Smoker who wants to exercise...

I've smoked for 20+ years and I work out. WHen I eat really bad, greasy and fried foods it makes breathing harder when I work out. When I eat healthy foods, I don't have a problem. I jog 2-3 miles every day (slowly) and walk a mile or so, plus I do Jillian Michael DVD's. In order for me to do this, I need to eat better. It gets better, but when I get lazy, the short breaths come back. Just start slow, and take it easy. I know smoking is horrible, but I figure it's pointless to quit until I'm ready. This is what works for me. Goodluck to you!

I too have been a smoker for 20 years and I do aerobics 5 times a week and dont have a problem. All the extra weight I was hauling around made me more short of breath than the smoking does. I will quit at some point just not ready yet. Good luck!!

I smoked for about 6 yrs and I've been quit for a little over a year!!! I did workout when I smoked but it was tough.....I pretty much focused on my diet rather than workouts....I would walk around but that was about it....As a former smoker I will say it.....Yes quitting is going to help you greatly but you won't be successful until you make up you mind that YOU are ready. You can't quit for others....That was something I had to realize......The first 6 months after quitting was still tough on breathing but it got a little better every day. You can do this!!! Good luck

I walk! I started slow... My goal is to have the endurance to jog eventually. I have seen others (with worse health issues) do it- so why can't I?

I smoke AND I have asthma- (and some nasty hip problems) - - not a good combo. First change I made was healthier food- I still do *some* processed junk, but on the days where I do a lot of processed or fatty food, I feel it. A few days in, I added the walking- I originally stuck with pretty even surfaces (no hills). Now, I have a regular walk I do on most days, which is about a mile and a half, with a bit of an incline part of the ways... when my hip isn't bothering me I can do about 3mph without lung trouble. Some days I can get a bit faster- and even jog a little (like 30 seconds, which may not sound like a lot, but when I do it, I feel like I've conquered the world)

Rule #1 - drink lots of water

Rule #2 - go slow at first - push yourself, but listen to your body- don't push too hard. There is that point where I just start to feel pressure in my lungs, or a bit of a burn/tingle - that is when I know to slow my pace for a couple of minutes. As you keep going, that stuff comes fewer and farther apart.

Rule #3 - should not have to exist - don't smoke right before or while you are walking

Of course the best advice I could give both of us - Quit smoking :laugh: I have smoked for 25 years, so it's not that simple- HOWEVER, since I started eating and acting healthier- I started smoking less without even trying.

Good luck to you! If I can do it, you most certainly can! :drinker:

I smoked in the Army and ran everyday. I smoked and did aerobics and smoked. I quit 4 years ago, because after all that time I got tired of being short of breath. I used welbutrin, I tried the patches and they made everything taste like metal and gave me nightmares. Take it slow and when your ready you will quit. Good luck.

Hello. I was a smoker for 30 years. Started when I was 14. I am 3 days into my last quit. I actually found MFP on a quitters blot. No I'm not telling you to quit:) That is a decision for you.
But to answer your question. Yes you definately can improve your endurance. I was never into running until the last 2 years. And I improved by adding time in 2 minute increments. When my breathing seemed difficult I conciously had to slow it down by taking bigger slower breaths and pushing until my time limit was up. I gradually improved enough to run for 20 to 30 minutes at a time.

I will add though...3 days in and I can feel it is easier to breathe all the time now. This is my step to improve:) Good luck and stick with it! The more healthy habits you create the better it is all around for you.

if you're not ready to quit smoking, you're not ready to take your health seriously and won't succeed. not being an *kitten*, just being honest. if you're serious about your health and well-being, quiting smoking should be number one on your list of things to do.

I have to agree 100% with this. My thought was if you aren't willing to quit, what is the point of trying to work out? The cigarettes are still polluting your body.... I would say quitting smoking should come first to give your lungs time to heal.

if you're not ready to quit smoking, you're not ready to take your health seriously and won't succeed. not being an *kitten*, just being honest. if you're serious about your health and well-being, quiting smoking should be number one on your list of things to do.

Kinda harsh. Everyone goes through things in different steps. I may smoke, but I also eat relatively healthy and exercise. That is more than I can say for many of my non-smoking friends, so really who is healthier?

That statement is incredibly rude and most of all, untrue. Most do go through stages when dealing with and conquering addictions. Does the heroin addict quit cold turkey? No. They go to methadone or suboxone. Does the rage addict stop being angry because he is scaring his wife and children? No, he goes to many sessions of therapy. And dealing with several addictions at one time is not easy, and its extremely rare that one would deal with a food addiction and nicotine addiction in one fell swoop. Did it take you one day of overeating to say to yourself, I am unhealthy and I should never do this again? NO. It's terribly rude to judge someone on a website that is supposed to be about support.

I say to the OP, good for you for getting up and getting active. Take it one day at a time, and you will be just fine.

if you're not ready to quit smoking, you're not ready to take your health seriously and won't succeed. not being an *kitten*, just being honest. if you're serious about your health and well-being, quiting smoking should be number one on your list of things to do.

I disagree. I've been a smoker and I'm now a non-smoker. While a smoker, I took my health seriously and made changes in my diet and exercise. I knew from past experience that if I tried to do too many things at once, I was going to fail in at least one area, maybe even in all areas. I started with the things that were, for me, the easiest to change. Nicotine addiction is a hard one to kick. I knew that I needed to have my diet under control before I tried to quit smoking. That is what has worked for me. When I was smoking, I never took my health less seriously. I knew there was a SERIOUS health risk that needed to be eliminated. It is up to the smoker to know when it's the time to make the change. I wish you much luck and success!