Cigarette Craving?

[Snackie]

Hi everyone! I'm new here and also new to using ecigs.

Small intro to me and my habit - 33 yo female, smoked for 20 years, made my own for 10 of those years, smoked on average a pack and a half per day.

I've been smoke-free for 6 days now *yay!* Obviously I still get big cravings to smoke a cigarette. I'm just wondering how long were you vaping before the daily craving for an analog went away? I know it'll vary person to person, just looking to see other people's experiences


I tried to do the mix of vaping and smoking, but I found that if I had cigarettes around - I'd smoke them instead of vaping. For now picking up the ecig works well enough to take the edge off when I do get a big craving (and I'll step it up to 24mg from the 18mg I use for pleasure vaping). I am finding that the craving for a regular cigarette has gotten STRONGER the last 2 days and I am afraid that I will give in. I know it won't be the end of the world however I really, really like knowing that I can be and have been smoke free and it is entirely possible that I may easily fall back into smoking ... I really don't want that! Unfortunately (and unlike many user's experiences) when I smell someone else smoking it smells awesome... sorta like waking up to the wafting smell of bacon on a sunday morning.

Any and all hints, tips, tricks, advice and experiences welcome!

 

[markfm]

A couple weeks was, best I can tell, my cig detox period.
I absolutely had some classic craving points, for me they were first thing after waking up, right after a meal. I upped my nic one notch for those times (30 instead of 24).

 

[Hoosier]

Never really had a craving because I did it differently.

I vaped when I could and smoked when I had to. One day I realized I had forgotten to smoke the day before and have been vaping ever since. It took a few weeks, but it was an amazing few weeks. No stress, no cravings, and now there is no desire to ever pick a cigarette up again.

 

[HeadLikeOrange]

I'm sure it differs for everyone, but it was also about 2 weeks for me. The most important thing for me was to sort of re-channel the cravings from 'logs to e-cigs. Whenever I had a craving, I'd sort of mentally think "Ooh, I need a cigarette... no, wait, I need to vape." After a couple of weeks of this mentality, you start to forget about the 'logs and only crave the e-cig. So, again, it's not about getting over the cravings (you never will as long as you are using nicotine), but to condition your mind to associate the craving with the e-cig.

YMMV.

 

[Lambo-]

It was about 2 weeks for myself too. I wrestled through the first two weeks and afterwards I have been pretty much fine. I did have a couple times lately that I wanted a cigarette but mostly that was due to job stress and such.

 

[Vapoor eyes er]

Hi and welcome to ECF.
I was told by the Vets here the first 10- 14 days can be a little painful. I started on 36 mg and two weeks later went down to 30 mg. In 2-3 weeks I'll be down to 24 mg, I hope. After my first 4 hrs of vaping I tried an analog just out of curiosity- I didn't like it.
I also rolled my own very strong (RYO) and smoked 1 PAD. The bottom line- this is not a contest and you have cut down considerably on your analogs which is SUCCESS IMO.
Maybe you need stronger/ more: TH, Vapor and/ or Nic? It also depends on the PV you are using. After researching I decided to buy a MOD and that has helped immensely.
My opinion is give it some time. Many here have not focused on quitting completely but cutting down on their use of analogs and I would suggest give yourself a pat on the back for your achievements thus far.

Edit: re: dormouse speaking about flavors remember to drink LOTS of water. The vapor is not from the liquid but from our bodies and dehydration greatly lessens the vaping experiences and can lead to issues. I prolly drink 3+ litres of water per day. 2 large glasses first thing in the morning.
Good Luck.

 

[dormouse]

1. Remember to smell the vapor. And change up your flavor to create contrast. if you vape the same flavor over and over it can cause the taste/smell to seem weak as you get used to it. Cartomizers are a great way to totally switch flavors.

2. Pay attention to how well different flavors satisfy you. Some new vapers cannot vape food flavors alone without getting an analog craving as if they had just eaten. Some new vapers are the opposite and cannot vape tobacco flavors without wanting a smoke. And some new vapers are equally satisfied by all flavors. If there are any juices/flavors that leave you with a craving for an analog, avoid vaping those flavors alone for now (but you could probably mix them with a flavor that does satisfy you)

3. Once you figure out what types of flavors do satisfy you, keep trying juices. It takes trial and error in the beginning to find juices with aroma/hit/flavor that really makes you go ahhh.

---

I don't know what model you are using but if you are using a KR808D-1 manual you can put a DSE901 atomizer (standard resistance) and drip tip on that for trying juice samples.

And be aware it is fairly normal for new vapers to buy some new equipment like a different or more powerful model to try before the end of the first month of vaping. I swore I would not but needed up buying 2 other models was glad I did - those I have stuck with for 11 months. I think around 3 weeks in many people get antsy and curious.

