Excited and nervous to become a vaper.

[Phanie]

Hello all,

My name is Phanie and I ordered my first ecig (from ZeeCigs.com) yesterday. I came across his videos months ago and it wasn't until recently that I had the money to buy (his prices are higher than most but I liked how much effort he put into his site and videos.)

To be honest, I'm climbing the walls waiting for my package to come in and I'm smoking analogs like a chimney (perhaps as a sub-conscious send off?) I'm hoping and praying that I can toss the 'logs completely- I've been a smoker for 7 years now. I'm constantly coughing, wheezing, and I can't sing like I used to.

Lately, the peer pressure has been getting to me (hence the change.) My husband has been smoke-free for three weeks now (the patch and anxiety meds) and I feel badly for him (including my family, neighbors, and my church family) whenever I smoke. I feel like I'm constantly surrounded by a stinky cloud of smoke (Pig-Pen, anyone?) but I LOVE THE HABIT. I just don't love the stink or the health issues.

I would love to hear about how vaping has changed your life and, more importantly, your health. I need some positive reinforcement, please, and good things to look forward to. What was your first week like?

Thank you all so much!

Phanie

 

[matthewc527]

Hi Phanie,

I will tell you that for me it was a lot easier than I anticipated. I was a smoker for over 30 years and knew I had to quit. Ordered a kit and tossed my smokes. Have not looked back and it's been 43 days. The hardest times were when I was getting frustrated with my ecig equipment. You gotta find the right stuff for you. But don't be scared. Just do it. You can. And I can sing a lot longer than I could before. Even found a few new high notes. I loved smoking and did not want to give it up. Now I love vaping. You will too. Good luck to you!!!

Matthew

 

[WomanOfHeart]

Hi, Phanie! Welcome to ECF!

Once I got a decent e-cig, I quit smoking completely. I didn't plan on it, but that's what happened. I could hardly believe it!

 

[El_Gringo_Grande]

The most important thing to keep in mind is that you want to quit. That was the biggest hurdle for me. After that, I had to acknowledge that vaping wasn't smoking, and by that, it is not exactly like smoking but its close. Then, you will come to enjoy vaping more than you liked smoking, because the taste of cig is very disgusting.

 

[DawnOfTheDez]

Hello all,

My name is Phanie and I ordered my first eCig (from ZeeCigs.com) yesterday. I came across his videos months ago and it wasn't until recently that I had the money to buy (his prices are higher than most but I liked how much effort he put into his site and videos.)

To be honest, I'm climbing the walls waiting for my package to come in and I'm smoking analogs like a chimney (perhaps as a sub-conscious send off?) I'm hoping and praying that I can toss the 'logs completely- I've been a smoker for 7 years now. I'm constantly coughing, wheezing, and I can't sing like I used to.

Lately, the peer pressure has been getting to me (hence the change.) My husband has been smoke-free for three weeks now (the patch and anxiety meds) and I feel badly for him (including my family, neighbors, and my church family) whenever I smoke. I feel like I'm constantly surrounded by a stinky cloud of smoke (Pig-Pen, anyone?) but I LOVE THE HABIT. I just don't love the stink or the health issues.

I would love to hear about how vaping has changed your life and, more importantly, your health. I need some positive reinforcement, please, and good things to look forward to. What was your first week like?

Thank you all so much!

Phanie

Hi Phanie! Welcome to ECF and your new lifestyle! I am 28 years old, and smoked for over 10 years. I'll be 100% honest - I loved analogs. I quit a couple years ago and it affected me like losing a loved one. I cried for 4 days and had severe anxiety. (I went the cold-turkey route.) Soon enough, I was smoking again.

A good friend of mine has been vaping for about 3 years now. When I would try the PV, it didn't do anything so I had very little hope for this. But I was still smoking analogs.

So the day came and I got my Inferno (Dec 2010), so I quit. About 4 hours into it, I was FREAKING OUT. My fiance said "Babe just try vaping and see if it helps." He quit about 4-5 weeks before me and was vaping already. MAN! I was reluctant (and ready to FIGHT) but I did.

INSTANTLY I felt this warming and calming sensation through my legs first. Then my arms. And I thought - holy crap is this really working?!? The more I used it I realized it wasn't the nicotine that made me jittery and cranky while coming off it - it was EVERYTHING ELSE in the analogs that were doing that!

Now, I look like Bob Dole carrying around a pen. My PV doesn't leave my side. I can breathe again. I can run again. I can haul a** up stairs and not become winded. My bank account looks great! My clothes don't smell. My hair doesn't smell. I'm not investing in hundreds of dollars of body spray and lotion and gum. My car isn't filled with ash. I don't have to be THAT person that's always gotta light up before everything! Not only that - you know how GREAT it is to not have to stand out in the elements to get my fix? I can vape in BED, playing video games, at work...it's quite amazing.

