New-ish to vaping and lost

[BreilaRose]

So, I've had a pen style PV for over a year now. I started with an EVOD clone from a local tobacco shop in June 2014. For a week or so, it was perfectly adequate and I didn't smoke even one analog. Then I was traveling, and while visiting my cousin, who still smoked, I bummed a few one evening while we were having a beer or three. That was it, I was smoking analogs again.

For the next year +, I was a dual user, but mostly a smoker. I would vape in the evenings while I was reading or writing, but that was about it. And my device sucked, to be honest. I hardly ever got decent vapor, and I was constantly getting spitting, where the juice would pop and not vaporize (don't know what it is officially called). I wanted to quit smoking, but vaping just wasn't cutting it. I knew there were better devices out there, but was hesitant to sink more $ into something that hadn't worked yet, yk?

FF to July this year, they opened an Avail Vapor nearby and I decided to check it out. I ended up walking out with an EMOW, still a pen style vape, but much better quality for sure. And I've enjoyed it, I have no complaints about the performance.

But I'm still smoking analogs. I keep telling myself this is my last pack, this is it, no more. And I always cave.

So, I've spent some time thinking about my triggers, and if you have any advice at all for avoiding or mitigating them, I'd LOVE to hear it!

-First problem of the day - I've always stepped outside for a smoke while the coffee brewed. Yes, I can step outside for a vape, technically, but so far vaping first thing in the morning makes me cough up a lung, while smoking doesn't. Why?

-Second trigger - a break from the kids. I work FT and have 3 kids, so again, stepping outside to smoke has always been my "break." It has a finite beginning and a finite end, and it occurs away from everything else that is going on in the house. Since I feel no unease about vaping in the house (but not in front of the kids), it isn't the same kind of break, if that makes sense. Also, on the occasions that I have stepped outside to vape, there's no trigger that says, "this is it, time to go back inside and deal with reality." I know that sounds silly, but it is big to me.

Third trigger - stress. I don't generally have a very stressful life, but I do have a stress inducing child. He has issues, which I won't get into here because they are his not mine, but they do affect me. And every single time there is a problem, I escape for a moment with a smoke after or during a confrontation so I can calm down. This is a multiple times/week if not daily issue. I want to get past it and I know that everyone has their challenges, but it is one that I struggle with.

Another issue is habits. As I stated before, I step outside to have a smoke. I do it typically at set points in the day (first thing in the morning, after I get ready for work, when I get home on my lunch break, before I return to work after lunch, after work, before dinner, after dinner, etc.) Again, here I think my issue is no defined ending to the "break session," if that makes sense.

Anyway, if you have read thus far, thanks, and I'd appreciate any coping advice you have to offer. I have a second question regarding a second device, but I'll start another thread for that.

 

[dcfluegel]

first off - howdy - and welcome! you are in the right place!

in regards to your 'triggers' - what about treating your vape as an analog surrogate - as an example, how many drags on a cig do you usually take, on average, before you are finished? do the same with your vape - if you need to, ritualize it a little, to bridge the gap, behavior wise... step outside, 14 big ol' clouds, back inside...

one of the advantages, in my opinion, to vaping, is i can take a couple hits and go back to whatever i was doing - but ritualizing it a little may help offset some of the behavior changes you are working on

regardless, do NOT beat yourself up for the occasional cig as you work through this - it's a process

and a device upgrade may help significantly replace the whole 'experience' of smoking an analog more effectively - maybe something like the disrupter mod with a kanger subtank mini - great starter set, user friendly and low maintenance

 

[thailand]

Welcome. You found the right spot to chat with people who are in the same or very similar situations.

My experience is that the right equipment is the key to putting analogs down. My habits are similar to yours, as I used to smoke with my coffee and on "smoke breaks" at work...whether I needed a break from a stressful moment, or it was just lunchtime.

My first thought on why vaping is not satisfying your nicotine craving is due to your equipment, or liquid. With my eVod, I used liquid that had near the same nicotine as a Newport (1.4mg). I also experimented with different flavors. I found that getting away from "tobacco" flavors actually helped me kick the habit, as an actual cigarette started to not appeal to me anymore.

