Can't shake the analogs... HELP!!!

[stormlover]

I don't know if anyone mentioned this but the more you worry about something the more you think about it. If it's a habit the more you think about it the more you're likely to do it. Instead of beating yourself up over smoking a bit give yourself a pat on the back for effectively cutting back instead.

Thank you! A few people here have said the same thing and I'm feeling a lot better. I just got my first starter kit (BluCigs) when I got home from work tonight and thought, "Hooray! I'm a non-smoker now!".

Then kicked myself horrifically when the vape wasn't enough for my after-dinner fix. I really needed that analog and I finally gave in. So much for being a non-smoker now. I didn't even make it four hours and almost had a panic attack when I thought going throught the weekend with NO cigarettes!

BUT On the bright side...I'm noticing here at 9:30 at night that I'd normally have gone through a 1/2 a pack of cigarettes by this time and I see three butts in the ashtray.

Three.

That's big for me.

So I think what I'm going to do is vape during the workday and keep the analogs for the mornings or evenings and see what happens. I thought I was going to jump into this with both feet, take my first vape and never look back like many of the posts I was reading. Maybe I'll just be a half-n-halfer: vape where I can't smoke, smoke where I can.

Just wanted to let you know that your posts have me feeling better. Thanks for making me realize that the only way to really quit cold turkey is to really want to quit cold turkey. And I'm not ready to quit yet.

Thanks again!

 

[a2dcovert]

BUT On the bright side...I'm noticing here at 9:30 at night that I'd normally have gone through a 1/2 a pack of cigarettes by this time and I see three butts in the ashtray.

Three.

That's big for me.

That is what really matters. It really is a big thing. Sometimes progress is measured one day at a time. Continuing to smoke a few analogs is not a failure. I started gradually and wasn't fully off of analogs for about 3 weeks. Go at your own pace and give yourself a little slack and a little time.

 

[Brandnew vper]

def agree with post above. Everyone needs to cut themselves some slack! i know my friends and family always asked me why i need to go out and have a smoke after they see me vaping nonstop and it frustrates me (mostly cause they think vapor isnt working) but you no whaT! After smoking a pack and a half a day, if i only smoke two and yesterday one! and today none im making progress! and thats what counts! also dont go around people that smoke. Dont walk outside and vap with the smokers. One thing you will get suckered. Remember quitting sucks, but like my mother always said "You stay in the barbor shop long enough your gonna get a haircut

 

[AlexTM]

Just wanted to let you know that your posts have me feeling better. Thanks for making me realize that the only way to really quit cold turkey is to really want to quit cold turkey. And I'm not ready to quit yet.

Good to know we're good for something

I actually know quite a few people who quit cold turkey. Far less than half managed to stay smoke free anyway, and they were ready. Worked for a week, a few weeks, a few months, sometimes a year or two. Not longer.

Don't put pressure on yourself. More stress, will just lead to more analogs. Remember that every analog you don't smoke is good for you. You might need to up your nic. You might need another PV; not sure what type exactly the Blue is, but there are several out there. And if you still find yourself smoking after a while, check out those smokeless options.

You're on the right path, walk on, but no need trying to run faster than you actually can.

 

[rvc]

Started vaping last April after 49 years at two packs a day. I went immediately to 10 a day then a few months at 5 then a couple months at 3 and now have 9 days in at 0. So it took 9 months to make the transition it still happened.
I would read on this forum about people who quit in one day and never looked back and wish that was me. Quit at your own pace were all a little different. Snus can be a big help if your going crazy for an analog.

 

[stormlover]

Thanks for the support! I'm giving myself permission to stay on the analogs for now. I vape at work, maybe in the car when the windows are frozen and I can't roll them down. The rest of the time I'm still on the home-rolled.

Funny thing, though. I'm finding myself wanting to vape every so often like when I'm on the PC (like now). It's like a craving. Hopefully by allowing myself to have the analogs, I'm releasing that 8-o OMG 8-o feeling and will transition to vaping more easily.

We'll see how it goes. But thanks again for the stories. Makes me feel better!

 

[macquitter]

I have to say the only thing that worked for me was NOT buying analogs.
especially early on.

I cant personally say that vaping is a perfect substitute and smoking an analog once in a while reminded me how gooooooooooooood they taste (sorry!).

if I dont have them I dont smoke them and vaping takes the urge away and keeps me sane
(although slighlty scared vaping itself will be hard to kick down the road)

 

[Firegrl]

Yea, I am trying not to already start beating myself up as well.

