Helping a Family Member to Quit Smoking

>> Dec 7, 2013

It’s understandably distressing watching a family member or friend smoking their lives away though there are ways to help family and friends quit smoking without them hating you for it.

Often the worst thing you can do when trying to help a family member or friend quit smoking is pester them to quit. Chances are they’re well aware of the fact that their habit is potentially life threatening though when you point this out you’re not creating an awareness of the perils of smoking but rather coming across as an annoyance; one that probably makes them want another cigarette.

Smokers need to make the decision to quit themselves and whilst it might help them to understand that you’re troubled by their habit the decision to quit smoking must be theirs.

What you can do to help them quit

There are a number of approaches that you can take to help someone quit smoking but you have to remember that the decision to quit is theirs not yours. Ex-smokers often come across as preachy, which is behaviour to avoid, as is exhibiting negative emotions intended to alert them to your distaste for their habit – emphasis must be placed on the positive aspects of quitting.

It can be difficult to broach the subject in a positive way but you’ll find there are always angles you can take to let them know that you’re there for them and when they want your help they’ve got it. This is important because smokers need to be ready to quit, it isn’t something that can be forced upon them.

Dos and don’ts

To help a family member or friend kick the habit there are a number of dos and don’ts to adhere to. Here’s five of each.

Dos:

- Respect that it’s their decision to quit not yours

- See things from their point of view – quitting isn’t easy

- Make your home a smoke free area and remove all signs of smoking

- Ask them how they’re going and if there’s anything you can help them with

- Celebrate their efforts as often as possible to motivate them

Don’ts

- Nag or pester them to quit – you’ll do more harm than good

- Doubt their ability to kick the habit – your support is crucial

- Be afraid to ask them how they’re going or if they need help

- Offer advice other than that you’ve learnt from personal experience

- Fault them if they fail, with your encouragement they can try again

Tapering off or using alternatives

Everyone handles the quitting process differently and whilst some are able to quit by going cold turkey and never look back, others need to take a different approach, like tapering off or using alternatives. The tapering off method has been found by many to be beneficial because they needn’t worry about instant withdrawals and they can reduce their habit over time for however long it takes.

Using alternatives has also been found by many to be an excellent way of quitting, like using nicotine gum or switching to an electric cigarette so as to cease smoking but stave off withdrawals. Like the tapering off method, alternatives have also been found effective by many smokers trying to quit though the addiction to nicotine still remains. An effective approach in this regard is to switch to an alternative like nicotine gum or e-cigs and then slowly taper off the habit for as long as it takes, which could be a while but it’s still a better alternative than continuing to smoke and putting oneself and those around them at risk.

About the Author:

NUCIG is one of the UK's leading providers of electric cigarette kits of good quality. They also have a large selection of refills or e-liquids along with accessories on their website.

Is Signing Up for a Boot Camp Right for You and Your Family?

>> Dec 6, 2013

Fitness boot camps provide women with an opportunity to lose weight and get in shape in the company of other women and they’ve proven to be an extremely popular variety of fitness camp the world over. These camps are held regularly and range in length from a morning or afternoon to a week and sometimes even longer, with many held in exotic locations like Portugal and Spain.

Whilst these camps are an excellent way for women to shed a few unwanted pounds in the company of other women – one of many reasons why they’ve proven so popular – there are considerations to take into account before signing up, most of which are health considerations. Therefore, it’s important to make sure that signing up for a camp is right for you and your family.

Health considerations – Make sure you’re capable before signing up

Whilst the reason for joining a camp is to improve your fitness and lose weight, it’s important to ensure you’re in the physical condition required of you to do so. The worst thing that you can do here is to partake in physical activities that you’re simply not ready for and injure yourself or exacerbate existing health conditions. Many women who simply weren’t prepared for intense physical exercise have experienced health problems due to unpreparedness and the consequences are often very serious.

Whilst you might be in serious need of physical exercise it’s always advisable to start off slowly. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you and your family shouldn’t sign up for a camp, but rather that you might need to set yourself some exercise goals to achieve before the camp begins.

Prepare yourself

Too many women make the mistake of assuming that they’re going to be able to adapt to the exercises on a camp despite not having exercised in a long time. This could not only result in injuries and health complications, but it also often has the effect of discouraging them from trying again, which is often worse.

