Need more motivation to quit smoking

[dumwaldo]

yoshistr,

I see a lot of myself in your posts. I procrastinated putting down the analog cigarettes for many years and now that I have put them behind me I can admit to myself that it was because fear. I can be very hard on myself and was afraid of failing and having to admit it was something I could not control.

I am not afraid of failure, what I am afraid of is feeling like a failure. Does this sound familiar?

I quit smoking not because I wanted to, but because my wife started pushing the issue VERY hard. I did it because I wanted to make her happy, not because I wanted to do it. Transferring the responsibility of my attempt to my wife made me able to be more committed mentally. It is easy to disappoint myself but but even easier to make excuses to myself. Not being willing to disappoint my wife is what got me to stay commited enough to follow through and really get away from the analogs.

Also, do not let the lack of transportation keep you away from the meetings. I do not drive a car either. The people in the group are really nice and I am sure someone will hook you up with rides. We have people coming from all different locations and I am sure something can be worked out.

come join the group, http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/groups/long-island-ny-vapers-club.html and get to know the 'locals' and I bet you will be at the next meeting. It really is a good time and lots of support.

orlampagal,
check out Local Vapers Clubs for information and help on starting up a vapers group in your area.

DW

 

[C2Girl]

Good one DW

 

[JustJulie]

You know, when I first decided to try e-cigs, I did not intend to quit. I had tried to quit so many times . . . and ultimately failed . . . that I honest to God didn't think I'd ever be able to quit. However, I decided that if I could cut down from 2+ packs a day to 1 pack a day, well, that would be pretty amazing.

I got lucky, and my first e-cig was a good one in terms of throat hit (the Janty Dura). Unfortunately, it crapped out within 2 weeks due to issues (that have since been resolved with the Dura-C), but 2 weeks was enough to set me on the right path.

Almost immediately, I cut down my analog useage, and within 3 days I was tobacco-free.

I share this not to gloat about having a relatively easy time quitting, but to point out how important it is to get the right e-cig and the right nicotine concentration. I firmly believe that if I had started with a crappy e-cig, I probably wouldn't have been nearly as successful. Intrigued maybe . . . but not successful in getting off of tobacco completely.

But Lu is so right in that even a modest reduction in tobacco is something to celebrate. Like I said, when I first started, I would have been THRILLED with a 50% reduction in tobacco use. Some folks take longer to make the transition. Lacey Underall had a great theory--she decided she wasn't quitting . . . she was switching brands.

I also want to encourage you to figure out a way to get to the Vapor's Club meeting in your area. Like DW said, I'm sure there's someone who's willing to help you out. I so wish I had a local group . . . I just haven't found anyone who lives in my area.

Feeling like you're part of a group is so empowering and invigorating. Actually, that's part of the reason why I hang out here so much. I love feeling like I'm a part of something bigger, "friends" with folks who have taken up this brave new hobby. It's a MOVEMENT!

So (1) figure out a way to get to the meeting, and (2) stop focusing on quitting, but, rather, focus on enjoying your vaping.

 

[Sar]

Yoshi,
One way to stop analogs is not quitting. You are putting yourself under so much pressure by quitting -- try to do it without that pressure. Don't think of vaping as quitting analogs -- think of it as switching to a new brand of cigs. I am sure you've done that before.

Find a good reason why you want to switch to the new brand. It may be healthier, it may cost less, etc. For me, I was getting more and more angry about the government increasing tobacco taxes and profiteering from peoples addiction. The other reason was that I really didn't want to be addicted. I always loved smoking, at least I thought I did, but at certain point I started to suspect that I may be justifying my addiction.

My first ecig was 801 penstyle, but that didn't work for me well. I still continued smoking analogs, but much less. When I switched to 901 and to 24mg nic eliquid I knew that I found the right combination. So finding the right model and ejuice is important. Now I am with 510 model and don't use anything else, including analogs.

The thing is that even with the first penstyle model I made myself to be without analogs for a week thinkng that maybe the analogs will taste bad if I try them after such a long time. Big mistake -- they tasted great!

Now I have been without analog for whatever my counter shows (over a month) and I am shocked how easy it was going from 1.5 - 2 packs to 4 - 5 ml of ejuice a day. Although the counter shows "no-smoking" sign, I don't think of myself as non-smoker.

But I know that I am probably one of the few people who would like analogs even after a long time of not having one. I still love the fresh smell of cig when someone smokes. The key is to make sure that you always have your e-cig stuff with you, that you are not in a situation where you have urge to smoke and don't have batteries charged or have no liquid. BTW, I do keep a pack of analogs in my backpack in case of emergency. But I didn't need it yet. This is actually the first time in my smoking life that I don't think about analogs. At all!! I do think about vaping. But one thing at a time. I think it will be much easier to quit vaping when I am ready than getting off analogs...

 

[Richie G]

...Sorry for the long story but thanks for reading and any advice you can give...

