8 months now finally 6 days free

[Charley Crystal]

I joined this forum in February but started dabbling with vaping in January. I feel like I've been to the ends of the earth and back again on this journey hoping one day to be smoke free. I've been through mystic's, ego's, evod's, e smart knock off's, 510 fin's and eRolls. I've vaped every flavor my heart could desire but still couldn't give up cigarettes. I could smoke very little but never go free.

Last Sunday morning I had a single cigarette and decided that Monday morning I would let the vape do the work. Monday I woke up, tripped over my cats, fed them, sat in my garage staring at a near full pack of smokes and vaped my fool head off until I didn't want one. I repeat that every single morning. Due to an awesome ecf member I have fresh attys and tanks for me eRoll which REALLY helps during my morning nic fit. Every morning is still hard and I'm not one of those who took to vaping easily at all. I went through juice and gear issues. It's still hard but every day I'm making a choice to say no to smokes and yes to vapes!

i would have never kept trying if it weren't for reading all the varied experiences here and encouragement. I've learned so much! Thank you all!

 

[Huh?!]

thumbs up to you. as you have found out, its a mental thing to completely get of cigarettes. my experience was similar to yours. keep on truckin.

 

[Charley Crystal]

thumbs up to you. as you have found out, its a mental thing to completely get of cigarettes. my experience was similar to yours. keep on truckin.

It helps a lot to know that. I love reading the "I quit the day I vaped" stories but felt I must be doing it wrong, lol. It's nice knowing it's mental for others too

 

[MikenGA]

Hey Charley,
Starting in 2009, I struggled for almost TWO YEARS before I found the right equipment, flavors and nic level to comfortably make the switch. Although I have two e-rolls now, e-roll wouldn't have been powerful enough to do what I needed at the time. (if I have misunderstood what you're using, please forgive me. I'm posting from my phone, which ain't easy for old eyes.)

If it's really working for you, then please overlook my comment. Make sure your nic is high enough...maybe hang out with anywhere between 18 to 24mg nic. I also found a good bit of comfort in having a few bottles of WTA e-liquid in my rotation for about 3 months.

You're doing GREAT as is...but there are a few things you can do to probably make it easier to make the switch.

It seems like most folks make the switch. quickly, but I wasn't one of them.

Even so, I can finally say I'm a vaper 100%. It surely was a struggle finding the right gear for myself (it was invented while I was searching for it), but once I found it, the transition was almost painless.

It also helps to remember, it's not how many you smoke, but how many you avoid that counts as most important.

If I could do it, I'm darn sure you can, too. That 1st full day without a smoke was a MAJOR achievement! Heck...you've now got SIX DAYS behind you in less than a year! I AM IMPRESSED, and FILLED with happiness for you !

GOOD GOING, MAN! One day at a time...that's how we roll.

I'll be expecting to read you made it another day...tomorrow.

Congratulations!!!

 

[Kaezziel]

It helps a lot to know that. I love reading the "I quit the day I vaped" stories but felt I must be doing it wrong, lol. It's nice knowing it's mental for others too

Oh, it's definitely a mental game... I can't say that I quit the day I vaped, but I definitely saw the potential for it!
I got ripped off by the mall kiosk selling Smoking Anywhere e-cigs... there was a really cute girl working the booth and I absolutely fell for it... stuck with it for about a week (bouncing between it and cigs) then did some research online and found a better set-up... about a month or two later, I finally hit that sweet spot where I just didn't want a cigarette anymore... and then I ran out of juice, stopped at Walmart and bought a pack of Camels... got in the car and lit up, no big deal, stopped at another store on the way home and when I came back out to get in the car I opened the car door, and the smell of cigarette smoke just about knocked me on my kiester! I couldn't believe that my car must have always smelled like an ashtray!! I got straight home and jumped online to order a crap load of juice, atomizers, spare batteries... EVERYTHING!! I couldn't wait for my stuff to come in the mail so that I wouldn't have to smoke anymore!! That's when I walked away with my vape and didn't look back!!

 

[AndriaD]

I joined this forum in February but started dabbling with vaping in January. I feel like I've been to the ends of the earth and back again on this journey hoping one day to be smoke free. I've been through mystic's, ego's, evod's, e smart knock off's, 510 fin's and eRolls. I've vaped every flavor my heart could desire but still couldn't give up cigarettes. I could smoke very little but never go free.

