Anyone having trouble switching from Analogs? Lets help each other with some advice!

[sea]

Hey Jeff!

I have been vaping since 2/11 and had struggled to stop analogs completely. My first problem was juice. Finding a juice I liked and in the correct nicotine level. I ordered several sampler packs from recommended vendors. My next problem was carts. I don't like them and the vaping was inconsistent. I switched to dripping with an eGo and really really like it.

Part of the reason I liked smoking was the ritual aspect of it. Dripping allows me to time things the way I did with cigarettes. A couple drops last for a few minutes and I carry a 3 ml of juice in my pocket like I did a lighter. Some people think it is difficult or a hassle, but it's been super intuitive and easy for me.

People gave me some really good advice and said if I wanted an analog to vape for 10 minutes and see if I still wanted. I tapered down for weeks and now in the last week I can't even smoke an analog without wanting to brush my teeth. Anyway, since you are not one of those people that can stop instantly, please do not give up!

 

[punksynth]

Ya my issue with vaping long term is there are still health detriments to nicotine. I hope to also vape no Nic in the end. It will be a long process though.

 

[punksynth]

Hey Jeff!

I have been vaping since 2/11 and had struggled to stop analogs completely. My first problem was juice. Finding a juice I liked and in the correct nicotine level. I ordered several sampler packs from recommended vendors. My next problem was carts. I don't like them and the vaping was inconsistent. I switched to dripping with an eGo and really really like it.

Part of the reason I liked smoking was the ritual aspect of it. Dripping allows me to time things the way I did with cigarettes. A couple drops last for a few minutes and I carry a 3 ml of juice in my pocket like I did a lighter. Some people think it is difficult or a hassle, but it's been super intuitive and easy for me.

People gave me some really good advice and said if I wanted an analog to vape for 10 minutes and see if I still wanted. I tapered down for weeks and now in the last week I can't even smoke an analog without wanting to brush my teeth. Anyway, since you are not one of those people that can stop instantly, please do not give up!

Awesome, you have the right idea. Every time I have freaked out and needed an analog I know If I Just vaped for a bit I would be fine. For some reason it still takes willpower to do that for me. Herp Derp I will do that tomorrow and hopefully make it happen. That seems to be the general idea though. Just keep with the vaping when you are freaking out, and you will be fine. I believe it, just in moments of weakness I resort to the damn analogs.

 

[zer0ith]

There are pros and cons to both analogue and ecigs. But the truth (or at least from what many have seen) is that the analogues are so much worse for you then the ecigs.

 

[quittin4mykids]

I am just a week or so in- and started with a REALLY crappy local store cig-

I have a 501 - and have only tried 3 flavors- BUT even with the crappy cig I was ready to walk away from analogs- Honestly, I found some lorann oil and shot it in the tabacco cart with a diabetic syringe- LOL But that made it more than bearable- I fell in love-

that doesnt mean I dont still think I need an analog-


On my way to town today- I was walking by a shelf and saw a pack of cigs. My first thought was- OH, grab those!-- I can smoke one on the way to town- LOL WHY? I didnt need it- I now hate the taste and smell of cigs- BUT it was TOTAL habit-

For me- it helps that my kids want me to quit SOOOO bad- and I dont want to smoke in front of them- and disapoint them- BUT- stupid as this sounds- there is ONE cigarette left in this house- and its screaming at me- I dont want the durn thing- But, I cant fiqure out if I want to just be done with them- OR prove that I really DONT want it- and never in 20 years of smoking have I allowed myself to get down to less than 10 cigs- I would freak out-

YOu need to find out what your 'button' is- mine is my kids- and being able to say "I FREAKIN DID IT!!!" Do you need to keep an unopened pack and NOT touch it? ask a neighbor to keep it for you? So you will have to admit to failing? I did that to cut down a few times on analogs- I would make my husband take all but 5- or 8 with him to work- cause I didnt trust myself- LOL
OR set goals- set a timer for certain times through the day and smoke analogs on those times- Thats how I make myself NOT drink coffee all day- I only allow myself to drink it until 8:30 - Now, I can drink how ever much I want UNTIL 8:30- so the days I get up at 4:30 are my favorite- LOL BUT days like today where I literly slept through the alarm and didnt wake up until the phone rang at 8:15- they suck- LOL
so, give yourself either a goal- or a schedule- And get some REALLY good juice, that you dont want to put down-

