Vaping - Kicking the Cigs!

[Webzcas]

Back at the beginning of October last year I finally kicked the cigarettes after having smoked for nigh on 25 years and going through over a packet a day. I have tried everything in the past, gum, patches, inhalators and even the dreaded Champix. Champix is seriously an awful drug and whilst it makes you give up, has some terrible side effects. However, my brother in law introduced me to vaping in October and I haven't looked back. Hence my new forum signature that I am proudly displaying.

Not only do I feel healthier and do not stink, but I also do not have the horrible morning smokers cough any more. But the downside or upside as I tend to look at it, is that vaping has become my new found 'hobby'.

Below is a pic of some of my vaping gear on one of the shelves in my new office at home. This is not all the equipment I have, as I have two small toolboxes with all the paraphernalia needed to build my own coils.

So besides me, are there any other vaping enthusiasts here at Casinomeister?

Show yourselves!

 

[secret2]

Congrats Webzcas!

It is a good thing to be off the cigs!

I quit September 13th, 2013.

When you say 'Vaping', do you mean the E-Cig? , or are they different?

I use an E-cig (Logic)....but am finding this is rough on my chest, also.

Good going!!

 

[chayton]

Good going for you! We've been vaping since last June. Ray's made more of a success of it as far as not smoking regular cigarettes, but I'm still smoking a bit. I've dropped way down though - instead of smoking a pack of 20/day, I'm at about a pack per week. I no longer smoke in the house or in the car, so that's made a huge difference.

We don't have much as far as equipment as you, just a few refillable tanks and extra burners etc, and we were able to find a little shop here in the city that sells all sorts of mods and juice from different suppliers.

 

[cncas123]

I quit a few months ago, because of a health scare, and i now use the e-cig if and when I want a nicotine buzz, which thankfully is only once every few days. My pal has moved to vaping full time from smoking, and has some good times experimenting with different blends that he makes up with the many flavours available, though I have to say the thought of Blueberry and Raspberry doesnt do it for me!!

 

[Webzcas]

Good going for you! We've been vaping since last June. Ray's made more of a success of it as far as not smoking regular cigarettes, but I'm still smoking a bit. I've dropped way down though - instead of smoking a pack of 20/day, I'm at about a pack per week. I no longer smoke in the house or in the car, so that's made a huge difference.

We don't have much as far as equipment as you, just a few refillable tanks and extra burners etc, and we were able to find a little shop here in the city that sells all sorts of mods and juice from different suppliers.

Most of the gear I have on my shelf and in my toolboxes has been bought online, including the juice. I use UK sellers mainly, but have bought a couple of good clone tanks and the stand in the pic from Fasttech.com who are based in China.

 

[Webzcas]

Congrats Webzcas!

It is a good thing to be off the cigs!

I quit September 13th, 2013.

When you say 'Vaping', do you mean the E-Cig? , or are they different?

I use an E-cig (Logic)....but am finding this is rough on my chest, also.

Good going!!

E-Cigs were the first generation. I moved quickly onto what you see in my pic which are known as advanced personal vapourisers. They are in all intents and purposes the same thing. But the APV's are a bit more techy, more powerful and produce better flavour and vapour.

The good thing is I have reduced my nicotine level to 6mg which is way lower than a cigarette and considerably lower than the 18mg which I started out on in October.

 

[Tirilej]

Well done Webzcas

I stopped too this time last year and I thought I would never smoke again.
I used an e-cig instead and it tasted just like a cigarette.

For some idiotic reason I started smoking again after just a few months, but I will give it another try soon.

So thanks for starting the thread. It does give me inspiration to try again.
I will stop. I have to!!

 

[chayton]

Most of the gear I have on my shelf and in my toolboxes has been bought online, including the juice. I use UK sellers mainly, but have bought a couple of good clone tanks and the stand in the pic from Fasttech.com who are based in China.

Here in Canada it's a little more difficult - they (THEY!!) are currently trying to ban or regulate vaping here. From "we don't know how dangerous it is" to "OMG kids are buying vaping gear to smoke weed" etc.

