Your "triggers" for analogs - knowing is half the battle, share yours!

[carosaurus]

I'm 2 days off of analogs at this point. I love my PV and I think this will really work for me. I've 'quit' before and I know the hardest parts of the day for me. I thought it might help to list out those times when I crave an analog the most so I can reach for my PV instead of going insane.... anyone with me? Maybe being aware of it will help overcome the cravings more easily.

Mine:

Talking on the phone at home (this is HUGE for me)
Driving, especially to and from work
Out drinking with friends

 

[harmony]

I'm 2 days off of analogs at this point. I love my PV and I think this will really work for me. I've 'quit' before and I know the hardest parts of the day for me. I thought it might help to list out those times when I crave an analog the most so I can reach for my PV instead of going insane.... anyone with me? Maybe being aware of it will help overcome the cravings more easily.

Mine:

Talking on the phone at home (this is HUGE for me)
Driving, especially to and from work
Out drinking with friends

I have to co-sign on your list. The only other thing I would put on there is in the morning with my coffee. So far I have vaped in every situation except the "out drinking with friends". I have vaped while drinking beer on football Sunday's and it is fine.

 

[AttyPops]

Yeah... That's a good thing for us to understand. Part of the addiction process, and understanding it helps us overcome it.

For me,

After I eat.
Just before I go to bed.

 

[Java_Az]

Dont forget the , hmm whats a nice way to say it. The after intimate relations smoke. That has to be a tough one to get passed, unless your love life is having a dry spell.

 

[kellie]

Dont forget the , hmm whats a nice way to say it. The after intimate relations smoke. That has to be a tough one to get passed, unless your love life is having a dry spell.

I have yet to overcome this... no pun intended lol and when drinking out with friends at the bar

 

[Lisa B]

Congrats you off to a great start, it took me awhile to decide I could do this full time. I still find myself aimlessly looking for my smokes then suddenly remember I don't smoke. Then just grab my eGo and good to go. First thing in the morning I would say was my hardest one to give up but I would vape for a few minutes and be fine. Took me awhile to get comfortable in public because I don't like drawing attention to myself but I got over it, now I hope someone asks me what it is. Had a real stress point this morning, my dog got out of the fence and took me a half hour to find her. I was so shaken up when I got back in the house I really wanted an analog but I didn't, I vaped until that passed. I was still upset but wasn't thinking about smoking. You will learn to vape through your triggers but don't beat yourself up if it takes a little time. We aren't just addicted to the nicotine, we are addicted to our rituals so it may take a bit to fit your e-cig into those rituals instead of an analog.

 

[LowThudd]

I like to have some 36mg juice on hand for moments when I am really stressed and feel I need a cig(rather than just wanting one).

 

[illuxion]

most of smoking was ritual to me. I still have few difficult times, but I've only been vaping for 2 weeks, and no analogs for 8 days. Waking up, or maybe it is scratching the boys in the morning, something first thing in the morning crawling out of bed has me headed straight for the sliding glass door lol. I keep a PV hanging from a light right next to the handle of the door to remind me Immediately after eating is also a weak time for me, I guess just part of my rituals. I haven't taken any road trips, but I know that since I never smoke in my cars, after a road trip I would be dying to smoke. I'm not sure if I'll vape in my cars either, I'm a bit finicky when it comes to my cars. I never eat, smoke, or drink anything except water in them(in retrospect I feel bad for my son growing up lol). I'm not much of a stressful person, but my boss(CEO) tends to make me head straight for the street after a meeting with him, we can't smoke on company property and our headquarters is 5 buildings that takes up a block and a half Any time I get a real bad urge I have a magic bright red carto with 36mg TW coffee with a TH that knocks me on my ...., and that seems to calm any situation lol.

 

[Vvenus]

Dont forget the , hmm whats a nice way to say it. The after intimate relations smoke. That has to be a tough one to get passed, unless your love life is having a dry spell.

haha! Ditto!

 

[k3vin]

I have ben just over 3 weeks on my riva..I have not had even a puff on an analog,but YMMV,for me it was telling myself,it has been 30 years of smoking analogs,so now time to STOP...I drive for a living,(delivery driver) and I am hitting my riva constantly,well I was for the first 2 weeks,it has calmed down a bit,but I am still hitting it quite often..After just one week,I noticed my lungs feeling much better,I noticed I wasnt eating ibuprofen like M&M's for headaches I had everyday...Which are now basically gone..I use minimum of 30mg nicotine flavors,and sometimes hit 18-24mg. at night about an hour or so before bedtime..

Something I needed was good TH,so I try and get 80/20 pg/vg...And after the first week I started adding up the money I had saved not smoking cigs..to date it is about $120...I have spent about $300 on ecigs and supplies,but I can see then end of the tunnel and can see myself breaking even within the next 2 months..

