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I could never afford life insurance as a smoker but I was thinking about looking into a policy for my husband and I (as a nonsmoker...right?) This became a discussion at work and several coworker said that they dont consider me a "non smoker" as I'm still smoking just smoking something different than cigarettes. Bursted my bubble!! I had thought of myself as a nonsmoker but this comment got me thinking....Am I a non smoker??? Regardless, I would never go back to analogs..price, smell..ect I really enjoy these much more. when asked if you're a nonsmoker on an application or by a doctor what do you say?

So I am vaping for about a month and have had my eGo for just over two weeks and my T-Atty for a week! It seems like such a short time in the grand scheme of things and it struck m this evening just how quickly you beqin feeling like you get this and begin to stretch your own thinking and boundaries in figuing out what works best for you as your own vaper! Tonight as I refilled my tank with some very yummy, but somewhat subtle French vanilla I got from vaperite that I would like this with just a bit more punch. Then it dawned on me that that bottle of VT mentha I got, that I found to be a bit much might make an interesting little addition. So I fill the tank and add in a few drops of the mentha and wow what a nice little extra kick that added. Just a few weeks ago I tripped my way into this forum feeling so confused and just a few weeks later I am mixing flavors that do not sound like they make sense together and finding myself coming every closer to that sweet spot! It's an amazing journey that I know still has an very long road ahead, but yet tonight, at least for a few minutes I do not feel like a noob, and and having a tasty vape typing on my iPad and thinking - life is pretty good right now! Thanks to this forum for helping make this moment !

Mike Siegel's new study on e-cigarettes EMBARGOED UNTIL 2:30 p.m. ET (February 8, 2011) Contact: Dr. Michael Siegel (617-638-5167; mbsiegel@bu.edu) Electronic Cigarettes Show Promise as a Smoking Cessation Tool: New Study Finds Electronic Cigarettes More Effective Than NRT for Quitting Smoking A new study being published online ahead of print today in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine reports that electronic cigarettes are a promising tool to help smokers quit, producing six-month abstinence rates that are better than those for traditional nicotine replacement products (NRT). In a six-month follow-up survey of 222 first-time purchasers of Blu electronic cigarettes, researchers from the Boston University School of Public Health found that 31.0% of respondents reported having quit smoking. This compares favorably to an average six-month abstinence rate of between 12% and 18% for NRT products. The authors conclude that electronic cigarettes are a promising method for smoking cessation. The study was led by Dr. Michael Siegel, Professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences at the Boston University School of Public Health. The authors conducted an internet-based survey of a sample of first-time purchasers of Blu electronic cigarettes six months after the initial purchase. The primary findings were the following: · 31.0% of the respondents reported having quit smoking at six-month follow-up. · Of those who had quit smoking, 34.3% had discontinued the use of electronic cigarettes as well. · 66.8% of respondents reported having reduced the number of cigarettes they smoked after using electronic cigarettes. · 66.8% of respondents reported having quit smoking for a period of time after using electronic cigarettes. · Among respondents using electronic cigarettes frequently (more than 20 times per day), the six-month smoking abstinence rate was 70.0%. The study’s main limitation is the low response rate of 4.5%. It is possible that those who responded to the survey were more likely to have quit smoking than those who did not respond. Nevertheless, despite this limitation, the study authors believe that this is the best evidence to date on the effectiveness of electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation. They point out that this is the first survey which relied upon an unbiased sampling frame. Despite the limitation, the authors conclude that electronic cigarettes “hold promise as a smoking-cessation method and that they are worthy of further study using more rigorous research designs.” Dr. Siegel suggested that a major reason for electronic cigarettes’ apparent effectiveness as smoking cessation method is the fact that these devices address both the pharmacologic and behavioral aspects of addiction to smoking: “While it is well-recognized that nicotine plays a role in smoking addiction, little attention has been given to the behavioral aspects of the addiction. It is the fact that these devices simulate the smoking experience which appears to make them effective as a smoking cessation tool.” A number of anti-smoking groups have argued that electronic cigarettes should be removed from the market because they have not been shown to be effective for smoking cessation, and several states – including New York – are considering bans on electronic cigarettes. “This study suggests that electronic cigarettes are helping literally thousands of ex-smokers to remain off cigarettes,” Dr. Siegel stated. “Banning this product would invariably result in thousands of ex-smokers returning to cigarette smoking. Removing electronic cigarettes from the market would substantially harm the public’s health.” Co-authors of the study were Kerry L. Tanwar and Kathleen S. Wood, also of the Boston University School of Public Health. Michael Siegel, MD, MPH Professor Department of Community Health Sciences Boston University School of Public Health 801 Massachusetts Avenue, 3rd Floor Boston, MA 02118 617-638-5167

