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23-07.-2006, 02:26 PM
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#1 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: rural CT, USA
Posts: 30
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cigarettes, cycling and my health
Hey all,
I'm currently a one pack a day smoker. I've always smoked & cycled (sometimes at the same time), but recently I've set a quit date. In the mean time, I have a few questions! I'm 23 years old, am in good health (blood tests normal, BP excellent, RHR low, low body fat, cholesterol low, etc.) and train vigorously; however, I noticed that lately (increasing over the past few years) my performance has started to suck more and more. I know what this is because of, but I've been worried about a few things. Would it be possible for me to suffer a cardiac arrest when doing something really intense such as hard intervals? My heart rate doesn't seem to go up that high, but when I'm through, I definately feel thoroughly beat, almost dizzy. I attribute this to my horrible lungs. My v02 max is probably 10 haha. When I'm done with intervals, I'm able to finish out my workout fine, and when I'm done I seem to recover rapidly without a lot of muscle pain, so I know it's not my legs that are getting destroyed. This leads me to believe that I'll never my body is ahead of me and I wont be able to progress any further without quitting. I'm just worried about keeling over in the meantime. |
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23-07.-2006, 05:42 PM
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#2 | |||
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Sydney, AU
Posts: 479
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Re: cigarettes, cycling and my health
Quote:
Good on you!. Quote:
Not likely, but not impossible. Your heart won't arrest unless it's not getting enough blood supply through the coronary arteries. At 23, it's not likely that you'll have had enough time for plaques to occlude your arteries so much so that you'd arrest. Given your otherwise (apparently) healthy lifestyle, the risk of arresting is *probably* not a whole lot greater than an age matched male of similar health. Quote:
This would appear consistent with smoking, in that you're reducing your alveolar surface area with each death stick you burn. It doesn't seem like your cardio fitness is a limiting factor, rather, your oxygen supply (ie. lungs) - certainly at least it seems so from what you describe... As with anything health realted, make sure you ask your regular doctor, and don't just rely on the advice of med students such as moi on internet forums... HTH, n |
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23-07.-2006, 06:08 PM
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#3 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 141
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Re: cigarettes, cycling and my health
Quote:
I to used to smoke and ride, allthough not at hte same time. I was 27 when i quit after ten years of smoking. I never really rode hard or did intervals during the quitting process, but it makes a huge difference to your performance and muscle growth. Since i gave up my leg muscles have certainly grown somewhat. Good on you for quitting, it may seem hard but the further you go the easier it gets.  |
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24-07.-2006, 01:56 AM
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#4 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: rural CT, USA
Posts: 30
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Re: cigarettes, cycling and my health
That's what I figured, thanks for your replies!
One more question: When I quit, during the 'process', should I keep training to my fullest potential, or back off a bit? I'd rather do the former, as the latter sounds quite unappealing under any circumstance save for serious illness, but I'm willing to do anything to preserve/improve my health. Perhaps short bits of exercise such as stretching sessions, light weights, or 10 mins on the trainer would help me to get over my cravings when I have them? |
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24-07.-2006, 11:38 AM
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#5 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 141
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Re: cigarettes, cycling and my health
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24-07.-2006, 12:41 PM
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#6 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: rural CT, USA
Posts: 30
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Re: cigarettes, cycling and my health
Sweet... once I get through the winter, I'm going to take all of the money I've saved and upgrade my old 80s bianchi with some new components.
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24-07.-2006, 01:14 PM
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#7 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 224
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Re: cigarettes, cycling and my health
not sure of the 'process' you're mentioning or are you talking about the time while your body expunges the toxins and repairs itself? coz that takes a fair amount of time.
but enjoy getting your sense of taste and smell back. train as hard as you want, you'll soon notice the improvement. |
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24-07.-2006, 09:46 PM
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#8 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: caribbean
Posts: 206
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Re: cigarettes, cycling and my health
Congrats on quitting. As for a "quit date", there is no better day to stop smoking than today. Keep training just as hard as you want. Exercise can cause the release of endorphins and these can help satiate the cravings and nicotine withdrawal. Better to be "addicted" to exercise rather than nicotine.
