After SIX MONTHS..... I QUIT!

[Shel]

Just wanted to share my story, in case it may help any newbies...

I began vaping six months ago. I don't even remember where I heard about vaping initially.

I ordered a 510, and proudly announced to my family that in a couple of days, I was going to completely quit cigs! As soon as the 510 arrived, I'd be smoke free!

Well... it didn't work out that way, for me.

I've read lots of posts of people who tried vaping, and after the very first drag on a vaporizer, NEVER picked up another analog cig again!

More power to them! That wasn't my situation.

I did vap... eventually purchasing an eGo, because I wanted/needed more powerful thoat hit, or something.

I'd vap, but I'd also smoke when I was alone in the car, or out of the house (my wife HATES cigs, hates the smell, but most of all hates hearing me hacking away as my "good morning" ritual...)

Can't tell you WHAT was missing from vaping that required that I continue to smoke five, six, sometimes a pack of cigs while I contined to vap. But, I'd vap in the house, always bring my juice, eGo, batteries, etc. along for the ride, but always fall back and smoke when out of the house.

Two weeks ago, the day after my anniverary, on Oct. 20th, I decided to NOT pick up an analog, or purchase cigs, and really give it a hard push NOT TO SMOKE.

I've gone about two weeks now, and I am only vaping.

My point is, if you're new... don't guilt trip yourself if you find you pick up the occasional cig, or even if you find you're back smoking a full pack. Try new devices, try new juice (I find using 18mg level of juice, most of the time, but having 24mg strength for those times I'm ready to go to 7/11 and get a pack of cigs is VERY helpful) and JUST KEEP VAPING! I also found dripping gave me a stronger throat hit, more flavor.... I just much prefer it to having to mess around with carts, fill, napkins/paper towels, etc.

Everyone is different!

As long as you keep vaping, even if you're stilll smoking, you're still on your way... your journey may be longer then the other guy... but you'll STILL get to your final destination if you stick with it!

Again... try dripping, try new cigs that you read about, or mods... try different flavor juice... you'll find what finally works for you, and you'll find yourself no longer even WANTING that nasty cig!

Good luck!

 

[Tam323]

congrats on quitting smoking, Shel!

 

[whiskey]

Very nice story to tell all the people here Shel...I admire your honesty & the points you made...Its not like we all just dropped the cigs for a PV, your right...and to feel guilty about it is not the thing to do, just be vigalent about it & soon it becomes your replacement..congrats to you my dear , good Job!!!

 

[Sue1971]

Congrats!!!!

I to am one of those people who also smokes while vaping...I've cut down to around 7 a day now, and I just keep thinking to myself that I will get there some day... But not today...lol and it's 20 less ciggs that I don't smoke per day..

Again Congrats to you!!!!!

 

[grandmato5]

Glad you shared your experience as we all are very different and newbies and those still smoking while they are vaping need to know its ok and not to be too hard on themselves if the journey to vaping only takes longer for some than for others.

The hardest time for me not to have an analog the first few weeks of vaping was when I was alone in my car. It was the one place that the "habit" was very hard to brake. I learned quickly that I no longer liked the taste of analogs BUT that didn't mean I didn't "WANT" one when driving alone in my car. I'm working my way down reducing the amout of nic slowly to hopefully get to 0 nic someday(not in the near future but hopefully somewhere in the future) but I already know that if I'm lucky enough to get there at some point in the future that I will still need that e-cig when I'm alone in my car long after I've hopefully given it up other times of my day.

Congrats!!!

 

[HighHeeledGoddess]

I had to use will power to quit with my PV too. Thank you for posting this, I think sometimes everyone thinks it will be like magic and they will never think of cigs again. For me, it is still an on and off battle. I still like a cigarette when I drink. I don't think that will ever go away, but I am fine with that. My face hurts more than any hangover due to my cig with drink, so I try to talk myself out of it, but the first thing to go is your judgment...........

 

[Mathew R Taylor]

I have two stories - My own first. Smoker for 2 decades from 3 down 1 one PAD. Learned and read up on eCigs, and bought one. Switched about a month ago, and have left analog cigarettes alone completely. The first week was difficult, but started vaping when I got the urge, whenever I got the urge to have an analog. So far so good. Now for the other story...

Got my Wife convinced to switch, and though she smokes about .5 PAD still a decent amount. She was using my batteries and atomizers (I had an extra set) as well as juices. Since I wanted the full flavor experience, I am comfortable at 18 - 24 mg content. Now my Wife is convinced that she can do this, but doesn't feel she gets enough nicotine with my juice, so has about a cigarette a day to buffer her. The first couple of days I got frustrated with her (before I read everyone was different) but have come to realize that everyone is different, and that 1 is much better than 10. (To answer the question that is coming; yes I did apologize)

 

[foggy1]

Started vaping 2-1/2 mo. ago w/a knock-off.. was smoking PAD over 40yrs.
got a 510 kit 2 weeks later w/ ego batt & juices from tasty vapor
was still smoking at least a few a day, more when frustrated
got a riva kit, an ego p/t & ego mega atty's & carts last sat. nite
smoked 1 stinkie sun. morning ...none since, 3 complete days
having the right equipment made all the difference
still have a pack of smokes here, hope I won't need them.

