Health & Beauty - Strive and Strive
Strive and Strive
We've got some top tips to help you quit
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Thinking of giving up smoking?
We’re always looking for ways to help our online bingo community members look and feel better, and with the smoking ban coming into effect soon, some of you may be thinking about giving up. There are loads of different methods and techniques to help you quit, so we thought we’d give you a rundown of some of the most popular and effective ways to help you on your way.

You may find some of these methods work better for you than others. At the end of the day, it is about finding a method that you feel comfortable with and fits into your daily life. Don’t forget that you can also post your stories and top tips for quitting on our new miniblog, for a chance to win one of hundreds of health and beauty vouchers.

Write a list of reasons
This is a good way of prioritising why you might want to quit. For example, maybe you want to ‘do it for the kids’ and want to give up to improve their health, or you may be spending a lot of money on cigarettes and money that could be used to treat yourself or your family. Why not set yourself a realistic date to stop smoking by and stick to it?

Think of the money
If you’re a heavy smoker, you could be rolling in it if you decide to quit. The NHS Smokefree website has a simple calculator so you can work out how much money you’ll save depending on how much you smoke. For example, someone who gets through 60 cigarettes a day could save around £500 a month. Over 10 years that’s an astonishing £60,000 in your back pocket. Why not try the calculator for yourself?

Tell your friends and family
Friends and family will offer you support and reassurance, so tell as many people as possible that you’re going to quit and you’d like them to help. If you live with someone who smokes, why not stop smoking together and that way you can help each other through it.

Join a Stop Smoking Clinic
The NHS offers Stop Smoking Clinics in many parts of the country, so there will probably be one near you. Tests have proven these clinics to be much more effective than quitting through willpower alone. All sessions take place with a specialist advisor and you can find out more by talking to your GP, Dentist or Pharmacist. Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) may also be available to you on NHS prescription. The NHS site, www.gosmokefree.co.uk gives listings of local Stop Smoking Clinics so you can find something in your area.

Ask about Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)
Need something to do with your hands rather than hold a fag? Want something to chew on to replace your cigarette? Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) gives you lots of different options if you don’t think you can do it on your own. NRT can help if withdrawal symptoms are making it harder for you to quit. Nicotine gum, sprays, patches, tablets, lozenges, and inhalers are just some of the products available. Using NRT roughly doubles your chance of stopping smoking if you really want to quit. Your pharmacist, GP, practice nurse or Stop Smoking Clinic can advise about which product would suit you best.

Alternative Therapies (also known as complementary therapies)
There are also a number of alternative therapies, such as hypnotherapy and acupuncture, available from private companies and specialist health centres. These vary in price, success rate and the number of treatments needed for it to be effective, but many people are turning to these types of treatments if they can’t manage to quit through willpower alone. The British Complementary Medicine Association can give you information about different therapies and suggest approved therapists in your area. Call them on 0845 345 5977 or log onto www.bcma.co.uk.

Don’t fret over withdrawal symptoms
When you stop smoking, you’re likely to get withdrawal symptoms. These differ from person to person and may include nausea (feeling sick), headaches, anxiety, irritability, craving, or just feeling awful. These symptoms are caused by the lack of nicotine that your body has been used to and should ease after the first 2-4 weeks but remember, feeling healthier and wealthier will soon replace any bad feelings you may have. NRT can help with some of these symptoms, so ask your GP, dentist of Pharmacist if you’re struggling.

Be positive about quitting
There are loads of positives you can take from stopping smoking. When you quit, you’ll look and feel better, have more money, be able to taste your food more, you’ll smell better and cough less. Don't feel bad if you fail at first- it will make you stronger next time. On average, people who eventually stop smoking have made 3 or 4 previous attempts.

And finally, get rid of all your ashtrays, lighters, and cigarettes! Out of sight, out of mind!

If you are thinking about stopping smoking because of the smoking ban on July 1st, you may find some of the websites listed below useful:

Come back soon for the next in our series of smoking-related articles.