Last Sunday morning I had a single cigarette and decided that Monday morning I would let the vape do the work. Monday I woke up, tripped over my cats, fed them, sat in my garage staring at a near full pack of smokes and vaped my fool head off until I didn't want one. I repeat that every single morning. Due to an awesome ecf member I have fresh attys and tanks for me eRoll which REALLY helps during my morning nic fit. Every morning is still hard and I'm not one of those who took to vaping easily at all. I went through juice and gear issues. It's still hard but every day I'm making a choice to say no to smokes and yes to vapes!

i would have never kept trying if it weren't for reading all the varied experiences here and encouragement. I've learned so much! Thank you all!

I had a very similar problem with mornings... every vape just tasted so strange to me in the morning when I first woke up. I finally realized it's because all vapor tastes sweet compared to cigarettes, so I started vaping something that actually was sweet, when I first woke up, and that really did the trick for me. Also I use higher nic when I first wake up, than I use all the rest of the day; mostly I stay around 9 or 10mg, but in the morning I vape 11mg or 11.5mg; tried using just 12mg but it only takes about 30 mins of that before I start getting the sharp stomach pains, and 30 mins isn't quite long enough to get me over the "hump" -- so I stay with 11 or 11.5mg, for about 45-60 mins, and it really does the trick, and I can go back to my usual 9 or 10 mg without cravings.

I've also found that the WTA stuff really does help with preventing cravings; this is my 2nd go-round and somewhere in the middle of my 2nd week smoke-free, I started having really bad cravings; I didn't smoke, but I was kinda miserable, so the next day when I topped up my daytime tank, I added some of the WTA that I got right when I quit the 2nd time; it really works, and since I've been adding it, even a very small amount, no serious cravings at all. Sometimes I still get that "behavioral" kind, the "I want to be going outside and doing something" kind of feeling, but it's not a serious craving, just kind of a "habit." I guess the habit takes longer, since it really is just a mental thing, but WTA helps with the real physical cravings, and I'm hoping it also helps with the 3wk/3mo depression kind of feelings too; coming up on 3 wks this coming Friday, so I should know by then, since I'm keeping the WTA in every tank I'm currently vaping from.

Congrats!
Andria

 

[iamthevoice]

Congratulations and keep it up!

 

[navigator2011]

I am now working on round 2 of switching over to vaping. I am still smoking, but I've been reducing the number steadily. I am lousy at resisting cravings, so whenever I really "want" one, I ask myself if I really "need" one, and if I do I just get one, but I vape first. If I am ever to switch completely, it will have to be because I like vaping more than smoking, not because I was able to resist cravings. For a long time, getting gear that's right for me was a struggle, but now that I've settled on carto tanks, I think the gear part is solved. Now I am looking for the right juice, my ADV. I feel that I am getting closer to just tossing the cigs in the bin, finally. Reading threads like this one always raises my spirits when I am feeling down.

 

[AndriaD]

I am now working on round 2 of switching over to vaping. I am still smoking, but I've been reducing the number steadily. I am lousy at resisting cravings, so whenever I really "want" one, I ask myself if I really "need" one, and if I do I just get one, but I vape first. If I am ever to switch completely, it will have to be because I like vaping more than smoking, not because I was able to resist cravings. For a long time, getting gear that's right for me was a struggle, but now that I've settled on carto tanks, I think the gear part is solved. Now I am looking for the right juice, my ADV. I feel that I am getting closer to just tossing the cigs in the bin, finally. Reading threads like this one always raises my spirits when I am feeling down.

That's exactly the way I've done it, both times; the first time was easier, it almost seemed to happen by accident, but the 2nd time was harder; I just had to keep reminding myself of how much I enjoyed being a non-smoker, my first go-round, and that the longer I continued smoking, the harder it would eventually be to get rid of the cigarettes.

Finding my ADV was pretty much the only reason I was able to do it, the first time; I smoked Virginia Slims for 30 yrs, and when I found the PG-blend Virginia at MyFreedomSmokes, it was a "eureka!" moment; the taste isn't identical of course, none of the burning bitterness, but I definitely recognized the flavor. What hampered me so badly that I briefly went back to smoking was that after not eating, vaping, or even drinking much for 4 days during my illness, EVERYTHING tasted foul to me, including and especially vapor, and of course after 4 days of not vaping, cravings were about to beat me to death; I figured if *everything* tasted bad, I might as well smoke; I felt pretty cocky that I could give it up again, after all I'd done it once before. But it turned out to be harder than I expected, laying them down again. I kept a tally, you know the 4 strokes and a diagonal kind, so I knew exactly how much I was smoking, and it gave me a goal, to make my way towards getting rid of more and more of those tally marks. Finally when I was down to 5 a day, I decided to just stop fiddling around and go smoke-free the next day. Since I had been increasing my vaping as I decreased smoking, the vapor tasted "right" to me again, so, somehow I managed. But I think it was only adding the WTA during my 2nd week that has let me stay smoke-free somewhat happily.

