Heavy Smoker looking to Quit. Newbie.

[sandB]

Hi,

Been smoking since i was 14. I'm 43 now, So i've been smoking for 29yrs. Never had any health problems, but smokes are getting really expensive these days, and not being able to smoke at alot of places is making life as a smoker difficult.
I can get by a day mostly under a pack, but once i'm outside, i usually average about 2-3 packs. I guess maybe it's something to do with drinking, because for as long as i remember, these two always went together for me.

Just started vaping for under a month, been able to reduce my cigarette consumption somewhat when i am at home, but still unable to go without smokes when i am out, since it's illegal to vape where i come from. Anyways, currently using a PV that my friend who already quit passed to me. Looking to buy my own in the near future. Already figured out how to mix my own juices, baby steps...learning abit more every day...haha.

Great site this, all the information seemed overwhelming at first, but i'm getting a hang of it.

 

[cyclotron]

Welcome! We are about the same age and I had smoked about as long as you. Vaping has gotten me completely off of cigarettes. I haven't found a juice that goes great with drinking though. I have some that aren't too bad. Good luck with your adventure!

 

[sandB]

Well, to see someone who has smoked as long as i have, and quit, that to me is a real boost to my confidence to eventually move away from this. I think the drinking and smoking thing is more about the action than anything else, i have tried vaping and drinking at home, seems fine to me, but unfortunately, cannot be done when i drink outside, which is pretty often. Oh well, baby steps, cutting back on my smoking at home is already a big step for me.

 

[twisted1]

Is quitting cigarettes is more of a priority than drinking?
Baby steps are better than no steps
Congrats on your vaping conquest and awareness.

 

[bray]

For me the best flavors I used during the day were not the best for drinking alcohol or coffee. I had to find a juice that had a little less taste and a lot more throat hit. I also use it right after I eat.

 

[sandB]

Yes, quitting cigarettes is more of a priority right now because it's become very prohibitive to smoke where i come from and the price of cigarettes is getting really expensive. I figured with the amount i've been spending on cigs my whole life, could have bought myself a spanking new car. Oh well, never too late, time to reward myself with better things in life rather than give it to the cig companies.

 

[sandB]

Have yet to try any other flavors other than plain menthol, it's perfectly fine for me since i've been a menthol smoker from the very beginning. Will try other flavors once i can get some good quality local sources.

 

[bray]

When you total up what you spend in a year its amazing. I smoked well over 20 years and my wife also smoked about half what I smoked. We were up to about $400 a month on tobacco.

 

[sandB]

yeah, it's really crazy when you look back and try to see how much you've blown on cigs over the years. I started at 14, but i really got hooked at 18, when i started clubbing, and back then, they gave out free packet of smokes on the tables, and you could take as many as you wanted. I used to go home with up to 10 packs in my pockets.

 

[jb615]

I was a smoker for close to 30 years and I was able to quit! I am continually amazed I was able to do so and if I could do it so can anybody else. I was 1 and 1/2 PAD smoker. Have been cig free since August 2012.

 

[GrannyGrump]

Dont give up sandB. It took me some time but I have finally beaten the urge to smoke analogs.

 

[texastone]

a brand new video from one of the best reviewers out there just for new people!! Enjoy!
A PBusardo Video - Beginners Guide to E-Cigs and E-Cig Tech - YouTube

 

[DavidOck]

Hi all,

Uh, illegal to vape but ok to smoke? Sounds a bit odd!!

I'm fairly new to vaping, having gotten my first "kit" early in October of '12. Ego / Stardust (CE4+, CE5, various names) clearomizer. Mid Oct. picked up some 510 automatics, cartos and such, for the times when I want to have both hands free.

After smoking over 40 years, I've been tobacco free since Oct. 11 of '12. The last few years of burning tobacco was all hand rolled, to cut back on costs, and smoked about 1 1/4 PAD of that...

Lungs feel better already

Try different set-ups and flavors to find what works for you - you can do it.

 

[Shastazippy]

E-cigs definately make it easier to quit. I've been a smoker since I was 15. I've tried everything to quit and never really had the will power to quit. I've gone a month (just like you) and am happy vaping exists, good luck on your babysteps!

Personally I'm just mad at the Canadian government for being whores to the tax money they get from tobacco which means they ban ejuice with nicotine. Anyone know of any substantial health risks that are substantiated?

 

[Doglips]

illegal to vape but ok to smoke? that kind of baffled me.

I was a chain smoker..3 + packs a day. I ran into a new boss at old company who said no smoking in vans..I live in the company van so was a big scramble to find something to get my nicotine. At first it was to hold me over until I could get a real smoke, then, once I got a decent PV set up and got past the very frustrating learning curve..and it can drive you bonkers I'm 48 and sometimes this whole PV mods and such gets a little more work than lighting up is. I started leavening the smokes at home...then finally did not buy a pack.

What worked for me was trying different flavors and such. I went to mixing my own juice and still use very strong nicotine levels. At first I kept looking for tobacco flavors, but would order 1 non tobacco flavor to try...I found that for me, strong flavors like peppermint, cinnamon and citrus is what I really enjoy but it took time to stumble on what I liked. I really don’t like tobacco flavors right now, but I just ordered one with my last order so next week might be going I love this flavor...for me finding stuff I enjoyed made it easier to make the switch.

 

[stressmama]

Welcome to ECF! I smoked for just over 30 years and have been smoke free for 26 days. There have been a couple of bad days for craving a real cig, but I increased the nic level in my e-liquid and that took care of it. The first time I tried vaping in 2009, I ended up going back to smoking after several months, but dropped to 1/2 pack a day. This time, with improved vaping equipment, I was able to walk away from real cigs.

Keep up the vaping, experiment with different e-liquids and nic strengths until you find what works for you. Good luck on your vaping journey!

 

[mostlyclassics]

Welcome to ECF, sandB!

I smoked for close to 50 years, and I've been a vaper since February of 2011.

With regard to vaping and drinking, you might want to try unflavored e-liquid, if you can't find a flavor you like right now. You'll get the throat hit, but you won't have snicker-doodles, or peppermint or whatever interfering with the adult beverage.

That being said, I've found some astonishing synergies between certain flavors and certain boozes. A limey-menthol flavor goes really well with a fine sipping rum, for instance. There are lots of others.