9 day update for a newb e-cig user

[frosty]

Thought I would chime in and let all you new users know what I have been through during my short (9 full days) experience with the e-cig....

History for my smoking habits, pack a day for 18 years...tried unsuccessfully countless times all different ways....

Bought the setup local a week ago Friday, spent $80 for a 510 setup, extra atty, some prefilled carts(tobacco extra high nic), blanks, and 5 10ml bottles of juice (tobacco, Mrlbro, Camel, Red Bull, and coffee)

I have gotten used to having the 2 batteries alternating charging for my needs in my car and at my computer, and haven't flooded a cart yet, but I think I was close once or twice....

I had a 1/2 pack left on Friday with me, bought a pack Sunday night, Thursday day and just recently bought a pack tonight as I smoked my last analog of the last pack at noon......That is a total of 3 packs bought instead: Fri night, Sat, Sun, Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun, 10 packs!!!!!! That's -$40 right there already!

So, to tell you all the truth (that is half the battle, I think) I have smoked 2 1/2 packs in these 9 days. This is a total of 50 analogs compared to last 9 days before e-cig of 180! I know I am not doing that well, but when you add it up, I have smoked 130 cigs less in the same time frame.....

My experience and what I found out for me personally moving to these and my need to get an analog out so often I think can be found in a few points....

1) I started using the e-cig to replace my EXACT smoking habits, e.g.-would work at the computer for a while and then take a break, go outside and puff on it for a bit then resume my computer work. Once the psychoogical 'high' of finding a replacement to the habit of smoking analogs wore off (2 full days), I no longer found satisfaction in approaching the e-cig the same way as the analog. It never gave me the 'instant gratification' my body was seeking, so I would shortly thereafter reach for an analog....

2) I have since changed my habits to e-cig more often and when I am inside and no use my e-cig while at the computer, the craving to 'go outside and smoke' is DELAYED GREATLY!!!!!! I can puff on the e-cig discreetly inside and if I keep the vapor held in for an extended amount of time, the exhale of vapor is almost non-existent (as with an analog) and greatly improves the discreet-ness of my use.

3) The odor of the e-cig has not proven at all to taint the surrounding area in my office area of the house(which I greatly feared when I first started the e-cig) which allows me the freedom to vap while still working inside the house, hence delivering more nicotine to curb the craving for the analog.


My last 3 days I have had a total of 7 analogs, so the middle of the week was the worst.

My suggestions (feel free to correct me, of course)

1) If you are trying to beat analogs, don't totally replace your exact habits of smoking analogs with vaping, if you can, vape more often then you had analogs, it helps cut the peak off the craving spike...

2) Try new places to vape that you would never have done with analogs...I have discreetly vaped at the gas pump, in the grocery store and Home Depot. the rush you get by doing this while being somewhere you were previously prohibited from doing what you want is satisfaction in itself and helps....I even vap in the shower, awesome, and how can you successfully have a smoke in the shower anyway?

3) try other flavors, as I am really starting to like the Red Bull( I thought I would want the Mrlbro the most) and I would have never thought to try anything but tobacco flavor (a shout out to my dealerr who told me to try it, THANK YOU)

4) Don't worry about the analogs at first, I was and felt like crap after having one, but after 9 days and knowing I have cut my analogs to almost 25% of previous useage, I am more excited than everr to tackle the work week.

Hope this helps any newbs, if I am in error, then please do me and the rest of the newbs a favor and correct me, as correction will only help us all.

Sorry for being long winded, long winded....man I have look forward to that day for the past 18 years!!!!!!!! One my way to no analogs, wish me luck!

-Scotty

 

[CaptJay]

Youre doing ok
Youve halved your cig intake - well youve three-quartered it but that doesn't roll easily off the tongue
Never compare YOUR progress to anyone else's btw. YOU are doing exactly what suits YOU best - and you may never give up but hey, this isn't a quitting device per se, its an alternative, its just so happens that MANY people give up becuase they prefer vaping.
Take a bow and feel proud - you done good

 

[Neekyme]

That's awesome! Don't say you're not doing that well, my gosh - what you've done is amazing!

