What made the transition off analogues easier for you?

[manc]

So it seems that many people get their first e-cig, and effortlessly put down analogues for good. Some call themselves accidental quitters, because they had not even planned to quit, it just happened...

Then there are those of us who get our PV, and continue to smoke analogues for a period of time as we transition.

So for those of you that are gradually making the transition, or already have, what made the transition easier and quicker for you? Did you have any epiphanies along the way? (I assume eventually you thought, "Wow, cigarettes taste horrible" -- but what else changed?)

For me, admitting to myself that it IS going to take some conscious effort is the first step. I've started by setting aside a specific number of analogues for the day, and trying to stick to it. This encourages me to see vaping as a satisfying alternative. I'm also experimenting with different strength e-liquids, to see which ones work best for me.

Maybe I should be more patient, and not force it. I don't know. I really DO enjoy vaping, but at this point, I still enjoy my analogues as well.

 

[MissVapor]

For the first 3 months I used both e cig and analog..than I found this site and got encouraged by others..once I found a juice I liked (555 and coffee) it was super easy! Now its just fun trying all the new flavors!

 

[dijohn76]

I can't say anything specific. I am an "accidental" quitter. I was super mad about the latest tax increase on my "roll your own tobacco" and my mother had seen an add for an "electronic cigarette" in a magazine and told me to check them out. I researched a little then got impatient and found NJOY NPRO at our local cigarette store. Bought it, started puffing and it just satisfied my cravings. However, I think my addiction was more the psychological as in the ritual of smoking, the hand to mouth, inhale, exhale, etc. Everytime I thought cigarette I just picked up my e-cig and it took care of everything. I even went no nic by the end of the week. I might add I was a 37year 2.5 to 3 pack a day smoker. Again, I think it was more that I didn't think about it alot and didn't try to make myself switch, in fact, I carried my regular cigs around just in case I got the urge, just never did. I think maybe it was because I didn't consider myself to be quitting that it worked.

 

[Cori]

For me it was starting off with a higher strength nic juice *24. While I wasn't crazy about the throat hit I was getting, I'm a wuss.. it was more than enough to help keep the cravings down. I used both my PV and analogs for the first 8 days then I just found I didn't want the analog anymore.

Currently down to about 11mg nic juice. Recently took a hit off an analog and it seriously turned my stomach.

 

[happily]

I seriously believe a step up in nicotine will do you wonders, even if its just some puffs of the strong stuff on occasion. The feeling I got when I stepped up to 36mg from 18mg was the equilavant of satisfying my hunger by stuffing myself. After a couple of days I went down to 24mg. Now I just hit 36mg at various times.

When you get enough that you have to put the vaporizer down I promise you won't be looking for an analog. The trick is low stuff for when you really want to vape like crazy and high stuff for when you can't satisfy the cravings. I also placed my vaporizer outside for a few days so instead of walking out and picking up a smoke. I could grab it and make it my smoke break. Although I vape constantly, I get cigarette type enjoyment when I have to make an effort to take a vape break.

good luck

also if you haven't done a straw mod on your carts I highly recommend you try it. It's been blowing my mind with nic the last 3 days since I tried it.

 

[manc]

Thanks for the input! I always smoked cigarettes outside, so I'm trying out happily's advice: when I'm craving one, I dip in some strong liquid (26mg is the highest I have right now) and go outside with my PV. The throat hit is better with the higher strength, which helps. And going outside helps satisfy the smoke break routine. I use 0 or 6mg liquid while I vape away inside.

I'm on track to have fewer analogues today than I usually smoke, so it's a step in the right direction

also if you haven't done a straw mod on your carts I highly recommend you try it. It's been blowing my mind with nic the last 3 days since I tried it.

I've been considering the straw mod. But I was wondering if the hit would be any better than dripping/dipping? I have a 401 with the exposed atomizer, so I dip straight into the liquid.

 

[miragorri]

I'm an accidental quitter, and I feel great!! I just started because of my children, I promissed them that I would quit by the tim ethey were back from vacations, but really did not know how, until I ran into the Smoking Everywhere stand, it certainly is not the best e-cig, but it made me start, now I have a 501 and I love it, I've started trying out new flavors.

My last analog was on June 15th, 2009 I really think that is possible now, after 21 years of smoking

 

[aschmidy]

It took me 3 months of vaping and analogs, then I read someone on here suggest thinking of it as switching brands instead of quitting. It took a little bit to get that mindset. I really didn't want to quit, be an exsmoker (one of those) I played a bunch of mind games with myself and finally switched my brand to my 901 with Tennessee Cured. Upping the nicotine helps too. I used straight 36mg VG in the morning at times.

