This is the story of how Jim and Sandra packed up smoking.

I had smoked since I was about 11 years old (now 64). I stopped smoking but started again when I went out with Sandra. We were 17 and 16 years old and I used to help her get rid of the packet before her mother found out.
Anyway, for years we smoked and I was down to 1/2 ounce a day of french 'Disque bleu' rolling tobacco and Sandra was on 20 odd a day.

They ran a program at our village surgery. You got 2 weeks patches and then went back to see the nurse and got a second supply etc.

Now,here is the things I found out about tobacco when we started the program. Smoking tobaccco is addictive, we know that but what is more addictive is the habit of smoking tobacco. You smoke because your brain is used to you smoking.. have a cup of tea at tea break.. you have a fag... 'fag break' If you go to the pub to have a drink..you have a fag. If you are bored with nothing to do.. you have a fag.

So, step one you have to stop all activities that you (or that makes you) associate with having a cigarette. For 2 weeks you have to stop having tea, coffee or any stimulant drink that would normally make you have a fag. This means staying out of the pub (its only two weeks lads, it can be done) or not drinking at home. Eat low spiced food, eat fruit, drink fruit juice, no vindaloo's etc.

You have now broken the train of thought that is the stimulus for smoking. Patches help you get over the nicotine but the real addiction is the mind that will play all sorts of tricks to make you light up. 'I haven't smoked for a week so one wont hurt will it' Yes, it will. You have to look at a cigarette packet the way a reformed alchoholic looks at a bottle of whisky..as long as it is closed it is harmless. But one more is the first of many.

Have a goal in mind, something to aim for, something that will remind you of what a heel you are if you backslide.
Does it work? We had a granddaughter on the way and we did not want her to be brought up in a hose full of smoke. We stopped in February and she was born in June 1993. We have not smoked since.