For those who having quit smoking ...

[RoseJ]

I'm getting closer. Down to 7-8 cigarettes per day (from 40+). As soon as my WTA gets here, I might be done with cigarettes.

But I'm interested in knowing a few things from those of you who have completely replaced smoking with vaping.

1. Do you vape more than you used to smoke? Or less?
2. Do you ever want a cigarette?
3. Did you put on weight?
4. How has your health improved?

Thanks for reading!

 

[djsvapour]

1. Yes, more
2. No, not any more
3. Yes
4. Yes

I put on weight because things taste so good! (if that is relevant) not because I quit smoking (I think..)

 

[BreSha6869]

I vape more frequently as I can vape in the house but would doubt I am taking in more nic that when I smoked. That's a good thing.

I really haven't waned a smoke since I quit. Maybe after a few drinks a handfull of times but I just grab the vape and the cravings go away.

I have been vaping for just under 2 months and have put on a few pounds but I would attribute that 100% to my bad eating habits over the holidays.

My health is definately better. No coughing, I don't get winded easily, etc.

 

[Lessifer]

Congrats!
It's been almost three years for me since I've had a cigarette.

1. Probably more, though I think I'm getting as much, or possibly less nicotine, and definitely less(or none) of anything harmful.
2. Occasionally I get the urge, but it passes, it was much stronger the first year.
3. Haven't put on weight, but haven't lost any either.
4. I no longer cough up phlegm balls every morning, and I breathe a lot easier. I'd probably feel even better if I exercised.

 

[pianoguy]

1. Do you vape more than you used to smoke? Or less?
Much more frequently, since I now vape at my desk at work, vape in the house, etc. - when smoking, I hadn't done either of those in decades (I smoked for over 40 years).
2. Do you ever want a cigarette?
Not anymore - once I made the switch (took me about a week), I only had one time where I was really jonesing for a cigarette, a couple weeks later. I vaped like a research monkey for a bit and it subsided. Never had any terrible cravings after that.
3. Did you put on weight?
No, I weigh about the same as I did when I quit.
4. How has your health improved?
For nearly a year before discovering e-cigs, I'd had a persistent cough and congestion that started shortly after they mandated fire-safe cigs here (I do not believe that this was a coincidence). Within a few days of making the switch to e-cigs, those disappeared. Also, migraine headaches that had plagued me for about 7 years went away. I regained my senses of taste and smell within a few weeks. I sleep better, have more energy and stamina, and gum health is vastly improved.

When I first tried an e-cig, I thought it might just work, and tried to only have a real cigarette when I really needed one - this was only a few times a day. I tried to put off that first one as long as possible, and after about a week, one day I never got around to lighting up. I carried cigarettes around with me for a few weeks, just to make sure I never felt panicked about not having any. It felt good to just look at the pack and say, "No, thanks". Best of luck to you!

 

[Lannie]

I smoked 40+ a day, too, for over 40 years, and I thought I wouldn't be ABLE to quit. I really didn't WANT to quit. But one day I tried this horrid little cigalike, and damned if it didn't keep me from smoking for the hours that it lasted before it died. That's when I knew it was possible, and ordered an EVOD starter kit. Now I use bigger mods, and bigger tanks, but the EVODs got me off the cigarettes, and I was able to just put them away the day after I got my starter kit. I think I smoked two after I got the kit, one the next morning, just "because," and one that evening, to see if I still liked it, and to my utter astonishment, I didn't finish that one. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't good, and all I could think of was finishing it so I could go back to my raspberry flavored vape. So I quit the smokes just like that and never had another one.

I wanted to have a cigarette many times (mostly when I was very stressed or anxious) in the first few months, but I'd put them away so they weren't handy, and I'd just grab my vape and puff on that. I chain vaped a LOT, but that kept my MIND thinking I was smoking and I figured it wouldn't hurt me, so why not? Now I vape about as much as I used to smoke, but maybe more, and that's because I'm hooked on all these wonderful flavors now! LOL! I've dropped my nic level down to one mg in the mornings, and zero nic in the evenings.

Haven't gained weight from quitting cigs, but it's winter up here in the far north, and I've put on my 10 pounds of extra winter insulation. It'll go away in Spring, but it would be a LOT worse if not for these tasty e-liquids. I make my own now, and have been indulging in cheesecake and cupcakes and brownies and all sorts of decadent things, the best part being there are no calories! I predict that once I go back to my summer eating patterns, I might actually lose a bit of extra weight, because vaping keeps me from wanting to snack.

