I replaced cigarettes with vaping, but that wasn't enough. It took me about 6 months to wean myself off of my 3 PAD habit, but I was also obese and developed health issues from 40+ years of smoking.
I am 5'8" tall, 58 years old, and weighed 225+ (probably closer to 230) lbs. a little over a year ago. A couple years before that I developed diverticulitis and was hospitalized several times for it over almost a 2 year period. It got so bad I had to have surgery to remove an 8 inch section of my colon. During the pre-screening for the surgery, they uncovered other issues. They told me I had COPD, and a small part of the bottom of my heart was slightly enlarged and that I could have had a mini heart attack at some point. I also have blood clot issues and am on blood thinners for that.
They told me I had to quit smoking, exercise, and lose weight or else it would not be good for me. They all recommended walking for exercise, and most of the doctors recommended electronic cigarettes to quit smoking.
So I started walking 1 mile at a slow pace (about 3 mph). I felt like I was going to die and had to lay down for an hour each time I did it. Heart pounding, lungs gasping, feet/ankles/shins/knees/hips/back killing me, sweating profusely, and asking my wife to "please shoot me in the head". I kept doing it. 2, 3, sometimes 4 times a day until it started feeling better. I could go faster and further as the months went on.
Currently, I have not smoked in about 4 months now, have lost over 55 lbs., and can power walk at a 4.3 mph pace for about 10 miles with no problem. I recently had a checkup with my doctor that included every blood test that a person can get, and he said that all my blood work is totally normal now, and my resting heart rate has gone from the 80's to the 60's which means my fitness level has improved significantly.
He called me "his success story".
Here is a before and after picture...
I think being healthy is more than just quitting smoking. I think its a whole lifestyle change.
I am 5'8" tall, 58 years old, and weighed 225+ (probably closer to 230) lbs. a little over a year ago. A couple years before that I developed diverticulitis and was hospitalized several times for it over almost a 2 year period. It got so bad I had to have surgery to remove an 8 inch section of my colon. During the pre-screening for the surgery, they uncovered other issues. They told me I had COPD, and a small part of the bottom of my heart was slightly enlarged and that I could have had a mini heart attack at some point. I also have blood clot issues and am on blood thinners for that.
They told me I had to quit smoking, exercise, and lose weight or else it would not be good for me. They all recommended walking for exercise, and most of the doctors recommended electronic cigarettes to quit smoking.
So I started walking 1 mile at a slow pace (about 3 mph). I felt like I was going to die and had to lay down for an hour each time I did it. Heart pounding, lungs gasping, feet/ankles/shins/knees/hips/back killing me, sweating profusely, and asking my wife to "please shoot me in the head". I kept doing it. 2, 3, sometimes 4 times a day until it started feeling better. I could go faster and further as the months went on.
Currently, I have not smoked in about 4 months now, have lost over 55 lbs., and can power walk at a 4.3 mph pace for about 10 miles with no problem. I recently had a checkup with my doctor that included every blood test that a person can get, and he said that all my blood work is totally normal now, and my resting heart rate has gone from the 80's to the 60's which means my fitness level has improved significantly.
He called me "his success story".
Here is a before and after picture...
I think being healthy is more than just quitting smoking. I think its a whole lifestyle change.
