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[BFIB]

I smoked from 18 to 25. Just woke up one day, threw them out and that was that.

Vaping has helped a few friends cut down to eventually quitting.

 

[vainya]

I think she maybe viewing weaning off as success when in actuality it might be a crutch like, "I'm only smoking three a day, so .. we're good, .. I'll cut down more soon".. and keep it like that. We'll see though. Been down this road a few times.

I got stuck in that mindset too which is why I picked up the herbal cigarettes. I knew I had to cut out nicotine, but I'm still not quite ready to cut out the habit.

 

[Darklor01]

So, is Vaping expensive? Does it smell?

 

[ZOONAMI]

Dude, if you can keep it to a pack a week you are a lucky motherfucker.

While you should still quit, don't stress that much, a pack a week is not so bad at all.

I smoke 30-40 cigs a DAY. And if I have the day off and play Magic Online for a bunch of hours its even worse.

Spirits might help you out. They may be more expensive but they burn longer and are fairly strong from a nicotine perspective, so imo there is never a need to smoke more than 3-5 cigarettes a day. The organic variety also costs the same as the "natural" kinds. Those are still grown with herbicides, etc but just don't have any additives.

Sometimes I also roll my own with the same tobacco which helps with cost as a pouch is 2-3 packs worth.

 

[TheNefariousGamer]

So, is Vaping expensive? Does it smell?

My current setup cost me about $50, and I go through a 30 ml bottle of juice (~$20) in about 2 weeks as a frequent user. The vapor smells, but it smells less (and better, arguably) than tobacco and doesn't really stick to things.

 

[ZOONAMI]

Cannot really emphasize this enough. Cigarettes now consistently make me nearly vomit, and occasionally make me actually vomit. It's really a strong effect and a very good deterrent from switching back, even if they don't feel quite the same.



What the heck kind of conditions are you putting these through? I'd say my old vape is in really rough shape from being in my pocket for like the 6 months I used it, and I only stopped using it because everything started getting stuck together and I couldn't get the tank off anymore.

I believe your experience, but there's gotta be something making those break.

I dunno, I take good care of them as far as I know, I don't know if the wicks wear out that quickly maybe?it is very cold here in the winter so maybe they aren't good with cold temps? It's literally 0 degrees Fahrenheit here today for the high in MN.

 

[ukas]

For real. You wouldn't think a book could do that, but it did. The author used to smoke 5 packs a day, thought he'd never quit...couldn't quit. Had a few simple realizations, and went to 0. He shares those realizations in the book, which will take only a few hours to read. I quit the day I read it.

The day after was a New Years Eve party, at a house with a bunch of booze (I would always have a smoke with a drink), and where people were allowed to smoke inside. I got tanked...and didn't have a single craving, no edginess, nothing.

Check it out.

The book worked for me and a friend of mine as well. I've been smoke free for almost 5 years now.

Edit: Forgot to mention I smoked for 20 years.

 

[iFirez]

@iFirez - at least for me, I started when I was 16 and would booze with older friends. They all smoked so I would smoke with them. There wasn't much thought about it, it wasn't a big decision where I weighed the impact, I was 16. Unfortunately I took to it like a fish takes to water, they are a "drug of choice" for me, I guess.

Stress and being around people that smoke.

Stupidity mostly. I was young, hanging out with kids who smoked. I was trying to be one of the crowd in a new town. It's fun starting friendships based on bad habits and lies .... and then we grow up and realize how dumb we were when we knew everything.

I'm not a smoker myself, but for whatever reason, most of the people I know are or were smokers. My dad smoked for 20-something years, all through my childhood. They all have a similar origin story - they started because someone offered them one, and being around a group/culture that was super friendly to smoking made it a bonding ritual. My girlfriend started when she was living in Korea, where everyone smokes and cigarettes are dirt cheap.

Just going to chuck my personal experience into this subject and say I started smoking entirely because of curiosity plus working at a gas station where I was just surrounded by cigarettes. Most of my co-workers smoked, I paid a lot of attention to who would buy what brand, there's just a whole culture about it. Plus, it helped me be a lot faster as a cashier there compared to a non-smoker trying to find a customer's cigarettes (need to emphasize: not worth it not worth it it's just a convenience store job).