Good luck- and any analog you DONT smoke, it that much better for you-

 

[sea]

Awesome, you have the right idea. Every time I have freaked out and needed an analog I know If I Just vaped for a bit I would be fine. For some reason it still takes willpower to do that for me. Herp Derp I will do that tomorrow and hopefully make it happen. That seems to be the general idea though. Just keep with the vaping when you are freaking out, and you will be fine. I believe it, just in moments of weakness I resort to the damn analogs.

You can do the all or nothing thing, but if you are not feeling it, it just makes analogs more appealing. I would ask myself questions when I had an analog like why I am smoking this? how do I feel? etc... Being mindful about it made it difficult to keep on smoking it. Maybe a better challenge would be: how long can I make this pack last? I smoked nearly a pack a day before and my last pack lasted me nearly 2 weeks. I have no interest in buying another one, but I am not one of those people who feels triumphant in having one lying around. However, my sweetheart still smokes and I just went away with him for the weekend and wasn't even tempted to ask for one.

Even when I was smoking I kept track of the amount I spent on vaping stuff and would have spent on analogs and most importantly, the # of cigarettes not smoked. As of today, I have not only broken even, but I have saved $20 and not smoked over 800 cigarettes. Maybe keeping track of those numbers and how much you have reduced or cut back would be positive to you as well.

 

[xg4bx]

I alternated vaping and having a cig (not at the same time lol), I just kept doing that until I was out of cigs. I think I eased myself into it and kind of tricked my brain by associating the behaviors.

If you'd sit on the porch and have a cig, take your pv out instead next time. Theres a lot of little mental trickery involved, at least for me there was. If I went "all or nothing" at first id have failed. Even now 7 months later I still smoke a pack of cigs if the mood strikes me but its easy as pie for me to go back to ecigs, I could smoke the last cig and be right back to vaping without discomfort. Its all become one and the same for me. I still "smoke", it just involves a little more fiddling.

I guess the easiest way to describe it is just easily and quietly slip it into your routine, don't make a big fuss about it. Don't think you're doing anything new. Just tell yourself you're smoking a new brand of cigarette. Too much excitement or fuss psyches me out about things.

 

[WiKiD]

I piled a bunch of crap on top of me (Laptop/homework) all day while I wrote some papers for my classes. I kept my cigs and my 510 next to me and everytime I wanted a cig, I'd realize I had the choice of either taking all that crap off of me and walking outside into the cold to smoke, or I could just grab my 510 and vape away. Needless to say, my laziness didn't fail me and I just vaped all day without leaving the chair. Eventually, I kind of forgot the cigs and just kept vaping. It was the perfect method for me.

 

[rbabjr]

Something else you might try that helped me a lot was starting your vaping like you would if you were still smoking. For instance, if you usually smoke outside, take your PV out and vape for 5-7 minutes. Let the ecig replace the analogs through habit. After a year, I have no cravings for analogs and my 'habits' have 'evolved.'

 

[Snuffy]

Drinking is my trigger, but it's frustrating because I can't hit analogues as often as the ego tank. I'm too used to chain vapping. I now feel sick after smoking half an analogue.

 

[jmpublius]

Something else you might try that helped me a lot was starting your vaping like you would if you were still smoking. For instance, if you usually smoke outside, take your PV out and vape for 5-7 minutes. Let the ecig replace the analogs through habit. After a year, I have no cravings for analogs and my 'habits' have 'evolved.'

I've only been off of analogs for about 4 days now, but this is what works for me. You have to keep your rituals and habits and kinda trick your sub-concious into thinking nothing has changed. Like most smokers, I've tried quitting too many times, but the times where I've quit for the longest time (about 4-5 months) were when I changed as little as possible. I've been going outside with my pv, and making sure I mimic my analog rituals (ie coffee, after dinner smoke, crack the car window). Good luck.

 

[VHATVAPR]

I didn't have much of a struggle getting off analogs,..always smoked "lights" though. I smoked almost 30 years, and in stressed times could smoke a pack a day (120's). I really am thankful that I found a flavor that I could smoke, and got a sample of a flavor that quickly became a favorite.