Just got my kr808 yesterday and I'm still smoking a few analogs. I usually have 2 analogs on the way to/from work and now I have one and then use my ecig for the rest of the way. I also only smoke one analog during work breaks, then switch to the ecig. I was hoping, just as you were, that I could quit them completely once my ecig came in, but I think there is just more to my habit than the nicotine.

I hate smelling like an ashtray, the taste, and having to go outside to smoke, but I also have to admit to myself that it's part of my daily life so it won't be that easy to give up. I'm used to it.

So, we should pat ourselves on the back for cutting down and not stress. I'm ignoring all the new comments I'm getting from my friends, family, and fellow smokers about thinking that I'm going to magically quit now within a day, even the ecig. Yes, I want to quit eventually, but I mainly wanted to get away from inhaling such dangerous things and find a better alternative. Give me some time people geez!

Keep on fighting and I will too!

 

[MalabarFront]

I cant personally say that vaping is a perfect substitute and smoking an analog once in a while reminded me how gooooooooooooood they taste (sorry!).

Yeah, I've had a few since I started vaping last week. Now that I've started to get a bit more sense of taste back, I was amazed at how they taste like I remember them when I started 30 years ago! Ironic.

 

[EnewTEEL]

I was the same way when I first started. I ended up having 4 analogs a day, which was better than a pack a day. What put me over the hump and got me to quit analogs was upping my nicotine. I received my 36mg liquid last thursday and have been analog free since.

 

[77fro]

what i find to be the best way to not smoke is dont buy. its to hard not to smoke wen u got cigs around. plus after about 3 puffs of a ecig u shouldnt want a cig eneys ways well thats just me. another is if ur using a standerd ecig stock battery. thats why go get a 6 volt device that will get rid of the urge for sure.

 

[pezbot]

I've been vaping for about a week now and
just today I had a few puffs off a analog and
wow after a week of not smoking it did taste
pretty damn gross compared to my tasty liquid!!

I have to say tho that I was using med 18mg and it
started off working ok but later in the week I had
a strong craving and was going batty for a anlog.
I luckily have a smoke shop in town that has very
few liquids so I grabbed a high coffee 36mg(15 bux
for a 10ml bottle 8-o)and that has helped immensely.

I find its more of a mind over matter type of thing,
get the craving I vape and vape and vape!

Also after having that analog I found I'm not really
missing that much the pv at 36mg deff has more of
a throat hit than my camel ultra lights. I also changed
pv's I was using vapor king w/cartomizers, they taste great
but it takes so long to get decent vapor and throat hit.
So I got the tornado and deff isn't much work to get
tons of vapor, only thing is the flavors are light compared
to the cartomizers anyone know how to make the flavor
stronger?

 

[Gramasgonevapor]

Just relax! We are still smokers but each day, each hour we are closer to our goal of improving our health and environment. The journey can be up and down but well worth the trip. If you need a cig smoke one. This is not a contest. When you vape, enjoy that. Enjoy the wonder of being able to sit quilt free INSIDE wherever you are and enjoy a nice "smoke". Six months here for me, no cigs at all for three months but I could smoke one if I wanted too guilt free because I have avoided 4,384 other ones! I have saved $1,315.29. My COPD is gone, I don't wheeze, cough or STINK. My doctor is thrilled, I am thrilled and you will be too. Keep plenty of supplies on hand. Switching to a manual 510 increased my enjoyment and eliminated part failure. For several months I kept a pack of cigs around for emergencies. Hang in there.

 

[stormlover]

This is not a contest.

This helps more than you know, Gramasgonevapor! Thanks for your words of support as well.

I've been doing this for about a week now and, while I'm not totally off the analogs, I'm down to less than a pack a day from a 2 pack a day habit. So I'm getting there.

I recently received my KR808D kit and liked it so much I ordered another battery (manual this time) and a sample kit of VG juice. The PG juice was making my throat too sore and I don't think I was tolerating it well. I've been smoking the Black Cherry and Menthol from American E-Liquid Store and I'm loving it! I wish I could remember which member here was raving about it because she was absolutely right! It's da BOMB!

So I'm continuing down my path of "smoking alternative" instead of "quitting smoking". With all the snow this week, I've enjoyed being able to smoke at my desk instead of having to stand outside in the wind and snow. I think I'll just stay on this path, not make a contest out of it, and see what happens. Who knows? With the VG, maybe I'll get to the point where I'm naturally reaching for my vape stick instead of a cigarette.

Thanks again for all your support, guys!