My health has improved greatly, not just being able to breathe better (I never realized just how bad it was until I quit smoking), and being able to smell and taste so much better, but I don't get as tired as I used to and I can do more physical labor without that horrible muscle burn when your muscles don't get enough oxygen. Now my muscles get all the oxygen they need. I also seem to have lost my "heart problem" that all my life I thought was a congenital birth defect thing. Now and then, especially if I was stressed out, my heart would do a short-circuit kind of a thing, which is too long and involved to try to explain, but it would beat twice as fast, and my blood pressure would drop down to around 60/40. It felt like I was running, no SPRINTING, up a steep hill. I couldn't stand or walk very long without danger of blacking out because no blood was getting to my brain. And sometimes those episodes would go on for hours... come to find out, apparently nicotine caused them. I never made that connection, because it's been happening to me since I was a kid, but then I realized, I've been a "smoker" since before I was born because both my parents and everyone they knew smoked. I had never lived in a smoke-free house until 6 months ago, and here I am, 58 years old now. So I guess you could say I smoked for 57-1/2 years! LOL! Anyway, since I've dropped my nic level down to near zero, they've completely stopped, but if I chain-vape even the 1mg nic juice for a while, I might feel a little stutter or flutter, and I know it's time to back off again.

I know that was too wordy, but I appreciated getting information like this when I was starting out, so hopefully some of what I said will help you.

~Lannie

 

[suprtrkr]

Yes.
Yes.
No.
Yes.

And good job! Keep up the good work.

 

[TheDaughterOfTyr]

1. Do you vape more than you used to smoke? Or less?
Typically the same amount while I'm at work or out and about. But I have a tendency to 'chain vape' at home.
2. Do you ever want a cigarette?
Yes, but it's not the same kind of craving I used to get. It's been 9 months.
3. Did you put on weight?
No. I actually have lost a bit because I started eating a bit better recently and I can walk and run without getting winded now.
4. How has your health improved?
No more gross cough, dental health has improved, I feel like I have more energy overall and less anxiety (which was a big reason I was hanging on to cigarettes I think).

I've been quit about 9 months now and I wish you the best of luck!

 

[mcol]

1. Do you vape more than you used to smoke? Or less? I did for at least the first year, not so sure now as it has reached a different point now that I'm at a low nicotine stage. Especially at first yes I vaped until my mouth was numb.
2. Do you ever want a cigarette? Uh, yeah occasionally. All it takes now if I really think I want one is to light one up. About 3 puffs and I stub it out, and am disgusted by the smell on my hand. I'd say every few months I 'think' I need one.
3. Did you put on weight? Oh yeah. About 25 pounds. I was on the thin side before so am not noticeably over weight.
4. How has your health improved? No more yakking up a storm. Oh and I rarely get sick anymore, colds last about 3 days and I only get about one a year if that.

 

[FishingBuffalo]

I was a 2 pk a day

1. Do you vape more than you used to smoke? Or less?
Probably more
2. Do you ever want a cigarette?
Not in 5 years. nor do I get the urge.
3. Did you put on weight?
Goes up and down, no more or less than when I smoked.
4. How has your health improved?
Actually yes. In 5 years only one episode of flu w/ resp infection easily cleared up with anti-biotics

I chose vaping over smoking due to it is a better ALTERNATIVE, and has been quite effective. I enjoyed my stinkie, but enjoy vaping with what it has to offer even more. My wife has COPD, she has not had a cig in 4 years and has only had 2 resp infections, she was getting 3-5 a year smoking.

Vaping should be considered as "reduced harm" as there are many unknowns long term, but great results short term. And as always the safest way to vape is to not vape at all. I will vape forever, for if it was not for vapor products yes I would be smoking whether or not my life was being shortened. VAPE ON!

 

[VNeil]

I'm getting closer. Down to 7-8 cigarettes per day (from 40+). As soon as my WTA gets here, I might be done with cigarettes.

But I'm interested in knowing a few things from those of you who have completely replaced smoking with vaping.

1. Do you vape more than you used to smoke? Or less?
2. Do you ever want a cigarette?
3. Did you put on weight?
4. How has your health improved?

Thanks for reading!

