Hi All,
I haven't posted to this forum in months, but, with one year under my belt, so to speak, I decided to post this.
I recall that afternoon well - July 24, 2009. I had recently received a batch of 901 stuff in the mail and was elated. I recall my last analog, a Pall Mall light 100. I smoked half of it, and threw it out in disgust, after trying vaping. There were a few rough spots early on, but, fortunately, the good folks here on the forum got me over the hump. I can, confidently say, that I am a non-smoker for the first time in my adult life.
Here's what I've gained:
- Much better peripheral circulation. Quitting analogs made me feel 10 years younger, easily.
- My sense of smell, while still not great, has vastly improved.
- My teeth are noticeably whiter.
- My gums are nice and pink, now.
- Most of all, I can exercise easily, now, without getting winded. Cutting the yard, or walking up, even very steep, long hills is a breeze. This took time, though. At 3 months in, I noticed a great improvement, but it's trivial compared to now. I can say, without hesitation, that I'm in the best shape I've been, since my teen years.
- I only became aware in the last couple years of smoking just HOW BAD it smells. Thankfully, I don't bear that social stigma anymore!
- My doc and dentist are happy with me.
- Money wise, I'm just starting to break even, but soon I'll have more ready cash.
What I've learned in a year of vaping:
- This forum, with its good folks, is a godsend. If you're looking to quit analogs, the people here WILL help you.
- Relying on the standard batteries that usually come with PVs, will likely only cause you grief. Get a battery mod, or build one yourself. I use a 3 AA NIMH Juicy Box - Jaaxx's design - vaping became a much greater pleasure, once I had no worries about the batteries going flat all the time. Also, I find that I get a much better, more satisfying hit, by taping over the atomizer air hole, so that I'm pulling through the battery box. (There could be some health concern with this, however, so try it at your own peril.)
- Chop off a small portion of the cart on the end inserted into the atomizer. This will prevent it from melting.
- Mix your own juice to save a lot of money. Buy strong nic juice and reduce it to a low nic concentration to start with (6 mg per ml, or less) and gradually increase it, if you feel the need. I use 3 to 6 mg juice and find that works well for me.
- Don't use the stock wadding that comes in the carts. There are plenty of better alternatives. I've found that rolled coffee filters work great for me, though most swear by tea bags.
- If you vape a lot, then have 2 or 3 atomizers to trade off. The main reason, I found, why atomizers get that terrible acrid taste, is from overuse. A good rule: no more than 2 good vapes per minute, and then give it a couple or three minutes off. Let the atomizer rest for a good five minutes, if it's become more than noticeably warm. Keep it wet, too. Since I started following this rule, my atomizers have lasted for 3 or more months without the need for any kind of maintenance, aside from blowing out the excess juice once a day.
- I don't vape often in public, preferring to use other nic replacement when out and about. If you get sick of inhaling continually to get a nic fix, then, by all means give the gum, lozenge, etc. a try.
- Don't worry about quitting nicotine, for now. Focus on staying free of tobacco. And, whatever you do - don't smoke:
YouTube - Yul Brynner - Anti-Smoking Commercial
I haven't posted to this forum in months, but, with one year under my belt, so to speak, I decided to post this.
I recall that afternoon well - July 24, 2009. I had recently received a batch of 901 stuff in the mail and was elated. I recall my last analog, a Pall Mall light 100. I smoked half of it, and threw it out in disgust, after trying vaping. There were a few rough spots early on, but, fortunately, the good folks here on the forum got me over the hump. I can, confidently say, that I am a non-smoker for the first time in my adult life.
Here's what I've gained:
- Much better peripheral circulation. Quitting analogs made me feel 10 years younger, easily.
- My sense of smell, while still not great, has vastly improved.
- My teeth are noticeably whiter.
- My gums are nice and pink, now.
- Most of all, I can exercise easily, now, without getting winded. Cutting the yard, or walking up, even very steep, long hills is a breeze. This took time, though. At 3 months in, I noticed a great improvement, but it's trivial compared to now. I can say, without hesitation, that I'm in the best shape I've been, since my teen years.
- I only became aware in the last couple years of smoking just HOW BAD it smells. Thankfully, I don't bear that social stigma anymore!
- My doc and dentist are happy with me.
- Money wise, I'm just starting to break even, but soon I'll have more ready cash.
What I've learned in a year of vaping:
- This forum, with its good folks, is a godsend. If you're looking to quit analogs, the people here WILL help you.
- Relying on the standard batteries that usually come with PVs, will likely only cause you grief. Get a battery mod, or build one yourself. I use a 3 AA NIMH Juicy Box - Jaaxx's design - vaping became a much greater pleasure, once I had no worries about the batteries going flat all the time. Also, I find that I get a much better, more satisfying hit, by taping over the atomizer air hole, so that I'm pulling through the battery box. (There could be some health concern with this, however, so try it at your own peril.)
- Chop off a small portion of the cart on the end inserted into the atomizer. This will prevent it from melting.
- Mix your own juice to save a lot of money. Buy strong nic juice and reduce it to a low nic concentration to start with (6 mg per ml, or less) and gradually increase it, if you feel the need. I use 3 to 6 mg juice and find that works well for me.
- Don't use the stock wadding that comes in the carts. There are plenty of better alternatives. I've found that rolled coffee filters work great for me, though most swear by tea bags.
- If you vape a lot, then have 2 or 3 atomizers to trade off. The main reason, I found, why atomizers get that terrible acrid taste, is from overuse. A good rule: no more than 2 good vapes per minute, and then give it a couple or three minutes off. Let the atomizer rest for a good five minutes, if it's become more than noticeably warm. Keep it wet, too. Since I started following this rule, my atomizers have lasted for 3 or more months without the need for any kind of maintenance, aside from blowing out the excess juice once a day.
- I don't vape often in public, preferring to use other nic replacement when out and about. If you get sick of inhaling continually to get a nic fix, then, by all means give the gum, lozenge, etc. a try.
- Don't worry about quitting nicotine, for now. Focus on staying free of tobacco. And, whatever you do - don't smoke:
YouTube - Yul Brynner - Anti-Smoking Commercial
