Cigarettes and Cardio?

amandamaedchen

Just wondering if there are any other exercising smokers out there.
I have been a smoker since I was 16. I don't notice it affecting me as much when I run--more so when swimming. Obviously I recognize that smoking is not a healthy activity and will impair your cardio abilities. I am not ready to quit right now, though.
My question is, are there any current smokers who do regular cardio? Any former smokers who quit when they started exercising?

I'm looking to hear your personal experience, not create an anti-smoking controversy.

joecollins9385

im a smoker trying to quit. havent had a cig since monday afternoon. i do notice it being easier to breathe when i am playing racquetball if i dont smoke as much throughout the day. i also run better when i dont smoke. i have my doubts about making it through the weekend smoke free though lol

fallintomyworld

I still smoke and also not ready to kick the wonderful habits. lol. i try not to smoke atleast a half hour before my workouts. it helps me not feel so tried and winded. i notice that when i would smoke right before the workout i tended not to have the breath/energy to finish. i think also long as you are being healthly one bad habit is not to bad. and then eventually you will be ready to quit. (atleast that is what i hope)

amandamaedchen

Congrats, Joe, on going since Monday without smoking. I tried to quit earlier this year and made it a week before I relapsed. Unfortunately it is my favorite pasttime.

beachlover317

didn't realize you wanted to get tips on cardio and continuing to smoke......backs out slowly.

amandamaedchen

I still smoke and also not ready to kick the wonderful habits. lol. i try not to smoke atleast a half hour before my workouts. it helps me not feel so tried and winded. i notice that when i would smoke right before the workout i tended not to have the breath/energy to finish. i think also long as you are being healthly one bad habit is not to bad. and then eventually you will be ready to quit. (atleast that is what i hope)

I try to do the same thing. I noticed when I smoked in the car on the way to the gym (I did laugh at myself when this happened) that my workouts were not as intense because I had a hard time breathing. It seems like if you wait more than half an hour though, like you said, it doesn't affect you as much. I'm glad I'm not alone.

erinlea75

I too am currently smoking. Which is just stupid since I was able to quit so easily for each pregnancy. But that's a whole other issue.

I don't smoke in the mornings before I go to the gym. I also don't smoke at least 30-60 minutes before I go for a fast walk/jog. It was hard on my lungs in the beginning. But it's gotten easier. I do circuit training at the gym and don't have any problems. Right now I can only run 1-2 minutes at a time. But I just started doing that a week ago, so I know it will take time to build up my time.

I'm actually hoping that doing more running will encourage me to quit. Again.

kelleygi

I agree with the above. I smoke and have no plans to quit right now. But I don't smoke at least 45minutes to an hour before I exercise because I can CERTAINLY tell a difference! Sometimes when my little group goes for a walk or run I will smoke one while walking back to our place of work. And yes, I get ALOT of odd looks with my work out gear, wrist weights and cig hanging out of my mouth!! Or when I find myself bragging about leading a fitness group with a beer in one hand and a cig in the other........but hey!! I gave up crack and the porn industry! A girl's gotta hold onto SOMETHING!!!!

amandamaedchen

I quit on January 6th. Haven't had one since. I feel awesome. It took some doing to get to the point where I no longer was out of breath. But it's not a problem anymore. Make the decision. It's amazing how great you can feel, how much money you save, how much better your skin will be, how you can breathe and not cough, how much better your clothes, car and home smell, how great it is to eat a whole meal in a restaurant and not have to go out to smoke, how your life is not revolving around a cigarette. But that's just me. It's really a hard thing to do. Best of luck!

Congrats on quitting! I know it's tough--I've tried and failed a couple times. It's just a habit I'm really not ready to give up right now, though. It's one of the few things that relaxes me. I have a very high-stress, type A personality. Granted, there are healthier ways of coping, but this is mine for right now. Your story is inspirational, though. I hope one day I can be at the point you're at.

LyssaJ1

Smoker here...started a year after I was in the military. I need to get my weight down before I quit, as I'm rather one-track on quitting anything/starting something.

Due to lower-back injuries, I'm only at slow-to-medium pace for walking, although we did pick up a Wii Fit Plus last night and it ought to make for an interesting weekend.

