new to snus, quitting smoking

[cocsp2002]

sagedil is right. smoke if you want to smoke, but I think you'll find you'll prefer snusing more after a while.

it's funny, sagedil and I are like opposites. I started on portions, and moved on to los. I really wanted to like portions, but they don't satisfy my oral fixation like los does. There isn't a right one or a wrong one, just what you like better. A lot of people on here aren't as black and white as sagedil and I are; they enjoy some los, some portion, some full portions, some minis...some original portion, some whites...it's all good. Trust me.

[---Nicotinic Acid---]

You'll be very happy with that order, and will have NO problem finishing the whole roll of skruf. Portions are great for an introduction to snus, but you'll eventually throw in some los on your next order.

Just keep at it and find your favorites: it took me about 18months to discover that my car operates just fine without the assistance of tobacco smoke. .

[pcguy]

pcguy, I'm glad for you, but you are in the extreme minority here. For almost all of us who smoked, it went the way both I and cocsp2002 described.

Understandable. I was ready to quit, and the snus simply facilitated that. Quitting should be something you want and need for yourself. Not what everyone else tells you to do. Once you really educate yourself at your own pace, and make the choice it isn't that difficult with the right tools at hand.

[cocsp2002]

Agreed, pcguy. I feel like I'm obligated to mention the following:

Addiction is different for everyone. I've tried to quit smoking probably 8 or 9 times over the past 5 years. I even succeeded in going completely tobacco/nicotine free for over 2 years. However, nicotine is one of the most addictive drugs available today. I wish I could quote the source, but I once read that it's 12 times more addictive than heroin. For me, I felt like I needed to smoke to be whole. It was like a friend almost. When I wasn't smoking, I was very depressed and found I couldn't function very well. It's true that people who quit nicotine for reasons other than their own motivation (i.e. for family, because of a job that won't allow it, etc.) will not stay off the tobacco. People who quit because they want to can usually succeed if they prepare themselves and have support (and enough strength of character and will to succeed). I hated to smoke, but I needed that fix and I wasn't interested in dipping or chewing tobacco because for a long time, I was a waiter in high end restaurants, and I couldn't be spitting all the time.

Snus gave me a viable alternative to stop ruining my body (as much) and still get my nicotine, but it was hard to break the habit of that hand-to-mouth routine. I just needed to wean myself out of that routine and establish a new one. Now I relish the whole routine of putting snus in my mouth, whether it's handbaking a pris, loading my icetool (although my wife likes to do it for me when she's around...I think she wants to use los too, but is afraid), or rolling a portion around my mouth before poking it up top with my tongue. I'm really glad you had such an easy time quitting, but it isn't that easy for everyone.

Realize, I'm not trying to flame you on the forum, but it is different for everyone. We're all passionate about our hobby (habit?) and sometimes it creates a difference of opinion. But isn't that what brings us all together as well?

[sagedil]

My point, I had no intentions of quitting, I didn't want to quit, I just did. Snus is so good, such a better nicotine delivery system in the long run, just about everyone seems to prefer it in short order.

I only got into snus as a nicotine alternative for the 4 hours I ws running a shift in a large outbound fund raising center. I didn't like how often I was having to leave the floor to smoke. I had no plans on quitting cigarettes, I was just hoping that snus would tide me over.

Then funny thing happened....I liked the snus!!! Over the next 6 weeks, I just smoked less and less, until literally, I just started to forget to buy more cigarettes.

Had I been trying to quit, I'm sure I would have instantly. I was quite good at quitting, I just always went back within 6 mos - 3 yrs.

My point to people trying to quit, or wanting to quit cigarettes is that snus will lead you away from cigarettes regardless of what you want. SO there is no need to stress over any of it. Plus, unlike quitting cold turkey, smoking 1 or 5 cigarettes does nothing to change the trajectory.

Just trust the snus, it will lead you away from the smokes all on it's own

[1stResponder]

What to buy

I was a chronic Copenhagen user before I switched to swedish snus. Basically, Copenhagen was like a drug, and I wanted it and nothing else. I also have gone throug periods of smoking a pack of MB reds a day.

I currently prefer N&J West portion, Skruf Stark, General Sterk and Gotlandssnus Grovsnus (green) portion. Since using them, I have no need or want for Cope or cigarettes for that matter. I'm one of the harm reduction advocates, and really switched because of health concerns. Now, I like the snus more than Cope, for many reasons but the taste is better, I don't spit hardly at all, I can drink things when I have a portion in, and there is a good variety to choose from when you buy. Just my .02.

[doucheboy]

Back!

Hi Heatx,

I am just going to say what's been said before, nicotine addiction is different for everyone, I used to smoke half a pack of marlboro mediums for 10+ years but ever since I've started snus(no craving for cigs, cigs actually started to smell really bad for me), I've been only using 3-5 or less of Gotenborg's Rape' as a regular(from half a tin of general/skruf/offroad) and seriously, I sometimes even forgo snus for as long as half a day. I'd have to thank Sagedil and Toolboxe(spelled in reverse) and all the forum members who guided me thru snus. So, in a nutshell, just relax and decide which one you like the best.


