Fell off the wagon... have you ever?

[stormchaser1966]

Okay, so I'm at 5.5 months with my eGo, and I really have been fortunate. A few cravings here and there, sure, but I've kept them at bay pretty easily by vaping. I believed with all my heart that I was not going to ever go back. I was calling myself an ex-smoker.

And then, for some stupid, unknown reason, today I was at a convenience store and suddenly I had a craving -- and I CAVED!!!! I got in my car, tore into that package of cigarettes (and had to buy a lighter, too, since I didn't have one anymore), and I lit up! I felt my heart sink as I inhaled that first puff, but I didn't stop. I smoked the damn thing down to the ..... And later that day, I had two more.

What in the world happened?! Tonight I feel like I've cheated on a spouse or something. I'm vaping more heavily than ever, and at least I broke the remaining analogs and flushed them, but I still feel awful.

Has this happened to anyone else? How long did you beat yourself up? And have you done anything to make sure it doesn't happen again?

 

[brandon555]

Don't beat yourself up. Three cigs is nothing compared to the thousands you consumed as a smoker. Consider it a learning experience.

 

[typocinnamongrl]

Im sorry to hear your going through this! I cant say I've had the exact same experience, but I've only been vaping 3 months about... I can relate to those cravings though... I've slipped up and smoked a couple when I was drinking.

Treat yourself to a new juice or hardware... get back "in the zone" It'll be ok!

 

[silentt]

I really hate the smell of cigarettes now, I have no cravings at all.

 

[Arsenic]

The addiction never really goes away.

Me, as a cold-turkey-er, i have cravings often enough, and feel tempted to try vaping, even though for now i'm still just looking and reading. So don't feel bad. It happens. Like the other guy said, one, or even three cigs are not much compared to how many you've had in your life.

-[Arsenic]

 

[techtony]

I started vaping in Jan 2010 and fell of the wagon in may and have recently started vaping again. it happens, just don't beat yourself up about it, and know that ECF is always here for support.

 

[banjo]

I'm lucky to be well past any cravings, but I certainly won't hold it against anyone who was still struggling, so don't waste any time worrying about - just move on & you'll be fine.

 

[starrynight]

Oh no don't beat yourself up, you had three cigs in 5.5 months, you should be PROUD of yourself!!

 

[txtumbleweed]

That is about the only time I ever get a craving is when I go into the 7-11 where I always bought cigarettes. The good thing is you didn't finish off the pack and you will be prepared next time. Good luck and thanks for sharing it will help you and someone else!

 

[donnah]

Hang in there! Don't beat yourself up!

 

[daisyd]

I fell off for several months. The thing I like the most about vaping is that even when I have an nalog, I don't have to quit all over again. Before I'd get a few days, weeks, years in and slip up and be right back to feeling like I would die without another one. Now, it only takes some heavy vaping the next day, and I'm right back to smoke free.

 

[CountVapula]

ive been vaping for 3 months, at the beginning it was hard but not anymore, and i attribute that to upgrading my PV and finding juices i love. now analogs gross me out and i have no craving for them. the key is doing whats necessary to stay happy and satisfied with it, and whats necessary to keep people satisfied varies from person to person, one person might pick up an ego with prefilled carts and never go back because theyre happy with that, others might need multiple PV's with feeding systems and VV and a ton of juices etc. maybe some people are just so addicted to cigarettes that vaping can never take their place.

 

[cobaltblue]

I'm with the don't-beat-yourself-up crowd. So you had a few, no big deal. Might just be that you need to up your nic level a bit.

Even if you used to only smoked a pack a day before you made the switch you've already avoided 3,300 in the last 5.5 months. Yay You!

 

[grandmato5]

No, I've not fallen off the wagon but I can certainly understand how easy it is for that to happen. Haven't felt a nasty craving for a cigarette since about my 2 month mark but every once in a while after 6+ months of being cigarette free I am overcome with the feeling that I would REALLY like to have a cigarette. And when it happens it stays around for a while before it entirely goes away. Interestingly to me is the fact that it doesn't happen understress but when I am calm and relaxed.

Stop kicking yourself, and get back on the vaping trail. What happened is not anything horrible. It simply was a reminder of how easy it would be to slip back into the habit of smoking and now you know that which could be a valuable lesson to have learned for the future.