I'm only on day 4, but I've found much of what you said to be true for me too. There is no rush to suck down an entire cig, or 'having' to smoke an entire cig for fear of wasting money. My goodness, when I think of how many times I lit a cig because I just wanted a few puffs, only to feel guilty and ending up sitting there smoking the whole thing. yuck.

I do feel like I'm vaping more than I was smoking - but today I made it a point to consciously take note of how I was vaping. Yeah, I had the thing in my hand all day, or so it seemed - but I would take a few puffs here and there - nothing like the amount I would smoke. But you're spot on when you said that you can't use the same smoking routine for vaping.

Yay for being long-winded!

 

[frosty]

Thanks Cap, you know going into this, I thought it would immediately replace my analogs, that is why by mid week I was reaching for them a lot and felt that the e-cig was failing like all the other methods, but I am kinda getting to get used to the E and find myself looking less and less to the analogs, and totalling up the amount of analogs not used in the time that I have had the E, gives me a new boost this week, and looking forward to stretching that one pack as long as I can. I know I do not need a pack a day, I have proven it, and enjoy vaping, so I am trying to be optimistic in my approach and count on the 'E' more and more for my horrible habit that I hate(and love) so much...

I know my approach isn't for everyone, just thought I would try to shed some light as to the staying with the E rather than, like the other methods, once you get your fix from analog, the patch or gun or pill no longer gets used. heck I am vaping right now replying to this thread and it is keeping me from another analog....one less nail as I see it....

-Scotty

 

[frosty]

....Yeah, I had the thing in my hand all day, or so it seemed......

OH MY!!!! I do the same thing, this thing is rolling around in my hand watching TV, driving, whatever, take a drag here and there, wow, same same same for me!

It is cool driving past my 'points' if you will, on my way home that I thought to myself, 'man, better light up now so I can finish before I get home', and passing them, vap a drag or so, then not worry I don't have one lit!

I love it and cannot wait to taper the analogs more and more. My wife was almost in tears when I told her how many I did NOT have this week.....

Thanks for your time and reply!

-Scotty

 

[Neekyme]

OH MY!!!! I do the same thing, this thing is rolling around in my hand watching TV, driving, whatever, take a drag here and there, wow, same same same for me!

It is cool driving past my 'points' if you will, on my way home that I thought to myself, 'man, better light up now so I can finish before I get home', and passing them, vap a drag or so, then not worry I don't have one lit!

I love it and cannot wait to taper the analogs more and more. My wife was almost in tears when I told her how many I did NOT have this week.....

Thanks for your time and reply!

-Scotty

I'm trying to figure out if carrying it around is a security blanket thing - or because it's just so darn enjoyable? lol

Last time I quit smoking for any length of time, was about 12 years ago - cold turkey - but I carried an unlit cig and a lighter around for over a week... Never put them down! It took that and about 3 pounds of chocolate covered pretzels...

But this is just so much easier! I think I need to make/buy one of those Leafords Lanyards Would make it much easier. I have a manual battery, and I've found that if I stick it in my back pocket - every time I bend or sit I end up pressing the button....hence why it's in my hand all the time

 

[potholerepairman]

For me over time it seems the ecig can leave the hand and be picked up and enjoyed like snacks at a party.This was one of the weirdest things from always wanting the cig in hand or ready to light up.Any smoke not smoked is a good smoke.

 

[Andrew_315]

i too cut back on normal cigs for awhile. today is my first full day with absolutely none. i went from a half a pack a day to sharing one a day to none.

 

[frosty]

...I have a manual battery, and I've found that if I stick it in my back pocket - every time I bend or sit I end up pressing the button....hence why it's in my hand all the time

See I did that too the first day back at work and thought I burned up an addy, but luckily I didn't! I now just keep the batt separated from the addy cart in my RR pocket next to my wallet, with the addy and cart in that stupid little pocket that is kinda above the right front pocket in Levi jeans(I'm staring to think they made that pocket for a couple of addy/cart combos...)