Everything in my life was based around analogs. I wanted to hurry and finish my food to have that analog. Same with just about everything else. It's like life turned into simply "the amount of time between my next analog". Sad but true.

I don't know if anyone feels AS strongly as I do about vaping, but I can truly say this is saving my life. You've made the decision to create a new lifestyle and I will say you will be truly surprised.

(Not to mention the BAZILLION awesome e-liquid flavors out there to help the cause.)

I am going to suggest 3 e-liquid vendors that I have found to be my favorite so far:

1. DIYFLAVORSHACK.com - my first e-liquid purchase was from there. Dawn is amazing and has AWESOME flavors! Cotton Candy, Tiger's Blood, and Buttercream Frosting are my go-to flavors. I've only encountered a couple flavors I didn't like - but that's just personal preference.
2. Mister-E-Liquid.com - MEL's organic juices are to die for! Try the Cherry Lemonade, Throwback Cola, or Peach Melba (just to name a few). If the tobacco flavors are your forte - he's got some nice flavors, too.
3. VermillionRiverEjuice.com - Dave's eliquids are delicious! If you remember Fruit Stripe Gum - he has that flavor. OH YEAH. Mystic Cherry, Hard Lemonade, Kentucky Cherrywood....

Each of the vendors I mentioned are registered Forum Suppliers. Check them out!

Again - welcome to your new lifestyle and I hope that the PV works out for you like it has for me, my fiance, my good friend Betsy, my friend's 18yo sister, and so many others!

Feel free to PM anytime if you have questions or just want to say HI.

Warm Regards,
Desiree C.
Fresno, CA

 

[roxics]

I had the same issues as a smoker. They've all cleared up since I started vaping again 7 months ago.

 

[Debian Dog]

Like my friend told me. If you describe driving a car to someone it sounds complicated. I suppose smoking cigs is like riding a bike and PV'ing is driving a car. A little more involved but by no means complicated.

I had been smoking at least 10 years. I tried to finish the pack off after I got the kit and ended up smoking like 1/2 to 3/4 and butting them. I do not really miss it myself. i get "smoke", heat, something for my oral fixation and it tastes better. i think the trick is finding a kit or solution that works for -YOU-.

 

[CBB]

I am a little concerned as to why someone on a budget would knowingly pay twice the going rate for a kit that many people upgrade from within weeks of getting it.

 

[Linden]

I'd like to add that if you are having anxiety about quitting, don't put so much pressure on yourself. Many of us kept our analogs around and in a short period of time we just weren't interested in them any more. Smoke and vape until you feel comfortable with the transition. I smoked 1/2 PAD for many years and when I got my ecig I continued to smoke. Within 5 days I just didn't want to. You can also read my blog entry for my full story.

 

[Phanie]

I am a little concerned as to why someone on a budget would knowingly pay twice the going rate for a kit that many people upgrade from within weeks of getting it.

Valid point. I should have clarified. We are no longer on a tight budget; I didn't consider a PV as a necessity (but I did with analogs. Figure that one out. ) I chose this vendor because, in researching ecigs, I came across hundreds of sites that were poorly built and obvious scams. The videos and site about zee helped me feel more secure about what I was getting into.

I've used PV before but not to smoke tobacco ('nuff said.) so most of the sites I visited referenced recreational smoking (which I no longer do) or were poorly translated-to-english slop.

If I upgrade, great. I welcome it. I just wanted to make sure I was getting what I paid for and (working retail myself for many years) I know that if the price is cheap the product is as well (most of the time.)

Thank you all for your replies, especially DawnOfTheDez. I'm also one of those that schedule life around when I can smoke and it's meant that I've missed out on a lot. Smoking is a physical habit for me and, while I'm ready to give up the smell and health risks, I don't want to give up the ritual.

Anytime my DH and I quit I've raised heck. It's like your best friend accused you of something heinous, stopped talking to you, then suddenly died before you could make amends. The idea of quitting cigs literally scares me.

Again, thank you all so much!

 

[Standpoint]

Hi. I am a semi-recent convert, been vaping for over a year, been serious about vaping for a few months. Here's the 'gotchas' you need to be careful for:

1. I don't recommend mixing analogs and vaping. It messes with the taste and throat hit from vaping.
2. Don't give up! At first, especially the first five days, it's hard not go go back to smoking. Just stick with vaping. personally, I set absolutely no rules about how much to vape. I wound up vaping constantly, and always had my PV in my hand.
3. It takes a while to get used to vaping - usually your first set or two of gear tends to not always work out. it does take a bit of an investment to get going with vaping. I've bought my share of bad PVs, bad tasting e-liquid, broken a device or two, and took a while to 'get' how much liquid to put in cartridges, how to maintain the device, etc.
4. READ THIS FORUM! There is a lot of great advice here, and it helps keep you in the mindset of switching over.

