Health Digest Daily » Bad Habits

Breaking the Bad Habit of Overeating

Sunny — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 17:00:20 +0000

Obesity is a top concern in the USA today and round the globe. And especially as more people join the computer-using world, more people sit longer, are less active, eat more and lose / burn-off less. So it's time for a time out and tips for breaking the bad habit of overeating.

Take a Time-Out

Start with a checkup at your doctor's office for advice and approval before beginning a new diet and / or exercise program. Then do some homework and research diet and fitness program online or at your local library. Online you can start at eDiets.com, as seen on television. Some of their featured diet and fitness plans at this time are:

- The eDiets Plan
- Bob Greene Plan
- The Suzanne Somers, "Lose weight and look great," plan.
- The G.I. Diet Plan, "Lose weight, increase energy," boasted as being Europe's hottest diet.
- The Atkins Approach, "Get slim & healthy on the original carb-smart plan."

This company also offers fitness programs, recipes, helpful articles and ezines and a lot more. For more information, contact them offline and online at:

eDiets.com
1000 Corporate Drive
Suite 600
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33334
Toll-Free Nutrition Support: (800) 265-6170
Nutrition Support Email: nutrition@ediets.com

Healthy Alternatives

Toss aside that bad habit and replace it with healthier ones like these:

* Instead of overeating, work a part-time job or extra hours to earn money for your new diet and fitness fun and clothes.

* Instead of overeating, over-read and learn how to cook healthy meals and how to build up your body.

* Instead of overeating, have fun with friends or by yourself. Take a hike, ride a bike, go to a movie, volunteer, baby-sit for a friend in need, take a class and park far from the entrance for more exercise.

* Instead of overeating, shop for healthy fresh fruits and vegetables plus low-fat or no-fat dips to go with them.

* Instead of overeating, go out with a friend who is also trying to lose weight and top overeating. Team up and help each other beat your bad habits!

* Instead of overeating, plan your success path, how many pounds you'll lose per week (2 is average) and how you'll get there (exercising more, eating less) and log your meals, snacks, fitness activities each day. Plus fill in your thoughts, successes, failures….

Be your own best friend and finally take time to take care of yourself. Go for it!

Breaking the Bad Habit of Being Physical & Emotionally Abusive

Sunny — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 18:00:20 +0000

Physical and emotional abuse happens to men, women and children worldwide and for any number of reasons. But regardless of the circumstances, place, time and other issues involving the abuse, taking internal pain and anger out on others is a bad habit that needs to be stopped, no matter what gender the abuser is and no matter what age.

To help stop abuse there are plenty of 12-step programs available for both abusers and co-dependent people in relationships with them who get caught up in their cycles of physical and emotionally harm. Contact your local authorities for help immediately, especially if you or any elderly, handicapped and / or children are in any danger. And work with them and your healthcare provider to get help for you and your family with counseling, therapy, and possible mediations, etc.

And for more help, here are some tips:

Get a Grip

Both abusers and victims need to get a reality grip. No one is a punching bad. And hurting people is illegal, regardless of whether or not they are blood relatives, friends or anyone. It is illegal to intentionally harm others, and repeated abuse is intentional; it's no accident.

To abusers: get help to break your abusive cycle. And in the meantime, journal out your strong emotions and line up 'things' to abuse instead of people, like punching bags, pillows, a pile of blankets, etc. (things that will not harm you, either, when you punch them, unlike glass objects that could cut you.) When things trigger your anger, leave the scene – with one of your anger-release tools (a pillow is easy to grab) and your journal. Punch your pillow as needed to release pent up anger and hostility, calm down by taking deep breaths and cooling off with a cold drink or ice cream, then write out what triggered such fierce emotions, and how you could help overcome these in the future (like avoid conversations with hot topics or people when they irritate you, etc).

To victims: likewise get help to stop being co-dependent and a blanket for receiving abuse. You need to break the cycle on your end, too. Journaling will also help, as you journal why you feel like jumping into battles and staying in them and your progress to recovery.

Help and Support

Both abusers and victims need to continue to get treatment to heal, plus support systems in place for new healthy friendships, encouragement along new paths and replacing old bad abusive relationship habits with new healthier habits like journaling and going out on a walk to cool off with a cold soda.

