vapourized
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Post by vapourized on Oct 17, 2012 18:44:10 GMT
I've been having a rethink over the last few days and come to a couple of conclusions.
As some of you know, I've been having a few problems with having the occasional cigarette and that is one of the things that I've made a decision on. Rather than beat myself up over it, I have decided that in this early stage then if I want one then I will have one but with a proviso of a maximum of three a day for a while but no more. Since making that decision I actually have only been having only one or two a day - probably because the pressure that I must not have any has now gone. A maximum of three a day is far better than 60 a day and is 57 I'm not smoking.
The second thing that I've decided on is to stick to one or two of my vaping toys rather than swapping from one to another which I was doing so I sat down and went through all the bits I have got and put to one side the two which give me the most satisfaction.
Strangely enough, one of my favourites which I vape a lot of is the SD Keyring Menthol carts. Now as a long term heavy smoker, I never smoked Menthol cigarettes (except when I was a kid) yet I find these truly relaxing and comforting and has the taste of a refreshing Polo mint. Obviously not to everyone's taste but I really like them. So yesterday a got a good supply of them in from Vape Escape and will be using them mostly from now on with the occasional hit from some Silky juice also from Vape Escape.
For the moment I just don't want to keep experimenting with different batteries and flavours, if I find that I'm not getting the enjoyment from them in a few weeks time (which is quite likely) then I may have to have a re-think on my re-think but at least I've now got a plan which I think was some of my problem.
Anyway, we shall see how things work out in the next few weeks I guess but I feel a lot more comfortable now having made those decisions than I did a few days ago.
Graham
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vapourized
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Post by vapourized on Oct 15, 2012 17:31:03 GMT
And maybe give a swerve to pointing the directors to this forum whilst this thread is here? I think you've probably given enough information for them to recognise themselves, and it's probably what we used to describe as a "career-limiting move"  LOL, At the ripe old age of 63 then I haven't got much of a career left to limit!  Graham |
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Post by vapourized on Oct 14, 2012 23:10:23 GMT
I haven't started vaping yet. I came across this thread when I was about to check for replies on my own thread. Just a word of caution before raising the matter with your employer. As things stand, you can vape in the loo and claim innocence of smoking if anyone spots the vapour and complains. If vaping on the premises is banned as a result of any formal request to HR, you will be guilty of breaking the rules if caught vaping in the loo. Be careful how you raise the issue with HR. Blimey! I hadn't thought of that but that does make sense. Thanks for the advise. Graham |
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Post by vapourized on Oct 14, 2012 20:37:38 GMT
lol pitch it as them being a health conscious employer, and taking on an anti smoking/pro vaping policy as part of their duty of care towards theirs staffs health  As lets face it, the NHS constantly banging on about how smokers take longer to recover from illness, and are more prone to colds and flu etc and as such could help them save on sick pay and lost hours of productivity As they are both health fanatics then I will be going along that route, they should be pleased that I have done this off my own back without having time off work to go to the quacks for help plus maybe coming down with every illness known to man in the winter months because I smoke. I have a few friends (family) that still can't resist in saying "yeah, but you're still smoking though aren't you" (I've given up with them after explaining it so many times) and I think that these two will be playing that stroke too. I do have one redeeming chance though and that is the more liberal director did actually have a look at my e-cig I had on me a couple of weeks ago so he's not unfamiliar with it totally and didn't turn his nose up, it's not him I'm too bothered about, it's the other one. He is a total $hit when it comes to people skills in that he hasn't got any - people skills that is.  Never, ever once have I heard him say to anyone "that's a great idea" or "yep, I'll look into that and come back to you" or even "I don't think so but prove me wrong and we'll go with it". It's very much a case of "This is what's going to happen and if you don't like it then..." or more commonly just "Nope". Anyway, we shall see, perhaps the other more liberal director (who's his elder brother) can persuade him - assuming he's OK with it of course. Graham |
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Post by vapourized on Oct 14, 2012 19:33:44 GMT
Graham, just a thought, but hows about giving the directors a link to this forum? They could then even register with us if they wanted to & ask any questions they want to about e-cigarettes  That would be an excellent idea Chrissie for normal, rational people but alas not these guys, I work with them everyday and for a long time, believe me, they wouldn't entertain the idea. I know I seem to be painting a bad picture of them but I know how their minds work. They are decent enough people to be honest but one thing they cannot bare are ideas or suggestions coming from anyone else apart from themselves. I have seen it so many times with them over the years and with other members of the staff, I'm chuckling to myself as I type this as I can see their faces and response now. I will however suggest this to HR as I mentioned above, I would love to be proved wrong, I really would but I don't think I will be. I will let you know the outcome though whatever it is - fingers crossed eh? Graham |
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Post by vapourized on Oct 14, 2012 17:17:20 GMT
I'm not going to ask the directors outright even though they are my line managers, I know them, I've been working with them for 15 years and I know that one of them would take great delight in saying no to me - not because it's me but because of what I'm asking, however, the other is a bit more liberal and may consider it.