i would have to avoid the ethol malto because malto implies malt, im gluten intolerant and cant have malt anything... i guess it would be a good idea for me to find out what sweeteners are used.... xylitol is actually good in gum, you should read about the health benefits of it, it fights cavities and helps children with ear infections, trouble with it as a sweetener such as in coffee is that it has a "mild laxative effect" lmao... mild? not so much.... trust me!

ooops, didn't know the "q" word was censored. lol. Guess I should have said "strange" instead.

I have a couple different atomizers each for different flavor categories, sweet, tobacco, coffee/cappuccino, etc. If I plan on using the same atomizer with a similiar type flavor, I usually just blow the atomizer out or just add the 'new' drops depending on the situation. I usually only blow my atomizer out every couple of weeks. I believe doing it nightly is overkill. If you have the time to do it go for it, otherwise once a week should be sufficient. I avoid rinsing as it seems unnecessary, the new flavor will definitely push out the old flavor after a while, depending on the flavor of course. When I first started vaping I had so many new flavors that I wanted to try, the problem was when I wanted to try a new flavor I would just put the new drops in there; and, I didn't know which ones stayed in the atomizer and which ones didn't. Using a beverage flavor then switching to chocolate back to a sweet flavor doesn't work well at all because the chocolate is ever present.

VT Mentha reminds me exactly of Malboro Menthol Lights.. Newports is gonna be a harder one to find

Nice! They should do a study of the people here. I think our success rate would be just a bit higher than what they found in that study. LOL The Blu doesn't work very well for most people, so image what the results they'd get if they polled eGo users. It may not be the same for everyone (although I suspect it is), but for me, this statement is exactly why vaping has worked..."It is the fact that these devices simulate the smoking experience which appears to make them effective as a smoking cessation tool." And for those "anti-smoking groups who have argued that electronic cigarettes should be removed from the market because they have not been shown to be effective for smoking cessation", they should go searching through the numerous forums because they are dead wrong on that one. “Banning this product would invariably result in thousands of ex-smokers returning to cigarette smoking. Removing electronic cigarettes from the market would substantially harm the public’s health.” Absolutely!!! Except that I have a feeling the whole electronic cigarette market would go underground and we'd find a way to keep vaping instead of smoking. I really don't want them labeled as a smoking cessation tool either. Smoking alternative sounds better because for most of us it's this or smoking. Although, I really don't ever want to go back to smoking. I'd like to say that if these were banned and there was no way I could get attys any more, I'd just have to quit all together. Realistically though, I don't know that I could do that. What I'd really like to see is for the FDA to shut up and leave the whole thing alone - don't "classify" vaping as anything.

I should mention that I am talking about cartos.....I don't use anything else...only cartos.

It is an interesting question - most policies ask in terms of the last 12 months and often use language to the effect of have you had any tobacco related products in the past 12 months, this ensures they cover chewing tobacco and other smokeless tobacco products. Its a bit of a tough call since nicotine is a tobacco extract, but its not tobacco..

LOL good for you Vacker1229. Vaporqueen, You are a NON smoker despite what your coworkers may say! Your doing really great! Just look at your counter! Now listen to your body. Can you take a deep breath without hacking up a lung???? Do you cough every morning??? Do you stink??? Hmmmm..... Well see proof enough! You are a NON smoker. I have had this problem myself with Hubby. He still looks down his nose at vaping. Haha let him say something now and NO love for him Maybe you can with withold donuts from your co workers

Non-smoker. Nothing burning here. Some people just don't have the knowledge to form an educated opinion- but it doesn't mean they don't have an opinion anyways. Are you "smoking" when you exhale outside on a cold day because it "looks" like smoke? Vapor is not smoke. Case closed.

