In need of tips to help quit smoking for good

[JerryA]

I bought my first e-cig in mid April. vaping really helped me cut down on smoking cigarettes, I noticed an improvement every day, until....

I took a family trip to see some family in California for a wedding. I packed 2 batteries, 15 cartridges, my PCC, and a wall charger. Now, I have a couple of cousins and uncles who also went and have been smoking cigs probably for about the same amount of time I have. I caught myself joining them for every cigarette break they would take. So at the end of the first day I had smoked probably about 12-15 cigarettes when I had been cutting down to about 3 a day back at home. I diddnt end up using my e-cigs as much as I had planned.

When I got back home I kept the smoking habit. I basically stopped using the E-cig and went back to smoking about a pack a day. But this past week I picked it up again and i'm giving it another shot. I don't plan to smoke cigs for the rest of my life so I need to man up and quit the habit.

When you see your peers going outside for a smoke how do you contain yourself from asking to join? Or when they just decide to light up a cig right in your face ? I normally would just pull out my e-cig but just watching someone smoke can really get me sometimes. Any tips?

Also, should I only use my e-cig when I'm really really really about to give in to have a smoke? Or should I just take drags all day long? Reason I ask is because I feel that when Im in the position where I really crave a cigarette and I take a drag from my e-cig it makes it feel so much better. Does taking drags all day make your body just get used to the nicotine rush to the point where when you take drags you wont feel anything at all?

I would really appreciate of someone can elaborate on this topics a little more.


THANK YOU

 

[Kay1959]

I've quit smoking, and I have a husband who still smokes in the house. vaping has been the ONLY way I've been able to stop smoking. I would suggest you vape just like you would if you were still smoking. Whenever your brain tells you 'hey I'm ready for my nicotine fix now', vape instead. Don't wait until you're really CRAZY with an urge to smoke before you vape. If you are around smokers, join them! but vape instead!

"Does taking drags all day make your body just get used to the nicotine rush to the point where when you take drags you wont feel anything at all?" No more so than you would if you were smoking.

 

[KForrester86]

If they have any respect for ya they aren't gonna light up right in front of ya and blow smoke in your face, unless they are dickheads.

I work with a few smokers, I'll basically say no thanks I don't need to go out I have my e-cig. If I do go out I'll distance myself from them within reason and BS with them while puffing on my e-cig. You just gotta tell yourself ya don't need no nasty analog, I been analog free 8 days. I took a drag off one on day 5 and thought I was gonna puke. That was enough for me to say I'll never touch another cigarette again.

I'd just use your e-cig everytime you get that urge to pick up a cigarette, and draw on it until your craving subsides and you are satisfied.

best advice I can give ya is stick to it and spend a lot of time on the forums.. it's like a support group on here with tons of knowledge about the subject.

 

[yzer]

Cut down to 5-10 cigarettes per day again. Vape to replace those cigarettes you aren't smoking.

When you are down to 5-10 cigarettes per day then quit smoking entirely, switching just to vaping. Toss out all your cigarettes, the lighter, matches, etc. Make up your mind that you will not buy or bum cigarettes ever again and stick to it.

Look, if you are serious about quitting smoking you may have to stay away from your smoking peers for a while or forever. The smell of cigarette smoke and the sight of them smoking can be very hard to resist. After you quit smoking for a several weeks you will find the smell of cigarettes repulsive. That will help.

Hopefully, your peers and loved ones will respect your efforts to save your health enough to smoke outdoors or at some location way from you. If they don't you may have to make some social changes in the best interest of your health.

 

[Jixchel]

You may need a higher nicotine content to get over those cravings for the real cigarette. I was one of the lucky ones, I made up my mind to quit the cigs, started out with the cheapo cig look alike kit from the local tobacco shop and game what was left of my cigs away. I did bum one back while the battery charged. I found out there was a brick and mortar shop just a few blocks away from me, went there are got the ego-t starter kit. Far superior to the cheapo look alike kit, I took that one back for a refund the next day.

Stick to your decision, don't buy anymore cigs, and when that craving hits pick up the ecig instead. I went out with the smokers, and just started vaping away while standing upwind of the smokers (didn't realize before just how bad cig smoke really smelled). Now I have a few coworkers and a few classmates that have now switched to the ecigs.

 

[JerryA]

@Kay- If you have been able to sustain when you have your husband who still smokes in doors then let me tell you that is really something. You should be really proud of yourself. Next time I smell an analog and im trying to fight the craving ill be keeping this in mind.

