Kinda New to Vaping/Still smoking

[Buescout]

Hi, I am kinda new to vaping. I have had e-cigs at the ready for a couple of years. I like the flavors I have. I want to stop smoking. I have 3 ecigs within my reach right now, yet I light up a cigarette. Can any of you tell me how you switched to vaping and made it stick. I really want to give up smoking, but something in my brain says I can't.

Thanks for all the help you can provide me!!

 

[rice721]

the cig-a-likes didn't work for me back in 2013 nor did the old school clearos back in 2014. What really helped me quit was actually subohm.

Its really mind over matter. I snuck in a smoke here and there for a month then went exclusively vaping. I'm currently 2 months + 5 days free of analogs. Alot of my friends smoke, I still find myself yearning for one once in a while but I just keep reminding myself of how much better it is to be analog-free.

 

[TheRussianVaper]

Here is how I did it.
1) I picked 3 different MG strength e-juices just in case if one is too strong or too weak, and one very low MG for night time vaping, to avoid insomnia. (16mg, 8mg, 3mg)
2) I vaped in the same places I used to smoke, therefore substituting physical habit of cancer sticks.
3) I was a stress smoker, for some time I reduced stimulants.
4) I bought Valerian Root and took it daily for about a week, there are other supplements or herbs that reduce stress if you need (Passion Flower, 5-HTP)
5) Stress therapy (addiction has roots either in physiology, or psychology) In my case physically I was very healthy, the roots were psychological.
6) If I felt like I wanted a cancer stick I
a)Reminded myself why I quit (No more threat of cancer or myocardial infarction, aerobic capacity which means better personal life, and no more smelling like an ashtray if I break a sweat)
7) Chain vaped at times if needed until satisfied.
Oh yes, as Rice721 Mentioned, I actually bought a good sub ohm tank, cigalikes are complete crap, tried them before couldnt quit until sub ohm tanks.
Hope this helps.

 

[eLicky]

The first thing you need is a device which can deliver nicotine correctly and more importantly the correct amount of nicotine. Your body is craving nicotine, not the cigarette. There are many starter kits available that are quite good and the most important part of all is selecting a nicotine level that's right for you. It may cost you $30-$40 to get started but it can be done with our guidance.

 

[TheRussianVaper]

the cig-a-likes didn't work for me back in 2013 nor did the old school clearos back in 2014. What really helped me quit was actually subohm.

Its really mind over matter. I snuck in a smoke here and there for a month then went exclusively vaping. I'm currently 2 months + 5 days free of analogs. Alot of my friends smoke, I still find myself yearning for one once in a while but I just keep reminding myself of how much better it is to be analog-free.

Great point on Sub Ohm

 

[GrouchyOldGuy]

Holy hell @rice721 your message popped up with exactly my thoughts too. Neither of those options worked for me either, but once I had a subohm system that could provide my lungs with that same "feeling" as a cig it was much easier. I started with a local B&M's ry4 tobacco type juice and quickly grew to like the other flavors in it more than the tobacco. Good luck @Buescout just try a few different devices and you'll find one that suits you.

 

[gandymarsh]

Welcome to ECF!

As the others have stated, cig-alikes don't work for most people.

IMO the pen types (Ego battery with clearomizer) are the bare minimum for someone trying to quit.

There are some better pen types available now like the Innokin Endura T18 and the Joyetech AIO. The Endura uses a 1.5 ohm coil head and the AIO uses a .6 ohm coil head. Either one will give you a much better vaping experience.

You will need to purchase some e-liquid to fill them and some replacement coil heads.

Here are a couple of links.

Innokin Endura T18 Starter Kit

Joyetech eGo AIO All in One Starter Kit

 

[KY_Rob]

When I smoked, I always went outside to do so unless I was at a bar, and always smoked at certain times or after certain occasions.
The first few weeks, I just substituted vaping for smoking. What helped, is I almost never "went to smoke" alone, so I knew when to stop vaping by when my "smoke buddy" finished their cigarette. It really helped staying with the old routine.
There was a several week period of time that I went through the some of the same "stopped smoking" changes that anyone who ever quit without a substitute goes through...hacking up lung rockets, light headedness (from increased oxygen)...but never the irritable shakes and foul moods of full on withdrawals.
I did continue to smoke for a week or so after I started vaping, because I didn't want to "waste" the last few packs of smokes I had. When those were gone, I made it a point to not replace them. That was scary as hell for me, but I had my vape, and stuck with it. Didn't take long to really find satisfaction with an ego battery and a carto tank...the rest is history.
Stick with it OP. If you're wanting to help yourself, and not wanting to smoke, vaping makes that far more possible than other methods...at least it did for me.

