over 40 crowd...do you still huff and puff after exercising?

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Replies

  • BruceHedtke
    BruceHedtke Posts: 358 Member
    I huff and puff and sweat. Copiously. All over the equipment and then I walk away without wiping it down. Bro strutting the whole time.

    As long as you're not wheezing and gasping for breath, you're probably alright. The huffing and puffing will get better as you get more fit and as you get more fit, the time it takes for you to regain your breath will decrease pretty dramatically.
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    I'm 42 and even though I'm losing weight I still have a bit to go. Does the huffing and puffing and not catching breath get easier while losing for you? Just curious. I want more energy.

    Oh yeah, it gets better. Just have to keep working it, and pushing gently against the limits.

    :drinker:
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    edited April 2015
    just turned 48

    when I was 47 and before I started hell yes .. huffed and puffed, felt like I was dying, couldn't do it .. asthma and breathing issues leading to panic attacks

    now, 11 months later (52lbs down) .. nope .. I have to work hard to get out of breath and I do ... 3 sessions of gym workouts, 1 with a PT, lots of walking

    do it .. if couch potato me can, you can

    PS no asthma meds / no panic attacks - I'm going kicking and screaming into my next decade
  • rocknlotsofrolls
    rocknlotsofrolls Posts: 418 Member
    edited April 2015
    great inspiration guys. Not only did my question get answered, but now I'm motivated more than ever. Have a great Friday!
  • jazzine1
    jazzine1 Posts: 280 Member
    I use to huff and puff walking up the 30 steps to my daughters daycare. Since losing some weight and being more active I can now even run up the flight of stairs without losing my breath.
  • kami3006
    kami3006 Posts: 4,979 Member
    I'm 40, and as so many others said, it gets better. Now my goal is to get myself huffing and puffing.
  • mwyvr
    mwyvr Posts: 1,883 Member
    edited April 2015
    I'm 42 and even though I'm losing weight I still have a bit to go. Does the huffing and puffing and not catching breath get easier while losing for you? Just curious. I want more energy.

    In theory we could remain couch potatoes and lose weight simply by limiting intake. That wouldn't improve fitness, wouldn't improve your lung function, wouldn't strengthen your heart (a muscle) although it would tax it less, and would make you lighter.

    Provided you are doing something to improve your cardiopulmonary function, absolutely you will find improvements over time. But it won't improve unless you are doing the work.

    I'm assuming you are doing the work (edit, just saw the Zumba addition to the thread), and that you don't have other health issues, so just stick with it, things will get better. IF you really aren't making cardiopulmonary fitness progress after many weeks of effort, perhaps you should seek a medical opinion.

    IF it's more a matter of slow but apparent progress, you may not be challenging yourself enough.
    Try to push yourself just a little harder from time to time and definitely raise the bar as you do make progress. That's important.

    Don't stop. It will get better. It will.
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    I'm 42 and even though I'm losing weight I still have a bit to go. Does the huffing and puffing and not catching breath get easier while losing for you? Just curious. I want more energy.

    Yes, exercise/activity has gotten much easier. Yes, I have more energy.
  • Julz519
    Julz519 Posts: 22 Member
    edited April 2015
    Camo_xxx wrote: »
    [
    Can I have your permission to still laugh at them because they are half my age and huff and puff climbing 2 flights of stairs to get to the bro room ?


    Sure, it's ok... I sorta do the same thing. I don't laugh out loud or actually say anything but when I see someone lifting weights that clearly should be able to put up more than me but aren't... In my head I'm saying 'put some weight on that' :smile:
  • azulvioleta6
    azulvioleta6 Posts: 4,195 Member
    I don't remember ever huffing and puffing with normal activity, even when I weighed 300 pounds. I wonder how much of this is just a matter of lung capacity. I have huge lungs, I'm a swimmer...breathing has always been the easy part for me.

    I certainly do not breathe hard now--I can run up a flight of stairs without getting the slightest bit winded.

    I do, however, sweat like a pig.
  • kami3006
    kami3006 Posts: 4,979 Member
    I do, however, sweat like a pig.

    My family calls this our high efficiency cooling system. As I type this I'm dripping all over my keyboard.
  • CharlieJuliette
    CharlieJuliette Posts: 459 Member
    It definitely gets easier! I'm 43 and whilst I feel my age after a long day in the office, or when the kids are being hard work, when I'm exercising I have the energy of a 20-something!
  • azulvioleta6
    azulvioleta6 Posts: 4,195 Member
    kami3006 wrote: »
    I do, however, sweat like a pig.

    My family calls this our high efficiency cooling system. As I type this I'm dripping all over my keyboard.

    Yep! It seems to be genetic too--everyone in my father's family sweats buckets.
  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,149 Member
    Depends on how steep the hill is and if I'm being chased.
  • shergettingfit
    shergettingfit Posts: 16 Member
    Lol.... Glad I saw this thread cause I was wondering the same thing...I am 42 also..lol... I need to learn to breathe better when running....
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    46 and nope. My legs start shaking after a 35-40 min bike ride though.
  • blueeyedjman
    blueeyedjman Posts: 30 Member
    41 and loving my workouts... Just started again 2 weeks ago and already down 14 lbs. This app is awesome!! Controlled breathing is key for me. Breathing through the nose... deep breaths ;-)
  • rocknlotsofrolls
    rocknlotsofrolls Posts: 418 Member
    41 and loving my workouts... Just started again 2 weeks ago and already down 14 lbs. This app is awesome!! Controlled breathing is key for me. Breathing through the nose... deep breaths ;-)

    I love my workouts, too. I have Zumba on Wii and after 20 minutes I'm drenched in sweat and I feel a lot better for having got off my lazy butt and danced.
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