What I will do is have a word with HR and if she is unsure then she will ask the directors herself and tell me the answer. That way I haven't got to see the glee on the elder directors face when he says no which I'm 100% sure he will but I will ask the question nevertheless and come back here and report the outcome, I maybe pleasantly surprised.
A VV battery is probably the next thing to buy then from what a few folk are saying and at the moment I'm looking at the Twist, Lavatube V4 and the Povari. I don't mind spending the money on the Provari if it's going to help but it does seem a lot more money than the other two for basically doing the same job unless of course I'm not reading it right - can anyone explain to me why the great difference in price?
Graham
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Post by vapourized on Oct 13, 2012 21:41:25 GMT
Oh I've learnt to be very stealth don't worry. Graham |
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Post by vapourized on Oct 13, 2012 21:16:59 GMT
Graham I really admire you. Not just for avoiding so many cigarettes but also for being honest that it's not always as easy as some of us find it to quit them completely overnight. I'm sure many newbies and lurkers feeling bad about having an analogue will take heart from your experience and keep vaping.  to you, sir! Blimey, thank you so much pinkerbell and if anyone can be helped from my experience then that's a bonus. Not wanting to be nosey Graham,but why cant you vape at work? I work for a family run business and all the family (especially the two sons) are really anti smoking and sports fanatics. Now you know and I know that vaping is nothing like smoking but to them I know it would be. I haven't talked to them about it but I'm pretty sure I know what the answer would be and I just wouldn't give them the satisfaction of saying NO to me. Hence the quick vape in the toilet - just like being back at school. Graham |
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Post by vapourized on Oct 13, 2012 18:58:02 GMT
Graham, I echo all what has already been said, 3 ciggies a day is nothing really. For when you're working, and you just need a very quick hit, it may be worth trying some stronger liquid? Well done on all the money saved, I hope you are planning to spend it on a treat for both of you Yep, the money is spent, well allocated anyway. We had a week in Madeira in August and as we loved it so much I booked the same hotel for next August but for two weeks this time instead of one. So there really is motivation there and I have no intention of breaking it. It will be a fabulous holiday. Graham |
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Post by vapourized on Oct 13, 2012 18:42:32 GMT
Thanks people, you've really helped me along today. You're right. I have been a heavy smoker and for a very long time too so I am asking a lot of myself to do what I wanted to do and that was to pack up completely - overnight.
Skwoddy, I think you are 100% right in your analysis and was a brilliant post. So I am going to have a smoke when I want to and not feel bad about it, I think in these early days and my smoking history then smoking say no more than three a day (in reality it will probably be less) then that will do me more good than fretting that I can't have one. I still won't be smoking the other 57+ a day I would have smoked so that's fine by me.
I haven't smoked today even though my OH wouldn't have minded but I have been vaping virtually constantly since I got up this morning which has helped me not need to smoke. One of the problems I have is when I'm at work I can't vape so I nip into the toilet to have a crafty one but that's not obviously enough to keep me satisfied for 8 hours so of course when I leave work I gasping, hence I think this is when I think I need a cigarette.
