a-guitarist Posted May 6, 2008 Report Share Posted May 6, 2008 I quit smoking in November. Haven't had one since. As I'm not officially "misdiagnosed" (for those who knew about my health status and such) and now off the offending medications (that I've oh so very much enjoyed for the past six years), I've decided to exercise and get into shape and such. Here's my question. How long until I stop coughing like a smoker after I run? I actually didn't cough like this even while smoking... Regardless, I started by walking a few miles daily before attempting a run, and my run was only about a mile today. So I don't think I have over done myself. Any ideas on the wait I have before me would be greatly appreciated. a-g Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goru Posted May 6, 2008 Report Share Posted May 6, 2008 Well if you cough less while you were smoking I would just go back to smoking I dont know what you can do but me being a smoker good job for quiting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montahg Posted May 6, 2008 Report Share Posted May 6, 2008 I haven't quit smoking myself, but a former co-worker of mine was still coughing like a lunatic for about a month and a half after he quit. Mind you, that could be any number of factors other than/in addition to smoking, a cold, etc. I'm sure you could google it and find some grand article that lists a whole lot of that science stuff and what not, but we here in Kansas like to just make up numbers. So I'm gonna go with a month. Yee haw! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'tarako Posted May 6, 2008 Report Share Posted May 6, 2008 'I was going to pull a WC, then decided I didn't feel like finding multiple links. Lazy, that's what no sleep and 3 finals within a 24 hr period does to me. anywho. * In 20 minutes your blood pressure will drop back down to normal. * In 8 hours the carbon monoxide (a toxic gas) levels in your blood stream will drop by half, and oxygen levels will return to normal. * In 48 hours your chance of having a heart attack will have decreased. All nicotine will have left your body. Your sense of taste and smell will return to a normal level. * In 72 hours your bronchial tubes will relax, and your energy levels will increase. * In 2 weeks your circulation will increase, and it will continue to improve for the next 10 weeks. * In three to nine months coughs, wheezing and breathing problems will dissipate as your lung capacity improves by 10%. * In 1 year your risk of having a heart attack will have dropped by half. * In 5 years your risk of having a stroke returns to that of a non-smoker. * In 10 years your risk of lung cancer will have returned to that of a non-smoker. * In 15 years your risk of heart attack will have returned to that of a non-smoker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a-guitarist Posted May 6, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2008 Thanks, Tarako. And believe me, very much thanks for not going WC on me. I'm just not a search engine warrior like most who have been on the intertubes for half the time as I have. Maybe I should also work out my sleuthing muscles too? a-g Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'tarako Posted May 6, 2008 Report Share Posted May 6, 2008 'no worries mate. Haha. Right on. That's one muscle everyone should try and keep in shape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pali Posted May 6, 2008 Report Share Posted May 6, 2008 What's your source for that info, Tarako? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyzarius Posted May 6, 2008 Report Share Posted May 6, 2008 From my experience it took a month or so of 1 mile 3 times a week before I felt I was back to pre-smoking or early smoking stamina when it came to soccer. Though some improvement was evident the first scrimmage after quitting smoking, you lungs gradually improve the entire time...its not like a switch where one day you dont cough anymore. With me actually wheezing and coughing wasnt a problem at all aftr the first week or two...it was getting back that stamina/capacity in my lungs to take in O2 like they used to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a-guitarist Posted May 6, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2008 That was the strange thing with me. I smoked a pack a day for six or so years. Tried quitting a few times, did for about three months once, kept picking it back up. But I never had a 'smoker's cough'. I'd have the yellow sludge in the mornings after bushing my teeth and tongue, I'd hack a big one rarely, but enough to remember it. But never a smoker's cough. That is, until I quit, and was done for two months. That's when it all starting hacking and cracking. However, my second run was today, ran a little further and this time went with WC to push me further and further. The coughing isn't as bad, but, all well and good I 'spose. Today, 3/4ths of a mile. Tomorrow, Yulia Volkova's womb. a-g Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pieman Posted May 6, 2008 Report Share Posted May 6, 2008 A question pertaining to me as I have failed quitting smoking many a time would be how long before the withdrawals and cravings stop? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a-guitarist Posted May 6, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2008 I cheated hardcore. I used Chantex. I still crave them occasionally, six months later, but for the beginning I used flavoured toothpicks. It's basically like having hunger urges, they're gone in about 3 minutes, so stave it off for the time being any way you can. Chew gum, toothpicks, whatever. And what helped me the most was a flavour I hated. Mint. Mint isn't usually bad, for this was like, assmint. That way you also battle the oral fixation. Withdrawls were different for me the successful time because I was on chantex, but every other time I quit for more than a few days, they only lasted about 48 to 55 hours. a-g Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iusedtobesomebody Posted May 6, 2008 Report Share Posted May 6, 2008 quitters never win. Seriously, though, way to go on quitting. I've tried many times, but trying to break a habit of 15+ years is god awful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a-guitarist Posted May 6, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2008 The trick is this: Just quit sucking. a-g Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imoutgoodbye Posted May 6, 2008 Report Share Posted May 6, 2008 A question pertaining to me as I have failed quitting smoking many a time would be how long before the withdrawals and cravings stop? Withdrawals should subside within two to three weeks. I've quit four times, my longest stint being five months, my shortest being four days (hey, withdrawals suck balls!) and as for the cravings....you can pretty much master those until you get extremely pissed (you'd probably have to quit mudding and working and lock yourself in your house) or you're in public and you see someone else enjoying a cigarette....