The No BS Way to Stop Smoking!

What smokers do NOT need is another 'how to' article on giving up the smoking habit. The are lots of quit smoking articles out there, with one 'tips' list after another. And to be sure, many of those suggestions are valid. If you can follow them, they work. In fact, some of them bear repeating. But I promise not to beat you up with them, no matter how worthwhile they seem. What smokers with a real desire to quit need, is real world help. And that's what this article is about...new technology that makes quitting smoking a realistic endeavor.

Some tips on how to give up the cigarette habit bear repeating (but only briefly...promise). For instance, it's probably a good idea to:

1. Have a good reason to quit. Weak reasons get weak results. What's your reason to quit? Write it down where you can see it.

2. Plan to quit, then work your plan. Making it up as you go is BS. Steps to take...write them down, then do them.

3. Decide before you start that life's little (or even big) problems will NOT cause you to fall off the wagon. And mean it.

4. Stay away from bars and coffee shops. Not a biggie anymore. Laws now forbid smoking in these temptation-laden places.

5. Look for a quitting partner for support, but don't depend on them to stay the course, or do your quitting for you.

6. Let the world, family and friends know you are quitting smoking. Keeping it a secret gives you a BS out and clearly says you're not serious.

7. Get your mind off smoking. Read a book, cook a steak, have sex, wash the windows, have sex, fry up some chicken, did I mention have sex?

Now I have some magic for you. But don't ignore or forget about the 'how to' list for quitting. If you don't do these things, my magic will not work and will simply mean more money down the drain.

It seems everything in the world is made in China these days. Cheap labor is the big reason. It's rare when the Chinese come up with an original idea that works. But the Electronic Cigarette is a Chinese idea that is rapidly taking hold around the world.

If you're not familiar, an electronic cigarette looks and functions like a real cigarette. Except it has no tobacco or any of the tars and carcinogens Big Tobacco puts in real cigarettes to keep you hooked. It works on a rechargeable lithium battery. You inhale and exhale what looks like a cloud of smoke. It's actually harmless, odorless water vapor.

And this is where the 'quit smoking' notion comes into play. The other major component in electronic cigarettes is nicotine. The user is able to select the nicotine level in each 'pack' of e-cigs purchased. This typically ranges from a high of 16 mg to a low of zero mg. 4 mg is usually the lowest you can go and still have some nicotine to inhale. The cost is about 60% less than real cigarettes.

Manufacturers and major marketing companies cannot use the 'quit smoking' promise because the Food and Drug Administration says there have not been enough studies done to prove the benefit. Opponents of e-cigs, primarily Big Tobacco and Big Pharma (their profit-ox is being gored) contend e-cigs still contain bad chemicals that constitute a health hazard.

They almost always follow with a mention of Propylene Glycol and the fact that it's used in anti freeze. It's a scare tactic that is meaningless. PC is used in everyday food additives, medicines, REAL CIGARETTES, you name the product, there's a good chance it contains a small amount of Propylene Glycol. It's one of those multi-purpose chemicals that in electronic cigarettes helps to produce the vapor that's inhaled/exhaled.

So where's the magic? Answer...smoking is more than just inhaling/exhaling smoke, although that's a major component. It's also about doing something with your hands, holding it, tapping it, watching the exhaled vapor and actually feeling the nicotine hit in your throat.

All the things that the patches and lozenges, and other nicotine devices don't give you (the biggest reason why they don't often work).

A smoker who is firmly committed to quitting can use the e-cigs to gradually dial down the level of addictive nicotine while continuing to 'smoke'. This usually starts with the smoker using a mix of real and e-cigs, then gradually switching over to e-cigs completely, reducing the amount of nicotine with each new purchase, and finally using no nicotine, and then no e-cigs. It's a gradual process that can work very easily, and very effectively.

Any guarantees it will work? Get real. Do the nicotine patch makers guarantee their product will work? Not even close. No, there are no guarantees when it comes to your health and welfare. But what e-cigs do is make the process viable. They stay close to what the smoker is already doing, and with a little determination and follow through, can enable the smoker to become a non-smoker without the usual trauma and tribulation.

There are many e-cig brands to choose from. They range from the very cheap to the somewhat expensive ($30 to $150 for starter kits, then $2.00 to $3.00 for refills, each equal to about 1 1/2 packs of real cigarettes.). We went with the top of the line brand but you can start with a cheapy just to try it. Electronic Cigarettes are like most other products in life...you usually get what you pay for.