I smoked cigarettes for 20 years and tried to quit multiple times. The longest I managed was three years, but I eventually went back. I could never fully break free from the habit. About 12 years ago, I tried vaping for the first time. In the early days, the devices weren’t great, so I struggled a bit. But once better tanks and mods became available, everything changed—I was finally able to make the switch. I’ve now been a full-time vaper for just over 10 years. During that time, I gradually reduced my nicotine levels from 25mg to 18mg, then down to 3mg, and about a year ago, I reached zero nicotine. I still vape daily, but without any nicotine. I enjoy it, but I can now go days without feeling the need to vape. For the first time, I feel truly free from nicotine, and I don’t see myself ever going back. I also recently had a full medical check-up, including chest X-rays, and my doctor told me my lungs are very healthy, with no signs of damage. From my own experience, moving from cigarettes to vaping brought many of the same improvements as quitting smoking altogether. Within the first few days, my breathing felt easier, and my sense of taste and smell started to come back. Over time, that persistent morning cough faded, and my overall fitness and stamina improved. Even simple activities like walking and running became noticeably easier. Not to mention that smokers stink, on your clothes, in your house or car, was all gone! The key difference for me was that I was still getting nicotine through vaping, so I didn’t go through the same level of withdrawal as when I tried to quit smoking completely. But all the other positive changes—better breathing, improved senses, and increased energy—still happened. For me, vaping was a stepping stone away from cigarettes. It allowed me to reduce my nicotine intake over time and at my own pace. I eventually quit it altogether, without going back to smoking.

Anonymous•46 yrs•Gqeberha•Eastern Cape•21 years smoked•8 years smoke-free•Vape•Multiple flavours

Tried to give up combustible tobacco multiple times during my years of smoking without success. Vaping allowed me to put down cigarettes within a weeks time and I have not looked back since. My health has improved greatly since I started vaping.

Reginald Botha•43 yrs•Zeerust•North West•25 years smoked•Vape•Dessert / Sweet

I have been smoking since age of 16 gave tried multiple times to stop smoking just cant seem to stop smoking but i am smoking 3 cigarettes a day and vaping but i am sure will kick habit in this year

Anonymous•44 yrs•Centurion•Gauteng•20 years smoked•1.5 years smoke-free•Vape•Tobacco

Not mine, but my partner who smoked a pack a day for 20 years. I was able to provide a tobacco flavoured alternative that met her need and she has had 2 cigarettes in the last year and a half, both times noting how awful they tasted and felt as compared to vaping. We have since experienced improved health, motivation, a much cleaner smelling and feeling household and a greatly reduced anxiety about affording a carton at month end.

Anonymous•32 yrs•Randburg•Gauteng•12 years smoked•7 years smoke-free•Vape•Dessert / Sweet

Not a huge smoker but I was definitely addicted... People around me would complain about how bad it is for you but I was addicted, even though I didn't enjoy it, until the flavored cigarettes came out then I smacked more and I was always wanting that next cigarette... Till 1 day I got introduced to vaping, I was abit hesitant at 1st till I started doing my research and started to see for my self that the truth was in the research! But that alone didn't convince me that it was the best option but I was curious to see if this product would help me... 2months, 5 months, 1 year and then today still smoke free and I reallise how much healthier I feel as a posed to when I was smoking cigarettes. No, vaping is not 100% safe, but definitely in the research done behind vaping and experiencing for myself, I feel alot healthier by just one simple decision to quit smoking cigarettes.

Craig Pietersen•50 yrs•Pretoria•Gauteng•25 years smoked•13 years smoke-free•Vape•Dessert / Sweet

I grew up in a house of smokers, and started smoking in my early teens. While on holiday, I saw a guy puffing on a strange device filled with a liquid. I stopped the chap and asked a bunch of questions regarding the thing he was using. When I returned home after the holiday, I spent a few weeks researching this "vape" concept. At the time, there was already some evidence that it may be safer than smoking. As I was already showing signs of the damage that smoking causes, I decided that I would "give it a go". I'm happy to say that it stuck, and the day that I started vaping was the last day that I had a cigarette. Now, more than a decade later, I'm still smoke-free, and I feel better than I ever did as a smoker!

Rynhardt Liebenberg•38 yrs•Welkom•Free State•9 years smoked•14 years smoke-free•Vape•Menthol / Mint

I have a asthma and had a lot of trouble with my chest back I the day doctors always told me stop smoking cigarettes but it was hard for me. Then I had an life changing experience the day my father called me and told me he needs to speak to me. I decided to stop smoking cigarettes 14 years ago after my father passed away of cancer. The process was hard because I was smoking a lot so I started vaping after a friend told me about vaping and I can honestly say today I can't even remember the last time I needed to go to the doctor because of my asthma. I'm still vaping today but I don't vape as much as I smoked cigarettes. Pro's after I stop smoking cigarettes. Better sense of smell Better sense of taste Better sleep at night because I don't get up and smoke in the middle of the night Overall I feel much healthier. Vaping saved my life 100%.

Leisl Brand•47 yrs•Somerset West•Western Cape•20 years smoked•9 years smoke-free•Vape•Fruit

I've tried every technique to stop smoking, vaping is all that worked successfully. I'm 9 years smoke free

Renaldo Rheeder•62 yrs•Gqeberha•Eastern Cape•40 years smoked•9 years smoke-free•Multiple products•Tobacco

I started smoking while in high school, as many boys of my generation did since it was the "cool" thing to do. I was in std. 7 (grade 9) at the time. The first time when I tried to quit smoking, I was in matric (grade 12). The first attempt failed, as did every other attempt after that for many years, and every time after a failed attempt, the number of cigarettes that I smoked per day increased until I was smoking 3 packs (60 cigarettes) per day in the end. I tried going cold turkey, cutting down on the number of cigarettes per day, nic gum, nic patches, acupuncture, hypnosis, changing to lower nicotine cigarettes, and reading and applying the techniques from Allen Carr's book (Stop Smoking). The longest that any method lasted to keep me from smoking was about a week, and as I mentioned earlier, every time when I failed and started smoking again, I ended up smoking more cigarettes per day. The smoking habit obviously affected my health. I had frequent headaches, shortness of breath, and chest pains and eventually a mild cardiac episode. Then I discovered vaping through a friend on Facebook (forever grateful Rob). Initially I both smoked cigarettes and vaped, but I started cutting down on the number of cigarettes that I smoked per day. The last time that I smoked, I had one cigarette in the morning and one in the evening. Today I hardly ever get headaches; I don't ever get chest pains anymore; and I don't suffer from shortness of breath. Vaping literally saved my life.

Philip Fourie•51 yrs•Kempton Park•Gauteng•25 years smoked•8 years smoke-free•Vape•Fruit

Started smoking at young age, tries many times to quit but failed. Since vaping I have been feeling much better and my health improved ten fold.

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