The hardest Battle is yet to come.
So far I’ve got healthier by shedding 100 pounds. Have not had a drop of alcohol in 497 days. I sure didn’t plan on that part happening. As much as I liked to drink, (especially nice cold beer), that was not even a consideration. But as my taste buds changed by enjoying whole real foods, so did my taste (or lack of) for alcohol. Eventually getting to the point that alcohol was now pretty revolting to drink, I just stopped.
Got my financial life in order by getting completely out of debt. I have to admit the journey was more exciting then the end. But I’m now glad I can reap the benefits.
What’s next on the docket scares the crap out of me.
About 8 years ago, I was a +2 pack a day cigarette chain smoker.
It was taking a toll on my health. The daily occurrence of coughing up a lung, the cost, and not to mention the lovely smell associated with it was getting old. So I quit, well kind of.
I got into Vaping (electronic cigarettes or E-Cigs).
Through trial and error, I eventually found a system that I preferred over smoking. So quitting in that sense was really easy.
The benefits happened very fast. No longer plagued by coughing fits, breathing a whole lot better, blood pressure not shooting up, and no lingering smells that I can now detect isles away in a store. At close range, the smell of a smoker now makes me want to puke (sorry to my smoker friends, but it's the truth).
Over the years, I’ve upgraded by vaping system, but like my iphone, I’m still behind the times.
I thoroughly enjoy vaping. But nothing really changed from being a smoker.
I’m just a chain vaper now. If I’m awake, I’m vaping. And just as addicted to it as cigarettes. Being low on vape liquid, time changing out a part, or needing a recharge will have me bouncing off the walls.
They only real noticeable difference is that I am able to go extended hours through the day (if needed) without having the strong desire to run out and have a smoke. But, I sure do start vaping ASAP.
Even though there are some noticeable benefits as mentioned before to vaping over smoking, I want to get it out of my life.
One other difference is it still hasn’t been decided yet if vaping is really bad for you at all. So should I give up something I love? There have been some past studies showing a negative correlation with vaping. However, the “OMG read this” studies were show to be quite flawed. In fact, anyone with basic vaping knowledge could see the errors of the “shocking” study.
Not that I’m defending vaping, just saying we still don’t know the long-term effects.
That said, it shouldn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that breathing in any foreign substance, over the long term, could be harmful. That’s pretty much my view on the effects.
Back in January 2018, the most comprehensive report ever on the health effects of vaping was released. Basically, there was still no conclusive evidence one way or the other.
"Given their relatively recent introduction, there has been little time for a scientific body of evidence to develop on the health effects of e-cigarettes," the authors write in their report. In other words, only time will tell.
11 key findings from one of the most comprehensive reports ever on the health effects of vaping
Sorry for going more into the vaping then I planned, but it is what I’ve been mentally up against as far as are they “bad” to begin with.
Now on to the quitting.
Being debt free and budgeting helps a little from a financial edge, as I view vaping as a unneeded expense that could be put to better work.
But the biggest hurdle will be a change in behavior. Not having a “replacement” this time makes me doubt having success. I try not to think of failing, but it’s hard not to. Making the decision public, may help.
I’ve tried gum, patches, pills (Man the effects from those were horrible), and hypnosis before with little or no success. Cold turkey has been the only thing that has worked, at least for a while. I quit smoking twice for 3 years at a time going cold turkey, so it’s top on my list. Although, now that I think about it. Hypnosis and cold turkey was a good combination. Maybe that can be my replacement.
So when are you going to quit?
This has been on my mind for a while. I’ve tried a couple of failed test runs, but still having it available didn’t help. Plus the thought of pitching a couple hundred dollars of equipment and supplies doesn’t help. Technically, I could start right now. But, (the addiction talking), that’s not happening.
So the plan is to start when I run out of vaping liquid. Which I estimate should happen in about a week. I’m currently weaning down my last bottles nicotine content, hoping that will help, or like the alcohol will find it less appealing.
I really should start sooner, (shut up addiction voice), because I’m most likely going to be home for most of the next week, and I would much rather get a head start while home then starting on the road. Where driving and vaping go hand and hand for me.
