Welcome to our Stoptober SmokeFree Hull Newsletter, packed with lots of useful and fun tips on coping with cravings, activities to try, and success stories, to support you on your smokefree journey.
Meet the team - SmokeFree Advisor Jo
Our SmokeFree Hull team is here for you, we’re all passionate about helping our local community stop smoking and making you feel happier and healthier. So, let’s get to know them better!
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I spend time with my family and children. We like going to the beach, taking long walks, and watching TV – I love all the home-makeover shows!
If you had to listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I’m not sure I could pick just one song, I really enjoy all different types of music and different eras of music.
What job did you want to do when you were younger?
I wanted to be a nurse when I was very young. I was always trying to take everyone’s temperature!
Why do you enjoy working as a stop-smoking advisor?
I like working with people and enjoy helping them to make positive changes in their lives. I like listening to others and helping them to feel more confident in making changes. It is very rewarding when people succeed in quitting smoking, and it makes a big impact on their life and their family’s life.
What are three items you’d take with you to a deserted island?
My mobile phone, a huge bar of chocolate, and a private plane to get home as I would not survive in the wild for long!
What’s your favourite food?
Tapas.
Why did you choose to work in smoking cessation?
I have always enjoyed working with people and within healthcare.
Do you have any pets, and what are their names?
No pets…. I had a budgie when I was younger called ‘Magic’!
If you could pick up a new skill or hobby in an instant, what would it be?
To play the piano or learn a new language.
What would be your idea of a dream holiday?
Somewhere warm and sunny with a private beach and lots of cocktails.
Staying smokefree this Stoptober
The month of October is the time that a lot of people think about stopping smoking, and to show our support, our advisors have put together some helpful tips on staying smokefree for Stoptober and beyond.
We believe in you!
Stoptober Tips
Motivations for quitting
Have a reason to want to quit, write this down and pop it somewhere visible to remind you of your goal or schedule it as a daily reminder in your phone.
Often you can lose motivation as the weeks/months go by, so it’s a good idea to revisit your reasons for giving up tobacco in the first place whenever you’re struggling.
Set a quit date
You are more likely to quit if you have a date and time in mind and don’t make it too far away as you will become less motivated. Getting prepared will help build confidence that you can quit on this date.
Get rid of smoking paraphernalia
Avoid places and things that you associate with smoking, like having a night in instead of going to the pub. If you drink coffee with your cigarette then swap to tea. These types of changes can help to break the connections.
Get rid of all your tobacco or cigarettes – Do not keep anything for ‘emergency situations. If you do, you are already doubting your decision to be a non-smoker. You will find a way to manage those situations in a different way as a non-smoker, and this will help you to stay quit whatever comes your way.
Coping with cravings
Prepare some coping techniques in advance to help you overcome any cravings, like sucking on a sugar-free sweet, making a cup of tea, or taking a turn around the garden.
Get yourself fit to quit: Get a good night’s sleep, eat healthy food, drink more water, and increase exercise within your capabilities. This will make you more physically able to cope with withdrawal symptoms.
With Halloween fast approaching maybe you’re thinking of attending a spooky-themed party, so designing your costume will help to take your mind off those cravings and keep your hands busy.
Rewards
Break the 28 days of Stoptober down into smaller chunks, maybe 7 days at a time, and plan a small reward each week such as a relaxing bath, a walk with friends, or a small gift for yourself to remind you how well you’re doing.
Whatever your reasons for quitting smoking in Stoptober, for your health, your family, or pets, financial motive, or because you just wanted to, don’t lose sight of your goals, and know that we’re here to support you.
Sara's success story
"I started smoking when I was 13 or 14 years old, this was firstly at school and then I carried on throughout my life. My daily routine was to wake up and have a cigarette every morning alongside a coffee. I would then sit and have three cigarettes in the space of 10 minutes, before going to work, and then I would be smoking throughout the day too. I would then have more cigarettes at home, and it just became a habit really.
When I had my first child, I stopped smoking throughout my pregnancy as I knew it was the best thing to do for my daughter, but when she was four months old, I started smoking again, as the stress of having a newborn, and the fact that she suffered from cholic and didn’t sleep, made me turn to cigarettes to cope. It was a coping mechanism and then I thought that it was too late to stop.
My daughter is 14 years old now, and she’s tried a cigarette, seeing her smoke, and knowing I smoked at a young age too, made me mad and I told her off. Even my youngest daughter will put a lollipop in her mouth as if she’s having a cigarette, which isn’t good. I wanted to stop smoking for my family, to be a good example for my children.
I also work as a carer in a nursing home, and I could see patients with COPD getting Covid, and I knew I didn’t want to end up like that. They would struggle with their breathing and would cough all the time, so this helped motivate me as well. My mum has COPD as well and she still smokes, I keep telling her to use the service too.