When those of us who smoke (or used to) know that it's all about $$$. When a pack of cigs costs between $10 and $14 and most of that is taxes, and doctors push medication like Champix (which isn't covered by health care, and - like you said - has masses of horrible side effects) bah...don't get me started.

Anyhow my point was that here at least it's more difficult to order online unless you're ordering from a Canadian company, and as far as I know, the only juice I can get here is made in Canada since nothing else can make it across the border. I suppose stands and stuff like that would be ok, but actual vaping stuff, not really.

It's ok though - I like to be able to try the flavors first anyhow, and they let us do that at this shop we go to. I smoke menthol cigs and right now I'm vaping a mix of spearmint gum and candy cane which is actually much better than it sounds.

 

[Webzcas]

Try an the second generation ecigs like the ones in my first post. I started with a cigalike but also had to wear a patch. I found the cigalikes did not produce enough vapour.

What is funny is now I cannot stand any of the tobacco flavour juices. I tend to vape fruit flavoured juices. At the moment though vaping mocca coffee. It is different class

There are also some great Youtube channels out there. For people struggling to kick the cigs, try IndoorSmokers. He reviews all the entry level kit which is a step up from the cigalikes.

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[Webzcas]

Here in Canada it's a little more difficult - they (THEY!!) are currently trying to ban or regulate vaping here. From "we don't know how dangerous it is" to "OMG kids are buying vaping gear to smoke weed" etc.

When those of us who smoke (or used to) know that it's all about $$$. When a pack of cigs costs between $10 and $14 and most of that is taxes, and doctors push medication like Champix (which isn't covered by health care, and - like you said - has masses of horrible side effects) bah...don't get me started.

Anyhow my point was that here at least it's more difficult to order online unless you're ordering from a Canadian company, and as far as I know, the only juice I can get here is made in Canada since nothing else can make it across the border. I suppose stands and stuff like that would be ok, but actual vaping stuff, not really.

It's ok though - I like to be able to try the flavors first anyhow, and they let us do that at this shop we go to. I smoke menthol cigs and right now I'm vaping a mix of spearmint gum and candy cane which is actually much better than it sounds.

Yeah, where there is money to be made along comes the govt - as we have seen with regards online gaming. They are doing something similar in Ohio at the moment too, trying to tax ejuice as they do tobacco products. All I know is from the research I have done is that vaping is far more healthier than smoking tobacco. Plus my kids don't moan about me stinking of cigs. Big Bonus!

 

[PaaskeDenmark]

Same here as Chayton. I did manage 3 or 4 months without touching the stinky fags. But have to admit do have couple each day still but none at weekends as don't smoke cigs at all at home

And then yeah once and awhile when drinking and been out with some mates I also do have more than a few ciggys. But yeah goal is to be 100% vaping again I have the Kangetech EMOW Mega which I am very happy about. Before this I just had some of the older kanger tanks. I don't really know if I wanna start messing with mods and building my own coils but might start this soon in couple of months me thinks

But what a massive difference now living in UK. I prob cost me around 20 quid MAX a month now vaping. Where before smoked 15-20 cigs benson hedges. They now cost over £9 a pack. You try do the calculating hehe.

So paying like £100 for a nice ecig mod is nothing compared to smelly fags just crazy how expensive it is in UK. But in one way only good.

 

[shannyls]

I tried the ecig (blu), but they made me cough. I moved on recently to a Kanger Tech mod pen with a Parmal eliquid 12-18mg of nicotine. I stopped smoking over a month and a half ago, and have no desire to start smoking again ever! They are trying to ban and regulate here in my state too... Seriously, I'll take my chances w/ 4 ingredients versus the 7000 chemicals created when smoking a cigarette, that are ACTUALLY known to cause all kinds of health problems. I don't do the sweet flavors, just cig flavors. I am so grateful because I've tried everything.

 

[Webzcas]

Don't buy BLU. They are owned by one of he big tobacco companies!

