For as long as I can remember, smoking was a rite of passage. Growing up in Weymouth, I recall the days when I’d sneak off to the corner shop to buy a single No6 ciggie. The friendly shopkeeper would break up a pack of 10 and sell them individually \u2013 it was just the norm back then. Smoking was seen as a step towards adulthood, a social glue that bonded us kids. Little did we know, or perhaps care, about the insidious grip nicotine would take on our lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fast forward 15 years, and there I was, puffing through 15-20 cigarettes a day. Another decade, and I found myself chained to 40 cigarettes daily. The effects were inevitable \u2013 heavy breathing, chest pains, and a constant state of fatigue. Reflecting on those times now, it\u2019s no wonder my body was protesting with all those toxins coursing through my veins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At 46, and working as an engineer, I realised my smoking habit was taking a serious toll on my health and career. The physical demands of my job became increasingly challenging as my body struggled under the weight of all those poisonous chemicals and metals<\/a> running through my blood and organs. A turning point came when my doctor suggested vaping as a less harmful alternative. Sceptical but desperate for relief, I walked into the local vape shop. To my surprise, the staff were incredibly welcoming and knowledgeable. They patiently helped me choose a device and e-liquid with the right nicotine content. I started with a whopping 24mg \u2013 a strength that\u2019s now off the market \u2013 and over the next four years, I gradually stepped down to 3mg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The immediate benefits were undeniable. My chest pains disappeared, and I had more energy than I\u2019d felt in years. The transition from smoking to vaping felt like a breath of fresh air, literally. For a while, I was content, hovering between 2-3mg of nicotine, enjoying the absence of smoke without the pressure to quit vaping altogether.<\/p>\n\n\n\n