New kid on the block !

[Conger]

Hi All

I have been lurking on this forum for the past couple of weeks, researching and looking for the "Holy Grail" a vape as close to my normal analogue as possible (hand rolled virginia in a liquorice paper). Don't think it exists so am slowly accepting this.

I am 42 and have smoked since i was about 13, continuously since the age of 16 (15 to 20 a day), gave up when i was 32 for 3 Months "Cold Turkey", courtesy of Allen Carr (RIP Allen) and found it a doddle, i think that is why i lost my fear of starting again ! but the dreaded "just the odd Cafe Creme cigar now and then", talk about a slippery slope, within 2 weeks i was back to the old habit full bore.

Fast forward 10 years and here i am again with the intention of stopping smoking (although i may continue to vape).

Anyway i best get to the point of this virgin post.

I have now managed 13 days straight vaping, not so much as a puff. I do not fancy getting back on the slippery slope, pretty sure if i have a puff it will be that "where have you been all my life baby" moment all over again and i am tired of being a slave to the weed so pretty resolute this time ;-)

I am very lucky that here is a Liberty Flights shop pretty close by and they have been great with advice and upgrading my gear. I never liked the ecig's so i use a VV ego, i am on 2.4% Cigar liquid 80% of the day a 2.4% Cherry at the other times. Tried many other flavours but nothing tripped me out.

Like i have read on this forum i think there is a lot more to giving up smoking than nicotine addiction because there is definitely something missing, would love to try some of this WTA i keep reading about but don't think I can get it over here for love or money. I don't fancy the SNUS (think that is how it is spelt) so i was wondering if anyone could gently point me in the direction of something that may help (not to try an analogue before you suggest it). It may be that i just need to hang in there for a couple of more weeks to fully transition.

I am not normally a jealous person but boy do i feel envious of those guys and gals who "switched over on day one, just as if i had changed brands".

look forward to guidance from the collective.

 

[Buggainok]

Hey Conger, welcome to the forums.

First, congratulations on your 13 days! That is a real accomplishment for a long-time smoker. I was one, too, so I know that.

The important thing for me is the mind set. I had to keep telling myself that my body was getting the nicotine it was used to, so physically I was probably okay. Believe me, I talked to myself a lot in the first couple of weeks.

For myself, I think the more difficult part of giving up smoking cigarettes is all those little habits and rituals that we have performed thousands of times through the years while we were smoking. I was not really aware of all of them, until I "stopped" doing them.

I think they are more than just "triggers" which some people call them. I think they are deeply ingrained in our brains, because we have done them over and over so many times without thinking about it. So I had some more talks with myself about that. Changing habits of a lifetime is hard to do, but it can be done. I am trying hard to develop new "rituals" and habits that go with vaping. Slowly, those old patterns associated with smoking will disappear and be replaced by new ones involved with vaping.

As an example of mindless habits, for the first half of my life, there were no seat belts in cars. Then seat belts became mandatory here. I had to really work to develop the "habit" of buckling my seat belt. It felt really strange every time I did it for a long time. Now, if I am preoccupied and don't buckle up the minute I'm in my car, I almost feel like I'm missing part of my clothing, lol.

Vaping is really a lot different than smoking, and as long as I wanted it to be "like smoking", it fell short. It is an acceptable, more healthy, I think, way to get the nicotine I was addicted to, plain and simple.

So for me, I am immersing myself in this forum, learning all about the equipment and the kinds of juices available. I'm reading all about other folks' experiences and relating to a lot of them.

I have not smoked a cigarette in about a month now, and every day I think less about smoking, and more about vaping.

Good luck!

 

[CreepyLady]

Hi and welcome

It is NOT easy. Its easier than other methods - which is a relief - but as you are encountering, not all moments are smooth sailing. It does get better though! Another option in addition to the WTA (try Aroma - not sure if they ship UK or not?) maybe a NET (Naturally Extracted Tobacco) can help hit the spot.

The other thought I had while reading your post - what about an anise or licorice flavor mixed with a tobacco flavor?

Good luck and happy vaping! Congrats on the 2 weeks

 

[Courtnoodle]

Hi and welcome

It is NOT easy. Its easier than other methods - which is a relief - but as you are encountering, not all moments are smooth sailing. It does get better though!

Ditto. Hang in there! If you slip up, get back on the wagon and don't beat yourself up!

 

[AgentAnia]

Welcome, Conger!

Some random thoughts:

People vape for different reasons. Some to quit smoking entirely (NB: vaping is NOT smoking.); some to cut down on the number of cigs smoked; and some to switch to a different way of consuming nicotine with no intention of quitting vaping.

If you want to quit smoking entirely by switching to vaping, how quickly you do it depends on the reasons you smoked (and there are many). I found myself a full-time vaper after only 5 days (would have been after only 1 days but frugal me insisted on finished that last opened pack of cigs). I now realize it was because I was habituated to the rituals of smoking more than the ingestion of chemicals. My first ecig (a V2 cigalike) allowed me to continue the rituals I was accustomed to. There is no set timetable to switching, everybody's different.

You're going great at 13 days! But remember, your body is still detoxing from cigarettes/cigars etc. and will be for a while yet. Don't beat yourself up if you're still feeling cravings.

Even after 15 months, I still feel the occasional craving, and my body still tries to follow the old rituals (Just yesterday I found myself reaching over to where I used to keep the cigarette pack and lighter). Two things that seem to overcome this is 1) keep a supply of high-nic e-liquid on hand for a "kick." (I vape 18/12/6 but keep 24 nearby for a hit when needed). 2) When you feel the need for a cigarette, agree that you'll vape for 5-10 mins. first, high nic. Often, that will kill the craving.

Check out the UK subforum. You may be able to find a source for WTA liquid, which does help some vapers.

I hope some of this helps! Good luck!

 

[djsvapour]

Welcome Conger.

Would it surprise you to hear that my "home" forum is owned and run by a wonderful lady from Cornwall.

There's quite a growing band of Cornwall folk on there.

I wish I could help with WLTEs, as they are disappearing very fast. Maybe some searching on AAEC UK or UKV might throw up some ideas.

 

[Thunderball]

New kid on the block !

Oh oh, OH, oh oh....Oh oh OH ho...Oh oh, OH, oh oh......The right stuff !! (had to say it)

Welcome to the forums !!

 

[Conger]

Hi Guys

Thanks for your support and guidance, i love the "right stuff" comment, exactly the kind of thing i would have done. Awesome.

Hanging in there for now, will try a few new flavours and see how i go for another couple of weeks. Then i will try getting some of the tobacco based eliquid and perhaps some WTA.

Regards to all, Conger

P.S. nice to know there are others out there giving the advise (and the leg pulling) keep up the good work.

 

[WileECoyote]

Congrats and welcome!

Sent from my DROID4 using Tapatalk

 

[Completely Average]

It seems your biggest problem is you're missing the taste you're used to?

The great part about liquids is you can mix them. I suggest finding a good NET (Naturally Extracted Tobacco) flavor and a liquorice flavor liquid and mix a couple of drops of the liquorice into the NET. It will take a little playing with to get the mix right, but you should be able to come up with something that is very very close to what you're used to.




However, I found it easier to give up the tobacco flavors entirely and try something new. Mints and menthol flavors are what got me to quit. Good throat hit and a clean tingle in the mouth and tongue. Tastes nothing like the Camel Filters I smoked for 30 years, but for me that actually helped me get off the analogs. It was a bit of a mental adjustment, but I was soon craving the taste of mint rather than the taste of tobacco, which made me stop wanting real tobacco.