On the upside of exercise, I don't smoke when I hoof-it. It also helps to be around non-smokers, although they've learned to not give me much grief about it. My various doctors have also learned to not push the "you must quit now" issue as there are more important things at this time, like a better mental health status...that, and they don't post bail

tuffytuffy1

I actually ran a half marathon while a smoker. It never affected me, for some reason.

cjc166

When I was in the Army, it was very common to be a smoker and do lots of cardio. Soldiers would frequently smoke before and after doing the 2 mile run for the PT test, and I'll tell you that a smoker was just as likely to pass as a non-smoker.
After smoking a lot for about 10 years, it started to catch up with me. Chronic bronchitis, other respiratory illnesses.
Since I've quite, those conditions are no longer haunting me.

kylejh

Running is the only cardio activity I have trouble with, and given that my knees also don't like it, it's not a big deal. I use the stairmaster, the treadmill at incline 15 & 4 mph, and have no trouble with either. I also hike most weekends, and there are lots of hills. It took a few months before smoker's lungs were less of an issue, but I just kept at it. I'm going to quit in 3 weeks, so it'll just get better now.

LyssaJ1

I agree with the above. I smoke and have no plans to quit right now. But I don't smoke at least 45minutes to an hour before I exercise because I can CERTAINLY tell a difference! Sometimes when my little group goes for a walk or run I will smoke one while walking back to our place of work. And yes, I get ALOT of odd looks with my work out gear, wrist weights and cig hanging out of my mouth!! Or when I find myself bragging about leading a fitness group with a beer in one hand and a cig in the other........but hey!! I gave up crack and the porn industry! A girl's gotta hold onto SOMETHING!!!!

LOL...awesome! :laugh:

amandamaedchen

I agree with the above. I smoke and have no plans to quit right now. But I don't smoke at least 45minutes to an hour before I exercise because I can CERTAINLY tell a difference! Sometimes when my little group goes for a walk or run I will smoke one while walking back to our place of work. And yes, I get ALOT of odd looks with my work out gear, wrist weights and cig hanging out of my mouth!! Or when I find myself bragging about leading a fitness group with a beer in one hand and a cig in the other........but hey!! I gave up crack and the porn industry! A girl's gotta hold onto SOMETHING!!!!

Thanks for your story. It made me laugh because I smoke in the gym parking lot sometimes and it always elicits weird stares. Like you, I've worked on changing my life in other ways, so if cigarettes are really my only vice, I think that's ok for right now.

joecollins9385

Congrats, Joe, on going since Monday without smoking. I tried to quit earlier this year and made it a week before I relapsed. Unfortunately it is my favorite pasttime.

quitting is something that you wont be able to do until you are ready. i think you should do what makes you happy, if you want to smoke go for it. smoke one for me lol

amandamaedchen

My various doctors have also learned to not push the "you must quit now" issue as there are more important things at this time, like a better mental health status...that, and they don't post bail

My psychiatrist advised me not to quit right now, since we are working on the mental health aspect of my well-being. It's a tough balance but it's nice to feel like other people understand!

WendyTerry420

I smoke a pack a day and do cardio three nights a week. I am "inches" away from quitting. I've quit for up to a month on three separate occasions.

I have been able to go from "dying" from 30 seconds of jogging to up to ten full minutes of jogging.

Espressocycle

There was a study a while back showing that cardio actually helped mitigate the effects of smoking a little bit. So by all means, if you are going to smoke you should also do cardio. However, you might want to wait until you cool down and your heart rate slows for that after-workout cigarette.

nickmast78

I switched to a V2 electronic cigarette. Still get my nicotine and no harmful effects on the lungs. Also no smell!

JennaM222

I actually ran a half marathon while a smoker. It never affected me, for some reason.

same here.

I definately cut WAY down weeks before.

I DO notice while I am on one of my quitting spres, that I am able to run longer, my lungs feel stronger, obvi. Smoking sucks. ugh

joecollins9385

I smoke a pack a day and do cardio three nights a week. I am "inches" away from quitting. I've quit for up to a month on three separate occasions.

I have been able to go from "dying" from 30 seconds of jogging to up to ten full minutes of jogging.

keep working at it, i went through the same thing with jogging. now i can go 10 miles

joecollins9385

I switched to a V2 electronic cigarette. Still get my nicotine and no harmful effects on the lungs. Also no smell!

i tried the electronic cigs. could not stand them.