It makes you feel good and alters your state of mind, same reason people use any other drug. People have been doing it since before modern times so its not some new societal construct.

Thanks for the responses, I do find it interesting to hear all of these different opinions and situations. Like I said I've never even tried, but I've been around my fair share of smokers and no doubt inhaled a bunch unwillingly. It really is fascinating to me though, my parents smoked until I was 14 (2006) which is when all I asked for my birthday is for them to both stop smoking and they did, I saw the challenge they went through to stop so my sympathies go out to those trying to stop.

I wonder how many people who smoke would go back and stop themselves ever starting? I've asked this question to randoms before and a lot have laughed and said they'd never give it up and even the social smokers I know said they'd never stop it at social events because it gives them an easy 'in' to talk to people and meet others.

 

[Darklor01]

My current setup cost me about $50, and I go through a 30 ml bottle of juice (~$20) in about 2 weeks as a frequent user. The vapor smells, but it smells less (and better, arguably) than tobacco and doesn't really stick to things.

Hrmm... $100ish per month is still a lot better than the $300 or so we had/have been spending per month, so, there is that. Considerations.. considerations.

 

[Darklor01]

The book worked for me and a friend of mine as well. I've been smoke free for almost 5 years now.

Edit: Forgot to mention I smoked for 20 years.

WOW.. OK, .. I'll definitely need to check this book out! I'll see if the local library has a copy.

 

[Earthstrike]

Buy her "Allen Carr's Easy Way to Stop Smoking."

It's about $13 on Amazon. I read it and didn't have a puff for years. DID go back to it for a bit, admittedly, but easily dropped it again soon after.

Not a smoker myself, but had a friend who was a heavy smoker who quit because of this book, and the reason he even read it was because his sister who was a heavy smoker read it and quit.

 

[BKK]

I was sceptical, but end of 2015 I gave up smoking (20+ year smoker) and tried "vaping". It's not the same thing, but it's close enough, I've pretty much lasted the whole year (apart from a few drunken relapses at parties). I really recommend trying it, on a personal level I'm really proud of myself a whole year without smoking, I didn't plan that, it just happened.

 

[Darklor01]

I was sceptical, but end of 2016 I gave up smoking (20+ year smoker) and tried "vaping". It's not the same thing, but it's close enough, I've pretty much lasted the whole year (apart from a few drunken relapses at parties). I really recommend trying it, on a personal level I'm really proud of myself a whole year without smoking, I didn't plan that, it just happened.

Congrats! That's great! More evidence leaning towards the Vaping concept.

 

[Darklor01]

Update: So, out of pure skepticism, my wife and I figured we'd try using that Allen Carr (audio) book. Wow... Just...Wow. I can't even. Honestly, in my head, there was no way a book was going to change a thing. It's crazy. We're mostly through and changes are pretty instant mostly through.

So far so good. Thank you GAF!! Crazy crazy stuff.

 

[zerotol]

I smoked from the age of about 14 to 28. I tried to quit many times. Nothing worked except cold turkey. complete cold turkey. That's it. I haven't touched a cigarette in about 13 years now.

 

[Darklor01]

I smoked from the age of about 14 to 28. I tried to quit many times. Nothing worked except cold turkey. complete cold turkey. That's it. I haven't touched a cigarette in about 13 years now.

Congratulations! Exactly! Cold turkey, but .. this book.. wow. This book. Also, it goes into why weaning off is the worst form of torture, and that if you'd managed to quit after weaning off you would have done it in spite of it not because of it.

 

[Opticability]

Congrats! I quit smoking in September of this year by vaping. I was able to quit overnight without any withdrawals. Not once have I craved a cigarette since and I was a one and a half pack a day smoker.

Vaping can be expensive though if you keep buying premium juices and don't mix juices yourself. Vaping can also be a really fun hobby, at least it is for me now. I mix breakfast juices, juices just for a quick nicotine buzz or fresh menthol juices for when you have a cold. It's quite fun.

