Honest opinions...doin a decent job?

[Garrell6888]

Sooooo a little back story.I first got my ecig in august and as soon as it was out of the box I quit smoking. I lasted one month. After that, and some drinking, I started smoking a bit. And being the cigarette junkie that I am (you cant spell cigarette without garrett (its my name)) I started smoking again, for about 4 months.

Since mid december I have been trying to quit every...EVERY day, and I then made it my new years resolution to stop the cancer sticks. Since jan first, Ive gone most days with only 3 cigs, one day with only one, and the other two...well..I got drunk and inebriated myself with smoke. BUT, whenever I buy a pack for the night, I always end up giving it away. Im definetly not a smoker, but I haven't exactly quit

So how do you all think im doing? A bad job? Making a good effort? I'm just looking for feedback on how you would rate my "quitting" at this point. Its only been 5 days, but i've prolly only smoked a total pack in those 5 days, in comparison to a pack a day.

I know this is a classic subconcious smoker excuse, but to be honest, I ordered a Prodigy v2 last sat, and I know once I get it I'll quit for sure. My first 5v...

 

[jcase]

Different strokes for different folks. Keep at it.

 

[whimzkool]

I would call it a good effort and a work in progress. Seems like the a.m. and post-meal cigs are the hardest to give up. I actually didn't have an analog after my meals today. It was purposeful and I was left thoroughly satisfied by the e-cig (using kreights)! Yay me!

 

[billo]

I'd say you're doing fine.

I've been at it for about 6 months and am down to 5 cigs. a day, down from 30.

I immediately dropped down to 10-15 a day, then down to 5 for a few days, then up to ten, now back down to 5 for 3 weeks. For now, I just plan to keep it at that and not go higher again.

I feel much better, so I look at the glass 80% full.

I have purposely decided not to deny myself a cigarette if I feel I really need one.
This is to avoid going whacky some day and saying the hell with it and chain-smoking a pack ! This has happened before.

The real cigarettes are gradually tasting worse and the craving is diminishing.

By the way, I vape 28 mg. My big breakthrough was mixing in Menthol drops with ordinary tobacco flavors, since I smoked Menthol lights before. Although I don't like the "Menthol" flavor of juice. Go figure. (510 and 801 vapers.)

Anyway, good luck !

 

[VaporPhreak]

Garrett,

You are working on it. That is a feat in and of itself! Be proud man! Honestly, some people find it easier than others. And some of our old triggers are stronger than others. Trust me my hardest times were when I was drinking (at home or the bar) the ecig I had just didnt satisfy me then. I actually quit going out drinking for a quite awhile after switching because I was affraid I would end up smoking. However, on new years (first time i really drank after getting a new model and new juice) I found I had no issue at all! I used to use a supermini (8084) with 12mg juice and it was ok most of the time, but after a beer or three it just wasnt enough to really satisfy. A while back I switched to a 801 and started using 24mg juice due to increasing stress in my life causing the old setup not to satisfy at all anymore. Now things are smooth sailing. Havnt had a cig since 6/3/09! Maybe a bigger model or higher juice can help you through those tough times (or rather drunkin times lol). Either way, keep up the good work man! You are making progress! Peace!

 

[Beer Man]

Same with billo, I'm down to <5 a day from 30. Nobody's perfect, including you. 5 is just much better than 30. I'm thinking of trying the Prodigy too. I just wish I had better vibes from PS.

You're doing just fine. I've learned to not be over critical of ones self.

 

[SmokinScott]

When I first started vaping I just cut back on the analogs, didn't quit. Once I got down to just a couple a day, then I was able to just quit outright.

 

[whimzkool]

Congrats to all you guys!! Wow, 7 months, that's phreakin' awesome Vapor! And don't sell yourself short Garrett, an entire month is really something to be proud of. The most I've gone is two days. I find it helps if all you have is something really nasty to you. For me, it is roll your own. The process of having to roll really gives me time to think twice.

 

[Fish Juice]

Every real cigarette you avoid is a win.
Keep up the good work.

 

[kase]

Are you happy with the job you're doing? If so, then you're doing great.

 

[olderthandirt]

To Garrell and all others attempting to get off the smokes.

Any attempt is a good job!

The very best advice I know to throw out there is this.

Posting here your more than likely using a PV. Instead of focusing on quitting smoking, put your focus on using your PV.

Pay attention to all the variables in place when the PV is really working well. Type of liquid used, length of draw, battery charge etc.

Put your focus on learning how to get your PV to perform well.

During this learning curve, if you feel the need for a smoke, go ahead. Just don't beat yourself up if you do!! Always be kind to you.

Very common result with this type of approach is to have the number of times you light up simply reduce to nothing at all on its own...

 

[jexmex]

I went from 2 packs a day to about 3-5 a day. Thats a great improvment, and with some time (and probably some new equipment and higher juice), I will not smoke any.

Some people can quit cold turkey without much work, most cant. When it comes to e-cigs, more have a easier time quitting right off the bat, but for some the craving are to strong, and they need one here and there to take the edge off.

Also, cigs contain other ingredients that you get addicted to, and help the nicotine addict you, so you are not getting the exact same thing from a e-cig (but thats good!).

Just keep trying, and dont stress out about having a stinky once in awhile, just dont try to make it a habit.

BTW, I also made it a new years resolution to go back to e-cigs, and I added quick drinking to that list (drinking was easy to quit, well so far anyways).

If you stress out about smoking one, then you will probably end up smoking more. Just take it as it comes, if you feel you really need one, smoke one. Just try to keep it down.

 

[Madame Psychosis]

OTD hit a lot of good points.
Just to add: I still smoked every day until I got a 5v mod (and found the right juice flavors and nic level for me). So yes, the Prodigy should hopefully be a big help.
Now I'm down to maybe 1-2 cigs a week and I'm going to try snus to eliminate those.

