I wanted to share my own little story with you cause I'm sure there are a bunch out there like me!
I smoked for about 15 years, with a few quit attempts thrown in there - one actually took for almost a year. I was so disgusted and disappointed in myself during my last attempt (10) years ago, that I let everyone think I was smoke free and would stealth smoke (bathroom, driving to and from work, parking lots, etc.) Through this, my husband still smoked so I was able to time things so I smelled like his second hand smoke instead of my own and didn't leave any real traces of my stealthing. I did cut down to 5-10 smokes a day using this, but it was hard being sneaky and I felt so guilty about it... I was totally bummed that these cigarettes had such a tight grip on me.
So anyway, about 18 months ago we took a trip. Long trips were brutal because I would have nic fits and cravings and turn into the worlds worst wife until I could stealth away and have a smoke. There was an e-cig kiosk in one of the malls that we stopped at and my husband tried an ecig. Of course, I "sampled" right along with him. I actually loved it and felt much calmer.
After a week of him using this kiosk brand, it wasn't cutting it for him anymore. I ordered him a V2 and openly got one for myself (he knew I was still having nic fits, just not sure if he realized the real reason was his smoking around me and me stealth smoking.) The V2s worked for a short time for him but the batteries were inconsistent and if he ran out of the pre-filled cartos, he'd go right back to his PaD. Finally he just gave up, but I kept getting my V2s - and stealth smoking and more or less stealth vaping when I was around mutual friends.
Three, almost four, months ago, he stumbled across a brick and mortar shop. We went in and bought a double starter kit. He asked me why I needed one. I explained that I still used the V2 and had no intentions on stopping and wanted to try something new.
So, we juiced together!
He dropped his smoking from a PaD to half a pack within a week. I dropped to about 5 stealthy smokes a day.
Two weeks later, he dropped to only a few a day. I still had my 5 smokes a day - I was smoking more than him at this point.
Two weeks after that, he threw out the last of his carton of smokes. He hasn't had a cigarette since. I'm happy to say, neither have I!
Me and the hubster now have a habit/hobby that we enjoy together and are a full 9 weeks off the horrible analogs. He's converted more than half the people he works with to e-cigs. My co-workers are mostly non smokers and the ones who don't smoke are horribly judgemental so I don't bother openly vaping around them. I do stealth vape in the ladies room though! I no longer feel like a failure and I know that I can honestly say that I don't smoke. I am looking forward to day long events and road trips again. It's nice not having to figure out where I'll sneak that smoke!
I've also realized that it wasn't so much the nic I was addicted to. It was the action. I've cut myself down to 12mg from 24 without even thinking about it and I'm getting ready to drop another level. The biggest thing I've noticed about quitting smoking is the lung capacity! I can sing to my favorite songs and in church without getting out of breath! My singing still sucks but at least I can do it!
So, even though this was a long ramble, I just wanted to share my story and secret - especially since NO ONE knew about it. I know there are stealth smokers out there who do NOT talk about the subject - I sure didn't want to. To me, it was shameful and embarassinig and I felt like a total and complete failure.
I smoked for about 15 years, with a few quit attempts thrown in there - one actually took for almost a year. I was so disgusted and disappointed in myself during my last attempt (10) years ago, that I let everyone think I was smoke free and would stealth smoke (bathroom, driving to and from work, parking lots, etc.) Through this, my husband still smoked so I was able to time things so I smelled like his second hand smoke instead of my own and didn't leave any real traces of my stealthing. I did cut down to 5-10 smokes a day using this, but it was hard being sneaky and I felt so guilty about it... I was totally bummed that these cigarettes had such a tight grip on me.
So anyway, about 18 months ago we took a trip. Long trips were brutal because I would have nic fits and cravings and turn into the worlds worst wife until I could stealth away and have a smoke. There was an e-cig kiosk in one of the malls that we stopped at and my husband tried an ecig. Of course, I "sampled" right along with him. I actually loved it and felt much calmer.
After a week of him using this kiosk brand, it wasn't cutting it for him anymore. I ordered him a V2 and openly got one for myself (he knew I was still having nic fits, just not sure if he realized the real reason was his smoking around me and me stealth smoking.) The V2s worked for a short time for him but the batteries were inconsistent and if he ran out of the pre-filled cartos, he'd go right back to his PaD. Finally he just gave up, but I kept getting my V2s - and stealth smoking and more or less stealth vaping when I was around mutual friends.
Three, almost four, months ago, he stumbled across a brick and mortar shop. We went in and bought a double starter kit. He asked me why I needed one. I explained that I still used the V2 and had no intentions on stopping and wanted to try something new.
So, we juiced together!
He dropped his smoking from a PaD to half a pack within a week. I dropped to about 5 stealthy smokes a day.
Two weeks later, he dropped to only a few a day. I still had my 5 smokes a day - I was smoking more than him at this point.
Two weeks after that, he threw out the last of his carton of smokes. He hasn't had a cigarette since. I'm happy to say, neither have I!
Me and the hubster now have a habit/hobby that we enjoy together and are a full 9 weeks off the horrible analogs. He's converted more than half the people he works with to e-cigs. My co-workers are mostly non smokers and the ones who don't smoke are horribly judgemental so I don't bother openly vaping around them. I do stealth vape in the ladies room though! I no longer feel like a failure and I know that I can honestly say that I don't smoke. I am looking forward to day long events and road trips again. It's nice not having to figure out where I'll sneak that smoke!
I've also realized that it wasn't so much the nic I was addicted to. It was the action. I've cut myself down to 12mg from 24 without even thinking about it and I'm getting ready to drop another level. The biggest thing I've noticed about quitting smoking is the lung capacity! I can sing to my favorite songs and in church without getting out of breath! My singing still sucks but at least I can do it!
So, even though this was a long ramble, I just wanted to share my story and secret - especially since NO ONE knew about it. I know there are stealth smokers out there who do NOT talk about the subject - I sure didn't want to. To me, it was shameful and embarassinig and I felt like a total and complete failure.
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I break everything I get my hands on. Great that you're doing PIF and hope that your friends/relatives have as much success as you have.
