Time for a Vape Break

[angelique510]

I am eagerly awaiting my first e-cig. (a pink Sidesho from Modern Vapor )

I am a heavy smoker, practically a chain smoker. For 20 years it seems like my life has revolved around cigarettes.

Nicotine addiction is part of it, but not the biggest part by far, or else I would have been able to quit by using patches or gum or something.

A big part is the tactile gratification of smoking, the hand to mouth, or just having something in my hand. I cut down on cigarettes when I learned to knit. I always have either a cigarette or knitting needles in my hands, unless I am actively working on something else or sleeping. I almost quit using the Nicoltrol inhaler, but it lacked the fire and the pretty billows of smoke. The e-cig should take care of all that with the LED and the clouds of vapor.

I also have a bit of a smoking fetish, but that is a discussion for another 18 and over forum. LOL I guess I never outgrew thinking of smoking as cool and sexy, which is what caused me to start in the first place. I remember practicing "french inhaling" in front of the mirror with my girlfriends back in junior high. And we all know that the "bad boys" -smokers of course - were the cute ones. With so many choices as to styles of e-cigs and liquid flavors, I think the cool part is covered. And I have seen "sexy" used as an adjective many times on this forum.

I smoke when I am finished with something or get to a stopping or break point in whatever I am doing. A neurologist once told me that the nicotine molecule fits into the neurorecptor that signals completion. That is probably why people smoke after a meal, when they finish a project or after sex. Having a smoke signifies "doneness."

I use a cigarette to mark time. (I have heard of this invention called a clock, but......) My dumpling recipe is: add dumplings to stew, cook without the lid for one cigarette, cover and cook for another cigarette. When waiting for a ride, I have been known to say "I was waiting for three whole cigarettes!" My favorite authour tends to write in chapters that are about two cigarettes long.

Then there is the "smoke break" From the time I light the cigarette until the time I snuff it out, time and the world stops. (I have yet to get my family to understand this concept, though) While it burns there is a period of time where I sit and do nothing. When it burns down to the filter, I know that it is time to go back to work (or light another one for a longer break)

Smoking a cigarettes takes a pre-measured amount of time, say seven to ten minutes, give or take. In high school, my algebra teacher asked me why I took so long in the girl's room. I told her it was because I smoked 120s.

So I wonder - how long is a "vape break"? I have read that a cartridge lasts as long as several cigarettes. Does that mean that I will be sitting there vaping for half an hour? I wouldn't count on me putting the thing down while there was still vape left in it. Or buying a watch or looking at a clock, for that matter. So how do you know when you are done having a vape?

I am just sharing my mental meanderings on the subject, but I am interested in your comments and suggestions, and even a good conversation on the subject. Maybe I should have put this in the "Quitting" thread. But I am thinking of this as "switching" from analogs to e-cigs, as opposed to quitting. It makes it less scary that way.

Be well,
~A

[Richie G]

I am just sharing my mental meanderings on the subject, but I am interested in your comments and suggestions, and even a good conversation on the subject. Maybe I should have put this in the "Quitting" thread. But I am thinking of this as "switching" from analogs to e-cigs, as opposed to quitting. It makes it less scary that way.

Be well,
~A

>

You have done your homework very well. Colour me impressed for someone who has yet to take her first vape. Kudos, ma'am.

Switching to vaping has been compared by some as "switching brands of cigarettes". If that makes the transmogrification from smoking to vaping easier, so be it.

I also admire your willingness to confess to smoking as being "cool and sexy". I think a lot of us, well me anyway, find it less than macho to admit to the coolness factor. <g> Oh, the addiction to nicotine is real, there's no doubt about that but the initial attraction to smoking had a certain "coolness" about it.

FWIW, I am nearing my 5th analog-free month. I have no urge to smoke another -- been that way since my second week of vaping. I have experienced the "doneness" factor too with vaping in nearly every capacity where I used to light a cigarette. And, I no longer vape when I can like I did with smoking -- ie; exiting a building, getting behind the wheel of the car, etc. In short, I vape when I feel like it not when the situation dictates that I can.

