This is a sponsored post. Please note that, as always, any personal opinions reflected in this post are my own and have not been influenced by the sponsor or compensation received in any way.
Something I don’t often write about is smoking. Actually, I’m not quite sure if I have in recent years at all. Back when I started this blog years ago I was a smoker. I started smoking when I was about 15, because I thought it was cool and the social thing to do. I know now that it wasn’t cool and that I only wanted to do it because of fear of peer pressure, but that’s a whole different post.
So I was a smoker. In the beginning it was a halfhearted effort – I didn’t even inhale. My Dad tried to get me to stop, and I wound up sneaking around to do it anyway. Eventually my halfhearted effort turned into a wholehearted effort. I went from a few cigarettes a day to a pack a day. It was no longer a social thing to do. I was hooked.
Back then, in the early and mid-80s, LOTS of people smoked. Most of the people I knew smoked. I even married a guy that smoked. I had no desire to quite at all. In my mind I thought there was no way I could quit. What I would have given then for some of the options we have now, including electronic cigarettes. Sure that I was to weak to quit, I chose to just keep smoking. It didn’t matter that cigarettes didn’t taste the same. It didn’t matter that I was making a huge impact on my health. Nothing mattered.
Nothing mattered until the day came that I thought I was having a heart attack in late 2004. That was the last day I smoked a cigarette. I didn’t have a heart attack, thankfully. It was just a sign that my body had had enough and it was time for me to quit. I have never looked back since that day. I have never wanted to smoke, and I have never missed it.
My husband still smokes. He’s now been smoking for about forty years. I’d love for him to stop. I recently approached him about quitting. He hemmed and hawed, and finally admitted he wasn’t ready to quit because he didn’t want to. I told him if he was not ready to quit yet that he should at least consider switching to electronic cigarettes.
Now to be clear, electronic cigarettes still contain nicotine. When you inhale you do still get a dose of nicotine, as you would with a regular cigarette. The largest difference between electronic cigarettes and traditional tobacco based cigarettes is that tobacco based cigarettes contain a combination of up to 4000 chemicals which can include carbon monoxide, arsenic and tar. E-cigarettes don’t. The other big difference is that when you exhale, you are exhaling water vapor and not smoke, which is surely better for the environment and people in surrounding areas.
I personally know some people that have switched from tobacco based cigarettes to e-cigarettes. They are all very pleased. I have been told numerous times that the feeling of smoking an electronic cigarette is not all that different from the feel of smoking a real cigarette. Taste wise, it’s really up to you. You can get a traditional flavor (regular or menthol), or you can get different flavored refills like vanilla and cherry. Electronic cigarettes are rechargeable, with a USB cable. This means no matches or lighter needed.
Here in New Jersey tobacco based cigarettes are like $7-$8 per pack, and the price seems to rise every month or so. An electronic cigarette starter kit (or refill) from Vapourlites Electronic Cigarettes is the equivalent of approximately 40 cigarettes, and costs just under $17. That’s a really big savings. I am in no way encouraging smoking, but I would have to say that I believe electronic cigarettes are a good alternative to smoking traditional tobacco based cigarettes. Not only are they less expensive, but the fact that they don’t contain tar and tobacco would seem to be a better choice to me if you really wanted to smoke.
Some posts on this site contain an affiliate link. Affiliate links are used in an attempt to offset the operational costs incurred by running this website. Clicking on an affiliate link does not increase the cost of the product if you buy it. It does mean that I MAY make a commission if you purchase the item. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
I have never smoked, but I know these things are really becoming popular. They sound like a much better alternative to smoking!
Congrats on staying quit. It is incredibly difficult! Good luck to your hubby!
I’ve never been a smoker and I hate the smell of cigarettes. I would date someone who uses this ecigarette, but won’t a regular smoker.
My daughter used the E Cigs for a while and then I don’t know what kind of bad day she had, but she switched back to the real cigs… She did like them and say they worked.
Our friends can’t quit. They started in high school, claiming they could quit “anytime they wanted to”. And they can’t…
I do not like the smell of cigarette smoke. Good luck to your hubby and congrats to yourself!
we’ve been begging my father to quit. even the kids say something but it doesn’t work unless they are ready. i don’t know if he’d switch to e-cigs.
Good for you for quitting! This was an interesting read. I didn’t realize the difference between the two.
I know several people who have quit smoking real cigarettes by switching to the electronic ones. It’s bound to be a much healthier alternative.
Quitting smoking was the best thing I ever did. Hubby still smokes but he is slowly traveling down the pat to quitting.
My hubbie smoked for years, and would try and quit, then start, then quit, and so on. He finally quit for good. He did it on his own. However, this looks like it could have saved us both years of stress!
It is such a touchy subject in our family as we do have in laws that smoke and really don’t have any intention of giving it up as they like it too much. It would be a bad idea to even ask them about it.
I was a “social smoker” in college – meaning that I smoked when I drank. Even that was tough to give up. I know several people who were successful transitioning to e-cigs first.
I have never smoked. I have helped encourage some of my friends as they quit. It is a tough thing, but always worth it.
The things I could tell you. I hate cigs. I hate what they are doing to my family. 🙁
My sweet dad has tried so many times to quit, and he just can’t do it. The addiction is so powerful. I’ve never known anyone who has tried electronic cigarettes. They sound very interesting.
My dad smoked for years. He finally got some sort of medication and decided to quit about 8 years ago. I think these electric cigs look amazing.
Best of luck to your Hubby! Sounds like he’s got great support in you.
I hope he makes the switch! My BIL and SIL switched and it sure smells better!
I used to smoke, and quitting was so, so hard. These might have helped me quit sooner but, like you, unfortunately I waited for a major health scare. 🙁 Glad all is well now!
I will be 11 years smoke free this summer. I quit cold turkey, which was hard! I wish I would have had one of these e-cigarettes to help me get through the cravings. It probably would have been a lot smoother to quit then!
My step father is currently using electronic cigarettes and has had great success. At first it was a tough transition but he has been using them for 5 months now with no issues.
Wow, congratulations on quitting and never looking back. Keep supporting your husband, he will come around!
Good for you! I think stopping for your health is a great reason.
Vapors are very popular in my area. There are a ton of stores all around!
Good luck with that! I hope he’s able to quit with these!
ugh smoking is so gross. My dad smoked and I would come home from his house and take a shower immediately. He was such a heavy smoker that i would never pick it up.
I’m so glad that you were able to stop smoking so easily, although it came as the result of poor health. I hope your husband is able to quit, too – or at least switch to the e-cigarettes. Good luck!
I could see how these would be a first step to quitting. At least the tar is removed from the equation. That stuff is horrible for you!
I wish I could say I had never smoked, but I did. Thankfully it wasn’t very long and I never want to do ti again.
Hubby battled the habit many times. After his medical scare this past summer he quit with the help of patches this time round.
I have never smoked, and I consider myself lucky that even though I have tried (it just was the thing to do back in HS like you said) I never really started smoking. Because it is a really hard habit to break. I hope your husband will find the will to do it.
I’ve never smoked. My mom used to. I harassed here when I was little and she quit. My dad quit after he had open heart surgery. He really took it as far as he could.