>

Here's what worked for me --

For one week, I stopped buying my beloved Marlboros. Instead I smoked my wife's Merit Ultra Light 100s. I despise them as they give me headaches and I used my PV more and more often. By the time that first week was over I was using the PV all the time. Today starts my third week of being analog free. Those Merits are on the kitchen counter top as we speak and I have no urge to pick one of them up.

Dee Dub's advice to attend the next L.I. Vapors meeting is a good one. I couldn't make the last one but I'm going to make every effort to attend the next one. Us Lawn Guylanders have to stick together. Good luck.

 

[bluebunneh]

Yoshi - I agree with Sar, don't think of yourself as quitting. Also you maybe you should try a higher level of liquid nicotine in your e-juice. That's what I'm gonna try.

Are their any meetings in Memphis,TN? I would really like to attend one... Also, I am worried that once I completely quit analogs ( I got my 901 yesterday and have smoked about 4 analogs, mainly because I seem to have a hard time getting a good hit ) that I will gain weight. I don't know what it is about analogs that keeps me from over eating... is it just the oral fixation? Has anyone else who went from analogs to e-cigs gained weight?

 

[yoshistr]

Sorry for the late reply,

The past 3-4 days I have only been smoking my e-cigarette so things seem to be going well but I still do have a strong urge for analogs. Even had thoughts of purchasing a year's worth of cigarettes now so I don't get crazy ideas of quitting later in the year. I'm trying to keep myself occupied with lifting weights again to get into better shape and to try relaxing.

As for losing weight I would recommend trying to take deeper breaths, with practice you can manage to do it without thinking. Smoking increases your breathing rate and is a stimulant not to mention the actual smoke which enters your stomach making you feel "full" by expanding the stomach. Taking deeper breathes will help you lose weight by simulating these same effects, also I would recommend sleeping on your stomach, this seems to usually help as it forces you to use more energy to breathe since your lungs have to expand your body weight against gravity to breath increasing your metabolism while you sleep. Other than that exercise can't hurt, simply taking a 10 minute jog early in the morning will get your body awake so it spends more energy rather than having a "slow" morning.

Good Luck

 

[WerkIt]

Hey guys,

I have tried everything but for some reason I really enjoy smoking, probably because I have been doing it for so long I don't even remember how happy I was before smoking. I really need motivational words and help from you all to get me back on track. I thought this time I would quit for good and haven't smoked yesterday or the day before but had a cigarette just now and know I made a mistake and will keep trying but I enjoyed it so much that I don't know if I have the will power to quit for good.

1. If you do choose to smoke an analog, DO NOT smoke your analog of choice. Only buy the nastiest tasting, cheapest, analog you can possibly buy. I highly recommend Goldcrest, Tucson or GT One light 100s. The GT Ones are the nastiest and one puff was enough to make me put that one out as soon as it was lit.

2. Expand your nicotine options beyond vaping. Get some Stonewalls or Arivas. Get some snus. There are numerous ways to get nicotine into your system aside from analogs. Find the combination of products that works best for you, rather than relying on one product exclusively.

3. Begin working out, whether it be walking a block a day, or whatever. If you do this regularly enough and you later to go back to analogs, you will see how badly the analogs effect your workouts and most especially your breathing. This definitely provides enough motivation to stay off of the analogs for me.

4. Every time you want an analog, think about how your government is ripping you off with tobacco taxes. Refuse to reward those scum with your money.

5. Change your diet. Shop only the edges of the store where the real food is, like meats, vegetables, fruit and dairy. There are adjustments to brain chemistry that occur when giving up an addiction. Fuel your body correctly and your body will be better able to handle those adjustments. Additionally, REAL food is far more apt to keep your mood and brain chemistry normalized as you leave the analog addiction.

 

[abudman]

We are setting rules for ourselves, we quit smoking in the bedroom, next will be the common rooms of the house and finally will be my den, We live in a climate that is very cold in the winter and very hot and humid in the summer so most of the time it will be very uncomfortable for us to enjoy an analog. Other than that, if you enjoy 1 analog every 3-4 days, who cares. It's gonna take lets see 20 cigs a day * 4 days = 80 cigs a day. so 1 every 4 days, you've got an extra 80 years to live already at this rate.

 

[need_2quit]

Well, guess what? I made it!!
I've been smoke free for 3 weeks...time is going by really fast right now...

I made myself vape for 3 days straight w/no cigarettes..than I tasted one and it was so disgusting...

I know its hard..my hubby and sister still smoke around me all the time and they are just amazed that I haven't asked for a cigarette

that's what I've been doing (vape non-stop) and I'm smoke free for TWO days so far lol. the first 24 hrs I was like WTH? where did THAT come from? when I realized I hadn't had my morning analog. "oh cool - let me see how long I can go".

2 days doesn't seem like much, but for me it's a milestone. 40+ yr smoker here - home rolled the past 12 yrs, so $ was not an issue.

That, "oh wow I do remember what it was like not to smoke" memory is coming back.

now if I could just get my e-cig unglued from my face 8-o