Straying to analogs

[Soon to be E]

In june I had my first attempt into ecigs, but as I couldn´t get more supplies and was short on cash the attempt lasted 3 or 4 days. I almost smoked no analogs then and had no need at all. Only when my two batteries were out of juice was that I lit an analog. But this time around I´m more tempted. I try not to have analogs on sight, I removed the ashtrays, keep two atomizers and 4 batteries charged, I have a big bottle of a vainilla flavored juice I like... Still I keep thinking of analogs. This morning I smoke 4 in a row and felt quite guilty... When you picked up your ecig, until you smoked your last analog, what was it like? I´m using 24mg liquid and was a 30+ year pack and a half a day smoker.

[MissMawee]

Well, I can definitely relate. I still have the analog bug to a certain extent. I've learned that if I have them, I will smoke them!
I still occasionally bum one off a friend if they're over and smoking right next to me.
Another thing I've learned is the craving will pass. If I'm thinking about analogs then I vape a strong juice that I like for a few minutes, and try to distract myself with something else, and I usually forget about it.
Good luck on staying away from the analogs! If you smoke a few, it's not the end of the world, and you can always get right back on the PV bandwagon.

[maryjo]

I'm not sure the thought of an analog ever goes away. I've not smoked in 4 months, but today when I stopped at a convenience store to get a coke I contemplated buying a pack. The lady in front of me got a pack of Kools. I thought to myself - I'm gonna be driving for hours today - why not? But by the time I got to the counter something else caught my eye and I was distracted enough that I didn't buy the cigarettes.

[Rhetoric Camel]

I got my e-cig at the end of april, stopped buying my own cigs about mid june. In july I got myself down to about 1 a day that I bummed from my girlfriend. As of now I've had about 3 total since August. Don't rush yourself and don't give up, if you can cut back to only 3 or 4 a day and you were smoking a pack a day before consider it an improvement. I never went into e-cigs thinking I would quit smoking cigs, and I never expected to keep with it as long as I have. The less you buy the bigger the improvement. E-cigs are not a quit smoking device, they're a healthier alternative and for every one cigarette you avoid is a step in the right direction in my book.

[Jim Davis]

I did 2 packs a day for 40+ years. I just put my mind to it, and didn't touch a stinkie stick from my first vape. I craved at times, but fought it. (Almost lost a few times) I've been vaping for 6 months now, and occasionally still think about having a stinkie, but I know how nasty they smell, and I really can't get close to one anymore.

[yknotagain]

I also did not start with the thought that I could go analog-free. I was sure these things would be just something to help me cut back. If I find I need to have an analog I will not be disappointed in myself. I've already gone without one far longer than anyone who knows me would have imagined.

Many long time vapers here admit to having a couple analogs a day. No shame in that at all.

[Houdini]

I smoked 30 years too. Havn't had one since I started vaping 8 months ago. My key to success is not having any in the house and refusing to buy any.

[DonDaBoomVape]

For me, it is not a "should" thing (and I urge that it not be for you). As you are seeing, many of us smoked for decades (4 decades in my case). Having one more is not going to kill you. [No, I'm not minimizing the dangers of smoking. If the worst happens, it won't be those last few that did you in, but the tens of thousands before that.]

The reason I don't pick up an analog (and I do have some squirreled away in the house for a rainy day*) is because I love vaping so much!

* That "rainy day" (week actually) hit recently - not because of a craving - but because I got caught short on attys (my spare turned out to have been DOA). My supplier was prompt in fulfilling my desperation order, but our beloved postal service took its sweet old time getting I to me. I limped along with the one remaining battery from my abandoned first e-cig (NEVER thow away functioning parts of units you no longer use). But that battery took "forever" to charge, so I was forced to supplement with the yucky pooies (which describes the taste as well as the carcinogens). Yes, I learned my lesson.

I will say this for analogs: they are efficient nicotine delivery devices. Which takes me back (finally) to *your* tale of woe. Make sure that the nicotine level is high enough for what your body is used to. If it is, then there must be something about the hardware (the e-cig model) and/or the flavor of the juice(s) you're using.

Unlike analog smoking, vaping is not one set experience, virtually identical from one brand to another. Rather it is a category of experiences. You haven't mentioned what model you are using. Some pack more throat hit than others (at the same nicotine level). And even though you like that vanilla juice, you might find a tobacco flavor (perhaps combined with the vanilla or alternating between the two) more satisfying.

Experiment until you find that device, flavor, and nicotine level that you would shudder to give up for an analog!

[JeannieB360]

I started vaping about 5 or 6 weeks ago, and basically stopped analogs after 2 weeks because I just didn't LIKE them compared to vaping.

I've been experimenting with a lot of different flavors and have started doing some 'mix it myself' juices, so for the past week I haven't smoked any tobacco flavors. This morning there seemed to be something missing in my vaping and I kept thinking about buying analogs. But then I realized I hadn't vaped any 'tobacco' flavors for more than a week. I've been vaping a good tobacco flavor all day, and the cravings are gone.

Tomorrow I'll probably vape some apple,chocolate, cappucino peanut butter,cherry or other non-tobacco flavors and see if I have cravings again, and see if vaping a tobacco flavor helps again.

[Soon to be E]

Jeannie, maybe you just hit the hot spot... I´ve been vaping vainilla all week. Maybe that´s what causing me to stray... Tobacco juice on its way...

Thanks everyone for the support! The hardest smoke to go by is the one first in the morning and last at night. I´ll eventually try to remove those, and I´ve made peace with the fact of smoking what I have in the house right now, about 5 packs left. And after that I´m not going to buy any more...