Am I the only one of ecf who likes a cigarette?

[pmd]

So hey, ecf has been a saving grace for me since Aug '09. It has taken me months of reading and knowing what is right for me.
I only started this to save $$ and the benefits of not smoking have been a real bonus but...
When I started this I had a carton of butts( maybe that's my problem).
I cut down to maybe 4 ciggs a week as opposed to 2 pks a day.
After 8 mnths, I still have 2 pks left. I feel that I am still allowing myself the 1 cig each day as a reward or habit and I still love that cig.
Now , I am finally going to run out of my little 'reward' and I wonder if I should buy another carton that would last me almost a year.
I get frustrated reading of all who smoked for 10,20,30 + yrs and never smoked again after trying their vape when I still LOVE the occasional smoke which despite everyone's claims, still taste's really good.
Am I the only one here who has not been turned into vape is great and analog taste 'nasty' person?
Is it easier if you just don't have any analogs around to tempt you ?
Vaping has had so many benefits but I can't seem to let go of that 'just one today'. Smoking a cig has never, for me lost that love, even if it's just 1 or 2 a week.
8 months and still don't hate an occasional ....? Am I alone?

 

[laborer75]

Them newports call my name out everyday. The wife still smokes them so every now and then I take a drag or two. To cut down like you have is huge. If you still need that cigarette every now and then, don't feel bad. Look how far you've come and be proud!!!

 

[LateNiteTip]

I feel you. Those newports just tempt me. I haven't had a cig since i got my PV, which of course was just 1 week ago. But this girl had an unopened pack of ports that tempted me. Still didn't have one. But i really can see myself being tempted by a pack of newports way down the line.

 

[dave8944]

I had bought four cartons just before the federal tax started and got my PV at about the same time. I still had two cartons left over when I completely stopped smoking. I never denied myself an analog but after a year I'm going to have to end up throwing them out. I will still smoke one now and then and I still like them okay. Let's face it, we all started the PV because it was so similar to smoking. So, I say go ahead and smoke whenever you want one. Eventually you'll want one less and less.

 

[PaulCincy]

Whatever works for you....Only you can decide....I have completely stopped the analogs, but my wife still has one or two a day along with her 510...The question, I guess is for you,,,,health verses enjoyment....or both....Again, you can only decide...
Welcome and Enjoy...

 

[martha1014]

If you have to smoke one cigarette a day thats better than a pack a day. Some people just can't completely quit. I think in time you will find vaping more enjoyable than cigarettes. I know in my situation I still smoked one cigarette at night and then it got where that one would make me ill so it was a rather have to instead of a want to. Just hang in there.

 

[pianoguy]

I'd think it's completely up to you at this point - it sounds like you're not smoking that cigarette out of need, but because you want to. I would imagine that if you stop completely, they will eventually taste nasty. Personally that is something I'm grateful for - I never thought it would be possible that a cigarette would taste repulsive. Best of luck whatever you decide!

 

[dk2]

Not everyone wants to quit smoking analogs and that's a personal choice. If you want to quit analogs and still feel the need to smoke them, I suggest that you try upping your nic level and try a different ecig. There is a learning curve to ecigs with a lot of experimentation involved to find the right level of nic, flavor and vaporiser. You may not have found that perfect combination keep trying. In the end it is your choice no one will feel that you are less of a person for continuing to smoke analogs but we will sympathize for you and your family because tobacco cigarettes will kill you, and that is a true but sad fact.

 

[firechick]

You are definitely not alone on that point. I still have a cigarette a couple of times a day. First thing in the morning is the hardest time for me. You have cut down considerably, and your health will benefit. You shouldn't beat yourself up about it, you have come a long way. If you really need a smoke, have one.

 

[smokum]

There's not much more to add here that others haven't already said except my own congratulations on your amazing analog reduction and to say I too fall into this boat.

I've been vaping since '08, and immediately cut down from near 3 packs a day. I flipflop with analog qty's per day (even though I do hate the stink it leaves behind, and the aftertaste/breath it leaves you with).

I've also tried DIY'ing in attempts to find that strength & flavor that will get me to where others have succeeded to "just say no", but still haven't found it, even with my arsonal of different devices, mods, and all the support and examples from others here on ECF.

But I'm still very proud of my success at reduction than anything else, and of course of the money I've saved with vaping in comparison to where I once was.

I also enjoy that following a purchase of a new vehicle that I have not once had an analog in it (which is paramount for me since I was a chainer behind the wheel), and I also enjoy that I can avoid sitting and watching TV without the need to attempt viewing thru a residual cloud of smelly cigarette smoke "if I so choose to".

Of course it goes without mention the satisfaction of being able to get a fix and/or not put family and friends at risk when visiting "their" homes, or needing to go outside for a fix in a non smoking environment (especially in the cold weather months).

Never question your motives or success by still needing an occassional analog !! Just continue to commend and reward yourself for the great reduction you've accomplished....

That "someday" MAY come, and for those of us stubborn ones that actually manage to transform we'll most likely look back at posts like this one and laugh at ourselves for being so silly or guilty about it.

