One week smoke free-reflections

[Heatherport]

Firstly...advice. DO NOT GIVE UP!!! If I can do this, trust me, YOU can do this. I loved smoking, and for me, this e-cig thing isn't transitional, lol. Just a healthier habit that's close enough to make me happy!! Secondly, I highly recommend the sample juice packs from Cloud9....and this is mainly why. I love their little blue bottles!!! I may reorder just for them! The little blue glass bottles are adorable, perfect size for traveling, nice droppers, etc. I plan to reuse these to mix some of my own juices when I get to that place. Now that I am finding I like using the atomizers vs. prefilled cartomizers I really need to carry a bottle of juice with me wherever I am and these are perfect for me and IMO more visually appealing than the boring white plastic bottles. Another thought...if you find your first system doesn't work out for you, don't be discouraged. You WILL find one you like and you can always Pay It Forward to someone in need or resell it if you're in need! Tip....when you're quitting in the beginning, I advise having a favorite "back-up" oral fixation....in case you are charging, can't find your pv, have a broken pv, are out of juice, whatever. I like watermelon gum or lollipops, butwhatever floats your boat. AND if you fin you just have to break down and get a cigarette (and no, I am NOT giving you permission to do so, lol) try to bum it, or buy it singly (we have stores here that do that. If you must buy a whole pack, after you get back on track GIVE THE REST OF THE PACK AWAY. You will be making someone ELSE's day by doing so, and you'll save yourself from trying to fight off the temptation and failing, because if you're at all like me (addict) if you know those things are available in your space, you will be eventually smoking them until they are gone. I made this fatal error in the beginning. I couldn't go smoke free until that last pack was GONE.

 

[petem]

Yes I think with the right equipment and juice just about anyone can vape instead of smoke. I must say that for me I buy juice for the taste and quality of the juice, all I want the bottle to do is hold juice and not leak.

Good reference to the Pay It Forward section of this fourm.

I would say for a backup get backup equipment (spare atty or carto, battery, battery charger, juice) to have on hand so if something breaks you can still vape.

Congrats on the one week mark!!!!

 

[DawnH]

Congrats on your one week hurdle! I know how tough it is, still on my way there. I agree, MUST keep spare everything on hand, do NOT want to break down or run out. Wow, I never thought about a spare charger, thank you!

 

[Melzfaze]

I still have my really cheap starter kit from e-health just in case my blu breaks on me.

 

[Liv2Ski]

Congrats on the first week success! weeks quickly turn to months

 

[James Wall]

Good going on your first week!

 

[rita351]

Congrats on your first week. It's been over 5 months for me.

 

[highoctane22]

Congrats and welcome! This forum is great!

 

[okwriter]

My kit hasn't even arrived yet, but I loved your encouraging post! Thanks!

 

[aut0tek]

+1 on what okwriter said... And I agree with OP about chucking the last of the analogs... I've tried to quit a number of times, and would've probably been a lot better if I didn't have those last couple smokes hanging out. I've already started cleaning in preparation of my PV's arrival. haha

 

[Kate51]

Heatherport, I still have a few 'analogs' in a small vase on my top shelf! I just look up and smile once in awhile when I walk past, because they're BEAT! I can't pick them up anymore they're so dry. I wanted to save them, not start out my journey with an empty case. The most dangerous thing is leaving yourself open to Panic. E-cigs will if not right away then will gradually expand your feeling of confidence. The Panic will go away. There is a learning curve, do doubt of that.
I was a 44 year heavy smoker, 2-3 packs a day the last couple years. Or more, depending how long the day was. That was a year and half + ago, the first day I received my e-cig I was determined to make it work. I really didn't feel I had time to fail, it was a now or never kind of decision. I could not breath, or sleep, or work anymore. Every attempt to quit ended in severe depression, a feeling of failure, and a feeling that I was no longer welcome in Society.
From day one I never put another cigarette in my mouth.
Even with a high density nicotine, you will have withdrawal; mine was in the form of extreme hunger, and high nervous energy. So I stayed out of the fridge and got back to working off the energy, and after about 6 weeks all that faded away, the whole time I was feeling better and better, in control. I cut down on nicotine with no problem, from 24mg/ml now to 12mg. I also cut down my vaping, from 3-5 milliliters a day to 1½ or two on a bad day. And I feel 100% better than I have in years. And I thank God for a real chance of living alive again instead of dragging around half dead.
And I LOVE vaping! Maybe I'll quit one day. Maybe not!
Good luck to all, if you need help you'll find it here, among friends.

 

[Heatherport]

Kate, I just have cigarettes so imprinted on my SOUL I don't think I could not smoke them, were they in my house. I mean, I noticed last night that I have a package of Midnight Special (rolling tobacco) in the freezer for emergencies. I kinda keep thinking about it. Rolling is such a PITA though, I'm probably okay there, lol. Can't really impulse smoke too well with those. I went through a bad couple hours yesterday...fighting with my Mom and no charged e-cig. I MADE it but I ALMOST went to the corner store. I just kept talking to myself about how proud I was of myself and how I'd have to get to this place all over again and I made it. Now I have my original 2 Cloud 9's and 5 501's with 4 ways to charge them, lol, so I think I'm safe from here on. Another thought is....give yourself a LOT of slack the first 2 weeks. No pressure to keep house, complete anything, etc. Quitting has to be the most important thing (or second, if you have kids/animals) during that time and everything else takes a back seat. It's one of the most important things you'll ever do.

 

[Heatherport]

Thank you all for the back pats...I REALLY appreciate it (tearing up.)

 

[Heatherport]

Yeah, well your member name gave that away. Sorry, but you walked RIGHT into it! How could I stop myself?

 

[badmemory]

I'm happy with my 510 but still learning.

 

[guava]

Heatherport, I agree with what Kate51 said, but like everything in life, one size does not fit all.

I still keep my last pack of cigs handy with 7 left in the box...from over 20 weeks ago. I first smoked because it was something rebellious and taboo. Then I just kept doing it off and on.

I have vaped for 9+ months now.

Once I decided, "I'm an adult, I can smoke if I want to, the cigarettes are right there if I want them" it took way the forbidden fruit issue which I think for me is what got me into this mess in the first place.

Decide what works for you, and go for it! Vaping has truly changed my life for the better. I now swim laps almost everyday as well as other athletic fun stuff without having to worry about reeking like an ashtray or feeling like crap.

Best of luck to you on your new journey!

 

[Heatherport]

I feel confident I am done. I just don't want to fall into stupid traps that have caught me before. I'll just have one...I'll just finish this pack.....

 

[Heatherport]

I am very active and have been always...I swimin the ocean, boogie board, hike, walk, bike, etc. I do notice a difference when I bike now. I don't miss smelling disgusting...especially going into my kids school.

 

[guava]

I feel confident I am done. I just don't want to fall into stupid traps that have caught me before. I'll just have one...I'll just finish this pack.....

When I finally stopped, guess what worked for me? Forgot to add this in my first reply to you. I allowed myself to smoke, then it went down to taking a few drags and putting the .... out in an ashtray. Then relighting that same .... for another drag or two later on when I had a craving...until one day I realized I hadn't smoked at all. And that's the rest of the pack I still keep on my desk. One problem is that as smokers we got programmed for a "start and end" to each smoke, we don't have to do that with ecigs.

 

[aut0tek]

Yea, being active is gonna help, cuz the lungs aren't really gonna let you do both.