__________________
"if at first you don't succeed, redefine success" |
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25-07.-2006, 05:32 AM
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#9 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: rural CT, USA
Posts: 30
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Re: cigarettes, cycling and my health
I feel I will be more psychologically prepared by setting a date, which is very soon! Can't wait!
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26-07.-2006, 11:49 AM
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#10 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 224
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Re: cigarettes, cycling and my health
Quote:
you have to really want to give it up or you'll be on-again off-again like a yo-yo... you really need to be saying 'that's it. had enough. not doing this sh*t again.' and mean it, then throw them away and not look back. none of that "when i finish this pack" bit... otherwise you'll be in for a long time of stuffing about with patches, gums, programmes and a thousand and one excuses... sounds harsh and extreme, but your motivation needs to be strong, as does your comitment to stop. it's too easy to give in when it's only a half-hearted reason to give it away and you don't really want to... with the right drive, it can be done and you'll feel so much better for it. |
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26-07.-2006, 02:21 PM
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#11 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: rural CT, USA
Posts: 30
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Re: cigarettes, cycling and my health
Patches, gums, all of that crap, I'm not using it. All it would do would be to keep reminded me that I was addicted. I know I'm flying in the face of convention "wisdom" *cough* but I truly don't see the benefit of those gimmicks, unless they work for you mentally. BTW, I quit!
 Thanks so much for your advice, though, I truly appreciate it! Quote:
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26-07.-2006, 03:24 PM
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#12 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 224
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Re: cigarettes, cycling and my health
Quote:
i watched my brother fart-arse about with it for years - he did everything, and i mean everything - including hypnotherapy, the works! but it didn't work because deep down he didn't really want to give them up. i watched my father just stop - i was his inspiration. when your six year old takes on from your pack and lights up in your lounge room... he just took that pack and any others he had, binned them and stopped. never smoked again. as for myself, i quit last year when i was just sick of the smell and all the rest of what went with it. said 'enough', chucked out the pack and haven't really looked back... but good on you for quitting. enjoy the benefits of improved fitness, improved smell and improved taste! not to mention the attention of the ladies when you don't stink (or taste) of an ashtray! |
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16-08.-2006, 02:06 AM
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#13 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: rural CT, USA
Posts: 30
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Re: cigarettes, cycling and my health
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Oh yeah, I can climb hills now! Ha! |
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16-08.-2006, 06:04 AM
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#14 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Millis, MA
Posts: 144
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Re: cigarettes, cycling and my health
Good for you for wanting to quit. I smoked for 20 years. I quit about 8-9 years ago. Never had one since. I started riding last year in September. Last week I did 27 mile rides, 4 days in a row. Go ahead and ride as often at you want. What I did was to give myself a set of rules. I would first plan ahead how many days I would ride each week. I'm off work 3-4 days each week. I ride every day I'm off. For the most part I only have 2 reasons not to ride. 1) the weather is bad ALL day. 2) I'm legitamately sick. "Not feeling like it" is not a good enough reason. I find I feel better after the first few miles. Each month I will have a day that I can't ride because of other obligations.
Keep up with the riding. And when it comes to quiting, think about the nice bike you'll be able to buy with the $35 a week you'll be saving by not smoking. Almost $2000 in a year = a very nice bike |
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17-08.-2006, 05:14 AM
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#15 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 14
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Re: cigarettes, cycling and my health
Just from personal point of view......I quit a year ago 15Aug05. I quit specificly to do Duathlons/triathlons. Without training I don't think I would have made it. Riding took the place of over eating and nerves. It constantly reminded me of why I quit when training hard and being out of breath. Set a date and let'er rip.
Good luck Mac |
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