 

[One Eyed Willy]

I quit smoking 13 years ago. What worked for me was I wanted to lose some weight MORE than I wanted to quit smoking. I couldn't run ~10-20 miles a week and be a smoker. I quit cold turkey and the only motivation I needed was seeing the weight drop off.

The first month was clearly the hardest, after 3 months it just dropped and dropped. I think I also didn't drink for 6 months or hang out at bars etc to keep the mental game on my side. 6 months turned to a year, 1 year turned to 13 years and I don't even remotely care about it any longer.

 

[Hoo-doo]

Hold on my friend. Quitting smoking is so, so worth it.

 

[Novocaine]

Good luck OP. It's hard but it's worth it.

 

[LordKasual]

I socially smoke when i'm at parties/clubs/whatever and there is alcohol (and other smokers) involved. About once or twice a month, if i'm (un)lucky. Probably not even that much

I've tried cigarettes while sober. It's a great nicotine high immediately followed with feeling like i just soaked my organs in bleach.

Heart rate feels weird, breathing feels weird, there's the smell of smoke in my nose, there's the taste of tobacco in my mouth, i have to wash everything i was wearing because it smells like smoke....I can't understand how people can constantly deal with that.

Like, if you got a full hangover immediately after drinking alcohol, i don't think i'd ever even bother.

 

[Shadybiz]

Update: So, out of pure skepticism, my wife and I figured we'd try using that Allen Carr (audio) book. Wow... Just...Wow. I can't even. Honestly, in my head, there was no way a book was going to change a thing. It's crazy. We're mostly through and changes are pretty instant mostly through.

So far so good. Thank you GAF!! Crazy crazy stuff.

Ah, excellent news! Yes, telling someone that a book would help them quit sounds completely ridiculous (trust me I felt the same way), but it really has worked wonders for many. Keep up the good work!!

 

[Griss]

Vaping is the way to quit. Worked for me.

(Of course, like an idiot I didn't buy a spare battery and two weeks after my battery died I was back on the cigs, BUT once I got a new kit I quit again.)

 

[Hoo-doo]

Vaping is the way to quit. Worked for me.

(Of course, like an idiot I didn't buy a spare battery and two weeks after my battery died I was back on the cigs, BUT once I got a new kit I quit again.)

No. Quitting is the way to quit.

Once you're in the right mindset and realize that these little toxic cancersticks are utterly utterly wasteful not only for your body and health but also for your money, you don't want to smoke anymore. All you need is for that conviction to be stronger than your physiological addiction to nicotine. And it gets easier the further you go.

 

[HawksWinStanley]

Update: So, out of pure skepticism, my wife and I figured we'd try using that Allen Carr (audio) book. Wow... Just...Wow. I can't even. Honestly, in my head, there was no way a book was going to change a thing. It's crazy. We're mostly through and changes are pretty instant mostly through.

So far so good. Thank you GAF!! Crazy crazy stuff.

Any insight as to why it's working so well?

I'm not a smoker so I have no reason to buy it. Just curious since, as you mentioned, it doesn't seem like a book would do jack shit.

 

[I_D]

Quitting an addiction is largely about your mindset.


You're not *quitting* cigarettes. You *QUIT* cigarettes.

I know your pain. The first three days were the worst, but it gets much easier after that. After three weeks, you'll wonder why you ever started smoking in the first place.

So, is Vaping expensive? Does it smell?

Ironically, people told me I smelled nice when vaping. They think it's a cologne or something.

 

[subrock]

ever considered trying LSD?

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/quit-smoking-with-lsd-876

 

[Magus1234]

14 years of smoking and drinking, quit both but needed to use a Vape to get through smoking. Once you do though, smoking taste so awful compared to Vaping. I really recommend using a decent vaping tool to get through it if you are having a hard time. I must of tried quitting 10+ times but could never kick it.

 

[Vegetable Lasagna]

I quit smoking in a week with ecigs. I haven't been able to get off the ecig yet, but I haven't exactly tried very hard either. All I know is they're way less harmful, I'm spending less money and everything I own doesn't smell like shit. Gum, patches etc didn't work for me at all.