Breaking the Bad Habit of Alcoholism

Sunny — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 14:00:19 +0000

Unfortunately alcoholics are often portrayed as funny. And equally unfortunate is that too many others stand by and encourage their antics, laughing at / with them, etc. When the reality is a drunk is a drunk. Period. And he or she is not funny, he or she is drunk. Period.

Alcoholics cause unending tragedies in the lives of everyone around them and simply hide behind their addictions, withdrawing from responsibility and the people around them. They are narcissist, thinking solely of themselves and their inflated egos they need to pump up all the time. In short, television's drunken, abusive, self-centered characters are not popular, never were. So it's time for a reality check.

Do a Reality Check

Both alcohol abusers and the unfortunate victims in their paths need to get a reality grip.

Alcohol drinkers note: there is no sure number of alcoholic beverages you 'can' drink and be fine – not for anyone. Drinking alcohol is like playing Russian rullet, as you never know which drink will tip the scales and kick off your habit. So put your loaded pistol down and stop drinking altogether.

Seek alcoholic anonymous groups online or through the Yellow Pages, your doctor, hospital or other healthcare avenues. The only person you're fooling with your drunken, superman antics is yourself. And the sooner you wake up and realize it, the sooner you can get help and your loved ones can actually start leading their own lives out from under your sick thumb. There is no sweet-talking here. You are sick and need help NOW. Do not delay.

Victims, stop thinking the alcoholic will 'change' because he or she won't, in all likelihood. These people are so egocentric, they wouldn't notice you and your needs if their lives depended upon it. You are not bad, you are not the cause of their ill state of mind and addiction and you haven't caused any of it at all – -no matter what the alcoholic tells you.

There are groups out there free of charge to help children and adult children of alcoholics. So find local ones that meet in your area via Internet searches, a counselor or therapist, the Yellow Pages or your healthcare provider or local hospital emergency room and seek help for yourself. You deserve to be safe and have a nice, healthy life from under an alcoholic's thumb and abuse.

And the reality is if – -and that's a big IF – -the alcoholic in your life gets help and accepts it, it could be at least 10 years before he or she even gets to dealing with any issues at all that include you, because they have so much self-centered issues to face and try to overcome. And you don't need to waste at least another decade entangled in their lives like that when you deserve better and it's out there. Focus on healing yourself and enjoying your own life and healthy loved ones.

This doesn't sound sweet and happy, no. It's a reality check though. So get real and get moving – in the right direction, not chasing your tail and running in circles like you have in the past. That didn't work and never will. That's the reality of breaking the bad habit of alcoholism.

Breaking the Bad Habit of Gambling

Sunny — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 03:30:33 +0000

Gambling is a very bad habit for many people. In fact, the National Gambling Impact Commission posted a report that shows at least 2.5 million people are affected seriously in some negative way by gambling, a whopping 1 + percent of the population. And areas where gambling is a huge industry, like Las Vegas, move then 5 percent of the populations there are affected in a negative manner.

With that many bad gambling habits going on, some serious steps are needed to combat the affects. And here they are…

Step One: Acceptance

The first step to overcome a bad habit is to accept that you have the habit to deal with and take responsibility. Understand that the unhealthy habit took time in the making, forgive yourself for it and move on.

What actually happened is that the bad habit developed over time, as the number of visits to the gambling establishments increased, the length of time in them increased and the amount of money spent there increased, etc. And it didn't happen overnight due to one pull of the one-armed bandit, in other words. So stop worrying further and just decide to tackle the issue now.

Step Two: Change

No change is no change, as they say. So start to think and act better. Go check out self-help books on how to create a positive mental attitude and how to stop gambling, for starters. Check out support groups and specific help for gamblers, starting with any Gambler's Anonymous groups in your area and online.

Also get support people lined up in case you need help and for times when you need understanding, encouragement, a shoulder to cry on, advice and more. Develop your list with contact info for any healthy friends, neighbors, church members, healthcare providers, online forums, etc.

Step Three: New Good Habits

The main way to stop a bad habit is to replace it with a good habit. So take a little out to brain storm and figure out what you can replace gambling with like the following

* Instead of gambling before work, you could moonlight and put your creative energy to work earning extra income to pay off old debts while building a nice, new business for yourself, something you'll be proud.

