sandiclause

What brand of cigarettes and how much did you smoke? A very rough equivalent is:

24 mg (2.4%) = full flavor like Marlboro Reds

12 mg (1.2%) = lights like Marlboro Lights

6 mg (.6%) = ultra lights

Now keep in mind that these are not exact equivalents but will give you a starting point. Even though I smoked about a pack of Marlboro Lights a day, when I started vaping I went with the 24 mg. Once I got a handle on it and no longer wanted to smoke for a few weeks I stepped it down to 12 mg. These days I have everything from 0 - 24. The 0 nic I use when I'm chain vaping. The 24 I use when I can't vape very much or very often so it gives me the nic I need in just a few puffs. Most of the time I stick to around 12 mg but the 6 mg are calling more and more these days. I just vape whatever I need or want at the time. Through trial and error you'll find what works best for you. Since you're just beginning, though, I'd go with the 24 - 18. You'll know if you're getting too much nic because you'll feel dizzy, might get a headache or upset stomach. That's when you put it down for a bit. If those feelings continue then I'd step down on the nicotine levels. YMMV.

What Earthling said. That, and also, your body is not only addicted to the nicotine it was getting from the cigarettes, it was also addicted to all the other chemicals and carcinogens that they contained. Getting enough nicotine in the very beginning is very important to getting off the analogs. You may feel bad at first because your body is going to go through some withdrawals, not as bad as when you go cold turkey because you'll still be getting the nicotine. Give it some time.

The beauty of vaping is that it's not an all or nothing deal. If you really crave a cigarette, go ahead and have one or five. As you continue to vape (and you're getting enough nic), you'll find that the amount of cigarettes you're smoking goes way down. At least that's how it was for me. Once I got over the "you must NOT SMOKE!" mentality the pressure was off and I naturally found myself vaping more than smoking. It took me five days to stop but your mileage may vary. Some people can get off the analogs from day one while it takes others a few weeks to a month. Give yourself a break and don't beat yourself up if you have a couple. Just get back to vaping and it'll sort itself out.

If 24mg satisfies you, stick with it for a while... it will really help you get over the cravings, moreso than switching back and forth from 18 to 24mg. Once you feel you are ready to step down... mix a bottle of 24 and a bottle of 18 in 1:1 ratio, that will put you at 21mg, and is less of a shock to your system than a 6mg drop at once. Keep mixing them like that for a while, then you can transition down to 18mg without the shock to your system. If you think of it like this... each 6mg of nicotine is a half-pack of smokes... it's easier to not have 5 than it is to not have 10

The key to getting off the analogs is getting enough nicotine from vaping...
If you're finding it hard to let go of that last half-pack a day, then bump up your nicotine to the next level. Nicotine is not the bad part, it's the addictive part... your body is craving the nicotine as much as the action of hand-to-mouth.

Just like Tam said, many of us maintain different "favorite" flavors in different tanks, so when we're ready for a switch, it's quick, clean, and simple.

I started out on disposable Ce4 tanks and went through a bunch of them when trying out new flavors. Once I had finally figured out what I liked, I started buying Pyrex tanks with replaceable coils, which is a MUCH more economical choice in the long run. I kinda went nuts on tanks at first, but now that I've expanded my pallet (gotten my taste-buds back), I've got two main favorite flavors, and another half-dozen or so "occasional" favorites to just keep things interesting... so investing in a few extra tanks paid off!

One thing I'll warn you about... it's easy to get carried away with gear But, many people are quite happy with a couple of batteries and couple of tanks... others would need a small pick-up truck to move all their gear.... So, find what makes you happy, ask questions, and feel empowered to enjoy your new-found health!

My niece is more like a daughter to me...long complicated story...lol I went to the store to help her buy (pay for) her a new battery. I was so proud she had quit analogs. I thought it looked cool, tasted good, and might put a dent in my smoking expenses. I didn't plan on quitting. After a couple of weeks of vapeing I had gone from 1.5 - 3 packs a day to 5 cigarettes.

Believe me if I can do it anyone can! I am the poster child for not having will power.

Good Luck to you! You have found a good place with good people to talk to.

@Tameiki Thank you! I didn't think about that. I knew it really didn't feel right. I really appreciate all the good info you have given me!

@jasonculp Never put used juice back into a bottle of new juice. When you vape, the coil heats up the juice. After a while (or when the tank is nearly empty) the juice can start tasting bad/burnt/just plain nasty. That's when you dump it out and rinse the tank. Even if the juice still tastes okay, it has changed a bit in the tank. Best to keep the new juice in the bottle...new.

@sandiclause When you vape one flavor for too long you'll no longer be able to taste it. That's when you change to a very different flavor. I rotate several different flavors throughout the day so it keeps things interesting. Don't go from one fruit to another as that won't help much. Go with a fruit, change to a bakery, change to a mint, to a citrus, etc.

Drink LOTS of water! Vaping dehydrates you so water intake is very important (not soda, not coffee, not tea -- just water).

Also, keep in mind that if you're using tanks made of plastic any juice that's high in citrus, mint or cinnamon may crack the tank. Better to get something that has a glass/Pyrex tank like a Kanger Pro Tank (KPT), KPT mini, Anyvape Davide/mini, Aerotank, Nautilius, Evod Glass, etc. Those won't crack from the juice, you just have to be careful not to drop it or knock it into something because it is glass and will break or crack that way.

I am not much more experienced than you. I started a little over a month ago with my niece too! I would like to know how the "correct" way is too. I will tell you what I did. (i now have 6 Iclears and don't switch...one for each flavor) I bought a few extra wicks/coils. When I wanted to switch I poured the excess back into the proper bottle (I don't know if this is good). I then removed the wick/coil assembly and dropped it into a small cup of vodka and swirled it around. I then rinsed it in warm water being careful not to pull on the wicks too much (be easy with them) I rinse the tank and tip with water and dry to the best of my ability. I then installed a new coil/wick while i let the other dry over night.

I did this for a few days. It got old and expensive, you loose a lot of eliquid in the wicks...or at least it seemed like it. Now when I get a new flavor I buy a new iClear and label it...I know I am weird.

Once I found a flavor (or in my case flavor combination) I like I run it in my big glass tank and hit the small ones when I need a change.

I am still getting my taste back so I use only "fruity" flavors and a little menthol from time to time. I am sure this will change as my taste returns.

I keep a bunch of tanks filled with different flavors so I can switch when I want. If you drain the juice out of the tank and put in a different flavor, the old wick retains the flavor from the previous juice unless you clean it well and soak it in something like vodka. Some stronger flavors never come out so it's just easier to keep various tanks for me.

In some of the tanks you can just change out the coil (heating element with a wick inside), while others are all one piece disposables. When those quit working you throw them away and get a brand new one. These are more expensive in the long run, it's much cheaper to be able to rinse the tank and pop in a fresh coil.

Hi there sandi! I'm also new to vaping. I've only been doing it for 4 days. When I decided to switch from cigs to vaping I went all in. It was really hard the first day but I haven't wanted a cig since. The only temptation I've come across was when I smelled cigarette smoke lol. Then I vaped away and forgot all about it. Vaping is so much fun! It tastes so much better then cigarettes.
I'm also curious about your question cause I'm sure I've been doing it wrong lol.