*sigh* Congrats to those who quit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex-D&Der Posted May 6, 2008 Report Share Posted May 6, 2008 Just keep at it. The cough will go away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'tarako Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 http://www.healthbolt.net/2006/07/19/what-happens-to-your-body-if-you-stop-smoking-right-now/ (this is the one that i got the list from) http://old.ash.org.uk/html/factsheets/html/fact11.html(this one has some cool info on a withdrawal time table) http://www.highlighthealth.com/diseases-and-conditions/smoking-cessation-timeline-what-happens-when-you-quit/ (This one supports the time table from the first link, and provides cool info on nicotine) 'these are my resources pali. I think they're fine. After a little more googling I found that all the other sites I checked out supported it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elfdude Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 Instead of running why don't you go out for a bike ride? I am in pretty good physical shape and biking is the only thing that I can really stomach cardio wise. Just keep it up you'll cough all the tar and **** from your lungs in a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a-guitarist Posted May 7, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 I spent my budget this month on a mp3 player and memory for it. This thing seriously rocks, and it beats the hell outta any damned iSheep thing you can buy. Beautiful video quality, good memory, and also you can supplement memory with SD cards. Keep pictures, all that jazz. The screen is crisper than my monitor. Creative Zen Video thingamabober. 2gig. a-g Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex-D&Der Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 Just happened to come across this story: Quick Benefit to Smoking Halt, With a Caveat, Study Finds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deykari Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 I quit smoking 8 weeks ago, went completely cold turkey as part of a similar 'wanting to get into shape' sort of thing. I have applied to join the British armed forces so I have been really motivated and getting into the whole fitness thing, with the help of a very basic British Army fitness guide I have been given by a Sergeant. Essentially, it is a very simple fitness plan that works for any person, as it is tailored to yourself. It works around timing how many press-ups you can do in 2 minutes, how many sit-ups in two minutes, and how long it takes you to complete a 1.5 mile run/jog/walk and then working on those figures gradually, with other exercises built in. I went for my first 1.5 mile run a couple days after I vowed to go cold turkey, and ran 1.5 mile in 15 minutes, 50 seconds - pretty bad considering I am skinny. At the end of it, I was coughing up allsorts of green mucus crap and generally being a completely unfit smoker/drinker/junk-food-eater/no-exerciser. Last time I hit the track to time myself was about 10 days ago (1.5 mile = 6 laps of the track) I am down to 13 minutes 11 seconds, being worn out at the end - but not feeling like I want to die. My long distance running has also improved, I've gone from only just managing 1.5 mile at a steady pace to 3 miles at a steady pace. I still get the build up of that horrible mucusy crap in a morning that I started getting when I started smoking but it's not as bad after about 20 minutes once I've got the morning coughing out of the way. After that, I don't really suffer from coughing and the like anymore. I feel altogether a lot better, and it's seriously only been 2 months. I can't stand the smell of smoke either now, and I don't ever want to smoke another cigarette. No cravings at all. If anyone is interested, I can put this fitness plan up here. It's not mega-hardcore. It's a 4-day a week workout split up over the week, with 2 of the days being of an 'average' workout intensity, 1 day being a very intensive workout and the final day a very relaxed workout. Each workout lasts no longer than about 20-30 minute so it shouldn't eat into time too much. I'm really enjoying it at the moment, truth be told. Eating healthy is just as important (if not, more important, as eating junk means you don't see the benefits of exercise as much) though, something I am having to come to terms with. I'm finding it very hard to stop eating kebabs, burgers and pizzas for meals. Dey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'tarako Posted May 7, 2008 Report Share Posted May 7, 2008 'dude. I would def. like you to post that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elfdude Posted May 9, 2008 Report Share Posted May 9, 2008 I just noticed that I can type pretty fast with a cigarette in my hand. Take that!........ I really need to quit smoking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deykari Posted May 21, 2008 Report Share Posted May 21, 2008 'dude. I would def. like you to post that. I completely forgot about this. I found a plan that is almost identical to the one I'm doing, though I've had to alter mine a little now because my running has gone through the roof. Never would have thought I'd have seen improvement like I have. I'm pushing 6 miles a run at the minute, at decent pace. It's on the British Territorial Army website: http://www.armyfit.mod.uk/ Dey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deykari Posted May 21, 2008 Report Share Posted May 21, 2008 Oh, and just to add - if any of you are into running or looking to get into it, there is a really good site called mapmyrun.com. It's pretty much a street map of the world (courtesy of google maps) but you can draw out routes on the map and it gives you a distance. Very useful if you want to run 1.5 miles for example, but don't have a 400m running track to use as an accurate measurement of distance - you can use this site to work out a 1.5 run, then save it and add to it or whatever. Dey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyzarius Posted May 21, 2008 Report Share Posted May 21, 2008 I have a treadmill so I just run a mile every day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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