Quitters' panel: One month on

Our panel of readers quit the habit as the ban on smoking in enclosed public places came into force in England. So, how are they doing?

Dave Chapman is 22, works for a logistics company and lives in Rickling Green, Essex. His story

Sandra Green is 48 and an admin assistant from Dronfield, Derbyshire. Her story

Reetu Kabra is 24 and a publicist who lives and works in London. Her story

Russel Hopps is 65 and a funeral director from Manchester. His story

DAVE CHAPMAN

Well, it's a month since the day I quit and I'm sorry to say I'm not doing so well. I survived without a cigarette for almost four weeks but then I had a bad day or two and before I knew it, there was one in my hand.

I'm only smoking two or three a day and I am planning to try again at the end of the month. I could do it now, however I've realised I need help, will power just isn't enough. Everybody is still being really supportive and encouraging me to try again. But I'm disappointed in myself which isn't helping my mentality, so I just need to regroup and do it again.

I am finding that if I don't want to smoke when I'm out for a beer it's very easy, as everybody has to go outside - I can just stay where I am and I don't have to see or smell anything, and can simply forget about it. For the time I wasn't smoking I felt awful, really unwell, but in that last week it began to pick up, almost a light at the end of the tunnel. Knowing that gives me hope for when I try again, and I WILL try again, soon.

SANDRA GREEN

Well, I'm still not smoking. My daughter was 21 last Thursday and I catered a party for her. I really wanted a cigarette to relieve the stress, also it was the sort of situation I associate with smoking and drinking.

COUNTDOWN TO LIGHTS OUT Countdown to the ban

I didn't have one and I believe it was made easier by the smoking ban. The venue had been refurbished and was so clean and fresh. I have never been in that sort of environment before and it not be smoky. It was so pleasant. The non-smokers seemed a lot more relaxed as well.

The weather was awful and people were still going outside to have a cigarette. I kept thinking I was glad I didn't smoke and my hair wasn't getting blown about and my new clothes weren't getting soaked.

I hope this is it and I've cracked it. I think the smoking ban has got to have made it easier for people who genuinely want to stop smoking.

RUSSEL HOPPS

Still off the fags and I'm quite proud of myself. I now feel differently about them, a lot of the cravings have gone and they don't occupy my thoughts like they used to.

It's still hard at times. I work at a funeral directors so deal with bereaved families, visiting them in their own homes. A lot of the time they are smoking. The difference now is the smoke makes me feel ill; in the past it triggered cravings.

Now the ban is in place you see people outside places having a fag. Today I went past people sat outside a cafe with their umbrellas up. It was so stupid, they were getting wet and cold just for a puff.

A few months ago that would have been me. I would have stood outside in the rain to have a fag. I'm just so glad it's not any more.

REETU KABRA

The ban is here... and, until recently, so is the rain. Not a great time for smokers, but brilliant for an ex-smoker like me.

I have to say I do feel particularly smug when walking past pubs and bars on the dismal evenings of the past month.

I've seen smokers huddled outside sharing one umbrella between five, desperately trying not to let raindrops dampen their precious cigarettes. Meanwhile, I'm in the pub enjoying a drink.

I very rarely think about smoking now there's nothing to trigger my mind. Hooray for the ban and the fact that it gave me the motivation to quit.

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