From Day One What Were/Are Your Transition Phases Moving From Analogs To Vaping.

[Ref Minor]

I had about 3 or 4 roll ups a day for 5 or 6 days until my tobacco ran out. Then one or actually half about a week later.

 

[pcie]

Definitely the no pressure thing is one of the best ideas.

I was a pack a day smoker for 18 years. I had tried to quit with patches, made my heart race, cold sweats. Gum, I don't chew gum, so it was unnatural for me, plus it tasted horrible. Chantix, started to work, but made me feel weird and it was game over if I drank. I first tried e-cigs back in 2009, I got it from China, they were the style that had the plastic ends with poly-fill and the atty went somewhat into them, they tasted horrible and I quickly gave up on them. Then about a month and a half ago I saw one of those commercials where the person talks about how smoking screwed up their health and decided I should try to quit again. I looked into e-cigs, and found this forum, started lurking, watched a bunch of PBusardo vids on youtube, and decided on a KGO VV and a protank. When it arrived I charged it up, filled the tank and had my first proper vape. I smoked one analog after that, happened to be the last one I had, and it's been the last one I've had. For the first couple of days I would occasionally get the urge to have an analog, but I would just vape like crazy and ended up getting a nicotine buzz a few times. I bought a pack of analogs the second day during one of those cravings, but it passed before I got a chance to open the pack. I decided to keep the pack of analogs knowing full well I could smoke one if I really wanted one, I mean, for every analog I don't smoke there's a benefit, right? Then after two weeks, the cravings went away, I still have that unopened pack of analogs, I think allowing myself to smoke if I wanted to is what made it less stressful to quit. Every other time I tried to quit, I kept telling myself I can't; this time I told myself I could, but in the end I just decided not to. I've since dropped down to 12mg from 18mg, and plan on staying here for a while.

 

[soba1]

Thanks everyone...........................
I woke up craving like crazy, really appreciate it

 

[MemphisMyst]

Today is day 2 for me. I bought a couple of those Blu disposable cigs from the tobacco store when I was buying my analogs. I liked the idea but it wasn't enough for me. Then I decided to go and but a good eGo starter kit. I got that Tuesday and made it yesterday without a analog and today haven't even thought of one. Now my eGo is right in my hand but I love the clean feeling I have right now!

 

[Grimwald]

My problems were pretty minor at the start. I totally quit in 3 days. Yeah there were cravings, but I managed to vape thru them. Mornings were definitely the worst.

Most of my problems came after a couple of months. Nothing tasted good and the 24mg juice was looping my out. Once I cut the nic levels and found some good tasting juices, it got much better. I feeling much better now.

 

[JayV4p3]

I quit slowly - Vaping all day then smoking 1 cigarette a night. After a couple weeks I had 1 cigarette every 2-3 days and eventually stopped analog all together.

It gets easier- hang in there!

 

[HauntedMyst]

Vapers Log Day 1
I've been smoking forever. I know I should quit but I LOVE smoking. I mean I LOVE it. I smoke a pack a day. But I know I should stop and said I would stop. Picked up a couple of Jak ecig when buying analogs to see if this will work. Says it lasts though 2 packs. I try the grape and the cherry. Both are good but not the same nic hit as a cigarette. But good.

Vapers Log Day 4
I've finished both Jak ecigs. They are pretty good. A nice change of pace but I still want my cigs. I pick up Vanilla and Menthol Jak ecigs because the others have run out. Lasts for 2 packs my big fat .... Hey, look, I have cut down my cig smoking to less than half a pack a day.

Vapers Log Day 6
I find a cheap place for Jak's, half the price I was paying before. I am so digging the flavors! But there has to be a cheaper alternative. Begin search for ecigs alternative.

Vapers Log Day 7
After search half a dozen smoking alternative, I am convinced no one actually smokes or vapes tobacco out of these things and they are just an alternative ......... delivery system. I don't want that.

Vapers Log Day 8
I find a cig shop that sells actual liquids and ecig set ups and buy the one they have left. A Stok. Yeah! I decide never to buy cigarettes again.

Vapers Log Day 10
The fluid I got is good but no nic in it. Start quest to find ejuice in Chicago. The head shop fiasco begins again. After multiple visits to multiple places that advertise ecigs but really only specialize in Bongs and their Doooode clientele, I find the last shop of the day actually carries e-liquid. It's 10ml for $10 and I think its a bargain. I realize I am not only not smoking, but I have no desire for a cigarette. What I desire is cool flavors! The quest expands!

