I did have one successful bout of NOT quitting that worked, though. When I quit smoking about 25 years ago, I did it cold turkey and it was easy — this was after many failures to quit. Somehow I’d convinced myself that I was not a smoker. It was that simple. Since I had not given up anything, I did not miss anything. I did want a cigarette once or twice the first two weeks, and coped by scheduling behaviors that I did not associate with smoking (moviegoing, shopping, as opposed to going out to dinner with friends).

I have never figured out how to transfer that to eating. I’ve tried convincing myself that I’m a normal eater, but that usually sends me right ot the snack machine, or the bread and butter. Something else to work on. Have a good Lent.