Physical recovery from smoking

[JourneymanDave]

This goes out to everyone, but to ex-smokers in particular. I'm working on quitting smoking. I've smoked for about two years, up to about a pack a day.

I underwent surgery a while ago, that luckily doesn't affect me physically other than I put on some weight. I promised myself I wouldn't start up with MA classes until I got back to what I consider a reasonable level of fitness. The classes I go to are particularly demanding. So I need to be able to actually make it through the conditioning part of the class without dying
(I know the lessons would help, but I hang it over my head as a motivator more or less)

About how long am I looking in order to achieve any significant degree of recovery in the cardio endurance department?

 

[clfsean]

This goes out to everyone, but to ex-smokers in particular. I'm working on quitting smoking. I've smoked for about two years, up to about a pack a day.

I underwent surgery a while ago, that luckily doesn't affect me physically other than I put on some weight. I promised myself I wouldn't start up with MA classes until I got back to what I consider a reasonable level of fitness. The classes I go to are particularly demanding. So I need to be able to actually make it through the conditioning part of the class without dying
(I know the lessons would help, but I hang it over my head as a motivator more or less)

About how long am I looking in order to achieve any significant degree of recovery in the cardio endurance department?

When did you quit totally? Take that & add about 1 year to it for pretty good results. In 2 you honestly won't notice & in 3 & more, you'll feel like you never did.

 

[theletch1]

When did you quit totally? Take that & add about 1 year to it for pretty good results. In 2 you honestly won't notice & in 3 & more, you'll feel like you never did.

And in 10 (if I understand the literature correctly) your body will show no signs of ever having smoked at all.

 

[clfsean]

And in 10 (if I understand the literature correctly) your body will show no signs of ever having smoked at all.

Really?? Cool... didn't know that. I thought there'd be some residuals... but that's cool.

Given traffic the way it is in most major cities though... who can tell?!?

 

[Bill Mattocks]

And in 10 (if I understand the literature correctly) your body will show no signs of ever having smoked at all.

Not always true. I have scar tissue on my lungs from smoking (coughing). It does not go away, and I have permanently reduced lung capacity because of it. I smoked for just over 10 years, 2 packs a day. I did not have a 'smoker's cough' but sometimes woke up with those serious hack-up-a-lung coughs - that's what did it.

 

[7starmarc]

Not always true. I have scar tissue on my lungs from smoking (coughing). It does not go away, and I have permanently reduced lung capacity because of it. I smoked for just over 10 years, 2 packs a day. I did not have a 'smoker's cough' but sometimes woke up with those serious hack-up-a-lung coughs - that's what did it.

I agree. If you're lucky, you won't have significant residual. But this all depends on the amount of damage you've managed to do to your lungs during your smoking years. Emphysema doesn't always recover, lung cancer, if you get it, will always have an effect. Also, the risk of lung cancer remains for 10-20 years after quitting. After that time, you return to the normal risk in the population, but you are still at increased risk during that time period.

You're recovery of cardiopulmonary capacity will depend on a lot of other factors -- the rest of your health picture, the amount of damage you've done to your lungs, etc. If you really want to know, you should see a pulmonologist with some interest in sports science. Only they can measure your current capacities and make a prediction. Even this will be somewhat compromised by not knowing your pre-smoking baseline function.

 

[Omar B]

I've not smoked since last summer but there was no appreciable difference either way. I've only smokes since college (stress smoker) and I still kept up my usually swimming and karate. Keep your head up and working hard man, it can be difficult for some people this soon after quitting.

 

[Bill Mattocks]

I've not smoked since last summer but there was no appreciable difference either way. I've only smokes since college (stress smoker) and I still kept up my usually swimming and karate. Keep your head up and working hard man, it can be difficult for some people this soon after quitting.

I would wake up dreaming I was smoking even a year after I quit. I used to wake up tasting cigarettes in my mouth and certain I had just had one. The urges died down over time, but it took several years to completely subside.

 

[Omar B]

Well I defer to your expertise Bill, it was never a habit with me but more exam stress related (LOL).

 

[BLACK LION]

This goes out to everyone, but to ex-smokers in particular. I'm working on quitting smoking. I've smoked for about two years, up to about a pack a day.

I underwent surgery a while ago, that luckily doesn't affect me physically other than I put on some weight. I promised myself I wouldn't start up with MA classes until I got back to what I consider a reasonable level of fitness. The classes I go to are particularly demanding. So I need to be able to actually make it through the conditioning part of the class without dying
(I know the lessons would help, but I hang it over my head as a motivator more or less)

About how long am I looking in order to achieve any significant degree of recovery in the cardio endurance department?

Upon arrival to boot camp smoking was secured for the duration of the entire process. There was no choice in that matter. I coughed the crap out for about 2 weeks and then didnt feel any difference from before I started and after I quit. I finished first in all the PT and felt completley un affected while doing so...

I was placed on limited duty from a knee problem and didnt have to PT so I started up again. whenever I would do anything that required breathing heavy or an increased heart rate I felt it... I could not hold my breath as long as I used to and tired quicker than normal.... I started the quitting process again but this time I had to force myself rather than be forced...