I think I got lucky and saw a video early on that talked about the holding it in the mouth while on the inhale then taking it into the lungs so thats the only way I have been. I will say that I visited a local casino this weekend past and I was really stuggling badly wanting an analog - somehow I made it though without bumming one - I think it helped I was losing and got out of there. I think I have begun to truly turn the corner myself, and really enjoy vaping more. In fact just ordered several new flavors this morning from vaperite as well as a sample pack so basically have eight new flavors on the way and am already thinking about a box mod. I began this journey treating vaping as a one to one replacement for smoking. Replicating my smoking pattern with vaping and it wasn't really working for me overall. Sure I was liking the flavor and the TH but the experience was lacking for me. I have been settling into more of an approach of vaping as something entirely different with its own rituals and experience. As I let go of the smoking rituals and embrace these new ones - combined with the tasty vapes and techniques things are settling in. It helps to read through threads like this and learn from each other, to understand techniques and habits that are working. I will say I have had several sore throats, which has concerned me to some degree but like anything its a body adjustment I believe. Thanks for all the sharing and insight this thread has added to my insight on how to, the basics! Its great.

CONGRATS Vaporqueen to you and your Hubby! Your rocking it! I love my eGo too, and am waiting for the T to arrive. Who knew NOT smoking could be so much fun? LOL I'm still trying to find that perfect juice too. Let us all know what you come up with.

May not be true for all brands/flavors, but in my limited experience pure PG juices have better TH than pure VG's. (VG for the plumes o' vapor though.) Oh, and gratz on the vapaversary.^^

TH that kicks me to the floor..hmmm...sounds nice! I've only bought PG. I thought I read somewhere that the VG clogs the atom. Never thought to mix juices..

I agree. It's such a peice of mind to be rid of those analogs! 20 yrs on those things! What shocks me is that I had never heard of vaping before! I just happened to see an online ad! I've have told every smoker I know about these things. We now have 5 friends that have stopped analoging and started VAPING!! Thanks for the suggestions. I got our ego's at electonicstik. Definately the Best price I could find. Juice was pretty good. I just checked out madvapes. Their prices are crazy cheap on juices. Not too keen on the imported juices.

Yay for you!! I know how excited you are - it blows my mind that quitting could be this easy and painless after all the times I tried to quit and it SUCKED. Try the Mentha on the Vapor Talk store. I am not a big fan of throat hit but I have read people saying that even people who did not smoke menthols got the throat hit they needed from menthol flavored stuff. And the Mentha on this store gets really good reviews.

Derstadtschultz---I agree. The insurance companies especially! That is why the healthcare system is messed up and we are paying more and more out of pocket and getting less coverage. Now I believe most Doctors are all for preventative care, but most are not informed about e-cigs. I think it is mainly because they don't want to push something that is not approved by the FDA. If it were to get approved, I can say for sure my Dr. would suggest it. When I went to see her a week ago and I mentioned wanting to quit analogs, she told me all the basic Options....and even mentioned Chantix, but I could tell she was not thrilled with it because of the negative side effects.....depression and suicidal thoughts. So for them an e-cig is something they would not advise, but kinda like they would let you try at your own risk. Yes, I also think the FDA, Government, and Tobacco companies are working together. Why the heck would they approve cigerettes which is proven to kill you and give you life crippling diseases and yet not really seriously look into e-cigs more closely... A habit that only contains maybe one or two chemicals that may or may not harm you long term? It does all come down to MONEY. AND THIS CHICK RIGHT HERE IS NOT PAYING THE GOVERNMENT ANYMORE EXTRA MONEY OUT OF POCKET THEN I NEED TO!!

This right here, this is so key! I love this part about vaping more than anything else! Thanks for putting it into words.

This is perhaps the most thoughtful and absorbing post I've read here. As a nurse myself I can say this, I have never treated a single person, adult or child, for nicotine poisoning but I have seen scores of smokers die. I was headed down that path myself until I discovered vaping. Addiction is not just about the drug of choice, it also involves the actions leading up to the use of the drug. I have heard addicts say they loved the feel of a torniquet or the sting of a needle. We too enjoy our rituals, the opening of the pack, the feel of an analog in our hand, the flare of the lighter, and most of all the glorious billow of smoke. Remember closing your eyes and just letting that first drag wash through and over you? E cigs come the closest to those feelings, no patch ever soothed me. I never chewed gum or took a pill during a phone conversation or crisis. We need to be careful with our juices, but how many other dangers exist in our homes that we safeguard? Medications, cleaners, the list of our daily toxins could go on and on. We need to be careful and Chris has taken an important step in keeping us aware and kids safe. If I can eliminate this slow suicide path I was heading down then I am willing to do it. I enjoy vaping as much if not more than smoking, I can feel good about this because I am not hurting myself or others. We need to address all the aspects of smoking because face it we are all addicts, and we are addicted to something legal but highly disapproved. I'm tired of being treated with the same disdain as that of a criminal. Now I am free of those glares and I can move ahead improving my health and NOT FEELING GUILTY cause I am harming no one.