Vapers Log Day 11
I find I need a new device. The Stok blows. No one carries them and their parts don't work with others. I find an Atomos at a decent shop with a nice selections of fluids (about 10, what do I know that this point?). I like it! better quality and I find another one on ebay that night and order it for half the price I just paid in the store. Now I have 3, no running out of batteries.

Vapers Log Day 12
I find ECF and discover there is a whole world of this stuff and fellow vapers! Device and juices are out there that blow my mind! I also find ChiTown Vapers and discover a cornucopia of flavors!


Vapers Log Day 15
My ChiTown Vapers package shows up. Sweet fancy moses I can vape a Red Hot Fireball! And it's good! I try something called Horcheta. It's supposed to be like the drink but I've never had the drink. Oh my, this is spectacular! I still have no desire to smoke. Guess what? I don't stink any more! I notice how bad cigarette smokers smell. Did I really stink like that? Was my breath that bad?


Vapers Log Day 20
Order more flavors. You know what's weird? I've had depression for many years. Not so much in the last 2 weeks. Hmmm... My chest isn't congested. Hmmmmm..... No smokers cough.. hmmmm. The world seems birghter some how. Maybe it's just the colorful vapor juice pages I order from where the colors are vibrant. Yeah, that's probably it.


Vapers Log Day 80
I have a drawer filled with fluid, I own a Zenesis and a Noble 1. 60 days ago, I didn't even know what those were. I don't need them, I just like them. I am not that smart and they are shiny, go figure my new fascination with them. The chest, cough and depression thing? All better. The world is a bright, better place without smoking. Vaping rocks. I haven't saved any money yet but that will slow down. Any way you look at it, it's better to be a mod junkie than a cigarette junkie.

 

[metrabolic]

I smoked my last analog late Sunday evening. On Monday morning instead of going and getting analogs I bought a cheap e cig. (I have up graded my batteries since then) I haven't smoked an analog since. The first week was kind of tough because I had a lot of the withdrawal symptoms of quitting such as headache, confusion, lung pain, coughing and cravings. But for the first time I didn't want to kill everyone around me. It's been 40 days since I quit and I still have a craving every once in a while. I know I don't want one, because even the smell of smoke makes me a little nauseous. Good luck!

 

[Dave Kzoo]

I have a minor in addiction studies and I also work in the field of addiction. I was taking a class about the stages of change. I had tried several methods to quit smoking...nicotine replacement therapy, Chantix, the cheap e-cigs at the gas station, smoking gross cigarettes, and on and on...finally my kids were telling me how my heart and lungs were going to turn black and I was going to die...being a smoker for 15+ years, I already knew that, but something about a 4 and 7 year old saying it kept ringing true in my head...so I set a goal, using the stages of change model...(Pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance)...for a long time I didn't care (Pre-contemplation), then I really thought about quitting for nearly a year (Contemplation), then I came up with a plan; short-term and long-term... I gave myself a one month step down time frame...week one I went from 20 cigs a day to 10 a day, the following week I got down to 6 a day, but I was using a 18mg gas station e-cig, week three I was down to 4 a day, and sick of spending so much on the gas station e-cig...I also realized I was in the action stage of change...I was also introduced to an eGo kit...I found a couple juices I liked and found myself craving cigs less. By the end of week four I finally had enough will to stop cigs altogether, I had a couple slips over the next week, but after that last week (which kind of sucked, to be honest) I finally went a day without a cig. I was truly proud of myself. Then two days, then three, then four...and today (7 Months later, Maintenance stage) I truly almost never crave a analog. Patience and time is what it truly takes. I wrote down a list of triggers as well, caffeine was a huge one for me, driving, and stress was always the number one, so I found new ways to cope with stress and I trimmed my caffeine intake for a while. After my first month I had a lot less stress and I pretty much only obsessed about my new eGo and all the great juices I could find...I've found that vaping can become quite the hobby, and if I allow it; it can get very expensive , but I feel great now... I also never want to go through the quitting process again. The truth is, regardless of how much vaping you do, it's going to suck for a while, but once you get through the withdrawal process, it gets a lot easier. I have a theory that I was withdrawing from much more than just nicotine, because I was getting plenty of that. I have heard that we don't absorb as much nicotine by vaping (something like 30%). Oh, also I stepped down over time from 24 to 12mg nic liquid. I have found 12 is just right for me, but that one is very subjective to the person vaping. I wish you continued success, just stick with it, and eventually you will have a day when you realize that you didn't even think about an analog.