If you are in the UK, check out Myepack.co.uk - Best prices around and they sell everything from starter kits to mech mods.

 

[shannyls]

Yes no more money from me for the tobacco companies!! I'm in the US, and there are three shops within 10 minutes of me. I like the pens because you are in control of it all. The guys at one of the shops do all that drip stuff. From what I can tell, it just makes more vapor. I am still a newb though.

 

[weesie]

Webzcas,

My son could give you a run for your money........ I think he has lost track of just how many parts, tanks and whatever the other parts are called.

I have tried it but, to me, it is just not the same.

I have cut down to about 10 cigs a day, which is good for me.

 

[YouTubeSlots]

I did try these e cigs last year but like someone else already mentioned it just wasn't the same. You dont get that hit that you get when you take a drag on a real ciggarette so it just didnt do it for me. But i will try again one day. Mean while i have been using a G Pen!!! Which i use to vapourise a certain other substance which isnt legal. Im sure you guys know what i mean.

 

[thebigs]

Been off the real fags for over 2 years now and been vaping since lol.
Saved a bloody fortune but lost it all on the slots but at least that's been more enjoyable.
I also prefer the fruit flavors and i keep trying the cherry ones and found some good ones.
Also noticed all the gear is much cheaper here than uk for juices and the like.
I pay anything between 2.20 to 4.50 for 10ml juices here.
anybody who does smoke give them a try.You might not be sure at first but before long it will be the best thing you will ever do.

 

[spintee]

Just the other day I stumbled across this vaping on you tube

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I thought to my self what are theses nutters doing lol,


I than done a quick research on it and did not reilze just how big it is,, I suppose any thinks got to be cheaper and better than a pack of cancer sticks,

My dads been on fags since he was a kid, He goes threw about 40 bensons a day, & In some motor way petrol stations there over £10 a pack, I member years back when he told me if they ever reach £5 a pack that's when he give up, He is still filing he's lungs up & cannot ever see him giving up, I bet he's last breath is going to be a puff on a stick,

 

[chayton]

When I first tried an ecig, I wanted something that looked like a cigarette. I got one of those cheap ones that actually have a little LED glowing light at the end and it was slim and just a little longer than cigarette sized. Physically it was what I wanted, but I found that after the first couple puffs, I wasn't getting enough of a hit, and puffing harder just made the vapor taste like crap - and it kept leaking juice and the battery seemed to only last a couple of hours, it was really more of a pain than anything.

I sprung for a mid-range kit with bigger tanks and batteries and it was a LOT better. It doesn't look like a cigarette, it's more like a big fountain pen, but once I got away from the idea that I needed something that LOOKED like a ciggie, it didn't take that long to get used to it.

Buying one of those cheap low quality ecigs might be a good starting point, but probably half the people who do that decide vaping isn't for them. Once you try a really quality vape with good juice, you'll definitely be able to tell the difference.

 

[suzecat]

Started smoking cigs at 12 and was good at it by 13. By age 20 the urge to quit struck me and by the time I actually quit at age 52, I can say smoking for 40 years was expensive and not very smart.

Cigs cost a quarter (25 cents) a pack of 20 when my habit began in 1966 and cost $5.90 a pack when I quit in 2006. Like most people, I tried everything from patches, gum, ecigs and cutting down which all failed miserably. The thing was that I was still addicted to nicotine!

The way I finally quit was going cold turkey. It sucked for the first week while the nicotine left my system. It really is best to do this step with no one around! It is also best to quit any substances which you usually do when smoking (coffee, tea, soda, weed, chocolate, etc.)

After clearing the nicotine out, step two is the psychological withdrawal. In many ways this is the harder part of quitting. After all these years of success, that still creeps in ever so often.

Quitting sucks and is well worth the effort.

 

[Jono777]

Well done Webzcas

I stopped too this time last year and I thought I would never smoke again.
I used an e-cig instead and it tasted just like a cigarette.

For some idiotic reason I started smoking again after just a few months, but I will give it another try soon.