What's so bizarre that it's almost funny, is that there are numerous articles and State funded tobacco control papersavailable online complaining that roughly "50% of smokers believe the myth that nicotine causes cancer". So instead of correcting many smokers inaccurate belief, here is California government requiring you to do something that perpetuates their ignorance! I could understand a statement that says "Smoking causes cancer", but "Nicotine Causes Cancer"? Unbelievable.

This is probably one of the best and most interesting posts I've read so far on the forums. I have to say I agree with not only your concerns but your point of view as well. The bottom line is, nicotine is a vice pure and simple much like alcohol and caffeine. The good lord never intend that we ingest these toxins however in one way or another we have been introcuded to nicotine and over the years have become sadly Dependant. Essentially the electronic cigarette is a pacifier (or a dummy if your in the UK) for adults, it is what we use to help overcome the every day stress called life. I find it to also be a great past time. It's extremely relaxing. That all aside I can't agree more that safety is our number once concern. It is for many suppliers, at least the good ones anyway. Why do you think Vapor Talk was one of the first liquid suppliers in the United States to add child proof caps? Because there is a very real threat of a child getting a hold of something that looks like apple juice and smells like a grape. Unfortunately there are some real "winner" parents out there and we as suppliers have to protect their children. You said you where concerned that a child may some day get a hold of juice and drink a bottle, guess what, it's already happened. (Yes you heard correct) I won't say where and what supplier was involved because it's not needed but it's happened. As far as we know, the child is fine. Luckily. Truth be told liquid bottles in loose form will cease to exist should electronic cigarettes stay on the market for the long run. Everyone will end up using cartomizers. 2 piece units. Why? Because it's a way to not only control the nicotine levels, but it's sealed thus preventing the cotton from falling out, which of course could be eaten by a dog, cat or child. Quality control is another major issue that is being worked on continuously. Is PG safe to vape? Let's be honest with ourselves we are on the front line of this new invention, although PG is general recognized as safe by the FDA and is used in many products such as baby wipes, vitamins etc it's never been tested in long term vapor form inhaled by humans. Granted there was a study done on monkeys for over a year, which concluded positive effects, but we really don't know the VERY long term effects. Essentially only time will tell. The general common sense assumption is, traditional tobacco is so bad that you could probably smoke tea leaves and still be better off than smoking tobacco leaves. I think overall this product is a real step forward in helping dependent cigarette users leave traditional tobacco. Leaving nicotine however is not the ecigs best trait. The original designer of the electronic cigarette (who was inspired after his father died of lung cancer) wanted people to quite smoking with the ecig, however the units worked SO well that people instead, just replaced the delivery form. He never intended persons to use PG over a long period of time. Right now it's up to the user to have the self control to step down. Lucky this is happening more and more often, in fact ex smokers now known as vapers are starting to become more health conscious than they ever where before. We are still in the early phases and so long as we can get the support of government agencys and watch groups we can perfect the electronic cigarette into a true NRT. Something it isn't now. Many people on the board state "I don't want to stop vaping" to me that's the nicotine talking. I think if we could make it as easy to quite as it already is to switch delivery, we could really see some massive health improvements in society. Something I one day hope we altogether can witness. Anyway I'm getting off course here, awesome post and some very valid points.

Funny how they are concerned about you smoking anything, but don't bother to ask if you burn candles frequently. Nice to see you again. How is that doggie of yours?

I have been vaping over two years and I still don't what a throat hit is.I just look for good flavor liquid.For that, Vapor Talk,Janty ,ElectroNicstix and MadVapes.