Be careful with that "timing" thing, btw. You may find yourself cooking food too long. LOL That 3 or 4 minute cigarette burn will no longer exist when you vape. A full cart lasts me for a couple of hours. The "dripping" method may suit you better, as far as a timing mechanism, at first vape. But, you will learn that as you go, I'm sure.

Best of luck to you. And use these forums as a support group. They are indispensable that way.

[frogbmth]

Welcome!

Vaping, for me anyway, does not 'fill me up' the way a cigarette did. There is no real feeling of having had enough, it is easy to just keep vaping non-stop until you feel you have had too mch nicotine.

I use dripping to control my intake, 2-3 drops is about the same a cigarette, and when that's gone I know I have had my fix for a short while.

Another good method is to use zero or low nicotine juice most of the time, possibly cutting the liquid, and have some higher nic liquid for a 'spike' when you need it. For a long time I vaped 6mg all day, and 24mg in the morning, after meals etc etc.

It will tak you time to discover what works for you, this is just my experience.

Andy

[tribalmasters]

When you go without your vape on a plane for a little while, the pleasure of vaping once again is awesome just like it was with a real smoke!!

[AngusATAT]

So I wonder - how long is a "vape break"?

When I first started vaping, I tried to keep my old smoking routines. At home, I went outside on my back porch to vape. At work, I went down to the smoking area... this didn't last long, as the smell from other smokers became unpleasant.

My vape break lasts... all day. I don't set aside time to vape, I do it whenever I want. At work, I stealth vape in my cube. At home, I vape in my chair in the living room. No harm, no foul.

It wasn't a difficult transition, but it was a strange one. At bedtime, I'd find myself walking toward the back porch to have my last smoke of the day. I'd stop, chuckle, grab my PV and take it with me to the bedroom, taking a couple of puffs.

So, for me, there is no such thing as a vape break. The "smoke break" is a thing of the past.

[jmvallee]

Let me add my WELCOME to the forum.

I understand perfectly about using an analog as a timing mechanism. I was a chain smoker too and used to pull out my analogs when I finished a task.

It took me almost a month before I wasn't chain vaping. It took about 2 weeks for me to completely switch over to e-cigs. (now analogs taste NASTY!)

The nic strength is probably the key. I started out too low (6mg) but once I increased to 16, I was able to put it down.

I do not drip but understand it is a good way to control how long you vape and it might work for you. You should at least try it.

[yknotagain]

I was never in a work environment where I had to take smoke breaks, hence chain smoking was an all day and night affair for me. After over 4 months I still chain vape most of the time. I do however find myself not feeling like I have to always carry one in my mouth anymore lol.

I vary nic levels from 0 to 24 depending on mood. Mostly 12mg.

[Don'tReadTheRunes]

When I first started vaping, I had those urges to light up at certain, daily, landmark times. Getting in the car, after a meal, whatever. That only lasted a week though.

[lkim65]

I have only been vaping for a few days, and yes, the 'vape break' has been an issue for me. With an analog, you know when you are finished but not so with vaping. I think I am going to try the dripping method, at least for a while, that way I will have a better idea on when I have actually smoked the equivalent of a cigarette.

[dragonpuff]

Angelique, one of the biggest reasons so many people have trouble quitting is because they truly love smoking! Just like you and i. And for people like us, i believe vaping is the perfect alternative believe me, you will not be unsatisfied!

The only thing i see you seriously adjusting to is the timing; generally, there is no "timing" for using an e-cig, you simply vape until you're happy. Sometimes this means only a couple puffs, sometimes it means a half-hour sit-down vape session.

I agree with richie that dripping might be your best bet for that (it tastes better too!), but if you really wanna go the timing route, your best bet might be to only drip one drop at a time. I use 3 drops and it lasts too long for me to time it (10-15 min).

Also, if you're gonna drip, get manual batteries!! You're in luck as they just started making those for the sidesho; unfortunately they're not available yet. If you drip straight down on an automatic battery, the liquid can get inside your battery and damage it! Try holding the e-cig horizontally and dripping on it sideways to avoid that. You can also dip with the sidesho's exposed atomizer, but i have no idea how long that lasts as i've never done it.

Let us know how you make out with the sidesho, i've been considering that model for a long time and would love to hear your review

Good luck and happy vaping