Smoking and running? Help!
kristinajakavonyte
Posts: 5 Member
So I've been smoking for about a year.. my question is: do I need to first quit smoking or I can do exercise (running, cardio etc.) while still smoking? I know it's stupid since we are all here to change habbits or maintain them as for healthy living. But I am interested.. what is your experience with tabacco and healthy living?
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Oh! And the reason why I do not quit now, is because I don't want to gain weight... and I know cigarettes help even to lose some.. so..0
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I have seen plenty of people finish a race and light up, so do as you wish...3
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kristinajakavonyte wrote: »Oh! And the reason why I do not quit now, is because I don't want to gain weight... and I know cigarettes help even to lose some.. so..
Yeah when you get cancer it'll definitely help you lose :laugh:
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"So I've been smoking for about a year.. " From a long time smoker, now an ex-smoker: you are going to want to quit sometime, it will be much easier NOW.
" do I need to first quit smoking or I can do exercise (running, cardio etc.) while still smoking?" Nope. you can puff away and do your workout for a while. Sooner or later it will catch up to you and you'll want to quit. See point one above.9 -
kristinajakavonyte wrote: »Oh! And the reason why I do not quit now, is because I don't want to gain weight... and I know cigarettes help even to lose some.. so..
This is codswallop. It's entirely up to you.
I quit last year cold turkey after smoking for 15 years, and I very slowly lost a stone.
Quitting an addiction is willpower and commitment to change. Some people replace it with a growing food addiction. You could replace it by increased physical activity.
If you believe not smoking will lead to weight gain, then it will. Because you accept it will.7 -
I used to smoke. Then I started working out regularly and the two did not mix well for me. I can barely breathe as a nonsmoker while running...when I smoked it was 10x worse. I felt like hammered shhiit all the time so I quit.3
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NARCISSISTIC_PUP wrote: »I smoke and am healthy
Oxymoron.17 -
You can do both. I know pro dancers who smoke and they were and are far fitter than me.
Personally I couldn't - weak chest after a chest infection, queried adult onset asthma and allergies that make me wheeze. Fun. Not.
Do not worry about stopping smoking making you put on weight - that happens when people replace cigarettes with food and snacks. Which you won't be doing because you're logging.
Think about all that money you'll save!5 -
Wow.. ok just.. stop right there..
1. you can start running even if you smoke
2. You don't gain weight cause you stopped smoking you gain weight cause you replace smoking with eating
3. Cardio and running is gonna suck so much more when you smoke and everything's gonna be more difficult
4. Stop using the "I don't wanna gain weight" excuse, you're not gonna gain weight by quitting, you're gonna gain health by quitting.14 -
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I used to smoke regularly, especially during the summers. I started noticing that taking the stairs really got me winded and breathing became much harder to do. As I increased my exercise the need to smoke lessened and I eventually quit. There are times when the urge to smoke is strong (times of stress, relaxing with friends, drinking) but I look back on how much life has improved just by getting rid of that habit and having that one cigarette doesn't seem worth it.
You don't have to quit to start exercising but depending on how heavy a smoker you are, you'll notice its effects on you when trying to make it through a workout session. Good luck!1 -
I've been a competitive runner for 30 years and what has always amazed me is a age group competitor who smoked and did quite well.1
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Anyone can exercise and still smoke. The real question is, if you are working towards your overall health, why wouldn't you quit? There is plenty of scientific proof out there showing how unhealthy smoking is for you. I am an ex smoker turned runner, and I find my workouts to be stronger, my endurance is much higher than it was when I smoked, and I am more motivated to exercise. I didn't gain any weight when I quit smoking. Every time I had a craving, I would take a walk or do a 10 minute ab workout, anything exercise related to replace that craving. This is something you need to want on your own though. Quit, or don't. It's up to you and what your vision for your overall health goals are.1
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Do yourself a favor and quit now. I smoked for 22+ years before quitting. You tell yourself that you can quit any time you want, and it's not necessary right now, but eventually it just becomes part of you. You won't be able to take in fresh air without wanting a cigarette. It's a horrible habit, and it's horribly unhealthy for you. You may be healthy now, but you won't be later. Even though I quit eight years ago, and my lungs are relatively recovered, my lung capacity will never be what I want it to be. I may still get cancer even though my chances are now reduced. I know you hear this every day from everyone around you but the reason that's happening is that it's the truth. Just quit. Find a way. Now (during a diet) is actually the perfect time. When you have a craving, go exercise. Turn that habit into something useful and healthy. I won't kid you that it's easy to quit, but what I can tell you is that you can do it.7
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NARCISSISTIC_PUP wrote: »LazyButHealthy wrote: »NARCISSISTIC_PUP wrote: »I smoke and am healthy
Oxymoron.