 

[BARENETTED]

During my last couple of years, I was not liking the taste of any analogs.

I smoked because the receptors in my brain told me I needed to.

I think I enjoy vaping more because it tastes so much better and yes, it does not smell.

 

[Speedikeys]

I think I'm an "accidental quitter" as well. What did it for me was a new PV. I got my first PV and was still smoking analogs and vaping, but that PV just wasn't enough for me to give up the analogs.

Then I got a different PV that really just satisfied everything I needed from an analog right from the start so I said to myself "Just don't buy any more cigarettes and see how long you can go." I figured I might last a half a day, a whole day at the most, before I would be tearing outta here to get a pack. I told myself I would take it hour by hour, and if it got that bad, I would go buy a pack of cigarettes, but it never got THAT BAD.

So after 35 years of smoking two packs per day, I can now say I'm a non-smoker. It is 3 weeks today since I've smoked an analog. I never ever thought I'd live to see the day!

Lots of times I think I still want one or that I miss them, but I just ignore those thoughts.

I did have to make a conscious decision that I was really going to try and I acknowledged that it wasn't going to be easy. If it were easy, everybody would do it, right?

The easiest thing and least painful thing would be to just keep smoking cigarettes. There is no easy painless happy way to quit smoking. We're addicts. It's not pretty.

So, by taking it literally an hour at a time, I can't say it was a piece of cake, but I will say it wasn't 1/10th as bad as I thought it would be once I had the right equipment and juice that I liked. Now I worry about how I'll ever quit vaping. It's always somethin'.

 

[mikea]

The short answer is: going from an underpowered PV to one with much better battery life, and that can work with a passthrough.

My story seems very much like several others in this thread. I was angry about the tax increase and vowed: that's it. I'm going to stop buying the things and start making them. At least I'll save some money.

I got a cigarette 'injector' machine and some tubes and bulk tobacco. I wasn't saving what I'd hoped for, but still it was cheaper, and no more middle of the night oh, no -- what store is open nearby? panics. Then someone turned me on to a kind of anti-tar filter where I could see how much tar was being trapped inside the filter with each cigarette. And I think that was when it hit me: how dumb is this, anyway, and how long have I been dumb enough to put that much horrible looking stuff into my lungs? WAY too long.

At about that time -- I can't even remember how now -- I discovered the whole PV 'thing'. I was immediately smitten with the idea. There are a lot of really badly designed vendor web sites; I 'imprinted' on the first one I saw that wasn't badly designed...and bought the wrong thing -- a 'micro' type of e-cig that has a tiny cartridge and whose battery runs out right quick. Tickd me off how much more I spent on it than I should have. Wish I'd known about this forum then. BUT...

... on the first day I used the thing I smoked half what I usually smoke. Later I ordered better PVs and although I haven't kicked King Tobacco yet, today I smoked only four (out of a usual 25 or so). I'm stunned by this. I can't believe it could be this effective. To cut down that much was unthinkable only a couple of weeks ago.

Now to deal with what is it that's causing the occasional craving for an actual cigarette. I'm probably getting "enough" nicotine. So I'm not sure what it is that keeps me wanting to smoke a few times a day. I'm sure I'll get past it. Then King Tobacco is a thing of the past (unless Obama's FDA decides to destroy the e-cig industry. Then I'm damned if I know what I'll do...)

 

[MissVapor]

Thanks for the input! I always smoked cigarettes outside, so I'm trying out happily's advice: when I'm craving one, I dip in some strong liquid (26mg is the highest I have right now) and go outside with my PV. .

Oh YES! that is VERY true..I had to go outside in the beginning and use my ECIG outside b/c of the routine part..and it helped a lot..I forgot about that.

 

[JoAnna1010]

This is a great thread and I am subscribed to it for inspiration and motivation.

I started vaping about 6-8 weeks ago. The first months have been interesting & expensive (!!) as I have tried about 5 different types of ecigs and various combo's of nic strengths and flavors.

I've not setteled on the "best one for me" and am ready to start thinking about eventually working towards the ultimate goal zero nicotine.
It is so great that zero nic is possible, yet you could still have the "hand-to-mouth" addiction fulfilled !!