If it’s been years since you engaged in exercise and the camp you’re looking at joining concentrates on cardiovascular exercise, perhaps you should set yourself cardiovascular goals, for example, comfortably jogging two kilometres without a rest. If the camp you’re considering joining concentrates on core exercises to strengthen your core (midriff) and attack belly fat, then maybe you should set yourself some goals with exercises like planks or crunches.

Check with your doctor

Due to the potential consequences of joining a camp when not adequately prepared for the workout that will follow, it’s recommended that those over the age of 40, those who are clinically overweight or obese and those with known heath conditions contact their doctor prior to signing up. The potential consequences are simply too great to risk and you could find yourself in serious trouble by overlooking your health.

Your doctor will advise you whether or not you should join a camp and you must adhere to their judgement because your health, and in extreme cases your life, is at stake here and that’s not something that you can play with; you have to be sure that you’re ready for the fitness regime you’re signing yourself up for.

Basically the point being made here is to prepare yourself for the camp, all it takes is some mild exercise in the weeks leading up to boot camp and to make sure the camp you and your family joins is suitable. Bear these considerations in mind and you’re sure to have the time of your life on a camp held locally or at an exotic location overseas.

About the Author:

A company that has been in business since 2008, Prestige Boot Camp offers a number of boot camps for helping people meet their fitness and weight loss goals.

Setting Good Sleep Habits for Your Child

I know from personal experience that if a child is left alone, without any parental supervision over when to go to bed, when to wake up etc, he or she can end up having spent their entire teenage years feeling sleepy during the day and active during the night. This can have a profound influence on their young, fragile minds; so much so that it took me years to get my sleeping schedule in check. Teaching your child proper sleeping etiquette is a responsibility that shouldn't be taken lightly. But to teach, first one must learn, and in this article we are going to talk about the basics behind teaching your child healthy sleeping habits, and maybe learning a few things yourself.

http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs44/f/2009/107/7/3/sleeping child by smv84.jpg

Understanding the Circadian Rhythms

We have all heard of the so-called “biological clock”, or the mechanism our body uses to measure time and regulate its internal processes accordingly. Without it, our hormones will run amok and force our bodies into bizarre states of sleep deprived madness. All living organisms adjust their bodies in harmony with the day/night cycle; and young children are not exception.

Establish A Sleeping Schedule

When it comes to good sleeping habits in a healthy and young growing body; sleeping according to a fixed schedule is the best option. On average, children between 3 and 6 years of age, should sleep between 10 and 12 ours per night (and from 7 to 13 at least 10 – 11 hours). Assuming your child goes to kindergarten or school, waking up early in the morning is a must. In that case a good time to go to bed would be around 8-9 PM; giving your child ample time to get ready for the upcoming day.

Limit Caffeinated/Sugary Beverages

Caffeine and sugar act as powerful stimulants to the young, still growing brain. All major soda brands contain at least some caffeine and sugar; making carbonated beverages the worst enemy of any “good night sleep”. Ice-cream, chocolate and candy are also unacceptable during the later parts of the afternoon as well. Instead, why not substitute sugary drinks and desserts with healthy fruits and juices. Herbal tea is also good, as long as it doesn't contain any black or green tea.

Avoid Big Meals Right Before Bed

Don't allow your child to get full on junk-food and big course meals right before going to bed. Not only are you risking ruining your child's metabolism; but sleep is also affected negatively. Two hours are enough for the body to work through its final meal in peace. Add a healthy snack about an hour before bed to make sure that your child doesn't go through the night hungry. An oatmeal bar or some mixed nuts will provide an excellent, slow burning sustenance that won't affect your child's sleeping patterns.

Make Sure Your Child Gets Plenty Of Exercise

Playing in front of the computer all day might seem like “harmless fun”, but the truth is that the lack of regular exercising can lead to a variety of different health problems; like obesity, insomnia, irritability, poor concentration; difficulty learning etc. Sports might provide a quick fix that would also encourage young people to seek healthier lifestyles in the future. Also, make sure you child is not in front of any light-emitting devices, such as computers, the TV, tablets or smartphones – the light from such devices interferes with the circadian rhythm; making falling asleep more difficult.

Author Bio: Jessica loves to spend time with her family. She works a part time job at http://www.endoftenancycleanerslondon.com/se14-new-cross/ and has a lot of free time.