And dcflugel hit the nail right on the head...this is a process, and we all had to go through some experimentation to get to where we are now.

 

[AndriaD]

First, you're by far not the first to find it initially easy, have a backslide, and then find it more difficult, the 2nd time around -- it seems to be true for a lot of us; my first time, all I could do was holler because i wasn't smoking and I didn't care! No pain! No cravings! Miraculous. But some health issues last summer caused me to have a month-long "smoke break," and getting back to vape-only was a big hairy bear.

WTA helped me, but I think the first thing you need, you finally got, a pretty decent vape setup, but you desperately need more than one, because as you've seen already, with vape stuff, feces occurs, regularly, count on it, so you need to have a multiplicity of options, in batteries, atomizers, and ejuice flavors -- it does require a bit of investment at first, no kidding about that, but the fewer cigarettes you smoke, the more money is available for vape gear -- I found that tremendous motivation at first, because buying new vape toys is loads more fun than plopping down $11-odd at Walgreens for 40 paper tubes of tobacco. And still good motivation, after its acquisition, because once you invest enough $$$ in vape gear, it's just a terrible shame to let it go to waste.

As for the behavioral stuff, it comes along if you don't force it -- just encourage it. I played the substitute and procrastinate game with myself -- if I wanted a smoke, but was busy with something, I'd say ok right now I'm gonna vape, and later if I REALLY want to, I'll go smoke -- and that really worked to cause the initial cutting-down, and the more I did it, the easier it got -- until sometimes "later" never did show up, I didn't go smoke. Forcing it is counter-productive, because it causes stress, an infamous smoking trigger. Keep it fun and exciting and light, rejoicing in each small victory, because every puff you DON'T take, is a victory. If you just keep doing that, keep enjoying your vaping, there will come a point when it just seems pointless to smoke, when vaping is so much better. It doesn't have to be today or next week or even next month or year -- because every one not smoked, is a win, and those wins accumulate.

Hang in there, and welcome to ECF!

Andria

 

[Completely Average]

-First problem of the day - I've always stepped outside for a smoke while the coffee brewed. Yes, I can step outside for a vape, technically, but so far vaping first thing in the morning makes me cough up a lung, while smoking doesn't. Why?

Because the vapor is breaking up the tar and other crud that is filling your lungs. If you vape exclusively you'll stop coughing in the morning in a couple of weeks. In the meantime you'll find that you cough up some really nasty tar filled mucus, and a fairly large quantity of it.

-Second trigger - a break from the kids. I work FT and have 3 kids, so again, stepping outside to smoke has always been my "break." It has a finite beginning and a finite end, and it occurs away from everything else that is going on in the house. Since I feel no unease about vaping in the house (but not in front of the kids), it isn't the same kind of break, if that makes sense. Also, on the occasions that I have stepped outside to vape, there's no trigger that says, "this is it, time to go back inside and deal with reality." I know that sounds silly, but it is big to me.

That's just a habit which you can either retrain yourself to not go outside or train yourself to only be outside for a set amount of time.

One easy trick that may help you is to bring a little egg timer out with you. Set it for 10 minutes. When it dings you go back inside.

Third trigger - stress. I don't generally have a very stressful life, but I do have a stress inducing child. He has issues, which I won't get into here because they are his not mine, but they do affect me. And every single time there is a problem, I escape for a moment with a smoke after or during a confrontation so I can calm down. This is a multiple times/week if not daily issue. I want to get past it and I know that everyone has their challenges, but it is one that I struggle with.

My daughter is severe ADHD, so I understand about the stress

Get a spare tank and fill it with juice at a higher nicotine level than you normally use. If you use an 18mg juice then fill this tank with 24mg juice. Keep the tank ready to use for those stressful times. Then just step outside like you normally would for a cigarette break and bring your egg timer. Rather than trying to break the habit you already have simply change your vaping to fit within that habit.

