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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, May 13, 2010

Get healthy, quit smoking and exercise, gals


By Paula Rath
Advertiser Staff Writer

LEARN MORE

Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii, http://www.hmhb-hawaii.org; Text4Baby, www.text4baby.org

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National Women's Health Week is under way, and for women interested in living a healthier lifestyle, quitting smoking is a good way to start.

Some suggestions from Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies, a local organization encouraging Hawai'i women to live healthy lifestyles:

• Throw out the cigarettes — having them around is a temptation.

• Know your smoking triggers. Your mind is conditioned to want a cigarette in certain places, at specific events, when you're with particular people, or when you're feeling a certain emotion. As you're in the process of quitting, take the time to recondition your mind.

• Drink lots of water. Cigarettes contain thousands of toxins. While you're quitting, take the opportunity to flush some of the poisons out.

Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies is part of a national coalition that promotes healthy practices for infants, mothers and their families through partnerships, advocacy and education. As part of National Women's Health Week, and with the theme "It's your time," the organization is encouraging moms to avoid risky behaviors, such as smoking and not wearing a seat belt; get at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity, 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity or a combination of both in each week; and eat a nutritious diet.

Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies recently launched a new, free mobile education program called Text4Baby that provides text messages with tips and information for expecting and new mothers, up to one year after birth. To participate, text BABY to 511411 to get free cell phone messages weekly to help with pregnancy and baby's first year.

Contact Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii at 951-5808 or info@hmhb-hawaii.org.