Lynda Bellingham.

[jillygirl]

Lynda Bellingham: ‘How I gave up smoking’

Loose Women regular and Strictly Come Dancing star Lynda Bellingham is one of Britain’s favourite TV and stage actresses. But her more recent roles, including her latest as presenter of My Tasty Travels on ITV1, may never have happened – because of her smoking. Lynda explains why her career was on the line.

‘When you’re young and start smoking you don’t really think about cancer - or if you do, you never think it will happen to you,’ says Lynda.

‘As a teenager I thought smoking was cool as I’d seen so many actresses smoke in films,’ she recalls. ‘I started by smoking tea leaves and then started stealing un-tipped cigarettes from a box my dad kept for visitors. Then I’d sneak off to the bottom of the garden for a smoke. When dad caught me he made me smoke a cigar hoping it would make me sick and put me off tobacco – but unfortunately, I developed a taste for it.’

Smoking dominated my life

At drama school everyone smoked and Lynda quickly became hooked on cigarettes. ‘I was never the type of person who could just have one,’ she says. ‘The need for a smoke dominated my whole life – I was always desperately waiting for my next puff and whilst I was working I would rush off stage or set to light up.’

But Lynda’s smoking began to affect her vocal chords and a specialist warned her she could lose her voice, and advised her to quit. With her livelihood at stake, she took the advice seriously and went to see a hypnotist. ‘He said that I would never want a cigarette again – but warned me that if I smoked just one cigarette that would be it and my cravings would start again.

‘Miraculously, I just didn’t seem to need cigarettes any more. I felt the benefits almost straight away – and crucially my voice recovered too and went up a tone.’

Angry – but couldn’t stop

Lynda didn’t smoke again for 16 years. Then, going through a divorce and away filming in Russia, she found herself surrounded by people who smoked - and succumbed to a moment of weakness. ‘I did the classic “well I’ll just have one” and then of course, I couldn’t stop and within a month I was back on 40 cigarettes a day. My sons Michael and Robbie were in their mid-teens by then and had never seen me smoke and I think it upset them – but even that didn’t deter me. I was angry at myself but I couldn’t stop.’

Smoking started to affect her voice again and within months she was diagnosed with inflamed vocal chords. Despite this, she carried on smoking for several years, until one day she decided that enough was enough.

‘I’d been having trouble with my gums as a result of smoking and actually lost two back teeth. Getting work as an actress in your late 40s was difficult enough - I dreaded to think what it would be like without any teeth – so I decided to quit again.

Find a quit buddy

‘This time I gave up smoking at the same time as a friend and we supported each other throughout. I’d really recommend finding a “buddy" if you’re giving up smoking as it was extremely helpful to me.

‘There were times in the day – such as finishing a meal or drinking a coffee – that I’d want to light-up – so it was a question of finding something else to do and rewiring my brain.’ In Lynda’s case, this meant going for a walk at the point when she would normally light up.

I looked younger

It didn’t take long before she felt the benefits of quitting smoking – her voice improved and so did her gums. She noticed she could breathe more easily and didn’t get as many colds. ‘My skin started to look younger too, and the lines faded around my mouth. More than anything though, it was the freedom of not being tied to when I could smoke my next cigarette,’ she explains.

The death of her sister Barbara from lung cancer in 2008 at the age of just 56 made Lynda even more determined to stop smoking .Barbara had been a heavy smoker in her younger days but had stopped smoking 20 years previously. It was a big shock and had a massive impact on Lynda.

Healthy living: being vigilant

‘I used to think 40 was old but now I’m in my 60s I want to keep on living for as long as possible. None of us can beat death and I don’t know what is in store for me – but now I’m doing everything I can to look after myself and stay healthy. That includes not smoking, but I’ve also given up alcohol now and watch my diet carefully and have a health MOT every year.

‘I also have regular mammograms and cervical smear tests and have any suspect moles checked. It’s about being vigilant so that if you do notice any changes they can be investigated sooner so that if there is a problem they can be treated in the early stages when the chances of survival are much higher.

‘I’m pretty certain I’ll never smoke again now – and when I see people huddled out in the cold smoking on the pavement I feel sorry for them as it can’t be enjoyable. My message is that it’s never too late to give up though – and it feels marvellous.’

Jo Waters

It’s never too late to give up … and it feels marvellous

Lynda Bellingham

[monky Administrator Cake eater]

Thanks for this Jillygirl, nice one gal

Pete

[thenunn]

Yes Thanks Jillygirl always good to know we 'stop-starters' are not alone.

Jan

[EmJay Partner]

As you can see it doesn't matter who you are, smoking is an addictive habit and many of you will have experienced (psychologically and physically) all or some of the above side effects.

This is a really good read JillyGirl. Thanks for sharing