(Quitting soda is going very well for me. Despite being sick and wanting ginger ale and Saltines, I have managed to fall off the root beer wagon only once since quitting more than two weeks ago.)

Whether it’s a pill, patch, gum, motivational tape or hypnotist, every person trying to quit seems to have some kind of trick up his or her sleeve. Today, I talked to a woman who, so scared by the fact she started coughing up blood on the way home from work one day, threw her cigarettes into Lake Decatur and abandoned her two-pack-a-day habit more than 20 years ago. She’s 81 today.

A lot of people with whom I’ve discussed this topic lately have attempted quitting with the aid of a drug regimen. My mom quit cold-turkey when I was in second grade, and she’s never gone back.

It’s funny, but I only have several very vague memories of her smoking. I know she made an effort not to really smoke in the house or around me, but I came up with a huge guilt trip to help her quit. I remember several times when I would catch her smoking, give her a hug and tell her she shouldn’t smoke because I loved her.

(Now this might seem hard to believe, but I had a very irresistible face at age 7, and my powers of persuasion were at their peak.)

I recently came across an interesting Health.com article about “10 Crazy Ways Smokers Finally Kicked the Habit.” From burying their cigarettes in the yard to eating dog biscuits, these people tried it all. Have you had success in quitting? If so, how did you do it?

Before I start to sound like a Yoplait commercial, let me just tell you — I’m stoked. I haven’t been to the new Wendy’s yet, but I plan to check it out.

I am a wholehearted believer that if we eat a healthy, balanced diet at least 97 percent of the time and exercise like we’re supposed to, we can afford to splurge on a few of the foods we really like once in a while.

There are a hundred Internet fast-food calculators out there that let you explore the specifics of your favorite restaurant’s menu from the privacy of your home. If you’re going to make a habit of driving through before driving home every night, there are a couple things you should consider.

First of all, chicken does not always equal healthy. Many fast-food chicken sandwiches are deep fried or slathered with some kind of mayonnaise-based sauce.

The Washington Post’s Fast Food Calorie Counter, based on information from the restaurants’ Web sites, indicates that Wendy’s Homestyle Chicken Fillet has 540 calories and 22 fat grams. That’s more than the Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger, which logs in 380 calories and 19 fat grams. At McDonald’s, a five-piece order of Chicken Selects has 630 calories and 33 grams of fat. That’s 70 calories more than a Big Mac.

Second, beware the salad. If you’re looking for a healthy choice, some items with the word salad in the name can be deceivingly unhealthy.

According to the Post’s calculator, Taco Bell’s Fiesta Taco Salad (with the shell) has about 870 calories and 48 grams of fat. Not quite what you were expecting? You can have several Fresco-Style Ranchero Chicken Soft Tacos and still be safely under that total.

Burger King’s Fire-Grilled salads range from around 180 to 210 calories without the dressing, which ranges from 35 to 120 calories per serving. If you can trick yourself into believing they’re delicious (I obviously can’t), reduced fat or fat-free dressings are the way to go.

One book I really like that makes some similar comparisons at more than 100 restaurants is David Zinczenko and Matt Goulding’s “Eat This, Not That,” which provides an analysis for some of the fare at popular food joints.

Familiarizing ourselves with fast-food offerings can help us incorporate them into our everyday diets guilt-free. If you plan out what you’re getting before heading to the drive-through, it can help you avoid an unwanted last-minute calorie splurge.

In the coming months, I plan to explore the situations of a variety of people — from retirees and their health care benefits to those living without insurance or public assistance. Again, I need your help. My articles will only tell stories as diverse as my sources, and I need your assistance in finding them.

Do you know of someone who has trouble affording his or her health care due to hardship or the daily realities of a chronic condition? Health care systems are interesting beasts, and health care reform is a hot topic.

I believe the best ways to understand both are to listen to the stories of the individuals working and dealing with health issues every day. Send me your thoughts.

Usually, a fairly healthy diet combined with my love of sleep and a pretty regular exercise schedule, keep me pretty energized and active. When I do those things, I feel as if I can conquer the world. Today, I think I’ll feel lucky if I can make it through awake.

