I quick smoking 10 months ago, started weight training this past October and started running in January (about 30 minutes, 6 days a week).  Serious answers would be appreciated.
120989
You need to check your blood pressure and choleterol levels,either one can lead to poor blood flow. Might try taking an aspirin a day and see if that helps.
352557
Your risk of several types of cancer are increased, and more so if you have a genetic predisposition to cancer causing cells. Besides that and, of course, the fact that it isn't legal for you to smoke, you are young and the damage you do to your body will reverse itself if you quit. Your are changing your body's ability to breathe, distribute oxygen to your brain and other organs, circulate blood properly and about thirty other things that your body does involuntarily to keep you alive. So, you need to ask yourself, why do you smoke? While at your age some people (also mostly your age) will form a certain opinion about what kind of person you are, once you hit about the twenty to twenty-two age group and older, most people think you just look weak and ignorant for not knowing what you're doing to your body and too lazy to help yourself (much in the same way most people view those who are morbidly obese). The fact that you're smoking such a small amout says to me that you don't need it, you just like it. I know. We can smell our own. When I quit I promised myself I would light up one or two whenever the mood struck me-this idea helped me quit cold turkey. I had one a couple of months later, a few a couple of months after that, another one about six months later, etc. The more time that passes the less I feel like I like it so the less I smoke. But the only reason I ever did smoke was because I liked it, the feel, the flavor, the smell even. If you can't pinpoint why you do it at all-then why do you do it at all?
64522
Since you are having coughs, it is advisable not to engage in cardiovascular exercises (running, swimming etc.). Instead, exercise at a low intensity. If you are training with weights now, please put aside any intention of working at a high intensity towards hypertrophy.\n\nHere's something more for you just in case I got it all wrong:\n recent study sponsored by the American College of Sports Medicine indicates that exercising moderately while you have a common cold doesn't affect the severity or duration of the symptoms. \nIt's a widely accepted notion that exercising and keeping in shape will reduce your risk of getting sick, but nothing has been previously documented to demonstrate whether working out while suffering from a cold would reduce or intensify the symptoms. \n\nThe common cold affects us all, with the average American getting sick as many as six times every year. But, will working out when you're not feeling well increase or decrease your ability to battle the illness and reduce symptoms? \n\nHeaded by Thomas G. Weidner, Ph.D. of Ball State University in Munice, Indiana, the study involved 50 moderately fit student volunteers, who were divided randomly into two groups: exercising and non-exercising. Each volunteer was injected with the cold germs and tracked for a 10-day period. \n\nThe subjects all kept a daily log of physical activity. The exercise group worked out either by running, biking or using a step machine for 40 minutes every day, at no more than 70 percent of their maximum capacity (measured by heart rate reserve). \n\nUpon completion of the study and after analysis of exercise data, symptom severity, and actual mucous weight measurements, there was shown to be no significant difference in symptom severity or duration between the exercise group and their inactive counterparts. \n\nThe study revealed that exercising at a moderate intensity level does not intensify cold symptoms or compromise the immune system. It seems that a moderate level of intensity is not enough to alter immune response. \n\nHowever, high intensity exercise, such as heavy weight lifting or high intensity aerobic training has been shown to have a negative impact on the immune system during a cold or any respiratory infection. \n\nSymptom-to-Exercise Guidelines: \n\nSymptoms: Runny nose, sneezing, scratchy throat only.\nSafe to exercise at low intensity. \n\nSymptoms: Fever, cough, sore muscles and vomiting.\nExercise not recommended, resume when cold is gone
363675
I stopped cold turkey in 1984 after 30 years smoking. I'm an asthma sufferer, and since I've stopped, and changed my anti-asthma medication on my GP's advice,  I have never felt better. I used to fight for breath all the time. As a matter of interest, it takes about 7 years for your body to fully recover from the effects of smoking!
314986
yeah, GOOD LUCK TO HIM... only drink a lot of water and do push ups because THC is stored in your fat and then if you do push ups, then you sweat it out. Always have a water bottle by you and it's gonna be all good.
