Try, try again

[alank]

Hello all
I have had a login here for more than a year and never made one post. I have though learned a lot from my readings here and appreciate that this forum exists, thanks to the op.
So, about three years back someone gave me some overpriced ineffective early e-cig model. I know they were hoping maybe I might quit Analogues. Well it didn't go well and I used it here and there to help keep me sane when I was stuck in non-smoking areas for longer periods of time. That old nearly useless e-cig got infrequently used till it eventually got lost. Last year I bought the eGo-T and used it again to deal with times where Analogues were not an option. The eGo-T was a big improvement and I could almost get by with it, though inevitably I would eventually get an Analogue in. I finally arrive at this point and time in September and find I really want to eliminate Analogs. But this time around, and after two Smoking Cessation groups, I finally decided it was never going to be easy. It requires a similar effort to make the switch to vaping as it does to quit period. I don't mean to imply that vaping won't work just that it requires a commitment. And now I am getting ready to make that commitment, I also am under pressure at work to either keep Analogs off the premises or just quit, not quite ready for total cessation. My Doctor recently checked me and clearly told me that my 40 years of Analogs had taken its toll but that I was mostly alright. Heart good, lungs clear enough but functionality was down, etc and mostly good to acceptable. So, feeling the need not to give up nicotine but to eliminate the smoke I am going to try and fully switch by next Monday or at least no Analogs on work premises.
This next part is a bit of a laugh but I was assigned to run the local Smoking Cessation groups as the last non-smoking facilitator failed for the most part and alienated a number of the participants of the group. I was actually sent for some training to run Smoking Cessation groups with the Mentally Ill. Yeah I work with SMI (Severely Mentally Ill) this population has the highest rate of smoking in the USA and the world. They also die 20-25 years earlier than the rest of the general population. So, with my employers on my case, friends and family nagging me and State, local, federal Government regulation catching up I figure the time has come for me to make a better effort and nip the addiction in the bud.
I plan on tapering off the Analogs this week, purchased a few mods and improvements for my rigs and will switch to vaping. I have been using the high dosage formulas for a while and still never feel satisfied. I openly admit that I had never read some of the materials here for beginners, real men never read instructions, right... Now having bothered to RTFM I think I see how it can be done.
Wish me luck in transitioning to vaping and once again thanks to all who contribute good information.

Al

 

[Amish Ed]

Wishing you luck. I tapered off over about 3 weeks. I still want to smoke, but force myself to vape through it. I found I couldn't have smokes around as I'd just smoke them, so I pitched the few I had left. I'm 5 days smoke free now. If you do smoke, don't beat yourself up over it, just start over.

 

[alffalvo]

GOOD LUCK & HAPPY

 

[grandmato5]

You are absolutely right, for most people it still takes some commitment to give up smoking and completely switch to vaping. Vaping is not as easy as picking up a cigarette and lighting it, smoking it and butting it out. Finding the device, juice delivery system, nic level and juice flavor that works best for each of us takes time and money and effort. Even after you have found all of those things there are days that things dont go smoothly and it can be frustrating at times. BUT it is worth all the effort and it IS so much better then smoking ever was

The best advice given to me when I started was to not try to make vaping the same experience as smoking because vaping is NOT the same, it is different. Accept that it is different and half the battle is already won

Good luck

 

[wrenfisher]

Hi, Al. I'm a hard core newbie, so I don't have much to offer in terms of advice. Regarding your difficulties-- I found I had to learn a lot before I felt comfortable enough to give it a go, so maybe not doing your research is a big reason for your troubles. Although vaping can be a lot of fun I wouldn't call it *easy* if you don't really know what you're doing. And even if you do your research, there's the whole process of finding the equipment and juice that you like. You're certainly right about it being a commitment (in more ways than one)! Also, having read a whole lot of posts in the last little while I'm starting to wonder if the magic formula-- if such a thing exists-- is to relax and not put too much pressure on yourself; think of it as a fun, new hobby and don't beat yourself up if you have a smoke every now and then. This morning I started my day with an analog, which made me feel guilty, and that was promptly followed by that "I can't succeed so why bother?" frustration. Fortunately I had my wits about me and immediately reverted to "pat on the back" mode-- after all, it was the only cigarette I'd had in about 18 hours! That seemed to take care of it-- at least for now.

Anyhoo-- glad you are here and good luck! I hope you'll keep us posted on how you make out.

 

[alank]

Thank you all for your input and support
I 100% agree vaping and analogs are not a direct match.
Commitment absolutely, my commitment is 100% off the work premises and continue eliminating it from home.
The home part isn't too bad as I can't smoke in the rental and haven't been allowed to for the last three years. I have been an outdoors smoker for about five years, the noose tightens...
I do figure that having analogs anywhere around will be a temptation that will/would be hard to pass on. I figure out that aspect as I proceed along.
One thing I found out here that made a big difference was that a cigarette calms the craving down in a five minute session. Vaping requires ten minutes to obtain a reasonably satisfactory craving calming effect.
I plan on reducing from high nicotine to lower to eventually none but won't commit to any time frame just yet.
I plan on not beating myself up but am already restricted in official and unofficial ways already.

