Newbie Introduction

[ckm1209]

Hi~
I purchased my first ecig almost 3 years ago and could never get used to it so there it sits, a bunch of money down the drain.
Just purchased a different one 3 weeks ago and have yet to be able to put down the real thing. I like the feel of this one both in my hand and in my mouth and the Menthol Ice juice is great however I use it for a while and I STILL want a real cig....

I want to quit because I'm tired of being a pariah out in the world. BUT and it's a BIG BUT, I really don't want to quit! I know that is a big part of the battle...
I've been smoking for 40 years. Right now, since I'm not working, I'm back to about 2 packs a day, light menthol 120's. I've never been successful at quitting, never went more than about 12 hours, although there was a time I would smoke about 5 cigs a day because my then partner thought I had quit.

I guess I need to "just do it"... and I've read quite a bit here already but what are the best or some ideas for "just doing it"?
Thanks!

 

[9ball_AJ]

The thing that worked for me was finding the right flavor(s) and getting away from tobacco based flavors. Once I found flavors that I loved, I wanted to vape and not smoke. Also try hight nic contents.

Just my thoughts, some more experienced users will probably have better advice.

Good Luck and cheers to you for taking the first step.

-AJ

 

[singu]

I honestly don't know, but here is my experience.
The truth is i just got tired of the analogs...the smell, the ash..heavy lungs in the morning...so when i actually tried the e cig i was just blown away by it and that feeling stuck with me so i'm not smoking anymore. I got so exited from the beggining how well the e cig actually works that i'm feeding of of that now and can hopfully stop the analogs for good.

 

[frosting]

Well what kind of new e-cigg did you buy? I got my mom an ego then a riva (same thing) and come Christmas she'll be done with analogs for 2 months and here's the kicker, smoked for 40 YEARS too!

Flavors are also a battle. Gotta get some samples from different vendors to see what you like. Once you have a juice you really like that can help you quit once and for all. Have you tried cartomizers? Cartomizers like Boge & Smoketech can make a world of difference to vaping as well as a drip tip. Drip tips can just attach to a cartomizer for a better draw and feel, as well as onto the atomizer(for dripping sans cartomizer) so you just drip juice into the drip tip.

You can do it if you really want to and if you have the equipment to be successful. However don't be too hard on yourself either. Not everyone can 100% stop smoking in 1 day, a week. Some people need more time to make the transition and that's okay. If it helps cut you back from 2 packs a day to a half a pack a day then only 1 a day, that in itself would be a very good thing.

 

[wellersl]

Welcome, ckm.

Are you an intelligent person? (The question is rhetorical.)

Analogs:

1) stink.
2) are expensive.
3) are no longer socially/politically acceptable.
4) are loaded with nasty things that are unhealthy for you.
5) <insert your own reason(s) here>

You know all this already. Just keep repeating it in your mind. Eventually, your subconsciousness self will hear you.

An intelligent person can easily reconcile all these things and admit to their self that there's no rational reason to continue to smoke. I'm with you neighbor. I smoked for 30-odd years. (wheeze>

 

[nordoe]

what strengh of liquid are you using. You may want to try a higher strength.

 

[ckm1209]

what strengh of liquid are you using. You may want to try a higher strength.

I originally bought 18 mg but went back and bought 26 mg.

I bought mine from vapor rising so it has the drip cartridge...

In response to the am I intelligent question, most definitely. However, I LIKE smoking. I don't think it smells bad and I don't wheeze or cough, even after all these years.....

I had a lung test done a few years back and the guy said I breathe better than most non smokers...

I don't drink.. Don't do drugs... BUT cigs have become way expensive!

 

[Vapoor eyes er]

Hi ckm1209 and welcome to ECF. I was in the same boat as you. Smoked for 40+ yrs and absolutely LOVED it. I don't drink nor partake in other substances. I had tried many times to quit but I just LOVED smoking too much....until I was introduced to the Ecig/ PV. It has been life altering and, for the most part, quite easy. Almost 3 months in and I have no cravings, either physical or physiological, for analogs. I smoked 1 PAD strong analogs- so strong many would rather go without than smoke mine I began with 36 mg Nic and have now gotten it down to 20 mg. After New Years I plan on going down to 15 mg. I vape 10 mg in the evening as the higher Nic was affecting my sleep. Personally speaking when my non smoker wife queried me about vaping and if it really did satiate my yearning for an analog I truthfully told her it was about 95% of what an analog feels like- TH, Lung Hit, Nic fix, oral habit, arm movement. I'm hoping you will have the same results as I have experienced.
Good Luck, Vapoor.

 

[buckarette]

I've been off of analogs for not quite a month. I enjoyed smoking immensely and didn't really want to quit either. I've tried about every method possible to quit before and never got permanent results.
When I found vaping I thought it would be a viable way to get off of analogs. So... I told myself I wasn't quitting cigs, I was just switching to a pv. It sounds silly as I type this, but that little mental trick has worked for me.
I also went with a 24 mg liquid and took time when I would usually smoke an analog (like after meals) to sit down and enjoy a nice 10 min. vape to kind of keep with my analog routine.
Best of luck.

 

[lilac7779]

Welcome, ckm. I smoked for 40 years, too. My physician (Dr. Evil) scared the #$%@ out of me and I became highly motivated very quickly.

You have to want to quit for you, not for anyone else. Maybe start with 36 mg. nic to stave off cravings and see how that works. Best of luck to you.

 

[Snapless]

Hello ckm,

I'm like buckarette, have been off analogs for about a month. Didn't smoke a lot but had for a long time (almost 30 years, subtracting the periods I was pregnant/breast-feeding) and my selfish side absolutely LOVED it.

However, my intelligent self had always known it was bad for me. The heavy lung feeling alone was enough to make me want to quit, not to mention the high risk of cancer in my family I was only exasperating through my addiction.

