can't kick the habit.

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sam12six

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I was also one of the lucky ones who was able to quit immediately. I believe the reason we seem to be more numerous than we really are is that we're so amazed when we immediately drop a habit that's been impossible to drop for a decade, we need to share the joy. In other words, EVERY person who quits immediately mentions it here.

People have mentioned finding your sweet spot PV and juice-wise. Folks are always bragging on the great taste of the juices they prefer, but if you're having trouble quitting cigarettes, it doesn't matter how good it tastes, you're obviously not getting satisfaction. Even if you've found a juice you think tastes awesome, you might want to keep looking for one that gives you that visceral, "AAAHHH" satisfaction that the first puff of a cigarette did. You won't find something that is exactly the same taste-wise, but you can probably find something that shocks your throat and lungs to the right level that it "tricks" your body into feeling the same satisfaction.

The other big factor is making the set-in-stone (or at least fast drying cement) decision not to buy more cigarettes. Like someone mentioned earlier, if you have 'em, you'll smoke 'em. That's just a fact of life.

Imagine that your preferred brand of cigarettes was discontinued by the company that makes them (this actually happened to me). Would you quit smoking altogether? I didn't. I complained to anyone willing to listen about how much better "my" brand was, but I switched to something else and eventually that became my brand.

If you don't buy more cigarettes, eventually vaping will become your brand. I see people who post about not guilt-tripping yourself or feeling like a failure if you fall off the wagon, and I agree with that. That said, if you really want to quit and it doesn't happen automatically, you're going to have to make the decision to do so. How best to do so depends on your personality. Some people prefer limiting the number per day, some increase the interval between replacing used packs, some don't place limits on the habit, but add an annoying component to the ritual (like you have to hop on one foot and howl like a wolf each time you light up).
 

bluebelle

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Hi Pelican!

I started a thread similar to this last week about my own ongoing struggle. It is not easy at all but you are trying and that is what matters.

I started doing very well but not completely stopping at the end of last week after a month of vaping, only to back slide a bit this weekend. Am not happy with myself but not giving up yet. Going to get back on track today I am hoping.

I have noticed that having a juice or two you really like does help, it did at the end of last week for me. Just think I back slid a bit because of the free time and extra temptation the weekend presented. Will be better prepared next weekend and hopefully will have my last Friday night juice orders to test by then and will have hopefully found the definitive ones and supplier that works for me personally.

I still believe this can work. I smoked for 35 years and 2-3 packs a day. Even backsliding, I still smoked a fraction of what I would have smoked before, and have not given up trying as I did with other methods after a mini-defeat/setback.

Was pointed out to me by people here that I did not start smoking in a day so quitting may be gradual, plus there might be certain other chemicals in an analog that I am addicted to, so the process might be a bit more complex for me. It is a personal journey different to everyone.

Try and stay positive and you can get wonderful support here. I know I do, and this forum is a great part of why I have not given up hoping that one day I too will be analog free. You will be too.
 

Hoosier

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I, Respectfully, disagree with sam12six. So do the 9 packs of cigs that have been sitting around my place since the first of this year.

Finding the right flavor and nic level makes a world of difference. Problem that most folks have is they keep looking for the same type flavors and never explore. The one that did it for me was purchased on a lark. It was the weirdest sounding flavor I could imagine vaping. That weird one was the beginning of the end of smoking for me.

I didn't even really begin vaping to quit. Quitting just happened. I was looking to cut down and spend more close time with my lady and kept looking for a juice that would make it paletable.

The more I vaped juice that worked for me, the less appealing cigs became. That was an alien concept to me. I still find it amazing, just not alien now.

Everyone that I introduced to vaping that has forced themselves to vape juice that doesn't really taste good to them have gone back to cigs for the majority of nic intake. While everyone that kept looking for a juice flavor that worked for them has quit without cravings or desires for a cig. Granted my sampling is only 12 people and not strictly scientific statistical sampling, it should be a thought provoking concept at the very least.

Nobody I know that has made the switch has done it with the same flavor either. Same strengths in a few, but not flavor. Seems that the flavor is the the most rewarding part of it all. That "Aaahhhh" means quite a bit.
 

sam12six

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I, Respectfully, disagree with sam12six. So do the 9 packs of cigs that have been sitting around my place since the first of this year.

