FitSugar

When Pregnancy Doesn't Stop the Vices

babysugar — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:38:52 -0700

Someone might wanna tell Mrs. McSteamy that cream puffs are a much better (and dare I say tastier) alternative to smoke rings when it comes to breeding new life. Rebecca Gayheart's handsome hubby may play a doctor on television, but apparently any advice from her own doctor regarding the hazards of smoking while pregnant may have gone by the wayside. While it was acceptable in the past, we now know all the harm that can come with nicotine presence in the womb. In hopes of providing their child the best start in life, many expectant ladies take the nine months to rid themselves of the habit while others just keep on keepin' on like nothing has changed.

Did you give up your vices when you were expecting? Tell us more about it in the Pregnancy Posse in our LilSugar Community!

View 5 Photos ›

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?

Say What? Hypnotherapist: Quitting Smoking Like Breaking Up

TresSugar — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:00:00 -0700

Look, we had some great times together and a lot of fun, but now I feel we are moving in different directions and I need to end this relationship.

- Natasha Bishop to her cigarette habit of 10 years. She took the advice of a hypnotherapist who says that one way to quit smoking is to have a breakup conversation with your cigarettes. "Until you actually have that conversation," she says, "there's always that little part of you that thinks, maybe we'll get back together. Let's face it. Getting back together with an ex is like throwing milk in the garbage and three days later thinking . . . maybe it'll be better this time around." Have you ever had to quit smoking? Would you consider alternative therapies if cold turkey, the patch, or nicotine gum didn't work?

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.

Calling All Neurotics! Another Thing to Worry About

TresSugar — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 09:00:00 -0700

As a self-described neurotic, news that my neurosis may lead me to an early grave did not surprise me in the least. Unlike many neurotics who may read this story, however, I will not be adding "fear of premature death" to my list of things I like to worry about. There are too many things there as it is!

So who, exactly, is neurotic? Anyone who is constantly worried, anxious, or prone to depression, according to these researchers. (According to Freud? Neurotics are the normal people, if by "normal" you mean average!) But it’s not anxiety or depression that will necessarily do them in - it’s that they tend to drink and smoke more than “normal” folks do - with smoking being the worst thing they can do to themselves. (25 to 40 percent of the link between being neurotic and an early death was related to smoking - not drinking.)

Participants were asked questions like "Do you usually worry a long time after a distressing incident?” and "Are you sometimes sad without any particular reason?" to determine how neurotic they were.

Neurosis, I think, gives people an interesting edge, so as long as they cut down on the boozing and the cigarettes - worry away! I'm kidding. Kind of.

Source

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

Flashback: John Waters Announces No Smoking in Theater

TresSugar — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 02:00:00 -0700

Of course, while he does this, he's sucking on a cigarette and marveling at how much he's enjoying it! This director of cult classics such as Pink Flamingos, Female Trouble and Polyester takes us back to a time when it was even imaginable that someone would light up at the movies. (Late '70s, early '80s?)

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?