Karebear_68

I have smoked since I was 16 also. I know I should quit, but right now I just do not feel like I am ready. Anyways, I try not to smoke for 30 minutes before a workout. I have smoked then did my treadmill time and honestly I do not think it affected me but I try to not smoke before.

You can guess what my reward for getting a workout in is - yes- a cigarette. i know it is bad but I can truly say this is one addiction that has a firm grasp on me.

WendyTerry420

.......but hey!! I gave up crack and the porn industry! A girl's gotta hold onto SOMETHING!!!!

:laugh:

amandamaedchen

I switched to a V2 electronic cigarette. Still get my nicotine and no harmful effects on the lungs. Also no smell!

i tried the electronic cigs. could not stand them.

I agree. I like the theory behind e-cigarettes but I hated them. I also smoked more because I could smoke anywhere and couldn't tell how long a normal cigarette would last. I prefer my "real" cigarettes.

WendyTerry420

I smoke a pack a day and do cardio three nights a week. I am "inches" away from quitting. I've quit for up to a month on three separate occasions.

I have been able to go from "dying" from 30 seconds of jogging to up to ten full minutes of jogging.

keep working at it, i went through the same thing with jogging. now i can go 10 miles

Thanks for the encouragement, Joe! And good luck to you as well on quitting. My main problem is that my hubby isn't ready to quit. It is all in my head, I know, but if he lights one up, I feel like I need one too. I am 45 days into my journey, so I know that with time I will be ready to quit on my own, with or without him.

UsedToBeHusky

I just quit yesterday. To be fair, it's the third time I've started back since I decided I wanted a healthier lifestyle. I exercised when I smoked and when I wasn't smoking. Just as you said, some cardio exercises were easier than others when I was smoking. Nobody knows how tough it is to give it up. Do it when you are ready. Don't do it because you are pressured to. I'm praying I can make this change permanent this time.

Best of luck! :flowerforyou:

Lesa_Sass

I smoked for over 25 years. I could not run far at all with out being winded. To be honest, I could not even watch a tv show where a cop chased a perp full speed with out getting winded. I was able to walk about 3.5 miles an hour for around 3 miles.

I stopped with the Ecig last year. I, like you, had no desire to stop either but when I got that call from my dr that said your test came back positive for the beginning stages of emphysema, I got my behind to the mall and purchased one of those electronic cigarettes. It scared me to death because I was quite sure I was above getting some stupid disease cause I am awesome like that.

I quit in February and the following September I started training for a 5k. I could not believe that I got up to running 3 miles straight before a back injury sidelined me from running.

If at all possible, I highly suggest the ecig as it gives you the smoking sensation and the nicotine with out the smell, or other toxic chemicals that traditional cigarette's have. They are also way cheaper in the long run than traditional cigs.

For anyone interested in trying, I highly suggest this one because tastes and feels the most like a real cig.http://www.smokesation.com/electronic-cigarette-kit-v-go/

I know you said that you did not want any non smoking advice but there is no way I will cosign that.

da1128

Yes, I am one of those smoking sinners and I run ten miles per day. Oddly enough, I had some lung function and respiratory tests done recently and the results were excellent...my lung function is actually better than my doctor's and he has never touched a cig in his life. He said my lungs are pink and healthy and show no evidence of smoking, which is rather weird, and he insisted I must not inhale. In other words, I am wasting my money on cigs.

I do intend to quit though, because the price of cigs are so high. I just bought a new SUV and what I spend on cigs is easily a car payment. Might as well be smoking dollar bills.

No, I don't advocate smoking. I am just adding my input to this thread.

AlphamaleBAMF

I'm looking to hear your personal experience, not create an anti-smoking controversy.

I have successfully quit smoking for just over a year now. But I started using a HRM while I was still smoking and I noticed my pulse went up by about 15-20bpm for 20-30minutes after having a cigarette. Given that I smoked a pack of 30 a day or more it was an almost constant effect (I even woke up to smoke during the night sometimes).

When combined with my excessive caffeine and marijuana consumption and obesity I usually had a resting heart rate above 110bpm just from sitting there doing nothing.