Another issue is habits. As I stated before, I step outside to have a smoke. I do it typically at set points in the day (first thing in the morning, after I get ready for work, when I get home on my lunch break, before I return to work after lunch, after work, before dinner, after dinner, etc.) Again, here I think my issue is no defined ending to the "break session," if that makes sense.

Again, use the egg timer. You'll probably only need it for a week or two until you've adapted your vaping to the time frame you want. Once you've trained yourself to vape for a specific length of time and then go in it will feel no different from smoking.

 

[sd3614]

Don't give up, I did some cigalikes, went back to real cigs, came back and tried EVOD mega on 18mg nic and because I was getting a buzz I believed I was getting more nic than my smokes so I felt I had to be on the right track. When you vape do you get a true head buzz like the 1st weeks you smoked as younger person? If you don't IMO you are not at the right nic level to start with.

I found out early habits like getting up to go outside to smoke was the killer. I realized also there was more stuff than nic in those analogs that was making me crave.

It takes time but it can work. It takes that right flavor, the right device, the right nic level and BOOM it can happen. You can still walk outside or have that coffee and the right ejuice can go well with a coffee. I like sweet tiramisu. You can even reverse it and send the kids outside for time out and give you the 10 minutes alone (if its not snowing hahaha).

You can do it, one day at a time and blending real cigs in is not unusual. In the end I had 1 in the morning and 1 before bed and vaped all the rest of the day until I quit all together.

Good luck

 

[suprtrkr]

Hi and welcome to the board. You're in the right place, we have all been pretty much where you are. And we're going to try to help you. You've gotten some great advice so far-- ritualize it, keep a tank with high-nic juice for stress/drinking/first thing in the morning, whenever you need it. You may want to try a more powerful vape rig; something with subohm coils that will give you a lung full of vapor. The Subox kit is not a bad place to start, or the same tank-- Kanger Subtank-- with an iStick 50. Think about those, give the ones that seem to you to have merit a try and get back to us. And keep talking to us. We're here for you.

 

[BreilaRose]

Thanks so much everyone for your replies, I've read each and every one and will address more tomorrow. I'm feeling the love of this group and am so appreciative. Keep the tips coming please, all are helpfull!

 

[Toxic Sadness]

I've read thru the replies, I agree with all above. I have one thing to add....
The vaping in the morning issue. I have been off smokes and vaping for 5 and a half months now. In the morning, I vape at much lower wattage which produces less vapor and a cooler vape. I also do not inhale as much. By afternoon, I'm back up to my 30w vape full of clouds.
Welcome, you're among friends here


Vaping, the hobby that saved my life.

 

[Susan~S]

All great advise you are getting from others. I'll just add this.

A list of symptoms when quitting tobacco and changing to an ecigarette | E-Cigarette Forum

 

[dc99]

My biggest hurdle was I started with tobacco flavored juice because I was trying to mimic the cigs. All that done was make me want a real one. Second was like you, the morning thing. Took quite a while to get past that one. I started leaving mine as far away as possible so It wasn't a roll over and light it thing.
I started with two flavors in two tanks. In the morning it was cinnamon bun. Just felt so relaxing with a cup of coffee. Switch tanks and go to work with fruit flavors. I distanced myself from the regular smoking crowd at work. Had my own little spot to vape. One of the real tricks is finding a flavor you really love.
Its a hard road and that's no lie. Your trying to trade one habit for another and it takes willpower. We will always be here anytime you need help

 

[BreilaRose]

Again, I want to thank everyone for the advice and encouragement! It was a crazy weekend (back to school for the kiddos on Monday), so I didn't have much time to get online and process everything, but in my spare time I have been researching a second device. With everything I've seen, what people have said here, and the seemingly hundreds of online reviews I've seen and watched, I think I'm going to pick up a Kanger Subox Mini, possibly tonight! The local vape shop has it on hand for $65, which seems in line with what I've seen online that isn't shipping from China.