* Instead of gambling during your off-hours (evenings, weekends, holidays…), start a reading list of all types of content from fiction, to inspirational, to humorous, to the classics, etc. Then make it a goal to catch up on reading.

* Instead of gambling, do some journaling, logging your progress, hopes, desires, challenges, mishaps / failures, pick-me-up times, new friends, etc. along your new success path.

* Instead of gambling, stand up. Plant your feet firmly on the floor, take slow, deep breaths, relax and then go do something else: bake your favorite cookies, bake a cake for a friend and invite him or her over, bake cookies and donate them to your church, do one thing on your To Do list (like clean your car, your bedroom closet, your basement, etc), spend time with your new healthy friends, etc.

Break your bad habit by starting a good one today, and get help as needed. You can do it!

Breaking the Bad Habit of Internet Addiction

Sunny — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 15:00:11 +0000

The Internet offers such a wide variety of information, fun, games and more. But it also offers a new addiction for mankind: Internet addiction. Symptoms can include excessive checking of email throughout the day; excessive use of the Internet; participation in illegal, unethical, immoral and / or unhealthy activities online like gambling, excessive gaming, porn, etc.

But there's hope! Just like other addictions, there are 12 step groups and plenty of other support for Internet addicts. And here are helpful tips, too.

Break for Offline Time

First of all get help by checking with your doctor for referrals and any 12-step recovery programs in your area. Even if you don't have a group specifically targeted for Internet recovery yet, you can easily adapt most 12-step programs to suit your own addiction.

As you can, enlist the help and support of healthy people offline in the real world to help, too. Discuss the issue with people who will hold our confidence and offer support and encouragement, but it's not wise, at least at the beginning, to share with people you don't trust much or who have been known to not hold confidences. You need to feel safe to disclose info, to let it out and get past it with people who are mature enough to handle it.

Alternatives to Online Fun

A wonderful way to overcome a bad habit is to replace it with a new and good habit. So get creative, grab a notebook and write out alternatives to being on the Internet.

* Replace Internet time with extra work at a part time job earning money to donate to a worthy cause and to put towards a dream trip with your mate or best friend or mom, etc.

* Replace Internet time with a list of reading to catch up on: non-fiction, health, fitness, fiction, finance, business, etc.

* Replace Internet time with fun activities offline like walking to the park, walking with a friend and / or dog, biking, exercising, participating in a fitness class, enrolling in a local college, volunteering at any number of places that need help, etc.

And last but very important, each day, log when you get on the net, what you do there and why, and then log when you shut down, so you can monitor yourself and be responsible for your time online. Show your logs to a friend in confidence, if you like, to be held accountable for your actions. And make a date to do that once a week.

Breaking the Bad Habit of Codependency

Sunny — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 18:30:54 +0000

Often at the root of family addictions is at least one party who is the codependent person in the relationship, also known as the enabler. This person is the kind who would avoid mentioning an elephant standing in the middle of the room and talk about anything else but the animal. And although that sounds funny, it isn't. In fact it's sad, because most codependent people don't even know they have this problem.

What happens is usually cyclical; i.e. probably in all likelihood happened when the codependent person was a child in a family with an addict or other abuser there. In order to survive, this person simply joined in the game, ignoring problems like addictions and abuse, hoping they'd go away and making them see much less than they were so they'd the pain the abusers caused would somehow be lessened inside – and out.

What needs to happen to break the bad habit of codependency are a couple of things:

Accept Responsibility and Take Charge

First own up to the fact if you are codependent. And then you need to take charge of the situation and heal, for yourself and your loved ones.

You deserve to be treated in a decent manner and not abused or used by an abuser. And your children also deserve the same rights and opportunities. So if you and your loved ones are not safe, get safe and get started on a recovery path now. Hesitating could mean serious trouble, so don't delay. Seek help from local authorities and healthcare agencies as needed.

Get and Keep Getting Help

Draw up a list of people and groups where you can continue to seek help long term through your change in old, bad habits associated with codependency to keep handy at all times; like local authorities and healthcare providers. And include a list of people for your own support team together with these; they need to be healthy people for moral support and other types of support you may need: healthy friends (no abusers!), clergy, neighbors, family members who do not abuse or accuse but encourage, coworkers, etc.

