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40+ and proud of it.

Denise B.
Denise B. Sendmail

Ex-smoker new to running

posted over 1 year ago | Report

I'm 48, smoked for 26 yrs and had never even considered running before last fall. I quit smoking and went thru menopause 2 years ago. I'm been doing a loose C25K plan since mid Nov 2010 and have signed up for my first 5K in April. I am having aches and pains, but dealing with everything well and listening to my body.

One thing I have not read a lot of discussion on is ex-smokers and/or breathwork as part of training. Are there any "old" ex-smokers like me out there? What is recommended for increasing lung capacity or oxygen intake for us old folks?

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4 posts

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  • Mike D.
    Mike D. Sendmail

    Congrats for your new healthy lifestyle! I'm not an ex-smoker but I've heard that your lungs begin to recover fairly quickly. Any aerobic exercise will be good for your lungs, just build up gradually. Best wishes for your race in April, and may it be a springboard to many more!.

    posted over 1 year ago | Report

  • Bruce L.
    Bruce L. Sendmail

    Denise,
    I've noticed the lack of info sharing for as you say "old" ex-smokers. I'm 58 and quit about two and a half years ago. I've looked many times with little success to find info about other late quitters. I am also overweight. I concluded that the other folks my age that smoke and are overweight aren't talking about changing their lifestyles because most are already dead. I thought it was too late to get much back but I have lost about 30 lbs and almost never wheeze now. Before quitting I wheezed almost continuously for a couple years. I have been doing some stretching, balance exercises, strength training, and using a treadmill at home. I started messing with running a bit the last few weeks and so far it amounts to sort of looking like the final stages of a POW death march and I only make it about a quarter mile. Already I am staggering better though. Good luck to you. I wish I had quit smoking and started running when I was young like you.

    posted 11 months ago | Report

  • Ronnie C.
    Ronnie C. Sendmail

    That is a good question and I am sitting here trying to think of places you can find good information. This may sound cheesy but have you tried Dr. Oz's website? If he has no information on the site you could contact him and I am sure he (or one of his people) will point you in the right direction.

    With the state of health in America I wish there would be more good information on this. Just be careful that you are getting information from a reputable source.

    posted 10 months ago | Report

  • Bruce L.
    Bruce L. Sendmail

    Hello All on this question:
    Ronnie thanks for your interest in the question. I've found some helpful stuff for me or for even the young. Apparently there is an ongoing interest in this sort of thing and I now am getting an email newsletter from an Ed Mayhew, speaker and author of Age Blasters: 3 Steps to a Younger You www.FitterForLife.com .
    I have not bought anything or seen his book. His newsletter and website seems to be a place that consolidates information about improving health lifestyles for what we often think of as old people. Besides collecting info for us struggling beginners he also showcases interesting roll models of folks in their 80's and up doing marathons and triathlons etc. Some of it sounds rather crazy but seems to check out as legit and the crazy part is my life time of brainwashing being confronted with reality. Good Grief this is turning into too strong an endorsement to sound real! anyway if you haven't seen this stuff I think you will enjoy a quick look.
    http://www.FitterAfter50.com
    http://www.YouCanGrowYounger.com
    http://www.twitter.com/AgeBlasters

    posted 10 months ago | Report

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