 

[Racehorse]

Prepare your head, this works, and not filled with scare tactics / horror stories that most quit smoking interventions use. Helped me and millions of others:

Allen Carr's Easy Way to Stop Smoking: The Easyway To Stop Smoking: Allen Carr: 9780615482156: Amazon.com: Books

Quite a lot of 5 stars, and I read it 3x......and bought more and passed 'em on.

Buying stuff doesn't fix the way we think about things. (That's where the term "Affluenza" came from. Amerians have a lot of disposable income and consume a lot, yet more people are depressed, unfulfilled, etc. despite all that.) Just sayin'........

This will help you I believe---seeing yourself as a non smoker helps and you may be able to get there using this

 

[BreilaRose]

I've read that.

It made me want to smoke a cig.

No snark intended, I know it has worked for SO many people, it just didn't for me.

Having said that, I don't think I was mentally in the right place for it, I didn't necessarily WANT to quit, I just logically knew I should, yk?

 

[Sir2fyablyNutz]

I kept one flavor of juice just for the mornings. Instead of reaching for the cig in the mornings I knew I had the one flavor juice I enjoyed waiting on me (a blueberry muffin type). After the morning vape I would not use this flavor for the rest of the day. What this did was to give me something to look forward to every morning instead of the cig.

When I was trying to quit I used a cheap clearomizer/tank with the next higher nic in it. When the "itch" got to where the regular vape wasn't scratching it I would hit the higher nicotine tank once and go back to the regular nic vape. It usually took from 3 days to a week to get adjusted to the lower nicotine level. I said usually because I used this same technique to reduce my nicotine content in steps from the high level down to the under 3mg I now enjoy.

 

[Racehorse]

I've read that.

It made me want to smoke a cig.

No snark intended, I know it has worked for SO many people, it just didn't for me.

Having said that, I don't think I was mentally in the right place for it, I didn't necessarily WANT to quit, I just logically knew I should, yk?

No snark at all, everybody is different! Not wanting to quit but knowing you should, Yeah, I've been there, most of us have.

I wish you all the luck in the world vaping though!!!! Even if you vape a little bit you will be acclimating to it

Triggers are tough! I had to cut down (and quit for a while) coffee, which was hard but I had such bad reflux disease, i needed a break. I am a person who gets up in the morning looking forward to my coffee, so...

I had to change my morning routine pretty drastically to kinda "break" the habit thing. Now I feed the birds, or take a walk down to my mailbox (quite a ways a way down to the road, 1/8 mile or so) with the dogs and my cat....kinda look forward to it now MORE than the coffee. Took me about 10 days to kinda swap one habit for the other.

 

[theddead]

Hi and welcome.
The support and advice you find on ecf are priceless. Truly great people.

Like others have said, relax and allow your body and mind to switch to vaping as it needs to.
Best chance for success.
I smoked and vaped for 2 years.
Now I haven't smoked a cig in 3 years.
The cough is most likely because you still smoke. Cigs and vape do not play well together.
The cough will go away.
The dry chemical smoke from cigs replaced with moist vapor? Makes sense yeah?

Smile and have fun switching!
Find gear you love and it will be even better!

☺☺

 

[BreilaRose]

No snark at all, everybody is different! Not wanting to quit but knowing you should, Yeah, I've been there, most of us have.

I wish you all the luck in the world vaping though!!!! Even if you vape a little bit you will be acclimating to it

Triggers are tough! I had to cut down (and quit for a while) coffee, which was hard but I had such bad reflux disease, i needed a break. I am a person who gets up in the morning looking forward to my coffee, so...

I had to change my morning routine pretty drastically to kinda "break" the habit thing. Now I feed the birds, or take a walk down to my mailbox (quite a ways a way down to the road, 1/8 mile or so) with the dogs and my cat....kinda look forward to it now MORE than the coffee. Took me about 10 days to kinda swap one habit for the other.

If I had to give up coffee and smoking at the same time...oh jeez. I can only imagine what a hellion I would become. My SO with his 50 lb. weight gain and endless listlessness when he quit would have nothing on me. I drink 3 cups in the morning, take a mug to work, and often make a quick mug at lunch to take back for the afternoon! I justify it because my office is a meat locker (COLD!).