 

[alamor]

Definately differs from person to person. It took me about 30 days to not really crave a cigarette. It actually took me about 3 months to not get a craving when I saw people smoking (either on TV or in person) But now I do not crave cigarettes at all. Matter of fact, when I walk by someone who just smoked it makes me want to VOMIT!! I use to think the old saying "a reformed smoker is worse than a non-smoker" was a bunch of bull .... but I now cannot stand being around it. People smell like CRAP!!! It will get easier for you as time goes on, if you can make it past the first 14 days you will find it go easier and easier. The days won't seem so long, you won't be dreaming of smoking just hang in there!!!

 

[Della Cirque]

I picked up a couple of packs of marlboros about two weeks in. Got back on track, found ECF, got better gear and haven't looked back. When the cravings hit I switch juices or set-ups and glue myself to this forum. And new toys help a lot!
Hang in there...you are doing great!

 

[MikenGA]

...I tried to do the mix of vaping and smoking, but I found that if I had cigarettes around - I'd smoke them instead of vaping.

After vaping for almost 2 years (Joye 510), I was unable to put the analogs aside...until recently: I bought better hardware (Ego-T, now using Ego batts with Fluxomizers) and found some BETTER juice. WHOA!! Suddenly, it was easier and vaping was far more satisfying.

However, about 6 weeks into vaping only, the craving for something analog is very strong. I would LIKE to stick with vaping, so I'm trying to motivate myself by adding that signature thingy below (it's new 4me). Also ordered some juice with WTA, to see if it will help me get past these phases that are bound to occur from time to time. If it works, I'm good: If not, I'll do what I need to do, and get back on the vape train ASAP.

Whatever happens, I'm doing far better than I ever expected, and gaining experience in the process. Plus, if I need somebody to hold my hand for a day or two, to get through the tough times, I believe there are people here who understand and will offer help as needed.

I have half a pack of analogs on my desk as I type, and they've been calling my name for a week now. But amazingly, I'm still vaping. Kinda shocking, and it makes me smile!

Congrats on 6 DAYS!!

 

[ThatJoeGuy]

Hey there, Snackie! Welcome.

I started not too long ago, too. I originally smoked for about 17 years, then stopped for around 6 years...then picked it back up again about 4 years ago.

I had seen eCigs in the past, but didn't think too much about them. More recently, my little ones were really starting to object to my smoking. I'd get up for a smoke break while playing on the Wii with my son and see the disappointed "You mean I have to wait for you?" look on his face. Or my little girl not wanting her snuggles so much because Daddy smells bad. Things like that really made me take a look at what I was doing.

Long story short, I saw an ad for Blu that said to switch instead of quit. That really gave me a different way of thinking about it. Now, when I did actually get my Blu kit I did continue to smoke as well but I realized that there really could be something to this vaping thing and I looked for another kit that might do the job for me. Ordered from V2, and from the day that kit arrived I have not even WANTED to smoke. Admittedly, I did still have about half a pack of smokes so I had to finish those off - but that's because I hated to waste something that had been such a big part of my adult life, not because the vapor wasn't enough. It really was, and I haven't had a smoke since then.

Well, that's not entirely true - I did find a half-smoked one and finished it off, but I honestly did NOT enjoy it. I realized at that point that I preferred vaping to smoking. I haven't experienced any negative side-effects. Well...other than PV envy and wishing I would have just gotten a ProVari right from the get-go but I hadn't found this site soon enough!

I've had no cravings that my V2s or ePowers haven't handled, and what I've been craving has been the TH and lung filling sensations.

Don't put too much pressure on yourself. If you have committed yourself to quitting smoking altogether, that's big pressure. If you're determined that the kit that you bought is going to be the answer, it really may NOT be - but a $35 variable-voltage box mod may just do the trick. So look at vaping for what it is, and if you actually do end up quitting smoking completely, look at it as a side-effect of the vaping!

 

[gingersnaps]

mine was a long drawn out battle. hubby and I both smoke inside so when he would have one I wanted one and visa versa. also having the smokes so close just made lighting up easy. so we spent over a year still on analongs. so one day I had enough just over a mo ago and banned smoking inside and got some snus. right away I was at 1 or 2 analogs a day . I used a lot of snus but now a can lasts over a week. the one I am on will probably see 2 weeks. I use it when I get the analog urge. it kicks in really fast and nips the craving.

 

[bezz]

my craving only lasted about a week and now whenever I try a cig it makes me nausous.

 

[Jackiej5407]

I smoked for 40+ yrs. It was 3 mos + 1 wk before I got off the analogs completely. Was at the one-a-day-in-the-morning cycle for 2-3 wks at the end. EVERYone is different. Try not to sweat it. It'll happen eventually. Right now, every cig you DON'T smoke is a plus!

 

[MikeInNYC]

Hello and Welcome!

For me, I was able to make the switch over to vaping pretty easily. I had to mentally prepare for it though:

1. Make sure you carry enough gear with you when you leave the house. I prepare my gear at night before I go to bed - refill my cartomizers, charge my batteries, get my PCC ready - so in the morning I have everything ready. In the past if I left my ciggies at home, I could easily get a pack. Now, not so much. As time goes on I'll probably keep spare parts, cartos, juices in my desk at work for emergency purposes. Just knowing I have enough gear, juice and flavors to get me through the day (and more!) really helped the transition. For the first few days I carried my cigs too, but not anymore.

