Month 7: I fell off the wagon for a week

The week of June 22 - 28th really got me good. I fell off the wagon, guys! I feel like it took over my entire month, but today I'm taking back control and cleaned up my vape.

EDC happened and no one was allowed to bring in vapes, 99% of the friends I was with smoked so it was an easier fix for me. That one night led to the next day, to buying a pack, to buying another pack and a lighter for the following weekend. I made a lot of bad health decisions this week, but I don't want to beat myself up for it. I'm on vacation and got carried away with fun and making memories. Yes, I got drunk, I smoked, and this & that. That is no excuse, but the main thing is that I recognize where I messed up at and need to get back up. I'll call it an occasional slip up?

I could have easily just covered up the lie and say I did perfectly wonderful, but what's the point of this one year journey to recovery if I don't tell the truth about how hard it can get, too. There you go, I slipped up for a week. I let a melting pot of toxins in my body, recognize the problem, and pick up where I left off.

Cheers xoxo.

month 6: like a breeze

I know its about two weeks late of a post, but I am finally starting my summer vacation. This month did not have much new changes because it was easy breezy. I did not crave nicotine as much and my vape fully charged last longer than usual. I was not reaching out for it as much as before, and noticed that I am having less breakout. My energy is back to normal as if I have never smoked a stick in my life, so that's the best news I've got.

Ta-da! I am half way to my "one year" vaping journey.

Month 5: That energy is fire!

This post is a little late due to all the craziness this #MayPac has brought upon us Filipinos ha-ha. I'm totally being sarcastic, I was just slammed by a bunch of things here and there. Endless thinking.

Enough pity party. My fifth month came and gone so fast that I did not even notice it. I noticed that I had less hormonal chin break breakouts, less headaches, and the pain in my gums have been minimal. During the first couple months of vaping, my gums would hurt or between my teeth would tingle. I don't know if it was from vaping, but I have noticed that it had gone from a 10 to a 3 as far as pain goes from the scale of 1 to 10. 

My energy this month has been on crack! I never missed a day of workout (especially leg day 3x/week) and for that I am thankful. Five months ago, I know I would have never made it past 2 weeks into the workout program and would be complaining about doing legs three times a week. Either that's dedication or from the lack of analogs, but whatever it might be - THANK YOU!

Dear Month 6, 

I hope that all the energy I gained from Month 5, I hope I will give it my all. So here is a cheers to the month of May. 

Month 4: Decreasing on MG

This month went by rather quickly and I cannot praise the heavens enough for it. Given that my third month was filled with plugged nose and I could not taste my food, this month was the end of it. I started tasting food as long as if they were spicy at the level of sweats on your scalp, lips numb, and eyes burning.

I didn't notice much changes as far as my body goes but I am happy to say that I have noticed my vaping decreased. The amount of nicotine also dropped from 12 mg to 3-9mg in just three weeks. My urge to vape now compared to two months ago has lessen to about 50% if I say so myself. I no longer feel the need to constantly hold on to my vape when I am out in public or near me. My battery life on my vape at full charge can last me about a day and a half, sometimes a full 48 hours. A 15 ml e-juice use to last me exactly 7 days and as of today, that can last me about 10 days.

My fourth month has to be the closest I have ever gotten to being analog-free compared to the days I used to try cold turkey. I have never felt better about my skin, breathing, and waking up in the morning. I dreaded waking up because I always felt sluggish and tired, but today I can stretch for a minute and hop out of bed at 7AM without wanting to roll over and sleep in.

I know it is not as good as being completely off the analogs because I still have nicotine intakes daily, but give me credit because I have been a half-a-pack-a-day for 6 long years. This is the closest I got to victory! Ha-ha, sounds mushy, but if it had not been for vaping I would not have the energy to start up on my fitness journey again or have the strength to wake up with a positive attitude everyday. Vaping has helped me think clearly and focus on all the things on my to-do-list.

What have you done to help you quit analogs? Are you vaping?

Month 3: Stuffy Nose

Picture source

I searched up this symptom and see if it was normal. Some say it's one way your body is telling you that it is trying to get use to the vape, while others say it could be allergies. I say, I am stuck in-between the two because I do have indoor allergies and mines usually last for awhile (my nose is plugged as we speak), and it is only my third month on vape.

My third month seems to be harder than my first month. Yes, the first 30 days of quitting analogs is hard, but have you ever tried getting up every morning trying to breathe and then going to sleep but can't because your nose is so plug? That feeling like someone shoved a cement mixture through your nostril and placed a road block sign letting air know they can't pass through.

