Ready to give up cigs

[dscottj]

Bought my first PV about 4 months ago - have used it on and off, but getting serious now about giving up cigarettes for good. I am new to this forum and any suggestions anyone has about their experience in quitting is helpful... Been smoking for 32 years and having some mild anxiety and depression issues about quitting completely. Let's face it, we smoke/did smoke because we enjoyed it... I am pretty confident that vaping will help in that transition... Any thoughts?

 

[Vwls]

First off - congratulations on making the first step toward freedom.

Going on three years for me, and I've never felt better. Both physically, and mentally - the knowledge of what I've done for my family fills me with a sense of purpose and that good sort of pride - the kind you get from a job well done.

As far as the anxiety and depression... it's OK. Any big life change brings its share. You've lived with cigarettes for a long time, and they've been an old friend. A friend you turned to when you were anxious, nervous, or down. A friend that worked its way into your routine and at some point became a facet of who you are.

But the bottom line (and I'm sure I'm not saying anything you don't know) is that cigarettes kill. Nearly half a million Americans die prematurely from smoking each year. Not to mention the damages from just breathing in the smoke and particulates when you live with/know/love a smoker. And... no one has ever died from vaping or become ill from breathing in second-hand vapor. Simple... this is something you can be calm about as you find your resolve.

Beyond this basic reason to switch, I have found that vaping is satisfying... even fun. More so than cigarettes... so much more. So when you get frustrated or agitated or feeling low... just remind yourself of all the reasons why this has to happen, and keep trying. Keep trying new combinations of atomizers and mods, coil resistances, and juices... till you hit on something that SINGS. And even then - don't stop the adventure. Because the end result, beyond all the fun you're going to have on the way, is YOU. Living longer. Living healthier. Living strong.

 

[BrotherBob]

More than 50 year smoker. Yes. Whatever your vaping, there's a juice out there with your name on it. A perfect vape.
It may take awhile to find it but half the fun is getting real close.

having some mild anxiety and depression issues about quitting completely

Normal. Just look at it this way. All you really feel dependent on is the nicotine, right. Just start with a juice around 18mg or whatever to get that nic buzz then tone down to a lower strength where you feel comfortable. You dont need to suck in dirty ashes to get nic.
Vaping is many times more pleasureable. You get great taste,clouds and all the nic you want without tobacco smells and ashes all over the place.
You should google "VaperconWest is an “old school” style vape meet". Go, its in Reno, around the corner from you. Lots of fellow vaper's and free juice!

 

[Darth Omerta]

What worked for me was a combination of a couple of things. First of all it was ditching what i believe to be terrible tasting "tobacco" flavored juices and finding good tasting juices that i liked. That was more important to me than even nicotine content.
After i got that figured out i needed something that made me WANT to vape. In my world that meant something that looked cool and vaped well. Believe me that was tough to find and what worked for me in the end was the kamry epipe(i don't recommend that mod btw). It looked like a real pipe and not one of those silly (in my new to vaping mind) looking boxes or pens.

I eventually got into mech mods and sub ohming and finally building coils but that all came to me much later.

That all being said. There are so many options and combinations these days that i really believe that the key is finding something that gives you a similar satisfaction as a puff off a cigarette used to, AND, flavor. Cant stress flavor enough. Tey some different juices, see whats out there just try and keep away from buttery flavors, and custards for the time being (some of them have some pretty gnarly stuff in them that are harmful when inhaled.)

 

[VapingBad]

Gradually cut down to zero nic then stop and keep your vaping kit just in case you get tempted, you could keep it at a friend or relatives house so it is not a present temptation.

 

[Mike Geaney]

You are on the right track. I smoked at least a pack a day for 30 years. Dipped my toe in the water, so to speak, and checked out vapeing... Once I got my mind in a good place I went for it. 3 months so far and all is well. I have anxiety and Very mild OCD....mostly a clean freak. Vapeing has taken care of me. The smell of cigarettes is bad to me now....never smelled it before. Come up with a plan, give it a go, and see what happens.

 

[Sir2fyablyNutz]

In my journey vape is 1000% more enjoyable than cigs. When I was "in the process" of quitting I kept a cheap clearomizer of the next higher nic handy. Then when I got the "itch" that vape just wasn't scratching I would hit it once and go back to my regular vape. It worked for me and usually took only a few days of scratching the itch in this manner to be adjusted to the regular nic level and the cigs were gone. I used the same technique as I lowered my nic level down to the 3 and less I now enjoy.

Every aspect of my life got better when I switched to vape from cigs. I could only enjoy spicy flavorful juices in the beginning (cinnamon apple), but my taste buds started to recover and now creams and more are in my daily rotation. I even lost a few pounds due to the fact my snacking dropped a lot and I'd rather vape my dessert than eat it.

Vape is there when you have the mental "itch". For me, vape is more relaxing than a cig ever was. You'll get there, and you CAN do it.