Finding the right flavor and nic level makes a world of difference. Problem that most folks have is they keep looking for the same type flavors and never explore. The one that did it for me was purchased on a lark. It was the weirdest sounding flavor I could imagine vaping. That weird one was the beginning of the end of smoking for me.

I didn't even really begin vaping to quit. Quitting just happened. I was looking to cut down and spend more close time with my lady and kept looking for a juice that would make it paletable.

The more I vaped juice that worked for me, the less appealing cigs became. That was an alien concept to me. I still find it amazing, just not alien now.

Everyone that I introduced to vaping that has forced themselves to vape juice that doesn't really taste good to them have gone back to cigs for the majority of nic intake. While everyone that kept looking for a juice flavor that worked for them has quit without cravings or desires for a cig. Granted my sampling is only 12 people and not strictly scientific statistical sampling, it should be a thought provoking concept at the very least.

Nobody I know that has made the switch has done it with the same flavor either. Same strengths in a few, but not flavor. Seems that the flavor is the the most rewarding part of it all. That "Aaahhhh" means quite a bit.

You're right. I over-generalized. My mistake in doing so is also sort of the point I was trying to make... that everyone's experience is different.

What works for me won't necessarily be the same as what works for you, which might be completely different from what works for a third person.

For me, buying my own smokes was what turned me from someone who would occasionally smoke cigarettes into a smoker. I was disappointed with the throat hit and satisfaction level of vaping when I first got my passthrough. The first few days, I had urges (not kill someone, walk through fire urges, but urges) to run to the store and buy some smokes. If I had allowed myself to do that, I'd probably still be smoking. As things stand, I've been over 3 weeks without a single cigarette for the first time in about 12 years.

For some people, they get MORE satisfaction from vaping and that's great. My post was just saying that if that's not the case it's also not a reason to give up.

Unlike what most claim, I did start vaping to quit cigarettes. I don't consider PV's a hobby, alternative habit, or permanent addition to my lifestyle. For me, I consider vaping a crutch. It's something that lets me deal with individual parts of my cigarette addiction separately. It's already broken that "dig through the ashtray looking for a .... that still has a little left to smoke" level of addiction to cigarettes. Eventually, as I lower the nic level and eliminate the chemical portion of the addiction, I can drop the habit altogether as painlessly as possible.

As I said, I wanted to quit smoking. I needed something to satisfy the NEED while weaning me from most of the chemicals. If that something tasted like manure rolled in garbage, I'd have accepted that (fortunately, vaping was much better than that). On the other hand, if it tasted like ambrosia and didn't satisfy my cravings, it wouldn't serve its purpose at all because I'd just grab a cigarette anyway.

If you're one of the people who just wanted a better tasting "smoke", you're right - a tasty juice in a good PV is the most effective option. On the other hand, at least once a week you see someone post in the newbie forum that they love the taste, but get no throat hit or satisfaction (I think "throat hit" sometimes gets tossed around as a catch-all term for all the satisfying sensations one gets from smoking) so they're still smoking. For these people, get a juice you like obviously isn't enough.

Anyway, the point I long-windedly was making is that IF, IF you don't immediately love vaping and instantly lose your craving for cigarettes, simply making the decision not to continue buying cigarettes and feeding the habit sends a message to the subconscious. Continuing to supply yourself with cigarettes sends the opposite message.
 

cassandr

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I also smoked and vaped for a while-- months, actually. For me it was a gradual transition. I gave (and still give) myself permission to smoke if I really wanted to. After a while at 1-2 cigs a day and celebrating the fact that I only smoked 1-2 a day, I finally just stopped buying them. I've been analog free for about a month now and don't miss them at all. I'm amazed that I can say that, but it finally happened for me. Don't give up and be kind to yourself.
 

t9c

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Although I quit analogs upon getting my first 510, I don't think I'd have gone solo with the PV without my discovery of smokeless flavored juices. I hated the "USA mix" that came with it, but I endured. Then it became an obsession to try different flavors and now I can't smoke an analog, it tastes hot & horrible. I'd have never known about flavored juice if it hadn't been for ECF. I think there's probably a whole lot of folks out there who have no idea there are other flavors to enjoy.
 

Big Hitter

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The other big factor is making the set-in-stone (or at least fast drying cement) decision not to buy more cigarettes. Like someone mentioned earlier, if you have 'em, you'll smoke 'em. That's just a fact of life.

