2 years clean today... Please share your success story too!!!

[Razorback]

Not trying to brag, but hopefully motivate. I smoked my last cigarette 2 years ago today at 8am CT.... Year 3 starts today!

I wanted to get this off my chest (1) because I'm proud of myself, and (2) hopefully it will give someone in need today, the strength to take that step. I took a pyramid approach to quitting, like decreasing my cigarette intake by a few each day, until I no longer felt I needed them. And, as luck has it, I quit almost a full month earlier than scheduled. It has been a tough journey, but like anything worthwhile, it takes determination... lots of determination (and pacing around like an idiot) but whatever works for you.

At first, I tried my best to stay away from smoking, but now I no longer have the fear of being around it. That fear no longer exists, and smoking will never be an option again...

I have converted more than a handful of people from smoking, and this is one of the things I am most proud of. I have given away a LOT of gear to help people out, and I hope to give away a lot more in the future. (mostly entry level stuff, but good enough to use whilst making up your mind anyway)... If you have old stuff laying around, please pay it forward, you never know what kind of difference it might make in someone's life.

My current setup consists of the following:
1 Provari w/ Protank 2
1 eVic w/ Protank 2
Several Joytech Ego C Twist's (650 & 1000 mah). With mini Protank 2's and Mini Vision Vivi Nova's.
I tried the kayfun, but couldn't get into the whole rebuild thing... Just my personal preference. As well, I don't run very high wattage, so it's overkill IMO.
DIY RY4 flavored juice (90% VG) 8mg strength - I started at around 18mg strength. No plans presently of going much lower, but that's subject to change.

Lastly, I went from 210lbs to 237 lbs the first year I quit, but with the help of myfitnesspal app tracking my calories, I am now down to 206! I'm shooting for 195, so I can look sexier for my wife.

Weight gain attributed to quitting smoking is only temporary. Some people I have heard lose weight when they start vaping... I wasn't one of the lucky ones.

Anyway, I don't mean to ramble, just hope this message reaches someone that needs it today. Please share your success story too. I'd love to hear it, as I'm sure others would as well!!!

Most of all, thanks to the ECF! You guys have played a major role in this success!

 

[mattiem]

Congratulations !!!!!!!!!!! 2 years is a wonderful milestone....and now on to the rest of your smoke free life

 

[Razorback]

Thank you fellow Arkansan!

 

[SueandCootie]

Kind of you to take the time to share!! Feels good, doesn't it? Congrats!!

 

[TraceyS]

Congrats! I passed my two year mark in October and it is a wonderful feeling. The longest I've ever gone without a cig! I am still vaping 18mg joose, I guess cause I like it. I've lost 32 pounds since I began vaping! Keep up the good work!

Tracey

 

[Razorback]

Thanks! It does feel great. I was apprehensive to post it but did it anyway, and I hope it doesn't coma across as bragging. I just wanted to let folks know there is an eventual "light at the end of the tunnel." and now I am proof of that!

Thanks for the reply!

 

[Razorback]

Deleting duplicate, sorry.

 

[Deryan3]

Awesome milestone !!!! Congratulations

 

[wasteyrself]

In just over a month, I'll be a year clean from all illicit drugs outside of cigarettes, if that counts.

 

[r77r7r]

In just over a month, I'll be a year clean from all illicit drugs outside of cigarettes, if that counts.

Yeah, that counts!!

 

[mattiem]

Thanks! It does feel great. I was apprehensive to post it but did it anyway, and I hope it doesn't coma across as bragging. I just wanted to let folks know there is an eventual "light at the end of the tunnel." and now I am proof of that!

Thanks for the reply!

It doesn't come across as bragging at all. We are all in this together and success stories like this give hope to those that are just starting out. So, Thank you for sharing

 

[Rat2chat2]

Congrats Razorback, it is something to brag about because it is awesome.

I still get a bit amazed everyday about what vaping has done for me and so many others.

