 HOW
DID YOU DO ON NATIONAL NO SMOKING DAY?
What no smoking day I hear you say! The dreaded Wednesday
in March came and went with not so much as a mention
amongst my friends and family. There are still a few
smokers amongst us, but getting fewer all the time,
so how did the latest two kick the habit?
Chrissy
36 years old smoked 20+ a day for 20 years!
I work in quite a very busy environment based around
healthcare, yet there I am at every opportunity running
out of the door to stand in the wind and rain to fuel
my addiction! I am the last of my friends to quit,
they have all started families so gave up ages ago.
I think my motivation was that I just got fed up with
having to leave what I was doing to go and stand outside
to smoke, plus I missed lots of gossip and stuff while
I was out there! Knowing that the smoking ban was
coming up in July, I knew I would be stood outside
at the pub too, this just felt like the last straw,
so I spent the last of my Christmas money on Nicotine
patches! I stayed on the patches for about three weeks
and then felt like I didnt need them anymore so went
cold turkey. I was feeling pretty pleased with myself
because I have tried to give up loads of times, but
only ever lasted a few days. I have done 3 months
now and I know its still early days but I just keep
reminding myself that I do not want to be controlled
by cigarettes anymore and it seems to keep me going.
Sue
44 years old, smoked 25-30 a day since forever ago!
In my late teens and early twenties I only smoked
around 10 a day and it just seemed to escalate, I
suppose the more I smoked, the more I wanted to smoke.
A stressful job and a busy family life meant that
I smoked when I was stressed, I smoked when I was
tired, I smoked when I was enjoying myself, I suppose
I used any excuse like everyone else, I quit for a
special reason, I was going to be a Nana! I have been
a non-smoker for a year now and I know my chances
of getting to a ripe old age with my granddaughter
have greatly increased. I also put the money I would
have spent on cigarettes in the bank for the first
two months
.. then blew the lot on treats for me
and the baby! I went cold turkey from the start and
there were times I could have cried, I even sat outside
the corner shop for fifteen minutes one time, debating
whether to run in for a pack of twenty! Thankfully
my willpower help and even though I put on a bit of
weight in the beginning, now that is coming off again,
I feel great.
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TOP
TIPS
Drink plenty of water, this will help to clear
the toxins from your body, it will also help
you feel a bit fuller and stop you reaching
for a pudding after meals. |
Take a Smokerlyzer Test, this is available at
lots of pharmacies and involves you holding your
breath for a few seconds and then blowing into a
tube. It tells you the amount of CO2 in your body
4 weeks after you quit, take another test your
results will amaze you!
Try something new it does not have to be bungi-jumping
or salsa dancing, something simple like Suduku or
pinch one of the kids hand held games, it could
be just what you need to occupy the brain!
Try NRT Nicotine Replacement Therapy comes in
many forms, patches, chewing gum, lozenges, inhalators
and microtabs. Take some advice from your GP or
pharmacist and they should be able to recommend
a product right for you. They are not a miracle
cure, but they do take the edge off your cravings.
Treat yourself to mini rewards along the way.
Try not to make these cake and biscuits or the feeling
great about quitting smoking will turn into feeling
fed up with your new love handles!
Finally, do not give up giving up, they say that
the average smoker tries about 8 times to quit before
they finally crack it, so do not be too hard on
yourself if your willpower does not hold the first
time, just keep on trying. Good Luck!
Happy people are
usually healthy people!
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