Andria

 

[navigator2011]

Hi Andria, I recall you describing your illness in another thread. I've had that "everything tastes bad" syndrome before, too. Funny, though, cigarettes tasting bad never stopped me from smoking. Last time I made a move to really work on switching over to vaping, the family and I went through that whole winter stomach bug thing. It's amazing how off-putting vomiting can be, and of course it certainly didn't motivate me to press on with vaping. Pretty soon, I would get nauseated at just the taste of vapor, but I could smoke Camels like there was no tomorrow, even while nauseated. So, I finally just gave up on vaping and contented myself with smoking about 30 Camels a day. But I continued reading the success threads here at ECF. Eventually, those threads became motivating enough for me to give vaping another shot. So, I decided on different vape gear than before (I hate leaking & guggling), and I also changed my cigarette brand (don't know what they put in Camels, but it sure does make me chain smoke). These two combined changes seem to be helping me make some progress without forcing myself to do anything.

EDIT: Just want to submit one extra thought. One reason I have given up on resisting cravings is because I know that as long as I want a cigarette, I will continue to crave one until it becomes all I think about like an obsession. Alternatively, if I don't want a cigarette, then not having one becomes no problem (it's easy to not have something you don't want). Thus, I try to ask myself whether I really want the cigarette plus all bad things that come with it. And this is where I think vaping really shines--vaping before smoking enables me to approach the cigarette problem rationally, instead of just mindlessly craving until I can get my hands on a carton. I view craving as irrational because I have always blocked my mind to the downside of smoking. Vaping enables me to keep enough rationale to actually weigh my need for a cigarette, and thus to remove some of the importance that cigarettes have always held in my mind. I believe this mental process will eventually lead me out of the cigarette prison.

 

[AndriaD]

Yeah the whole thing about e-cigs that's so attractive is that it can make quitting just a matter of switching, but when you're still having those cravings, just beginning to make the switch, I think resisting cravings until you're wretched is actually counter-productive. If you don't force it, then yes, eventually the vaping is better than smoking, so you just naturally choose the better, more enjoyable thing. But until you get to that point, there really is no point in making yourself miserable; if you're like me, that can actually make you dig your heels in harder, against making the switch. The mind is truly a dark and scary place, isn't it?

I think you'll get there in your own time, because you want to. Eventually the choice, and the ability to choose, does outweigh even that screaming-2-yr-old addict brain. I still have that last open pk, in a ziplock bag in my freezer. I have no interest in smoking them, and that's the key -- I could, but I choose not to. As long as I have that ability to choose, I'm perfectly fine with choosing not to smoke. Take away my choice, like if there were no cigarettes here.. it might be an entirely different matter.

Andria

 

[rzil]

qqqq

I joined this forum in February but started dabbling with vaping in January. I feel like I've been to the ends of the earth and back again on this journey hoping one day to be smoke free. I've been through mystic's, ego's, evod's, e smart knock off's, 510 fin's and eRolls. I've vaped every flavor my heart could desire but still couldn't give up cigarettes. I could smoke very little but never go free.

Last Sunday morning I had a single cigarette and decided that Monday morning I would let the vape do the work. Monday I woke up, tripped over my cats, fed them, sat in my garage staring at a near full pack of smokes and vaped my fool head off until I didn't want one. I repeat that every single morning. Due to an awesome ecf member I have fresh attys and tanks for me eRoll which REALLY helps during my morning nic fit. Every morning is still hard and I'm not one of those who took to vaping easily at all. I went through juice and gear issues. It's still hard but every day I'm making a choice to say no to smokes and yes to vapes!

i would have never kept trying if it weren't for reading all the varied experiences here and encouragement. I've learned so much! Thank you all!

You can do it , just keep it up for 2-3 weeks and I believe eventually you'll forget all about stinkies

 

[navigator2011]

Yeah the whole thing about e-cigs that's so attractive is that it can make quitting just a matter of switching, but when you're still having those cravings, just beginning to make the switch, I think resisting cravings until you're wretched is actually counter-productive. If you don't force it, then yes, eventually the vaping is better than smoking, so you just naturally choose the better, more enjoyable thing. But until you get to that point, there really is no point in making yourself miserable; if you're like me, that can actually make you dig your heels in harder, against making the switch. The mind is truly a dark and scary place, isn't it?

