Better to cut back or stop the analogs totally?

[Qcaj]

Which worked better for you?

I started vaping 3 days ago (so still very much a noob). I really wanted to quit smoking totally like I've read people do on here, but I haven't been able to. That analog in the morning, and the one after work, is just too good. Or sometimes I get such a bad craving that I'm overwhelmed and smoking almost before I realize it.

I was (am?) a 1/2-3/4 PAD smoker for 15 years. But I've always been... how do I put it. In the mornings I would have 2, 3, sometimes 4 over the course of an hour, repeat after lunch, and then repeat before bed (though spread out more to a "normal" smoker's 3-4 hours). I ordered the lowest dose nic in my first set of juice (11mg) and one medium strength (24mg). The 11 definitely isn't doing it for me. It takes the edge of cravings but I can feel the need to smoke an analog creeping up on me. The 24mg makes my head spinny, both from the nic and also the flavour (supposed to mimic my usual brand - doesn't at all). Still trying to find a good combination, but I worry about creating habits that mix using analogs and vaping and never completely getting the monkey off my back.

 

[nebulas]

Everybody is different. You gotta do what works for you. Just try to vape as much as possible. If you want to smoke, then smoke. No big deal. When you start smoking less and vaping more, the flavor of the smokes will just start tasting bad and you won't want it anymore.

I was able to quit completely after 3 days. I was a 1.5 PAD smoke for 15 years. I was able to replace my habit for the most part on day one with the exception of a couple of important daily smokes. The morning was the toughest. When I woke up in the morning I would crave a real smoke so bad. I would think about vaping but I would immediately rule that out because I was convinced I needed the full flavor of a real cig. Basically, I convinced myself that vaping would not satisfy my urges before I even tried picking up the PV. So I then made a minor rule for myself. If I wanted to smoke, then I could smoke but I have to first puff on my PV for a minute before I do. Surprisingly, the PV was satisfying my cravings when I was sure it wouldn't do the trick.

 

[vsummer1]

Just do your best, no one is going to beat you up about it. Every cigarette NOT smoked is a victory.

When I first started these I would automatically think "cigarette" and I had to retrain myself to think, "cigarette - wait, no, I can vape instead". I find myself less inclined to think about a cigarette as time goes by. It was a habit, something I did every day about 20 times for 30 years. I couldn't expect to magically forget about it! I just enjoy vaping my Honey Flue, my Black Label RY4 Day and Night or my Gooey Caramel Cookie a LOT more than the flavor of that cigarette.

And just and FYI, the 24 mg is not medium, that is rather high and it sounds like it is too high for you if you are feeling "spinny". I felt it was too much and went to 18 and was fine. 12 was way too low, I couldn't put the thing down!

 

[Rickajho]

Hi. Welcome.

The best part of quitting with e-cigs is the flexibility. Some people can do that "I just picked up an e-cig and never touched a cigarette again." Other people - like me - need and take more time to do it. I quit over a 90 period but haven't had a cigarette since. You do have options now. If you have genuine motivation to quit, how you do it will sort out. Relax - you are only three days in.

As you have found out it can take some figuring out to find your correct nicotine level(s). Most places carry liquids in 18 mg strength - it sounds like that is where you are headed next. 24 mg is actually classified as a "high" level by most vendors.

Early in - at least for the first few months - you may find you need to keep at hand more than one nicotine level in order to deal with cravings. I had to use a higher nic level for mornings and other craving fits. Most of the day I was perfectly fine with a lower nic level.

Try more liquids. But I would suggest only getting 5 ml sample sizes until you sort out your needs regarding nic levels and flavors. I hate to see newbies blow a ton of money on too many liquids in too large sizes in their first couple few weeks until they most importantly figure out the nic needs. And there is nothing worse than buying a large bottle of liquid that just tastes like YARK! to you.

Another new habit you may need to develop is actually vaping enough. It sounds like you were a "break smoker." In the morning before work, grab one at break, smoke at lunch, nothing else until after work. Cigarette "stuff" gets into your system very quickly. Nicotine absorption from vaping isn't like that - it doesn't hit you over the head like the quick rush you get from a cigarette. So short periods of infrequent vaping won't get you what you need. You may have to work on vaping enough, vaping more often. The pacing is different than with cigarettes.

It does get better. Just takes a little figuring out in the early weeks.

 

[oldsoldier]

Like was said earlier, everyone is different and the best thing about e-cigarettes is the ability to change nicotine levels to adjust for the power of the monkey on your back.

I started vaping with minimal expectations - I only thought it might cut back on my smoking. I was shocked to find that within a couple days of getting sorted out with acceptable gear and liquid that I had "accidentally quit". The key is finding a device and liquid combination that works for you, and remembering that it is a process. If you slip (and most of us do at some point) remember that it is not about the cigarettes you smoked, it is more about the ones you didn't.

Best of luck!

 

[Karla Lyle]

I just completely quit. I actually planned on weening myself and went and bought a pack the day I got my kit thinking it would be my last pack and I would use it to ween off but never even had to open them. stiill sitting in my closet. Although I used 24mg juice. I still would have a little bit of cravings but as soon as I vaped some 24mg I was fine. If the 24mg doesn't do it for you you can even do a little higher. I was a PAD smoker for 20 yrs and it was fine for me. Once i moved into VV and higher voltage vaping I was even more satisfied so it could also be the hardware you are using. But if cutting back works it is better than nothing. Welcome and Congratulations!!

