I have not smoked since Feb 1. I am using the nicotine patch, and it has worked pretty well so far. Got the pattern of smoking a cig after/before/during everything in my life broken.

Now I am giving up the patch. Man... I am having many, many dual personality diaologues with myself since I did this. Funny how I keep trying to rationalize 1 cig/puff - it's just the demon talking and I tell it no. Whyquit.com at least 3 times a week for inspiration

I laugh at how creative my addiction is at coming up with ways that I can have just 1 cig and no one will know...

I have to find some other Go To for stress though. What do you do when you get really stressed? I seemed to gravitate towards coping through calories.

I get what you mean! I am only 3 days in and my brain is scheming against me! Trying to find errands to run that would take me near a smoke shop, telling me I can "just have one."

I don't know how to manage it yet except just, breath in that non-smoky air and remember it's not killing you.

Yea, those demons are so clever, and they know our buttons really well.

Last week I was driving home from work. On the way, there is a little convenience store that I used to buy a pack from in the good ol days. So I'm driving by the store, wanting so bad to stop and buy a pack. I was going to do it too... but my car kept driving... I sat there (in the driver's seat) and watched the store fad away like I was a kid in the back seat wanting to eat at McDonald's and my mom would not stop. I laughed when I got home.

I keep telling myself that Mr. Nicotine is trying to convince me to smoke. He wants to get his hooks back in, and all it takes is 1 puff. It's all over after just 1 puff.

I'm in a viciously wicked battle, but I'm going to win it this time.

I know. What is it with the "Just one" thing? Our demons are the same!

Hang on. It gets worse every day, then it turns the corner and it gets better every day. You should be turning the corner any moment now.

Ok, I gave up the patches. And it did work, in that I craved a patch, not a cig, when I was going through the withdrawl.

Nobody got hurt at work. I didn't kill any small pets or children. Strange times though.

My sense of smell is coming back. I can smell all the elements in the forest when I drive home from work. I can smell my food so much more.

Huge congrats and I encourage you to keep on keeping on.

I find contributing to my journal is a great way of becoming self aware- of my eating patterns. I guess using this forum, your journal for support and developing self awareness is a handy strategy. There's heaps of experts on addiction here.

To me chocolate is like heroin for someone with a junk habit- one hit and its on. Whatever your addiction, I reckon addictions behave in a similar way.