When you're done vaping: A dark truth

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Bandit

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Jul 17, 2009
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In your bushes, watching you undress
Most came to vaping as an alternative to smoking, or to quit smoking altogether. I was part of the group in the latter.

You weren't too sure what to expect, you only hoped that this would get the cigarette monkey off your back. Well now it has, and while you feel free of that clutch, you wonder... what happens when I decide to quit vaping? I know many of you continue to vape well beyond your analog urges simply because you love vaping, nothing more... nothing less. So perhaps you don't know what to expect.

I'm back to tell you.

I was a smoker for more than 20 years. While it was affecting my health severely, I still enjoyed smoking too much to quit, but I knew I had to. Nothing worked for me, ever. Long story short, I stumbled across e-cigs and figured "what the hell" and tried them. After 3 days on a 510, I quit smoking 100%. This was June of 2009, I remain to this day completely smoke free, now more than a year later.

I vaped from June 2009 until the end of January 2010, then quit completely. I could have quit by about November 09, but I was caught up in the fun of it, the collecting of higher end PV's and the love of certain juices (made by Dawn of course). I was down to the bare minimum of nic, and most juices were 0 nic... my urges for nic were eliminated because I slowly weened myself off over the course of about 4 months.

Towards the end I realized that my lung capacity was much better than in my smoking days, my energy level was higher, I wasn't getting winded as easily, and an interesting side effect was taking place. One particular juice, Dawn's "Red Hots" became an obsession of mine. Not only due to the intense flavor, but when I vaped it, it gave me a sensation almost as if I had eaten a snack... it filled me and I began to use it as a substitute for a mid-day snack, and sometimes as a replacement for lunch. While I'm not saying this is a good thing, it worked well for me and I dropped about 15lbs in about 3 weeks towards the end there. I wasn't fat mind you, but it's always nice to drop a few pounds. Another factor in this was the health benefits I just mentioned, so it was easier for me to get back into some light exercising.

So one day I say "I'm finished vaping". I sold off most of my devices, but held on to a couple in case I relapsed. Somehow I did not relapse, and felt completely fine not vaping. I believe the key was that I vaped irregularly over the final 2 weeks, not allowing anything to become habitual. I would not vape after EVERY meal. I would not vape while driving. I would let nothing become routine because I knew routine was one of the biggest parts of addiction, particularly with smoking. I began to slow down to where I would only vape when I "wanted" to, not when I felt I "needed" to.

So there I was, no longer vaping and feeling damn good about it. Weeks go by without cravings or issues. Months now pass and everything seems to be ok. After about 3 months my body begun to play tricks on me however... and this is the dark part of the story.....




I would feel the twinge of craving, but it was mellow enough that it would pass with little or no effort. Have a drink of water/soda/Gatorade.. something, and the feeling would pass. Reach for a cookie or something... no worries.

The 4th month hits and now my body remembers what it is missing and is seeking a replacement. It'll take anything at this point... just give me something. It doesn't have to be nicotine... gimme a little sweet snack, or a slice of pizza... anything. I don't care that I just ate... just give me something.

#%*&$#@ drycleaners are shrinking my damned shirts now. WTH...

No, the drycleaners are not... I am gaining weight. Many smokers quit and immediately begin to gain weight, 20lbs seems to be about the average. Switching directly to vaping, I did not have this side effect, but rather experienced a bit of a drop in weight... it was terrific. I had something that filled that void for my body. Sadly though after quitting vaping, my body craved... and the craving needed to be fulfilled... even though I didn't even realize that I was doing it.

So over the last 5 months I have gained BACK the 15lbs that I lost, and gained another 20lbs on top of that. I sat back a few weeks ago and thought about it... "why am i gaining weight?"... then I realized that I was snacking left and right, or outright eating extra MEALS because my body was craving. I just assumed I was hungry, but it is a different feeling, I recognize that now. Shame it took me so long to pick up on the difference though. I drink twice as much sugary sodas.. because my body wants the sweetness. I reach for fatty indulgent foods, because it satisfies those receptors in my brain that are craving something that will "satisfy" me.

