If you have to smoke — maybe try an electronic cigarette?

I am not a smoker. With that said, I understand addiction very well.

My husband is a smoker. A dedicated smoker. He is also in the IT field (high stress / craves cigarettes). He has been trying to quit smoking since I met him 9 years ago. Each time, he was able to quit for awhile and then some event would happen… and back up he would start.

Even though smoking is unhealthy, I don’t mother-hen him about it. Anyway, a bit ago he admitted to me that he thinks he may have a problem with smoking (i.e., he didn’t realize it would be so hard to quit). I suppose the first step is admitting to yourself that you may have a problem, right?

I was thinking about buying him an electronic cigarette and seeing how he does with that. For all I know, he may really enjoy smoking it so much that he quits conventional cigarettes altogether! :)

What I learned about hypothyroidism

I have been reading up on hypothyroidism. In addition to taking a prescription to make up the low-thyroid hormone level, I have also been trying to cut out white sugar and too many unhealthy carbs. I hope that by taking the medicine and improving my diet… I can kick this hypothyroidism in the bucket! :)

Hypothyroidism is just one of the reasons for hair loss that I am experiencing. I am sure that stress isn’t helping either. Other symptoms of hypothyroidism: dry skin, depression, tiredness and unexpected weight gain or sluggish metabolism.

Quick diets

There is such a thing as quick weight loss diets. But those are probably best for those who want to lose a quick 30 pounds or less.

In fact, when I think of the term diet… I think of quick weight loss. I don’t really see that it could be long term (although I am sure it is a long term solution for some).

I remember my first quick-diet was the so-called Mayo Clinic diet. I could only drink coffee, tea or water (doesn’t sound bad). I remember being really limited with food choices (peanut butter toast, boiled eggs, beets..etc.). I did it for a week and lost 15 pounds. I was 16. I gained the 15 pounds back plus. But people noticed the weight loss and it felt good (even if the diet felt like torture).

The second quick-diet I tried was the apple-diet. I ate apples all day long with the exception for dinner. I also loaded up on water. I lost about 10 pounds and gained it back. I was too hungry to stay on that diet.

And then there was the cabbage soup diet. Who could forget that? Awful (at least in my opinion) tasting soup that you were *allowed* to eat as much as possible of on all of the given days. Oh joy. I remember being gassy on that one and quit after just a few days. However, many (in my family) who were on that diet lost between 30 and 50 pounds. But of course… the weight came back with a vengeance.

I am not on a quick-diet now. I am on a long-term weight loss plan. And you know what? I am rarely ever hungry.

What are some quick diets that you have tried? How did they make you feel?