Hello everyone. I have never signed up on a forum before so this is as new to me as is vaping. I have 55 years of smoking cigarettes behind me. (less about 5 of trying to quit off & on) I am hoping that this is the way that will actually work for me. The site was recommend to me by my brother & sister in law as a way to learn more about what I am doing. I was very lucky to have been given a start up kit by a very kind lady, and am now on my 6th day of trying it out. When I find a flavor I like, it seems to help, but so far am still smoking a few cigs a day. Hoping that strong craving for a real cigarette will go away in time, and was wondering how long it takes for most of you to be able to put the cigarettes away for good.
That craving for a cigarette
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It took about a month of dual-use/transitioning, for me; some people can do it all at once, but some people take far longer. There are no "rules," just do it at a pace that feels comfortable for you -- no need to "stop on a dime," just keep vaping; eventually, with enough vaping, those cigarettes will start tasting like t-total crap, won't give you nearly the pleasure that a good vape provides, and you'll know it's time.
I played a little game with myself; how many smokes could I substitute vaping for? I was down to about 5 smokes a day after about a week. I also kept a "tally" sheet -- 4 verticals and a diagonal -- for all the cigarettes I smoked, and tried to go lower each day. I wasn't always successful, some days were the same number as the day before, but the general trend was less and less as the days went by.
Best advice would be: don't pressure yourself, it's highly counterproductive. Enjoy vaping so much that you actually prefer it. Anytime you feel a craving for a smoke, try to procrastinate it -- tell yourself, ok, I'll just vape now, and later if I REALLY want a smoke, I'll go have one -- that procrastination worked great for me, and as the days went by, many times I never went for that promised-later smoke at all -- BUT, if I REALLY wanted it, then I'd go have it!
Vaping needs a slightly different technique, than smoking; smoking is, hard fast draw, fast deep inhale; if you try to vape that way, you won't get a whole lot of nicotine. Vaping needs a softer, slower draw; let it hang around a bit in your mouth and throat before inhaling, or even instead of inhaling; then exhale from the nose as much as the mouth. Vaporized nicotine is absorbed best in the mucosa of the mouth, throat, and sinus/nasal passages, rather than the lungs.
Just enjoy the vape! It can completely overtake smoking, given enough time and a good enough vape.
Welcome to ECF!
Andria
It took me 12 days. Part of that was adjusting to the vape and part was the nicotine level. A couple things I tried which worked for me:
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.
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.
You'll get to where you won't want the cigs anymore, you just have to keep searching for your balance. Nicotine level is crucial, a juice flavor you like as well, and the then as you progress in vape better gear to make vape more enjoyable really helps too.
Don't panic, it's a learning experience. Keep the desire to quit in your mind and you'll succeed. Good luck in your journey.
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.
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.
You'll get to where you won't want the cigs anymore, you just have to keep searching for your balance. Nicotine level is crucial, a juice flavor you like as well, and the then as you progress in vape better gear to make vape more enjoyable really helps too.
Don't panic, it's a learning experience. Keep the desire to quit in your mind and you'll succeed. Good luck in your journey.
My wife is going on 3 months as a dual user. She's down to 3 a day plus 5 mls of juice. My cravings dissappeared after about the 3rd week. The strong cravings anyway. Don't feel guilty about having a cigarette, we all did when we first started. Find a couple of good flavors and make sure you have enough nicotine in your juice. I started at 24. I had a buddy start at 30. Keep at it, it gets easier I promise
Thank you. I have been tracking the number of cigs per day. Did better day before yesterday than yesterday though. Will take your advice on how to vape, and try that. Very encouraging.It took about a month of dual-use/transitioning, for me; some people can do it all at once, but some people take far longer. There are no "rules," just do it at a pace that feels comfortable for you -- no need to "stop on a dime," just keep vaping; eventually, with enough vaping, those cigarettes will start tasting like t-total crap, won't give you nearly the pleasure that a good vape provides, and you'll know it's time.
I played a little game with myself; how many smokes could I substitute vaping for? I was down to about 5 smokes a day after about a week. I also kept a "tally" sheet -- 4 verticals and a diagonal -- for all the cigarettes I smoked, and tried to go lower each day. I wasn't always successful, some days were the same number as the day before, but the general trend was less and less as the days went by.
Best advice would be: don't pressure yourself, it's highly counterproductive. Enjoy vaping so much that you actually prefer it. Anytime you feel a craving for a smoke, try to procrastinate it -- tell yourself, ok, I'll just vape now, and later if I REALLY want a smoke, I'll go have one -- that procrastination worked great for me, and as the days went by, many times I never went for that promised-later smoke at all -- BUT, if I REALLY wanted it, then I'd go have it!
Vaping needs a slightly different technique, than smoking; smoking is, hard fast draw, fast deep inhale; if you try to vape that way, you won't get a whole lot of nicotine. Vaping needs a softer, slower draw; let it hang around a bit in your mouth and throat before inhaling, or even instead of inhaling; then exhale from the nose as much as the mouth. Vaporized nicotine is absorbed best in the mucosa of the mouth, throat, and sinus/nasal passages, rather than the lungs.