 

[gingertalk196]

For me it will be two years in a few days. Unfortunately, it took me a while to quit too. Really didn't have a game plan in site, it just happened. Had 1 or 2 stinkies a week for the first couple of months. You gradually become less and less interested and the taste of a cigarette begins to loose its appeal. That seems to be a pretty common experience by the way. Some suggest keeping the nicotine level high and I believe there is a chart on this site that might prove helpful in making the conversion. Keep at it and use this site; lots of nice people and good advice. Best of luck to you. Ginger

 

[dscottj]

First off - congratulations on making the first step toward freedom.

Going on three years for me, and I've never felt better. Both physically, and mentally - the knowledge of what I've done for my family fills me with a sense of purpose and that good sort of pride - the kind you get from a job well done.

As far as the anxiety and depression... it's OK. Any big life change brings its share. You've lived with cigarettes for a long time, and they've been an old friend. A friend you turned to when you were anxious, nervous, or down. A friend that worked its way into your routine and at some point became a facet of who you are.

But the bottom line (and I'm sure I'm not saying anything you don't know) is that cigarettes kill. Nearly half a million Americans die prematurely from smoking each year. Not to mention the damages from just breathing in the smoke and particulates when you live with/know/love a smoker. And... no one has ever died from vaping or become ill from breathing in second-hand vapor. Simple... this is something you can be calm about as you find your resolve.

Beyond this basic reason to switch, I have found that vaping is satisfying... even fun. More so than cigarettes... so much more. So when you get frustrated or agitated or feeling low... just remind yourself of all the reasons why this has to happen, and keep trying. Keep trying new combinations of atomizers and mods, coil resistances, and juices... till you hit on something that SINGS. And even then - don't stop the adventure. Because the end result, beyond all the fun you're going to have on the way, is YOU. Living longer. Living healthier. Living strong.

Vwls - Thank you so much for the words of encouragement... I am glad I found this forum as I feel now I have some support and a wealth of knowledge by experience that I can draw from. I pretty much know I have no reason at this time not to quit.. no distractions, no company visiting me anytime soon. Time to focus - thank you

 

[dscottj]

More than 50 year smoker. Yes. Whatever your vaping, there's a juice out there with your name on it. A perfect vape.
It may take awhile to find it but half the fun is getting real close.


Normal. Just look at it this way. All you really feel dependent on is the nicotine, right. Just start with a juice around 18mg or whatever to get that nic buzz then tone down to a lower strength where you feel comfortable. You dont need to suck in dirty ashes to get nic.
Vaping is many times more pleasureable. You get great taste,clouds and all the nic you want without tobacco smells and ashes all over the place.
You should google "VaperconWest is an “old school” style vape meet". Go, its in Reno, around the corner from you. Lots of fellow vaper's and free juice!

Thanks BrotherBob

 

[AXIOM_1]

I started smoking at a very young age (10 years old) and smoked for 35+ years. To top it all off, my Mother just died from lung cancer as a result of her years of smoking, so I am very familiar with the hazards of smoking. So anyone reading this, PLEASE give vaping a good go because like others here have said, it is much more satisfying than regular tobacco smoking.

My journey into the vaping experience may be different from many here but that matters little.... I "wrongly" assumed that ecigs and vaping could never provide the "strength" or satisfaction or eliminate cravings like regular cigarettes could provide. Like I say, I was dead wrong about that thought because what happened to me was that when I got my first vape pen I also ordered some e liquid for it. But, because I didn't know what I was doing at the time and was a total newbie, I ordered the strongest pre-mixed ejuice that i could get my hands on.... It was 36mg and it has 70 PG and 30 vg ratio. It was also tobacco flavored. I figured that since I had been a heavy smoker for many years then it would take a very strong ejuice to give me a throat hit and satisfaction. When I loaded up the vape pen and took my first toke, I took a very long and deep hit and to my utter surprise, I could not handle the power and strength of that juice as I instantly coughed and gagged. I am GLAD that happened to me because I instantly knew that ecigs were very capable of providing strong nicotine levels as well as the intense feeling of smoking. As a matter of fact, because of the strong ejuice that I tried, the feeling that it provided was even more intense than a real cigarette. In other words, the ecig was more like smoking than it is to smoke a real cigarette! Of course, the nicotine level was way too high for me and so I ordered juice with lower nicotine until I found my correct level to where it felt just like I was smoking a real cigg.

The only thing I wished I had with the vape pen I had was that it produced more smoke (vapor).... So, like most vapers, I upgraded to more powerful vape devices. I am totally satisfied now and ciggs are now history for me.