It's hard for me to determine which is the cause because I really have bad indoor allergies, so I don't know if I have to take allergy medicines, stop vaping for awhile, or take fever medicine because I'm about to get a fever. This month is really frustrating because it is messing up my vacation and it does not help that the weather is still around the 40s and 60 degrees all day and night.

On the other hand, I decreased my chin breakouts by 80%. The other 20% is caused by my monthly visit from Aunt Flow, she's on her way right now -_-.

I cannot wait what my fourth month will be like because I am so over this plugged nose. I can't enjoy my vacation and most importantly, I cannot taste any of my food ha-ha.

Aloha,

Elysia

Month 2: Less Cravings

I never thought I would say this but, I have not smoked or craved a single cancer stick this month. This month flew by pretty fast and I did not even noticed that I have not thought about smoking. I am able to think clearly and has even managed to get down a new workout routine in less than one week. That alone usually takes me at least two weeks.

Changes:

• Waking up in the morning feeling refreshed
• Less chin breakouts
• Less coughing throughout the day
• Minimum dry throat

I don't know if it's due to my month long allergies that's causing my plugged nose but I have a hard time breathing at night. My nose gets plugged (not runny or stuffy) & I still find myself clearing my throat from time to time. But then again, I think the whizzing is being caused by indoor allergies and the vape “clouds”. I still think it's better for it that way than it being caused by smoking thousands of chemicals every 30-60 minutes throughout the day.

I know it's nothing compared to someone who has quit smoking for a year but lets just say woohoo for a second please? It's a long journey and I am looking forward to what changes my third month will bring for me.

Are you starting out on your journey to quit smoking as well? Are you using a vape like me? How do you like it so far? Please do share in the comment below. I would really love to know how you are doing :)

Aloha,

Elysia  

Month 1: The hardest 30-days

During my 2-months vacation in Las Vegas this year (2014), I decided to purchase a vape pen to "try it out". To be honest, I didn't really think much about committing to it fully. Until recently when I was waking up pretty crappy & slugging throughout the day. So a month ago, I smoked my last analog and just went straight to vaping. I am no expert but I know how to go on about the basic such as little tricks & the juices.

 I tried many times & failed here and there for 6 months. I decided to get it together & be serious this time around, so here I am wanting to blog my monthly struggle with vaping & trying to quit in general. I know how hard it is trying to quit smoking, but I think vaping has changed that.

I tried cold turkey, chewing gums, patch, and even drowning out my cravings with food (not the best idea haha). Just a month ago, I decided to put my vape to good use, smoke my last analog & started training my mind. For someone who smoked everyday for the last six years, used it as a stress reliever, & when I am bored, I must say that I was very surprised with myself. I had a slight craving about eight times in a month, but I ignored them. I can officially say that this has been the longest time I have not purchase or smoked a single analog, very proud of myself.

Getting started is somewhat hard, but the e-juices comes in different level of nicotine. I smoked an average half a pack a day so I'm vaping 12 mg nicotine juice. Nicotine level goes from 0mg – 24mb (but it can vary from different brands of juices.)

Getting started:

• I suggest checking out a Vape shop in your local area. They usually offer a sample juice bar where you can try out different juice flavors & nicotine levels. You can also ask the workers what they can recommend you.
• Purchase a basic vape pen to help you get started. I don't recommend starting out with a vape mod as they are for the expert level vapers. Besides, do you want to start quitting while trying to figure out how to build your coil?
  • My first vape pen is an iTaste VV with a pro tank mini.
• Start at your own pace. I started cutting down my analog count by half & in between I will vape (I started doing this before my first continuous month.)
• Start reading up on the benefits of vaping vs. analogs. Trust me, this will help you out a lot. Think about the difference your body will feel like when you wake up in the morning & your savings.
• Get rid of anything that will trigger your cravings such as lighters or analog butts on the ground.
• After a week, try to go through the days without smoking analogs, but strictly vaping. Maybe write down rewards for each week you don't smoke or monthly.

I have to admit, it was hard for me because I had a morning routine where no one is allowed to talk to me after my morning coffee, 15 minutes worth of music, & 1-2 stick. I liked to sit outside in the backyard just thinking about what my day will be like. I still do that morning routine except I switched out the sticks with my vape.

We all have to make little adjustments & find something that will work for us. Once you find something that works, stick to it. It is all about training your mind & self-control. I am sure everyone can do it! 

Aloha,

Elysia