312644
Hi Rani, \n I think your onto a whole new concept of exercise. I've got to believe that there are millions of people who smoke and don't get the exercise they truly need. While we're at it let's get all those other people who drink and do drugs. Just think about it for a second, we can have A Boston Marathon with runners who have in one hand a cigarette, in the other a cocktail to wash down that ecstasy. What a concept Rani, you da man.
607961
Matt's advice is very good. As a cross country runner and track runner myself, I usually run for 4 weeks before cross country season begins to get used to the distance. I train to peak at the right time (usually the state championship meet), which means to work slowly up to that day. You don't want to burn out before August. I would advise running 1-3 miles a day every other day throughout June and half of July (1 mile on monday, 2 miles on wednesday, 3 miles on friday, 1 mile on sunday, 1 mile on monday...etc.) This gets your muscles in better shape and your heart in better shape. Also, make sure your diet is good. Eat lean meat, fish, some carbs, and loads of fruits and vegetables. Since an 8k is a tiny bit less than 5 miles, you want to work up to 5 miles at the end of July and beginning of August. Depending on when your race is, try to run every day at the end of July and beginning of August. Those days should include some timed runs (ie. run for 45 minutes at a steady pace). If you take the same course each time for the same amount of time, you can see how much you improve! Make sure to get a couple of days a week where you run the actual 8k distance. Then, the week before the race, take it down a notch. Run maybe 3 miles a day. The day before the race, do a 20 or 30 minute LIGHT run. Then, stretch really really well. That's just to make sure your muscles know what you're doing the next day. The day of the race, go out feeling great and knowing you can do it!!!
336854
It wont affect you one way or another. I used to get lit and go to the gym with my trainer, and he said it doesnt really affect you either.. except maybe make you wannna eat twice as much from working out and getting the munchies. I found that I always worked out harder when I was lit tho
94813
Dont do it, i stopped in january after 40 years of smoking, the damage is done and god knows how much money has been spent.\nYou won't look cool, you will smell, you will lose your taste and thats only the start......\n\nKEEP AWAY
488330
cold turkey -- you haven't quit until all the nicotine is out of your system.\n\nIt really helps to take up jogging or swimming so your lungs are stressed and working hard.  YOu cannot keep smoking or go back to smoking and then do DAILY exercise like this.\n\nThat's how I quit after 20 years of smoking...
212282
You have to be really strict with your eating and exercise habits. Tons of cardio...at least AT LEAST 45 minutes per day, plus a few days a week of about 20 minutes worth of light strength training (gaining lean muscle mass raises your metabolism and helps you lose weight in the long run). Use 3-5lb weights to start. Put some motivational tunes on your iPod and get out there and run, girl.\nLots of water...cut back on soda, and limit your calorie intake to about 1600 per day. If you cut out carbs, you will only put the weight back on when you are done with your diet. Balance your meals. You will feel hungry at first, but stick with it. I did this 2 years ago and have not put the weight back on. And I have remained active. It was hard at first, but YOU CAN DO IT!!!!