So thanks for starting the thread. It does give me inspiration to try again.
I will stop. I have to!!

I have done almost word for word the same as above!

The only 'downside' I would say is that the e/vaping version doesn't have the same 'calming' or 'destress' effect as real fags.
Need to make an effort one day soon tho as its costing me £17 a day for our fags which is ridiculous

 

[Webzcas]

Have you tried a higher nicotine level? As you tend to get more of a throat hit that way. Also the more powerful mods provide more vapour production thus quelling the urge for a real cig.

 

[rshkrn]

Huge congrats to all who've kicked the butt

However I'd still urge you to give up vaping as well for good...... cos you have just reduced the no. of harmful substances you are taking in say from 3000 to about 300, and that danger of a lapse always lurks around....nicotine in any form is addictive-Period!

Believe me .........as long as you smoke ..........EVERYTHING revolves around planning the next cigarette (or e-cig).....for example you take important calls while smoking, you choose your restaurants and outings based on what's more convenient for a smoke, if you accomplish something small or big you decide to celebrate with yourself by having a cig.............you search desperately or ask around if that layover airport has a damn smoking room........you hit that feature finally but decide to go out for a quick one and come back to play the free spins

 

[Webzcas]

cos you have just reduced the no. of harmful substances you are taking in say from 3000 to about 300

That's actually not factually correct. By vaping I have reduced the number of harmful substances from 6000+ in tobacco of which 70 odd are known carcingens to a handful in vaping.

The eliquid I use contains nicotine which on it's own is no more harmful than caffeine. Plus PG (Propylene Glycol) and VG (Vegetable Glycerin) ( Both of which are used in foods ) and of course flavourings. Whilst no long term studies have been completed, it is clear that vaping is far safer than smoking.

A really good site for unbiased information is

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which features all the studies performed by Dr Farsalinos, who is generally regarded as the most prominent researcher into the safety of vaping and ecigs.

Whilst no doubt vaping does contain some risks, these are minimal compared to that of smoking tobacco. With vaping there is no combustion or the thousands of toxins produced as a result of said combustion. Just the heating of the liquid soaked wick wrapped in a kanthal coil.

The biggest issue I had giving up in the past was the fact that even though NRT may replace the nicotine and reduce the craving, it did not replace the hand to mouth habit. Vaping does both and I enjoy it. I can't honestly say I will kick vaping into touch. I enjoy it too much, hence I will never go back to the cigarettes.

For me it has worked and done the impossible. I am happy in the knowledge that I have reduced my exposure to thousands of toxins as a result, so can deal with a handful that vaping may or may not produce.

Believe me .........as long as you smoke ......

I don't smoke and haven't smoked since October 6th 2014. Vaping is not smoking, period. Vaping is the production of a WATER VAPOUR by heating a coil which has a wick made of organic cotton soaked in eliquid. No smoke is produced by vaping, hence no exposure to the 6000 toxins created by the combustion and subsequent smoking of tobacco.

 

[rshkrn]

That's actually not factually correct. By vaping I have reduced the number of harmful substances from 6000+ in tobacco of which 70 odd are known carcingens to a handful in vaping.

The eliquid I use contains nicotine which on it's own is no more harmful that caffeine. Plus PG (Propylene Glycol) and VG (Vegetable Glycerin) and of course flavourings. Whilst no long term studies have been completed, it is clear that vaping is far safer than smoking.

A really good site for unbiased information is

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which features all the studies performed by Dr Farsalinos, who is generally regarded as the most prominent researcher into the safety of vaping and ecigs.

I'd still say that a lot of the websites and research articles are funded or put there by the e-cig manufacturers....there's not too much research done in depth on this.

Anyways my point being.......handful or a dozen or a few hundred harmful substances, you are still knowingly and admittedly taking them ....but hey .....to each his own

 

[Webzcas]

I'd still say that a lot of the websites and research articles are funded or put there by the e-cig manufacturers....there's not too much research done in depth on this.