Just enjoy the vape! It can completely overtake smoking, given enough time and a good enough vape.
Welcome to ECF!
Andria
RUPPLES!!!!!! 
I'm so glad you found us! I just found a juice you would LOVE! It's not one I would have probably thought to buy for myself, because it has some tobacco flavor in it, but someone sent me some, and I LOVE IT. I think you would, too, and it might help with those cravings for a real cig.
~Lannie
I'm so glad you found us! I just found a juice you would LOVE! It's not one I would have probably thought to buy for myself, because it has some tobacco flavor in it, but someone sent me some, and I LOVE IT. I think you would, too, and it might help with those cravings for a real cig.~Lannie
Thanks for your help. I like your idea of the favorite flavor in the morning. That is actually the hardest time for me. Now I just have to find a "favorite".
Hi Lannie. I finally got on here, but still trying to figure out how to work my way around. You are so right about the really nice people here.RUPPLES!!!!!!
~Lannie
It took me about a week. I was a 35 year smoker. Tried to quit multiple times with the patch, gum, prescription drugs, and hypnosis. None of them worked. I knew that I would still have strong cravings when I started vaping, so I allowed myself 3 - 4 cigarettes a day. I only smoked half a cigarette, and saved the second half for the next craving moment. Those partially smoked butts tasted pretty bad, but that actually helped me quit.
When I got a strong craving, I vaped more. If that didn't help, then I'd allow myself half a cigarette. As the week went on, I started to prefer the vape over smoking.
As your taste buds heal from years of smoking, and your taste and smell begins to return, you should develop a distaste for cigarettes. I had a friend who put her butts in a jar of water and would open the jar for a smell when she got a craving. Worked for her.
Be sure you are using the correct nicotine concentration in your e-liquid. Typical recommendations are:
1/2 pack per day or less = 6 mg nicotine
1 ppd = 12 mg
1 1/2 ppd = 18 mg
2 ppd = 24 mg
This may vary individually, but is a general guideline for most noobs. I believe you really need to want to quit smoking for vaping to work. We have a saying here at ECF for those noobs having difficulty making the transition:
Its not how many cigarettes you smoke that is important. Its how many you DON'T.
Take a read of this blog, a good introduction to a beginner's setup:
When I got a strong craving, I vaped more. If that didn't help, then I'd allow myself half a cigarette. As the week went on, I started to prefer the vape over smoking.
As your taste buds heal from years of smoking, and your taste and smell begins to return, you should develop a distaste for cigarettes. I had a friend who put her butts in a jar of water and would open the jar for a smell when she got a craving. Worked for her.
Be sure you are using the correct nicotine concentration in your e-liquid. Typical recommendations are:
1/2 pack per day or less = 6 mg nicotine
1 ppd = 12 mg
1 1/2 ppd = 18 mg
2 ppd = 24 mg
This may vary individually, but is a general guideline for most noobs. I believe you really need to want to quit smoking for vaping to work. We have a saying here at ECF for those noobs having difficulty making the transition:
Its not how many cigarettes you smoke that is important. Its how many you DON'T.
Take a read of this blog, a good introduction to a beginner's setup:
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Thank you. Encouraging to know that just because I want a real smoke, to know that will get better with time.
It's a big place. I still get lost sometimes. But yeah, everyone is really nice, and when you get lost, you don't have to be shy about asking for directions.
Oh, ugh, that would do it. I couldn't stand that smell even when I was going through two packs a day.
Also, everyone here will tell you, it's not the ones you smoke, it's the ones you DON'T smoke that count.
Found where you said come on over, but how do I get there? LOLAlso, everyone here will tell you, it's not the ones you smoke, it's the ones you DON'T smoke that count.
You just go to the bottom of the posts on that page, to the reply box, and type a reply. Once you're on that thread, go up to the top (very top) and you can see the "path" of which forum/subforum it is, if that's what you meant. But just type a reply there, and you'll get notifications of replies after yours, and then it will be a "watched thread," so you won't lose it.
~Lannie
I just asked Lannie how to get there, but then I saw this. Finally I am able to thank you in person for the awesome gift you sent. What a surprise!! Blew my mind. Everything I needed to get started. Loving the pens!! I told Rich this is the 6th day on the batteries and they are still going. Maybe I'm not vaping enough? When I didn't seem to get the time to explore this site and get signed up, I was about ready to just write you a letter. But now I'm here and I want to say again Thank you so so much. I was still trying to figure out what to get and there it was right in my mailbox.
You're so welcome!!! Im happy they are working for you! we all tagged you to come join the family and meet everyone. In your upper right hand corner you should see your alerts, just find them and you'll find all of us. We'll be your sponsors...lol...just like AA
Thanks, I have to get off right now and go to the store, but will try to spend a few minutes a day on here. Everyone is so helpful!!
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