Just for laughs, I did some Googling on causes of tiredness and some home remedies. One site is certain that my thyroid has gone kaput. Another site insists that eating an apple will help keep me awake. Another site recommends, juice, ginseng and the natural sedative valerian will have me feeling back to my old self in no time.

I think I’m going to take a nap.

The Hippocratic Oath states:

“In every house where I come I will enter only for the good of my patients, keeping myself far from all intentional ill-doing and all seduction and especially from the pleasures of love with women or with men, be they free or slaves.”

“All that may come to my knowledge in the exercise of my profession or in daily commerce with men, which ought not to be spread abroad, I will keep secret and will never reveal.”

Do physician-journalists honor these statements? Are they bound to a different code of ethics? In the article, some argue that patient care that hits the airwaves is not being done for the right reason but rather for the benefit of the news organization, the physicians’ employers or the doctors themselves.

The Journalist’s Creed, penned in the early 1900s by Walter Williams states:

“I believe that the public journal is a public trust; that all connected with it are, to the full measure of their responsibility, trustees for the public; that acceptance of a lesser service than the public service is betrayal of this trust.”

Can physician-journalists simultaneously be the servants of their patients and the public? Do they feel conflicted by the ethical promises they have made to work in both of their chosen fields?

I can’t imagine working in an environment like the one in Haiti, let alone feeling bound to two separate duties.

All too often, journalists feel conflicted by their duty to observe the truth without influencing or becoming a part of the story and the unspoken moral code of being a human being. In my lifetime and my chosen profession, I can only hope to truthfully and thoroughly tell the untold stories that will somehow, someday make the world a better place.

I know it’s probably too early to notice a difference, but I think I feel better. Maybe it’s just a mental trick I’m playing on myself, but mealtimes seem more enjoyable, and I feel less of a desire to guzzle the sweet, carbonated stuff between bites.

I’m still craving soda, but I know I’m not going to have any, so there’s no bargaining with myself. It’s still difficult. There have been times at work these past couple days that a Diet Coke would really have perked me up, but I just want to see what happens if I can stick to my goal.

What have you made an effort to give up? And what tricks did you have to play on yourself to do it?

On a totally unrelated topic, I spent quite a bit of time the other day geeking out on this gallery of science-related tattoos that Discover Magazine has put together. There are equations, chemical symbols, plenty of Latin phrases and even an entire periodic table. Who says geeks aren’t cool?

I love diet soda. I’ve been known to down as many as seven or eight cans of the stuff a day while working at my desk. But this month, I’ve felt the need to make a change. It’s become my drink of choice over all my healthy favorites, and frankly, it’s time for something new.

I need to drink more plain old water, milk, iced green tea and Spicy Hot V8. I miss them. They hang out in the back of my fridge like the kids who never get picked for kickball, and Diet Coke gets all the action at breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Yesterday, I made the decision to cut soda out completely. I did it once in college, and I lasted six months despite walking through the all-you-can-drink pop paradise of the dining hall several times a day. That option works better for me than limiting myself to one a day (because sometimes I “forget” I had one until it’s too late).

The studies are really still out as far as the health pros and cons of drinking diet soda, but I guess drinking anything by the gallon is probably not the smartest move. I’ve read articles that suggest that diet sodas, although calorie-free, can lead to cravings for sweet treats and serve as a replacement for more nutrient-laden drinks.

I guess it’s a little bit of psychology and a little bit of biology. But since I can’t moderate my intake, it’ll be zero tolerance for me for a while.

I always wanted to cross-country ski, but my parents moved me to Texas in fourth grade — just around the time I might have gotten serious about it. Grrrrr. And we all know there’s never enough snow in Texas.

There’s sometimes a lack of snow in Minnesota, and there’s rarely enough in our part of Illinois. But this past week has dumped a bunch of the frosty stuff on us. And the Rock Springs Conservation Area provides the chance for area residents to give skiing and snowshoeing a try.

If you’re looking for a new and different form of exercise, you might want to get out and give it a go this weekend. I think I will.