When I ran out of it within a few weeks of starting to vape, I did buy a pack of analogs. After that, I didn't want to be without SOMETHING to "smoke" anymore,..and began to try and build a "stock". My co-workers had some free samples (stronger than I usually smoke), and shared with me. I ordered a very disappointing batch of juice,..and then they ran out of my favorite for a while. In that time, I began to try and find a replacement,..seeking a replacement...I now think I am over the hump,..and would not return to analogs.

I am, however fearing that I will become a "flavor junkie". I read notes from Geoff at Tasty Vapor,..and I would have to agreee,..that choosing flavors OTHER than tobacco type flavors, make you less likely to go back to analog for the tobacco taste. I am now on a "flavor quest", and tell people very often,..you can taste whatever it is that you want to taste,..and that's a big difference. I am a chocoholic,..and recently tried Sweet Vapes Chocolate Fudge Brownie,..it is so delicious,.best flavor I have found thus far. I know that I can taste something Yummy,..and that is the difference. My favorites include some mint,..coffee, chocolate,..things that I love to taste. I now am on a quest for the best flavors, and all day vapes. I think if you start thinking about what you WANT to taste, and replace your current level of nicotine,..you might find it easier to let go of the analogs. Start looking at some e-liquid vendors,..think about what you WANT to taste,..and get a few samplers to find the flavor that delights you and your taste buds (and satisfies your nic cravings),..I think you will find it much easier to stay away from the analogs once you do. There are several places you can create your very own flavor,...as well as nic level and mix,..whatever YOU like, you can get made for you. Everyone is different, and I may indeed have a "flavor addiction" beginning here,..but I enjoy them, and analogs just don't offer that for me. Hang in there,..you can do it!

 

[punksynth]

Sorry the forum crapped out on me last night. Thanks everybody for the amazing advice. Even where I am right now is progress and I need to look at it that way. I was going for the all or nothing aproach. When truthfully I am doing quite well when I look at it in a positive way. I am down to around 10 cigs a day, that is from roughly 2 packs a day. I know pretty crazy isn't it. Being a smoker for around 17 years now, I feel it's really just time to quit and get healthy. I also have 2 wonderful children as motivation.

Thanks again this forum is amazing and so are all of you!

Jeff

 

[prismsand]

I'd been a full-time smoker for about 30 years.I bought my e-cig beginning of Feb. 2011.I didn't quit the analogs til beginning of March.I allowed myself to smoke the analogs because I knew it was a big transition for me.I could at least pat myself on the back for only smoking between 1 and 3 analogs a day.Instead of the usual 15 or so.And that wasn't even hard to do.The e-cigs took care of the rest.I puffed my brains out when I wanted to.

About a week or so after starting my e-cigs my husband and I went to a casino.Well...you know everybody smokes like crazy there.I had a pack of analogs and my e's.During the 2 hours or so that we were there I never had an analog.Puffed my e-cig the whole time.Never bothered me not to have the real thing or be around other smoker's.I was amazed.However I couldn't figure out where I belonged.Smoking or Non-Smoking section.

Something I did note for awhile during my transition was a funny withdrawl or craving.Almost like twinges in my stomach.How could I have cravings when the e-cig was giving me what I needed?I figured out it was all the added chemical's in the analogs.
Our bodies get addicted to those too on top of the nicotine.Once my sense of taste began to return.I could taste ammonia or something akin to that in my Marlboro's.I knew that if I didn't kick them to the curb.I would have to keep dealing with the"chemical twinges".Not nice.Just learned to puff and puff to get past that part.

Haven't had an analog in 25 days now.Don't plan at all to return to those.

I too bought into a crappy over priced e-cig brand.Not letting that discourage me.I'm having an adventure picking out my new one.Just remember it's a transition.Look for the postives that happen.Like not smoking as many analog's.It takes some time.

 

[sea]

When truthfully I am doing quite well when I look at it in a positive way. I am down to around 10 cigs a day, that is from roughly 2 packs a day. I know pretty crazy isn't it.

That is crazy awesome! That's 30 cigarettes a day not smoked!