Going Back to Analogs

[RAAng]

What prompts this question is several recent threads in which a poster mentioned that people he knew who vaped "went back to analogs." Today is my one month anniversary and so far I have had a very easy time not smoking, although I dodn't fool myself that I am out of the woods. However, I do know that if I slipped up, and it would be just that, a slip up, I could return immediately to the vape.

What I'm curious about is what people run into that they "return to analogs?" I ask because I'm wondering if there is a pitfall or pitfalls I should be on the lookout for.

 

[AveryW]

I've been vaping for four months now and I havnt bought any smokes since. However, I do bum the occasional one, which always tastes terrible...

Sent from my GS3

 

[Harlen]

From my time here it looks like the more you switch back and fourth the harder it is to stick to vaping rather then cigarettes

 

[Nu2m0dng]

I think what it really boils down to is: is one really ready to quit analogs when they begin vaping? This will be my 19th month analog free. With me it was easy; as I was ready to quit. After 25 years of smoking it had really began to affect health; and though I enjoyed smoking I no longer enjoyed to smell of it and the way I was feeling. I did both for the first week I had my e-cig, but after that it's been smooth sailing. Yes, an analog crossed my mind from time to time but now I had another system kept me on the straight and narrow. I think one has to initially keep themselves interest in staying off the analogs with the e-cig. This is how it happened for me. As my pallet began to regain it's true tasting abilities my focus became more on tasting different flavors. This lead into trying different delivery systems to help get all the flavor I could. The flavor chase lead into the more vapor chase; which in turn lead me into building/rebuilding. At this point it becomes more of a hobby. Over this period of time I also decreased my nic level, with most of the liquids I purchase now being 0. The thought of an analog rarely crosses my mind now.

 

[Phlotsum]

I say if people want to smoke analogs, they should. Its not illegal or immoral as much as control freaks would like it to be. I smoked for 40 years and vaping was my way out. Some people may not be done yet. I was.

 

[ncolwell]

I've seen people post about the MAOI's in cigarettes, and once I hit the three week mark after I quit, I started to feel a sort of depression that lasted me a good week at least. Whenever the thought to smoke briefly floats around in my mind, I remind myself of that feeling, and I have no interest in experiencing that again.

It occurred to me that maybe I was getting depressed because I missed smoking at that time, but I'm glad I didn't give in. To do so would have been keeping me a prisoner to cigarettes that much longer.

 

[Bigflyrodder]

Hey RAAng, what I have seen is that there seem to be pretty common milestones which often present themselves as walls for some vapors. As your body rids itself of the toxins that built up from smoking, as far as I understand, the there are a few points at which your body may go under some sort of transition and during these times the urge to give up vaping and going back to smoking can be strong.

Two to three weeks in- this seems to be the first hurdle for many as the body goes through it's initial clensing. Most seem to get past this fairly easily but not all.

Three to four months in- this one seems to be much harder for some, myself included. For some folks everything may have been smooth sailing up until this point then, out of nowhere, it seems like vaping just doesn't do it anymore and the only choice is to go back to smoking. It can be a real struggle, I'm struggling now.

Six months in- many say this is the third and last hurdle as far as your body clensing itself is concerned and can cause the same effects as the three month mark.

I am not a Doctor nor a healthcare professional in any way, these are just my observations and information that has been passed to me by others that have either been through this or have seen the cycles first hand so take the info for what it's worth.

 

[Completely Average]

Most people who I know who started vaping and then went back to smoking only used cigalike ecigs like Blu and Njoy. They went back to smoking simply because those cheap cigalikes didn't taste good and didn't satisfy their cravings.

I'm sure most would have stuck with ecigs if someone had introduced them to a good setup. Unfortunately many people buy those cheap things they sell in gas stations and never step foot in a proper vape shop so they have no idea what other options are out there.

 

[ScottChensoda]

What prompts this question is several recent threads in which a poster mentioned that people he knew who vaped "went back to analogs." Today is my one month anniversary and so far I have had a very easy time not smoking, although I dodn't fool myself that I am out of the woods. However, I do know that if I slipped up, and it would be just that, a slip up, I could return immediately to the vape.

What I'm curious about is what people run into that they "return to analogs?" I ask because I'm wondering if there is a pitfall or pitfalls I should be on the lookout for.

There's just the one pitfall, much the same as it's always been. It's called the 'strength of mind'.

 

[Bigflyrodder]

Strength of mind? Well, while none of us like to admit it we really have replaced one addiction with another so not sure how that plays in but ok.

That's kind of like an alcoholic saying they don't drink anymore...well, don't drink hard stuff. Now they just drink beer.

 

[BigCatDaddy]

Maybe it's the frustration of not having a great vaping experience, sometimes being a combination of faulty equipment and bad juice. Vaping is a lot more work than smoking and you have to dedicate yourself to maintaining your gear. Some folks just seem to take the easy road back to smoking. Personally, I enjoy the hobby aspect of vaping now that I've overcome the cravings. I don't ever think I'll be a cloud chaser, too danged hot, but getting that great flavor from whatever device I pick up, that's the ticket IMHO!!

