Our SmokeFree Hull client Lenny quit smoking over a year ago now, and you can too. Join him and others on No Smoking Day on Wednesday 13th March, to spread the word that stopping smoking can be done, and you’ll feel happier and healthier afterwards.
“I was brought up in the care system and in foster care, and I grew up in a family who smoked, so it was always available in the house. I started smoking when I was 11 years old with kids in the street, but this was in the 70s/ 80s, and they hadn’t banned smoking in public back then.
I tried several times over the years to quit, using nicotine replacement products like sprays, and I’ve also done it cold turkey too. However, I was still surrounded by friends and people who smoked, so I didn’t really have the willpower to give it up properly. I was getting fed up with having to go outside to smoke in my break times, and I didn’t want to spend my breaks doing that anymore.
I work for Longhill Children’s Centre, and so I’m with the public and children all the time, and some of the parents and even my manager commented on the smell of smoke on me. It was really embarrassing to be honest, as I’m a professional, so I knew I needed to do something about it.
I also mentor new staff coming in as well, and I thought it wasn’t giving a very good impression when I go out for a cigarette or I come back in smelling of smoke, on the new employees.
We have a SmokeFree Hull stop smoking clinic at the centre where I work, and I thought I need to be an advocate for them too, to represent the service and stop myself, so I made an appointment to see them.
My stop smoking advisor Jo went through all the different stop smoking products I could try, but having used some of them before I didn’t want to this time. Jo said I should get rid of all of my smoking paraphernalia, so it wouldn’t remind me of smoking, or trigger me, and this really worked.
Whenever I felt a craving, I would just put a Jakeman’s cough sweet in my mouth instead. This was last February, so it was winter then, and I started having about 6 of these a day, but then gradually went down to 2 or 3.
Jo was really helpful with providing behavioural support and advice to me throughout the programme. She talked about my smoking habits, and how a cigarette works in the body, and what happens with cravings. I had a CO reading as well, and seeing the results, made me want to do better each week, as I could see the difference in my body.
The hardest part for me was when I went out drinking or socialising as I associated this with having a cigarette. However, I learnt to distract myself and keep my hands busy. I’m a really active person, so I continued to go out walking, cycling, and I do Aqua Zumba too.
I’ve saved so much money stopping smoking, and it’s improved my health immensely. With the money that I’ve saved I’ve actually put back into my health too, as I’m seeing a foot practitioner for my feet, which has really been such a benefit to me.
My wife has been really supportive too, and she says it’s not like kissing an ashtray anymore! I’ve also noticed that I don’t have yellow fingers since giving up, and my sense of taste and smell has come back.
The advice I would give to anyone thinking of stopping smoking is that you have to have your own willpower to succeed. Don’t pretend to stop, as this doesn’t help anyone, and it’ll be harder when you finally do stop. It took me 10 years to reach this point, and now I’ve been smokefree for over a year, and I feel great!
Thank you loads to Jo and her team at the SmokeFree service for all their support, I would highly recommend the service to anyone wanting to quit!”
If you’d like free support to quit contact SmokeFree Hull on 01482 977617 or visit our website.
Start your smokefree journey today, on No Smoking Day!