I’ve tried to stop in the past, I used patches and Champix previously, but the cravings were always too strong. I just couldn’t settle with it. I’ve used the SmokeFree Hull service before as well, and they were really helpful at the time, but I just wasn’t ready to fully commit back then. I suffer from bad migraines and the stress from smoking was making my migraines even worse, so I knew I had to give it up. I first cut down then, by smoking in the morning and then only vaping in the afternoon.
I remember the day it clicked properly for me though, I woke up and went to work, it had been a stressful day, and stress was always my trigger, so all I did was drink coffee and smoke. On this day I realised I’d had so many cigarettes without even realising it. So, I officially quit on the 24th of April after ringing the service for support again. I used the inhalator and patches together this time and it worked.
I struggled initially especially in my second week, but I’m doing really well now. If I ever get the urge to smoke, which I still do sometimes, I just keep myself busy or occasionally still have a drag on my vape, but it has very low levels of nicotine in it.
I can feel the benefits of not smoking now, I have more energy than when I was still smoking. I used to have an unhealthy lifestyle and only drink coffee and have cigarettes, whereas now I enjoy food again, which has allowed me to gain weight in a good way. I have much more of an appetite now, and my smell and taste have improved which is great. My mum still smokes, but I insist she smokes outside, so it’s not around the kids, as I can really tell the difference now, and it smells horrible.
My stop smoking advisor Emily was really supportive and helpful, she was always prompt with my NRT products and gave me good advice. I enjoyed our calls together and the support she provided.
I would advise anyone thinking of stopping smoking, to give the SmokeFree Hull service a call. However, I would say that you must be ready to quit, only you can decide this for yourself, you cannot be told when to stop. You call the shots initially, and then the service is there to help guide you through it.
I’ve already recommended the service to a few of my friends, as I know they’ll feel the benefit too, the best bit is their support, and the process is really easy in collecting your treatment too!
Pumpkin soup recipe by Stop Smoking Advisor Chelsea
Staying healthy and smokefree means more than just stopping smoking. Eating a healthy, balanced diet is an important part of maintaining good health. Plus, in October, there are some great autumn recipes to keep you warm and smokefree. Here's Stop Smoking Advisor Chelsea's recipe for pumpkin soup.
Pumpkins are a valuable source of fibre, vitamins, and minerals. They contain Vitamins B6 and B12, which help to convert foods into energy, and fibre from the flesh of the pumpkin helps with stabilising blood sugars and makes you feel fuller longer.
Pumpkins also contain Vitamin C which not only helps to keep away colds and flu, but helps keeps your skin, teeth and gums healthy. Smokers have less vitamin C than non-smokers, so having more vitamin C in your diet is beneficial, and enhances your quit too!
Preparation time less than 30 mins. Cooking time 30 mins to 40 mins. Serves 6-8.
Ingredients
- 1 large onion finely chopped
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- I large Pumpkin deseeded and chopped into chunks
- 700ml vegetable stock or chicken stock
- Salt and pepper.
How to make it
- Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan then gently cook the onion for 3-8 minutes until soft, but not browned.
- Add your chopped pumpkin into the pan then carry-on cooking for 8-10 minutes until very soft and it starts to turn golden in colour.
- Add 700ml of your chosen stock into the pan and season with salt and black pepper, bring to the boil then simmer for 10-20 minutes.
- Puree with a hand blender or for a creamier consistency pour through a fine sieve. Add salt and pepper as required.
- Serve into soup bowls, add a swirl of fresh cream, and serve with crusty warm rolls. Soup can be frozen for up to two months.
Healthy lifestyle links
We tell everyone about the importance of having a healthy lifestyle when stopping smoking, this not only helps with your quit attempt but also makes you feel happier and healthier in general.
Below are some great tools and activities you can try yourself, showing there are lots of good reasons to get moving and look after your mental health.
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Change 4 Life
Gives you easy ways to eat well and move more. It has tips on mental health, healthy recipes, and activities to enjoy, including ideas for kids.
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Better health
Healthy changes start with little changes. Whether you want to lose weight, get active or quit smoking, Better Health has lots of free tools and support.
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Get Hull Active
Becoming more physically active is all about feeling better, and this site has lots of different local activities to try for all capabilities.
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Home-workout videos
You don’t have to leave the comfort of your own home to keep fit, you can protect both your mental and physical wellbeing by trying these home-workouts too.
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Hull City Council Sports and Leisure webpages
The Hull City Council Sports and Leisure webpages have great ideas on walks in the city too. One of the best ways to discover what’s on offer in the city is to take your time and enjoy a leisurely stroll. It is the cheapest and easiest way to start improving your health and wellbeing without a gym membership!
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Every Mind Matters
Having good mental health helps us relax more, achieve more and enjoy our lives more. The NHS have expert advice and practical tips to help you look after your mental health and wellbeing.
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Hull and East Yorkshire Mind
For local information, advice and support for your mental health.
Get in touch
We’d love to hear from you!
The service has had to adapt in many ways over the past 18 months, and we want to know what has worked, and what we still need to improve upon.
Your opinion matters to us, so please complete the survey here, so we can do better!