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SINGAPORE: A 26-year-old smoker who has been smoking for nearly half her lifetime has managed to spend the weekend free from cigarettes.
Cheyenne Lu spent three days and two nights living in a glass house set up by the Health Promotion Board (HPB).
Ms Lu said this weekend was her longest time without a cigarette since she was 14.
She said her previous attempts to quit failed because she did not tell her family or friends she was trying to give up.
But this time she had the support from her family, friends and the HPB.
Her mother, Josephine Teo, said: "Now I think she's determined, so I think she will do it. She didn't smoke at all in the last three days, so I think she will make it."
After spending her weekend in the glass house along Orchard Road, Ms Lu said: "It is difficult especially when you see people walking past and lighting up. But the thing is, being in here for three days and two nights and not smoking, despite having other smokers around me, has proved to me that I can do this even when I'm out with my smoking friends. I can persevere and go on smoke-free."
She has kept a blog of her experience to encourage other women to kick the habit.
The project was part of HPB's Fresh Air for Women campaign to counter the growing trend of smoking among young women.
Choo Lin, HPB's deputy director of smoking control, said: "We (brought) in a quit counsellor and she basically drew up a quit plan for Cheyenne. That is one of the most important things to be prepared."
Over the weekend, visits from friends and family helped distract Ms Lu from thoughts of smoking. A fitness instructor was also brought in to teach her yoga and pilates to stretch her mind and muscles, and help her cope with stress.
The public also left messages to motivate her to remain smoke-free. - CNA/ac
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