Article by Rosy Holt
We met Rosy 2 weeks ago when she offered to share her ‘Love Not Smoking Journey’ with us with the support of professor Karen Pine of Hatfield University (co-author of the book).
The first two weeks of Karen’s Love Not Smoking programme involves preparation, and a series of exercises to try some ‘Do Something Different’ exercises to give your usual routines a bit of a shake-up, and to start breaking the habits associated with our smoking. Here’s how Rosy got on:
“ I didn’t smoke as much as I smoked the first time I gave up but it was still between 8 and 10 a day and once on the slippery path it would be so easy for the 8 to slip to 9, the 9 to 10 the 10 to 11 which would be too many for my liking. The date to give up smoking had been chosen (March 18th) two weeks ahead and so I approached the first step in the two weeks of preparation.
Two weeks to prepare to give up smoking seemed like a long time to prepare and I wondered what sort of preparation would or could be needed that would take two weeks. I suppose I had imagined goal setting exercises and listing all the reasons why I wanted to give up smoking but I definitely never imagined the preparation would involve a task of eating something new or any form of cooking, but it did. Some of the tasks I thought quite odd but I could see the purpose, well I tried to convince myself I could anyway, even if at times it was a bit of a struggle.
I suppose most of the preparation was in fact changing habits and trying new things learning about triggers which surely would be able to help when I was used to automatically reaching for a cigarette with my coffee after a meal.
I did do all of the tasks not perhaps the day they were supposed to be done, some had to share a day with another task but they all did get done, how do I feel now that the 14 tasks have been done much the same as I felt before to be honest, “this not smoking is something that just has to be conquered”! ”
Love Not Smoking: Do Something Different
karen pine
Well done Rosy, you’ve started on your journey – and I love your conquering spirit!
Remember the programme gets you to do different things so that those old smoking triggers get less of a look-in. I know you’re a busy lady but the more you can shake-up your schedule the easier it will be to resist the urge to smoke. And we’re right behind you, supporting you and willing you to succeed! x