@KForrester- CONGRATS on making 8 days, I would kill to be standing in your shoes right about now. In your case, would you say once you got through the first week with no analogs you lost the urge completely to smoke?

 

[Kay1959]

Thank you! It's been....oh my! (I just looked) it's been 5 months now since I quit! Yes, it did take me some time to get where I am today. I tried the patch and the gum to no avail. When I found out about the ecig, it was really my last resort! Boy was I ever surpriised! This has worked out so well for me that I'm actually able to sit with my smoking husband and vape while he smokes. I buy his cigs for him, and I have to bring them to him on occasion, but I'm no longer tempted to reach for one, OR strangle my husband! lol! You just keep working on it, and don't put yourself down when you slip and have a smoke. You'll get where you want to be! Eventually you'll find out that vaping tastes soooo much better than those nasty cigs.

 

[Stosh]

@JerryA, vaping doesn't supply the nicotine as fast or with the "kick" a cigarette does, it's a slower absorption. Keep your PV handy, and take a few puffs whenever you feel like it, keep your nic levels stable.

Two points I took from your first post was "your PCC" meaning you are using a smallish PV, you may need more battery power and a higher voltage to satisfy your cravings, (we're all a bit different in this regard ), and your juice nic level may be a bit low for you at this point. I needed some high strength nic starting out to beat back the cravings, tapered it back some once I was off cigs and vaping for a while.

 

[Jaymzifer]

You don't necessarily have to quit cold turkey when you get down to 5 a day. In my case I had to step down, 5 a day for a few days leading to 4 a day for a few and so on. I believe my one a days stretched a little farther than 2 days but I got there eventually. 21 or 22 days cig free now and having the right equipment and the right strength of nicotine makes all the difference in the world. Actually stepped down to 12mg juice today; if it works great, if it doesn't and I step back up to 18mg I won't beat myself up over it.

Happy Vaping

 

[yzer]

No sense beating yourself up if you slip. Just be persistent and keep on trying. It took me five months to cut down from a 35-year 1.5 pack a day habit. I smoked and vaped during cut-down. I'm going on 10 weeks without a single cigarette now.

I still get cravings once or twice a day. Vaping makes that go away. I get bothered when I smell cigarette smoke: I don't like the smell and it gives me a craving at the same time.

Here's one good thing about cutting down on cigarettes and vaping to make up for cigarettes not smoked... I learned to like the taste of vaping a lot more than cigarettes and also learned to detect the taste and effect of nicotine while smoking and vaping. That came in handy to gauge the amount of vaping I had to do with 24mg juice to get the equivalent nicotine hit of one cigarette. I'll probably cut down to 18mg juice in a few months.

 

[Gatillero1980]

In the spirit of sharing and to upgrade my member status in the forum here are my two cents.

My business partners are always encouraging to stop smoking, not quit, STOP. Is not like i smoke in their faces, at all, they are just worried.

Three weeks ago one said to me "take the company credit card and buy an electronic cigarette" so because here in Colombia there is not a lot to choose from I ended up ordering an eGo-T starter kit and some unknown Marlboro e-liquid.

I was a 2 packs a day smoker so I started vaping whenever I felt I needed a cigarette. Of course I kept fantasizing about a real one all day until I just burned one out. After a few days I managed to get from 2 packs a day to 3-5 cigarettes so I started to believe I could do it.

I decided to go all-in with this vaping stuff so three days ago i received my first order from Altsmoke with a Silver Bullet, 2 Low Resistance Attys, 5 eGo Visio Clearomizers (aka. Stradust) and some bottles of High Caliber USA (Killa Vanilla, American 55 and Cinn-a-bun) in three different nicotine strengths (6mg, 12mg and 24mg).

Oh boy, vaping with quality PVs (at proper wattage) and USA made e-juices is a joy greater than smoking, i haven't tough about a cigarette and i am now convinced that i can vape away the rest of my life.

The only thing is that I chain vape sometimes so I get these mild headaches but I just gotta learn to put my PVs down and relax.

So far so good.

Happy Vaping!

Edit: BTW i enjoy more the 6mg vaping. The 12mg and the 24mg makes me a little dizzy.