VapeOn,
Greg

 

[jimk55]

I think the whole cigarette addiction is highly misunderstood. The addiction to nicotine can be very weak or strong and doesn't seem to be linked to how much you smoke but may be more related to learned pattern response to the triggers associated with a drop in dopamine production.
After reading many of the testimonies here in the forum I have realized that just because you smoked a lot your not necessarily going to vape a lot. The satisfaction from vaping seems to me seems to last over a longer period when compared to an analog but sometimes doesn't quite complete the level of satisfaction that an analog can.
For those that were able to drop analogs altogether I think the resolve to get healthy may be all that's needed to keep from slipping back to analogs. If you start vaping to minimize costs and truly don't really embrace the health concerns then you may still struggle with giving up analogs altogether. Either way, cutting or quiting is probably the most positive change you can make in your life. The key is to remember that you are doing this for YOU and not anyone else. Satisfy yourself and the rest will take care of itself.

 

[mini_art]

I never chose vaping to quit smoking, I chose it to make my ex smoker hubby a bit happier and perhaps make my asthma better. Well one out of 2 isnt bad and my asthma is much much better. Hubby still isnt happy and keeps wanting to know when I am going to quit,
Doesnt like the answer never LOL
I ended up not smoking anymore analogs just really by liking vaping better.
I really dont look at vaping as a stop smoking device, though many use it for that.
If you want to smoke a cig, then do it. No big deal. Many find in time they dont want to
anymore. that is fine too.

 

[jimk55]

I hear you. My better half was a little skeptical when I started vaping. her first impression was that I just replaced the witch for the devil. She has slowly come to accept that I don't have to find a place to smoke or duck out during movies or public ventures to have my nic fit satisfied. She asked me once when I would stop all of this completely and I told her only when they pried the V4L longstick out of my cold dead hands. I got the old" I don't know why I bother asking when your going to quit " comment. I'm happy with that !!

 

[Switched]

Any reduction is good, so kudos!

5 weeks I had this irresistible urge for an analog. t didn't matter what I vaped, at what mg, I even had a slight buzz. I wanted to taste an analog.

Being a DIY I concocted a "cigarette" recipe. I took 3 hits and that sufficed. I haven't had that craving since. I still have the 3ml concoction ready for the day that demon comes back.

I always professed that the chemical cocktail we smoked affected our neuro systems as well. I use to smoke out of pleasure, 40 years ago. I have to admit in the last 10 or so it was out of habit. You may find this, interesting.

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibition Dramatically Increases the Motivation to Self-Administer Nicotine in Rats -- Guillem et al. 25 (38): 8593 -- Journal of Neuroscience

Any day without a cigarette is a good day, but the quicker you can rid yourself of the harmful chemicals in their toxic cocktail the better IMHO.

We know why ammonia was used in cigs, and we now know what Monoamine Oxidase did. What is the purpose/effect of the other 3998 reported chemicals?

 

[hittman]

Some people are not only addicted to nicotine but also the alkaloids found in tobacco. I found out after vaping only for a couple months that no matter what I did, I could not get that "satisfied feeling" that I had gotten from cigarettes. It did not matter how strong of liquid I used or how much I vaped. It just never came. That is when I found help thru swedish snus and snuff thanks to some help from some great members here.

 

[PTJD]

I'm in the same boat as Smokum, I cut back 2 Pk/day. But still to this day enjoy my analogs!

 

[CaptJay]

I doubt you are alone there pmd - this isn't a quit smoking board after all Its a 'love smoking board'! Just some of us ditched the fags cos the PV tasted better - but I personally didnt quit right away - heck I hadnt even PLANNED to quit at ALL but it just happened after a couple of weeks.
Every now n again i try the chippie I have in a pack in a drawer. Its still a chippie (not sure if that translates into american..but its a partially smoked cig that I keep knocking the end off of) cos I cant take more htan 2 puffs before its out again. It doesn't tatse good. The hit off it is ok but the taste just puts me off. I dont hate cigs or cig smokers btw - I just can't rejoin their ranks.
If you are happy doing your thing the way you're doing it then keep on doing it I say!

 

[Vapinginjapan]

I may get kicked off the boards for saying this..

But the oldest living recorded human in history actually smoked up to 2 cigarettes a day, before finally kicking the habit at the age of 117.
Jeanne Calment - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (I don't quite remember if she was the one who kicked the habit or not, looks like she might've smoked until her death at 122)
If you really enjoy them, the benefit to you psychologically might outweigh the health risks. Happier people tend to live longer.

Go with what pleases you, and reduce harm as much as possible within those confines. You'll be a happier, healthier person.

 

[Sucrose]

I am have been smoking 1-2 analogs a day. Hopefully I will be able to quit, but just cutting back to 1-2 a day is a great improvement!

 

[videvinci]

Hi PMD,
I feel exactly the same as you- I was a dedicated 1 and 1/2 pack smoker for 35 yrs. I started vaping in Aug 09- and drastically cut down to 5-6 analogues per day. That to me is a battle won and not lost- If you know Latin, you will see that my avatar name signifies 'I have seen and I have won' (loosely translated). Don't be so hard on yourself- everyone is an individual that sets his/her own limits.I find that I allow myself those 5-6 a day and I never have more than that. They also do not taste bad to me, although I do remember them as tasting much better in my smoking days. I was addicted to them for 35yrs- I am sure that I will eventually just give them up when my individual brain recognises that they are not what i thought they were. A big plus I have discovered is that I am not so totally hooked on having either a vape or an analogue- I can actually go without for quite a few hours, without getting uptight or thinking of nothing else than a smoke- The dedication to smoke seems to spiral downwards the longer you vape- TIME HEALS!!!!!