Not a heavy smoker. Healthy balanced diet. Regular exercise. Don't drink, don't take any meds. Regular health checks through work, checking numerous health markers including bloods, and FEV1/FVC
My health is just fine
Oh, I believe it. My partner is a heavy smoker with a far greater lung capacity than me, and is in average, fine health.
But that doesn't equate healthy. Just means it hasn't caught up with you yet.
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kristinajakavonyte wrote: »Oh! And the reason why I do not quit now, is because I don't want to gain weight... and I know cigarettes help even to lose some.. so..
Cigarettes don't stimulate weight loss or weight gain. It's the increase in eating from replacing a habit and oral fixation. If you continue to count your calories accurately, keep up with your exercise, and quit smoking, you will not see weight gain.
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I've been off cigs now for 7 months having been a smoker for 20 years or so - I moved to vaping - and in that time I've still managed to lose weight. Stopping smoking doesn't put weight on, you look for something to do with your hands as you're not smoking any more so instead of lighting up you raid the fridge.
You can run and be a smoker, you're body will be able to cope better if you don't smoke though.
And I know vaping isn't good for you but its less harmful and cheaper than smoking3 -
Smoking helps you lose weight? Weird, I was 250lbs when I was a smoker and lost 90 after I quit...
To answer your question OP, you can run and be a smoker. But in my experience, your lungs will burn like a fiery hell is ignited in them. It's not pleasant. That's one of the reasons I quit.6 -
To answer your question, yes, it is possible to smoke and run if that's what you want to do. Quitting would be ideal and may help with the running a bit, but if you aren't running competitively for a title and are not ready to quit yet there is no reason you can't do both.0
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Some really useful, helpful advice here, but as always some blunt and deliberately rude responses.
No, smoking isn't the healthiest habit but it's one of the most addictive and any positive health change is good. Well done for wanting to make a change and all the best to you in having a lifestyle filled with exercise.1 -
I'm 8 days into my last cigarette. I was smoking a pack a day. I'm also a runner. I can tell you hands down, that I'm so glad I quit! While you CAN smoke, you're going to be much better off if you quit NOW rather than try to quit later. It was hard for me to be serious about my fitness goals, and still smoke. I felt like a hypocrite.
Also, I just managed to fit into a pair of pants (WITHOUT the muffin top) that I've never been able to wear before, so it is possible to still lose weight, and quit. If you don't want to quit, don't. Because until you want to, you'll never be able to stick to it. I've made the decision to replace the smoking with running. And you know what? It's working 4 -
I started running before I quit smoking (I smoked for over 8 years). Quitting smoking, in and of itself, isn't going to make you gain weight. You just have to make sure to keep an eye on your calorie intake and keep exercising rather than reaching for a pack of cigarettes. I quit about a year and a half ago after a few months of starting to get healthier, and still managed to keep losing weight as a result of lifting weights and running.
Not trying to be rude, but it sounds like you aren't really ready to quit. When you really want to quit, you make it happen and deal with any side effects (weight gain, moodiness, etc). It's ok; I've known some fit people who smoked. It's a bad habit, it's addictive, it's hard to put down for good. But if you are serious, don't be afraid to get help doing it.