 

[salemgold]

I quit back when the higher powered devices were not available. So, it can indeed be done using them. The key for me was that I really wanted to quit. I was sick of hacking up a lung each morning and smelling like an ashtray. Not being able to get my breath was getting old.

I stopped buying cigarettes so that I did not have them around to tempt me. I had no choice but to vape through the cravings. Before I knew it, vaping tasted better and was more satisfying than a cigarette ever was.

With all of the choices that are available today, it would be a good idea to move up from a cigalike if that is what you are using. It will make it easier indeed.

Good luck to you.

 

[Eskie]

I had a bit different experience than most, so I wouldn't take any one way as the "only". I stopped smoking really out of convenience. My daughter is asthmatic, and I really could not smoke around her. Off course, she was always on my case about smoking anyway, and standing outside was just plain annoying. I tried a few cigalikes and got nowehere with them. I never even bothered to check out available information online about ecigs or vaping either, so I was going at it blind. While traveling to see her (she's now in school in Houston) I decided to give it one more shot. I ended up picking up another brand of ecig called Vuse.

What I didn't know was that it was not only a BT product (although at that time I'm not sure I even cared) but also had a ridiculously high amount of nicotine in the cartridges (48 mg, twice the very high 24 mg found in max strength juice from vendors). Turned out to be enough to satisfy my cravings. I was happy. My daughter was happy.

After several months of use, I realized those disposable cartridges were getting expensive (especially after the price went up to $7 for a 2/pack). Then I got smart and started exploring options. My very first vape pen made me realize how much better "real" vaping was, not just satisfying the nicotine craving (I could have picked up a real cigarette at any time when using the cigalike) but being more pleasurable than smoking (and certainly the cigalike) was. Now I've got a little Plato as well and am tootling along without missing analog or cigalikes.

I felt I was really done with cigarettes when recently I had to stand outside to vape at the airport. The cigarettes folks were smoking around me in the "designated area" just smelled nasty. Now after several hour flights, I find myself "craving" a vape, but not a cig.

I'm not saying use a cigalike first to stop. I am suggesting any way you find to stop is the right way for you. I've learned an awful lot around here, and my vaping experience has dramatically improved thanks to the information and helpful folks here. And if it doesn't happen on the first try, that's OK. It's not at all unusual to have several "starts" before things click into place for you. Good luck!

 

[Ablonz]

saving page for later when I can reply and have more time. I will let you know for me as well.....

 

[ghola1was]

Bluescout, I notice you wrote "something in my brain says I can't". Like you, I wanted to quit smoking. And, like you, something in my brain said I couldn't. The first few days were the hardest, I am not ashamed to admit that I was actually afraid to leave the house without cigs and a lighter.

And, suddenly, that really ...... me off.

Of all the reasons I had to quit; the expense, my health, the social stigma, the smell, etc., etc., the one reason that did it for me was that anxiousness. I felt like it wasn't the cigs I had to leave behind, it was the addiction. I wasn't just addicted to the nicotine, but also to the ritual and the mechanics of smoking.

After three days, I bummed a smoke from my Dad after seeing his ashtray full of butts and ashes. And I got the hoped for reaction, that first drag tasted like that ashtray looked and smelled. Nasty...

Haven't had a cigarette since, almost three years ago.

 

[BrotherBob]

Welcome and glad you joined. When I quit, it helped to make a list of all the negative attributes I attributed to smoking. I then made a list of all the positive points for vaping. I memorized the best of these points and thought of them when the urge to smoke reared it's head.
If you have a brick and mortar vape store in travelling distance, might see if you can find the magic e liquids flavors that will entice you.

 

[dc99]

The first thing you have to realize is that its not just the nicotine that's addicting. If that was it then any nicotine delivery system would work. Make up your mind that you TRUELY are ready to quit. Pick a good device that fits YOU. Might not be anything anybody else likes but makes you feel comfortable. Next, find a juice you truly like. Doesn't matter what it cost because its still cheaper than cigs. Make a point of only vaping in the places you smoke. Regardless its still a lot in the mind and you have to find what works for you.