2. Put the cigs away. I still have a pack and a half at home, but I keep them in a drawer where they're out of sight. Also remember to put your lighters away (or you'll almost certainly try to light your PV up when you're tired!).

3. Shower, brush your teeth extra well, use mouthwash, and throw anything you wore while smoking into the laundry bin. Not smelling it helps a lot. Be prepared to still be hanging around your smoking buddies, just try to stand upwind of them so you don't have to smell it. Most of the people who I smoke with were curious and perhaps a little condescending at first, but now they ask me what day I'm on, and some have really taken interest in my new hobby.

4. Congratulate yourself on each day you don't smoke. It seems like an easy enough thing to do but I think it helps in the beginning to give yourself a lot of pats on the back. Be sure not to give yourself a kick in the @$$ if you fall off the wagon though. After a week of vaping I felt that I REALLY needed a cigarette to take some edge off from stress. I got one, lit it and took two puffs before going back inside and getting my PV instead. I actually prefer the taste of vaping now.

5. Keep track of how much you've spent on PVs and juices, and compare that to what you would've spent had you still been smoking. In 9 days, I will break even, but still have a juice supply to last a month or more. It kind of makes me feel good that I'll not only be healthier and yadda yadda, but I'll also be saving money too (if I can stop clicking on the 'Proceed to Checkout' buttons!).

That's all I can think of for now, but I'm sure many of the more experienced members can add to that!

Obviously, the first few days (and as some people noted, weeks) are tough, but once you make it through you should be in the clear!

Good luck and remember that there is always someone else here who's been through what you're going through!

 

[denali_41]

earning my "tobriety" banner was a little diferent then the rest..i switched from marl to american spirit,,which i was to find out later on the best move i could make easily,spirit does not have all those dependent craving additives..i smoke them and vaped till i got some 24mg juice,,,then i could go the whole day without smoking,,breaking that morning ciggy was the hardest part..one morning i just walked right on by my normal smoke place..haven't looked back since

incidently i carried a pack with me for the first 5 days without even thinking about them

btw,,smoked 34 years and tried everything else,,except chantix

 

[Boodle]

Never really had a craving because I did it differently.

I vaped when I could and smoked when I had to. One day I realized I had forgotten to smoke the day before and have been vaping ever since. It took a few weeks, but it was an amazing few weeks. No stress, no cravings, and now there is no desire to ever pick a cigarette up again.

Exactly how I did it, too. No rules or time-lines. One day I noticed I hadn't had a cigarette with a brand new pack sitting there and didn't want one. Choosing not to be hard on myself about quitting cold-turkey or throwing away cigarettes, ashtray lighters and such gave me a sense of control. Some people are cigarette-free from their first vape. Most transition more slowly over a few days, weeks or even months and that's ok. If you need a cig smoke one is my 2 cents. They're not going to control you much longer. Every cigarette you don't smoke is a victory. If you're smoking half as many or a few less it's a good thing. I hope you'll be kind to yourself. You're doing something life-altering here. Enjoy the experience. Keep at it and chances are very high that you'll transition into a tobacco and smoke-free vaper - and LOVE it

 

[webmiztris]

I vaped and smoked for 3 months before I realized I really didn't need the cigarettes anymore. Honestly, I had no intention of quitting....just cutting back. Eventually, I stopped buying packs and it was liberating.

 

[Gergely]

Hiya, and welcome to the forum! I've only been vaping for about 5 weeks now but I had my last real cig two days after I started vaping (when I finished what I had on hand). I decided not to keep any around for a 'just in case' as I know myself too well and I am sure that I would give in to them if I felt the slightest stirring. I do feel that stirring first thing in the morning almost every day at the moment but, I put it off for as long as possible, maybe an hour, and I used to smoke within 30 minutes of getting up in the morning before so that's already something for me, then I have a vape. First hit always too strong and then after a couple more 'drags' I'm good and no longer have the craving for an analogue.
This morning I walked by a tobacco shop where a patron was smoking and I must admit that it seemed alluring - for all of about 5 seconds! I don't miss those things at all and my wife has run out of gripe material (since of course the only flaw I ever had was my smoking
Oh, and I smoked a pack of Camel a day for 30 years without EVER missing a day. I am SOOOOOO happy to be free! Good luck to you! You can do it!

 

[DummyMe]

Snackie,

When I first started, I tried to be "perfect" & not smoke at all. But, I still smoked a few a day (4 - 5 a day.) I came on this forum & said that I liked vaping, but I still needed a few analogs. The people here told me, much the same as they're telling you, do your best don't beat yourself up. Someone said to quit trying to be perfect, try being good for a while & perfect will come later if you wish it so. I finished the pack I had (4 left) & never bought another. I've been totally smokefree for about 2 months & I have no desire for an analog. I smoked for 45 years or more.

I said in the beginning, I'll concider my self "cured" when analog smoke starts smelling bad to me instead of something I like. I think I'm cured. Best of luck to you, hope you succeed.

Ed