Quitting cold turkey never worked for me because I continued to crave cigarettes. I could go months, even years, and then one day not be able to stand the cravings anymore. I went for 2 years once! The patch and the gum both made me nauseous, and other smoking cessation aids never helped because I LOVED smoking!

Then a friend introduced me to vaping and helped guide me to a choice in kits as well as introducing me to some good merchants. I have also been ordering the smallest sizes of a large amount of juices to sample them - and have hit on some which I absolutely LOVE!

I have to say I have not only been smoke free for almost a month, but I have not had -any- cravings and analogs actually stink to me now. Sounds like you need to talk to someone who can help guide you to a kit that will work for you. Good luck!

 

[JQside]

Quitting smoking is never easy for most of us. Nothing and no one will sway you from quitting if you're not ready to. I just decided to quit. So I set a date, or just finish the analogs (about half a pack) I got. It also required setting my mind to totally new habits as replacement for old ones. Setting your mind means you really also have to work at it. (In my case, I recalled what I read from psychology books, ie, mind control, hypnotherapy, power of imagination, stuff like that). Which means canceling the cigarette smokes I was looking forward to everyday before they happen, in my mind. I also confronted the places and time where the craving was strongest as opposed to avoiding them and treat them like little battles I had to wage. It takes about an hour for each. This is where your PV is needed. I didn't have one the first week, so it was more difficult for me.

 

[Dieseler]

Hey there CKM, im not going to school you why you should give em up and with that said i also was on the analogs for darn near 40 years at 2pad. It was a normal thing back in our home when i was growing up dad always had one burning even at supper time.
Anyways i picked up an ego with 1000mah batt thought it was kinda ugly and big looked funny in hand and such but tried it stuck to it and said them darn stinky's are not going to control me anymore.
Went to the john it went with me , went out in car it went with me, it went everywhere i went along with an extra batt just in case.
Well it worked using 18mg strength e-liquid
Why did it work though???

I truly believe it fools the brain receptors as there still getting the nicotine one just has to use the right strength in my opinion to keep them satisfied and happy.
Try a higher strength like a 36 or 24 to keep them brain receptors happy and you just might be ok.
I wish you all the best i truly new what it was like .

 

[karmakatie]

I did not plan to swithc to e cigs 2.5 weeks ago, it just happened. I had had the flu and was having a terrible time being able to smoke and could not rest due to nic fits, so hubby went to the smoke shop and picked up an e cig to help me get through the flu, I have not picked up a cig since then, i now have multiple batteries and even a mod on the way and tons of juice to try. I was a 3 pad smoker for alot of years.

 

[dearme]

Hi ckm and welcome to ECF.

Just my two cents.........I think that a higher nic liquid might help, and does your PV have enough power to satisfy you? That might be a biggy if you are using one of the super slim PVs............

Also, don't quit, at least not right away. Keep your PV close to you, continue to vape and if you feel like you have to have an analog, smoke it. I think you will soon be vaping more and smoking less. Sometimes it just takes awhile to make the switch.

 

[Mac_206]

Been off analogs for 10 days and loving it. I actually quit cold turkey may 14th, 2010 then slowly started in april 2011. I would normally have 1 analog when I was drinking to get that buzz we all know so well. Nonetheless I am really into lifting weights and cant do both as it hinders gains. Also I ordered an ego kit, various diy supplies and am happy where im at as far as vaping is concerned. This forum is chocked full of info and loving it. Forums are def the right way to go if you have questions. My name is Mac and Im from Seattle. Hope everyone is having a good holiday so far, god bless!

 

[dearme]

Hi Mac, Congratulation and Welcome to ECF.

 

[wfx]

I did not plan to swithc to e cigs 2.5 weeks ago, it just happened. I had had the flu and was having a terrible time being able to smoke and could not rest due to nic fits, so hubby went to the smoke shop and picked up an e cig to help me get through the flu, I have not picked up a cig since then, i now have multiple batteries and even a mod on the way and tons of juice to try. I was a 3 pad smoker for alot of years.

wonderful. see this is why i wouldn't worry about smoking 'relapses' at the start. there are a ton of options out there now. just take your time and once you hit on the right combination it's magic. suddenly the analog has lost its appeal.

 

[katann23]

Hi and welcome!!!

I was a PAD smoker for 20+ years. When I first tried to switch to the ecig, I felt pretty "twitchy" the first couple of days. I imagine that has something to do with all the other stuff in cigarettes that we probably get addicted to. I also started at 18mg nic, and found that just didn't cut it. I had to go up on my nic (I'm at 24 mg now) before I felt comfortable. There are still times I want an analog (like today dealing with holiday shoppers in parking lots!), but I do feel a lot better now that I'm completely off the analogs.

I think finding the right combination of flavor/nic strength is really key. Also, watching my dad go through treatment for stage 4 kidney cancer, which has moved into his lungs (he never touched a cigarette in his life), is a sad, but strong motivator. Just remember, even if you slip up, every analog you skip is still progress!!!!

Hang in there! You can do it!!

 

[Mac_206]

Welcome, ckm.

Are you an intelligent person? (The question is rhetorical.)

Analogs:

1) stink.
2) are expensive.
3) are no longer socially/politically acceptable.
4) are loaded with nasty things that are unhealthy for you.
5) <insert your own reason(s) here>

You know all this already. Just keep repeating it in your mind. Eventually, your subconsciousness self will hear you.

An intelligent person can easily reconcile all these things and admit to their self that there's no rational reason to continue to smoke. I'm with you neighbor. I smoked for 30-odd years. (wheeze>

I agree, Ive only been smoking 11yrs but still. I do have cravings for the "buzz" which I dont get from vaping much. Either way best of luck and happy holidays