-Scotty

 

[frosty]

For me over time it seems the ecig can leave the hand and be picked up and enjoyed like snacks at a party.This was one of the weirdest things from always wanting the cig in hand or ready to light up.Any smoke not smoked is a good smoke.

good to know that this thing might not be a 6th finger eventually! Thanks for the reply

i too cut back on normal cigs for awhile. today is my first full day with absolutely none. i went from a half a pack a day to sharing one a day to none.

Right on Andrew, thanks for your reply, a simple reply can give all the HOPE in the world to someone struggling.......you keep a rockin and vaping!

-Scotty

 

[Jaka]

I know I am not doing that well, but when you add it up, I have smoked 130 cigs less in the same time frame.....

You're doing amazing. Don't ever tell yourself otherwise.

I started using the e-cig to replace my EXACT smoking habits,
...
I no longer found satisfaction in approaching the e-cig the same way as the analog. It never gave me the 'instant gratification' my body was seeking, so I would shortly thereafter reach for an analog....

1) If you are trying to beat analogs, don't totally replace your exact habits of smoking analogs with vaping, if you can, vape more often then you had analogs, it helps cut the peak off the craving spike...

2) Try new places to vape that you would never have done with analogs...I have discreetly vaped at the gas pump, in the grocery store and Home Depot. the rush you get by doing this while being somewhere you were previously prohibited from doing what you want is satisfaction in itself and helps....I even vap in the shower, awesome, and how can you successfully have a smoke in the shower anyway?

That's been my experience as well - sound like great advice; thanks for writing it out so clearly.

I would have had a much rougher time staying away from analogs if I were keeping to a "smoke break" schedule instead of vaping at will. The nicotine from vaping doesn't seem to hit me as fast, so if I wait until I have a craving, I'm in trouble. Riding a constant intake of nicotine seems to work much better for me as well, and I find I need a much lower concentration of nicotine that way. (I went from American Spirits to 4-8mg juice.)

I vaped in Home Depot, too. I started to get that "can't make decisions, need to bail for the smoking section" feeling, pulled my Volcano out of my watch pocket, cupped my hand around it like I was high school again (thank goodness LEDs don't burn like those used to!) and made everything all better. I felt so wicked.

I don't know if I'd be brave enough to vape in the shower (though I have smoked in the shower before), but I regularly vape in a steaming-hot scented bubble bath and I think I may actually be becoming a better person overall for the experience. *grin* I'm all sweetness and light for hours afterward.

Well, sweetness and light and violets. Violet soap, violet shampoo, violet bath bomb, candied-violet vapor... Next week is Mint Week though!

3) try other flavors, as I am really starting to like the Red Bull( I thought I would want the Mrlbro the most) and I would have never thought to try anything but tobacco flavor (a shout out to my dealerr who told me to try it, THANK YOU)

4) Don't worry about the analogs at first, I was and felt like crap after having one, but after 9 days and knowing I have cut my analogs to almost 25% of previous useage, I am more excited than everr to tackle the work week.

Hope this helps any newbs, if I am in error, then please do me and the rest of the newbs a favor and correct me, as correction will only help us all.
...
-Scotty

I think you're dead-on with every point. Don't be hard on yourself, value your successes, and in the words of Cole Porter - experiment!

 

[gb_ibmguy]

Like everyone has said - Hang in there!

I'm heading into my second week without an analog. Only had one or two brief lust's for a ..... I also find myself vaping a LOT more than I used to smoke, almost chain vaping. The nicotine seems to hit a lot slower. I'm using 24mg and use about 3-4ml per day. I seem to always have at least 2 batteries on charge.

