“I have attempted to quit umpteen times in the past using patches, lozenges, gum & I even went to hypnotherapy (twice), all attempts to quit were futile because, in my opinion, I was trying to quit for the wrong reasons… I knew I should quit, I was quitting for somebody else, I was quitting to save money or I was quitting for my health.

“All of the above reasons are valid and true reasons to quit, the only difference this time is that I WANTED to quit, the WANTING is the key.

“My last cigarette was on 29^th November 2009, I was using Zyban tablets and going for 1 to 1 support with NHS Sheffield’s stop smoking service. I also read the much acclaimed book “The Easy Way to Stop Smoking” by Alan Carr. Together, this book and the fantastic support from my stop smoking adviser, I not only successfully stopped smoking, I also stopped using the Zyban after 2 weeks into the 12 week course.

“Over the Christmas and New Year period, I was experiencing a very stressful time, I watched my mother pass away very slowly from secondary breast cancer. I still did not resort to smoke ‘to ease the stress’ because I knew it wouldn’t help me get through it all, people lose family members all the time, whether they smoke or not, so I believed I could cope through this as a non smoker and I have, with flying colours.

“I also joined a gym 2 weeks before I quit to help with the “new” lifestyle. 1 month after not smoking, my health improved vastly, this is a combination of working out and not smoking. The difference was a huge boost to me and proved to me that quitting has made me a much healthier and stronger person, not just physically but mentally too, my outlook is so much more optimistic and positive.

“A positive mental attitude and some determination, we humans can achieve anything we want to, if we WANT to.

“If you are trying to quit smoking and you fail, don’t be down hearted or hard on yourself, try again. There are no rules to quitting, we are all different in how we do things, if it takes another 10 attempts before you DO quit, so what, at least you tried and eventually won. Remember, you are not missing out on anything by quitting, you only stand to gain.”

 Is New Year a good time to quit? Let us know your experiences, positive or otherwise. 

Have you kept to your resolution of a smokefree lifestyle?  Let us know.

For info and support on stopping smoking call Sheffield Stop Smoking Service Helpline  on Freephone: 0800 068 4490

Free confidential support and advice to help you stop smoking is available in Sheffield, close to where you live work & play. The Sheffield NHS Stop Smoking Service provides highly effective programmes that include a weekly support package and nicotine replacement therapy, such as patches or alternative medicine.

The NHS support package is many more times effective than willpower alone. Giving up smoking will improve your health and save you money. It will also protect the health of your family.

Find your nearest service by giving us a call today free on 0800 068 4490, to do the one single thing that can dramatically improve your health almost straight away!

Contact us here at Sheffield Stop Smoking Service and make the start of 2010 the best start you can by Quitting! Ring us on 0800 068 4490

I gave up smoking thanks to the support. Try it ! I did and have never looked back.

I gave up in April 2007 and used patches which worked. Feel A1

Never easy to quit but easier with NHS support.

Best thing I have ever done, Did it with help from the local chemist.

What I saved in a year – I took the whole family to Florida.

Best thing I ever did giving up smoking. I smoked for 40 years. No more bad chests or clothes smelling. It’s hard but don’t ever give up trying, it’s all worth it.

Stopped 2002 and saved £7300 already!

Support is free and confidential, we are just a phone call away! Sheffield Stop Smoking Service 0800 068 44 90

Did you know that stopping smoking lowers your blood pressure and saves you money! The perfect stress release, give yourself a stress free Christmas and contact the stop smoking service on our free phone number 0800 068 4490

Why not come along to one of our local drop in clinics and start that quit now! We have clinics at various locations around the city :-

Tuesdays

5.30pm-6.45pm Christ Church Hackenthorpe -  Suspended until further notice

6.30pm-7.30pm Woodseats Primary School Suspended until further notice

6.30pm-7.30pm The Venue Stocksbridge

Wednesday

9.30am – 12.30pm Darnalls Children Centre (suspended until further notice)

5.15pm-6.15pm Foxhill Medical Centre

Thursdays

3.30pm-5.00pm Hillsborough Leisure Centre

5.30pm-6.30pm Firth Park Clinic

5.30pm-7.00pm Burngreave Vestry Hall

For further details on these clinics contact the Stop Smoking Service on 0800 068 4490

If your out doing your Xmas shop during the Saturdays in December, pop down to 106 Pinstone St (next to Nottingham Building Society) we are at the back.  We’re sharing the shop with Charity Unleashed company.

Call in to speak to one of our advisers and get yourself on the road to quitting! Visit this blog regularly and tell your fellow smoking friends. We’re Here To Help!