I agree. However a lot of the research, Dr Farsilno's aside which is crowd funded, is paid for by the Big Tobacco and pharmaceutical companies. Go figure...

The biggest ecig manufacturers are even owned by Big Tobacco. You know, the ones like Blu that you find in garages...

Hence I keep well away from them.

 

[cncas123]

I think the issue around vaping is that there is no real regulation, there has been no clear research into the long term effects, if any, but surely it stands to reason that anyone vaping in preference to smoking is doing less harm to there bodies than they would be by inhaling all the toxins in a normal cigarette? I very occasionally use an e-cig, and have tried to go cold turkey as much as possible, but I am definitely going to reach for an e-cig in a real moment of need rather than a cigarette, and that has to be a good thing.

 

[Webzcas]

Yep regulation is needed. However, over regulation meaning only the Big Tobacco and Pharma companies can only afford to comply with them is not needed or wanted. Over regulation also leads to increase taxes. Hence what residents in states like Ohio are now facing.

Anything that is popular which generates $$ always means it gets taxed to death.

 

[spintee]

I'd still say that a lot of the websites and research articles are funded or put there by the e-cig manufacturers....there's not too much research done in depth on this.

I agree. However a lot of the research, Dr Farsilno's aside which is crowd funded, is paid for by the Big Tobacco and pharmaceutical companies. Go figure...

The biggest ecig manufacturers are even owned by Big Tobacco. You know, the ones like Blu that you find in garages...

Hence I keep well away from them.

Yes I know one them Dr's reckons he has done aloud of research, You will find he has he's hand in the pie also, Unsure if its Dr Farsilno's or a next one, I remember seeing a small documentary a while ago and the journalist was saying you will say that they are better than cigarettes as you own a big share, But he would not have none of it,

 

[mat_b]

Well done webzcas!!

I personally found the transition from 'analog' to Ahem 'digital' (Vaping) pretty painless...

In fact, I prefer the taste of 'Vapes' to the real thing...

I don't miss the smell, cough or semi social poriah-dom that 'analogs' come with...

Best decision I ever made, haven't looked back... Stick at it webzcas

 

[Balthazar]

When I first tried an ecig, I wanted something that looked like a cigarette. I got one of those cheap ones that actually have a little LED glowing light at the end and it was slim and just a little longer than cigarette sized. Physically it was what I wanted, but I found that after the first couple puffs, I wasn't getting enough of a hit, and puffing harder just made the vapor taste like crap - and it kept leaking juice and the battery seemed to only last a couple of hours, it was really more of a pain than anything.

I sprung for a mid-range kit with bigger tanks and batteries and it was a LOT better. It doesn't look like a cigarette, it's more like a big fountain pen, but once I got away from the idea that I needed something that LOOKED like a ciggie, it didn't take that long to get used to it.

Buying one of those cheap low quality ecigs might be a good starting point, but probably half the people who do that decide vaping isn't for them. Once you try a really quality vape with good juice, you'll definitely be able to tell the difference.

I think we all make the same mistake at first. We all want something that looks similar and tastes similar to a real cigarette. I went through several ecigs at the beginning, trying all kinds of cheap stuff until I find a good one that I really like.

I bought the Joyetech eGrip as an xmas gift to myself and I highly recommend it. It's very well made (heavy and robust), very compact and very powerful (you can change the wattage up to 20 watts). It's perfect for those who like a small yet powerful device. The battery will last a whole day of heavy vaping as well. The tank and battery are in the same box, which is very nice.

It's small enough that I can actually vape with this anywhere in public and no one will ever notice. Just be careful not to release a huge cloud and you're incognito.


Here's a pic (not mine):

 

[Balthazar]

Also, just a little tip...

I really like a good throat hit when I vape but I don't want to stick with high nicotine e-juice. I found that some flavours help for this. I started at 18mg, dropped to 12mg and now my last bottle is 6mg. I was worried about the lack of throat hit but then found a cinnamon-mint flavour. It's a very good (if you like cinnamon) and very powerful flavour, which "stings" a little and kinds of compensate for the low level of nicotine. Combined with a good device it really does the job, so now I vape only 6mg and it's satisfying. I'm very happy about this.


