From paintings to flying planes: Liz's rewards for quitting smoking
Pieces of art, flying a plane and jewellery. Those are just some of the gifts Liz Gray has bought herself to celebrate each anniversary since she stopped smoking.
As part of Stoptober - an annual public health campaign that challenges smokers to quit in October, with evidence showing that people who stay smoke-free for four weeks are five times more likely to quit for good - Wirral residents can get help to quit smoking through A Better Life Wirral.
It is a free stop smoking and vaping service run by ABL Health, commissioned by Wirral Council.
The service provides 12 weeks of tailored one-to-one support, specialist practitioner advice and access to quit aids such as Nicotine Replacement Therapy.
Liz, who works for Wirral Council, decided to stop smoking after having her son. As the first anniversary of quitting approached, she spotted a painting while shopping in Liverpool.
Initially, she felt she could not justify the price of buying it before realising she had saved enough money to treat herself. Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) data estimates the average smoker in Wirral spends around £2,964 per year on tobacco, which equates to approximately £247 per month.
Each year, Liz still marks each smoke-free anniversary with a special present – and the painting still hangs in her living room.
Around the time it was the first anniversary, I was decorating. There was a picture of an African sunset that I loved and would look great in my living room. I saw the price and thought I couldn’t justify it.
But after leaving I realised because I’d saved a lot of money over the year. It was an achievement.
I treated it as a non-smoking present. Every year, I have done that. Flying a plane was really good. I thought the pilot would have the most of the control but I did quite a lot of the flying to Wales and back.
Liz started smoking aged 17 and, before quitting, she averaged around 20 cigarettes a day. That increased if she socialised during evenings, at a time when smoking was allowed in pubs and bars.
As time went on, Liz knew the harm she was doing to her body. Smoking increases the risk of serious conditions including heart disease, cancer, dementia and high blood pressure.
Liz feared that she would develop a serious health condition and potentially leave her son without a mum, which prompted her to quit.
Day-to-day, I had a really bad cough, especially in the mornings. I decided it was time to stop.
The main thing is that I wanted my son to have a mum. If I carried on smoking the way I was, I thought I’d end up not being around when he was older.
There are a range of recommended ways to help people to stop smoking. Having tried hypnotherapy and acupuncture, Liz found that it was Zyban tablets that helped her after being recommended by her doctor.
The tablets stopped the craving because it puts a block to the brain. You take them for eight days when you’re still smoking.
But even during that period, when I wasn’t attempting to cut down, I was down to 10 cigarettes on the third day and three on the final day. It was already helping me and then from the Monday, I never thought about it at all.
The tablets were amazing. I’d stopped smoking a number of times, and quit when I was pregnant. But once I had a baby, I started again.
Now I’m not even tempted when people smoke around me.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy is a range of medications to help quit smoking, with many effective products available. Liz recommends people trying to stop should check out all of the options recommended by A Better Life Wirral.
Something might not have worked previously but there might be another thing that is successful.
About A Better Life Wirral
A Better Life Wirral’s stop smoking service is free - due to being commissioned by Wirral Council - friendly and can massively boost your chances of quitting for good.
The 12-week quit programmes are run by expert advisors who provide a range of proven methods to help you quit.
Fully trained advisors give you accurate information and advice, as well as supplying up to 12 weeks of free Nicotine Replacement products or vapes.
ASH data suggests that smoking costs Wirral £240 million per year, with residents spending around £80 million on tobacco products.
*Prescription charges may apply. Products are prescribed by GP practice.