 

[Itscontagious]

I started with a regular ego and clearomizer set-up. Smoked the first couple days while starting vaping til my pack was mostly finished. Stopped smoking analogs all together for about 3 days. Attempted to smoke my last cigarette in my pack and it tasted extremely horrible. I was amazed how much smoking must have dulled my taste buds and how I ever started in the first place. Blech!

I think it all depends on how you feel and make sure you are feeding the nicotine addiction adequately.

 

[Pescondo]

I was a 40 year smoker, and I had never seriously tried to quit. I had convinced myself that I enjoyed smoking and tobacco.

One day, I left the house to purchase my usual 2 cartons of smokes that would last me about 1 1/2 weeks. On a whim, I decided I'd stop by the local vape shop that I'd noticed and see what it was all about. I tried several blends and decided to purchase an ego kit and some Red Ryder juice at 24mg. On the way home I stopped and bought a single pack of Marlboro Reds, just in case. I began vaping, and also consumed the pack of Reds in about 3 days. After that, no more analogs. I've tried a cig since and it was gross.

At first I wanted a vape that tasted like tobacco. Now there''s a lot better flavors than that. I found that I didn't like smoking and tobacco, but I do enjoy nicotine. I've reduced my strength level to 18 and am ready to go lower.

I was surprised at how easy it was to quit smoking and start vaping. If I can do it, anyone can....

 

[Calivapr123]

For me it was all about the new generation of eCigs/Vaporizers that produced the thick smoke and the right tasting liquids that did it for me, and resulted in a totally unplanned and abrupt end to my dependence on cigarettes.

3 years ago at a shopping mall, I stopped at one of the kiosks to try it this new "ecig" thing. I thought the idea of an "electronic" cigarette was silly, but hey, I like being surprised sometimes. I had a few drags and thought that there is no way that little battery operated thing will replace the "real" thing. I thought even the little red light at the end of it was silly, and added to my skepticism that this is just a "pretend" cigarette. I let it go and ignored every opportunity to try again for the next 3 years.

My eldest daughter, who is a junior in college, came home about 2 weeks ago and showed me this little vaporizing gadget she and her friends bought for fun. (I now recognize it as a Pink eGo C-Twist 900mAh, with Kanger T3 Tank). She showed it to me at home, took a drag and exhaled this THICK vapor, smiled and said "Cool, huh, Dad? It has no nicotine and it tastes like Peach!" My daughter is not a smoker and got herself a liquid with her favorite flavor and 0 nicotine.

I said "Give me that, let me try..." I took a drag and while I don't like peach and it had no Tobacco taste at all, I was impressed with the thickness of the vapor that gave me a feeling of smoking. I was surprised at the fact that it had no smell! I asked her if there are Tobacco flavored ones. She explained they have a million kinds.... etc....

I went straight to the same store she went to. They made me try an RY4 with 12mg/ml Nico. Now THIS was a very different experience than that eCig I tried at the mall 3 years ago. THIS is very close to the real thing, and THIS may probably be that solution/alternative to cigarettes I have been looking for decades.... MAYBE.

I didn't like the huge length vaporizer that my daughter had (compared to a cigarette) and so I chose an eGo-C Upgrade battery, much more compact in size, in the color I liked, Black, a Smoke and Blue color Kanger Tank, a bottle of RY4 a charger and case. This little gadget felt nice in my hands.

The battery was charged when I bought it, and I started vaping immediately. 2 days later, an internet order I placed at Halo (for starter kits of the G6 and Triton), as well as their popular Tribeca flavor arrived.

While I did have 4 cigarettes on my first day, and only one the next day, my cigarette dependency came to an abrupt and unplanned end right there and then. Like many other people, I did experience a craving for cigs in the beginning, but I think that between having the right hardware, the right liquid, inhaling correctly, and vaping like crazy, the need to have to smoke was reduced down to the habit of lighting up, or going outside, or some other ritual that I had gotten used to over the last 2 decades of almost PAD smoking. I had once or twice taken a lighter and nearly lit up my battery before I came to my senses!