 

[DerbyChic]

I got my first e-cig from the mall and was analog-free for 3 weeks. then my e-cig quit on me, and while waiting for my new one (which I ordered online after finding this forum), I started analog again.... been about 2 months now. I am down to about 3 or 4 analogs a day, which is better than the 2 packs I used to smoke. Can't wait for the day when I never buy them again!

 

[hairball]

Thank you everyone for sharing your stories. That is great. I'm glad that you have made the "change". Please keep us posted.

 

[tonna11]

Thank you for posting this story--I havent tried vaping yet, I just ordered my starter set from vap4life, and am waiting for it to arrive. I have gotten some extra juices from a different vendor so I have a variety of levels and tastes, but this was a story I think I really needed to hear. I am so hopeful that I'll be able to kick the analogs--I'm on disability, and am smoking about 2.5 PAD, sometimes 3. I have the beginnings of COPD, and other health issues are cropping up. I very much WANT to believe that after one vap I'll never touch another analog again, but in honesty--I know thats not going to be that easy for me. I'm stocking up on jolly ranchers, and straws as I know the oral fixation issue is big with me, and am trying to think of as many issues as possible in order to head them off. I'm very grateful for the support here, as I understand having a support system in place ups your chances for success.

 

[Zurd]

Great story, congrats ! That was a lot of patience and determination you have there

 

[MrsJaaxx]

Shel-- Congrats to you! I love your story because as wonderful as it is to see "I quit the day I got my e-cig," I really feel that your situation is one that many a discouraged vaper can be inspired by. People are already guilting themselves when it doesn't "take" right away, and then it seems that everyone else just quit effortlessly. You've shared here that for some, quitting still takes a good deal of work, and that the e-cig, while not a magic quit-pill, can be a successful tool for quitting tobacco.

I'd love to share your story on my facebook page, linking back here and giving you full credit, if you'd allow me to do so.

 

[jeat5369]

Thanks for posting this, Shel! Now I don't feel like such a failure!!!

 

[Sandrita]

Sometimes it hard especially at the beginning but well done you made and I hope you're proud!

 

[CraigHB]

It does take a little motivation to put down the cigs for vaping. It's not like you can just pick up an e-cig and never notice the difference. I put the cigs down after just a few days vaping, but for the first couple weeks, it did take me some will power not to light up. Though, it seems to pass pretty quick and then you don't give it a thought anymore. It's nothing like trying to quit smoking using any other method.

There's definitely a couple ways to approach it, one not necessarily better than the other. You can just vape and smoke and let vaping take over at whatever pace you feel comfortable or do it all at once. I was pretty motivated not to smoke so I did it all at once.

 

[countrygirl1291]

Thanks for posting that, Shel. I've been vaping 6 weeks now, and I still smoke 10-12 analogs a day. It's hard not to get discouraged sometimes, but posts like yours help.

I guess the biggest difference since I've started vaping is that I'm not terrified anymore at the thought of quitting the analogs. I feel like it's a do-able thing, and I never felt that way before. So it's good to hear from people who didn't make an instantaneous conversion, or who got by with only an occasional analog before they put them down for good. While I'm thrilled for those folks, I'm unfortunately not one of them.

 

[classwife]

This is an 8 month old thread that was dug up !........... (hope she is doing good )

 

[CraigHB]

Hehe, I forgot to look at the date on the OP. How to people find these old threads, especially with the size of ECF where thousands of posts get piled on top of them after that time.

 

[guitarmeetsjake]

Very great advice! I'm a new vaper. Just converted from smoking to vaping. I, personally haven't craved a cigarette since, but I'm sure I probably will eventually. I'm using a basic menthol flavor 18mg e-liquid, which I have already noticed doesn't give me a buzz quite as great as cigarettes, but it hasn't made me want to pick one up just yet. I'm still enjoying my e-cigarette to it's fullest; however, if I begin to crave a cigarette over my 510 nicstick, I'll be sure to follow your advice I only smoked for a few years and only smoked a few packs a week, but even that is enough to get completely hooked. People who are addicted to cigarettes are addicted to CIGARETTES, not nicotine. Non-smokers don't seem to understand that for obvious reasons - they've never done it . But when an ex smoker craves a cigarette, they crave a cigarette. Not necessarily the nicotine. Gum and patches don't help nearly as much as non-smokers believe them to. Quitting is hard. E-cigarettes, however, give you that feeling of puffing on a cigarette. It helps much more than gum or patches, but I'm sure the feeling of really WANTING that cig will always come back at some point. I'll go ahead and buy new flavors and get some of the 24mg so I can go ahead and prepare myself for when that happens x). Thanks for the post! Congratulations and happy vaping!