Here are a few tips that helped me finally kick the habit: I was living with my parents, and I put up an old-school calendar in the dining room and marked daily, for everyone to see, each day that I didn't smoke. That accountability really helped. Download the Smoke Free app. The "last cigarette" timer really helped me. I don't check it daily anymore, but it's still a motivation when I feel a craving unexpectedly (Well, I can't smoke a cigarette now; my timer's at over a year and I don't want to have to reset it). I also used nicotine patches. They helped with the physical withdrawal symptoms so that I could mentally focus on breaking the habits of smoking (the cigarette with coffee, while driving, etc).
I hope that some of these words help.4 -
Until 3 days a go I had been exercising 5 days a week for 6 months whilst being a smoker. I'm not going to say "You can do both - Go for it!" because there is no way of being a healthy smoker... but I'm also not far enough in to quitting to start preaching to you about how amazing it is to stop.
At the end of the day (excuse my language here...!) quitting is *kitten* hard. I've tried and failed so many times. I've found that exercising whilst smoking gave me the boost to quit - I'm sure the same thing will happen to you! No matter what you decide, good luck!I'll add you as a friend because I'm going to be giving updates on my quitting progress xx 2 -
Okay it corrected my swear to *kitten* which is pretty cool.
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I started running before I quit smoking (I smoked for over 8 years). Quitting smoking, in and of itself, isn't going to make you gain weight. You just have to make sure to keep an eye on your calorie intake and keep exercising rather than reaching for a pack of cigarettes. I quit about a year and a half ago after a few months of starting to get healthier, and still managed to keep losing weight as a result of lifting weights and running.
Not trying to be rude, but it sounds like you aren't really ready to quit. When you really want to quit, you make it happen and deal with any side effects (weight gain, moodiness, etc). It's ok; I've known some fit people who smoked. It's a bad habit, it's addictive, it's hard to put down for good. But if you are serious, don't be afraid to get help doing it.
Here are a few tips that helped me finally kick the habit: I was living with my parents, and I put up an old-school calendar in the dining room and marked daily, for everyone to see, each day that I didn't smoke. That accountability really helped. Download the Smoke Free app. The "last cigarette" timer really helped me. I don't check it daily anymore, but it's still a motivation when I feel a craving unexpectedly (Well, I can't smoke a cigarette now; my timer's at over a year and I don't want to have to reset it). I also used nicotine patches. They helped with the physical withdrawal symptoms so that I could mentally focus on breaking the habits of smoking (the cigarette with coffee, while driving, etc).
I hope that some of these words help.
That's not being rude, that's a fact. You are being real. You can't scare/preach/advise a smoker into quitting any more than you can scare/preach/advise an obese person into losing weight. If they're ever ready to do it they will take the initiative themselves. Trust me, smokers are not ignorant of the potential health repercussions and that it's not the best habit in the world, and I feel some of the past smokers lose touch with what it was like to be a content smoker. I know a couple in real life that are outright vitriolic about it. I only quit when I was ready and it wasn't because of the almost passive aggressive nearly condescending advice, it was because it was no longer worth it to me. In fact it's more annoying to smokers than helpful and is often ignored with an inner "yeah, yeah, heard it a thousand times get it all out and be done with it so we can move on to a different topic".2 -
I would quit...
After I quit, exercising and life in general became easier.
However, don't let people bully you into it. Yes, smoking can cause lung cancer. I watched my 59 year old daddy waste away to nothing in four months time when the day before his diagnosis, he was out-fishing me on the creek bank. At 59, he could outperform most 25 year olds, but the cancer got him. I'm a little biased when it comes to cancer though. Only about 1 in 10 smokers actually develop lung cancer, but smoking can make you more cancer-prone in other areas of your body. For me, it was my cervix. The main risk you run by smoking is developing COPD which cannot be reversed only slowed down. If this happens, then you very well might risk being the 60 year old grandparent lugging around an oxygen tank.
Everyone has their vice. You can definitely exercise as a smoker. It just might be more difficult.
