This is a short disclaimer. Not everyone will agree with my method because I didn't break my addiction to nicotine. This might not be for everyone, but I wanted to share it just the same because it's far better than smoking. It has worked for me for over a year and has worked for my husband. A year ago as of February, my husband and I ordered our first e-cigarette kits. This was not the yucky, cheap, expensive things that you see at the gas station or drug store. This is not the fancy brand named ones you see on the media. These were legitimate electronic cigarettes that the veteran "vapers" recommend. They are made to save you money, not leech money the way those brand name/gas station ones do. They are made to be refilled with nicotine juice so you're not buying cartridges constantly and only lowering your weekly spending slightly. In fact, the supplies that I bought last year are still going strong, though I don't use some of them anymore since I've discovered better things and the technology has improved. Okay, so I am still addicted to nicotine. But, guess what? It's not that bad for you. It even has some health benefits for people with nervous mental disorders such as schizophrenia, ADD/ADHD and anxiety. You also get a fair bit of nicotine through tomatoes, which is not well known. It's a stimulant like caffeine and is no worse for you. There are several basic parts of an electronic cigarette. There's the juice delivery system, of which there are several different basic types. And there is the battery. In the juice delivery system, there's an atomizer. This turns the nicotine juice into a vapor when the battery gives it power, which is inhaled. The vapor delivers a small dose of nicotine to your lungs which absorb it. You exhale the rest of the vapor which looks like a cloud of smoke but does not smell and is safe for others around you. It gives you the sense of smoking without the negative health effects. This is because nothing is burning. It's just vaporizing. Many people use electronic cigarettes to quit completely, which is usually pretty effective if they really want to quit. And, most of the people who are unable to quit will just start using the e-cig again instead of picking up a pack of smokes. They will lower the amount of nicotine in their juice gradually until they are vaping 0 nicotine liquid. At that point, the only habit they have is the act of smoking: the vapor cloud, the hand to mouth action, the oral fixation. People that have been vaping for a month or so will find that they actually use it less than they did in the beginning. I spend maybe 10 dollars per week between my husband's juice and my own including shipping. We order fresh juice that's hand made when we order it so we're not getting any foreign ingredients and we know that it hasn't been sitting on a shelf forever. None of this stuff tastes like a cigarette, which is actually really nasty and I didn't realize how bad it smelled until I had been vaping for a day. I get juice that's truly delicious. It might sound odd to "smoke" a snickerdoodle cookie, but that's basically what I'm doing right now. It's one of my favorite flavors. I also really enjoy green apple, arctic ice (a really cool tasting menthol without much flavor. Excellent for mixing with fruit flavors), lemonade, and double Dutch chocolate which is exactly like a Tootsie Roll. I like a lot more, but those are on the top of my list. If you want to learn more about this stuff, the e-cigarette forums are basically the main source of information for anyone. Almost the entire vaping community that researches this stuff online end up there. It has tons of information and links to studies about e-cigarettes. I hope I've inspired someone to check them out. I've helped several people quit smoking including a lot of family members. This might not be for everyone because you have to truly go into it with the desire to quit and you need to have an open mind because it isn't exactly like smoking. It's similar and it takes a little getting used to. If the patch, the gum or any other nicotine cessation products haven't worked for you, then this might.
Well, in between using the real cigarettes and those popular e-cig, I think there is no question which can be better and healthier so if this can help you with your smoke addiction then maybe you should really share your story. Of course, the best way is to really quit and fully turned your back away from nicotine addiction but then if we are looking for a compromise then maybe this is it...
Yes, I agree. This is a middle ground though I think it's closer to being healthier than it is to the true middle. The main 2 ingredients in the e-juice is propalyne glycol and vegetable glycerin, both of which are used for human consumption in many other products. The propalyne glycol can even be found in inhalers. People sometimes get pure PG liquids or pure VG liquids. I personally prefer pure PG just because it works better in my e-cig which uses long wicks to deliver the juice to the coils. PG is thinner, so it travels better. Sometimes I do an 80/20 mix and my husband prefers 60/40. I just posted a picture of my current e-cig setup on Facebook. I'm very proud of it It kind of shows what a REAL e-cig can look like. Sorry it's a bit big. I have a green beaded necklace attached so I can wear it for convenience. I put the pin on for the picture, though.
I am not smoking but I am awake that e cigarette is better than the traditional cigarette since it is smokeless and amount of nicotine can be controlled. So, it is healthier for the environment and there is no second hand smoke. Although still better if someone can totally quite smoking.
I looked into these things when I got bored of all the advertising spam surrounding them and figured I should find out what they were. Of course, by that time I'd already given up smoking, so it was a bit late to actually use them... but I did discover that they would probably not have worked for me. Why? Because they don't break the habit: they just remove the smoke. That's not a bad thing, of course, but you're still left with the habit and addiction - both physical (to the nicotine) and psychological (the familiar movement, etc.). When I decided to give up, it was to get rid of the addiction rather than to remove the obviously unhealthy aspects of it! Of course - as you said - you can use them to give up by reducing the nicotine in them slowly. But then you can do that by reducing how many cigarettes you smoke and the results are more easily visible, thus encouraging further steps. Or by using patches. Or the injection. Or the pills. None of which continue the addiction to the activity. I don't think they'd work for my lady, either, because her addiction is to the sensation of smoking. The burn. The catch in the throat. None of which can be replaced by an e-cig. That said, they may help by maintaining the nicotine input while she deals with the psychological side, thus making a complete stop a two-step process. We'll see. I have a feeling she'll need something, since she's rather more dependent and, well... without being rude, when she hasn't had a ciggy in a while, she gets a little rough round the edges. So all in all, nothing against them but I don't think they'd have helped me. Plus, of course, they don't remove the addiction which pretty much defeats the point of using them to give up. Purely my opinion, of course, and definitely not intended to put anyone off doing something positive for themself!
I agree with you SpikeTheLobster, I think we have to make it clear that e-cig is not the product for all people because there are many smokers who really have the desire to end the habit once and for all. But this product can work for those who can't really quit for many reasons and instead of letting them wallow in the habit and blaming themselves for it, we are putting e-cig as an alternative. There is no question that quitting altogether is the best choice and should be our aim in the first place.
Smoking is such a hard habit to quit, because of the nicotine in cigarettes. Whatever one can use to help them stop smoking would be good. But, if you are still allowing nicotine into your body hen you risk the dangers that this can do to your body. A health food supplement called DGL, it is licorice flavored, and helps to remove nicotine from your body, and has helped people to stop smoking.
For starters, congratulations!! Maybe it's not kicking the habit entirely as others have suggested, but it's definitely better than where you were and it takes a lot of work to get there.
I glad it worked for you but this method isn't usually successful. Chantix is working for me and I can drink coffee.
Congratulation for quitting the smoking, it is great success for you because you have saved your life from dangerous diseases. Your method is amazing, you should glad it has helped to stop your smoking habit.
