Few questions about quitting smoking and vaping instead

[Heavy Smoker]

I really appreciate AndriaD's advice! I have had the same experience. In fact, unlike all the advice the professionals give about quitting smokes -- tell everyone you have quit -- I told nobody but just started showing up vaping instead of smoking. At first it wasn't 100%, and although I no longer carry a pack of cigarettes with me -- just an extra battery and a bottle of juice -- I don't consider myself a "non-smoker" after a mere two and a half weeks, just someone who prefers to vape. I still believe that I would smoke a cigarette in a minute if something went wrong with my set-up, but in the meantime I am totally satisfied with vaping as a way to get the nicotine (between 18 and 24 mg, depending on the day) I need.

 

[AndriaD]

The hardest part for me was finding all of the partial packs of analogs that I had stashed around my place and disposing of them, it was like a bizarre Easter egg hunt ...

Once I realized that I would actually have to put on shoes and go to the store for smokes, it was much easier to just settle back in the recliner with the PV and cue up another episode of "Gunsmoke" on the Roku box ...

I couldn't smoke what I didn't have, and never cared for OPs ...

They say that "sloth" is a vice, but it helped me to overcome another truly deadly one ...

Not having any at all in the house works just the opposite for me -- it pisses me off, makes me feel "controlled", coerced, and I JUST AIN'T HAVIN IT! My last open pk still has 12 in it, in the back of the freezer in a ziplock bag, tobaccocicles now almost 18 months old. But hey, if I REALLY want a cigarette, they're there! So I don't feel controlled or coerced -- I made my choice.

The thing about "missing" something... that would indicate that someone is sitting around giving that feeling a lot of energy, and if you do that, pretty soon you will convince yourself that it's just intolerable. That is NOT the way to go about it. If a thought of a cigarette pops up... vape. Every single time that thought occurs.. VAPE. Like your life depends on it! Because it might! But don't sit around thinking about how much you miss smoking, because that just feeds the feeling. If you feed something, it'll never leave!

Andria

 

[DaveP]

I bought an ecig in May 2010 ... Joye 510 mini cig-a-like model. I had to pull a cotton filled tip out and drip into it until it was saturated then reinstall it and puff. That was something I had to do every few minutes. Still, it was close enough to smoking to satisfy my nic craving and the hand to mouth habit (which is stronger than we think).

Later, I bought an eGO with a 650mah battery and it used the same fill method, but gave me longer battery life.

At the end of the first week, I noticed that I had only smoked a couple of packs of cigs, down from 2 PAD. I decided that I would alternately vape and smoke after meals to see if the ecig would work for my after meal smoke. I'd take a drag off the cigarette and then a puff off my ecig. Eventually, I realized that the ecig tasted good and the cigarette tasted NASTY! I continued doing that for a while and decided that it was dumb to smoke ANY cigarettes at all. I promised myself that I would order a Provari V2 as a reward for quitting those last few cigs.

The Provari came in and I finished the last partial pack of cigs I had left and never bought cigarettes again. Quitting was surprisingly easy. I had dropped from 40 a day to 6 and was weaned to a low level nic that my vape could supply. I never smoked again and never missed smoking at all. That was 5 1/2 years ago. Haven't smoked one since. I never even had a desire to smoke when I vaped around those who were smoking.

I tried quitting multiple times before ecigs. I even quit for 2 years and then started back during a difficult life event. Ecigs allowed me to quit and never want another. I've substituted a cleaner and obviously safer habit for one that was on track to shorten my life.

There were two things that made me continue to smoke before ecigs. Nicotine was one of those and the other was the act of inhaling and blowing out smoke. Ecigs replaced both of those with nic and vapor. Doing that was key to dumping the cigs. Almost 6 years later I vape and still enjoy watching the vapor simulate the smoke as I vape and exhale with my Kayfun 3. It's more of a psychological addiction coupled with the physical act of simulating the smoke from a burning tobacco product. I'm down from 24mg juice to 3mg and sometimes 0mg, although I like a little nic for the tingling sensation it delivers.

