Trying to Quit Smoking? Don’t Give Up Just Yet.

There is a lot of buzz lately about eCigarettes, aka “Vaping“. The devices have been around for several years, but it seems more people are becoming aware of the option just recently. I have been a vaper for three years now. Some of my friends and a few of my family know this, but not everyone; it’s not something I brag about. It’s something that, for me, was a solution to a problem.

I started smoking when I was 16 and I tried to quit more times than I can count. The only times it lasted more than a few weeks was during pregnancy and the infant years of my children. I always went back. Why? Because I wasn’t fighting just chemical dependency - I was fighting something I enjoyed doing. I liked having a cup of coffee and a smoke first thing in the morning. I loved a cigarette with a drink at the bar when I went out with friends.  So, even though I lasted long enough to clean the nicotine out of my system each and every time, and the physical cravings technically were gone – I couldn’t get past the habitual, behavioral aspect of it. I have a feeling there are many smokers reading this and nodding in agreement. The nicotine is powerful, but there’s more to it. That’s why some people fail using the patch, gum and other methods where you don’t have that act of inhaling.

Electronic cigarettes, otherwise known as eCigs or Vapes, fill that gap when you are trying to quit smoking tobacco cigarettes. They offer nicotine by inhalation and the act of ‘smoking’ without the major side effects associated with tobacco. But, what exactly is an eCig and how does it work? What do you buy? How do you use it?

Refillable style that I use:

Pre-filled Style:

Photo: eCigaretteReviewed

Kits come in a wide variety and can range from basic to extremely modified and fancy, but most eCigs are still made up of three parts: The battery, the cartomizer and the tip. The battery heats up the coil in the center and turns the juice to water vapor which, in turn, allows you to inhale the nicotine. If you are using a disposable eCig (one time use cartridges) then they are already prefilled and you just put one on and start using it until it’s dry and then get a new one. If your kit is refillable then you drip juice into the same cartomizer each time it runs dry. The juice comes in hundreds of flavors like fruit, candy, cocktails and even desserts. You can also get traditional tobacco flavor. Read more facts here.

My personal experience with eCigs:

• There is no smell. If I’m using a strong flavored juice then I may smell that flavor, but nothing more.
• There is no smoke. The juice is nicotine and either propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerin (VG) or a mixture of both. There is no tobacco used at all. As with any product, the purity of the juice will depend on the quality of the seller.
• No smell on your clothes, furniture, etc.
• No dropped embers, burn marks or fire hazard.
• No second hand smoke, ash or butts to clean up. Vapor also doesn’t travel, linger or cling like tobacco smoke does.
• No yellow fingers or teeth.
• No irritation to mouth or throat. No smoker’s cough. No congestion.
• It’s cheaper. Average cost of smoking cigarettes per year: over $2400.00 – Amount I spend on vaping per year: $500
• YOU choose the strength of the nicotine. You don’t have to cut back on how often you smoke – instead, you can slowly lower the milligrams of nicotine in each bottle until you are nicotine free.

I’m not a doctor. I don’t even play one on tv. I would never call this ‘healthy’ –  PG is man made and VG is a chemically altered plant product. Vaping is an alternative option to reduce symptoms of smoking. eCigs are not for fun. If you don’t already smoke, don’t start – not even an electronic cigarette. But, for those who just can’t seem to quit, who have tried time and time again only to fail — this can help.

There are many resources online that can help you learn more about vaping. Sites like eCigReviewed.com give you information about different brands, products, reviews and facts to get you started. Seek out forums and communities that specialize in vaping and learn before you start. It’s not as easy as cracking open a pack and grabbing your lighter. It’s an electronic device and you have to take care of it, clean it, recharge it. But, I think you will find that the benefits are worth it.

This post contains sponsored links, but all opinions and experiences are 100% honest and unscripted. You should speak to your doctor before trying eCigarettes.