I used to smoke 30+ cigarettes a day and I smoked for 22 years.

 

[chayton]

One thing that we just found out sort of by accident - Ray had to have a medical done for life insurance when we bought the house, and even though he's been off 'real' cigarettes for almost a year, the test they do for smokers is testing for nicotine in the urine. Any kind of nicotine replacement like gum, inhalers or vaping will still get a person stuck with the 'smoker's rate' which is up to 70% higher for any kind of insurance.

Just wanted to mention that for anyone who's in the same boat. Seems kind of unfair really.

 

[Balthazar]

One thing that we just found out sort of by accident - Ray had to have a medical done for life insurance when we bought the house, and even though he's been off 'real' cigarettes for almost a year, the test they do for smokers is testing for nicotine in the urine. Any kind of nicotine replacement like gum, inhalers or vaping will still get a person stuck with the 'smoker's rate' which is up to 70% higher for any kind of insurance.

Just wanted to mention that for anyone who's in the same boat. Seems kind of unfair really.

Well that sucks. If ecigs are there to stay, it will take several years before the whole "outside world" adjusts to the new reality. Personally I can't wait until governments do some very serious analysis on ecigs and react accordingly. Until then we'll have to live with the whole tobacco stigma and deal with people's fear.

 

[Webzcas]

Great going Balthazar and remember, smoking is dead, vaping is the future and the future is now

 

[thebigs]

One thing that we just found out sort of by accident - Ray had to have a medical done for life insurance when we bought the house, and even though he's been off 'real' cigarettes for almost a year, the test they do for smokers is testing for nicotine in the urine. Any kind of nicotine replacement like gum, inhalers or vaping will still get a person stuck with the 'smoker's rate' which is up to 70% higher for any kind of insurance.

Just wanted to mention that for anyone who's in the same boat. Seems kind of unfair really.

We had the same problem with the insurances and its a big joke that you could drink a bottle of vodka a day,take heroin and you would not face the same regulations you face due to you vaping something that contains a small bit of nicotine.

 

[chayton]

We had the same problem with the insurances and its a big joke that you could drink a bottle of vodka a day,take heroin and you would not face the same regulations you face due to you vaping something that contains a small bit of nicotine.

Here's an article I found from last year: xxhttp://news.nationalpost.com/2014/04/21/tobacco-free-e-cigarettes-are-a-healthier-choice-for-smokers-right-no-life-insurance-companies-say/ and it's for Canada, but I'm sure the general idea from insurance companies is the same. Basically they say, "You're still sticking something in your mouth and inhaling, so we're going to charge you the smoker's rate regardless." Odd though that they can't use that same excuse if you're on a nicotine patch or gum which is readily available at any drugstore - they'll even give you patches in the hospital FFS, and you'd still test positive for nicotine and get stuck paying whether you're inhaling anything or not.

 

[paul7388]

Thanks for all the useful advice.

Might have to give this a try as had a few attempts to give up smoking but always went back to it.

Tried the patches a few times but always ended up starting smoking again even when still wearing the patches. Not great idea lol.

Tried Champix over a year ago , took them for over 3 months then managed to stay off cigarettes for a couple of months but ended up smoking again just after new year last year. Think its the boredom part and habit as even if I wasn't craving a cigarette I just needed to smoke as seemed lost without them daft as it may seem.

So if everyone else on here seems to be able to make this work I might give it a try.

 

[Balthazar]

Thanks for all the useful advice.

Might have to give this a try as had a few attempts to give up smoking but always went back to it.

Tried the patches a few times but always ended up starting smoking again even when still wearing the patches. Not great idea lol.

Tried Champix over a year ago , took them for over 3 months then managed to stay off cigarettes for a couple of months but ended up smoking again just after new year last year. Think its the boredom part and habit as even if I wasn't craving a cigarette I just needed to smoke as seemed lost without them daft as it may seem.