On the last cigarette I smoked, I physically tasted the burning chemicals, as now I had something to compare it to, and I had come to the realization of what the whole world already knew all along, but I ignored: I felt like I was vaping rat poison. As much as I loved smoking and that I wanted my eCig to taste like a "real" cigarette, there is no way I would ever buy a liquid that tasted "exactly" like a burning cigarette, because I would think that it is laced with "something poisonous."

And so that's how it went down for me. Vape on, my friends.

 

[Hippieangst]

I still get some cravings here and there for an analog, and they pop up fairly randomly. Not the usual triggers like I would have guessed: after a meal, first thing in the morning, drinking adult beverages, etc. Now, I feel less urges for the stinkies. I get one whiff of someone smoking, and it smells like a dirty ashtray instead. Things I've noticed since the switch: seasonal allergies have decreased, breathing easier, sleeping better, and waking up feeling a bit more refreshed.

Hang in there!

 

[mkbilbo]

I am on day 6. My reason for wanting to know is because when I woke up
this morning I had a very strong urge for an analog. Of course since
I didn't have any I started vaping. My only guess is that while I am still getting the nicotene
is that my body is detoxing the other crap that is in analogs.

Modern tobacco products have so much extra crap in them, there's no telling really. There's more to it than just nicotine addiction though the nic addiction seems to be the strongest (and the reason so few of us have quit "cold turkey" which, yeesh, is a miserable experience).

The past couple of days, I've been having this annoying, almost... longing? feeling. Almost like missing an old friend. Which, honestly, strikes me as kinda stupid. But smoking was a constant companion for years and years. Now it's gone. And, well, there are psychological components in there somewhere.

In short, who the heck knows?

Add in that everybody's different. Such as, for me, it was a powerful nicotine addiction (which I still have) but, also, I liked smoking. Right to the bitter end (heh, as it were). Still do. Still kinda wanna do it. Probably will never quite ever escape that feeling of "missing" it. Fortunately, it's mild and I can distract myself and it goes away.

By the way, since you're only six days in, one thing I did that worked is not treat this as a "quit". Your mileage may vary but in the first few weeks, I kept one (and only one) pack around. If the urge was driving me nuts, I let myself have one. Just kept making it less and less convenient. Like shoving the pack, the lighters, the ashtrays into one cabinet in the kitchen instead of all those convenient locations they used to live in. Those convenient locations were more and more taken over by vaping supplies.

I also--and this even I think is kind of funny--don't call myself "quit" now. I just keep the cigarettes at the store. If I just absolutely had to have one, I'll let myself. I just have to drive five miles, buy a pack, drive back (no smoking in the truck), find if there's a lighter around, dig up an ashtray (if there's still one around) and smoke it standing in the kitchen.

On the other hand, the PV is to my left, inches from my hand. Don't that sound easier? The cigarettes would be a lotta work.

Basically, I was playing tricks on myself. Since there's obviously a strong "psychological" component to it for myself, trying to make it an oh so final "I Have Quit" thing was asking for trouble. I have a somewhat problematic "perfectionist streak" and can really set myself up at times. So I did this thing where I haven't "quit" smoking, I just prefer vaping right now.

(And it just happens to be "right now" all the time. )

Smoking (dipping, chewing, however you got your nicotine before) creates a ton of habits and behaviors and rituals on top of the addiction to nicotine and who knows what all else in there. You kind of have to watch your habits, see what you, personally, do.

Like in my very first days when I had a Blu, it hit me to get a little dish like thing to sit to my left at the computer and be my "ashtray". I used to smoke by habit at the keyboard. It was a barely conscious act. So I put the little "cig-a-like" in a bowl like thing right where the ashtray always sat for when I reached--only partially conscious--for the "cigarette" that was always there.

Funny thing, caught myself "flicking ashes" more than once.

Meaning it's a very personal thing this addiction. What I got out of smoking may have little to nothing to do with you. The longer I'm around ECF, the more I've noticed people can often tell similar stories but never identical ones.

 

[mkbilbo]

While I did have 4 cigarettes on my first day, and only one the next day, my cigarette dependency came to an abrupt and unplanned end right there and then.

Those are cool moments. When it just sort of... happens.

It took longer for me, somewhere around six weeks I think. And died rather quietly. I'm still not quite sure when I had my last cig. I know within about a two week range but it's... not important? I just lost interest somewhere in there and the next time I remember seeing the (empty) pack, it was because I needed more space for juices and started tossing ashtrays and lighters and all out to clear a shelf...

