Fit Smokers?

I don't know if an answer can be had for those that do smoke. If they smoke, is there a way to tell the difference since there are not periods of non-smoking? Does that make sense? It's like there isn't a way to compare.

This is what I was thinking.

OK DON'T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER EVERY ONE IS NOT PERFECT I am a SMOKER and i am not going be SHAME ABOUT THIS IS HONEST TALKING RIGHT HERE I HAVE BEEN SMOKING SINCE I WAS 15 IN THE SCHOOL DAYS AND I AM 28 AND STILL SMOKING I DID UP WHEN I WAS CARRYING MY BOTH CHILDREN BUT THEN STARTED AGAIN I REASON I SMOKE IS CAUSE OF STRESS SOME PEOPLE GO THOUGH OUT LOT IN THERE PAST WELL I DON'T KNOW ABOUT OTHERS BUT I HAVE BEEN TO HELL AND BACK I LOOK AT A SMOKE AS A FRIEND AND I LET IT OUT ONCE I AM DONE I SMOKE A PACK A DAY AND I STILL AM ABLE TO MAKE IT THOUGH THE DAY WITHOUT NOT ME RACKED SMOKING IS UP TO WHO WANT TO SMOKE THEY SHOULD NOT JUDGE OTHER ITS THEIR LIFE IF THEY WANNA THEN SMOKE IF NOT THEN DONT I AM GOING TO BE HONEST HERE NOW EVERY MORNING BEFORE I GO TO THE GYM I HAVE A SMOKE I WORK OUT FOR LIKE 1 HOUR AND HALF AND I AM OK I LOOK IT AS A COMFIT AND THEN I COME AFTER THE GYM I HAVE ANOTHER BUT YES I WOULD LOVE TO GIVE UP WHEN I AM READY AND NOT WHEN SOMEONE GIVES ME **** ABOUT IT I AM FIT IN A WAY I CAN CANDLE IT I WOULD SAY DON'T JUDGE OTHERS LOOK AT YOUR SELF BEFORE YOU DO

I BETTER I AM GOING TO GET A OF BAD COMMENTS ABOUT THIS

When I was in my late 20s and early 30s I used to do an incredible amount of cycling, which included time trials and a couple of triathlons. I ran a 10k in 41m19s. But I was quite a heavy smoker. Later in life, I gave up the exercise but not the cigarettes and my health suffered badly for it. I haven't smoked for a number of years and I can clearly tell that not smoking has a significant impact on the way I feel, which is obviously in a more positive way. It is a major regret I have in life to have been a smoker. If I could do 10ks in around 40 mins as a smoker, I certainly feel that doing them in 35mins would have been achieveable if I had never smoked.

I smoke about 10-20 cigs per week. Some days I don't smoke at all. Other days I smoke most of my allotment for the week. I did notice ill effects from smoking on my workouts when I smoked a pack a day and worked in a bar with tons of second-hand smoke. At that time I didn't see the benefits of quitting because I would still be smoking everyone else's cigs via their second-hand smoke.

Now I don't really notice much of anything. Even when I mention it to doctors, they tell me I probably should quit but often say "oh that's not so bad" and prioritize it below some of the other things they think I should do for my health. I also run, although I just started again. Like the other poster, I did C25K for a couple of weeks and quit when I realized I could already run most of it straight. If I ever got out of working in bars, I would quit. It's not legal to smoke inside now in my state, but I do keep smoking because I don't get any other breaks and it's the only way I can get away from customers for a minute and avoid committing homicide against a customer. I am not allowed to leave for any other reason except to use the restroom. So I smoke for a way to get away!

On the days I don't work, I don't smoke.

My partner smokes a fair bit, and never exercises. I have never smoked and exercise daily. When he decides to exercise with me (rare), he has way more energy and stamina. It's very possible to be fit and a smoker

My husband is former Army, and had a drill instructor that would chain smoke, including while on 10 mile runs. I suppose it's possible to condition yourself to be fit and be a smoker, but that doesn't make it healthy.

My husband is former Army, and had a drill instructor that would chain smoke, including while on 10 mile runs. I suppose it's possible to condition yourself to be fit and be a smoker, but that doesn't make it healthy.

I don't know of any smoker who has ever claimed that it is a healthy habit. I am fully aware of the health problems caused by smoking, which is why I have worked as hard as I have to decrease my dependence on it and then quit. None of us who smoke think we are doing a good thing for our body--the question was by the original poster whether you can be "fit" and still smoke. The answer is YES. However, I can be a LOT more fit by quitting smoking while continuing my fitness routine. So that's what I'm working on.

I smoked for 10 years, and during those 10 years I pushed through gym classes and countless workouts. Then when I quit smoking for 2 months I didn't really notice any difference in my workouts, but when I started smoking again I was breathless within 10 minutes (I'm a pack a day smoker keep in mind) so I quit the exercise instead of the cigarettes lol. A year later I decided to quit smoking again, this was 2 months ago. After 1 month of eating a ton I realized I gained 15 lbs in a month so here I am working out again lol.

If you aren't experiencing any shortness of breath or chest pain during exercise I would say that its very possible to be a fit smoker, being a fit smoker is much better then being a smoker who does no physical activity!

My father was a moderately successful college athlete and then rigorous weekend athlete, all while smoking. He quit around 30 years ago, when he was in his 50s. Six weeks ago, he had a lobe of his lung removed because of lung cancer, which probably was caused by smoking. He's still in the hospital and is struggling with breathing. It's not pretty.