Gotta disagree completely on this one. You are always better off trying to quit while you have cigs around. Half of the anxiety is not having them. I tell everyone I have converted to PVs the same thing. Once you PV arrives make sure you have at least one full pack of cigs around. Don't feel bad if you need to smoke one once and a while. Soon you will realize you still have some of that one pack left and you haven't touched them in days or weeks.

Feel free to hold the pack or hold the cig while your vaping. Flick your lighter, or do whatever. If you try to quit by not buying any you will be all stressed out thinking OMG I need to stop and buy a pack.

I have been over 8 months and that first full pack I started with the day my Ego came has (wait let me go count).... 9 left in it. Actually my bro bummed one Friday, so I have smoked 10 analogs in 8+ Months... With the pack right in front of me.
 

sam12six

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Gotta disagree completely on this one. You are always better off trying to quit while you have cigs around. Half of the anxiety is not having them. I tell everyone I have converted to PVs the same thing. Once you PV arrives make sure you have at least one full pack of cigs around. Don't feel bad if you need to smoke one once and a while. Soon you will realize you still have some of that one pack left and you haven't touched them in days or weeks.

Feel free to hold the pack or hold the cig while your vaping. Flick your lighter, or do whatever. If you try to quit by not buying any you will be all stressed out thinking OMG I need to stop and buy a pack.

I have been over 8 months and that first full pack I started with the day my Ego came has (wait let me go count).... 9 left in it. Actually my bro bummed one Friday, so I have smoked 10 analogs in 8+ Months... With the pack right in front of me.

You're right. I've already said I misspoke and over-generalized. I was saying that buying more is telling yourself that you're still a smoker. I wasn't saying immediately take any that you still have and throw them in the trash.

If having them in front of you makes you feel better and makes quitting "take" better, great. You'd recommend an alcoholic trying to quit to hold a bottle, smell it, watch the light play through the liquor when trying to quit? You could be right. It just seems like self-torture to me.
 

Big Hitter

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Maybe I am just not that picky when it comes to juice. I didn't really need to "find" one that worked for me. Since I started the only flavors I have had are:

Classic tobacco - with my blu that I returned. Actually liked the taste though.

BELOW ARE ALL LIQUID-X-PRESS FLAVORS:

Grape - Love it... Can vape it all day.
Original Tobacco - Love that too but wouldn't do it all day.
Carnival Apple (Caramel) - Yum, could do a day of it.
Taboo (Caramel RY4 - VG) - Holy Crap the most delicious thing on this planet. Fully stocked up on and vowed to NEVER run out :)

Honey Flu Cured - YUCK - tasted like vaping an old sweat sock that was stuck in the bottom of the hamper for 3 months. Sold to a great member of ECF :)

So in 8 months I have only tried 6 flavors and really liked 5 of them.

I don't think the flavor is that big of deal in quitting. Unless your trying to find one that tastes just like your brand of smokes (Your not .. Quit trying)
 

trouble2k

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I am also one of the so-called majority that did not quit immediately. I have drastically cut my smoking back to 1-2 a day at this point. I do credit getting the eGo a couple of weeks ago and finding a juice that I can use all day for most my success. I finally went my first 24 hr stretch last week (it finally ended at 48 hrs :)).

I did another 24 hrs over the weekend. It's been a slow process lasting over 2 months already. I smoked one cig this morning and (probably) won't have another the rest of the day. If something changes, and I do feel a need for one--no big deal.

This process has almost been a type of "cigarette aversion" therapy for me. The more I vape, the less I want to smoke, and the less satisfying cigarettes taste when I do have one. But, if I need to light one up just to prove it to myself, I do. I can't remember the last time I had a cigarette and actually enjoyed it. If I do find relief by smoking one, I immediately follow it up by vaping.

It's been slow and steady progress for me. But, it's still progress.
 

JeffTM

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I think flavor and nicotine strength play a HUGE part in successfully quitting. I recently bought a 30ml bottle of a flavor I had never tried before (bad idea). I don't really enjoy it, and the thought of a cigarette is more appealing to me. However, when I smoke the tobacco flavor I have, the thought of smoking repulses me because I love the flavor so much.

It also comes down to nicotine strength. If you're not getting enough nicotine from vaping, your body will naturally want a cigarette. Hang in there and don't stop trying. It takes most people several attempts to quit successfully.
 

DC2

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The other big factor is making the set-in-stone (or at least fast drying cement) decision not to buy more cigarettes. Like someone mentioned earlier, if you have 'em, you'll smoke 'em. That's just a fact of life.
That might be true for a lot of people, but for a lot of people it isn't a fact at all.