 

[rico942]

If you feed something, it'll never leave!

Andria

That was certainly true of my worthless brother-in-law ...

Maybe I should have stuck HIM in the freezer ...

 

[susan_1981]

I literally cannot have cigarettes in the house otherwise 100% I will smoke them. The thought will just niggle at me until I cave in, which wouldn't take long, probably less than 30 seconds.

I so want to give up smoking this time. When I've given up before, it's been because we were trying for a baby or because I was pregnant (being pregnant and smoking to me is a no go so giving up then wasn't a choice, it was something I had to do). But smoking is making me feel really rubbish now. I feel wheezy, I don't particularly enjoy the cigarettes I do smoke - not even the first one in the morning which used to be my favourite. I think I've just smoked too much recently and my body has had enough (I was smoking about 15-18 cigarettes a day, sometimes less). Obviously it's an addiction but I think the main problem for me is the habit. Plus I often smoke to stop myself snacking on junk!

I'm currently using this Diamond Mist Double E-Cigarette Kit: Amazon.co.uk: Health & Personal Care I am still clueless to this whole vaping thing. What difference can a different e-cig make? Like the one I have seems fine but then I haven't really tried anything else apart from a few puffs on the VIP one. The juices I have are the one that I got originally which is Virginia Mist (18mg) - I think and the ones I ordered that came today are:

Pina Colada (18mg)
RY4 (24mg) - think this may be way too strong for me, the Virginia Mist is a bit strong
Menthol (12mg)
British Tobacco (12mg)
Very Berry (12mg)
Strawberry Milk (12mg)

Looking forward to giving them a go but I'm also wondering if I need to think about getting myself a new e-cig - a better one like some of the recommendations on here?

I'm now 7 hours smoke free and so far, so good. Not been craving, just been stuffing my face with crisps all afternoon! I can work on that once the cravings die down! And when I was walking home from the station this evening, I was vaping while the girl in front of me was smoking a real cigarette and the smell didn't do anything for me. I'm not convincing myself that this is going to be easy but I'm quite proud of how this afternoon has gone.

 

[djsvapour]

I'm now 7 hours smoke free and so far, so good. Not been craving, just been stuffing my face with crisps all afternoon! I can work on that once the cravings die down! And when I was walking home from the station this evening, I was vaping while the girl in front of me was smoking a real cigarette and the smell didn't do anything for me. I'm not convincing myself that this is going to be easy but I'm quite proud of how this afternoon has gone.

Well done Hang in there.

Less crisps, more chocolate.... that's my motto.

 

[susan_1981]

Good luck @susan_1981

I didn't quit the way you are trying, but you can give it a go.

As I have little recollection of what smoking was like, find the taste revolting and now feel sick in an enclosed space with a smoker, I guess you could say I prefer Vaping.

I will offer some free gifts of liquids, atomizers and even a mod if you can keep it up for long enough to be smoke free.

Now there's an incentive!

 

[LouisLeBeau]

Louis, putting on spandex doesn't really count as 'start smoking again'... different kind of hawt...

Well, yah, in that sense, my smokin days are behind me, and I don't mean RIGHT behind me...

And not Spandex, Spanky... PolyESTER. Whippersnapper, ya never BEEN to boogey wonderland...

 

[LouisLeBeau]

I literally cannot have cigarettes in the house otherwise 100% I will smoke them. The thought will just niggle at me until I cave in, which wouldn't take long, probably less than 30 seconds.

I so want to give up smoking this time. When I've given up before, it's been because we were trying for a baby or because I was pregnant (being pregnant and smoking to me is a no go so giving up then wasn't a choice, it was something I had to do). But smoking is making me feel really rubbish now. I feel wheezy, I don't particularly enjoy the cigarettes I do smoke - not even the first one in the morning which used to be my favourite. I think I've just smoked too much recently and my body has had enough (I was smoking about 15-18 cigarettes a day, sometimes less). Obviously it's an addiction but I think the main problem for me is the habit. Plus I often smoke to stop myself snacking on junk!

