When do you dare call yourself a non-smoker?

[Engraced]

I have smoked for 7+ years, but never really considered myself a smoker. Even at half-pack+ a day, it never really sunk in that I was a smoker.

So, really, I think it's entirely up to you whether or not you are a smoker.

 

[FRGMNT]

I still can't say I'm completely a non-smoker. I do love my ecig over analogs, but I still give in to social smoking at times. I'd say I'm about 79% of my way there

 

[liveone]

As soon as other people can't bum a cig off you when they are out, they consider you a non smoker.

First you become a nonsmoker, then it takes a while for you to get used to the idea.

 

[Stinknugget]

I had my last cigarette 2 months 21 days ago. I smoked well in excess of 20 a day for over 40 years and I'm frankly amazed at how the chance purchase of an e-cig has changed my life. Somehow though I'm not confident about calling myself a non-smoker yet. It isn't that I have a single urge to return to analogues, nothing would persuade me to go back there so how long did it take others on here to believe they are now non-smokers?

Same here. Smoked a pack a day for nearly 15 years. I haven't quit smoking very long but every day impresses me more and more. For me, I believe when i am no longer impressed that i am not smoking is when i will consider myself a non-smoker. Previous attempts at quitting using other methods were unbearable especially being constantly surrounded by smokers. With vaping, it's just easy. Now i have fun converting people.

Hard to explain why it's so easy quitting with vaping but im sure you and alot of others know exactly what im talking about.

Congrats on your time off.

 

[Dominicanto]

Like many folks here, I agree that there's a "turning point" moment when you feel there's no way you're going back to analogs. You don't want to judge others, but for me it's when I looked out from my office window at one of my colleagues, standing under a tree, in the rain, trying to light his cig, desperate for a drag. Meanwhile, I'm in my office typing away at e-mails, vaping happily and dry. Or, the fact that my wife hugs me randomly and kisses me with a smile because I don't stink. Or, when I hold my newborn and feel not an ounce of guilt that she's on my chest, because there's no tar/carcinogen that can hurt her. You know - that's probably what the "turning point" is - a sense of victory over the guilt that was smoking analogs.

... being a bit smug at not having to light a cig in a thunderstorm, under a tree, doesn't hurt, either

Congrats, and enjoy your victory with a vape!

 

[ChrisGaynor]

I agree. Once I felt like I didn't "have" to smoke, then I felt comfortable saying that I was a non-smoker. I tried everything from nicotine patches to to Chantix. Electronic cigarettes was the best thing that ever happened to me. Now I feel much better while vaping and it even tastes better!

 

[Kioso]

I'd say it's probably different for everyone.
I haven't smoked in 3 months but one night out drinking with buddies I forgot a spare batt and the one I had died. I bummed an analog from a friend. Nasty, nasty, nasty. I took like 3 hits off it and realized I couldn't smoke the thing. Went the rest of the night without nicotine I hated it so much, lol. After that night, I know I'll never go back.

 

[ThunderT]

I also have a hard time calling myself a non-smoker, in public I go to where the smokers go and vape, at home I vape outside or in my garage, i still open the garage door just as i did when I smoked analogs. My wife said the other day "it's nice that you don't smell of smoke when we kiss" certainly made me feel like a non-smoker., that's good enough for me!

Congrats smoklessatlast on almost 3 months without an analog!

 

[HawkeyeFLA]

I had my last cigarette 2 months 21 days ago. I smoked well in excess of 20 a day for over 40 years and I'm frankly amazed at how the chance purchase of an e-cig has changed my life. Somehow though I'm not confident about calling myself a non-smoker yet. It isn't that I have a single urge to return to analogues, nothing would persuade me to go back there so how long did it take others on here to believe they are now non-smokers?

I've often quoted one of my professors quoting someone else. "It takes 21 days to change a habit." I don't know if that number is totally true, but it wasn't the first time I had heard it.

Couple weeks ago I was sitting outside at work near the smoking section (it's really the only good outdoor "back stage" area anyways, so I don't mind. One of our restaurant servers needed a light and asked me if I smoked. I was able to simply say "Nope," and smiled. After he went and found a lighter, we had a brief discussion about PVs, and I gave him the ECF card.