Just do whatever you want. Only you can make the decision to quit or not. My only solid advice for you is to get yearly CT scans done once you hit 35 or 40.2 -
amusedmonkey wrote: »I started running before I quit smoking (I smoked for over 8 years). Quitting smoking, in and of itself, isn't going to make you gain weight. You just have to make sure to keep an eye on your calorie intake and keep exercising rather than reaching for a pack of cigarettes. I quit about a year and a half ago after a few months of starting to get healthier, and still managed to keep losing weight as a result of lifting weights and running.
Not trying to be rude, but it sounds like you aren't really ready to quit. When you really want to quit, you make it happen and deal with any side effects (weight gain, moodiness, etc). It's ok; I've known some fit people who smoked. It's a bad habit, it's addictive, it's hard to put down for good. But if you are serious, don't be afraid to get help doing it.
Here are a few tips that helped me finally kick the habit: I was living with my parents, and I put up an old-school calendar in the dining room and marked daily, for everyone to see, each day that I didn't smoke. That accountability really helped. Download the Smoke Free app. The "last cigarette" timer really helped me. I don't check it daily anymore, but it's still a motivation when I feel a craving unexpectedly (Well, I can't smoke a cigarette now; my timer's at over a year and I don't want to have to reset it). I also used nicotine patches. They helped with the physical withdrawal symptoms so that I could mentally focus on breaking the habits of smoking (the cigarette with coffee, while driving, etc).
I hope that some of these words help.
That's not being rude, that's a fact. You are being real. You can't scare/preach/advise a smoker into quitting any more than you can scare/preach/advise an obese person into losing weight. If they're ever ready to do it they will take the initiative themselves. Trust me, smokers are not ignorant of the potential health repercussions and that it's not the best habit in the world, and I feel some of the past smokers lose touch with what it was like to be a content smoker. I know a couple in real life that are outright vitriolic about it. I only quit when I was ready and it wasn't because of the almost passive aggressive nearly condescending advice, it was because it was no longer worth it to me. In fact it's more annoying to smokers than helpful and is often ignored with an inner "yeah, yeah, heard it a thousand times get it all out and be done with it so we can move on to a different topic".
haha! That last line... Brought back memories of a stranger who told me to quit one time. Almost verbatim what I told him. I've had some people get upset with an opinion or two I've shared here, so I try to make ensure that I make it clear that I'm only trying to be helpful. I know I tried to quit a fail several times before I finally kicked the habit. For a long time, while smoking and starting to quit, I had the mantra "Smoking sucks, but so does quitting." It's a hard thing; I don't blame or shame smokers. Their life, their choice. They will quit when the time is right for them, and hopefully they do before it's too late.1 -
NARCISSISTIC_PUP wrote: »LazyButHealthy wrote: »NARCISSISTIC_PUP wrote: »LazyButHealthy wrote: »NARCISSISTIC_PUP wrote: »I smoke and am healthy
Oxymoron.
Not a heavy smoker. Healthy balanced diet. Regular exercise. Don't drink, don't take any meds. Regular health checks through work, checking numerous health markers including bloods, and FEV1/FVC
My health is just fine
Oh, I believe it. My partner is a heavy smoker with a far greater lung capacity than me, and is in average, fine health.
But that doesn't equate healthy. Just means it hasn't caught up with you yet.
I'm in good health as per the regular checks i have
You are one person out of millions. It is unwise to believe that just because your numbers at your check ups show as healthy, that this is generally true for most smokers. Not only that, but I don't know a single physician out there that would say "Yep, your numbers are great, keep on smoking!" Quitting is hard, REALLY hard, and it sounds like you enjoy smoking, which is your choice. However, telling someone that your numbers on paper look good, so they are fine to continue smoking is not good. You have been lucky to not have a lowered immune system becusause of smoking. This doesn't mean it will be the same for everyone. I wa on the opposite end of that. My numbers showed fine one day, then 2 weeks later my right lung collapsed. It was a huge wake up call.5
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