 

[RumblingRosco]

Great choice OP! Prepare to enjoy an extra $3,600 in your pocket annually, increased lung function, decreased shortness of breath, increased immune system, normalized insulin resistance, significantly reduced risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage, significantly reduced risk of diabetes, significantly reduced risk of coronary heart disease, significantly reduced risk of oral cancer, significantly reduced risk of throat cancer, significantly reduced risk of esophageal cancer, significantly reduced risk of bladder cancer, significantly reduced risk of stroke, significantly reduced risk of lung cancer, significantly reduced risk of larynx cancer, significantly reduced risk of pancreatic cancer, improved sense of smell, decreased yellowing of your teeth and nails, and the comfort of knowing that you aren't putting people nearby you at increased risks of various forms of cancer!

I smoked in high school when I was 17 and 18 years old. I quit when I started college cold turkey. It was incredibly easy for me, thankfully. Didn't use gum, patches, or any sort of intermediate, I just stopped and haven't smoked in over 10 years. I know I had it easy (for whatever reason) compared to most, but, I do believe anyone can quit given the right support and motivation.

Oh, I did smoke a portion of a cigar at my bachelor party two years ago, so I guess I didn't totally give up smoking. However, the cigar didn't light any fire under me to start smoking regularly again. I guess I just don't get addicted very easily.

 

[Griss]

No. Quitting is the way to quit.

Once you're in the right mindset and realize that these little toxic cancersticks are utterly utterly wasteful not only for your body and health but also for your money, you don't want to smoke anymore. All you need is for that conviction to be stronger than your physiological addiction to nicotine. And it gets easier the further you go.

But I knew that BEFORE starting smoking in my early twenties, so I don't see how that frame of mind would help me. Shit, the fact that it might kill me was originally part of the fucking appeal! I'm not pretending that's rational, it is what it is. I wasn't a happy bunny back then.

I've also never been physiologically addicted in the way some people say they are. I could always drop them for a week at a time or more, often through pure forgetfulness. Like I'd just forget to buy any for a week or two. That doesn't smack of addiction to me - I could never go a single day without caffeine, by comparison, and could NEVER forget that I didn't have some. Then later I'd be out with friends drinking and buy a pack, enjoy them and start up smoking more often for a bit. It's a pure social habit for me, one I enjoy. With vaping I get the enjoyment without the nasty downsides. That's a win/win.

 

[Shadybiz]

Any insight as to why it's working so well?

I'm not a smoker so I have no reason to buy it. Just curious since, as you mentioned, it doesn't seem like a book would do jack shit.

It's tough to explain in a few bullet points, but at a high level: The author doesn't try to scare you...doesn't try to guilt you into quitting. He just makes some very good points about how nicotine addiction works, why we are led to believe that it is such a monumental task to quit (fear and brainwashing have a lot to do with it), and why smoking is absolutely pointless. It's quite good, and has worked for millions. If you know someone who wants to quit but is having trouble, this is a nice little gift to give them.

 

[TheNefariousGamer]

Update: So, out of pure skepticism, my wife and I figured we'd try using that Allen Carr (audio) book. Wow... Just...Wow. I can't even. Honestly, in my head, there was no way a book was going to change a thing. It's crazy. We're mostly through and changes are pretty instant mostly through.

So far so good. Thank you GAF!! Crazy crazy stuff.

Really glad it's working for you. I might have to take a look at this book myself.

 

[Kingpin Rogers]

Both of you need to remember to keep calm if either of you relapse. I've never smoked myself but I know how incredibly tough it is. The added stress of guilt trips and arguments would help no one.

 

[eddievanclaylen]

I quit by vaping. You have to want it. Want it, OP. Smoking cigs sucks. Save your lungs for weed.

Im trying to get my gf to quit. Hooked her up with a vape and everything, shes just too hooked on nasty menthols. Sigh.

Edit i started smoking at 12. I'm 41. Ive been vaping for 3 months. The struggle is real.

Best of luck.

 

[ZOONAMI]

I don't understand all the praise for this book. I just finished reading it and it literally doesn't have anything in it I haven't already read, heard, or thought about regarding quitting smoking. Does nothing for me but I'm glad it is working for others.