 

[Crack3dOne]

Almost 3 months myself as well. Not going back for any thing. I date a smoker and my parents are smokers and it is really starting to repulses me. She is however using an ego 50% of the time. I have faith she'll get there. Congrats to all of you non smokers from a fellow non smoker!

 

[Stinknugget]

Like many folks here, I agree that there's a "turning point" moment when you feel there's no way you're going back to analogs. You don't want to judge others, but for me it's when I looked out from my office window at one of my colleagues, standing under a tree, in the rain, trying to light his cig, desperate for a drag. Meanwhile, I'm in my office typing away at e-mails, vaping happily and dry. Or, the fact that my wife hugs me randomly and kisses me with a smile because I don't stink. Or, when I hold my newborn and feel not an ounce of guilt that she's on my chest, because there's no tar/carcinogen that can hurt her. You know - that's probably what the "turning point" is - a sense of victory over the guilt that was smoking analogs.

... being a bit smug at not having to light a cig in a thunderstorm, under a tree, doesn't hurt, either

Congrats, and enjoy your victory with a vape!

Well put man. So true.

 

[spaz5]

My magic moment came when I asked myself " If vaping were outlawed and banned, would I return to cigs or just quit everything? My answer was "I could quit everything now". Thats when I knew I was a non-smoker. Oh...that and when my blood pressure dropped 40 points with no medication!

 

[Stinknugget]

My magic moment came when I asked myself " If vaping were outlawed and banned, would I return to cigs or just quit everything? My answer was "I could quit everything now". Thats when I knew I was a non-smoker. Oh...that and when my blood pressure dropped 40 points with no medication!

My biggest fear is a ban.

 

[Dominicanto]

I hear that! Just dropped by the NY Vapers section of the forum today only to see that our fantastic politicians here are hard at work trying to ban the sale/import of e-cigs into the state. Had to give them a piece of my mind on the state government's site. Sad world we live in where I can easily and legally buy the three things most likely to kill me and those around me (Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms), but not the one thing that could potentially save my life. So yeah, I fear a ban on vaping for everyone after me who may have that much harder of a time quitting as their options become limited.

 

[Punkndrublic]

It's been about 2 months for me... again, but I started 3 years ago with the Joye 510, and would burn those poor batteries out in a night. So after one night of having no charged batteries I started up the analog train again. Anyways I have the ego C, the ego twist 1000 man and the viva stone now. I won't be going back to the analog anytime soon, the tech finally caught up. And the E-juice selections are way better now.

 

[JENerationX]

I hear that! Just dropped by the NY Vapers section of the forum today only to see that our fantastic politicians here are hard at work trying to ban the sale/import of e-cigs into the state. Had to give them a piece of my mind on the state government's site. Sad world we live in where I can easily and legally buy the three things most likely to kill me and those around me (Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms), but not the one thing that could potentially save my life. So yeah, I fear a ban on vaping for everyone after me who may have that much harder of a time quitting as their options become limited.

WE won that one...... they passed a ban sales to minors bill instead.

 

[synflex]

Been smoking for over 15 years, on and off quitting for about a month max.

I occassionally will take a social analogues puff, but found myself not liking the smell and taste anymore.

Now I consider myself non-smoker, after 6 months or so vaping.

 

[spaz5]

I hear that! Just dropped by the NY Vapers section of the forum today only to see that our fantastic politicians here are hard at work trying to ban the sale/import of e-cigs into the state. Had to give them a piece of my mind on the state government's site. Sad world we live in where I can easily and legally buy the three things most likely to kill me and those around me (Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms), but not the one thing that could potentially save my life. So yeah, I fear a ban on vaping for everyone after me who may have that much harder of a time quitting as their options become limited.

Yes, great state we live in huh? I've been through the ban threats before here, but it never makes it easer. I would actually consider leaving this state if it
was just an NYS ban.

 

[The White Rabbit]

Seven days cig free. Unless there was some reason I could no longer get my supplies, there is nothing that would get me to switch back to the analogs. I am now a non smoker, and a proud vaper.

 

[ladyb334]

Have smoked for over 40 years. Have been vaping now for almost 2 years. The first week I was able to put down those nasty tasting analogs. Have been smoke free since the first week. I did try twice to smoke an analog and it was so nasty that I threw away the whole pack and lighter. The flavors are so much better. I no longer consider myself a smoker, I am a vaper. The one thing that really irks me is when my husband still calls it smoking. I vape and love it.