The urge to smoke cigarettes recently fluttered though my brain. I was able to shut that out easily because I refuse to go down that road, so here I am back on the forum... researching the new devices that came out since my departure a few months ago.... and I will vape again. Part-time and leisurely, merely to fight off the urges and give my body a better chance to balance out, and allow me to drop the weight again by cutting back my intake of decadent vice foods, and eliminating my unhealthy urges.

While I felt no side effects of vaping, I did notice my breathing was a bit better when I stopped inhaling anything at all into my lungs. So of course I'd prefer to be smoke free AND vape free, but I go back to vaping knowing that I am not putting my body at any major risk, and all the while working back to being a healthier person by not cramming fatty foods into my system.

Be careful when you finally do make that leap out of vaping. It is WONDERFUL to be free of all these vices, it is terrific not having to bring along batteries/carts/juices/cases/chargers on a trip. It's great not "having to do" anything during your routine daily life that is related to charging/dripping/refilling/cleaning/etc of anything... it is wonderfully freeing..... but it comes with a price. A price you may not realize that you're paying until one day it dawns on you: You're replacing one vice with another. :facepalm:

So keep that in mind....
 
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CaptJay

Vaping Master
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Jan 3, 2010
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I remember when you sold off your gear Bandit - and how happy you were to be free of everything. Kinda sucks your brain decided to sucker punch you with the food cravings - bad brain! Although maybe it missed Dawn's red hots lol (she still makes em - DIYFS seems to have more flavors daily, you know how Dawn is with mixing lol).
I can kinda see how a lifelong habit (hand to mouth) might get ingrained and shunted to food - maybe thats the bit you craved? Either way - welcome back, hopefully you can vape the way you did on your final 2 weeks - without regularity - and maybe wean off more slowly this time.
I have no plans to give up vaping I'm sure I'd be faceplanted in a doughnut in no time flat if I did :)
 

HeatherC

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Jun 30, 2010
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Welcome (i guess) back! At this point...and I only have 7 weeks under my belt I have no intention of quitting vaping... I'm thinking this 18 mg juice is good enuff for me!! But...then again I also had no intention of actually stopping cigs entirely either....and 54 days later I have only had about 2 drags of one cig (it was all I could STAND had to put that nasty tasting thing out LOL) AND when I started I started at 36mg juice... SOOO I guess what I'm trying to say is I'm letting this process take me...(sort of) and going with the flow so to speak...when I start getting the headaches I was getting on 36mg on the 18 as well...Ill back off again...tho I think I'm only going to do a 2mg back off from now on...and right at this moment I really don't care if I ever quit vaping (there's a song in there somewhere LOL) I'm just very happy to have these and all the wonderful flavors to keep me from eating all the time...and...and... well I'm just happy I'm not smoking anymore basically. (that wasn't very short and sweet but...oh well LOL)
 

Bandit

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Jul 17, 2009
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In your bushes, watching you undress
I remember when you sold off your gear Bandit - and how happy you were to be free of everything. Kinda sucks your brain decided to sucker punch you with the food cravings - bad brain! Although maybe it missed Dawn's red hots lol (she still makes em - DIYFS seems to have more flavors daily, you know how Dawn is with mixing lol).
I can kinda see how a lifelong habit (hand to mouth) might get ingrained and shunted to food - maybe thats the bit you craved? Either way - welcome back, hopefully you can vape the way you did on your final 2 weeks - without regularity - and maybe wean off more slowly this time.
I have no plans to give up vaping I'm sure I'd be faceplanted in a doughnut in no time flat if I did :)

Oh boy do I wish I had just kept all those pricey devices!!! Especially my GG-T, that was my favorite hands-down :(

I already ordered my Red Hots, Juicy Peach, peanut Butter and others... I'll be ready and waiting when the device I ultimately choose lands on my doorstep.