(Non-self-righteous never smoker. Both my parents smoked and if we'd started they would have kicked our a$$es. I'm grateful because i wouldn't want to struggle with an addiction. Both my parents quit decades ago, but both are suffering from illnesses that probably were caused by the previous smoking. The only safe period for which to smoke is NEVER. In 30 years, it will be too late to do anything.)

My father was a moderately successful college athlete and then rigorous weekend athlete, all while smoking. He quit around 30 years ago, when he was in his 50s. Six weeks ago, he had a lobe of his lung removed because of lung cancer, which probably was caused by smoking. He's still in the hospital and is struggling with breathing. It's not pretty.

I'm very sorry to hear of what your father is going through. That must be very difficult for him... and for you.

Thank you. I appreciate it. Imagine every breath taken being a struggle. I thought that people who quit years ago were in the clear. Not true.

I'm not sure I'm fit yet although I am more so than ever before and a smoker. I smoke around 1/2 to a pack a day and try to workout everyday for 30min to an hour. I typically feel weak when pushing my limits especially when lifting but can out run and out lift my non-smoker gym buddy. We joined the gym at the same time at similar weights and I can now run 30 min, dead lift 150 lbs, where she walks and still has yet to attempt a dead lift. Does this make me more fit even though I smoke and she doesn't? I honestly think I just push harder.

Perhaps there is an extra barrier to being a fit person and a smoker but I have seen people finish a marathon and light up so yeah I believe those people are fit smokers.

I do wish to quit smoking but after multiple attempts must admitt I can't do it alone and I am saving up for Chantix or something to help me out due to insurance not covering those quit drugs.

As a smoker of 30+ years, I do agree that you can be fitter than alot of non-smokers, especially if you train more than them. I do, however, believe that over the years the smoking does catch up on you. I have returned to weight training after an absence of 15yrs, and find my chest / lungs burn like hell when seriously stressed on those last couple of reps. Something that never used to happen when I was younger. This may just be an age thing anyway ... but in my mind I'm convinced its the smokes. Of course I would prefer to be a non-smoker, but after so many attempts over the years, I've given up giving up! lol. So I will continue to smoke and pump (not at same time, you understand) and just have to work that bit harder to overcome the poison I'm inhaling. One day I will stub out my last ciggie ... who knows ... I might even still be alive afterwards! ;o)

I am a couple of years older than you and I can say it is the smokes. When I started back up running while still smoking it hurt and was nearly impossible. The discomfort went away quickly when I quit smoking.

I smoked on and off from 14 to 51. I quit a few times, several for a year or more, but always restarted. This time I quit using an ecig and was able to stop immediately and have stayed quit for over 2 years. You still get the nicotine without all the other bad stuff. Google "Volcano ecig" if interested.

I smoked for 33 years (was a pack a day smoker at least 20 of those years), and managed to BE fit for a long time. I smoked all through my military life and did five years of martial arts with being a smoker.
I quit a year ago and am working on getting fit again. When I was a younger smoker trying to stay fit, I had no issues. As I got older, it became more challenging in that I would get winded easier.
It is possible to do both, but not forever.

I enjoy a smoke now and then I don't worry to much only live a short life everyone has different goals do what it take to get to yours if you can fit smoking into it and still reach your goal then great then reach for another goal simple but bottom line is


You know smoking is stupid. You know you're gambling with cancer, stroke, and other health issues. But did you know you're also sabotaging your strength training?

"Smoking places carbon monoxide in your system, which prevents your muscles from getting as much oxygen to use for energy," says Scott Swartzwelder, Ph.D., a clinical professor of medical psychology at Duke University. "The less oxygen your muscles have to draw from, the less efficient they are at contracting, which can limit their capacity for work."

As for alcohol, it can cover your abs with a layer of lard and interfere with hormones that help build them. "Drinking alcohol on a regular basis can also keep your testosterone levels lower than usual and decrease muscle mass," says Swartzwelder.

Fix it: Quit smoking, and don't worry about becoming a cold-turkey butterball. "Getting in at least 30 minutes of exercise three or four times a week not only helps control body weight, but can also produce positive psychological effects that might diminish the need to smoke," says Swartzwelder. Drinking moderately (two drinks or less per day) won't harm testosterone levels and can actually improve your cardiovascular health, he says.

Sorry but a 'fit smoker' is an oxymoron! I know you don't want to hear it, but quitting is really the biggest, most important decision you can make for your health over and above healthy eating and exercising. You've made a step by trying to quit. Go the whole hog and kick the sickarette entirely to the kerb. I quit 6 months ago and I'd struggled for years quitting half heardely. A quit smoking forum like this one offers great support http://www.quitsmokingmessageboard.com/. It has no hold on me now. Not meaning to sound smug just some tough love, you've lost weight and look great you can do this!

So OP sends me this message

(... snip...)

Nice guy. Only trying to help. Can't edit my post now time has lapsed. Plus, last time I checked, the internet is a place where people ask for opinions and people give them. You can't dictate to people to edit their posts. Chill! Think you need a smoke!

I have reported your post. It is against the community guidelines to publicly post a private conversation.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/welcome/guidelines

Do you not realize your OP was against the rules? You can't specify who replies to your thread. #15 in the link you posted above.