 

[Doberz]

I quit for four months when I first for my 510 last year. Then, I slipped. And went off vaping for a couple months. I got back in to vaping, and I go days, months without an analog. But I still have them here and there by choice (mostly at work). It might sound dumb, but I always think about how I used to smoke a pack a day, and how insignificant a smoke here and there is compared to that.

 

[nikk4s]

The last time I bought cigs was the beginning of December. Occasionally I still smoke one or three. I'm almost out but have already saved a ton of money and feel a lot better due to mostly vaping instead. I figure the more I vape, the less I want cigs and they are generally not satisfying or pleasant anymore. I resist buying more to avoid punitive levels of taxation and prefer vaping almost all the time. I hope I won't need to buy any more but if I do, I will not have failed. I've broken the chain that was strangling me and now make a choice. I occasionally choose to smoke a cig. I am no longer locked into smoking twenty to thirty a day.

 

[fallon74]

The only time I crave a cigarette is when I'm drinking thank god I don't drink that often for the most part I stay away from analogs but just recently I bummed a smoke from a friend I did feel a little guilty. Don't beat yourself up stuff happens.

 

[JupiterV]

Puhleeze. No big deal.
I can't smoke anymore. I'll take a puff from a friend's every once in a while and YUK.
At the beginning if I had a craving I'd vape non stop for 10 minutes 24mg.....it goes away.
Besides, too much invested to go back.

 

[Atari]

I have a confession of sorts to make, though my signature may say how long I have been smoke free it is not accurate. I still occasionally (once or twice a week) smoke on of the girlfriends cigs. She is a pack a day smoker, and the smell kills me, it makes me sick, but for some strange reason if I light one up and hit it a couple times I dont feel as much like puking. I dont think I have gotten past half of one, I just take a long enough drag to keep it lit till shes finished and most of the time I cant bring myself to inhale. But lately I have been using my map tank and it smokes her out lol, so problem solved there. I also may have one first thing in the morning if I havent had something to drink and find myself riding to work with dry mouth, if I use my PV it makes me gag. We are a one car family right now and the cigs sit in the center console taunting me,again one or two drags is all I can stand. I have gotten a lot better, I usually make sure I have a drink when I walk out in the mornings. But finally when I drink once or twice a month I will buy a pack and once I get good and drunk I smoke a few then usually pass the pack off to her. I dont have a problem with this, I used to smoke cigars when I drank, now a couple cigs feel like cigars. But the funniest part is that I cant smoke a whole cig unless I am drunk. I vape a lot differently than I smoked. I enjoy the flavor more, i tend to take a big draw then let it seep out a little just before inhaling, I hit it a lot more often with big draws and often long pauses in between. When I smoke its so rare that Im used to vaping and I try to smoke like that, I get sick. So I call it a blessing. Take this as a lesson, vaping gives you alot of gratification with out the guilt, it just feels better lol.

 

[Pokeygizmo]

ive been vaping for 3 months, at the beginning it was hard but not anymore, and i attribute that to upgrading my PV and finding juices i love. now analogs gross me out and i have no craving for them. the key is doing whats necessary to stay happy and satisfied with it, and whats necessary to keep people satisfied varies from person to person, one person might pick up an ego with prefilled carts and never go back because theyre happy with that, others might need multiple PV's with feeding systems and VV and a ton of juices etc. maybe some people are just so addicted to cigarettes that vaping can never take their place.

+1 on the right device. Started vaping 2/10, thought I was cig free by 4/10 but fell off the wagon here and there. Changed PVs (from a Kr808 to a BB). Much better. Again, thought I had it beat until some major stressors entered the picture...10/10 bought a Buzz. Have been cig free since-- stressed, drinking, relaxing or what have you. I can even pick up my old last 1/2 a pack (yes, I still have it), take a sniff (I have always loved the smell of unlit cigs) and put it away.

The cravings still hit me once in a while, but nothing that I can't handle -- at least so far. For me, it was the PV that made the difference.

Hang in there! Don't fret! Vape, move on and let it go!

Pokey --Vaping just over a year, non-cig smoker for 6 months.