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I've tried to quit vaping before but ended up gaining weight because eating satisfied cravings. Went back to vaping to lose weight and I'm afraid I'll start vaping again if I begin to gain weight again. Also my twomain reasons for quitting are 1. the expenses and 2. my boyfriend hates it but I really love it. IDK what to do
Welcome to our community!
You might want to rethink vaping after you read some of the latest news out about it: Lung Injuries and Vaping. It is proving not to be safe as more studies are being done - and anecdotally, as well. You can do a search above right with the magnifying glass to read more - and on the 'net as well. As far as gaining weight, plan to add healthier snacks for your quit. You might also eat 6 smaller meals to maintain your blood sugar levels. You should also increase your exercise which will benefit you threefold: help with any nicotine cravings, give you a hit of the dopamine you are missing, and burn additional calories. Nobody ever died from a little extra weight; the same cannot be said for permanent lung damage! I think you DO know what to do.
Nicotine addiction is nicotine addiction - no matter the delivery device - and how to beat any of them is about the same. Every time you read :"cigarette" in the information I will give you, just sub "vaping." The one thing different I would recommend is that you first start to reduce the nicotine content of the pods. Start with a lesser amount in, like, one in every four, then three, etc. until you are only using the smallest amount. That way the physical withdrawal should be more manageable.
The important thing you can do right now is to educate yourself on what nicotine does to your body and mind. To that end, I highly recommend Allen Carr's “The Easy Way to Stop Smoking.” This is an easy and entertaining read. You can search for it online or at your local library. If you do nothing else to get ready for your quit, please do give this a read.
You should also read the posts here and perhaps go to the pages of folks who you think might be helpful. You might visit whyquit.com, quitsmoking.com and livewell.com for the good information contained there. @https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/groups/best-of-ex has lots of blogs written by members of this site with their experiences and guidance. Here is a video to inform you further about nicotine addiction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpWMgPHn0Lo&feature=youtu.be.
After you have completed the recommended reading, it will be time to make an informed choice of the quit aid, if any, you will use. If you go that route, I personally recommend the aids that don't let the addict control the dose such as the available prescription drugs or the patch. If used properly, gum, lozenges and inhalers are fine, but they need to be used only as a last resort after you have tried to delay and distract. I have seen folks become addicted to them if they substitute them for every cigarette they used to smoke - just trading one addiction for another. You need to start out with a plan to reduce use of them over time - which the patch does by decreasing the dose contained in them.. For the gum, you can start by cutting each piece in half, then in quarters, then sub regular gum of the same flavor in between, adding more and more regular gum. For the lozenge, you need to start subbing a mint in between to begin, increasing the number of them over time.
It will be informative if you do the tracking and separation exercises recommended here on the site. As you track each cigarette smoked, note its importance, and what you might do instead. Put each one off just a little to prove that you don't NEED a cigarette just because you think you do.
The idea is to change up your routines so the smoking associations are reduced. Drink your coffee with your OTHER hand in a place different from when you smoked. Maybe switch to tea for a bit. If you always had that first smoke with your coffee, try putting your tennies on right out of bed, going for a quick walk, then taking your shower and THEN your coffee! Rearrange the furniture in the areas you used to smoke so the view is different. Buy your gas at a different station. Take a different route to work. Take a quick walk at break time where the smokers AREN'T.
You need to distract yourself through any craves. You can take a bite out of a lemon (yup - rind and all), put your head in the freezer and take a deep breath of cold air, do a few jumping jacks, go for a brisk walk or march in place, play a computer game. Keep a cold bottle of water with you from which to sip. Don't let that smoking thought rattle around in your brain unchallenged. Sometimes you need to quit a minute or an hour at a time. You will need to be disciplined in the early days to distract yourself when a crave hits. Get busy! Here is a link to a list of things to do instead of smoke if you need some fresh ideas:
https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/blogs/Youngatheart.7.4.12-blog/2013/02/25/100-things-to-do-instead-of-smoke
The conversation in your head in response to the "I want a cigarette" thought needs to be, "Well, since I have decided not to do that anymore, what shall I do instead for the three minutes this crave will last?" Then DO it. You will need to put some effort into this in the early days, but it gets easier and easier to do.
Stay close to us here and ask questions when you have them and for support when you need it. We will be with you every step of the way!
