Convincing chain smoking sisters to switch. How should I go about it?

[Langston]

I have attempted several times to get my sisters, who are both smokers, one of them being a pretty heavy smoker, to make the switch over to vaping. I have gone out of my way to try and find a flavor as close to their Marlboro Reds as possible and tried a few different devices.

They say that it is an uncomfortable way to smoke that hurts their throats. Which I find strange since they are inhaling actual smoke from cigarettes. After I got a high voltage devise they seemed to take to that a little more, and said it is closer to smoking a real cigarette.

They want to stop smoking, but seem to find reasons not to make the switch over.

Am I wasting my time trying to get them to switch?

 

[Skitterpop]

I really believe you need to want to stop for your own reasons before you will. It took me 55 years and I knew that if I did not stop I would be dead in a few more years. I may still not survive a lot longer but I will be happier and healthier. You are leading by example and I think that is all you can do. Best of luck hope your sisters see the light.

 

[kkahmann]

Just my experience--don't preach about it.
I find if I'm rather low-key about it,lead by example so to speak, I have more success. I talk about how good it has been for me--not how good it should be for someone else.
I work and live with a lot of heavy smokers and have made it known that I will provide a starter set-up for anyone who wants one. I suggest they google vaping and look it up on you tube and read ecf of course. Then I just sit back and wait for them to come to me. Several have--and I'm tickled about that.

 

[WhiteHighlights]

Us sisters are a real pain, aren't we?!

Skitterpop makes a fair point, you have to really want to quit rather than the automatic response 'of course I want to quit'. At least they seem interested in your set up and willing to experiment. That's a step in the right direction.

Are they (or you) only interested in tobacco flavor to replace the cigarette? I got hooked on flavors early on and that's what made it so there wasn't any going back. No calorie dessert flavors appeal to the waistline! This doesn't happen for everyone, but I actually lost some weight when I started vaping. For years I'd been afraid that quitting smoking would end up on my hips.

I'd also suggest they don't try a deep lung hit initially, just inhale into their mouth, taste the flavor then exhale out their mouth and nose. That should alleviate any throat soreness and also helps the nicotine absorption.

Good luck. At least you're showing them the way. If I hadn't started on my own I'd feel sorry for the person who tried to convince me to try it too. I'm a hard-headed fool and all that.. ha ha.

 

[DingerCPA]

Welcome Langston!

What they ^^^ say

Taking a hit off a vape is a lot different than taking a drag off a cigarette. Slower, smoother draws (kinda like puffing on a pipe) - you don't have to inhale for the nicotine to be effective. The soft tissues in the mouth and the nose (exhale through the nose or do a french inhale) will easily allow for nic absorption.

I smoked menthols for 25-some years. I don't like the ashy taste of non-menthols, and I've mostly avoided tobacco-flavored juices because of that. I'm quite fond of vanillas, fruits, chocolates, and bakery-type juices.

The type of gear and juice (PG/VG ratio) can have a lot to do with the experience. Higher-PG juices tend to have more "throat-hit" as does higher-nicotine juices. If you've got some sort of sub-ohm device that's lending you to a hard lung-hit, that can be "warm" and unpleasant. Tighter-draw, higher-ohmed toppers can be "cooler", but still filled with flavor.

Don't push them - just continue to offer them tries on your stuff. If they start getting a little more interested, get 'em over here and let them ask questions (and you keep asking questions if you need help)

Wishing you the best - not everyone is going to buy into vaping. Hang in there!!!!

 

[realsis]

Hi. I used to be a chain smoker at 2 packs a day. I honestly thought I could never quit. Next month will be a year smoke free for me. First and foremost, they have to WANT to quit.. weather it be for health , to save money, for whatever reason, they must want it. Second they need to get enough nicotine when vaping to curb the cravings. For me, that was 24 mg. It can always be lowered if desired later. But in the beginning, in my opinion, it is absolutely necessary to have enough nicotine. I really didn't have too strong of cravings because the amount of my nicotine I was using was sufficient for me. Mental cravings will come but the nicotine holds off the bad physical cravings. Third get them a flavor they like to vape. Fourth have them vape wherever and whenever they would be smoking. It's a total replacement. But again it takes a desire on their part to WANT to do this. You can Try to introduce them to vaping but if they don't put forth some effort or desire on their part it won't happen. They really must want it. For me, I got tired of paying 6 dollars a pack twice a day. I didn't actually set out to quit. I thought, I will just TRY this. It really worked well for me and was even more satisfying to me then smoking. So I just replaced the smokes for vaping. I loved I could vape in my house and it left no stink or residue. I only smoked outside my home so vaping inside was great! In the beginning I vaped all day straight pretty much. Later down the line I was able to vape, then put it down for a while. Like smoking. I hope some of this helps you out some how. This is just how I did it. And being smoke free for a year in a couple weeks is pretty successful in my opinion. People NEVER thought I'd quit. I'm very very greatful for vaping and this forum. That is the reason for my success. But without the genuine desire I don't think it would be very successful. I wish you the best and hope something I said helps you out. Best wishes

 

[Daffie]

As a recent convert myself I'll provide 2 bits worth.

First they have to want to quit tobacco.

Secondly the nic has to be there to curb withdrawal.

Thirdly they have to be able to inhale it with some sort of pleasure. Seeing how no two of us are alike in that way a trip to several B&M that samples would be beneficial.

Once I found my crutch it was a no brainer for me to cease the analogs and I'm slowly knocking the nic down now, 18 to 14 to 12 to sometimes 6.