To be continued…
P.S.- I Vaped a lot while writing this
So far I’ve got healthier by shedding 100 pounds. Have not had a drop of alcohol in 497 days. I sure didn’t plan on that part happening. As much as I liked to drink, (especially nice cold beer), that was not even a consideration. But as my taste buds changed by enjoying whole real foods, so did my taste (or lack of) for alcohol. Eventually getting to the point that alcohol was now pretty revolting to drink, I just stopped.
Got my financial life in order by getting completely out of debt. I have to admit the journey was more exciting then the end. But I’m now glad I can reap the benefits.
What’s next on the docket scares the crap out of me.
About 8 years ago, I was a +2 pack a day cigarette chain smoker.
It was taking a toll on my health. The daily occurrence of coughing up a lung, the cost, and not to mention the lovely smell associated with it was getting old. So I quit, well kind of.
I got into Vaping (electronic cigarettes or E-Cigs).
Through trial and error, I eventually found a system that I preferred over smoking. So quitting in that sense was really easy.
The benefits happened very fast. No longer plagued by coughing fits, breathing a whole lot better, blood pressure not shooting up, and no lingering smells that I can now detect isles away in a store. At close range, the smell of a smoker now makes me want to puke (sorry to my smoker friends, but it's the truth).
Over the years, I’ve upgraded by vaping system, but like my iphone, I’m still behind the times.
I thoroughly enjoy vaping. But nothing really changed from being a smoker.
I’m just a chain vaper now. If I’m awake, I’m vaping. And just as addicted to it as cigarettes. Being low on vape liquid, time changing out a part, or needing a recharge will have me bouncing off the walls.
They only real noticeable difference is that I am able to go extended hours through the day (if needed) without having the strong desire to run out and have a smoke. But, I sure do start vaping ASAP.
Even though there are some noticeable benefits as mentioned before to vaping over smoking, I want to get it out of my life.
One other difference is it still hasn’t been decided yet if vaping is really bad for you at all. So should I give up something I love? There have been some past studies showing a negative correlation with vaping. However, the “OMG read this” studies were show to be quite flawed. In fact, anyone with basic vaping knowledge could see the errors of the “shocking” study.
Not that I’m defending vaping, just saying we still don’t know the long-term effects.
That said, it shouldn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that breathing in any foreign substance, over the long term, could be harmful. That’s pretty much my view on the effects.
Back in January 2018, the most comprehensive report ever on the health effects of vaping was released. Basically, there was still no conclusive evidence one way or the other.
"Given their relatively recent introduction, there has been little time for a scientific body of evidence to develop on the health effects of e-cigarettes," the authors write in their report. In other words, only time will tell.
11 key findings from one of the most comprehensive reports ever on the health effects of vaping
Sorry for going more into the vaping then I planned, but it is what I’ve been mentally up against as far as are they “bad” to begin with.
Now on to the quitting.
Being debt free and budgeting helps a little from a financial edge, as I view vaping as a unneeded expense that could be put to better work.
But the biggest hurdle will be a change in behavior. Not having a “replacement” this time makes me doubt having success. I try not to think of failing, but it’s hard not to. Making the decision public, may help.
I’ve tried gum, patches, pills (Man the effects from those were horrible), and hypnosis before with little or no success. Cold turkey has been the only thing that has worked, at least for a while. I quit smoking twice for 3 years at a time going cold turkey, so it’s top on my list. Although, now that I think about it. Hypnosis and cold turkey was a good combination. Maybe that can be my replacement.
So when are you going to quit?
This has been on my mind for a while. I’ve tried a couple of failed test runs, but still having it available didn’t help. Plus the thought of pitching a couple hundred dollars of equipment and supplies doesn’t help. Technically, I could start right now. But, (the addiction talking), that’s not happening.
So the plan is to start when I run out of vaping liquid. Which I estimate should happen in about a week. I’m currently weaning down my last bottles nicotine content, hoping that will help, or like the alcohol will find it less appealing.
I really should start sooner, (shut up addiction voice), because I’m most likely going to be home for most of the next week, and I would much rather get a head start while home then starting on the road. Where driving and vaping go hand and hand for me.
To be continued…
P.S.- I Vaped a lot while writing this
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