See my sig, been about 1 yr 5 months since my last cig

1. Do you vape more than you used to smoke? Or less?
I smoked about 50 cigs/day. I vape about 1000 puffs/day according to my puff counters so probably very comparable "amount" if a puff = a puff

2. Do you ever want a cigarette?
No, not really. I'd rather vape anyway. The urges died down a lot after about a month then slowly went to about zero after 6 months or so. But YMMV

3. Did you put on weight?
No, I'm now at the high end of what I've weighed the past 10-20 years

4. How has your health improved?
Absolutely. I thought I was only 5 years from full blown emphysema, and with a constant smoker's cough. My lungs are clear, much more lung power, able to exercise better. Not what it was 20 years ago when I quit for a year or so. Wish I had done this back then. You will look long and hard for an ex smoker vaper that does not feel much better.

Good luck with the WTA. It shows you done your homework

 

[AndriaD]

1. Do you vape more than you used to smoke? Or less?

It's hard to say what is "more" -- more often? Certainly! I don't have to run outdoors to vape! And at first, I vaped pretty much constantly. That settles down after a while.


2. Do you ever want a cigarette?

Want? Nope. Think of? Certainly! Then I vape, and forget all about it.


3. Did you put on weight?

A little, but I think it's more to do with my age (54), and the fact that food tastes better, than anything else. (And some food tastes worse -- I know this, because now I can actually taste it!)


4. How has your health improved?

1) I haven't had a cold since before I started vaping -- almost 2 yrs ago. I used to get them every fall/winter.
2) I don't cough up nasty crud on a regular basis.
3) I'm not adding to my overall cancer risk, nor COPD risk -- even though I have asthma.
4) If my gas furnace or water heater starts emitting toxic fumes, I'm far more likely to smell it right away.
5) My complexion has a "rosier" look -- better circulation.
6) Since I decreased my nic level by half, I also have much warmer hands and feet, though it's the middle of winter -- also better circulation.
7) I don't have to spend vast amounts of time out in the cold (winter), pollen (spring), or heat/humidity (summer) -- all better for my asthmatic lungs.

Andria

 

[roxynoodle]

1. Do you vape more than you used to smoke? Or less?
2. Do you ever want a cigarette?
3. Did you put on weight?
4. How has your health improved?

Thanks for reading!

1. I vape more, but feel I am getting less nicotine.
2. Not anymore.
3. No.
4. Improved breathing, improved taste and smell, better skin tone.

 

[HauntedMyst]

1. Yes, more
2. No, not any more
3. Yes
4. Yes

I put on weight because things taste so good! (if that is relevant) not because I quit smoking (I think..)

Ditto. I vape more because I can vape in my home office where as I couldn't smoke there.

 

[janiegrl]

Congratulations! I'm still smoking 2 a day, but it's such a far cry from the 40+ a day I used to smoke, I'm going to answer anyway. For the record, I've been down to 2 a day since the end of September, so just over 3 months.

1. Do you vape more than you used to smoke? Or less?
More. When I can, I take a puff every 30 seconds or so. When I'm at work and I need to go outside to vape, I had a hard time at first going a full hour between vape breaks. But it's getting better. My breaks are shorter, and this morning I went 1.5 hours between breaks, even though I could have gone earlier.

2. Do you ever want a cigarette?
The though pops into my head on occasion. It's never with any urgency though, and as soon as I remind myself that I vape now, the thought goes away. This is very good, as my husband still smokes. In the house. Right next to me. It doesn't bother me though. I'm quite happy and satisfied to vape while he smokes.

3. Did you put on weight?
Yes, but not because of quitting smoking. It's because of the holidays/winter weight/being a slug and not exercising.

4. How has your health improved?
I was feeling a lot better - no more coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath while walking or climbing stairs. But then winter hit, and the crazy dry cold we get here doesn't agree with my lungs. I have noticed an increase in coughing, phlegm and some congestion. But I predict this will go away in the spring. My dental hygienist is happy - I used to get horrid staining on my teeth. This is nearly gone (I do still drink lots of coffee, plus those 2 smokes a day.) Also I have no more yellow stains on my fingers and nails.

 

[AndriaD]

Also I have no more yellow stains on my fingers and nails.