When the going gets tough, reach out and seek help. It can be scary and dangerous going it alone, and you don't need to if you just reach out.

A good therapist or support group can help you spot triggers that lead you to codependent actions like fighting with a drunken spouse instead of leaving the scene and taking loved ones with you to a safer, healthier environment. So find help and also journal your path of change, noting bad codependent habits along the way and how you can change them.

Breaking the Bad Habit of Sex Addiction

Sunny — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 10:15:12 +0000

Sex addiction here refers to a person having sex with multiple partners, usually without his or her spouse or significant other knowing about it. It's also a bad habit that needs stopped for a variety of reasons: ethical and moral issues, trust and marriage / relationship promise issues, health issues, abuse issues and more. So to help all parties involved, here are tips for breaking the bad habit of sex addiction.

Face the Music

The first step to recovery is to acknowledge that you have a problem. And as unpleasant as this may sound, having multiple partners is not a positive way to life, as mentioned above. It may sound fun, awesome and powerful, etc. on television and at the movies, but in reality you're dealing with lies, deceit, unseemliness, disease, unsafe situations and environments, people operating illegally and more. This is not anything you need in your life, or the lives of your loved ones.

So quit with the fantasies and leave those to Hollywood and the nefarious side of life. Remember:

- They're not real. And people you buy aren't in love with you or your sex-making abilities. They just need money.

- You're not the stud or princess that you think you are. You're real and human like everyone else. And that's life. So learn to live it like the rest of the population – in a safe, healthy, positive manner. There's plenty of fun, adventure and risk there without the unsafe, unhealthy, illegal stuff that could land you in jail.

Get Help

Breaking any addiction can be difficult at best, so don't try to re-invent the wheel. Just get help and make the best use of it to recovery. You can search the Internet or ask your local healthcare center (doctor, hospital, etc.) for information about 12-step programs in your area, licensed counselors and therapists for one-on-one counseling and group therapy – for you and your family.

Also head to the public library for self-help books to improve your mental attitude and to motivate and inspire you to recover. Ask your librarian for help and resources, too, like videos, DVDs, cassettes and other library items you can order and check out.

In addition to reaching out, reach inward and journal to touch base with your inner self. Write out your expectations and the reality of where your sexual addiction actually lead you. This is a private journey so be honest with yourself and don't worry about grammar and spelling. Just write out your own personal experience like you would with a diary.

Breaking the Bad Habit of Drug Addiction

Sunny — Sat, 10 Mar 2007 13:00:12 +0000

Getting high is not as high a time as some might think once they start hooking up with either illegal drugs or abusing drug prescriptions. What may have once been a euphoric episode quickly turns into a nightmare resulting in deep losses of money, time, jobs, status, mental and physical health, self-esteem, hopes and dreams, relationships, homes, cars and other possessions and ultimately life. Nothing at all is worth all that. Not one thing.

To help with breaking the bad habit of drug addiction, here are some helpful tips.

Accept Responsibility

To help beat this bad habit, you first must face reality and accept that you need help. Be responsible for your life and what you're doing and take charge. There are no more excuses and places to hide. You used them all up with your last drug.

So face reality. It's time. And it doesn't have to be scary. You are never alone, regardless of which religion you were raised with. The Lord is always there with you (or as many say in 12-step programs, 'your Higher Power."

Grab a journal and a Bible as your two main tools to recovery. And seek professional help starting with your doctor for advice and recommendations.

Get and Stay Motivated

As you go down the path to recovery, do reach out and find new healthy friends to associate with and leave the users behind. This is a must, no matter what you believe your heart and other organs and emotions and nerves feel. You absolutely must move forward with healthy people at this point.

For help cutting off old contacts and establishing new ones, consult your physician or therapist and social worker, if you have one. Again remember, you are not alone in any sense in this healing and recovery stage. There is also plenty of help online and at toll-free numbers in your local Yellow Pages. Reach out and carry a list of help around with you 24/7 – -and use it!

