Any Ex-Smokers Exercising?

[minimeatball]

Hey y'all. Have any of you ex-smokers/current vapers started exercising? I'm wondering how quickly lung capacity returns and, more importantly, if vaping has any ill effect on high-intensity cardio like running.

I smoked for 7 years and have been cigarette free/vape addicted for a week and a half. I've since tried running but am having a lot of lung pain, shortness of breath, and coughing. Of course this must be in large part due to the state in which cigarettes left my lungs, but I'd love to know what degree of exercise vaping allows.

 

[Kovertkow]

I noticed after a few weeks of riding my bike around and walking a good amount the lung pain went away. Have patience it will come back in time good luck!

 

[minimeatball]

Have you found vaping to decrease or impair your lung function?

 

[LDS714]

40 years on and off smoking, more on than off.

Since I quit the analogs altogether and started vaping I'm down to 8 minute miles for the first time in decades.

Cardio is easier, and strength training is easier as far as the breathing.

Jury is still out on lactic acid buildup...

 

[Anthony W]

Cardio is easier for sure !

 

[ConradM]

I've gone from working out 2 days a week to 4 days a week.

 

[Mugz N Stuff]

I looooved smoking! I was a pack a day smoker for 15 years and every morning I take the dog for a walk and a smoke. There is a small hill and we would jog up it and I would almost die once I reached the top. I have been analog free for 13 days and did the hill today and was still out of breath but no were near what I was 2 weeks ago. Suprisigly the improvement after 2 weeks from 15 years of abuse.

 

[Giraut]

I haven't started exercising in the sense that I've never stopped: I'm a touring cyclist and I've been riding between 6,000 and 10,000 miles per year for the past 25 years, whether I'm a smoker or I happen to have quit at any given time (yes, cycling and smoking are comptible, although it's not very easy, and it's quite a dumb thing to do )

What I can tell you is, when I quit smoking, my average speed goes up 2 mph and my top speed 3 mph. This has also happened since I've started vaping, so I know my lungs have cleared again.

I think your symptoms are your own lungs in the process of clearing up too, and reconfiguring themselves for increased oxygen intake, as well as your ribcage and diaphragm working harder than they're used to. You're probably also experience classic tobacco withdrawal symptoms on top of it. Keep at it, it'll get better. But if you're worried, don't hesitate to go see your doc for advice.

 

[GreatestUnKnown]

I smoked for 15 years, 5 of those years I was in the Marine Corps. but more recently (last three years) I have been weight lifting regularly. I always thought it was funny that part of my workout regiment was to have a cigarette before and after working out. In highschool I was fairly proficient at running and even enjoyed it, now after 10 years of mileage I still enjoy running but my knees and back do not. That being said I have seen a drastic improvement in stamina and lung capacity but have not seen any increase (or decrease) in weight lifting performance. The largest sign that vaping has improved my lungs over smoking are that I no longer feel like my chest is on fire when sprinting and after a good 5 mile run I no longer hack up discolored phlegm.

Add on, make sure to increase your water intake. increasing your physical activity level along with your body detoxing from smoking and the use of humectants can lead to dehydration.

 

[Chimney34]

I looooved smoking! I was a pack a day smoker for 15 years and every morning I take the dog for a walk and a smoke. There is a small hill and we would jog up it and I would almost die once I reached the top. I have been analog free for 13 days and did the hill today and was still out of breath but no were near what I was 2 weeks ago. Suprisigly the improvement after 2 weeks from 15 years of abuse.

This is what happened to me as well. A couple of weeks better I was walking uphill & had no problems breathing. A couple of months in I was walking the dog & I think he wasn't used to us walking that long. Lol! Before I knew it he took off running once he realized we were heading home & I took off running with him. I was amazed that I was breathing with no problems when we got to the door. I can see a definite improvement in my lung capacity. Give it time & I think you will too!

 

[minimeatball]

Sounds promising! It's funny, my brain is so used to associating smoking with feeling like crap, I still get surprised when I sit there and chain-vape then get up and feel perfectly fine.

 

[minimeatball]

I looooved smoking! I was a pack a day smoker for 15 years and every morning I take the dog for a walk and a smoke. There is a small hill and we would jog up it and I would almost die once I reached the top. I have been analog free for 13 days and did the hill today and was still out of breath but no were near what I was 2 weeks ago. Suprisigly the improvement after 2 weeks from 15 years of abuse.

I'm with you there. I was a cigarette lover. I remember when I started saying, "I feel like I've been a smoker my whole life it just took me awhile to figure it out"

 

[Jeep11]

This is some nice feedback. Amazing how quickly you can notice an improvement after years of abuse.

 

[Razorback]

Welcome to the forum. I started exercising and doing some weightlifting. I have found it much easier, and once I got into a good routine, I was running a 5k. CRAZY.... Remember, if you didn't work out when you smoked, that it still wont be easy, but you can do it, and no longer have to worry about the lungs.

 

[Completely Average]

I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt, and with quite a bit of authority, that switching from smoking to vaping makes HUGE changes in your athletic ability.

I don't "exercise" like normal people, I tend to be more extreme. Rock climbing, mountaineering, white water rafting, that sort of thing. And let me tell you, if you want a TRUE test of how much switching to vaping increases your athleticism, try hiking around at 12,000+ feet with a 40lb backpack, camera tripod, and camera bag on your back for 12 miles. This last trip even my 12 year old daughter who has never smoked was having trouble keeping up with me.

And it's a LOT easier to vape than to carry fragile cigarettes when you're doing certain activities, like this....

(That's me with the GoPro on my head)

 

[Miata GT]

If you consider using my vape arm exercising, then yes!

 

[spewny]

It makes a huge difference honestly, but like everyone else said, it is more about not getting winded than anything else. I'm just now starting to get back into it, but I can shoot up 3-4 flights of stairs now without feeling like I am gonna collapse. Sames goes for basic strength training (pushups and smaller weights) where I don't get the chest tightness like I used to. Can't believe how much easier it is now

 

[Youngstown]

It makes a huge difference honestly, but like everyone else said, it is more about not getting winded than anything else. I'm just now starting to get back into it, but I can shoot up 3-4 flights of stairs now without feeling like I am gonna collapse. Sames goes for basic strength training (pushups and smaller weights) where I don't get the chest tightness like I used to. Can't believe how much easier it is now

I totally agree. I've only been smoke free for about 10 days but I already notice a difference. Especially, like you say, I don't feel the tightness in my chest when doing push-ups/sit-ups. Also I've noticed that I can breath deeply much more easily. It's amazing what just a few days w/o analogs will do!