My story
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I figured with the bump yesterday, today might be a good day to update my initial post, as my story certainly continues. Firstly, thanks to everyone who has taken the time to read my story on how I came to quit smoking.
Today, I'm on day 123 and not going back to the old stinkies is now extremely easy. My MVP 2.0 has become "the new normal". In my original post, I talked about my wife being skeptical about my "attempt" at quitting. I cited that her posture was completely understandable due to my previous failed attempts at quitting. From what most everyone else has posted, receiving "vape mail" is supposed to be one of the more exciting days. I always pictured it as the vaper's equivalent to a child receiving a birthday gift or Christmas present in the mail from a "favorite out of town relative" in terms of how pumped one gets. For a while, my wife was a total buzz-kill in this department, as it triggered intense conversation after intense conversation.
I ordered "a few" iClear X.1's & a bunch of replacement coils. Of course, I was on a kick where I'd place a weekly order with MBV to "try" new flavors in a quest to find one I truly loved. To be fair to the Mrs., once again she had some rather valid arguments. I was spending more than I had claimed I anticipated spending on equipment and I was doing a bit more "experimenting" with flavors that I needed to per my talks with her. I had originally made a claim that I was only going to vape tobacco flavored juice, as my mind has (in the past) tricked myself into believing that I missed the taste of a cigarette. Thus, one less trick I could play on myself. And here I am ordering various vanilla flavors, Spearmints, Apples, etc.
While the Mrs. was not shy about giving me a hard time about my newfound hobby and passion - I couldn't help but notice she was asking some covert "buying questions". Come to find out, a lot of her "complaining" towards my vaping came from her own wonders on whether she too "could" do it or whether she'd miss smoking if she joined me in quitting.
Once it became apparent that she was trying to ask probing questions without coming out and asking them directly, I sat down with her and we looked through different delivery systems. She felt my MVP 2.0 was a bit too bulky and not "girly looking enough". My X.1's were a bit too bulky for her liking as well. After narrowing down her preferences, we found the Innokin iTaste EP with iClear10's. She liked that it had a cap and looked like a pen and combined with the disposable 1ml clearo was thin enough that she didn't feel like she was carrying around or using heavy equipment to quit smoking. The downside is that the iClear 10's are disposable, but there will be no complaining from me.
In her "flavor trials", she complained about many of the juices I had, as they "hurt her throat". She identified one that did not. By chance or luck or maybe "as a blessing", I had received a freebie from MBV for my order. The freebie was called Cake. Unlike my "standard mix", Cake was 80 PG / 20 VG, whereas my normal mix was 50 / 50. I worked on the theory that she did not like juices heavier in VG, so "our" next order was placed at a variety of PG / VG mixes. We collectively settled on 65 / 35 being our "ideal" - though considering most flavors get an "extra" flavor shot upon order, the actual PG to VG ratio is probably slightly higher. She now vapes with a preference to vanillas (Vanilla Ice Cream from MBV is her favorite). She is also a fan of Dutch Apple Pie. I on the other hand, have come to LOVE the MBV Orange Dream Bar flavor. I've not been able to put it down and I'm in no hurry to do so. This is my all-day, every day vape. Though, after meals, I quickly switch over to Extreme Ice and if I'm out and about doing something where I am hungry but a few hours from being at a good point to eat, I switch to Dutch Apple Pie. Not that it serves as an appetite suppressant but...
As for my tobacco flavor, I have about 200ml of 18mg 50 / 50 sitting on my desk that will probably never be used (by me). At some point, I may put it up for trade or I may break it down into smaller portions and gift them to some friends who either vape but are "less fortunate" financially than I am... or I may make up starter kits for friends that ask "buying questions" to help them out in trying. Many people in my circle do better with the "don't tell me, show me" approach - but I do not plan to be pushy in any way. IF they ask and are interested in trying to quit, I'll gladly help them get started.
Last week, I hit another milestone - though this time it was not a calendar benchmark. For the first time in at least ten years, I logged a full 90 minutes in a competitive level soccer game. I'm not talking about spending a majority of the time standing around and waiting. I'm talking actually "playing". I played as a smoker, but recently - more time was spent either calling for a sub or trying to look like I was not gasping for air while deciding what plays I was going to "take off" and which I was going to "go hard".
After the match, I pulled my friend aside and thanked him for converting me from smoker to vaper. I shared a bit of my experiences with him and made sure to tell him how much it meant to me - and that he was responsible for being the triggering factor in getting me to quit smoking. In having this conversation, he shared with me that he was only three days ahead of me in terms of how long he has been vaping instead of smoking. That little detail never came up in our initial conversation. Had it, I'd have dismissed his info and enthusiasm and I would not have quit smoking.
Now the wife and I are quit together. Vape mail is very much a happy day in our house instead of being one of mixed feelings. Our kids are quite proud of her & I am too.
Today, I'm on day 123 and not going back to the old stinkies is now extremely easy. My MVP 2.0 has become "the new normal". In my original post, I talked about my wife being skeptical about my "attempt" at quitting. I cited that her posture was completely understandable due to my previous failed attempts at quitting. From what most everyone else has posted, receiving "vape mail" is supposed to be one of the more exciting days. I always pictured it as the vaper's equivalent to a child receiving a birthday gift or Christmas present in the mail from a "favorite out of town relative" in terms of how pumped one gets. For a while, my wife was a total buzz-kill in this department, as it triggered intense conversation after intense conversation.
