It was about a year ago that I decided after 10 years of smoking, and getting up to 2 packs a day that I needed to finally quit. I was a heavy smoker, I would smoke cigarettes in the car, smoke cigarettes on the computer, smoke cigarettes before bed, and when I woke up… It was pretty bad and I hadn’t even realized it. The big problem with cigarettes is that the damage is done so slowly, over such a long time, that by the time you realize what smoking has done to your health, it may be too late.
On the other hand, I like to have a positive attitude about most things, especially my health. I don’t like the feeling of worrying about lung cancer, emphysema, and other things that have occurred to people I know or people I am related to. So I figure, whether I am already sick, or not, quitting is a MUST. So I tried everything to quit smoking… nicotine patches, nicotine gum, pharmaceuticals, herbal remedies, you name it, I tried it… well except for one thing, the electronic cigarette.
So I found out about this brand of electronic cigarettes called xHale o2 being sold at 7-eleven stores in my area, I saw the price was low compared to electronic cigarettes being sold online, and at kiosks in the mall, and noticed that they come in a variety of flavors… So I took it upon myself to put the money down, and try the product, and since the day I bought my xHale o2 electronic cigarette, I have not touched an “analog” or real cigarette.
So right now, I will tell you step by step what I did to quit smoking using the electronic cigarette.
Using the electronic cigarette to quit…
Now, I know I am not supposed to say that the electronic cigarette will help you quit smoking, it may, it may not. I found that I did not have the willpower to quit in ANY other way, I even once locked myself into a motel room for a week to try to quit… FAIL!
What I did to quit smoking was this… Disassociate myself as a smoker. I picked up the xhale o2 from 7-eleven, and I intentionally bought the menthol flavor because it tasted like MINT, not tobacco. The problem with the majority of tobacco juices is that people buy them expecting the taste of a real cigarette and are quickly disappointed when they find that it tastes NOTHING like a real cigarette but actually tastes bad. That was the first mistake, you’re trying to quit smoking using a different device, why would you want it to taste like cigarettes?
Secondly, I constantly reminded myself that I am getting the exact same amount of nicotine using my electronic cigarette as I am using a real cigarette. What I have found in using the electronic cigarette to quit is that even though you are getting the nicotine you want, at some point you seem to realize that nicotine isn’t the only addictive substance in cigarettes… I’m not sure what else is in there, but it seems like even though I was getting nicotine, it did take a little reenforcement and patience.
At some points when I quit smoking I felt like I really wanted a cigarette, how did I resolve this problem? I took massive drags off of my electronic cigarette. Did it work for me? Absolutely! Nicotine poisoning will not kill you, but it will make you feel sick to your stomach and possibly give you a headache, but as far as I am concerned… a little nicotine poisoning is nothing compared to the damage real cigarettes can do to a person, so I kept vaping my electronic cigarette.
Third, it is important that if you are quitting, you adjust naturally. If you normally step outside to smoke a cigarette, instead step outside to vape your electronic cigarette. This will make you feel comfortable, and will give you less anxiety about whether or not quitting is going to work. Being able to go outside and use your electronic cigarette will keep you from feeling like you are no longer a smoker.
After about 3 or 4 days of not having real cigarettes, I treated myself to an upgrade. I bought a 510 Electronic Cigarette, charger, cartomizers, and I went to StrictlyEjuice.com and bought a flavor of juice I like even more, in a 30ml bottle that I would find is a cheaper solution than buying the $15.00 refill kits from xhale o2. I no longer craved actual cigarettes, and transitioned completely.
The biggest thing is the habits. It helps to clean your place out of any cigarette butts, empty packs, ash trays, lighters, etc prior to switching to electronic cigarettes. Having these things around is just going to distract you from your goal. It’s important to keep the electronic cigarette by your bed-side the first few days so that you don’t reach for the real cigarettes. It is also important to make it a habit to ALWAYS KEEP YOUR ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES CHARGED! If your battery dies, you WILL have a nic-fit, you WILL crave nicotine, and you MAY want a real cigarette. Do not satisfy these cravings! If your electronic cigarette dies, plug it in, take a nap, take a walk, keep your mind off buying or using regular cigarettes! After your electronic cigarette is charged, take a massive puff and watch how much relief you feel, which is how I know it works.
So to summarize, the following steps is how I quit smoking
- Prepare for the changes of quitting, clean your home, open windows, bring in fresh air, throw away ashtrays, wash your clothes.
- Purchase your choice of electronic cigarette, try to aim for your favorite flavor instead of just tobacco flavor.
- Remind yourself that you are getting nicotine, even though at first you might question it.
- Push yourself through it, after 3 days you will be fully transitioned.
- After a month, consider lowering the strength of the e-liquid you use, until you gradually hit 0mg.
- Never give in to real tobacco!
Need help? More advice? Encouragement? Answers? Don’t be shy! I did it without help, without people to consult with and it was hard, and understanding this I am here 100% to help ANYONE who is willing to give up cigarettes via Electronic Cigarettes. Post a comment, or question- I’ll get back to you faster than you can say WINNING!
The XHALE o2 electronic cigarette was the first electronic cigarette to be sold in 7-eleven stores all over the United States. The price is quite affordable, and they usually let you sample the unit in store, which is definitely a plus if you had never tried an electronic cigarette before. The kit comes in two different flavors, and also a variety of different nicotine strengths like many other brands, and they also sell the refill cartridges at the same stores where they sell the electronic cigarettes themselves.