 

[TyPie]

Many, many congrats on your fantastic achievements! These are fantastic milestones as well. You done GOOD, and you should be extremely PROUD!!! (These achievements certainly aren't that easy!)
I'm RIGHT BEHIND you, coming up on 2 years myself.

 

[Towmotor]

Damn nice accomplishment Razor. Hit one year today myself.

 

[cocoloco]

Congratulations, Razor! That third year will fly right by.

What I found interesting was that once I started vaping, my analog consumption dropped, not only dramatically, but immediately. The brain is a funny and stubborn organ, but once you convince it that vaping is as satisfying as smoking, the analogs are relegated to history. After 50 years of smoking and now three years of smoke-free vaping, I can't believe it was that easy to quit.

I'm still addicted to nicotine, but I'll take one miracle at a time.

 

[Boiler]

Just broke 2-years last month myself. I started with Greensmokes, and I was able to transition to vaping effortlessly. Over the last few months I've dropped my nicotine to near zero, and my vaping to infrequent.

 

[Rotowoman]

Congratulations to you AND thank you for sharing this. I really needed to see something like this today. I'm still struggling. However, I'm NOT giving up and you just gave me more motivation!!

 

[Redruth]

I was around 306 lbs and over a couple of years dropped 140 lbs. Most of which I kept off until earlier this year when I had to have a hysterectomy. Although I have had lots of surgery in the past this time I did not bounce back like I usually do. Just constantly tired, unable to exercise. The pounds started piling back on and I've put about 50 lbs back on.

So when a friend was vaping out with us smokers I got chatting to him and thought well I can't do much about my weight at the moment so maybe I can tackle the smoking.

That is what I have done, I started vaping seven and a half weeks ago and have not had a stinky stick since.
My self esteem has shot through the roof. I can't stop the big grin that is constantly on my face now. I know that when I've fully recovered from the operation I had I will get exercising again and drop the weight I've gained. AND I'll be a slim ex-smoker - oh bliss.

Thanks for sharing your story, it's not bragging it's giving a heave up to those of us not as far along that path. I know I will get there. And it's thanks to people like you sharing their stories that helps keep me on track.

Thanks again, well done and happy vaping.

 

[mountaingal]

I have converted more than a handful of people from smoking, and this is one of the things I am most proud of. I have given away a LOT of gear to help people out, and I hope to give away a lot more in the future. (mostly entry level stuff, but good enough to use whilst making up your mind anyway)... If you have old stuff laying around, please pay it forward, you never know what kind of difference it might make in someone's life.


Most of all, thanks to the ECF! You guys have played a major role in this success!

Razorback,
Yours is a great success story! I am sure you feel much better, and the weight, though it may concern you, is not as dangerous as the smoking was. I, too give away set-ups to people who would like to try vaping. More, and more people are interested, as our stories of giving up the cigs, is spreading far and wide!
Join the CASAA and carry your story to the FDA, or Big Tobacco will win and all we will have will be cigalikes. (YECH!)
It was so easy for me to start vaping, it was everything, smoking used to be: a way to relax, smoke indoors, and not smell.
The protanks make it enjoyable to vape. You got the right idea. Keep it up and vape on, and on and on!

 

[NewportLights]

Yesterday was 6 months for me.

I've been vaping a little over 2 years though. I cut down to 2 or so in a day pretty quickly. Tough to say some days I'd have 1, sometimes 3 or 4, sometimes drink and may even have half a pack or so. Some days I wouldn't smoke at all. I never had the intention of quitting smoking when I started. I never put any kind of pressure on myself. I thought it was a miracle that I could get through a day with few or no cigarettes so I ran with it. I guess what finished my smoking for good was a vacation spending one stop with non smokers and running out, drunk and still not caring that I didn't have a smoke. Then the next stop with vapers after I still didn't buy any from my last stop. 6 days without a cigarette then on the way back I had to pick up some late night snacks and people in front of me were buying cigs so I had to have a pack too. That was the last pack I ever bought. It finally clicked how easy this would be not to smoke!

I don't see anything good happening if I pick up another cigarette. Any time I think about it my cravings only last about 15 seconds before I think ... would I want to do that for.