I ordered "a few" iClear X.1's & a bunch of replacement coils. Of course, I was on a kick where I'd place a weekly order with MBV to "try" new flavors in a quest to find one I truly loved. To be fair to the Mrs., once again she had some rather valid arguments. I was spending more than I had claimed I anticipated spending on equipment and I was doing a bit more "experimenting" with flavors that I needed to per my talks with her. I had originally made a claim that I was only going to vape tobacco flavored juice, as my mind has (in the past) tricked myself into believing that I missed the taste of a cigarette. Thus, one less trick I could play on myself. And here I am ordering various vanilla flavors, Spearmints, Apples, etc.
While the Mrs. was not shy about giving me a hard time about my newfound hobby and passion - I couldn't help but notice she was asking some covert "buying questions". Come to find out, a lot of her "complaining" towards my vaping came from her own wonders on whether she too "could" do it or whether she'd miss smoking if she joined me in quitting.
Once it became apparent that she was trying to ask probing questions without coming out and asking them directly, I sat down with her and we looked through different delivery systems. She felt my MVP 2.0 was a bit too bulky and not "girly looking enough". My X.1's were a bit too bulky for her liking as well. After narrowing down her preferences, we found the Innokin iTaste EP with iClear10's. She liked that it had a cap and looked like a pen and combined with the disposable 1ml clearo was thin enough that she didn't feel like she was carrying around or using heavy equipment to quit smoking. The downside is that the iClear 10's are disposable, but there will be no complaining from me.
In her "flavor trials", she complained about many of the juices I had, as they "hurt her throat". She identified one that did not. By chance or luck or maybe "as a blessing", I had received a freebie from MBV for my order. The freebie was called Cake. Unlike my "standard mix", Cake was 80 PG / 20 VG, whereas my normal mix was 50 / 50. I worked on the theory that she did not like juices heavier in VG, so "our" next order was placed at a variety of PG / VG mixes. We collectively settled on 65 / 35 being our "ideal" - though considering most flavors get an "extra" flavor shot upon order, the actual PG to VG ratio is probably slightly higher. She now vapes with a preference to vanillas (Vanilla Ice Cream from MBV is her favorite). She is also a fan of Dutch Apple Pie. I on the other hand, have come to LOVE the MBV Orange Dream Bar flavor. I've not been able to put it down and I'm in no hurry to do so. This is my all-day, every day vape. Though, after meals, I quickly switch over to Extreme Ice and if I'm out and about doing something where I am hungry but a few hours from being at a good point to eat, I switch to Dutch Apple Pie. Not that it serves as an appetite suppressant but...
As for my tobacco flavor, I have about 200ml of 18mg 50 / 50 sitting on my desk that will probably never be used (by me). At some point, I may put it up for trade or I may break it down into smaller portions and gift them to some friends who either vape but are "less fortunate" financially than I am... or I may make up starter kits for friends that ask "buying questions" to help them out in trying. Many people in my circle do better with the "don't tell me, show me" approach - but I do not plan to be pushy in any way. IF they ask and are interested in trying to quit, I'll gladly help them get started.
Last week, I hit another milestone - though this time it was not a calendar benchmark. For the first time in at least ten years, I logged a full 90 minutes in a competitive level soccer game. I'm not talking about spending a majority of the time standing around and waiting. I'm talking actually "playing". I played as a smoker, but recently - more time was spent either calling for a sub or trying to look like I was not gasping for air while deciding what plays I was going to "take off" and which I was going to "go hard".
After the match, I pulled my friend aside and thanked him for converting me from smoker to vaper. I shared a bit of my experiences with him and made sure to tell him how much it meant to me - and that he was responsible for being the triggering factor in getting me to quit smoking. In having this conversation, he shared with me that he was only three days ahead of me in terms of how long he has been vaping instead of smoking. That little detail never came up in our initial conversation. Had it, I'd have dismissed his info and enthusiasm and I would not have quit smoking.
Now the wife and I are quit together. Vape mail is very much a happy day in our house instead of being one of mixed feelings. Our kids are quite proud of her & I am too.
Good for you man, keep on keeping on!! I actually teared up a bit that your daughter wants you to "continue not smoking." I have three daughters of my own and they share this sentiment!
like an eleventh hour religious convert, most need to "feel the heat" as the preachers say before we actually make the move.
the quality of life saved is what is the hardest thing to get through to a smoker. the best thing we can all do is set the example and spread the good word....man i love success stories.
the quality of life saved is what is the hardest thing to get through to a smoker. the best thing we can all do is set the example and spread the good word....man i love success stories.
mj, congratulations on your successes! Like any addiction, we're all "in recovery". It's just that vaping allows for a virtually identical experience, so we can have a much easier time staying on the wagon. It's also the "mental". I'd told myself for years that "I should quit smoking". I never did patches or medication (I'd heard way too many scary stories about Chantix), but I did try cig-a-likes almost 4 years ago. They just weren't "it" for me. I watched my uncle erode from lung cancer last summer, and that *still* wasn't enough. But now that I've found the right equipment (I too have an MVP and LOVE it) and juices that keep me amused, I don't see myself buying or having another cigarette - BUT - there's always that possibility lurking. Just have to be strong and hit the button rather than a lighter 
I wish you and your wife continued successes (as well as all of us out here) And congratulations on FINALLY getting your daughter her birthday present
I wish you and your wife continued successes (as well as all of us out here) And congratulations on FINALLY getting your daughter her birthday present
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