Another thing which has helped me is to get LR attys..They are great for someone who was a hardcore smoker..they really help alot..And try and find something that is like a SMOKE flavor liquid..For me the closest I have come is freedomsmokesusa AMERICAN SPIRIT...it is very good and good for that trigger after eating..Get some sweet ones too.WYATT EARP is another good one with a BITE...

It is a bit of a head-game I have to play with myself as far as the times when I crave an analog..I just remind myself about how good my lungs feel already and that food tastes really good now..I mowed the yard yesterday,and when I got done I felt as if I hadnt done anything,it was just my body was getting o2 as opposed to how I used to feel,which is that I would of come in with a slight headache,taken about 3 ibuprofen,and been "DONE" for the evening..

Seriously,I ate about 4-6 ibu a day avearge for MANY years due to headaches..ANd now,since I have quit,I have had maybe 6 in 3 weeks..this is so much more healthy all the way around..NOt to mention I am now drinking water everyday since the vaping tends to dry me out a bit..


GOOD LUCK Kevin

 

[carosaurus]

Nice to see such a response from everyone - I know there will always be times when I crave an old-fashioned cancer stick but I think I'll be able to hang on this time. Gums and patches lack the ritual of smoking... and I love that I've got a whole new hobby to geek out on and collect supplies and mods for. I worry that I'll end up vaping 24/7 because I can do it in the house... we'll see!

Good luck and happy vaping, everyone!

 

[Hex13]

I gotta be honest. Very seldom do I actually feel like I NEED a cig. Switching over to PV has kinda opened my eyes to how often I felt like I NEEDED a cig and how often I really just WANTED a cig. I use the NI a lot less than I smoked. Its kinda tought to know when to stop though. With a cig, it was over when it was a nub. With PVs there isn't anything to tell me I'm done. I could prolly vape until the juice is gone, but I'd be a green mess before then I think.

 

[FireHorse]

For me,

After a meal
When my hubby is around because he still smokes
When stress decides to mess with my world

It used to be first thing in the morning because my smoking routine was grab a smoke and light it before heading off to the bathroom. I think that was an easy one to break because I don't like to vape in the bathroom even though I didn't mind smoking in there.... go figure....

 

[croman67]

Firehorse,
Just this morning I noticed that I didn't have my pv with me when I woke up and headed for the bathroom. When I smoked analogs (just 2 weeks ago) I wouldn't have even got out of bed before lighting one up.
I was amazed. I didn't have that feeling of panic either when I noticed. lol I could pee in peace! Yay.
I think the old habits are starting to fade.
It should only get better.

 

[Java_Az]

I for sure would lite up first thing when waking up. Priority #1 was always get that smoke in before anything. Now it can be 30 minutes to a hour before my first vape. Just don't get that have to have it right away when waking up feeling now that i am vaping.

 

[Soulflower]

After eating is my trigger, but that's gonna change

 

[Kevin Freeheart]

After I eat for sure! It's not where I have the strongest craving but that IS where I usually have the happiest feeling right after an analog.

Driving. This is a HUGE one for me. The habit of driving and smoking is so deeply tied to me that it's noteworthy even as a smoker. I chain smoke driving. I have spaces in between smokes anywhere else. I've actually had it so bad at one point that I could do 100 or so miles without using my lighter beyond the first time. Light and just chain smoke...

Computer use. This is more or less just habit. Smoking was something to do, so I'd reach. This was the easiest to quit doing when I quit analogs the first time. I just put a bowl of candy around to jolt me out of unthinking action everytime I reached for the pack.

Drinking. I like to smoke when I drink.

 

[christina7]

I've gotten through all the trigger points. (even driving which was big) but one. Being alone. yup. When I smoked, I hated doing it when anyone was around, except another smoker. So when I started vaping and "quit" smokes (its a process, leave me alone) I sometimes get excited when I have time to myself and can steal a smoke. But I"m finding I can only get half way through it before I realize it tastes disgusting and I'd rather vape some mocha coffee. Now that people have been getting on my case about vaping, I look forward to vaping my brains out when I am alone. so its all good.


c.

 

[FireHorse]

:lol :

 

[Redbone]

@christina7 - I can totally relate. Right now most of my triggers are:

When my son-in-law comes over and says 'wanna have a smoke?'
When my other half wants to yell at me for some reason or another.
When I have a couple of drinks - but this is going away, as I just vape like crazy.
Being around other people that smoke seems to be a trigger as well.

I'm only 2 1/2 days into this, so i'm sure (hoping) that it will get easier. However, I went from smoking a pack a day or more of analogs to about 1/2 an analog a day in the last two days, so i'm thinking this will be a good thing.