The New Year is nearly upon us. This is the time of year that usually I’d give a quick thought to giving up smoking and just as quickly dismiss it as an idiotic idea. Why would I want to do that? Sure, I enjoy smoking, I can afford it and I’ll worry about the health consequences further down the line.

Well, it was suggested here in ‘NewsFour’ that someone give the Alan Carr’s ‘Easy Way To Stop Smoking’ book a test run and me, being the die-hard smoker that I am, reluctantly volunteered.

I’d be a heavy smoker (about twenty a day) and having recently gone back training and remembering it is necessary to be able to breathe when you’re jogging! My willingness to give up smoking has been increasing all year so, in the back of my mind I was hoping this book would give me the miracle solution to doing just that.

I have found the book very helpful and it has put a lot of things in perspective. The main reasons I would have for staying on the smokes would be: I enjoy about three a day (first thing in the morning and after meals), for something to do or when I’m feeling insecure and fears I’d put on weight.

This book dispelled all these notions and made me see how ridiculous my thinking is around smoking, so much so that for about three weeks when I was just starting the book I was on and off the smokes and then trying to cut down. Till I got to the chapter that told me not to attempt to cut down and to keep smoking till I finished the book. So, I duly obliged and went back full blast.

Still not having finished the book and still smoking, I’m not enjoying smoking as much as I once did, when I light one up now there’s a nagging voice in the back of my head telling me I shouldn’t be doing it. I plan to finish the book by the New Year and give it another go then so, I’ll let you know how it goes!

HSE launches Stop Smoking Campaign
Smokers planning to give up are urged to contact National Smokers’ Quitline which has 22% quit rate success. The HSE’s campaign encourages smokers to maximise their chances of successfully quitting smoking with the help of the National Smokers’ Quitline which provides support and information.

The Quitline is in operation from 8am to 10pm, seven days a week. Smokers can CallSave 1850 201 203 for further information and support.