Nancy
Hmmm … . The expense/cost of smoking/vaping was never a reason for me to quit. Quitting for another individual was never a reason for me to quit either. Continuing to vape because you "think" you enjoy it and "think" you need it to keep your weight down is a problem.
You and only you need to be the reason for quitting and more importantly for staying quit IMO. If you really don't want to Be Quit you won't. If you really believe it has a value to you then you won't Stay Quit.
My only advice to you is to educate yourself on nicotine & addiction to change what vaping means to you. Until you change YOU and your PERSPECTIVE and DECIDE to quit & stay quit and COMMIT to that decision you will flounder. If you manage to get quit you will have trouble reaching a place of peace, thankfulness, and gratitude in the Be Quit and will be at risk no matter how long you haven't vaped in the Stay Quit.
You have to decide & choose it for yourself. Nobody can do that for you. Take what may help you from this comment & discard the rest. Best Wishes.
Being impulsive can be nice in life. Not being able to stop vaping when you have some pretty good reasons to stop points to addiction and dependency. Try taking an addiction test (a bunch of questions). If you fail the test, try taking the first step and admitting that you are addicted. Don't bother setting a quit date--MOO-- until you are ready to say, ' I care to quit for my own reasons.'
Love of vaping is a delusion. Life is just as good, even better without it. You might want to look in to ways to deal with your eating prior to quitting so that you have a strategy.
Welcome to EX, nicotine addiction is very powerful and controls YOU, I remember losing more than one quit because I was afraid of gaining weight. I have been quit for over 5 1/2 years now and I haven't gained any weight, I HAVE gained self confidence and knowledge about what smoking can do to a person and I think vaping is right there next to it. When I started smoking, there were people who said smoking was bad...that it could hurt people but I didn't listen, I was 17, I was invincible and I certainly never expected to become addicted. Back then a pack of cigarettes would last me over a month, I only smoked when I was out with friends, I certainly did not smoke at home, my parents would have killed me. Becoming addicted to any substance slows down and may even stop your emotional growth. You need to learn to deal with feelings without stuffing them down with nicotine or food or alcohol or anything. It is normal and healthy to FEEL, it is NOT normal and healthy to stuff those feelings down. Exercise is a GREAT way to raise your spirits by releasing dopamine, so is music, watching funny videos, taking care of yourself. We are all here to help you quit and we all want you to be successful.
Ellen
I agree with the advice you have been given so far, study addiction, and develop why you want to quit. Quitting for other people does not effortful, no matter how close they are to you, and when you start to fail you will resent them for making you quit (I've played this game for my family a few times).
I used to believe the same with smoking; I would need to make weight for semi annual height/weight (job requirement), and would start smoking to lose weight. This worked because nicotine is an appetite suppressant; essentially, I was going without nutrition for my addiction. I was starving myself and pumping an inefficient stimulant in my system.
I did notice initially I gained weight, but at 6 weeks, my weight is only slightly higher, 5 pounds, then what it was when I started. I imagine in the next couple of weeks I'll level out. You aren't going to gain 100 pounds, especially if you have a strategy and utilize healthy foods/ snacks to help get you along. A lot of vegetables are 0 calories.
Keep the community close, refine your reasons to quit, and enjoy the benefits of being free of the ball and chain!
Hi and Welcome to Ex’s...maddiecc97
You received good advice above me...Do the work and readings and quit the addiction. You can do this ... a very smart lady on this site...elvan Ellen...told me when I feared gaining weight...try carrying a 10 lb oxygen tank around on your back...yup...that did it...I will be quit one year in December and I officially haven’t gained a pound. There are other things to do then vape, smoke and or eat...here’s a good list 100 Things to do instead of smoking!
Happy Friday ~ Colleen 256 DOF
How are you doing?
Whether you're dealing with an addiction to alcohol, tobacco, sex, drugs, lying or gambling, admitting that you have a problem is always the first step to overcoming it. You say you love it but because of the expense and your BF dislike you want to stop. That is two reasons you can put on a list to start. What about the health effect. What about the stigma and low self-esteem that is associated with vaping? What about the time wasted. Not so much with the vaping, it is acceptable because possibly you are not hurting anyone but your self. I read today that vaping is not smoke but you are inhaling aerosol. Can you imagine what that could be doing to your health? Now it's time to make a plan for quitting, seek help, and prepare yourself for obstacles you'll surely encounter? Just like any drug you have to abstain from it to be free. Educate your self about nicotine addiction is a start. Nicotine Addiction 101