Stop smoking: Two weeks on

Two weeks into their New Year's resolutions, how are our "stop smoking" volunteers getting on?

Which of the many stop smoking methods available is most effective? To find out, we've recruited five guinea pigs from the BBC hutch. Over the next few weeks, our volunteers will chart their progress on these pages.

METHOD ONE: COLD TURKEY

Graphic designer Jesse Brown is trying sheer willpower (and carrot sticks).

"Another week down, and only one small transgression: I had a cigar on Saturday at a friend's birthday. In my mind it doesn't really count, so I don't feel too guilty.

"I am certainly not out of the woods yet, and after a few drinks feel particularly vulnerable. But I am really enjoying this new sense of smug satisfaction, and that's keeping me going.

"Plus my girlfriend and sister have both given up too. It's been 19 days so far, and if I can get to the end of the month it will feel like a bit of a milestone. I don't feel much healthier or more energetic, but the hangovers aren't so bad. Well done me."

METHOD TWO: ACUPUNCTURE

Ulyssa MacMillan has opted for acupuncture treatment at Neal's Yard Remedies.

"After a particularly stressful week at work I am sad to say that I have succumbed. The willpower crumbled (though I shouldn't have been relying on that I suppose) and the acupuncture, while nice at the time, obviously wasn't enough to keep me from my bad habits.

"The acupuncturist said that I should actually do a course. Who knows, perhaps with the incentive of a session each week - and the prospect of disappointing the acupuncturist - would have been enough for some people.

"I'll be trying hypnosis and willpower again when my work has calmed down a bit."

METHOD THREE: BEHAVIOUR MODIFICATION

Stephen Fottrell is using Allen Carr's book, Easy Way to Stop Smoking.

"Until last Thursday, I had been doing well: five days without a single smoke. But a trip to the cinema was my undoing.

"As I watched unapologetic chain smoker Colin Farrell chomping his way through a fistful of cigarettes in the film Intermission, appearing to enjoy each one more than the last, I caved in. The minute the credits rolled I dashed to the nearest shop and enjoyed possibly the most satisfying smoke I'd had in, well, about five days.

"That was followed up by a few on Friday, a few more in the pub on Saturday and a couple here and there since. None of this puts me at odds with Allen Carr's instructions - to keep smoking while I'm reading his book - although I've never taken so long to get through 140 pages.

"With just a few chapters to go, I've grown sceptical about my chances of quitting."

METHOD FOUR: E-MAIL MOTIVATION

Sarah Brown has signed up for e-mail counselling.

"Well it's been a mixed bag over the past few days. I smoked twice, once on a rather boozy evening out with a friend (who, to her credit, did not pass judgement) and again the following night. However, I only had three cigarettes that entire night, which in four hours of pub-drinking time is - for a former heavy smoker - something of a miracle.

"I have been e-mailing Quit on average three to four times a week. Replies invariably return within a few hours and are always helpful, but I can't help muttering darkly to myself that in that time I could have smoked an entire pack of ciggies.

"This week I have tried to address the Kit Kat issue - I have been averaging two a day in an attempt to supplant one addiction with another.

"Quit advised me not to stop smoking and start a diet at the same time. Sound, I thought, munching on an aforementioned Kit Kat. They suggested some simple exercises to incorporate into your daily routine.

"For example, 30 minutes of dishwashing burns the same amount of calories as five minutes of stair walking? It is clear, therefore, that the road to smoke-free lungs lies in housework. My mother will, no doubt, be proud."

METHOD FIVE: NICOTINE REPLACEMENT

John Brunsdon is giving patches a go.

"Its been a successful week on the patches, no cigarettes and few cravings. I decided on a test, by putting myself in the situation where I always find it hardest to say no to cigarettes - a night out at the pub (purely for research purposes, you understand).

"I was pleasantly surprised how easy it was to go the night without smoking.

"In fact the only real cravings I've had all week have been while writing this piece - being forced to think about smoking has got me itching for a ciggie. I'm glad I left it until after my local corner shop closed before I sat down at my computer.

"In the short-term, patches seem to be doing the trick for me, but over the next week I am going to start thinking of strategies to ensure the initial boost they give my will-power can be carried on over into the long term."

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Add your comments on this story, using the form below.

I treated myself to all sorts of weird things in the first few weeks with the money saved. One day = £4 = new eye-shadow; 3 days = £13 = pizza out with friends; a week = £30 = a lovely back massage.
Maggie, UK

Every time I get a craving, I find an activity to do. My wife thinks it's great - I've started washing dishes, DIY and doing the hoovering. This can pose a problem when in a pub, so I'd suggest playing darts or something.
Chris , England

I tried just about everything. The two strategies that worked the best in the long run were: 1) brushing my teeth every time I was close to caving in; 2) reflexology at a Chinese clinic. It was extremely painful but after the third consecutive day (of 10), the tobacco and other toxins started to come out of my pores and the taste in my mouth was horrendous. That's when I knew I could never go back to smoking.
Jeanniemarie, UK

While giving up, try putting any spare change less than a pound into a pot. You'll be amazed at how much you save from not buying fags. I saved £25 in a fortnight.
Jamie B, Leicester, England

As an employee of a local NHS Quit Smoking Service, why aren't any of your guinea pigs using this serivce? Every single borough has a service like ours, offering free treatment, free advice and - often - free nicotine replacement therapy. We offer group support combined with medication because research proves that this is the most effective way to quit [See NHS website in Interlink links for more info].
Caroline Hulett, UK

Cravings only last for a few minutes, get through those and you're halfway there. As for all the triggers - after a meal, drinking, stress etc - it's all in the mind. Smoking makes the heart beat faster, it doesn't calm you down it just tricks your mind into thinking you have.
Matthew Higgins, Reading

I also quit as a New Year's resolution, and each week I'm really curious to find out how these guys are doing! So far I'm disappointed that they're giving in so easily. It does get easier - in the beginning you do think you're miss out, but lately I'm relieved that this craving doesn't hold control of me anymore, and makes me stand outside in the cold.
Nina, UK

To beat the evil weed you must nail the lie that you're denying yourself a pleasure by not smoking. You need an acrimonious and total divorce from the cigarette. You will then find the true pleasure of smelling nice, breathing easy, enjoying movies and long flights without chemical cravings... and not putting you and your nearest and dearest through untimely death via painful and slow diseases.
Chris Judge, UK