 

[pmd]

Just relax! We are still smokers but each day, each hour we are closer to our goal of improving our health and environment. The journey can be up and down but well worth the trip. If you need a cig smoke one. This is not a contest. When you vape, enjoy that. Enjoy the wonder of being able to sit quilt free INSIDE wherever you are and enjoy a nice "smoke". Six months here for me, no cigs at all for three months but I could smoke one if I wanted too guilt free because I have avoided 4,384 other ones! I have saved $1,315.29. My COPD is gone, I don't wheeze, cough or STINK. My doctor is thrilled, I am thrilled and you will be too. Keep plenty of supplies on hand. Switching to a manual 510 increased my enjoyment and eliminated part failure. For several months I kept a pack of cigs around for emergencies. Hang in there.

I wish more folks here had the same attitude.
This ridiculous idea that the moment you touch your 1st pv you cannot smoke a cig or else you have failed some life test is only making some vapers into those ex smoking nazis I disliked so much.
This is not a miracle device but a tool to help you and hopfully lead you to get healthier save some $$.
Good luck and go by your own pace, no one else's.

 

[Belletrist]

great advice in here, and the same advice i give to friends or family that want to try vaping... with my mom, for example, she was a two pack a day smoker. now she's a 2 cig a day smoker. i told her "don't try to quit. just try vaping, and vape when it's enjoyable." the stress makes it that much worse.

as for myself, i'll go a couple weeks without smoking, but if i want one, i have one. cigs don't own me anymore... that is the point. and i go longer and longer between each one, and love vaping more and more.

i am thinking about ordering some snus for my hubs tho... i think there's more to his continued smoking, he's about 1/2 and 1/2 now, but he didn't smoke as much as i did to start with. i'm wondering if that elusive 'something more' is at play.

 

[MalabarFront]

as for myself, i'll go a couple weeks without smoking, but if i want one, i have one. cigs don't own me anymore...

I agree - however now I sorta feel like e-cigs own me.

 

[four2109]

Jade42, Don't beat yourself up. In the first 8 months I smoked 7 analogs. And I didn't even want those. I just liked not liking them. Then around the holidays (not a good time for me anyway) I started enjoying bumming one from my Dad, or taking one with me when I left... Then a family crisis just before christmas...
I walked to a store and bought Camel Snus. Don't bother, too big, too sweet, too juicy. Christmas eve I bought a pack of smokes and smoked 13 that day. After that it was 2-3 a day, more on occasion. I decided my sanity was worth it. I was a chain smoker for 35 years. Minimum 2 packs a day.
So now I'm toying with what works. I have used Passion Flower which does help take that edge off. You might want to try that first. Health food stores carry it.
Go over to the smokeless section and do some reading. I ordered some free snus samples and the only one I would recommend are the General mini mints. They are smaller and drier than the others I tried. Discreets aren't discreet, and the regualr portions are huge. You can make smaller portions with tea bags... if you want to fool with it. As for the no spitting, no swallowing... I don't find that to be true, but it is not as bad as you would think. They do work though.
I also bought Stonewall disolvables. My local cheap smokes place had them. These I cut in 1/2 or even 1/4. Guys just have bigger mouths, but we knew that. I notice some irritation in my throat with these, but they work too. I cut a few and keep them in one side of a contact lens case with some altoid smalls so I have a choice. The other side I can use for a couple snus pouches.
I wasn't too worried about the 2-3-4-5 cigarettes a day, but this week I thought of having one before I got out of bed in the morning. So I pulled out the smokeless arsenal this morning. I don't enjoy it like smoking, but it keeps me from wanting a cigarette when the e-cig isn't enough.
Bottom line, even if I smoke 10 cigarettes a day, it's still a 75% reduction and I have saved $1100.00 so far. I think smoking is just like alcoholism. I will always be a smoker, even if I don't smoke. The more effective alternatives I have, the better.
Best of luck.

 

[Kilroy]

Rather than smoke tobacco, supplement with smoke free tobacco, snus, Stonewalls, Orbs. See if that helps.

 

[beecee]

When I was in New Orleans I found that my pcc and 4 510 batteries didn't last the whole day not to mention I burnt out the only atty I was carrying due to a faulty L2 510 battery....
Anyway, I bought me a pack of smokes and I don't kick myself for smoking analogs...gotta do what you gotta do to get your nicotine.

I can't wait for my Chuck so I don't have to worry about carrying 500 things for my 510 only to not be able to use it resulting in me buying smokes.