I'm currently using this Diamond Mist Double E-Cigarette Kit: Amazon.co.uk: Health & Personal Care I am still clueless to this whole vaping thing. What difference can a different e-cig make? Like the one I have seems fine but then I haven't really tried anything else apart from a few puffs on the VIP one. The juices I have are the one that I got originally which is Virginia Mist (18mg) - I think and the ones I ordered that came today are:

Pina Colada (18mg)
RY4 (24mg) - think this may be way too strong for me, the Virginia Mist is a bit strong
Menthol (12mg)
British Tobacco (12mg)
Very Berry (12mg)
Strawberry Milk (12mg)

Looking forward to giving them a go but I'm also wondering if I need to think about getting myself a new e-cig - a better one like some of the recommendations on here?

I'm now 7 hours smoke free and so far, so good. Not been craving, just been stuffing my face with crisps all afternoon! I can work on that once the cravings die down! And when I was walking home from the station this evening, I was vaping while the girl in front of me was smoking a real cigarette and the smell didn't do anything for me. I'm not convincing myself that this is going to be easy but I'm quite proud of how this afternoon has gone.

I can only speak to my experience. I put down the pack, picked up a Volt, and never looked back. NOT easy, but determination is key. But to the point, a different device. I would not have appreciated something more powerful than the volt the first two weeks. Vapor took getting used to, I'd hack like a fiend. Two weeks in, I was sucking the filler outta the carto's, trying to get MOAR. So Ego's, 510 drip atomizers, and finally the Vivi Nova tank came along. Better, just right really, for my "evolution".

And... I tootled (that's low power, low vapor) along just fine for a few years. First SERIOUS cloud chucker, and I was gagging again. But I got used to that too. I don't think I really NEEDED it, but I do enjoy it now, along with the Tootling too. Some never look back from Clouds Bro, everyone is different. Some never go past the tootle. Also great.

So... in a few weeks, if the device you have isn't making you happy, you feel you need more vapor, more nic to keep you sated (which is FINE, nic is NOT very detrimental except as a vascular constrictor, so buzz away), you MAY want to consider a higher power mod, more capable tank or RDA.. At that point, I would seriously look at a mod that takes rechargeable, replaceable 18650 batteries. THOSE, you can take with you as you upgrade or try different devices. Self contained battery devices are MUCH more expensive to "replace".

 

[Chrissie]

Hello, welcome & well done @susan_1981

Another UK member here

I used to be a very heavy smoker, until I bought my first e-cig, over 7 years ago. Even though it was a very basic cigalike, I managed to cut down drastically straight away, but it took me quite a while to give up the last 2 a day.

 

[AndriaD]

Well done Hang in there.

Less crisps, more chocolate.... that's my motto.

Or just more vaping! I couldn't have snacked when I first quit smoking, I was much too busy VAPING MY FACE OFF!!!

Andria

 

[LouisLeBeau]

Hello, welcome & well done @susan_1981

Another UK member here

I used to be a very heavy smoker, until I bought my first e-cig, over 7 years ago. Even though it was a very basic cigalike, I managed to cut down drastically straight away, but it took me quite a while to give up the last 2 a day.

WOOT!!! 2008!! Whoa, I THINK you are about the longest term member I have seen yet on ECF, aside from SJ. LOVE seeing extreme veterans in the new member forums! Hiya @Chrissie !!

 

[steam heat]

Good job so far...wanting to quit is key! for me it took a device that was capable of producing a lot of vapor.I stopped bringing cigs with me after about a week of vaping,now I always have enough vapegear on me to fix any problems I may run into with my setup... I honestly feel if I had a catastrophic vape failure why I'm not at home ( i now have a few mods an tanks an rda)I would go to a vape shop an buy a new vape before I would buy a pack of cigs!.. 6 weeks no cigs,no cravings, loving life,all thanks to the vape. Hope this helps ya

 

[DaveP]

Looking forward to giving them a go but I'm also wondering if I need to think about getting myself a new e-cig - a better one like some of the recommendations on here?

