Just checking in….
Yesterday-and I cannot hardly believe this-before I left for work, I
actually FORGOT to put my patch on!!!!! I won’t bore you with the
rest of the details after that, but, I smoked TWO cigs yesterday-one
in the morning, about 9:00, and another one before I left work,
around 2:15. 
Then, I did not smoke the rest of the evening, and this morning, I
made SURE that my patch is on!! (I won’t smoke with it on, too
scarey.)
What can I say? I am not wanting to start smoking again AT ALL; and
am just taking this ONE DAY AT A TIME…..something about this week,
I don’t know…..but it has been rough!
Last night, while I was working out on my “Power Rider” machine, IT
BROKE while I was up in the air, and I came down hard and landed on
my tailbone; now I can hardly sit, and when I do, I almost need help
getting up-sheesh. I know that I probably just bruised it, and all
that will take care of it is just time….but now I am kinda bummed,
because I just loved this machine, and even if my hubby can get it
fixed, I am gonna be kinda “afraid” of it now…..I am thinking about
looking into a different kind of machine. Anyhow, today is a new day! I have smoked TWO out of FIVE days this
week (Monday and Thursday)…..that means that for the month of
January, I have smoked FIVE cigs…..but I need to remember, like you
said, all of the cigs that I have NOT smoked this month! (hundreds,
literally!)
I need to be honest, and “report” how I am doing, and when I slip-
up….these online groups that I am in are good for me, and I am so
thankful that I have them. 
Best Regards to All,
Tiko
November 19th, 2003 at 1:35 pm
There are some fairly fundamental differences between quitting cognitively
and quitting as it’s done in most other quit venues.
In other places we hear:
“Since I stopped smoking, I’m eating nonstop and I’ve gained way too much
weight. But, at least I’m not smoking”
and the ‘enabling’ reply comes back….:
“Good for you! You can always lose the weight later. One issue at a time.”
Here, a cognitive quitter will consider:
“If I’m eating as an alternative to smoking, than all I’m doing is
replacing one innappropriate behavior with another, that’s just spinning my
wheels. The issue isn’t how dangerous one response is compared to another
and then choosing the less dangerous one. The issue is about changing my
responses so that they address the events I’m encountering in an
appropriate, efficient, effective, and timely manner. ”
In other places we hear:
“I slipped and smoked a few. But look at all the cigarettes I haven’t smoked.”
the reply…:
“Good for you! That’s progress. Keep getting back on the wagon. Never quit
quitting.”
Here a cognitive quitter will consider:
“Given my professed goals, a slip is a failure to respond appropriately to
a particular situation. A slip only provides the precedent and
rationalization for the next slip. A cognitive quit is not about counting
beans. If I’ve not examined the slip and developed some rational ABCs so
that the next time I’ll be prepared to respond differenly, then the next
instance of a forgotten patch or an unexpected mess will qualify as a
‘valid reason’ to smoke.
Tiko, I’m sure I missed your answer the last time I asked, so please
forgive me for asking again but, 1- Have you written out some foundation
statements? and 2- Have you written out any ABCs yet?
Steve
www.cognitivequitting.com
November 20th, 2003 at 10:22 am
In a message dated 18/01/02 13:37:05 GMT Standard Time, tiko_chloie@…
writes:
Tiko
Pain was always a very good trigger for me (and still is to some extent) -
you really need to get some foundation statements in place and start abcing
otherwise you area going to carry on as you are - which is where I was before
I started doing it this way (running around like a hamster in a wheel and not
getting anywhere:)
Keep on thinking
Indi
November 24th, 2003 at 9:18 am
Alright who was it? Who told that I’ve already gained 5 pounds? Whoops.
Gail
Two weeks, two days, 22 hours, 2 minutes and 38 seconds. 422 cigarettes not
smoked, saving $69.79. Life saved: 1 day, 11 hours, 10 minutes.
Here, a cognitive quitter will consider:
“If I’m eating as an alternative to smoking, than all I’m doing is
replacing one innappropriate behavior with another, that’s just spinning my
wheels. The issue isn’t how dangerous one response is compared to another
and then choosing the less dangerous one. The issue is about changing my
responses so that they address the events I’m encountering in an
appropriate, efficient, effective, and timely manner. “