 

[navydavy]

I'll tell you what I did. Smoking about a pack a day for 20 years. Tried to quit multiple times, gum, Chantix, the other older pill, patches, cold turkey. I always went back. I discovered ecigs, like Blu, a few years ago, but hated them. Discovering PV's, liked them a little more, but didn't want to stop smoking. I went to a vape shop, tried a few mods, and bought one I really liked. THEN, I got e-juice that I wanted and tasted awesome. When you find those few you REALLY like, a cigarette does not compare. I ran out of smokes one day, and made excuses why not to go get some. Yes temptation still hits. When it does, I vape. I think I'm doing really well, and have dialed my mg usage back from 24 to 16mg, and it's fine.

Let your self run out of smokes after you find those few flavors you absolutely love. If you decide to try and have a smoke a few days later, you'll realize you don't want/need it. I did.

 

[dionysuskiss]

Don't stress about it. Remember, this is not AA, you can wean off the analogs as fast or as slow as you like. I myself was a dual user for a few months before I just didn't want them anymore. The saying goes, "It's not the ones you smoke, but the ones you don't." It did help me to stay away from the tobacco flavors. You are vaping , not smoking, disassociate yourself from it. You will discover a wonderful world of flavors out there. Especially when your sense of taste comes back.

 

[thailand]

Its great that YOU want to take that step. I've always said that people will quit when THEY are ready, not forced to. Sounds like you're ready.
Good luck in your journey here. This forum is a great resource of former smokers from all walks that will give you options and advice from the heart. We all want you to succeed, and get you to a healthier and happier you. Sounds kinda corny, but this forum is a melting pot all going towards the same goal of no more analogs!

 

[dscottj]

Its great that YOU want to take that step. I've always said that people will quit when THEY are ready, not forced to. Sounds like you're ready.
Good luck in your journey here. This forum is a great resource of former smokers from all walks that will give you options and advice from the heart. We all want you to succeed, and get you to a healthier and happier you. Sounds kinda corny, but this forum is a melting pot all going towards the same goal of no more analogs!

This seems like a great forum and exactly what I was looking for with support. I am currently enrolled in a stop smoking program thru my work - I was sent patches which I now don't think I want to try - I keep getting automated emails, "Did you Quit?" "Ready to Quit?" It's like having someone nag at you and we all know that's not what we need at all ... Vaping I know will help get me there. Looking forward to better health ahead

 

[thailand]

This seems like a great forum and exactly what I was looking for with support. I am currently enrolled in a stop smoking program thru my work - I was sent patches which I now don't think I want to try - I keep getting automated emails, "Did you Quit?" "Ready to Quit?" It's like having someone nag at you and we all know that's not what we need at all ... Vaping I know will help get me there. Looking forward to better health ahead

Ugh, the patches...while they may work for some, I felt that having something in my hand, almost imitating smoking helped immensely. I feel that most of our smoking habit was having something to do with our hands, and you miss that with the patch, gum, or pills.

 

[suprtrkr]

You've heard some good advice and I am late to the thread. Let me just welcome you to the board, and the land of tobacco freedom. Good luck!

 

[dscottj]

What worked for me was a combination of a couple of things. First of all it was ditching what i believe to be terrible tasting "tobacco" flavored juices and finding good tasting juices that i liked. That was more important to me than even nicotine content.
After i got that figured out i needed something that made me WANT to vape. In my world that meant something that looked cool and vaped well. Believe me that was tough to find and what worked for me in the end was the kamry epipe(i don't recommend that mod btw). It looked like a real pipe and not one of those silly (in my new to vaping mind) looking boxes or pens.

I eventually got into mech mods and sub ohming and finally building coils but that all came to me much later.

That all being said. There are so many options and combinations these days that i really believe that the key is finding something that gives you a similar satisfaction as a puff off a cigarette used to, AND, flavor. Cant stress flavor enough. Tey some different juices, see whats out there just try and keep away from buttery flavors, and custards for the time being (some of them have some pretty gnarly stuff in them that are harmful when inhaled.)

Thanks for the info - Any thoughts on using a 'pen type' module like the eGo C Twist? I am using the iStick right now and it works well with the tank I have, but looking for a secondary vape device to use at work, etc that is not so large

 

[dscottj]

Ugh, the patches...while they may work for some, I felt that having something in my hand, almost imitating smoking helped immensely. I feel that most of our smoking habit was having something to do with our hands, and you miss that with the patch, gum, or pills.

Try - alot of it is habitual with our hands - Tried Wellbutrin two years ago and almost quit - Cigs tasted absolutely awful, but the meds mess with your head which was even worse

 

[dscottj]

For me it will be two years in a few days. Unfortunately, it took me a while to quit too. Really didn't have a game plan in site, it just happened. Had 1 or 2 stinkies a week for the first couple of months. You gradually become less and less interested and the taste of a cigarette begins to loose its appeal. That seems to be a pretty common experience by the way. Some suggest keeping the nicotine level high and I believe there is a chart on this site that might prove helpful in making the conversion. Keep at it and use this site; lots of nice people and good advice. Best of luck to you. Ginger

Yes, lots of nice people I see! Thank you for the support