Renew your old library card and go to the public library to check out books on how to improve your mindset and get a positive attitude, plus find materials (videos, DVDs, cassettes, etc.) on motivation and inspiration to help with your recovery. Ask your librarian to see if he or she can help you find targeted books on drug addicts in recovery, too.

Bottom line: slow and steady wins the race. So go get 'em. You can beat drug addiction!

Breaking the Bad Habit of Smoking

Sunny — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 20:45:13 +0000

Once glamorized on television shows, in magazine ads and other places, cigarette smoking can be one bad habit to quit. In fact it's one habit that people often start at a very early age, from childhood on. And it's one habit that has a high death rate resulting mainly from cancer associated with smoking.

People try to stop cold turkey, the turn to religion, patches, nicotine gum, hypnosis and more. With so many choices available for help, here are some tips to add to them in order to conquer bad cigarette smoking habits once and for all and breathe fresher, healthier air.

Change Mindset

Start thinking clearer, and your mind will lead your body to a clearer, healthier state. You can begin by heading to your local library and checking out books, videos, cassettes, DVDs and other resources to help you stop smoking. Other good topics are on self-improvement, healthy diets, and motivational and inspirational themes. See if there are any support groups in your area on any of these subjects and search online for forums to find friends to work through any issues with and have fun with to get your mind off smoking and onto better subjects.

Also line up some support people on your home front, off line. You don't need friends who still smoke that will say things like, "Well, a half a pack a day isn't bad, don't worry about it." You need encouraging, healthy friends to see you through the good times and bad times like you'll see them through in exchange. So get a list going of people you can reach out to instead of reaching for a smoke: healthy neighbors, family, friends, etc.

Develop Healthier Habits

A great way to break an old habit is to start a new one. So here are some you could replace smoking with like; instead of lighting up:

* Put your cigarette money aside in a jar and save it for a special celebration trip somewhere fun.

* Instead of picking up a cigarette, pick up a book, magazine, newspaper or newsletter and catch up on your reading.

* Instead of smoking, do some journaling, logging your pain, agony, hope, improved health, etc. Have fun and use magic markers and stickers in it and don't worry about your spelling!

* Instead of smoking, go to a gym and work out or work out at home or outside.

* Instead of smoking, do something nice for someone else- and don't tell them!

OK, time to get moving. Go get 'em!

Breaking the Bad Habit of Gaming Addiction

Sunny — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 11:15:10 +0000

Sadly today those XBoxes, Pleystations and other gaming equipment are causing gaming addictions for people of all ages, both genders. People stop eating meals because of them, talking in sentences, talking with live people and more.

But fear not! All is not lost. Because as there is help for other addictions, there is help for Internet addicts as well. So let's jump in with tips for breaking the bad habit of gaming addiction.

Time Out

Begin by seeking helpful resources and advice from your family doctor. He or she may have therapist referrals and information about 12-step recovery programs of all types in your area. If you do not have a 12-step group specifically for helping Internet addicts in recovery, you can adapt nearly any 12-step program to focus around your own addiction. So drop in a couple of groups and check them out.

Plus, gain the help and support of a healthy person or couple of people in the real world to help you, too, if possible. This will help hold you accountable and will encourage you be responsible for your own recovery.

Healthy Alternatives

Since the best way for many to overcome a bad habit is to replace it with a healthier habit, get creative, grab some paper and a pencil and jot down healthier alternatives to being on the Internet like some of these:

* Replace gaming time with moonlighting to afford to get some new clothes and go out on the town with some friends to dinner and a movie.

* Replace gaming time with a list of non-gaming reading to catch up on (no cheats either!!) Don't forget there are many more types of reading materials out there: political and military books with cool history; self-help, motivational, inspirational and other non-fiction topics; diet and fitness; cookbooks galore; fun fiction; science fiction; business and finance, etc. Explore the world of books again!

* Replace gaming time with fun indoor or outdoor activities: walking through the local park with your hound dog or a neighbor or their dog, etc; riding a bike, exercising at a health club or local gym; enrolling in night classes at a local university or college; volunteering to help others.

Log your days and journal about what you've accomplished. What worked well; what didn't. Be accountable and show your best friend to discuss your recovery plan of action. Revise as needed and continue on.