So if everyone else on here seems to be able to make this work I might give it a try.

Patches and gum and stuff work for nicotine addiction but don't help for the habit addiction. How often do you light up a cigarette even if you don't "need" one? If you're a heavy smoker then it's probably all the time. I know that I couldn't not smoke after a meal or when I sat in my car...etc It wasn't related to my need for nicotine.

That's where ecigs really help. You can puff on them even when you don't need them so you don't have to get out of your "comfort zone" while slowly reducing your nicotine intake. That's why quitting with ecigs is so easy (for me, at least).

 

[mcgameboy]

Well done Webzcas

I stopped too this time last year and I thought I would never smoke again.
I used an e-cig instead and it tasted just like a cigarette.

For some idiotic reason I started smoking again after just a few months, but I will give it another try soon.

So thanks for starting the thread. It does give me inspiration to try again.
I will stop. I have to!!

Don't be so harsh on yourself T. I've been off the cigs for almost 7 years now. And on a couple of occasions I had managed to get off them for a
month before finally cracking and going back on them. You're only human. And only someone who has smoked or still smokes can understand how tough it is to get off them for good.

I also know people who have gone back on the cigs after being off them for TWELVE YEARS. Now THAT (IMHO) is idiotic.

I would say this to you....if you can get off the cigs for a few months, then you have what it takes to give them up for good. The will, the desire, the
discipline. All you need is that final piece to complete your jigsaw. The sheer stubborn pig-headed bloodymindedness to declare...

"I WILL NOT BE BEATEN. YOU WILL NOT WIN!!"

Look at it this way....by going back on them after just a few months, you merely lost "one of the battles". Winning the WAR, however, is still
very much up for grabs. If you want it badly enough, you will emerge victorious.

And I probably don't need to tell you the rest of the benefits of getting off them for good, as you would already have experienced them during
those few months you were off them. But just in case you need reminding....

Food tasting better
Clothes/rooms in the house/breath not stinking like an ashtray
More money in your pocket
Better breathing
No blasted smokers cough when you wake up every morning

I hope to be on this forum long enough to one day read a thread by you with the title....

I finally gave them up

Best of luck T. And indeed to anyone else "trying to win the war"

 

[mat_b]

@chayton...

Your comment about insurance medicals...

Can you appeal?.... Reasoning being..

Urine nicotine assay, only reflects nicotine intake, and due to metabolic breakdown of nicotine, to byproducts in urine, only has a sensitivity, if I recall, of 1-3 weeks (please don't quote, or accept my advice as 'gospel' though!!!)

A breath CO (carbon monoxide) meter is cheaper to run in the long term, and gives a more reliable result.. You could be 'white coat phobic' and 'cane' the E-cigs due to impending physician meeting stress, and get a crazy reading, whereas CO metering, only measures tabacco COMBUSTION products (or faulty gas appliances at your residence)

Any chance of an appeal, based on CO spirometry with your insurer, so as to get bumped down a few risk bands??

 

[Tirilej]

Don't be so harsh on yourself T. I've been off the cigs for almost 7 years now. And on a couple of occasions I had managed to get off them for a
month before finally cracking and going back on them. You're only human. And only someone who has smoked or still smokes can understand how tough it is to get off them for good.

I also know people who have gone back on the cigs after being off them for TWELVE YEARS. Now THAT (IMHO) is idiotic.

I would say this to you....if you can get off the cigs for a few months, then you have what it takes to give them up for good. The will, the desire, the
discipline. All you need is that final piece to complete your jigsaw. The sheer stubborn pig-headed bloodymindedness to declare...

"I WILL NOT BE BEATEN. YOU WILL NOT WIN!!"

Look at it this way....by going back on them after just a few months, you merely lost "one of the battles". Winning the WAR, however, is still
very much up for grabs. If you want it badly enough, you will emerge victorious.

And I probably don't need to tell you the rest of the benefits of getting off them for good, as you would already have experienced them during
those few months you were off them. But just in case you need reminding....

