20 months and still going strong

I posted my quit story way back in 2012 when I described how using an e-cig was the way I gave up smoking. 20 months later I'm delighted to say that I am still smoke free. YAY!

My particular e-cig was the 'big kahoona' of all e-cigs, a huge thing that felt a bit weighty and strange until I got used to it. The main thing was that it really packed a punch - I was able to take in and blow out a HUGE lungful of the vapour (smoke) and so it felt to me exactly like smoking a real cig. I made sure I always had my charger with me and plenty of 'filters' as well as a spare e-cig in case anything went wrong.

The biggest challenge was getting together with my four close friends who all smoke. The e-cig got me through no problem at all! I'd troop outside with the girls for a ciggie, wine in one hand and my trusty e-cig in the other. Because I had the 'big kahoona' I was puffing out just as much smoke as the others and didn't feel any need or temptation to smoke anything except my electronic cig.

In a nutshell, I used my e-cig in EVERY situation that I previously used my old, 'real' cigarettes, whether it was a stressful situation, a social situation, after a meal, with a coffee, with a glass of wine, feeling nervous, on the phone, EVERYWHERE!

I found that people were very interested in it and I hope that lots of the many people I showed it and talked about it to went on to try it for themselves and had the success that I've had.

I know that we all have to find our own way to quit and I think I probably sound like an advertisement for electronic cigs, but after trying unsuccessfully to give up so many times - and I'm 57 and have smoked since I was 14 - I am so enthusiastic about them because I've been able to give up once and for all, and it was so much easier because I actually felt that I was still smoking!

So, the e-cig gradually faded out of my life as I lost my addiction to nicotine and needed it less and less. I haven't used it for ages. I should say though that I know where it is and if the temptation to smoke rears it's ugly head at any time I will not hesitate to bring it out and charge it up!