 

[JustWondering1]

Hi, I am kinda new to vaping. I have had e-cigs at the ready for a couple of years. I like the flavors I have. I want to stop smoking. I have 3 ecigs within my reach right now, yet I light up a cigarette. Can any of you tell me how you switched to vaping and made it stick. I really want to give up smoking, but something in my brain says I can't.

Thanks for all the help you can provide me!!

What helped me kick the analog cigarettes was getting e juice that had enough nicotine in it to satisfy me and that was absolutely delicious. Juice with 18 milligrams of nicotine was the ticket to being off the stinkies for good. I also didn't have a hard deadline for never smoking analogs again. I was afraid if I did, I'd want the analogs even more. The juice I was using was a million times more delicious than an analog cigarettes ever was, so I after a week or so of getting the delicious juice with 18 mg. nicotine, I had no interest in analogs anymore. It was that easy!!

 

[sawlight]

Welcome to the forum, I'm with @salemgold I managed to quit "back in the day" with cig-alikes, only went to better equipment for the longer run times and longevity of equipment. Cig-alikes don't like being dropped!
First, from your post, it doesn't sound like you are "ready" yet. You haven't mentally committed to it yet. I know many people that have tried, and failed, before they were "ready". If you don't think you can quit, you can't, and wont. It's just that simple. Sorry, but I'm not going to sugar coat it, you are either going to commit, or not.
Second, no one has asked what gear or juice you are using, this matters, a lot. How strong is your juice? What equipment do you have right now? (Please be very specific.) What strength is your juice, in mg?
Third, how much did/do you smoke? Let's just forget about the e-cig, how much would you smoke daily without it?
Please answer the questions, as best you can and think about the first statement.

 

[Buescout]

Hi all. Thanks for the info. I have 3 ego style pen type ecigs. That there just shows how little I know about vaping. All the info is so confusing to me. I do understand the mg. I have 18 and 12 in several flavors that I like. I do get a throat hit and I feel satisfied with them for a little bit, then I light up a cigarette. I don't understand oms, coils, etc. I do replace what I think is the wick (the thread like thing). I am scared of the batteries although I charge them safely the way the info pack said to via the cord and a wall outlet.

My husband is a smoker too and I feel weird vaping with him. He needs to quit worse than I do, so I want to get rid of the cigs to let him know its possible. No, I am not doing it for him. I'm want to do it for me. I guess while I am out today, I will go by my neighborhood vape shop and discuss an option of a different kind of ecig. Thanks for the inspiring words.

 

[Dextrose]

Welcome @Buescout to ECF when i started vaping it was on a cigalike, what a piece of junk! then went to a bunch of ego batts and a bunch of Ce4 clearos, what a diff it made, i ditched my last few cigs, every time i felt like i wanted a cig i would just pick up the vape, i would chain vape like i fiend till i was satisfied, dont be afraid to chain vape, keep puffing away on that vape till your body says i have had enough, you mentiond you are not doing it for him more for your self, perhaps look at it as you are doing it for the both of you, vape around him all you can, you never know it might just grow on him and he will quit with you, Happy Vaping!

 

[smacksy]

When I started vaping back in 2012 it was with a Provari/protank but quickly learned I needed something with a better nic delivery if I was to remain tobacco free..so I got into mech mods, learned ohms law and battery saftey, learned how to build a RDA safely using ohms law and reading an accurate ohm meter..that did the trick! I got that satisfying nic hit I was looking for..subohming was cool!
Today I use these newer high powered VW mods like the RX200..and putting my building skills to use I run a couple Griffin RTA's that give me the same satisfying vape without the sometimes messy dripping on a RDA..
Also cut my nic back to only 2.5 mgs..in about three cloud blowing hits I get a warm relaxed feeling knowing I'm good...lol

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

 

[Nightmike]

I just quit a few months ago i had been trying to quit but kept having a few smokes a day. Got an endura t22 with blacknote prelude to replace getting a smoke and kept a fruit flavor in my ego one. The first few days are the hardest but it really does get easier. With the money i saved i have bought some "upgraded" setups although i still use my endura t22 my goto is rx200 with a crown tank. Good luck