 

[Shadybiz]

I don't understand all the praise for this book. I just finished reading it and it literally doesn't have anything in it I haven't already read, heard, or thought about regarding quitting smoking. Does nothing for me but I'm glad it is working for others.

Well, not everyone has thought of or read these things that you already know. The OP and his wife feel the need and desire to stop, and this book is giving them the push in the direction they need to go, as it has done for many others. If you come back to it later, you may see it in a different light.

And I want to note: The American Spirits that you buy are in no way safer than regular cigarettes. They still have tar and they still have carbon monoxide. There is a warning on them that says "no additives in our tobacco does NOT mean a safer cigarette." I have done the American Spirit thing for that reason as well...it just doesn't hold water.

 

[Darklor01]

I don't understand all the praise for this book. I just finished reading it and it literally doesn't have anything in it I haven't already read, heard, or thought about regarding quitting smoking. Does nothing for me but I'm glad it is working for others.

I'll be honest with you in saying that when I'd read some member's endorsement of the book, I had nothing but skepticism. The book even says that it's not going to work for everyone and there is a % who it doesn't work for.

Perhaps, you didn't keep an open enough mind to it when reading? Perhaps you might have done better with the Audio Book? Did you follow the instructions to the letter?

I'm sorry that it hasn't worked for you. I hope you do quit eventually if you want to. I just want to thank those that did for bringing it to my attn since if they hadn't, I would never have known about it, or even tried it out of snarky skepticism.

 

[Seraph_Nicholas]

Vaporizers are the way to go. I love nicotine and will never quit, and vaporizers are just the most logical way to consume it. Quibbles about 'feel' are childish - You're still getting your drug, and in a safer way. The safest, in fact - In decreasing order of lethality, I'd put cigarettes, cigars, and chew at the top, shortly followed by bidis and nasal snuff, with real (steam-cured) swedish Snus way down below all the other real tobacco products, and vapes a bit lower, but both snus and vapes have totally negligible risk.

This is a real distinction. Nicotine, itself, only has solid scientific links to increased blood pressure, as far as health effects go. Not great, of course, but it's nothing compared to the horrorshow the various carcinogens in (and on, thank you flue curing) the plant will wreck on your body.

This is why I advise everyone who's trying quitting, and especially people that have tried and failed like you and your wife, to pick up a vaporizer and keep it around as an 'in case of emergency'. It's really easy to pick up a cig and be right where you left off, but if you use the gap of time to let your body get fuzzy on the details of how smoking feels, you'll find your brain only really cares about the nicotine. Not the paper, or the fire, or the host of other nasty chemicals you're also addicted to in a cigarette. At the very least, it usually prevents a total backslide.

 

[Darklor01]

Vaporizers are the way to go. I love nicotine and will never quit, and vaporizers are just the most logical way to consume it. Quibbles about 'feel' are childish - You're still getting your drug, and in a safer way. The safest, in fact - In decreasing order of lethality, I'd put cigarettes, cigars, and chew at the top, shortly followed by bidis and nasal snuff, with real (steam-cured) swedish Snus way down below all the other real tobacco products, and vapes a bit lower, but both snus and vapes have totally negligible risk.


This is a real distinction. Nicotine, itself, only has solid scientific links to increased blood pressure, as far as health effects go. Not great, of course, but it's nothing compared to the horrorshow the various carcinogens in (and on, thank you flue curing) the plant will wreck on your body.

This is why I advise everyone who's trying quitting, and especially people that have tried and failed like you and your wife, to pick up a vaporizer and keep it around as an 'in case of emergency'. It's really easy to pick up a cig and be right where you left off, but if you use the gap of time to let your body get fuzzy on the details of how smoking feels, you'll find your brain only really cares about the nicotine. Not the paper, or the fire, or the host of other nasty chemicals you're also addicted to in a cigarette. At the very least, it usually prevents a total backslide.

Actually I'm finding it more and more gross to smoke and am about done with it. For various reasons the book has done something and I don't enjoy it anymore. I feel like it brainwashed me into enjoying the time I don't smoke more than actually smoking.