I'm now 7 hours smoke free and so far, so good. Not been craving, just been stuffing my face with crisps all afternoon! I can work on that once the cravings die down! And when I was walking home from the station this evening, I was vaping while the girl in front of me was smoking a real cigarette and the smell didn't do anything for me. I'm not convincing myself that this is going to be easy but I'm quite proud of how this afternoon has gone.

Remember that even if you slip and smoke it's just step backward and means nothing in the scheme of things. The important point is that you are making a transition from smoking to vaping and it doesn't have to be a sudden thing. Most of us here went through the same stresses and slipped and slid into vaping instead of smoking over a period of time.

Stress is what makes people go back to smoking. When I switched I didn't want it to be a sudden pressure to stop one thing and start another. I vaped for a week and still smoked and after a few days I realized that I was on the same pack I had the first day I vaped. I'd smoke one after a meal and vape the rest of the day, then have another cig with coffee. I did that for an extended period before deciding one day that vaping was really all I needed. Once I made that decision it was easy to finish the last pack and dump the smokes. The dreaded withdrawal never came. If I had stopped cold turkey I might have gone through the same nervous will power struggle I'd always had when I tried to quit. Being able to smoke when I really wanted one helped me transition down to zero smokes in a calm manner.

Hang in there. Let the vape take away the smokes. That can happen with minimal stress if you just vape a little harder when the temptation rises.

 

[gingertalk196]

A year ago today was my first day without a cig. The key for me was having a juice I enjoyed (vape is sooo much better taste than a cig) and the proper nic content (I had tried 6 and had to move up to 12 to get the satisfaction/end to craving). I quit on the cheap CE 4's and an eGo battery. A couple days later (one year ago) I found ECF and bought a Nautilus Mini and an iStick and had the confidence that vape was a done deal and the cigs were gone.

I still had/have the occasional craving. I just grab the vape instead. Every aspect of life has improved since I switched and I have even reached the zero nic level in my juice.

Is it going to be pain free? No, but compared to other methods to get off the cigs vape is a miracle. You CAN do it!

 

[Vaslovik]

In my own case as soon as I had a vape that lasted all day I was done with cigarettes forever. While my vape lasted I didn't need to smoke, so the goal became getting the all day vape, which took me about 2 days. I wanted off the cigs really bad.

 

[PapawBrett]

It took two days of white-knuckle vaping, but I managed to quit three and a half years ago. Cigarette smoke and odor is now disgusting to me. Has been for a while now.
I was able to stop smoking and start vaping because I wanted something OTHER THAN TOBACCO !!! Forty years of smoking was enough. I started with sweets and bakery flavors. Wouldn't even think of trying tobacco flavors for the first six months.
Good Luck. If there is a vape shop nearby, see if they have free samples. Maybe you could find a few flavors you enjoy, and that could make it easier. I would also advise you not to go overboard on buying expensive equipment yet. Just basic gear until you are comfortable with vaping.

 

[Deadbydawn]

Yes. I smoked for 25 years and halo prime15 juice got me off cigs

 

[Romenov]

I was not a heavy smoker, not a all or nothing one too, but every time I was to smoke, I told myself to grab the gear, even not every time success to grab the vape instead of cigarette, but most time I did, the more time you encourage yourself and made it success, the much easier next time you can make it

 

[VNeil]

So today is the day I want to stop smoking cigarettes FOREVER!

I found that I wasn't bothering with my e-cigarette while smoking the real thing. I'm very much an all or nothing kind of person. But I was just wondering, do you now prefer vaping to smoking actual cigarettes and how long did it take for you to prefer it? I've just had what I hope to be my last cigarette and I miss it already!

I need to get used to it and today, finally, after over a week, my other liquids have come so I can try those when I get home from work.

I absolutely prefer vaping to smoking. There are so many things about vaping to prefer. It takes time. I smoked 2-3 PAD for 41 years. The idea of quitting the smokes was like the idea of losing a loved one. But at some point that all went away. I can't say when that happened but it did. Maybe a couple months? Please give it a chance to happen for you.