We've loved seeing Andrea progress on her quit journey! After accessing our service, we sat down with her to ask her about her experience.
Please tell us approximately when you started smoking:
I was 12 years old and went onto smoke for 25 years.
Do you remember why you started smoking?
I remember it was because of peer pressure and that it was “cool” to be a smoker in school.
How many cigarettes per day were you smoking on average?
On average, I was smoking between 11 and 15 cigarettes a day.
What were your reasons for quitting?
My daughter is the main reason I wanted to quit. I wanted to be a better and healthier mum for her and set an example.
How did you access stop smoking support?
I had one-to-one appointments with my adviser Emma, and I was given a prescription of Champix for about six weeks; I stopped smoking in the first week. My weekly meetings made a great difference and the regular text messages helped keep me on track. The service throughout was 10 out of 10!
Has your health improved since you quit and, if so, in what ways?
Oh yes, absolutely! I breathe better and feel better. Suddenly I don’t feel tired anymore.
Have you achieved anything since quitting that you could do whilst smoking?
Climbing three flights of stairs without getting out of breath and I now go to the gym three times a week at least!
What do you like about not smoking?
EVERYTHING! The fact that I’m not smoking anymore makes me feel invincible; I can do anything! Food and coffee taste better than ever before and I smell nice and don’t have bad breath anymore.
Do you have plans to treat yourself with the money saved?
I’m currently refurnishing the bathroom which I had previously put off for three years. My time with my daughter has tripled! And she’s proud of me for having stopped smoking – what more can I wish for?!
What would you say to anyone who has recently started smoking?
Mate, that is stupid!
If you feel inspired by Andrea's story and would like support in quitting smoking, register for a Callback Request today.
