That's Fit

Whoopi Goldberg is all about honesty these days. She just recently declared her own personal war on smoking -- "Whoopi Kicks Butts" is the slogan used on her talk show The View -- and now she's speaking out about her love for junk food, the love that's caused her to gain 50 extra pounds.

"Folks don't tell the truth about sex and money or about what they eat," says Whoopi in the November 11 issue of Parade magazine. "But I'm not going to lie to you: I love potato chips, big bags of them. I love junk food. Not sweets. I like salt."

Whoopi isn't hiding the fact that she's been indulging of late. The extra pounds aren't hiding either, she says, which is why she's back on her diet. It's meat, vegetables, protein, and fruit for this Oscar-winning star who knows this is the way she's supposed to eat.

Whoopi has quite a challenge ahead of her. She wants to be completely done with smoking by December 15, and now she's taking on a major diet overhaul. The work may be hard. But the rewards will be oh so sweet.

WOW. My post about Whoopi's quit smoking venture has generated a bunch of discussion among readers. Right now, there are 91 comments -- and what powerful and inspiring comments they are.

Reader Janet says: I kicked a 14-year smoking habit by picking up a new habit -- a boyfriend who eventually became my husband. He didn't care if I smoked but I did. I quit for good one month before our wedding and we have been married 11 years next week! If I had a cigarette now I am sure I would vomit -- and that is enough of a deterrent for me! I highly recommend slowly phasing out an old habit with a healthful, positive new one.

Reader Mary says: I smoked 3 packs of cigarettes a day. I thought about quitting for years. Until one evening while I was driving home, I decided to try not to light up until I got home, then I decided to wait until I got ready for bed, then I decided to wait until morning.....etc etc etc....I lived like that for a couple of days and haven't had a cigarette since. All you have to do is put them down and the rest will take care of itself....

I caught a minute of ABC's The View on Tuesday and learned that co-host Whoopi Goldberg is trying to quit smoking. Good for her.

"I want to be done by December 15," Whoopi told her audience. A wise plan, considering smoking damages nearly every organ in the human body, is linked to 10 different cancers, and accounts for 30 percent of all cancer deaths, according to the American Cancer Society. Yet one in four Americans still light up.

Smoking is by far the leading risk factor for lung cancer. And it is far more dangerous for women than men. Now wrap your head around this fact: The nicotine found in cigarettes is as addictive as heroin. If that's not reason enough to stop smoking, I don't know what is.