I figure I've not smoked at least on carton so far, at current NJ prices, that's $75.00 I didn't give to big tobacco or the feds or the state. Of course I spent way more than that on batteries, attys and juice

 

[Uncle JaR]

It sounds to me like you are doing a great job, whether you ever give up on analogs or not, think of the money you are saving, and the life you are adding. Your cutting back is a great feat unto itself...how many times did you try to quit and fail, how many times did you try to cut back, only to find yourself two days later smoking just as much as you were? I know for myself, I got to the point that having failed to quit so many times, I had resigned myself to the "fact" that analogs were going to be what killed me. I gave up on the idea of ever trying to quit. I started using e cigs as a way of doing exactly what you are doing now, cutting back on analogs to save money, and even moreso, giving myself the ability to get the nicotine my body craved without hurting those around me. I figured that even if i only used them in the car while with my wife, at least I wouldnt be hurting her anymore. Keep plugging away and you might find that you unintentionally quit analogs for good. Even if you don't, cutting back for good, is great as well. I noticed after about two weeks, that my style of vaping changed. Instead of vaping once an hour, taking the recommended 10-15 puffs and putting the ecig away as recommended, I take 2-3 puffs every 10-20 minutes. Even though I unintentionally quit on day one with my ecig, I found this method curbed the cravings for me. Good luck, and focus on the positive, no matter what happens, cutting back on the amount of analogs you are taking in is a wonderful thing.

 

[jj2]

Don't be so hard on yourself. It's called Baby Steps and you're doing great!!!

We are proud of you!!!

 

[Raider]

The slower steady vapeing seemed to do the trick for me too, if i tried to take 'vape breaks' i ended up craving a smoke REAL bad.

 

[rita351]

You're doing great. I was vaping 12 days before I completely gave up the analogs.

 

[Hellen A. Handbasket]

Great start!

If you find you are struggling after a while, know that some of us do find that something is still missing with vaping and need a suppliment. Smokeless products have the whole tobacco alkaloids (WTA) that are in cigarette smoke and some of us have an additional need for them when we quit smoking and start vaping.

I used snus for a few months and it really put me on track and gave me my "happy" back. It is very inexpensive, discreet (no spitting and it is in a little pouch of teabag like material that you tuck between your upper lip/gums, so doesn't get in your teeth). Snuff (nasal) is another good option as are the Orbs and other products which are discussed here: Smokeless tobacco - E-Cigarette Forum

For more info on nicotine, WTA and MAOIs and how it works (or doesn't) in the liquids we're vaping, check out Nicotine - E-Cigarette Forum

Hang in there, it does get better but takes time to figure out what YOUR own way is.

 

[frosty]

Thanks for all the great points and encouragement. I definitely want to eliminate the analogs eventually (the sooner the better) but I only had one last night from the new pack right before bed, so that was 2 total for a Sunday which was unheard of for me 2 weeks ago. I would like to think that if I can keep the vaping up and on more of a continual basis this week , I can keep the nicotine levels more level and avoid the spikes that get me in trouble.

I might pick up a can of Snus again, tried those shortly before I found the E, but they were deffo not a replacement for me, but now they might be a good supplement.

Now to get the stress down a little, that might help toooooo......

-Scotty

p.s.- the boards by themselves are a great boost to my attitude and commitment, you guys are great and I look forward to putting one of those cool signature boxes in my profile soon.......thank you sooo much to all you great members here, what an awesome, awesome site. If you think about how much this sight has actually saved lives as a result, it has to be the very best site in the world!

 

[hexd]

congrats I will try some of your tips, I do notice that I enjoy vaping better and after a regular smoke, its more nasty than b4 I was vaping

 

[ladyh]

Way to go frosty on deciding to vape and cut back on your analogs! I have been vaping for 91 days today and still have my moments of cravings for that old analog so decided one day to give a try .......... And omg! It tasted just like the ashtrays smelled! And damn was i happy about that i still have them every now and then but i truly love vaping and all the different flavors of juices i have ...so keep up the good work!