 

[curiouscharles]

I quit smoking by using a vaporizer and slowly going from 12% nicotine to 0% I kept vaping but eventually lost interest in it after I got weened off.

yup, this worked for me too.

power to you & your wife OP, this is a huge thing you're both doing and i couldn't be happier for you.

personally, i never found nicotine terribly addictive, but moreso the act / ritual of physically smoking.

this is why vaping worked so well for me, as i got to keep inhaling / exhaling something into my lungs [which actually felt / tasted WAY better than actual cigarettes], but without nearly as much of the health risks [but still health risks].

getting myself off the vaping wasn't super easy, so one day i just threw out all my batteries and coils and the sheer cost of replacing them made me stop forever lol.

 

[texasairhead101]

My brother-in-law has a vape shop that does very well. So many people use vaping as a means to cut back and quit all-together. Spend the money you would in a month and use it on vape stuff at a local store is my suggestion. try the flavors and dif nicotine levels to find what's right for you.

 

[Ziltoidia 9]

I picked it up at a pretty turbulent time and become way too connected to it (head buzz/happiness) as a mental health crutch. I might try the vaper strategy soon. I'd like to buy it online though, I'm just a convince person and don't really want to go into the vape stores that pop up. They look kind of shady to be honest, but I don't like going into places in general.

Any ideas?

 

[Octavia]

Not everyone is the same though, if you have the willpower to quit cold turkey you are lucky. For a lot of people they can't do that because addictive personalities are a real thing.

Vapes actually do work, I've watched 4 coworkers quit smoking now thanks to vaping, it's pretty awesome to see how easy it is for them once they get going.

If you get a cheap little ecig yeah, it's gonna suck. If you get an actual mod, some spare batteries, and buy decent non gas station juices it's pretty a pleasant hobby I hear.

 

[Darklor01]

Thanks all.

On Vaping, I ran into two workers at my office the other day when I felt like I might have wanted a smoke. They were actually vaping and swore up and down how much better vaping is. So, it obviously works and the weren't vaping as much as much as when they smoked cigarettes.

I don't know if there are side effects to vaping, but anything has to be better than cigarettes.

 

[curiouscharles]

Thanks all.

On Vaping, I ran into two workers at my office the other day when I felt like I might have wanted a smoke. They were actually vaping and swore up and down how much better vaping is. So, it obviously works and the weren't vaping as much as much as when they smoked cigarettes.

I don't know if there are side effects to vaping, but anything has to be better than cigarettes.

to distill the general consensus down to a sententious statement:

cigarettes are very, very bad for your health, whereas vaping is just bad.

still carcinogenic, still a lot of mystery as to its actual short & long-term effects [hasn't been around long enough to study], but you're at least not breathing burning matter into your lungs... so there's that.

i personally find vaping to actually be more enjoyable as well.

cigarettes always hurt / tasted awful to me, whereas vaping feels light inhaling thick and fluffy clouds that taste however you choose [i always did a mix of espresso with a touch of menthol].

 

[Maiden Voyage]

I don't smoke anymore but I want to read this book.

 

[Griss]

to distill the general consensus down to a sententious statement:

cigarettes are very, very bad for your health, whereas vaping is just bad.

still carcinogenic, still a lot of mystery as to its actual short & long-term effects [hasn't been around long enough to study], but you're at least not breathing burning matter into your lungs... so there's that.

i personally find vaping to actually be more enjoyable as well.

cigarettes always hurt / tasted awful to me, whereas vaping feels light inhaling thick and fluffy clouds that taste however you choose [i always did a mix of espresso with a touch of menthol].

This is outdated. The Royal College of Physicians in London, who were pioneers in studying how smoking causes cancer back in the 60s, released a study in 2016 saying that "vaping can prevent almost all of the harm from smoking". They even suggest it not be taxed and be promoted as a harm-reductive way of quitting.

Basically, vaping is fucking incredibly awesome for your health vs smoking. If you don't smoke, don't take up vaping, but if you do, for the love of god and your health try it.

 

[Lombax]

OP the thing that helped me the most was breaking up my normal routine, and quitting cold turkey. Just make it 3 days without a smoke and you are on your way!

Best of luck!

 

[always crazy bacon]

Its good your trying together, it's almost impossible when you are around another smoker. What helped me was having packs of very strong mints and often brushing my teeth.