One thing that has helped tremendously has been that old starter pen, I keep it filled with some 18 or higher and very little flavor for when I need it, heckuva TH, yet satisfies my craving when needed. No real ADV for me, I change it up throughout the day with a lower nic and more flavor away from the tobacco flavors. I've found that after my taste buds work a little better now that the flavor craving has changed too.

 

[Rickajho]

You can't make anyone switch if they don't want to. There is a fine line between "convincing" and "nagging" so the more "convincing" you do the more "nagging" they are gonna hear. They know it's an option now so give it a rest until/unless they bring it up again - not you.

 

[klynnn]

When they wake up in the middle of the night coughing so hard it takes their breath away, they will ask for help. Sadly that's what it took for some of us.

 

[Skitterpop]

When they wake up in the middle of the night coughing so hard it takes their breath away, they will ask for help. Sadly that's what it took for some of us.

Amen to that, it got my attention.

 

[93gc40]

First you will never find a vape anything like the cigarettes they SMOKE. The SMOKE part is the reason why.. Second they wont switch till they WANT, too. Even if, you find the perfect device and juice for them to use. Quit trying to make someone else quit smoking. Sure let them try what your vaping and tell them about it. Don't forget, hat awesome juice that blows your mind, likely tastes like sugary or minty steam to the DEAD taste buds of a smoker. When they are ready, they will come to YOU.

 

[NancyR]

I don't remember who posted this a few years back, but they where trying to get someone(think it was a spouse) to vape instead of smoke, and what they did, is started vaping the persons favorite flavor when around them, getting others to do so also, and left an e-cig loaded with that flavor out for when the person decided to try it. Did this without saying anything to the person about it. Worked for them.

 

[Robert Cromwell]

Strange... I did not want to quit. I was just too tight to let the near $100 the wife unit blew on a starter kit go to waste. Tried it found it might be cool and I am a techie tinkerer so it worked after I watched lots of youtube vids and bought some extra batteries and such... Am starting to save quite a bit of money after 3 months of buying supplies. Got my son off cigs and on vaping too.

 

[gandymarsh]

Yeah, it's like trying to put a cat in a bag. They won't let you. But if you put a bag somewhere and they find it, they will go right in.

 

[Jugband]

I'm so glad a friend of mine kept on me about switching. I fought it for the longest time, hard to believe now! I didn't want any part of it, I said no every time she brought up. This went on for sometime. Finally she bought me a cigalike starter kit. I finally agreed to try it. I remember watching the battries charge as I smoked and thought, I'm going to hate this. But I left for work with my (lousy) kit in hand. To my surprise I quit smoking that day! That was about two years and three months ago! I use a Reo now and make my own juice, but if it wasn't for her persistence I don't even want to think where I would be. So I say find at least a subtle way to keep trying, so glad my friend never gave up.

 

[Bunnykiller]

you are wasting your time.... she/they are making excuses not to switch over or dual use.....

 

[cinetrope]

Baring catastrophic decrease most of us are unaware of declining health but many of us respond to economic incentive. X pack a day x 365 days = Cancun for spring break etc...

 

[Hitmetwice]

Some of us need to be heavily invested to get the required incentive to give it an HONEST try.
A few great suggestions above, but unless they're ready to quit, invest a lot of time in doing their own research and then invest money of there own for the cure, they have no stake in the journey.

I think it needs to be "their" journey, you can lead them to the water but "they" must take the steps.

Good luck, Cheers.

PS. After 3 years of my vaping my lovely wife still smokes.

 

[CountBoredom]

Quitting smoking was not the number one goal for me when I started vaping: saving money was. I thought I'd give vaping a try to see if I could reduce my cigarette consumption (a smidge over a pack-a-day).

Three things worked for me to quit--and might help in your situation:

1) I steered clear of tobacco flavors. The novelty of having a flavor that tasted nothing like a cigarette (and quite a bit like something else) kept me interested in vaping.

2) When I wanted a cigarette, I would vape for a few minutes first, and then, if I still wanted one, I'd have the smoke. This kept the pressure of quitting off of me, while, at the same time, reinforced the difference in my head between vaping and smoking. Soon, the cigs started to taste bad all on their own and I started to question why I continued to smoke.

3) I made sure that I had plenty of juice (in high-enough strength) and plenty of spare heads for my tanks. This was a lesson I learned the hard way, as my heads (predictably) gave out after a week or so and the B&M that I had bought the ego started kit from had run out and was waiting for a new shipment. Since I couldn't vape, I smoked more and the cigs began tasting better again. Once I had my supplies stocked up, I could go back to the method in #2, and by the time I was finished with my current carton, I was willing to see how far I could go without buying any more cigarettes. That was almost a year ago.

Good luck!

 

[gandymarsh]

Some of us need to be heavily invested to get the required incentive to give it an HONEST try.
A few great suggestions above, but unless they're ready to quit, invest a lot of time in doing their own research and then invest money of there own for the cure, they have no stake in the journey.

I think it needs to be "their" journey, you can lead them to the water but "they" must take the steps.

Good luck, Cheers.

PS. After 3 years of my vaping my lovely wife still smokes.

This is the reason I don't think it's a good idea to just "gift" gear to someone in hopes that they will quit. When they have a rough spot vaping, gear doesn't work, craving gets too strong, they can easily go back to smoking. If they did the hard work (it's not really hard but it can be frustrating) and spend their own money, there's more incentive to stick with it. The old saying is true for some people "easy come, easy go".