Rock Springs Nature Center has skis sized to fit 3-year-olds through adults, and snowshoes also are available for youth and adults.

You can rent the cross-country skis, boots and ski poles for two hours for just $8, and $2 for each additional hour. $20 will get you a 24-hour rental. Snow shoes are the same price.

The center is open for rentals from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. Skis must be back by 4:30 p.m. on weekdays and 4 p.m. on the weekends.

Visit the Macon County Conservation District Web site or call 423-7708 for information on workshops and updates.

OK, so it’s not that bad, but when I hear McLachlan’s “Answer” or “Angel” or Merchant’s “My Skin,” come on during a commercial break, I scramble to change the channel. A college friend of mine would cry every time the spots came on. I miss her (and the other friends who would point them out to her each time).

It’s tough to see those sick, injured, abused and neglected dogs, cats and other animals on the screen — especially when my own furry companions are happily chasing each other around the house or snuggled up on the couch.

If you know me, you probably know that I love animals. I’ve even posted on this blog about the joy my dog Alice gives me and the recent losses of two longtime family pets.

Recently I’ve been working on a story about the influx of animals at local shelters. Some are unwanted or unexpected Christmas presents. Others are casualties of the current economic climate.

With some people left to choose between feeding their children or feeding their pets, medical care or veterinary care, some four-legged friends are finding themselves homeless.

Representatives from no-kill shelters Homeward Bound and the Humane Society of Decatur and Macon County report animal populations that are full or nearing capacity. And the Macon County Animal Control and Care Center is feeling the burden of abandoned, neglected and relinquished animals, too.

A pet is not a toy, an accessory or a piece of furniture. It’s not something you can use up and put out to the curb when you’re through. When you take an animal into your life, you make a commitment to protect and care for that living being.

I urge those of you who have fallen on tough times to do right by your pets. If you need to consider making some sacrifices to keep them in your lives, try it. If giving the animal to a shelter or rescue organization is the responsible action, take it.

It’s never the right thing to do to dump an animal. Doing that is irresponsible and unsafe to people and creatures alike.

To those of you thinking about adding a pet to your life, consider rescuing one of the dogs or cats already crowding area shelters. Just make sure you are able to make the financial and emotional commitment it takes.

You’ll find a grateful friend for life in a rescue animal.

I don’t mean to say I don’t like a gooey pizza dripping with cheese and overflowing with meaty, greasy toppings as much as the next gal. I love climbing my way to the top of a pile of super nachos and eating my way back to solid ground. But on the regular, I try to eat like a good girl.

A couple weeks ago, I tasted something that made me do a double take at the label. I usually don’t buy into something because it has the label “organic” or “fat free” on it, but I do eat a lot of foods like that. I try to eat things I know are generally good for me and take everything in moderation.

My girlfriend pointed out some Greek yogurt that was on sale when we were at the grocery store. She had tried it before, and didn’t care for the texture, but I threw a few containers into the cart.

My first taste of Stonyfield Organic’s Oikos Greek Yogurt was like biting into a spoonful of something sinfully delicious. I had been eating the vanilla and blueberry varieties of the stuff for breakfast for a week when it finally occurred to me to look at the label. Something that creamy and delicious had to be bad for me, right?

I had read online that Greek yogurt is traditionally higher in fat than regular yogurt. I looked at the label on my Oikos — Total fat: 0g. I had failed to notice the “0% fat” label right on the front of the package. And there were 110 calories in the entire 5.3-ounce container, only 11 grams of sugar and 15 grams of protein — stats that would rival even the healthiest of yogurt snacks.

Regular nonfat yogurts have about the same number of calories, more sugar or an artificial sweetener and less protein.

I normally wouldn’t write a whole blog in total praise of a product like this, but you don’t understand. When I eat this yogurt, I want to move to New Hampshire and earn my keep by lovingly taking care of the cows responsible for producing it. I had eaten Stonyfield’s soy yogurt before and really enjoyed it, but this yogurt takes the cake.

Heck, it beats cake hands-down.