting: The excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker's.

The ACS knows that quitting is difficult and they have created some great widgets for your computer desk top to help. You can also find helpful resources at the Smokeout website.

If you need even more motivation to quit check out these reasons to quit smoking and here are some tips to help you quit.

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Quit Tip: Pick a Day to Quit Smoking

FitSugar — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 09:30:00 -0800

One thing I can wholeheartedly recommend to improve your health is quitting smoking. It decreases your chance of getting and dying from cancer, heart disease, and stroke. I am not saying you should quit today cold turkey, but if you did I would be so glad. What I am saying is that you should pick a date to quit and begin publicly counting down until that day arrives.

The American Cancer Society wants to help you count down to your momentous quit day, and they have even designed a couple little desktop helpers. One is a countdown calendar to help you rev up to quit day. Just pick a date, any date, but make sure it is within the next 30 days - you can’t put it off forever. The clock lives on your computer desktop and counts down the days until your chosen day to go smoke free.

Their other helpful widget is the Craving Stopper, a little distracting memory game that lasts about two minutes, the amount of time it take for a craving to subside. Just preoccupy yourself with the game and let the need for a smoke subside naturally. Unfortunately, these widgets only work with Windows OS. Sorry Mac folks.

Hey. I have a great idea . . . make this Thursday, November 15, your quit date, since it is the Great American Smokeout!

Would You Vote for a Smoker for President?

FitSugar — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 03:00:00 -0700

I have been following Barack Obama's quest to quit smoking and so far, so good (apparently Nicorette is working for him). While I am sure his decision to quit had a lot to do with his health, I am also sure there was a good portion of the decision that came from wanting to improve his image for the elections in 2008.

This got me to thinking-would you vote for a smoker for President?

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