Smoking isn’t big or clever, we’ve all seen the warnings in the press or on the posters displayed pretty much everywhere these days. Despite knowing all the risks and wanting to be a non-smoker I’ve still failed to kick the habit. For me it has always been a way of escaping. When things get chaotic in my mind or I’ve been in a really stressful situation being able to take five minutes away from it has been invaluable. It also, ironically gets my breathing back in to a better pattern if I’ve been slightly hyper-ventilating.

These days I’m much better able to cope with these situations and my desire to smoke has been far less. Coupled with the fact I am getting back in to exercise the time really has come to make that push and get my already cut down cigarette consumption to zero. I was recently sent an e-cigarette from Intellicig and it’s been a great help. I know it’s swapping one thing for another really, but at least I’m cutting down on the toxins in a real cigarette and will only have the nicotine withdrawal to contend with.

Now I’m not advocating e-cigarettes as a healthy alternative to cigarettes, I do want to make that clear. I’d far rather I was able to do with through sheer willpower or use something like patches but fact is, for me they haven’t worked in the past and I don’t think they’ll work now.

Over the coming weeks I plan to use to e-cig more and real cigarettes much, much less. I shall post updates from time to time- I want to keep myself accountable and maybe be able to share/get advice from fellow quitters. Along with the intellicig I’ll be utilising the NHS Smokefree website and apps and trying to keep my nicotine consumption in general minimal.

I feel like this time I really want to be smokefree, perhaps in the past I haven’t and that is why I’ve failed. Time will tell and for now I just ask for some crossed fingers and any advice you may have.