 

[DavidOck]

Different kinds of stress can also bring on the urge to go back. It was one of our ways of dealing with it. Some find keeping a higher nic juice around can help there. Nic absorbtion via vapor is a lot less than through combustion, as has recently been documented. (IIRC info at CASAA on that.)

 

[GMayberry]

I went from analogs to strictly vaping in 1 day. That was last August. Last October I slipped and had an analog. That became 2 or 3 a day, then more. My signature shows my return to NO ANALOGS and I think I have discovered what my "pitfall" was.... BOREDOM. I was stuck on one flavor, cake batter. Didn't want any others, didn't try any others. Now I have gotten into DIY juices and I am vaping different flavors throughout the day and always making new flavors. Granted even with the analog once in a while, I never quit vaping. This time I will not slip again. Determination is there, and the variety is a great help. Just don't get stuck in a rut like I did!

 

[Sarin]

My experience of people that go back to analogs after successfully making the change to vaping is due to either poor admin (running out of supplies) or crappy equipment that doesn't give a consistent vaping experience (dodgy batteries /tanks etc).

 

[Cool-breeze]

Maybe it's the frustration of not having a great vaping experience, sometimes being a combination of faulty equipment and bad juice. Vaping is a lot more work than smoking and you have to dedicate yourself to maintaining your gear. Some folks just seem to take the easy road back to smoking. Personally, I enjoy the hobby aspect of vaping now that I've overcome the cravings. I don't ever think I'll be a cloud chaser, too danged hot, but getting that great flavor from whatever device I pick up, that's the ticket IMHO!!

I think this is one of the better answers I've seen so far. The up keep is surprising. I've had many many days where nothing wants to work right. Learning curve was harsh to me. I over came it. Now my biggest issue is getting good liquids. Find one I like then a week later my taste changes to it. But anyways the easy answer is what most ppl choose and a cig is much simpler all around.

 

[DeloresRose]

Equipment failure was the struggle for me. I had spent what I thought was a LOT of money on batteries and clearo-s and juice. Some of the juice was really good, some was awful. The batteries were fine for a couple weeks, then one after the other, they all died but one. 4 batteries! The Clearo-s ... one worked until it cracked, some only worked with one particular battery, some never worked once. But then, nobody advised me back then to let the tank sit so the wick could soak, or to take a couple dry hits. Nobody told me to pull up the contact pin in the battery...

Once a B&M opened and I could ask someone who knew, and buy stuff that wasn't junk, my experience was great! I still had those minor psychological and physical issues pop up, but they were easy for me to overcome - who knows why? I know it's tougher for a lot of people. I took to vaping like a duck to water.

And yes, I have wanted an analog a few times - if I really want, I'll have one. Have not had one this year! But in stressful times, I have wanted one (mother-in-law passed away, sick family members, stress like that).

Maybe it was easy for me because I wasn't out to quit? No pressure? I just wanted to smoke less, and be able to vape indoors over the winter. As soon as I got stuff that worked, I was like 'to heck with those ciggies!'

 

[rsdntbplr]

Most people who I know who started vaping and then went back to smoking only used cigalike ecigs like Blu and Njoy. They went back to smoking simply because those cheap cigalikes didn't taste good and didn't satisfy their cravings.

I'm sure most would have stuck with ecigs if someone had introduced them to a good setup. Unfortunately many people buy those cheap things they sell in gas stations and never step foot in a proper vape shop so they have no idea what other options are out there.

Blu? Njoy? CHEAP?! Honestly. I worked out it was cheaper for me to smoke 20 a day than use those things!

 

[kgevans]

Smoking is easy and convenient. Vaping requires research, trial and error, as well as desire. For me, well worth the effort I've put into it.

 

[samwest]

A little humble braggin' here. I quit analogs day one. Vapin' has only gotten better for me. I'll never go back to those stinkin' sticks. Makes me physically ill to be around tobacco smoke.

 

[rsdntbplr]

A little humble braggin' here. I quit analogs day one. Vapin' has only gotten better for me. I'll never go back to those stinkin' sticks. Makes me physically ill to be around tobacco smoke.

Me too. I'd never judge a smoker like some do (they do) as I was once one myself. But after so many months without tobacco smoke, I realise just how bad smokers smell! If people stuck with Vaping exclusively for long enough, they'd realise "Holy! I smelled like that?!". That was my reaction in town today, at least.

I think part of the problem is the temptation to try just one cigarette. You wonder how it would now taste and how much of it you'll smoke before extinguishing it. You test yourself. However, I've found from experience that just one cigarette doesn't tend to work - one ends up being 2, then 3 and so on. Every time you go back to analogs it reduces the ease of switching to Vaping.

Then of course it comes to the device used (disposables barely last and don't perform consistently at all, for example).

It's my birthday tomorrow and a friend that somehow didn't realise I've stopped smoking bought me 200 cigarettes and gave them to me today. Not touching them - I'm selling them on!