I think you'll get there in your own time, because you want to. Eventually the choice, and the ability to choose, does outweigh even that screaming-2-yr-old addict brain. I still have that last open pk, in a ziplock bag in my freezer. I have no interest in smoking them, and that's the key -- I could, but I choose not to. As long as I have that ability to choose, I'm perfectly fine with choosing not to smoke. Take away my choice, like if there were no cigarettes here.. it might be an entirely different matter.

Andria

I couldn't agree more with everything you wrote. Thank you for your confidence in my success, too.

 

[Charley Crystal]

9 days smoke free!!!!!!!!!!!! Yesterday was the worst day although to be fair my neighborhood was under water, my boyfriend stranded in a flood and random people were having accidents in the road that became a river in front of my house AND we lost POWER and I had an ego run out of battery AND an eRoll PCC and still managed to vape through it!!!!!!!!!

THANK YOU so much for everyone's support here!!!!! It's so hard when other's don't "get it." Vaping isn't the "easy" solution it seems. It's different. I am so THANKFUL for it though because it's MUCH easier!

I am going to look at the WTA because there are just these awful moments that ARE really hard but so far I feel okay. Once I get through the morning it gets easier. It's nice to hot have to even think about grabbing cigarettes, mentally trying to remember how many I have, where I placed my lighter and all that jazz. Now I have a plastic cigarette case that holds a couple of small E-smart knock offs, an ego a couple of tanks, 2-510 cigalikes, a couple of cartos and my eRoll PCC. I also don't have to run around looking for them as my vape stuff is always with me - I can do it in the house

It took me 8 months to just one day decide that I wasn't going to give cigarettes any more of money when I can vape MUCH cheaper. Since I don't care about special mods - besides my BELOVED eRoll - I really just have to purchase juice. I went from spending around $50/week to spending $25ish and that's ordering extra juices I know I don't "need."

 

[rbrylawski]

Keep up the good work. I didn't quit smoking the day I bought my first system. I bought a system that didn't satisfy and I tried for a full two years to completely quit. It wasn't until I bought a real system with real juice that I was finally successful and that was two years ago. I haven't had a smoke since and I don't miss or want one.

We all have confidence in you and know you can do this. In fact, I'm so confident that one day you'll be writing us to say how much more you enjoy your morning vape as opposed to your morning smoke. I get up now, shower, do my morning stuff, get dressed and then take my first vape. It's so so so much better now.

 

[Bernard Marx]

I agree with the idea that you have to have a choice. I know that if my eight-month, half-empty, untouched pack of cigarettes was not in my sock drawer I would immediately want to smoke.

 

[Kaezziel]

9 Days!!! And you made it through power outage and flooding?!?! Awesome job! You might look into getting a usb car adapter so you can recharge in the car as well... I have one in each car, just in case... of course, I also have a 12v DC to 110v AC power inverter in each car (so I can plug in almost anything... learned this during hurricane season down here in Texas.. we were out of power for a week and a half!)
Anyway, keep it up, Charley! We're here for you if you need support, but You've Got This Beat!!!

 

[Charley Crystal]

I just ordered wta liquid! Cravings are bad and my weight is up even though nothing has changed. Weight is always the determining factor in my return to smoking so hopefully the wta will help with that. Ugh, I was supposed to be down about 6 pounds by now and I'm up 3 from where I was!!!! I swear every time I quit I pack on weight!

 

[AndriaD]

I just ordered wta liquid! Cravings are bad and my weight is up even though nothing has changed. Weight is always the determining factor in my return to smoking so hopefully the wta will help with that. Ugh, I was supposed to be down about 6 pounds by now and I'm up 3 from where I was!!!! I swear every time I quit I pack on weight!

I actually lost weight, when I started vaping, because suddenly instead of sitting around watching TV and noshing on everything in sight until the next commercial, I could just vape away to my heart's content.

Apparently not everyone finds WTA to be really helpful, but it's helped me a GREAT deal; in the middle of my 2nd week smoke-free (this time!) I suddenly started having just horrible cravings. I had bought some WTA Virginia while I was still dual-using, and that 2nd week smoke-free became so rough, I started adding the WTA Virginia to my regular Virginia... and that day, no cravings at all. So I'm keeping the WTA in there, until I'm past this 3wk trouble spot. At 4 wks smoke free I'll go back to my regular Virginia for a while, and then when the 3mo point approaches, I'll add it again.

Keep up the good work! You'll get there! I will too!!!

Andria

 

[FattyJ]

It helps a lot to know that. I love reading the "I quit the day I vaped" stories but felt I must be doing it wrong, lol. It's nice knowing it's mental for others too

Transferring from smokes to vaping is different for everyone and has no timeline. Congrats on your decision to go smoke free. Stick with it and it will get easier over time hopefully for you as it has for me and others.