I have noticed in the last 2 weeks that I have been vaping about 95% of the time and only want/need an analog 2-4 times a day. I can't decide if I am "craving" the analog....or if it is just force of habbit or a "reward" for a task completed, being good and not smoking so much, etc.. Ha Ha

I also continue to wonder how much nicotine I am actually getting from vaping and how it compares with my smoking. I started a thread on this subject and have identified 2 home tests you can do to determine nicotine levels. Just out of curiosity, I may purchase them and see how I stack up throughout the process of maximizing my vaping experience or slowly going down to zero nicotine.

The one thing that is kinda in the back of my mind is ... could I be "over-vaping" and using much more nicotine than I used to with smoking and more than I need to avoid cravings??? I suppose this is possible due to the way that vaping is much easier to do, anytime and anyplace.

I like the idea suggested that you should attempt to vape in the same time/place/situations that you smoked. For example, we haven't smoked in our house in 15 years. We go to the garage or the deck.

I just wonder if one of these days, I'll just suddenly have absolutely no desire to smoke analogs and that's how it will end ??? Is that what happened to you all ???

Thanks for the good info. Keep it coming !!

 

[wv2win]

Getting a PV that actually works instead of those small battery, auto switch PV's that give you an average hit only for the first 10 minutes. The Screwdriver made all of the difference.

 

[dtsalkire]

Started vaping 7 weeks ago. I have a 510. I was smoking close to 2 packs of cigs a day.

In my mind I got PV to cut back because I have tried everything to quit and nothing worked so e-cig was not going to be the end all be all LOL.

This way if I cut back I did not have the anxiety of quiting that we get. I told myself I was allowed 5 cigs a day and would write the day of the week on my pack so I could keep track of it. I was able to manage with 4 a day at first with no problems. I then went to 3 or 4. Now I am at 2 to 3. Yesterday I started having 1/2 of a cig at my cig times. This morning I had 1/2 of a cig instead of the whole thing. I feel for me a gradual cut down is best. I allowed myself a smoke in the morning at 4:00 and at 9:00. This way at lets say 2:00 if I was craving a cig I would just tell myself only 2 hours and I can have one.

I thinks its a matter of brainwashing myself but its working. I do hope to get off the analogs at some point soon and then work down the nic level. I started vaping 18mg felt I needed stronger and went to 24mg and now I am back down to 18 with an occasional 36 drop at trying times.

 

[Wlfwo]

I did both for the first couple of weeks and found that the analogs were tasting really nasty. Funny I never noticed that before I got my 901. After that it was rather easy to just not get another pack.

I love the fact that I can now smell things and taste things and that I no longer cough at all. I had also started having a nagging little chest pain that has gone away.

Would be interesting to have a poll on how many people have actually stopped smoking in favor of going with vaping 100%

 

[manc]

I think I'm an "accidental quitter" as well. What did it for me was a new PV. I got my first PV and was still smoking analogs and vaping, but that PV just wasn't enough for me to give up the analogs.

Then I got a different PV that really just satisfied everything I needed from an analog right from the start so I said to myself "Just don't buy any more cigarettes and see how long you can go." I figured I might last a half a day, a whole day at the most, before I would be tearing outta here to get a pack. I told myself I would take it hour by hour, and if it got that bad, I would go buy a pack of cigarettes, but it never got THAT BAD.

So after 35 years of smoking two packs per day, I can now say I'm a non-smoker. It is 3 weeks today since I've smoked an analog. I never ever thought I'd live to see the day!

Lots of times I think I still want one or that I miss them, but I just ignore those thoughts.

I did have to make a conscious decision that I was really going to try and I acknowledged that it wasn't going to be easy. If it were easy, everybody would do it, right?

The easiest thing and least painful thing would be to just keep smoking cigarettes. There is no easy painless happy way to quit smoking. We're addicts. It's not pretty.

So, by taking it literally an hour at a time, I can't say it was a piece of cake, but I will say it wasn't 1/10th as bad as I thought it would be once I had the right equipment and juice that I liked. Now I worry about how I'll ever quit vaping. It's always somethin'.

Speedikeys, do you mind me asking what PV you found that completely satisfied you? While I like the M401, I am thinking that a higher performance PV would help me out. And I agree, making the conscious decision to try to quit is helpful, instead of just waiting for it to happen.

The short answer is: going from an underpowered PV to one with much better battery life, and that can work with a passthrough.

My story seems very much like several others in this thread. I was angry about the tax increase and vowed: that's it. I'm going to stop buying the things and start making them. At least I'll save some money.

