IT is said to be one of the most addictive habits known to man, with some drug users even reporting it is easier to give up heroin than tobacco.
But today Chris Wood is among many smokers considering kicking the deadly habit as part of the Stoptober campaign.
The 29-year-old, of Newhouse Road, Stoke, is looking forward to the challenge, after spending ?25 per week on cigarettes for more than a decade.
Chris, who smokes between 10 and 12 cigarettes per day, said: "I've smoked for 11 years and the funny thing is, I don't even enjoy it.
Mot & winter check ?49 inc vat.
Full vehicle safety check inc lights & levels.
Terms: Telephone 01782 940150 to make an appointment please
Contact: 01782 940150
Valid until: Friday, December 27 2013
"I started when I was 18 and going out all the time to pubs with my mates.
"It's one of those things that everyone does once you have a pint in your hand and your with all your mates. It's very social and everyone around here does it."
Health experts say smoking is killing around 500 people a year in the Potteries where one in three adults smoke, compared to the national average of one in five.
"I did it even though I didn't like it. It was very addictive and it was hard to stop, especially when you're out and everyone's smoking and drinking," Chris said.
If successful, Chris will now save ?1,200 a year by giving up and he already knows how he's going to spend the extra cash.
He said: "I'm going to spend all the money I'm saving on Christmas for my little boy Charlie.
"He's three-years-old and he's into absolutely everything so it would be really great to buy him loads of toys and have a special Christmas.
"I have quit once before so I'm completely confident that I can do it again. It's really hard but I know I can quit.
"I only quit for a year last time and tried going to the gym but it didn't last very long. I was smoking again within a year because I was out with my mates all the time."
The dad-of-one is convinced that this time giving up will be for good.
He said: "I don't go out as much any more now I have my family and I can't handle the hangovers."
Smoking accounts for more than one-third of respiratory deaths, more than one-quarter of cancer deaths, and about one-seventh of cardiovascular disease deaths.
So Chris is also looking forward to reaping the health benefits.
He said: "I've decided to do an eight week fitness challenge that will really push me to my limits and I've decided to quit partly because of that.
"It's a mix of cardio and weight training, and it would be really tough to do while smoking. It's all about progression and being as fit as you can be ? which wouldn't be very fit if I was smoking. I could feel it on my chest when I started and it made it difficult to train."
"You feel much better and healthier and I'll be able to do this fitness programme and enjoy it. I want to be able to run around with my little boy and keep up."
Chris also starts a new job on Monday as an engineer with Alifab.
"It will be hard at the new job to not go out to the smoking area but I'm sure I can do it.
"My girlfriend is always moaning at me about it too. She'd over the moon that I'm quitting."
His girlfriend Georgina Lewis, 25, said: "It's brilliant that he's quitting, I really hate the smell. You can always tell when he's had a smoke because he stinks.
"I worry about the health problems that it can cause too. It will be great to have all the extra money at Christmas."
More than two hundred smokers in Stoke-on-Trent have already signed up to join the campaign this October.
Are you trying to quit? Email us at letters@thesentinel.co.uk
Million Second Quiz sunday night football boardwalk empire cbs sports fox sports grandparents day Tami Erin
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.