Anyway, now I know what and how to solve it then hopefully I'll be able to control it better, I'm going to allow myself a maximum of 3 a day but no more - I won't need more - and when the I feel the time is right I can decide to cut down to whatever I feel comfortable with.
I think it's obvious (for me anyway) that I can't just can't stop smoking completely just yet, that's no big deal, I realise that now and that really helps my motivation to keep vaping plus the money which is gradually building up over the weeks. I will get there - just not as quick as what I had hoped for that's all.
Graham
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Post by vapourized on Oct 13, 2012 14:27:46 GMT
I used to be a heavy drinker (and smoker ) but those days are long gone for me. I have the occasional Crabbies with Vodka but only very occasionally. Drink just does my head in now and is just not worth the pain (real pain) so I just don't bother anymore. The most I have ever drunk in one night was 21 pints of real ale - 21 pints!!! How on earth I managed that I don't know but I did and the most I've smoked in a day (which again I don't know how I did it) was 102. This was a bet I had when I was younger when on holiday with mates to see if I could smoke at least 100 in a day! It's a friggin miracle I've made it to 63!! And now I hardly drink or smoke - how times change! Graham |
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Post by vapourized on Oct 13, 2012 14:13:55 GMT
...Yeah, got one pretty close (vapeescape). Cor, you lucky bugga. If I had Vape Escape near me I'd be in there everyday. Graham |
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Post by vapourized on Oct 13, 2012 13:51:01 GMT
I know exactly where your coming from mate (see my recent post on starting smoking again). It can be tough and the worst thing for me is the guilt of having a smoke when I've said to myself and other people that I've stopped smoking BUT having said that and listening to the good folk on this forum then having the occasional one or two is far better than the 20 odd you were smoking. As long as it doesn't get out of control then as far as I'm concerned then there's no harm in these early days in having a couple now and again.
As been said before smoking is not just addictive for the nicotine, it's also very habitual, my wife for instance always goes outside for her last vape in the evening as that was what she would do when she smoked so perhaps when you go for a drink with your mates then maybe just change the routine slightly by only taking say 2 cigarettes with you and pace yourself through the evening. Allowing yourself to have a cigarette may just take the pressure off to actually have one.
Since owning up to smoking again this morning, I don't (or can't be bothered) to go out to the car and have a cigarette - it's weird.
Graham
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Post by vapourized on Oct 13, 2012 13:27:16 GMT
Graham, your system has probably only recently expelled all the toxins from smoking. Its not only the nicotine in cigs which is addictive  60 a day down to 3 is good. It wouldn't have worked for me because my consumption would quickly have risen back to 60. Out of interest, had your wife noticed that you were smoking? She didn't say that she had noticed me smoking and I'm sure she would have said if she had which I must admit that that was the thing I was dreading when I would walk through the front door. I had already made my mind up that I would confess to her that I had been smoking if she had said anything which was exactly what happened when my Mum asked me. Hi graham, when i read that you had saved the 300 quid in a short space of time i suspected that you used to be a heavy smoker, so it is not surprising that you have some small hiccup's on the journey from smoking to vaping, i would try a stronger juice and see if that helps. Well I'm on 24mg mainly, going to 18 now and again depending on the juice. I always take 24mg with me to work though. I will be looking around for something stronger though to see if that curbs me. Maybe I'm asking too much at this early stage to be on 18-24mg. Graham |
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Post by vapourized on Oct 13, 2012 11:31:25 GMT
Well I've just 'fessed up to my OH and as I thought, there was no problem and she understood completely, phew!! She said very much what you all have been saying and not to be too hard on myself especially considering that I went from 60 a day to nothing and that 2-3 a day is not the thing to be worrying about - it's the 57 a day I'm not smoking I should be proud of.
So thanks everyone, this little conversation and words of wisdom from you all has been of great help - much appreciated.
Graham
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As lets face it, the NHS constantly banging on about how smokers take longer to recover from illness, and are more prone to colds and flu etc 