Belief and routine make a huge difference, too. That means fitting new habits in place of the old one in your daily routine, and being hopeful and determined, and giving them an honest chance to work.

Good luck

 

[Interstink]

You're doing fine, I would recommend waking up in the morning and tell yourself you will never smoke an analog cigarette again. Say it out load and say it every-time you drink. Get a bunch of good juices and chain vape until your satisfied. When I started, I purchased english toffee juice, and purchased Loranns English Toffee (So I can add MORE flavor). When I first started, I required a LOT more flavor in my e-cig.

Good luck!

 

[Rahz]

Sooooo a little back story.I first got my ecig in august and as soon as it was out of the box I quit smoking. I lasted one month. After that, and some drinking, I started smoking a bit. And being the cigarette junkie that I am (you cant spell cigarette without garrett (its my name)) I started smoking again, for about 4 months.

Since mid december I have been trying to quit every...EVERY day, and I then made it my new years resolution to stop the cancer sticks. Since jan first, Ive gone most days with only 3 cigs, one day with only one, and the other two...well..I got drunk and inebriated myself with smoke. BUT, whenever I buy a pack for the night, I always end up giving it away. Im definetly not a smoker, but I haven't exactly quit

So how do you all think im doing? A bad job? Making a good effort? I'm just looking for feedback on how you would rate my "quitting" at this point. Its only been 5 days, but i've prolly only smoked a total pack in those 5 days, in comparison to a pack a day.

I know this is a classic subconcious smoker excuse, but to be honest, I ordered a Prodigy v2 last sat, and I know once I get it I'll quit for sure. My first 5v...

I think it's a great effort you're putting in. Might be trying too hard, though I say that only through looking back on my own experiences. There were times when I was driving myself nuts trying to quit, only to fail and relapse.

You pick a strategy and see how far it can take you. When it comes to quitting, the only ones that do it are those who don't give up... but if something's not working, time for a new plan. This time around for me (the only successful one in 15 years of trying) I decided not to stress myself out. I'm going to smoke AND vape... all I want.

Doing this, I found out the minimum number of cigarettes I needed to get by without stressing myself out. Working with that and sticking with the PV, it was easy for me to lower the number of cigs I was smoking. One at a time, whenever I thought the time was right. In my case, it was about 4 months of smoking and vapeing. At the very end, I was smoking 1 cig every other day.

There was a little bit of will power involved, but all in all it really hasn't felt like I've been 'trying' to quit. Funny too, seeing as this is the first time I've actually quit.

One way to look at it, if you can cut you smoking in half or better, that's going to be a big boost in how you feel. Chill with that for a while and the enhanced well being will be the incentive to take it a step further.

I also purchased several cartons of ultra-ultra lights, (3/.3 tar/nic) and (1/.1 tar nic). This allowed me to continue smoking without getting the buzz I was used to. Might be something to try.

 

[VapingRulz]

To Garrell and all others attempting to get off the smokes.

Any attempt is a good job!

The very best advice I know to throw out there is this.

Posting here your more than likely using a PV. Instead of focusing on quitting smoking, put your focus on using your PV.

Pay attention to all the variables in place when the PV is really working well. Type of liquid used, length of draw, battery charge etc.

This is a situation where I think having a 510 or something that requires a lot of tinkering is a positive thing; a focal point to keep the mind off analogs.

 

[olderthandirt]

This is a situation where I think having a 510 or something that requires a lot of tinkering is a positive thing; a focal point to keep the mind off analogs.

That really applies to some degree to all e-cigs, the tinker factor that is

 

[DaBrat]

For me the biggest thing was the morning cup of coffee and the after dinner cig. I am lucky since I do most of my work from my home office, I can avoid some more common stressors.

What I did was put a pack of cigs in the freezer and get one cigarette out at at time instead of having the pack lying around. I would not deny myself my morning cig or after dinner immediately but would vape my head off at other times til I couldn't stand it. By the time that first pack of cigs was empty I was done. Don't deny yourself the gotta have cigs, just try and set a goal as to when you wanna be 'done'. There are times now, (like yesterday when I heard from someone for the first time in 10 years) that I am tempted but I just blow up my screwdriver!

This may sound odd, but what helped me in the beginning was actually the primer fluid in the new attys!!! LOL if anything tastes like the burnining trash of my analogs that was it!

 

[martha1014]

I would not worry about smoking a few cigarettes when you first begin ecigs. Just keep vaping and eventually the cravings should cease. At first I would smoke a couple of cigarettes probably caused by a physcological addiction I had to cigarettes rather than physical. Eventually the cigarettes tasted bad, smelled bad and made me cough, then I would feel sick. This broke me from smoking. After 9 months I am now vaping 100% of the time. It just takes time.

 

[redeye]

I'd say you are doing great, but as others have mentioned it really doesn't matter what we think. It's what you think of the job that you're doing that counts.

I was able to quit after two days, but I was truly ready to quit. Those damn FSC cigs were the straw that broke the camel's (or marlboro's) back for me. I hate those things. They took a fine tasting cigarette and made it taste like smoking a dog turd. I am only approaching my first month without an analog, but I know I won't go back. I tried everything under the sun in the past and never made it this far. Most of my lame attempts at quitting only last a few days at best. I'm around smokers all the time and I really have no desire to start again. I still enjoy the smell while they are smoking, but one whiff of that stale tobacco smell on someone's clothes or in a room turns my stomach. I have to hold my breath when I walk into a store because of the smell at the entrance.

Just stick with it and keep knocking the number of analogs down. You'll get there eventually. I guess the big question would be, how well would you be doing without your PV?