Food tasting better
Clothes/rooms in the house/breath not stinking like an ashtray
More money in your pocket
Better breathing
No blasted smokers cough when you wake up every morning

I hope to be on this forum long enough to one day read a thread by you with the title....

I finally gave them up

Best of luck T. And indeed to anyone else "trying to win the war"

Thank you so much
You made me both cry and laugh with that message.

I actually started THAT kind of thread last year after just one month. Next time I wait a little longer

The changes I noticed was that I didn't smell so bad and I could breath a little better.
But I do know, and the doctors have told me, that I will be dead in 10 years if I don't stop very very soon.

That is a good reason so I hate being so weak!
I will stop this year!

 

[refre]

I quit a few years ago

My advice would be to motivate and educate yourself as much as possible, and not necessarily before you quit.
Some people think about quitting and what stops them is feeling they haven't 'prepared' for it - it's never a good time
Use that little voice telling you to stop, and you can worry about motivating yourself later.

I was doing several things to strenghten my resolve.

I joined a quit smoking forum, and I read about other peoples experiences.

I educated myself about all the harmful effects of smoking, as I had been avoiding the topic before quitting...

Perhaps the most helpful thing I did was watching the Youtube channel of smoking cessation expert

You do not have permission to view link Log in or register now.

.

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I'll use his own introduction

A free online self help stop smoking program developed by Joel Spitzer, a recognized leader in the field of smoking cessation with over 40 years of experience in helping thousands of smokers to successfully quit smoking. The videos provide viewers a guided tour on how to break free from the initial grip of nicotine addiction, and the educational support that can help them to stay free by making and sticking to a personal commitment to never take another puff.

I must warn you though - he's not an advocate of NRT.



Freddy

 

[Nightfly]

Seven years ago I was diagnosed with stage four metathesized lung cancer. That day I went cold turkey and never looked back at 40 years of smoking. Congrats to all who have quit.

 

[anniemac]

I tossed my last pack of cigs in the garbage in Sept. 2002, the day I found out that my sig other had a lung disease.

I didn't miss the smoking itself, it was the holding of the cig in my hand. I still miss that feeling when I play slots or bingo. It was such a big part of the enjoyment of playing for me.

Now I can't stand the smell of a cigarette and hate the way I smell when I come home from a casino. Nothing like a reformed smoker. LOL!

 

[chayton]

I tossed my last pack of cigs in the garbage in Sept. 2002, the day I found out that my sig other had a lung disease.

I didn't miss the smoking itself, it was the holding of the cig in my hand. I still miss that feeling when I play slots or bingo. It was such a big part of the enjoyment of playing for me.

Now I can't stand the smell of a cigarette and hate the way I smell when I come home from a casino. Nothing like a reformed smoker. LOL!

We used to go to the casinos here when they allowed smoking, and we were used to it. Then they passed a law where they banned smoking inside any public places inside the city limits. Of course all the smokers complained about it, but we continued going and just got used to nipping outside to smoke. Then a few months later a new casino opened just on the outskirts of the city and they allowed smoking, so we decided to go there. It was just terrible - I thought I'd enjoy being able to light up but instead I found it pretty gross - there were full stinky ashtrays everywhere, ashtrays dumped on the floor, people were butting their cigs on the floor or on the sides of the machines....it was awful - this casino wasn't even a month old and there were burn marks on everything and it stunk. We only went to that 'smoking' casino once, and now we go to the non-smoking ones...lol where the smokers throw their butts on the ground around the outside ashtrays instead.

 

[Webzcas]

20 weeks today for me, or 140 days since my last puff on a cigarette. I gave up before for 6 months several years ago after using the 'evil' drug that is Champix, but this time it is permanent.

Really good to hear others' inspirational stories in the thread.

 

[spintee]

How's the non smoking coming along

 

[shapesy]

Cant believe its been 3 years since my last one all that money i wasted on that habit nearly as much as slotting

 

[Webzcas]

25 Weeks Today!!!