There are lots of stories on here of people who have smokes all over their house still, and just don't care to have one anymore.
There are people with cartons in the freezer, some with packs on their desks right in front of them even.

This is most definitely a place that many, if not most people, can and will eventually get to.
:)
 

bluebelle

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The way I feel is that I am putting enough pressure on myself to vape instead of smoke, and I don't need the added pressure of not having an analog around if the need gets too pressing. Part of the reason other methods have failed for me anyway I think is because they were not a viable alternative as vaping is, and it is a total cessation. Hard to explain, but panic seemed to set in for me and that is all I could think of. Everyone is different though and whatever works for you is great.

I thought that tobacco flavored juices would be a natural best choice, but have found out that I am getting more success out of the couple of fruit and coffee flavors I liked so far. Still looking for my ultimate juice (s) though, but I am finding some success and it is not witht he tobacco based ones, which did surprise me.
 

sam12six

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That might be true for a lot of people, but for a lot of people it isn't a fact at all.

There are lots of stories on here of people who have smokes all over their house still, and just don't care to have one anymore.
There are people with cartons in the freezer, some with packs on their desks right in front of them even.

This is most definitely a place that many, if not most people, can and will eventually get to.
:)

You're right. For the 3rd (3rd!!) time I'll admit that I misspoke and over-generalized.

For anyone who can do that, more power to you. You're stronger than I am. To me, it just doesn't make sense. If I were trying to cut sugar out of my diet, what sense would it make to surround myself with twinkies and reese's peanut butter cups?

My take on it is that it's a lot more trouble to run to the store and buy smokes than just grab one that's right in front of me. In other words, it would take a major, serious craving to have me running to buy smokes. On the other hand, just a minor craving would have me grabbing a smoke that was sitting there waiting to be grabbed.

Everyone's different psychologically. Lots of people talk about giving yourself permission to smoke so you don't feel guilty. For a lot of people that works. For me (and I'd assume anyone with a similar psychological makeup), if I'm trying to eliminate a certain habit and the alternative is slightly less satisfying, if I give myself permission to continue with the more satisfying option, I will.

I started 3 weeks ago with the intention to quit smoking. I switched to something that's less satisfying on a physical level that would allow me to detox from the extra chemicals associated with smoking. I started with 24MG juice and am down to 9. When I get to the point where I don't need nicotine at all, I plan to drop the habit altogether.

I know it's blasphemy to say something like this here, but as far as I'm concerned, I still smoke. It's just that my new brand (the Joye 510) has a far less compelling grip than my previous brand (the Camel menthol).
 

pelican

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i see what everyone means about flavor and strength. luckily i have strayed away from my menthol, which i still enjoy, but it was missing something. i am now vaping 18mg pineapple and i absolutely love it! i have a fruit flavor sampler, cream, and 555 coming in soon, so hopefully i can find another awesome juice to vape. i am also thinking of branching out to a vg juice, but i heard they put more wear and tear on your attys.
 

bassthumper

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We may not be the majority, but we do exist!
My fiance and I quit smoking after around the 3rd day. 24mg nic and KR 808d-1's. THEN I got a Prodigy. We're going on 5 months now and I think we tried a cigarette 2 months ago and it tasted horrible. I actually craved the e-cig!

I think what helped, is that I didn't stress quitting. I looked forward to vaping! I kinda thought of it as 'switching brands'... maybe give that a try!

Get excited about it! Try new PVs! Try new flavors! It's worth it in the end. Trust me.
 

bluebelle

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I have now been vaping 24-26mg. Think i might need a bit more so I ordered some new flavors to try in 30mg strength to see if that helps, although the 24-26mg has been an improvement from the 16mg I started out with. I ordered a blueberry flavor I really like and an ryu4 flavor that is good too, but am still trying to find the one that puts me over the top. I think getting the right combo will definitely be worth it in the end. Plus trying the new flavors has been fun even if some were not to my personal taste or perhaps as suggested need to set for a while, so they will be revisited again.
 

markfm

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A fair number of people have to go as high as 36 mg -- just be aware, if you get headaches or anything odd you're going too high.

I needed 24 to stop, but enjoy 30 sometimes. On the other hand I'll drop to 12 - 15 mg when sitting at a computer (though have higher strength around). There's no one right answer.
 
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