Cigarettes and Cardio?

Options
amandamaedchen
amandamaedchen Posts: 38
in Fitness and Exercise
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.
«1345678

Replies

  • joecollins9385
    joecollins9385 Posts: 355 Member
    Options
    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
    fallintomyworld Posts: 45 Member
    Options
    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
    amandamaedchen Posts: 38
    Options
    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
    beachlover317 Posts: 2,848 Member
    Options
    didn't realize you wanted to get tips on cardio and continuing to smoke......backs out slowly.
  • amandamaedchen
    amandamaedchen Posts: 38
    Options
    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
    erinlea75 Posts: 47 Member
    Options
    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
    kelleygi Posts: 650 Member
    Options
    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!!!! :tongue:
  • amandamaedchen
    amandamaedchen Posts: 38
    Options
    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
    LyssaJ1 Posts: 240 Member
    Options
    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
    tuffytuffy1 Posts: 920 Member
    Options
    I actually ran a half marathon while a smoker. It never affected me, for some reason.
  • cjc166
    cjc166 Posts: 222
    Options
    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
    kylejh Posts: 221 Member
    Options
    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
    LyssaJ1 Posts: 240 Member
    Options
    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!!!! :tongue:

    LOL...awesome! :laugh:
  • amandamaedchen
    amandamaedchen Posts: 38
    Options
    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!!!! :tongue:

    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
    joecollins9385 Posts: 355 Member
    Options
    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
    amandamaedchen Posts: 38
    Options
    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
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    Options
    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
    Espressocycle Posts: 2,245 Member
    Options
    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
    nickmast78 Posts: 65
    Options
    I switched to a V2 electronic cigarette. Still get my nicotine and no harmful effects on the lungs. Also no smell!
  • JennaM222
    JennaM222 Posts: 1,996 Member
    Options
    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

Categories