It'll be a long, painful wait though ::facepalm:
 

Lightgeoduck

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Aug 7, 2009
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Hi my good friend Bandit... Glad to see you around agian (But not exactly under these circumstance) don't worry it will fade off... I wouldn't even say that for cigarettes, but vaping is different, as you already know, at least you were able to cut it that long... I know you will find a balance :D


I have an extra GG-TS if you are interested... a few batches back,, and isn't shinny for photos , like my other one, but none the less the offer is there... PM me after you catch up on what is what in the market.

on the interwebz time goes by a faster clock, and you haven't been here for AGES:

Welcome to ECF NEWBEE
 

Timberwear

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Aug 5, 2010
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I agree man. When I basically quit smoking a month ago it was very very very nice to be able to drive places without needing to smoke... or simply go on the internet for 8 hours in a row and not feel the need to smoke etc etc...

it gives you a high just from the FREEDOM you feel!

but then depression came back... i had to increase my cigs... now trying vaping. !

oh, by the way. if you pick up a lot of iceberg lettuce and leafy green lettuce (not really bitter), its very very nice to get in the habit of snacking on those. chew them up really good. pick up some hummus, or mustard, ... and just dip it in... greens are very good for you... reduce snack cravings big time.... you won't crave sugary foods or carbs as much... that was one thing i started doing when i quit smoking (thinking it was the answer for me, since i sorta was into the raw food lifestyle before)... and even though i picked up smoking still... i still eat raw greens every single night.

they make your skin look good and i bet you will lose weight. but vaping seemed to have worked for you so thats cool.
 
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Bandit

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Jul 17, 2009
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In your bushes, watching you undress
Hi my good friend Bandit... Glad to see you around agian (But not exactly under these circumstance) don't worry it will fade off... I wouldn't even say that for cigarettes, but vaping is different, as you already know, at least you were able to cut it that long... I know you will find a balance :D


I have an extra GG-TS if you are interested... a few batches back,, and isn't shinny for photos , like my other one, but none the less the offer is there... PM me after you catch up on what is what in the market.

on the interwebz time goes by a faster clock, and you haven't been here for AGES:

Welcome to ECF NEWBEE

Dude... so good to see you again. :toast:

I have two devices in my head, and I hope the main one pans out and is available right away.

If not, I'll be hitting you up!!! A GG always costs more, but then again... they're worth it :thumbs:
 

Leita

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May 28, 2009
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From another who passed that one-year milestone, thank you for putting it down in words, Bandit. While it's great to hear how successful so many are when first starting, the reality is what happens in the long term.

My own decades of smoking resulted in breathing problems and I (sadly) know the best thing to do is give up all forms of vapor inhalation but I still puff my eGos and Rivas with a taper-off and end date on the calendar. But when I quit and a time comes when I want an inhale I'll remember what you said and have my puffs.
 

jRP

Moved On
Jul 25, 2010
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Mind of matter is my main go to.

But GREAT story, be proud of yourself for even having the courage and will power to stop smoking analogs completely and then stop vaping 8-o
Anythings better then taking that dirt road again to analogs.

I smoked for only for 4 years and quit cold turkey 48 days ago, I stayed off them and didn't look back. Although I did have that occasional urge to want to smoke an analog. I knew I had to do something before I fell apart and my hard work was thrown out the window. I looked into it and came across E-Cigarettes, which I thank god for. I only started a week ago, but it craves my needs to wanna choke a smoke.
I HAD to quit analogs, for I am joining the Marine Corps and a fitness guru I couldn't live if I couldn't workout. It was a MUST for me, every time I worked out my chest got tighter and it felt as if I had a ratchet strap around my chest.

I was able to get my mom off cigarettes after 25+ years, my dad off cigarettes after 30+ years, and my sisters fiance after 20+ years of analogs. Just one (1) week of my vaping and I already made an impact on 3 people, and I swear to you more are to come.

Anyways, congratulations on your success.
Let us know what you decide to order, I just ordered 2 Riva Kits cheap and very effective.

Jon :toast:
 
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Bandit

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Jul 17, 2009
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In your bushes, watching you undress
Thank you for reading this everyone, and for your positive comments!


Maybe its just that you write beautifully but where do you find this lucious juice you speak of?

lol,, thanks! Dawn owns DIYFlavorshack.com and IMO makes the best, most flavorful and most ACCURATE juices out there. If it says "Thin Mint Cookie" that is precisely what it tastes like. Her Red Hots are 100% dead-on accurate to popping a handful of actual Red Hots in your mouth... even the way they dance on your tongue.

Be sure you select e-liquid page and not the DIY flavorings page though... she offers both.
 
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