How Vaping Helped Me Stop Smoking Cigarettes: A Personal Success Story

You’ve probably heard the story before, someone was smoking cigarettes and then magically they tried vaping and was cured from their smoking addiction! 

Well, my story isn’t exactly like that, but if you’re thinking of quitting smoking cigarettes and are wanting to start vaping instead, here are some tips that helped me out when I was quitting smoking.

The Backstory

Like many people, the second I became legal, I started smoking cigarettes. So many of my friends were smoking and I wanted to smoke with them and feel included. 

I had my first cigarette the morning of my 19th birthday with my friend, and from the first inhale, I knew I would continue smoking, so I did. And by the time my 20th birthday came around I was smoking almost a pack of cigarettes a day. 

My family hated that I smoked cigarettes, they kept telling me how bad it was for me, how I always smelled like cigarettes and smoke, but honestly, I was addicted and I didn’t take their concern into account. 

Discovering Vaping 

At 21 years old, I had developed a smoker’s cough, my fingers were beginning to stain from the nicotine and I was smoking more than a pack of cigarettes a day. 

One day, I was sitting out in my friend’s backyard when they came outside and pulled out this colourful device I had never seen before. While taking a drag off my cigarette, I asked them through the smoke what the colourful device was, and they told me it was a vaping device. 

Having only vaguely heard of vaping, I asked what it was and what it did; they explain how it was a device that contained nicotine but was flavoured and didn’t smell like a cigarette. 

I remember that friend telling me that the vape had helped her stop smoking cigarettes. I mentioned how I wanted to stop smoking cigarettes, but didn’t think I was ready yet. 

Going Cold Turkey

It was the middle of the pandemic, my family and I had decided that we were going to have a little vacation up north at a cottage. 

We were hours away from home, and in classic me fashion, I had only packed a half empty pack of cigarettes last minute. And by the time we had finished the hours long drive, I was out of cigarettes. So I decided, I was simply going to quit, kick back in the summer nature by a lake, because it couldn’t be that hard to quit…. could it? 

Two days later I was miserable, I had the sweats, I was grumpy and overall not being kind to my family. Turns out, quitting was harder than it looked, and at this point I was desperate, all I wanted was something to cease the cravings I had. Desperately, I found a place only about 45 minutes away from the cottage that sold vapes. So off I went, driving down to this vape shop with determination. 

The Vape Shop

45 minutes later, I arrived at the vape shop in the closest town near me. I practically ran into that shop, but was surprised what I saw around me, I didn’t really know what to expect, but the shop was so neat and tidy. The sales associate greeted me kindly, asking what I was looking for, and I explained my situation and how I just needed something. 

After some discussion, we both agreed that the best product for me would be a disposable device with a larger puff count. We went with the brand Elfbar and Flavour Beast, in a tobacco flavour so it was easier for me to adjust to vaping instead of smoking cigarettes. I practically sold them out of the tobacco flavoured disposables they had, just in case I were to run out during my trip. 

Trying The Vape

On my way back to the cottage from the vape shop, I opened my first disposable vape and tested it out. It felt nice in my hand, definitely heavier than the cigarettes I was used to, but when I inhaled for the first time and exhaled the vapour, all my cravings were satisfied. The tobacco flavour was perfect, similar to the cigarettes I was used to, but without the heavy smoke that clung to my clothes; the hand to mouth habit that I had grown from smoking was exactly the same when using the disposable. 

When I arrived back to the cottage, my mom looked at me, raised an eyebrow in a silent question; I nodded, smiled and said that I was good. She looked relieved, knowing how difficult the last two days had been for me. 

Since that day, about 3 years ago, I have been vaping and exploring different flavours and devices besides disposables. My smoking cough has ceased and overall I feel a lot better than when I was smoking cigarettes. 

Although those 2 days up north was a journey in itself, I am happy that I went through it, vaping helped me stop smoking and I’ve never looked back. 

Tips For Switching From Cigarettes To Vaping

• try a tobacco flavoured vape device
• pick the correct vape strength depending on how much you’re smoking per day
• 1-10 cigarettes: 10mg strength nicotine typically found in e-liquid
• 10+ cigarettes: 20mg strength nicotine typically found in disposables, in e-liquid and closed pod systems
• try nicotine patches for extra support if needed
• surround yourself with people who vape and don’t smoke cigarettes

Why Vaping Is Better Than Smoking Cigarettes

• Short Term Health Improvements: switching completely to vaping can lead to improved respiratory health and reduced anxiety than when smoking
• Improved Sense Of Smell And Taste: smoking cigarettes can dull your sense of smell and taste, with vaping, your sense of smell and taste is barely effected
• No Second Hand Smoke: because vape devices produce vapour, there is little risk for those around you such as loved ones and beloved pets
• Control Over Nicotine Intake: e-liquids, such as freebase and salt nicotine e-liquids, have different nicotine strengths, ranging of zero nicotine to 20mg nicotine strength, while cigarettes have the same nicotine strength throughout most brands
• Variety And Customization: there is an extensive range of flavours (menthol, tobacco, fruit and desserts) and device types (disposables, closed pod systems, refillable pod systems, etc) to suit individual preferences

If you're wanting to quit smoking and want to start vaping, come into either of our Vaping Story locations and check out our options that might be perfect for you!

www.vapingstory.com

667 King Street East Unit B, Hamilton

613 Somerset Street West, Ottawa

Must be 19+