Someone posted within a thread a really good TH tip, and after a year of vaping I had never done this. Normally when I vape I inhale directly into my lungs, while I am dragging/drawing/inhaling. Well someone posted that a way to get good TH is to inhale into just your mouth, then inhale the entire mouthful into your lungs at once. Well, I tried it and honestly not only do you get good TH, but you also get that sorta lightheaded feeling after a few times doing this in quick succession like when you smoke too much. I had really never paid much attention to how I vaped....other than the initial learning curve of having to do the slow steady thing. But other than that, I vaped like I smoked.....well this tip really works, but I find I have to really pay attention in order to do it just because it isn't my usual manner of vaping. Funny how subjective things are and why I really don't care about reviews in general....I pay more attention to people who like the same type of flavors as I do. Like RY4 is disgusting to me...I hate the super overly sweet flavors...Caramel, YUCK GROSS. We ordered 4 flavors from Ms T's and they are disgusting, so sweet and NONE of them could anyone guess the flavor without looking at the label (had the kids sniffing to try and guess what they were)....just overwhelmingly sweet. Just awful. I wouldn't vape that stuff if they gave me it free for life. When I read reviews and person after person uses the word "sweet", and I order it anyway, I usually don't like it. I have learned that over time. Now Vapor Renu (btw, spelled like that, renu, not renew) I get the medium TH and that is plenty for me. I think aggressive would hurt my throat. But I smoked light cigs so maybe that makes it different. I can't say that I had any stronger of a TH when smoking. I always think the TH is more related to the heat and more the fact that it is smoke hitting your throat. So far, as far as flavor, vapor renu is the ONLY place where I have liked every single flavor we have ordered, which I believe it is 8 of them now. Le Cig, their problem is more a total lack of flavor....just nothing. The flavor is soooooo weak it is crazy. But then I don't like the really overpowering flavors either. I just like a distinct flavor I can identify. I also tend not to like the no flavor flavors (like made up flavors)....like where it is just a big mixture of flavors with no clearly identifiable flavor, especially if the overall impression is just sweet, like RY4....my husband and I probably hate that flavor most of all, or we did till we got the stuff from Ms T's....God, awful, just awful. But of course that is only our opinion based on our preference of not liking super sweet stuff. We had ordered cappuccino (which it smelled like caramel mixed with cotton candy and tasted like just I don't know...caramel with burnt sugar?), white chocolate mocha, which tasted like neither white chocolate or mocha, just overwhelmingly sweet...Grape which smelled grape but tasted like a really sweet chemicalish taste, and then the dark chocolate/dulce de leche, which was the least bad but would definitely need to be rigged with something else. I am not bothering with it. With the order came a little tri folded "menu" and info about the company and based on that I would guess that the owner, which is also the person who creates and mixes everything, and was a baker, has a sweet tooth. Clearly she likes the very sweet taste and we don't. So that is what I mean, I try and find someone who enjoys the same type of flavors as I do and then odds are things they like I will like too, or at least for the most part. Almost guaranteed someone who loves caramel, RY4, and that kind of stuff, I won't share the same flavor preferences with. It is the same with food.....my oldest daughter enjoys ENTIRELY different kinds of foods than what I like, so when she says something is good, to me it usually isn't and vice versa. There are some things we both like, but very few. In fact I was just telling her about a place we went to and what I had and she was like "omg, I hate that place, their food sucks" LOL....which when she tells me about something she didn't like, I can usually rest assured that I will like it. My taste has changed a lot over the time I have been vaping...in the beginning it IS hard to pick up flavors...face it, our taste buds were pretty much destroyed with the smoking. It was a good couple months before I started really ENJOYING the flavors, and of food too. Suddenly we noticed that food started tasting different, like it is supposed to, didn't have to use near as many seasonings, salt and pepper in order for food to taste good, etc. The whole vaping thing is an interesting journey. I do like that now, especially after ordering a bunch of liquid from several vendors I now have a MUCH better sense of what flavors I like and which flavors to avoid. Like the RY4, various people would say, oh, that one sucks, you have to order it from so and so, and I would still hate it, or hate it even more, then another person would say, oh so and so has the best RY4, and nope, still disgusting. Granted they may all taste different from each other, but bottom line it is a SUPER sweet flavor and I don't like super sweet. I should also mention that in real life I don't like eating sweets as a general thing. Like in ice cream, I prefer like a fruit sorbet over vanilla or chocolate. Or I like fruit smoothies that are made ONLY with fresh fruit and ice....no added yogurt, creams, sugars etc. I am more of a salt person than a sugar person...like I would pick a potato chip any day over a cookie. BUT that said, I do like the neutral liquids like white chocolate, bavarian creme, etc. They are excellent for cutting other flavors. But I don't like just sweet, it has to be a flavor that I can identify. I think the most important part about the reviews is paying attention to the flavors the reviewers is liking, to get a sense if they seem to like the same TYPES of flavors. Okay, I will shut up. Flavor is very subjective in my opinion.