Life changes after vaping - anyone else?

[Beez]

I wondered if anyone else had started looking for additional ways to improve their health since beginning vaping (and putting down analogs)? It took a lot of attitude/stubbornness/? for me to keep smoking in the face of criticism for it from media, culture, physicians, friends and family. It became "us" (smokers) against the world - someone else who smoked was an automatic friend and ally. I was something different, an outlaw, a smoker. I only dated men who smoked or did not mind that I smoked (luckily that ended up a positive for me lol) and I took vacations/shopped/ate in only those places where smoking was allowed (or possible within a close proximity). That identity made quitting even more difficult since it took it way beyond nicotine - after 30 years smoking it was part of ME. I know that many of you understand exactly what I mean.

But now I have finally made the move to the other side (the enemy side it always seemed to be, didn't it?). And I have noticed that it has had the effect of having me rethink other habits and lifestyle patterns that I have kept for a long time (some probably too long). I think that my resistance to quitting analogs has something to do with resistance to other changes.... Something similar to the feeling that if I was going to be a smoker, do something I was told was unhealthy and a killer, then there was little use in making efforts toward health in other ways..

Now I am considering other changes and i am somewhat excited about those possibilities (except the exercise idea, that is just never going to excite me lol). But I am probably going to buy a juicer and to take some walks with my husband. I guess that I am no longer assuming that I am never going to be healthy and live a long life. Maybe I will...

As a Psychologist I tend to analyzed the behavioral and emotional aspects of any topic, but I wondered if others had experienced a similar change in thought regarding their health and a move toward other healthy habits?

 

[fallon74]

Once I started vaping I noticed I could do more things health wise like going on long walks and running without any breathing issues I used to have bronchial asthma but since I've been vaping i haven't had any problems. I now eat healthier and exercise when I can.

 

[Rosco]

Funny you should mention this. I feel the need to get more exercise and get more energy again. I bought a Pro-Form Eliptical the other day and we just bought a Vitamix and are having some fantastic very healthy drinks. Making pure, natural peanut butter in 5 minutes. I need to get and be more active. Our muscles atrophy a great deal if we don't really "use" them, especially as we get older.
I am just so dang glad and proud that I finally quit smoking. 40 years was too long and I have a lot to make up for health wise.
I need to do this NOW because I'm not getting any younger and can already tell what happens to my body if I do the "couch potato" thing for long.
I wish us ALL much success in staying as healthy as we can.

 

[Beez]

I have heard of it, knew someone who had one, but have no clue where they bought it. Sorry

 

[techtony]

When I started vaping the first time, last year, I started hitting the gym just after a couple of weeks. Not because I wanted to be healthier, but rather that I just had so much pent up energy that I had to do something. My wife was wore out so the gym was the only other option, I ended up losing 30lbs in about a month so much weight loss that I was able to weigh in and qualify for a job overseas making BANK!

But I ended up smoking again over here and gained it all back, now that I'm vaping again I've started hitting the gym again, we'll see how it goes.

 

[Rosco]

Good for you. We just gotta stay off cigarettes.
Continued success....you can do it.

 

[STLDiceDealer]

I have not only switched from analogs (nearly 2 packs a day), but I have also given up energy drinks. This may not seem like a huge deal, but I have literally drank 4-8 16oz. Amp Energy drinks, EVERY DAY, for over a year now. I have now gone 6 full days without one, and am enjoying knowing the amount of money I'm saving as well as the lack of crap I'm putting in my body! After I have been vaping for a month, I'm going to purchase the p90x workout system and hopefully begin to bulk up a bit (I'm a scrawny lil fella).

 

[Rosco]

Good for me. I've got some younger buddies that went thru the P90x program. Friggin gruesome stuff.
Good luck.

 

[Beez]

STLdicedealer- that is huge! Caffeine adds a major stress to your body in high ants and it is hard to get past the headache reducing it can cause (which is why slow is the only way to go!). Congrats!!!

 

[STLDiceDealer]

Thanks everyone, I haven't given up caffeine altogether, but I have eliminated all the other unhealthy crap from energy drinks (taurine, insane amounts of b12, etc) I am going to continue to work on slowing down my caffeine intake, but really as of now, I'm happy with what I have given up.

 

[Rosco]

Thanks everyone, I haven't given up caffeine altogether, but I have eliminated all the other unhealthy crap from energy drinks (taurine, insane amounts of b12, etc) I am going to continue to work on slowing down my caffeine intake, but really as of now, I'm happy with what I have given up.

As a side note, I used to drink pots of coffee and I could fall asleep doing it. Caffeine just didn't blitzs me anymore it seemed. When I decided to cut way back on caffeine, my wife got me to try this product..Teeccino....didn't like it much at first, but am totally into it now. This is what I drink all day.....
Teeccino Java Herbal Coffee 11 oz Bag

 

[mwa102464]

yup yup yup went from about 6-8 cups of coffee a day down to 1-2 and I also rejoined the Gym. was never in bad or out of shape but got into way better shape since quitting the smokes (2 packs a day) to none and now vaping has made a huge positive gain on my health and overall lifestyle.

 

[Rosco]

My wife and I are really getting a lot out of our new ProForm Elliptical. I can already feel the difference in my energy level.

 

[Philbilly]

Analog free for 7.5 days and not looking back. Currently in the bicycle shop parking lot waiting for them to open.

 

[Rosco]

Analog free for 7.5 days and not looking back. Currently in the bicycle shop parking lot waiting for them to open.

Go get'em!

 

[Beez]

Well I am 50 and have spent most of those building my mind and ignoring my body LOL so, my change is going to be slow, but it is the first time for a long time that I have even thought it was a real option to be healthy into my later years. Some of my patients have asked me why I quit smoking now (since most are aware I smoke, it is what I did between patients after all) and my answer has been "Because I think I had pushed my luck as far as I could" and that is (frighteningly) the whole truth.

 

[keelalagirl55]

Now I am considering other changes and i am somewhat excited about those possibilities (except the exercise idea, that is just never going to excite me lol)

You may be surprised. Once you get into a nice routine.....you will feel SOOOOO much better with a ton more energy. I even found that it kinda became depressing if time was not on my side for me to get my exercise fix in for the day....and boy does your body let you know the next day....not happy you missed it.

Best of luck to you and congrats on the conversion!!!

 

[Rosco]

Who cares what your reason is......as long as it IS. Keep working at it. I smoked for 40 years and these 2+ months have been quite surprising to me. As long as I vape, esp. when that "urge" hits me, I'm good. I've gone this far, I sure as hell am not giving in or giving up now. This is my chance and I am running with it and I'm not looking back.

 

[IOU]

Great post Beez! Yes I too have started a healthier lifestyle. Reduced meds, more interested in exercising, but as far as being the enemy, sometimes I feel vaping is the same, if not more so than smoking. At least people understood about tobacco and looked at you like a fiend. Now this whole e-cig thing, which most people do not understand, as well as the FDA and anti-smoking organizations lashing out against vaping. I think we are all at home again with the us against them. Ha, ha, ha.

 

[Beez]

ECC- fine point! It does feel as if we are destined to be in the "other" group. New planet maybe? Will call you whe the spaceship is assembled