Feature

Proud to be a quitter! 

We meet two readers who gave up something they loved in order to take control of their lives — with amazing results.

WHEN bookies’ manager Stella Hoey read our feature in January about laser therapy, she was stunned that she’d never heard of the stop-smoking treatment before. And she had no idea just what an impact the article was going to have on her life!

“I’m a big believer in things happening for a reason,” Stella smiles. “And that was the perfect example. I read the feature about Anne Penman’s weekend wellness retreat and, as a lifelong smoker, I just couldn’t believe that I had never heard of the therapy!

“I’ve been smoking for more than 40 years and have tried to quit both with patches and plain old willpower.
 I’m not good at going it alone though, I give up too easily! But I was intrigued by the sound of laser therapy and the fact that I’d be part of a group of people, so I phoned up straight away to enquire about the retreat.”
Fate intervened again as Stella was told the next course was the following day in Perthshire.

“I seized the opportunity, I didn’t tell anyone, I just jumped in my car and drove up from my home near Chester,” Stella continues. “I didn’t know what to expect but I liked the idea of the support we were going to be given by Anne, before during and after the therapy.

“When I arrived I met the 12 others on the course. We were all told to carry on smoking right up until our first treatment. It was great getting to know everyone, talking and supporting each other. I decided to have my last cigarette on the Friday evening as my first laser treatment was the next morning.

“I had three treatments over two days. I suppose it was a bit like acupuncture, painless with just a sensation on pressure points. After the first session I felt quite light-headed but instantly fabulous. It was a bit like going to the gym – you know, that rush of endorphins you get from a good workout!”

Stella found her craving for cigarettes completely disappeared in an instant. “It really is a miracle cure,” she says. “I phoned my three children and told them I’d quit smoking and they were over the moon for me. I really never ever thought I’d do this but I haven’t even had a weak moment.

“I’m so passionate about this therapy. I really want to get across how important it has been for me, as I don’t think it is well-known enough. So many people could be benefiting. 

“My life is so different now. My health is better, I feel good and my skin has improved so much. I used to love my cup of tea and a cig but I don’t even think about it now. In the sessions they talk about changing behaviour and making choices to change your life. And I’ve never made a better one than driving up north that day!”

By Dawn Donaghey.

SUSAN McINTOSH, a bus driver from Edinburgh, drove a bus all day and went home to order fast food and sit in front of a computer all night. She used local takeaways so often that they recognised her voice when she called!

But, determined not to turn 40 fat, miserable and unhealthy Susan decided to quit driving everywhere, ditch her favourite junk food and get active.

She admits that before she made that brave decision to turn her life around she was a virtual recluse. “I’d go to work but that was it,” she explains. “After driving a bus all day, I’d catch another bus home and spend the evening in front of the screen.”

With her 40th birthday looming in 2010, Susan joined her local Scottish Slimmers class. “I felt fat and unhappy — and wanted to be slim and fit for my birthday,” says Susan, who had tried losing weight many, many times before.

“To be honest, I thought getting to target weight was something other people managed — all I wanted was to get down from a size 22/24 to a size 14.

Susan thought that one of the most difficult habits to break would be her daily takeaway fix, especially as the highlight of her working day was a Subway roll at lunchtime.

“However, because I had plenty of Checks to spend as I liked each day, I realised I could still have the occasional takeaway after work and I was able to continue my lunchtime visits to Subway as they had a great range of healthier choices, including some new salads. And, thanks to my Positive Eating Plan, I also discovered lots of other tasty meals, especially salads. I love salads now — I’m the only person I know who asks for extra lettuce!”

A couple of months after joining Scottish Slimmers, Susan decided to break another of habit of a lifetime — by walking instead of catching a bus!

“I used to take the bus everywhere, even if I was only going one stop along the road,” reveals Susan. “On the very odd occasions when I did walk, I really struggled but, after losing a couple of stone in my first two months at Scottish Slimmers, I decided it was time to do something other than sit at home.

“I started with short walks and, although it was hard at first, as my weight continued to drop and my energy levels continued to rise, walking became an easy and very enjoyable way to get fit and tone up. I soon started walking to and from work every day and, on my days off, I would go for a long walk. One day, I walked over 20 miles!”

As Susan has found, being a quitter was the best thing she ever did — at over eight stone lighter and seven sizes smaller she is also so much happier!

“I celebrated being 40 and being slim and fit!” smiles Susan, who is now a size 8/10. “Three months later, I celebrated all over again when I reached my target weight of 10 stone, 7lbs. That was the best feeling in my life — and that wonderful feeling has been with me ever since!

“This has been such an amazing year,” she continues. “I reckon that I walk, on average, 50 miles a week. I’ve managed to get fit and I’m 100 times happier than I used to be.

“I look forward to nights out and men pay me the most fantastic compliments! Just the other day, a guy told me I was gorgeous, which was so lovely. And when I’m ironing my clothes, I keep thinking they’ve shrunk — but it’s not the clothes that have shrunk, it’s me!”

By Wendy Glass.