I stop buying packs and bumming only lasts so long before people look at you like a bum... I would pay .25 cents to bum one and that even still, became a burden on those who bought thier packs... I would buy single cig or cigarillos and eventually got sick of the taste and the smell since I wasnt smoking as often... I eventually had to tell myself I hated them and they are killing me and everyone I saw smoking I would tell them I hated thier cigaretts and they are killing me... it wasnt long before I really hated them and still do to this day...

recovery wont be long since you have not been smoking long... you will cough it all out in a month or so and never look back....

 

[Haze]

I smoked for 35 yrs. Trained to run 5 miles for my BB test and all that came with it while smoking 2 packs per day.

I quit 8 yrs ago and I am now just starting to feel the effects of the damage. Shortness of breath at times and diminished lung capacity. I still sit here at my PC and reach for a smoke at times.

As far as smoking, when the damage is done, it is done.

 

[JourneymanDave]

wow thanks guys this has been amazingly helpful!

 

[seasoned]

I smoked on and off all through the ranks, and got away with it. At the time, being young helped. I would drive down the road, get sick of my habit, throw the pack of smokes out the window, only to pull into the next store and pack up again. It wasn't until my Black Belt test that I decided to be all I could be, and also, not get my butt kicked by oxygen rich young guys, that I needed a life change. 40 years later, smoke free, but honestly, still from time to time thinking about it, I feel I have made it. What makes the difference with me is being able the wake up in the morning and take a breathe and not cough. Also keeping up with my younger wife helps give me the incentive to not look back. I'm not saying it will take 40 years, but after just a few I felt a lot better. The body has the ability to heal if given the proper nutrition and exercise. Good luck.

 

[Tez3]

My daughter hasn't smoked for a few months now which is great, she said she had flu like symptoms for a week or so and coughing at first but that soon went. she used patches and said it's the best way to give up though the patches at night can give you weird dreams. She said it's much easier to give up with them though.

 

[MJS]

This goes out to everyone, but to ex-smokers in particular. I'm working on quitting smoking. I've smoked for about two years, up to about a pack a day.

I underwent surgery a while ago, that luckily doesn't affect me physically other than I put on some weight. I promised myself I wouldn't start up with MA classes until I got back to what I consider a reasonable level of fitness. The classes I go to are particularly demanding. So I need to be able to actually make it through the conditioning part of the class without dying
(I know the lessons would help, but I hang it over my head as a motivator more or less)

About how long am I looking in order to achieve any significant degree of recovery in the cardio endurance department?

First off, congrats to you for taking the steps in quitting. I'm not a smoker, however many of my family members are, and I know first hand, that its not easy. My Father was a smoker for many years. He eventually had developed some serious medical issues due to that, and was forced to pretty much quit cold. While there may be damage that is already there and unable to be fixed, by quitting, he's prevented any further damage.

How long will it take to get back to a high cardio level? Don't know, but I'd wager a guess that it'll depend on the person. For example, a guy who lives a few doors down from my parents smokes. However, he seems to have pretty good cardio despite that, as he works out regularly at the gym, runs and walks.

 

[Drac]

I would wake up dreaming I was smoking even a year after I quit.

You too??? I thought I was the only one that went through that..

 

[Drac]

This goes out to everyone, but to ex-smokers in particular. I'm working on quitting smoking. I've smoked for about two years, up to about a pack a day.

I underwent surgery a while ago, that luckily doesn't affect me physically other than I put on some weight. I promised myself I wouldn't start up with MA classes until I got back to what I consider a reasonable level of fitness. The classes I go to are particularly demanding. So I need to be able to actually make it through the conditioning part of the class without dying
(I know the lessons would help, but I hang it over my head as a motivator more or less)

About how long am I looking in order to achieve any significant degree of recovery in the cardio endurance department?

The BEST of luck to you...I quit for 2 years and gained about 60 lbs..

 

[Bill Mattocks]

I quit for 2 years and gained about 60 lbs..

Me too. Diabetes took it back off again!

 

[Guardian]

I'm glad to see all the ex-smokers also. I layed them down after 29 years of smoking 105 days ago and haven't looked back. The 1st 35 days was hell, then it just started going away, I didn't care to have, I didn't mind people smoking around me (though I tried to stay from it for the most part), don't temp temptation to much LOL). My grumps went away, my wife is thankful for that, back to my old self. The folks who work for me and with me are thankful also LOL.

Your lungs will take time to heal as long as you have not damaged them permanently, your Doctor can check that out thoroughly for you though, give it about 3 months and go see him/her and they'll let you know when to come back.

If you stay off the habit, in 5 years, you will have no more of a chance of getting lung cancer then someone who never smoked.

I still have shortness of breath now and then, but my smokers cough is gone, my allergies only act up here and there now. My weight went up by 24lbs, but I've lost 6 of that already, so you can do it, everything taste and smells better, but take it in increments my friend, the weight doesn't have to come on like gang busters. Moderation can be done.

 

[JourneymanDave]

man, I don't know if im just backwards or not, but I actually gained weight while smoking and have started losing after quitting.

Maybe my cardio will start getting worse now! Ha! I doubt it though