 

[yzer]

You don't necessarily have to quit cold turkey when you get down to 5 a day. In my case I had to step down, 5 a day for a few days leading to 4 a day for a few and so on. I believe my one a days stretched a little farther than 2 days but I got there eventually. 21 or 22 days cig free now and having the right equipment and the right strength of nicotine makes all the difference in the world. Actually stepped down to 12mg juice today; if it works great, if it doesn't and I step back up to 18mg I won't beat myself up over it.

Happy Vaping

Correct. Quitting at 5-10 cigarettes per day worked for me. Everyone is different. People have quit cigarettes with all kinds of methods.

 

[JerryA]

All of your replies have been great. This forum really opens my eyes to the fact that, IM NOT ALONE. Im going to really get my groove back and cut down every day to the point where I can permanently let the habit go. First i'm taking your advice by choosing a stronger nicotine level.

Thank you so much to all of you!

 

[JerryA]

Eventually you'll find out that vaping tastes soooo much better than those nasty cigs.

I cant wait for this day!

 

[Harplayr]

I was a 35+ year pack+ a day smoker and discovered E-Cigs by accident while shopping at a mall.
What I did was use 24 strength juice, and basically vaped how I smoked following the same ritual.
I was quickly down to just after meal cigs and my morning cig, then after a couple of weeks just my wakeup morning cig. After a few more weeks I was smoke free.

During that time I did upgrade to a Kgo and found a juice I really liked. Having a good PV and a tasty juice really helps a lot!

When I’m around smokers, I usually go out and join them, but vape instead of smoking. I still like the social aspect, and these are people I’ve “gone outside” with for years. Fortunately when out with them, my e-cig gives me the satisfaction I need and I’m fine being around “smokers”.

I’ve cheated a few times, but immediately go back to vaping. One key for me is not to stress out about it. Even if I smoke one or two analogs a month, that’s a far cry from the hundreds (or now thousands) I’ve avoided.

Another key is to find a juice you really like. What I vape tastes SO much better than my old cigs, that I don’t miss them much at all.

 

[Gatillero1980]

All of your replies have been great. This forum really opens my eyes to the fact that, IM NOT ALONE. Im going to really get my groove back and cut down every day to the point where I can permanently let the habit go. First i'm taking your advice by choosing a stronger nicotine level.

Thank you so much to all of you!

Something that really helps me understand the technical part of this world has been the youtube videos specially those of GrimGreen and pbusardo:

- GrimmGreen Industries - YouTube
- PBusardo's Vaping Reviews - YouTube

I think both are members of this forum.

 

[wv2win]

Get a better model personal vaporizer (PV) that better simulates the real thing.

Rule of Thumb: generally, the more it looks like the real thing, the worse the performance.

That should help but you still have to want to quit.

 

[Kay1959]

I cant wait for this day!

It'll come. I would strongly suggest you look into getting something like the KGO. It has a better/stronger battery. Increase your nicotine strength some, and start ordering sample bottles of juices. Once you find a few flavors that you just LOVE (and you will) you'll understand what we say when we say vaping tastes sooo much better than any cig. Until then, don't be hard on yourself, and don't give up!

 

[Teacup36]

Hi Jerry

I am on day 14 of no analogs. My 2 sons smoke outside my house and i now vape only and i get to do it inside while they stand in the heat (or come winter the snow). What has worked for me personally is just having my ecig around and the minute I crave I take aas many hits as I want sometimes its only 2-3 then I jut hold the thing while I am messing on the computer other times I may take 15-20 hits. I can honestly say I have had probably 4 cravings for a nasty stick and it lasted about 10 seconds lol long enough enough for me to get my ecig and think ha my clothes don't stink, I don't have to go outside, my hair still smells like its freshly washed, I get the hit my body craves without the chemicals that are slowly killing me.

Keep up the great work in trying, as long as your trying you aren't failing right. It will come.

 

[bcalvanese]

Don't be in such a hurry. You'll only set yourself up for failure. It takes a long time to develope a good smoking habbit, and it should take a long time to transition to something else. Just let it happen over time, and don't fight it. You can do both for as long as you want, and if you mess up a little, just start working toward your goal again. No biggie.

I've been smoking for over 40 years, and was a 2 to 3 pack a day smoker. Since I started vaping, I have managed to cut down to half a pack a day over a period of a couple months. I know there may com a day that I smoke more, but I am doing it gradually, and over time I think i can transition to just vaping.

You're doing fine, just know that you will mess up some times, and keep trying.