Out Of Puff!!

VickyClare75
VickyClare75 Posts: 63
edited December 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
I've bitten the bullet and have just done something which I have never done before ~ gone for a walk on my own (I suffer with social phobia/anxiety and have recently been diagnosed with body-dysmorphia) I moved in with my bf over a year ago, I now live in a rural area whereas before I lived in a town. Anyway, after just 8 minutes (mostly uphill at a moderate pace) I was really out of breath. The other 5 minutes weren't too bad as obviously it was mainly downhill.

I feel awful as I'm only 36 though I'm a smoker, which is no doubt the reason for my breathlessness. :grumble:

I have hidden my backy and have opened my Nicorette inhalator andI'm vowing to quit smoking! I know I really have to do this, I have quit for nearly 2 years before but the dreaded booze resulted in me being back on the ciggies. Now I don't drink, that won't be a problem anymore :happy:

My bf smokes too which will make things even harder but I want to do this!!

Wish me luck 'cus I'm definitely gonna need it lol

xx~ Vicky~xx

Replies

  • steven_goldilocks
    steven_goldilocks Posts: 46
    Firstly, good work on getting out and doing some movement. You walked 13 minutes more than you walked the day before, and that's great.

    You will find yourself out of breath. When I smoked I had lungs like a tiny baby with tuberculosis. Not fun. But just increase the distance you walk by a little bit every day, or every couple of days, and your lungs will expand. Like the rest of the human body they're designed to be optimally efficient for what your body is doing in order to conserve expenditure of energy. So, if you're not using them beyond the basic resting breathe-in/breathe-out they will become less effective because our bodies automatic systems see maintaining a higher level of efficiency than is required as a bad thing. Regular exercise, and regularly being out of breath, sends a message to your body that your lungs (and your heart and various other bits) should be developed because you need them to do something more than they're currently capable of. Over time you'll notice you're less breathless.

    In a lot of cases exercise is about nothing more than reprogramming the body. That's why muscles get bigger when you lift heavy things, and it's why your lung efficiency and heart power will improve as you do cardio.

    Unfortunately, it's also why when we stop exercising over time our bodies remove all the good work and return us to a sort of base couch potato state. So keep walking, increase a little at a time, and log it all so in a few weeks or months you can look back and see the improvement.

    And good luck with quitting smoking. It's a hard road, but it's worth doing. Getting rid of all those unnecessary chemicals will do wonders for your breathing.
  • Katmiller73
    Katmiller73 Posts: 99 Member
    Great Job! I can completely understand! I quit smoking 6 months ago. and walking 5 months ago. I keep track of my distance using my fitbit and log the time started, steps, and distance on my ipod so I can transfer it to mfp when I get back. If I;m on my elliptical it is so easy to stop when I get "tired", so I walk outside and have increased my distance from 1.5 miles to aprox 3 per day. sometimes 5 mi. With the stopping smoking I used an e-ciggarette for my nicotine fits and then after time just forgot that I had it. I was definitely sucking air the first month or so when I started walking but your lungs will get there.
  • VickyClare75
    VickyClare75 Posts: 63
    Thanks so much for the advice and info Steven. I've already succumbed to a *kitten* :explode: I s'pose I need to go to the pharmacy and get some patches. I'm trying not to beat myself up, I have a habit of saying "That's it, I'm gonna stop NOW!" without gearing myself up for it and being ready. I will do my best to cut them down, I feel a failure already and wish that I hadn't mentioned that I'm gonna quit today :ohwell:

    Anyway, I will make the effort to go out every day for a walk and do what you suggested (about doing a bit extra every time) And I WILL definitely set a quit date and see the lady at the pharmacy who deals with the smoking cessation clinic (I have spoken to her a couple of weeks ago)

    I must say that I think that you are amazing! You're working really hard and I know what it feels like to suffer from depression ~ it can be pure Hell. You are an inspiration and I hope that one day I will be able to walk for as long as you do.

    Take care and thanks again :smile:
  • VickyClare75
    VickyClare75 Posts: 63
    Hi Kat, thanks for your message. As you can see, I've already succumbed to a ciggie. I feel rotten but I will set a quit date.

    I used the E-Cigarette before and have it somewhere so I will need to dig that out and to really prepare myself for the quit.
    I feel soooo blummin' fed up but I'm trying not to be too harsh on myself (though I honestly feel like screaming) ... not much willpower obviously :sad: :laugh:

    Congrats on your quit and all the walking you do. So many people on here are inspirational.

    One way of the other I will get fit :smile:

    Take care
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