419682
I have tried twice before and got 46 days the first time and 30 days the second time and used the nicotine gum to do it BUT the most important thing I did and forgot to keep doing therefore I started up again and that was to change people,places and things.\nIn the beginning I stayed away from people who smoked and stayed away from places where I was use to smoking  ie my favorite eating place.Drank water with my meals as I use to drink coffee with my meals and would smoke while drinking coffee before my meal came and after I had finished my meal.\nI avoided my usual smoking break time outside with other employees.\nI tend to be a realy high wired person so as I started out with my efforts to quit smoking I made up my mind to run in low gear and to quit putting pressure on myself and to quit letting others laziness and imperfections bother me and to take it all in stride.\nThe only thing I can figure I did wrong was I got too comfortable with my efforts of not smoking and in doing so I forgot to keep up the work of avoiding familar people,places and things that encouraged my desire to smoke.\nI didn't want to gain the weight that most people say you will do when you quit smoking since we tend to exchange one habit for another so I made sure that I had plenty of fresh fruits and veggies on hand.\nI also made sure that I had plenty of my favorite gum on hand to help me get through those tough moments when the nicotine gum did not seem appealing or when it was too soon to have another piece.\nMy family,friends,employer and fellow employees were very supportive in my efforts.\nMy clothes,my house ,my car started to smell so much and my mouth was losing that bottom of the ashtray taste during my efforts to quit and I intend to quit again. .  . and this time FOREVER!\nPeople will certainly climb your backside for smoking and will rag on you forever but when you quit smoking they rarely give you as much credit or praise. . most of them do not really realize just how hard it is to give up smoking. . they say it is as hard as getting off of heroine so be sure to not let this discourage you. \nOne of the most important things to remember is that you want to quit smoking more than you want to smoke.\n\nThey say that the first 72hours of not smoking is when the nicotine leaves your body so the next time I quit smoking it is going to be cold turkey as I can't afford the gum or the patches for months on end and thusly dragging out the quitting smoking process and I will reminding myself that I want to quit smoking more than I want to smoke.\nI also want to set a good example for my grandchildren who are under the age of 4.(It is extremely hard to explain to my grandchildren why their Grammie smokes.)\n\nGood Luck \n\n\n\nP.S. IF you want some extra support,you can email me.
117113
stick with the slow walking and keep your heart rate down at least your still moving and doing what you want. I'm 50 I still run, ha ha but not like I did when I was 20 your still in the race see what you can do to minimize your bronchitis perhaps a warmer drier climate. I don't have bronchitis and I can feel my heart pound at 135 beats / min. keep going slow.
541092
i smoked for 20 years and it took me 3 days to get over the inatial shock .i took up a hobby every time i get a craving i drink lots of water and go for a 20 minute walk .out of sight out of mind!
32748
First you should know it is hard but doable, you’ve been smoking for 10 years so you should not expect to quit within 10 days or so. Second you should find the reason, ask yourself why I smoked? You enjoyed it or it helped you to forget some of your problems and so on. You should first uproot the reason then try to quit, I am sure you can you can you can and YOU CAN ,NEVER BE DISAPPOINTED.
93850
hey man there aint no easy way. i smoked for ten years and am quit for a year now.  first you have to do it cold turky. no cutting down patch gum or anything. do it only when ur the most motivated and determined. then use all the will power that you have to not take even a hit off another cig, when cravings start chew gum, and work out. If you run it out that works vary well also, just keep yourself busy and you will notice in a few weeks the cravings will start to go away. just remember the key is cold turky if you put nicoteen in your body in any way you will fail its inevitable. remember dieng of lung cancer will suck, good luck.   -clokey
424242
What's your current fitness level?\n\n\nSounds like you are pretty fit so a marathon shouldn’t be a problem! Congratulations on taking on the challenge!\n\nFirst off, The asthma shouldn’t be a problem, just be sure to keep it in check while training and during the race.  I have exercise induced asthma and run marathons, triathlons, and other forms of endurance events without a problem. Just keep your inhaler with you if you think you might need it.\n\nPick a marathon that’s at least three months away and start training!  Most of the major marathons have training plans that are easy to follow, but be careful to pick a plan aimed at your goals!  Don’t pick an advanced plan that has you running 80 mile per week!  Pick a modest plan that will have you running about 35-50 miles per week (on your big weeks)\n\nIf you pick one of the major marathons there are always training groups forming for the specific race, check out the running groups in your area and find out what’s going on, they are always eager to help people out, don’t be intimidated they are almost always great people! \n\nKeep up your strength training but only do it once or maybe twice per week, the strength will help you as you progress in your plan.\n\nSide effects will include, being tired, loosing weight and getting more toned!  You’ll probably have to change your diet a bit.  When you start hitting the 20mile training days you’ll need all the carbs you can get, don’t shy away from them!  \n\nWhen you loose your toe nails your shoes are usually a little small.  When you start hitting your big runs, your feet tend to swell and your toes hit the end of your shoe, they rub, turn black and fall out.  What fun!  Be sure to get big enough shoes and you won’t have the problem.\n\nGood luck!