 

[Qcaj]

Thanks for all the useful info. I guess like any kind of quitting, or even any kind of smoking, some people just approach it differently and different things work for everyone. I'm definitely a "break smoker" though. I'm used to huge SPIKES of nicotine and I've noticed I do need to vape more or less constantly. But even if have to put the 808 down for a few hours my cravings are a lot slower. They creep up on me, I guess.

My tastes may change a bit, but so far I'm surprisingly unhappy with the "tobacco" flavours (Ry4 is really yucky, even though I had high hopes for it). The fruit flavours are also not great. But I love love LOVE the coffees and the chocolates and the desert flavours. Hopefully I can find a nic level I'm comfortable with.

If I mix an 11mg with a 24mg, what would I get? I'm not too happy with the taste of either so I'm thinking it might be alright to stick them together. (the 11mg is Ry4, the 24 is Players Tobacco flavour)

It's good to know that I'm not a total failure for still sneaking the analogs in, though. Thanks for that

 

[Rickajho]

Thanks for all the useful info. I guess like any kind of quitting, or even any kind of smoking, some people just approach it differently and different things work for everyone. I'm definitely a "break smoker" though. I'm used to huge SPIKES of nicotine and I've noticed I do need to vape more or less constantly. But even if have to put the 808 down for a few hours my cravings are a lot slower. They creep up on me, I guess.

They will do that. The first two weeks were the hardest for me. But as you go along the frequency of the cravings and their intensity decreases over time.

My tastes may change a bit, but so far I'm surprisingly unhappy with the "tobacco" flavours (Ry4 is really yucky, even though I had high hopes for it). The fruit flavours are also not great. But I love love LOVE the coffees and the chocolates and the desert flavours. Hopefully I can find a nic level I'm comfortable with.

If I mix an 11mg with a 24mg, what would I get? I'm not too happy with the taste of either so I'm thinking it might be alright to stick them together. (the 11mg is Ry4, the 24 is Players Tobacco flavour)

Yeah, you can do that. (Isn't flexibility great? ) If you did a 50/50 that would put your right in that 17mg to 18 mg range.

It's good to know that I'm not a total failure for still sneaking the analogs in, though. Thanks for that

Nah! This is like no other way to quit. And that's why all the conventional methods have such horrible failure rates. Conventional quit methods all emphasize one and only approach to quitting: 100% abstinence. Pick a quit day. If you don't hit that target date you are a failure. Don't you dare smoke while using patches - vague, yet dire consequences are rumored. Group "classes" are supposed to improve your odds, but get in your face and emphasize your failure if you relapse. One cigarette means you are still a smoker and a failure. Well, if I'm such a failure I might as well just keep on smoking! Gee - ain't that fun? Sigh...

With e-cigs there are no rules. (If there are no one has enlightened me yet.) You may find - as most of us do - that the more you vape the less desirable smoking becomes. Cigarettes start tasting and smelling really lousy - all over again like the first time you smoked. I never saw that coming. For my last few weeks of smoking 1 or 2 cigarettes a day I never liked them any more. In their own way, smoking cigarettes became their own worst negative reinforcement. Here's hoping as you go along you have that same experience.

 

[johnnytwofingers]

With e-cigs there are no rules.

Exactly. The way I'm approaching it, I'm free to smoke a cig whenever I want, buy a pack whenever I want. I have my smoke in the morning with coffee, and then after that I vape. Or, a trick I find useful, get your coffee and sit and read for a bit and vape....don't deny yourself a smoke, just wait for a bit...next thing you know you don't really need that smoke anymore.

So far, I really never even really particularly want a smoke, but if I do decide to have one, every day it seems to get less enjoyable. I used to smoke a pack a day, using this routine, I'm smoking about a pack a week, tops. And I'm not worried about that at all.

 

[SABOTEUR]

Anytime you vape when you'd otherwise be smoking, you've reduced your consumption of cigarettes. Commend yourself for whatever progress you make.

 

[Z_Ghost]

I still have part of one in the morning, I think that in a few more days I will not even need that.
I had been smoking part of one at bed time too, but have not needed to do that for a few days now.
I seem to be fine with most days, still have that I Need a Cig every now and then and most times a few good hits off the e cig kills that problem.
Just keep at it, sooner or later you will not really need them anymore.

 

[StormFinch]

Like was said earlier, everyone is different and the best thing about e-cigarettes is the ability to change nicotine levels to adjust for the power of the monkey on your back.

I started vaping with minimal expectations - I only thought it might cut back on my smoking. I was shocked to find that within a couple days of getting sorted out with acceptable gear and liquid that I had "accidentally quit". The key is finding a device and liquid combination that works for you, and remembering that it is a process. If you slip (and most of us do at some point) remember that it is not about the cigarettes you smoked, it is more about the ones you didn't.

Best of luck!

What he said!

This was my experience exactly. The last cigarette I "thought" I wanted tasted like licking the bottom of a smoking area ashtray, so I put it out after two drags.

 

[tnt56]

Just hang in there. I smoked for over 45 years. I was going through 2-3 packs a day. This is day 13 on vaping, and the last carton of analogs I bought has lasted over 10 days and there are still 4 packs in it plus whatever is in my car. (I couldn't really tell you how many are out there cause I quit checking every morning before I leave for work.) This is putting me to LESS than a pack a day. I find that I'm starting to reach for my pv more often than a analog now. Just give it time and go at your own pace. Like every one has already said. For each time you vape that's one less you smoked. Good luck on your new journey. You will find all the support and great advice from the people in this forum. I know they have all helped me more than they will ever know.