I got a cigarette 'injector' machine and some tubes and bulk tobacco. I wasn't saving what I'd hoped for, but still it was cheaper, and no more middle of the night oh, no -- what store is open nearby? panics. Then someone turned me on to a kind of anti-tar filter where I could see how much tar was being trapped inside the filter with each cigarette. And I think that was when it hit me: how dumb is this, anyway, and how long have I been dumb enough to put that much horrible looking stuff into my lungs? WAY too long.

At about that time -- I can't even remember how now -- I discovered the whole PV 'thing'. I was immediately smitten with the idea. There are a lot of really badly designed vendor web sites; I 'imprinted' on the first one I saw that wasn't badly designed...and bought the wrong thing -- a 'micro' type of e-cig that has a tiny cartridge and whose battery runs out right quick. Tickd me off how much more I spent on it than I should have. Wish I'd known about this forum then. BUT...

... on the first day I used the thing I smoked half what I usually smoke. Later I ordered better PVs and although I haven't kicked King Tobacco yet, today I smoked only four (out of a usual 25 or so). I'm stunned by this. I can't believe it could be this effective. To cut down that much was unthinkable only a couple of weeks ago.

Now to deal with what is it that's causing the occasional craving for an actual cigarette. I'm probably getting "enough" nicotine. So I'm not sure what it is that keeps me wanting to smoke a few times a day. I'm sure I'll get past it. Then King Tobacco is a thing of the past (unless Obama's FDA decides to destroy the e-cig industry. Then I'm damned if I know what I'll do...)

I made my own cigs with an injection machine as well. I was angry when they started taxing loose tobacco, though. Now I just buy really cheap "little cigars" that are filtered and the same size as a 100s cigarette. But I think being in the DIY habit when it came to cigarettes helped when it came to using e-cigs.

I did both for the first couple of weeks and found that the analogs were tasting really nasty. Funny I never noticed that before I got my 901. After that it was rather easy to just not get another pack.

I love the fact that I can now smell things and taste things and that I no longer cough at all. I had also started having a nagging little chest pain that has gone away.

Would be interesting to have a poll on how many people have actually stopped smoking in favor of going with vaping 100%

Wlfwo, here's the poll you wanted to see! The numbers are pretty impressive. (sorry, I can't post links yet)

www (dot) e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/quitting/6470-e-cig-success-rate.html

 

[Mossman]

I've had my 510 for a week now, and I'm down to 4 analogs a day (down from a little over a pack a day)... It was a slow start, because the starter kit I got came with one manual, and one automatic battery... I hated the automatic immediately, and sent it back, so I had to make do with one battery for the first few days, until my order of spare manual batteries arrived.

I find that I crave an analog most first thing in the morning, and after meals... Somehow, vapor doesn't seem like an adequate substitute at those times... But I'm happy to vape the rest of the day... Perhaps I should use 36mg for those times when I crave an analog the most. Right now, I'm alternating between 18mg and 24mg.

When I do smoke, I'm starting to find the experience somewhat revolting... Not only the taste, but the way it makes me feel... Like I can literally feel the effects of all the poison in the smoke... It's like a dirty buzz... if that makes any sense.

 

[Kelemvor]

i got my kssbox extended in laty may, and since 1.april i haven't touched a pyro (cigarette).

it seems the kissbox passthrough made it very easy for me. i had not to worry about batteries at home. it happened absolutely accidentially to me to stop smoking.

now the kissbox is not alone anymore, i got a few friends for her.

a ladypipe, 2 ruyan cigars, a stick and a selfmade boxmod for 801 atomizers + 901/cartomizer adapter.

but still, i always think about the next purchase and newest thingy.

if i ever completely drop vaping and smoking they will get a shrine for them all i think.

greetz from germany

 

[Anonomo]

First e-cig was a SE 2.0 I bought in mid-March, used it 2 or 3 times and didn't like it. Found this site, did some research and bought a 510 at the end of March. I went thru a 9 day transition period, vaping and analogs. I finished my last pack of analogs on Apr 5th and haven't had an analog since. The new tax increase was a motivator along with the social bullying of smokers that has taken hold, but the goal was always to quit for my health. Like a lot of folks I've tried the usual suspects, hypnosis, Zyban, patches, gum, etc. I started with and am still using 16-18mg juice. I recently bought a big bottle of 11 mg to step down the nic. The goal is to get to zero. I'm in no hurry and have no time table. This is working for me and I'm confident I can stay off analogs.