 

[tcgenius]

I smoked camel for 27 years. When I stopped smoking it was because I was stuck at home and couldn't get cigs(no delivery) I ordered a kit online and has it rushed to me next day. I started out with 24mg juice. The urges were strong for the first couple of days. I chain vaped myself through the rest of the first week. Since then things have been better. It is mental with me. As long as I have something to keep my hands busy and I can distract myself when I get an urge, it will pass quickly. I still get urges now but they are usually when I am around smokers. I have also gotten them walking by smokers standing on the sidewalk. I keep my ego with me all the time for those moments. I did relaps once in the first month and smoked part of one cigarette. It tasted awful!!! I never tried it again. Juice tastes way better!!! Good luck

 

[MartiP]

Smoking (dipping, chewing, however you got your nicotine before) creates a ton of habits and behaviors and rituals on top of the addiction to nicotine and who knows what all else in there. You kind of have to watch your habits, see what you, personally, do.

Like in my very first days when I had a Blu, it hit me to get a little dish like thing to sit to my left at the computer and be my "ashtray". I used to smoke by habit at the keyboard. It was a barely conscious act. So I put the little "cig-a-like" in a bowl like thing right where the ashtray always sat for when I reached--only partially conscious--for the "cigarette" that was always there.

I've found myself doing similar things. Perhaps one of the reasons why vaping seems to so easily replace smoking for so many is that it lends itself well to its own set of ritualistic behaviors. Maybe all smokers are a bit OCD on some level, and all those tiny cues and rituals and eye/hand/mouth obsessions need to be replaced for us - not just the nicotine.

 

[mkbilbo]

I've found myself doing similar things. Perhaps one of the reasons why vaping seems to so easily replace smoking for so many is that it lends itself well to its own set of ritualistic behaviors. Maybe all smokers are a bit OCD on some level, and all those tiny cues and rituals and eye/hand/mouth obsessions need to be replaced for us - not just the nicotine.

Now that's an interesting thought. There is some OCD on (sigh) both sides of my family. I have some of it, just not all that bad. I'm a bit compulsive about checking locks at night before bed or when going out. It can be a touch irritating at times but, then again, I've never once ever left the door unlocked.

Good thing about it? I'm really OCD about fires (then again, we are prone to wildfires around here... heh, rationalizing! ). So I couldn't leave the house without making sure every ashtray was in the sink and the butts were all absolutely cold and blah, blah, blah. And now, when I get that annoying, OCD thing of "did you check..." I can reply, "ain't no cigs in the house anymore".

 

[MartiP]

Now that's an interesting thought. There is some OCD on (sigh) both sides of my family. I have some of it, just not all that bad. I'm a bit compulsive about checking locks at night before bed or when going out. It can be a touch irritating at times but, then again, I've never once ever left the door unlocked.

I'm not at all OCD about most stuff, but the smoking..... yeah. I had to have my brand. I liked certain lighters. My packs had to be opened the same way - with the extra foil piece torn off, not just raggy and hanging. I had a favorite ashtray. My pack always went in the same spot in my purse. The motions I made, when taking one out and lighting it, were (in hindsight) quite ritualistic. I always smoked with my right hand at the computer, but my left hand in the car. The window had to be down a precise amount. Things were set up an exact distance from my laptop, from my coffee cup, etc. Looking back, I'm sure there were all sorts of soothing minutiae of repetitive ritual I engaged in without being conscious of it. Things I may not even recall now.


I hadn't thought about it until your comment, but it's very likely that part of the transition to vaping is creating those new tiny rituals with filling the tank, tipping the wicks, twiddling your PV around in your hand, getting your inhale just right, finding the exact right hand hold and button press, etc. Even organizing your juices, etc could become quite ritualized. I'd thought before about the whole psychological factor of inhaling, oral fixation, etc, but not the myriad tiny rituals aspect of it. It could well be that is part of the puzzle of why it works for me, when other things didn't.

 

[Discord]

the last analog I smoked was the same day as the first ecig I smoked. I found it more enjoyable, tastier, and fun (I love new toys). I held on to my remaining analogs just to be "safe" ... not sure if I would really quit, but 2 days later I threw the remaining 1/2 a carton in the trash and haven't looked back. It's been a couple months now, and I have gone from about 24mg/ml nic down to about 6.

edit:I was originally a 2 PAD for 12 years.