I also recommend browsing the list of forum suppliers, it is a great way to see 'what else is out there' for PVs and liquids.

 

[uba egar320]

HI and welcome! I hope you have a great experience getting started. You are one step above me already by finding this site. LOADS of info here. So don't be shy, and ask away once you gt started. One little tip: Don't put to much pressure on yourself! If you need a cig, smoke one. Don't beat yourself up over it. Some folks quit the day they get their kit, others, well for others it's a bit tougher than that. I wish you luck, and don't forget, ASK QUESTIONS! We've all been where you're at. Someone will have a fix for you.

 

[ncargrl]

Welcome to ECF! Don't put so much pressure on yourself, dear; and as a vaper now after 35+ years of smoking; I can truly
say that it was and is worth it! You can do it! Good luck to you!

 

[Phanie]

I have never had this many replies to a forum post before (not counting the times I put my foot in my mouth.) You all are great!

 

[Streetrat]

What totally helped for me was making sure i had no analogs available.

When my first pv arrived I charged it... filled the carts.... and let it sit there until I ran out of analogs ( about 6 hours. Then I picked up the pv and started vaping. Im 36 and smoked a pack a day or more for 16 years.... and once I picked up that pv... I haven't had an analog since. That was about a month ago. I feel like a new person...i can breathe better... my normally stuffy sinuses are free and clear... Im loving it all!

 

[CBB]

Valid point. I should have clarified. We are no longer on a tight budget; I didn't consider a PV as a necessity (but I did with analogs. Figure that one out. ) I chose this vendor because, in researching ecigs, I came across hundreds of sites that were poorly built and obvious scams. The videos and site about zee helped me feel more secure about what I was getting into.

I have to admit, after the first post (being it was your first post) I feared you may be just another shill, but as you do seem to be genuine I hope the Zee works out for you.

Amongst, e-cigs though its usually the big expensive well made web sites that are the rip-offs. Most of the suppliers that we favor are entrepreneurial members of the community who are trying to get us the best deals they can. Their web sites are usually developed with what skills they have and page products they can afford to purchase, so often they are not on par with someone who can shovel money into a fancy site. As for "recreational" use of PVs, it is frown upon and barred from discussion on ECF. We are fighting to keep a good product on the market as a community and those who would adulterate it only make that harder for those who need a product like this for its intended use, You will not find any reputable site promoting any use like that.

Welcome to our community and the best of luck to you, please feel as welcome and at home at ECF as the rest of us, its a great community, and never be afraid to ask questions, we are all here to help each other.

 

[DawnOfTheDez]

...

1. I don't recommend mixing analogs and vaping. It messes with the taste and throat hit from vaping.

Agreed 100%! It doesn't work that way. I tried to do both - NO GOOD. And many others I've talked to say it doesn't work.

I agree with everything Standpoint said - it does take a little bit to get used to vaping, and make sure you ask questions! This forum has made my vaping experience pretty worry free.

Sidenote - analogs are much easier to maintain the PVs. This can be discouraging. You have to clean and charge and do this and that - but once you get that in your routine - it's like making sure you always have a light and your pack of analogs.

 

[quaylon]

My story is much the same as all the previous posters...

When I started vaping (3 months ago) I told my self that I wasn't quitting smoking, just quitting tobacco. To that end, I went out for my smokes just like always. I would go about my business as I always had, at work, at home, everywhere. I had a few cravings for analogs every now and again, but vaping quickly made them pass. Then, one evening at my local watering hole, I just took a few drags inside and my whole world changed. I was suddenly free. Since then, I vape when I want, where I want. In addition to the new found liberty, I have had the opportunity to discuss PV use with others and I've even helped a few people exchange a bad habit for a better one.

All in all, tell yourself what ever it is you need to hear grab that PV whenever you feel the urge to grab a smoke and before you know it, you won't want and analog any more...

Best of luck to you!

 

[bmhome1]

If your PV choice ends up frustrating or exasperating you, quickly, quickly cut your losses and re-invest in another outfit. Cignot.com cannot be more highly recommended from personal experience over and over. Libertyflights.com also.

 

[Standpoint]

The two kits I use currently are both from Liberty Flights. I got the 510 kit and the eGo kit. They are compatible with each other, and super cheap for what you get.

Good luck! Don't get too discouraged early, it takes time. My biggest challenge is not having a cig when all my friends and I are out at a bar on the weekends, and everyone around me is smoking. Like everyone else here has said, don't give up if you wind up having a cig here and there at first.