 

[wrenfisher]

I plan on not beating myself up but am already restricted in official and unofficial ways already.

They aren't restrictions, they're motivators! Now I'm sounding like that Tony Robbins guy. It won't happen again. Best of luck

 

[alank]

They aren't restrictions, they're motivators! Now I'm sounding like that Tony Robbins guy. It won't happen again. Best of luck

It's all good wrenfisher, it's all good, thanks

 

[jackrussel]

I wish you the best of luck in your cessation endeavors. When I was ready to kick the analogs, I did it gradually. I would have 3-5 per day and the rest was vaping. It was surprisingly easy. That's not to say that I didn't or don't still get the urges, just that the vaping made them much easier fight.

Cutting them out at work just may make you realize you don't need them at all

 

[nutkick5]

you need to find a good juice you like. after you find it it will be much better tan smoking. after i found what worked for me i never looked back.

 

[alank]

you need to find a good juice you like. after you find it it will be much better tan smoking. after i found what worked for me i never looked back.

Working on that part too, ordered up a few more eLiquid selections. I want to try out some non tobacco flavors and ordered a few. Hope some arrive soon I think that pretending to be a cigarette may not really work after all. Like I said earlier I know there is a commitment involved in this, just no getting around that.
Was thinking variable voltage might be a good thing too.
A number of blends I have already tried had a nasty throat hit that I didn't like. Am also considering diy mixology, I am a natural born gearhead I definitely have G.A.S. (gear aquisition syndrome)

 

[Buggs5347]

Hi Al. Will you be able to vape at work?

 

[JENerationX]

I'm a second timer myself. Congrats on deciding to come back to it.

I vaped for 4 months, not allowing myself to smoke at all. I found out about the 10-15 minutes vaping takes vs. the 5-6 minute cig and forced myself to vape through the cravings. Then had a string of family tragedies hit and wasn't prepared with enough charged batteries, filled cartos, etc. to get me through it and I smoked. I'd clearly failed, so continued to smoke for about 3 1/2 months, beating myself up about it every day.

DON'T DO THAT!!!!!!

This time it's stuck for about 6 months. I started vaping again.... just hoping to cut down. I realized I'm an adult and if I want a cig, it's not a huge deal. I vaped when I could, and when I couldn't get through a crave, I smoked. Couple weeks in, the smokes weren't really worth it. I'd found enough good equipment and good juice to make the vaping session far superior to a smoke. At that point, I stopped buying any and stuck with it. To this day, if I want a cig... I'll have a cig. I'm just finding that I don't want one. Last time I decided to have one, I took 4 puffs and puked, so having the memory of that feeling, I'm pretty sure I can talk myself off the smoking ledge fairly easily.

 

[alank]

Hi Al. Will you be able to vape at work?

Yes but with similar restrictions as smokers, I will try out non tobacco flavored eLiquid as soon as I get it. That may help me slip it through, my office-mate is sympathetic so no issues there. I am barely in my office anyway and neither is she
In the long run who knows, maybe the government will label it evil and I will be further restricted.

 

[alank]

Last time I decided to have one, I took 4 puffs and puked, so having the memory of that feeling, I'm pretty sure I can talk myself off the smoking ledge fairly easily.

I can understand the puking notion as since I have halved my analogs I already noticed how annoying and nauseating they can be. The first morning cig can be horrible...
Thanks and pleasure meeting you all

 

[freekshow]

I found in the beginning that slowly knocking off analog use at certain craving times (starting with waking up) I had much better transition results!Within about 3 weeks(I think) I was only "smoking" just before bed,a few days after that point I realized that I in fact did NOT like or enjoy the taste of the analogs more or less my taste buds were coming back to life.
Another thing I avoided was keeping track of my progress other than "oh cool its been a month".I found that the more attention I gave the transition/progress,the more anxious and/or critical I was of the progress or regressions.

Just my

 

[Buggs5347]

Oh, good! There are so many places now that won't allow any nicotine of any form on site or grounds, not even in your own car. Where I work, we are allowed to go to the smoking area outside to vape. Thank goodness.

 

[pptwo]

I too went back on analog smoke and now starting again on vaping.

good luck to you

 

[alank]

I too went back on analog smoke and now starting again on vaping.

good luck to you

Thanks and good luck to you too. It's getting harder to maintain the analog habit work, driving company cars, rentals, hotels, etc...
Not to mention limits on where, I once offered a homeless guy one cigarette to let me stand on the vent in winter in NYC, he wanted two and three if he had to move. The third might have been worth it too, PU, even in winter he reeked

 

[BumbleBee]

Good luck! I agree, it does take some commitment too. My transition hasn't been as instant as some people here, but I tapered off over the last 2 months, at first only using the ecig at night or for stealth vapes at the office.

For me, it got easier as days passed. From a pack a day, to 15 a day, down to 1, 2 maybe 3 a day. Down to 1 in the morning, 1 at night. I just mentioned in another post, I haven't had a smoke in 2 days now. I haven't really wanted one. Over time, I'm happier vaping.

Yes, it's a challenge for some of us, but you can do it. Give your self time, and hey, if you gotta have a cig or your just gonna scream, have one. Then pick the ecig back up, and move forward! You can do it!!