Yes! When I first quit, my mom was so skeptical, she bet me $100 I couldn't stay quit for a month. Well, I did. Then she wondered how she would know if I really hadn't smoked. At first I couldn't think of anything that would convince her... but I happened to catch sight of my right index finger... the inner edge of the nail is no longer brown, and the skin surrounding it is no longer yellow. Which happened inside 30 days. When I went to collect the $100, I showed it to her. Having been a smoker herself for slightly longer than I was, she was familiar with the phenomenon... and paid up. I got some nice vape gear with that $100.

Andria

 

[ChildWithATemper]

1. Do you vape more than you used to smoke? Or less?
A lot more when I'm off work - but that's only due to now being able to do it in the car and generally indoors pretty much everywhere but where I work. I'm basically chainvaping about 20ml on low wattage during sat/sun.

2. Do you ever want a cigarette?
Not anymore. I was a dual user for 5 months before i finally quit - would have done it sooner but a few deaths in the family got in the way of that. When i first completely quit, the first 10 days were the worst and i had to constantly ask myself whether i really wanted to "ruin" these last 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 etc days by smoking an analog. Went to a friends house round the 21 day mark, who suddenly smoked again instead of vaping - that was hard, but after 3 hours of NOT letting myself cave in, it was really over for me. Stinky clothes and skin when I got home really made their point.

3. Did you put on weight?
No... Well now yes, but consider, that we all just survived Christmas season and all

4. How has your health improved?
I've only had one headache since i quit analogs completely - and that was due to a nic OD, while trying to figure out how much nic was too little and how much was too much... I was a pack a day smoker and smoked lights so I started off with 16mg which proved to be way too much.
I have not had any spontaneous shortness of breath like I used to
I do not have the feeling of a "boulder on my chest" when I get to bed at night
I can run up 8 flights of stairs
I have not had any kidney stones passing (ye, I know, vaping probably doesn't have a dime to do with it, but I like to think that it somehow helps the body regenerate and I used to have a stone pass on a monthly basis before)
Only had one cold and it only lasted three days
Haven't had a sore throat yet - when I see it coming, I switch to a higher PG liquid (well, higher for me is 50%, does the job)
The dentist is amazed - great improvements
And my blood pressure is lower now - like... in a normal person my age

 

[ddirtyvapes]

1. More.

2. Yes.

3. No.

4. Mostly bronchial. No smoker's cough anymore and I can breathe better.

I had a harder time putting down the coffin nails than a lot of people seem to after they start vaping. It took me years and I still have slips. Just remember that every cigarette you don't smoke is a victory in itself.

 

[RoseJ]

This is awesome ... thanks much to those who shared. Having been diagnosed with early-stage COPD, I no longer have any choice but to quit. It's nice that we have vaping to help, and it's good to get an insight into other people's experiences so that I get an idea of what to expect.

Past (pre-vaping) experiences with quitting have been just horrible, and there's a part of me that's dreading it. The last time I tried, I quit for six months, using patches (which caused massive welts all over my body). I'm not an overly-emotional person, but I found myself being angry (I'm never angry), desperately unhappy for no reason, and quick to tears (I nearly never cry). This was all so overwhelming to me that I vowed that I'd rather die early than live like that for the rest of my life, and started smoking again. Now I have this COPD hanging over my head.

I found out about WTA recently - thanks @AndriaD, and I'm thinking that this might just be the missing link.

Anyway, thanks for sharing!

 

[ddirtyvapes]

Past (pre-vaping) experiences with quitting have been just horrible, and there's a part of me that's dreading it.

Truthfully, there is no reason to dread quitting when e-cigarettes are involved, which makes the push back against them all the more infuriating. I tried quitting with every other method available, save for Chantix. I went cold turkey, tried tapering, used patches, chewed nicotine gum. I only bought cigarettes that I particularly hated. I rolled up pieces of paper and "puffed" on them (unlit! lol) to satisfy my manual fixation. Nothing worked and everything made me miserable.

Even though my quitting journey hasn't been *quite* as successful as some others, it has been-- dare I say it?-- EASY. When I first started vaping and tried to stop smoking, I'd often simply forget to have one. Even now when I have slips, it's usually much more of a conscious choice than a complete cracking of an addict needing a fix.

Having access to a PV actually made quitting fun, for the most part. I'm not pretending everything is all rainbows and unicorns and that it isn't still a struggle, of course it is. But the difference between using an e-cig or a patch is (IMO) night and day.