P.S. Waaay out of topic... I am NOT going to use any of my LOS(I got the Swedish Match sampler( fairly complete, expiry date is Sept but kept in freezer since July) plus some other los which I can't remember and I am more than happy to give away, please pm me if you want em. Don't feel comfortable throwing away the snus. Sagedil, Xobeloot, thank you so much, the Gotenborg's Rape is my main snus, yes, I still think Nick and Johnny sucks!

[KarlvB]

Re: Back!

and seriously, I sometimes even forgo snus for as long as half a day. I

I actually have a question about this.

Has anyone else found that if they don't have the opportunity to snus - say for example if you are in meetings all day or whatever that you don't crave it in the same way that you would with cigarettes?

The reason I ask is that I had a very busy day earlier the week and when I finished at about 8pm I realised that I had not had any snus all day, but I hadn't craved it either. And it wasn't the first time it happened either.

Don't get me wrong, I still look forward to a pris at the end of a long day of meetings but I don't get irritated or agitated when I don't have it immediately. In a way there is none of that nicotine withdrawal feeling.

Could it be because of the difference in the delivery of nicotine re snus vs. cigarettes or am I just weird?

Ps: I guess I should add that I am about a 4 portion + 2 pris a day user and I've been using snus for just over ten months

[RobsanX]

I wholeheartedly agree about not stressing out about the cigs... If you're ready to quit that's great! You've been smoking for 4 years, so if it takes you a couple months to wean yourself off the cigs then that's still better than not quitting at all...

I smoked for 20 years without quitting once. The past couple years I knew I was ready to quit, and with snus it took me 2-3 weeks to be completely smoke free...

[jamesstew]

I agree also, when I was smoking I would start the morning with a cigarette before accomplishing anything. Now I can drive all the way to work if I want get settled in, get my coffee and then thoroughly enjoy my first snus of the day. Since I find the effects more satisfying I choose to wait until I'm in a position to thoroughly enjoy it.

[vajrakilaya]

It's been a week since my last cigarette. I'm amazed how much better loose snus is working for me than portions did a few months ago. I think the spike in nicotine is much quicker from loose snus.

The moment my feet hit the floor in the morning I stuff both sides of my upper lip with loose snus. Within just a few minutes I feel great. (I was the sort of smoker who would light up just as his feet hit the floor - we supposedly have the hardest time quitting) Thank goodness for snus.

My only problem is trying to shave my upper lip. If I press my electric shaver (Panasonic) hard enough it mashes the snus ball.

[heatX]

hello! i went to lunch today with my fiance and when i came home i had present in the mail box!!

so right now i have my first prel in and it's a goteborgs rape white portion. i've had it in for 30 minutes and theres still plenty of flavor! i love it. very interesting flavor, unlike anything i've ever had here in the states.

the problem for me is the juice seems to be giving me heartburn so i need a bottle of water to wash it all down.

thanks everyone for the replies!
can't wait to try the others!
i'll post reviews later tonight in this thread.

[cocsp2002]

I got heartburn too, just a little, when I first started. For me, it passed in a week or so. I wouldn't stress out about it too much unless it's very painful. Mine was quite mild, so I just stuck it out.

[jamesstew]

I won't be getting heartburn from my 5 free cans.

[heatX]

So i tried a few different snuses today. I think it's cool how the cans have the thing on the top to put used portions while youre out (i'll be using that at the movies tonight). I love how they last so long! It's also cool how the flavor takes a good 20-30 minutes to really kick in.

I tried the N&J, Goteborgs Rape, Skruf Portion and Skruf Stark Portions today. Although they all seem to have a similar flavor, N&J stood out the most... it seemed to be a bit more salty and that inital burn lasted longer than any of the others that i tried today (when they say strong, they mean it!).

I do like the Skruf but the general flavor of it seems to get old kinda quick... if that makes sense... it could be because the flavor is so different than anything i've ever tried, i could see it being an acquired taste. I prefer the regular portions over the stark (even though i bought a roll!! DOH!) but mostly because the stark seems to hit me pretty hard. I can see myself getting used to that.

The Gote Rape was also satisfying. Very interesting flavor. I can't see myself using more than one or two of those in a day, though.

I like the natural flavored snuses but for some reason i find myself craving something sweeter to even out the saltiness of the N&J so if anyone has any recommendations for some sweeter snuses, that would be greatly appreciated!

I can definitely see myself using mini portions more often than regular (at least in public or at work) as the regulars seem to make me look like i have a fat lip.

I'd like to sell or trade a few cans of the Skruf Stark for something sweet. PM me if you're interested!

Overall, great experience so far. I smoked one cig today before the snus got here and that was my last one! I find that keeping a snus in for an hour or so curves the craving completely!

[edit]
Forgot to mention that every once in a while the snus juice gets pretty strong, kinda burns my mouth a little and i have the urge to spit, will that go away?