Good morning :)
Alcohol and cigarettes seem to hit almost the same buttons in my brain... I don't usually drink this much, although I definitely have in the past! Fortunately, I find it much easier to say NO to a drink than to a cigarette, so when the time comes to ease off the whiskey, I'll be ready. I've done it before for the heck of it and went dry for six months. That was a long time ago and I'm still a very cheap date because I lost my tolerance! lol
I'm doing the program every day. I do the daily cravings journal, and I think I'm almost ready to make my pledge. As far as rewards go, I think I've been nicer to myself overall, so that has definitely helped. I try to mix rewards with something that's beneficial to me, and that provides me with something that the cigarettes used to. Let's see...
+ I play puzzle games online. So I'm re-training my brain to stay sharp and focused without being dependent on a substance.
+ I'm a lot more likely to permit myself healthy snacks and food other than beans and rice. Physically, I feel SO much better. Since I eat throughout the day, my blood sugar stays at that nice, energetic level. AND my metabolism shouldn't be slowing down (again, because I eat frequent, small meals/snacks).
+ This week, I will be using the dryer when I do laundry! Mmmm, soft towels...
+ And I'll be scheduling a dental cleaning. It's been... um... a while...
I'm having trouble coming up with something bigger than this for my two-week reward. I know that my one-month reward is getting my hair professionally dyed to its original color (which will save money in the long run anyway). But I'm sitting here on a Sunday morning, trying to figure out what it is that I want to do for myself and drawing a blank. I don't want to go all out, but I still want it to be somewhat significant.
Oh, DUH! I have Netflix! Woo-hoo! It's officially movie day! I've been putting off way too many movies, and some of them WILL get watched today. At least 2 or 3. :)
and JoDee! You're Patchless (just like CT now!) and going to the gym; hanging out with your girls - Awesome! My stomachaches went away as soon as I dropped the patch too BTW - not sure why. I left U a msg somewhere here ?? (duh!) about be kind to yourself with nice fresh fruit/veggie platters when you drop the patches - it was meant to help you find a nice way to get nicotine free - not to punish yourself with overdoing the prunes as I did - the whole reward idea is so much more humane! Gotta run! Glad You are all here and we can say NOPE together! 
