I smoke too much. I know it’s bad for me. I’ve been cutting down and I want to quit. I am very easily winded these days. For those of you who smoked and quit, how long was it before you started breathing normally?
I suppose I should have said “EX-Smokers.” D’oh! It’s early. :smack:
I don’t remember. Helpful, eh? Sorry – it was seven years ago. I just wanted to say, the main thing I liked about quitting was that I can now totally crack up laughing at something without defaulting to coughing at a certain point.
I guess I’m an atypical smoker. I rarely cough and I’m not one of those real deep inhalers who sucks the whole cigarette down with every puff. But I swear…the simplest activities leave me clutching my chest. I know I need to stop, but after all these years, I can’t imagine myself without a pack o’ butts within reach.
I quit about 2 years ago, and although the period of coughing came to an end (after a month or so), since I never exercised my lungs didn’t really improve that much. I’ve started exercising more now, and it’s getting better - but I was still getting out of breath walking up 1 flight of stairs a year after quitting.
Still, that’s not the only reason I stopped. And I like twickster’s comment - it’s funny coz it’s true. 
I forgot to add…I’ve started working out again. I’m doing free weights right now (which isn’t a huge strain on my lungs for some reason). But I need to get out on the bike, and that prospect conjurs up visions of me laying on the side of the road with a tank strapped to my face.
As far as I can remember, it was only about a couple of weeks, although I never suffered much from breathlessness when I was smoking. More importantly, quitting gave me the impetus to start exercising regularly, meaning that my cardiovascular fitness has increased exponentially as an indirect (as well as direct) result of not smoking.
It’s years ago now but I recall maybe trwo months later going for a walk around a lake and being surprised to discover, when we got to the point of no return, that I was quite happy to keep going and walk all the way around. While I was a smoker it would have been unthinkable.
I quit 20+ years ago, and tho I smoked 2+ppd at the time, I had only been smoking for approx 6 years at the time. But one thing I recall clearly is that I was quite disappointed that I did not experience any significant increase in respiratory capacity or athletic ability.
I was in grad school and playing a TON of pick-up hoops at the time. And I’ve had asthma all my life. One of the few things that took some of the unpleasantness off of quitting was the thought that I’d be able to sprint up and down the court with my new tar-free lungs, and retire my inhalers. Didn’t happen.
Bummer. 
I’d settle for a “somewhat improved” response.
On the latest season of Survivor, one of the competitors was a three-pack-a-day man until they got dropped on the island, so he quit cold turkey (one of his reasons for being on the show, actually). After a few days, he was a dead man walking for about a week, and from that point on he was doing all the running & swimming (esp. underwater, holding his breath…) challenges without too bad of a showing.
I only quit ten years ago from a half ppd habit. That’s really not long enough for me to have attempted anything cardiovascular yet but whenever I do I’ll report back and let you know.
Kidding. It was not immediate but most decided did improve over time and from what I remember I recouped it over about a year and then planed out. I could tell on mountain climbs more than anywhere else. Recovery time was shortened considerably. I’d still get winded but it wouldn’t take long at all before I was rearing to go again.
I would say 2 - 3 weeks - but what I remember best was how my sense of smell came back. I would walk around and take in smells, amazed that I had been so totally oblivious to them for so many years. Suntan oil, chinese food, rain. A brave new world.
What RTA said… smell and taste.
I’ve pondered quitting smoking, but I don’t have a breathing problem anyway. I walk 4-5 miles everyday with no trouble at all. (been smoking 13 years)
Though I do seem to have high blood pressure, measured at 150/95 at the doc last week, and they say quitting will help that. Anyone with experience on this angle of quitting?
My cholesterol is slightly up, and the doc says that’s due in part to my smoking. Yet another reason to get this monkey off my back.
But my blood pressure is 100/60…the highest it’s evah been. I used to be an 80/54.
I realize that my extra question could become a thread hijack, I can start a new thread if you like Kalhoun.
I’m the same way, and I asked the guy at the gym about this. He said that wieght training does burns calories, and shapes your body, but it doesn’t improve your CVS: Cardio Vasculair System. Running, cycling does, but weightlifting not. And CVS-training is needed to be able to hop up stairs without getting out of breath.
I hated hearing this. I like weight and strength training, but I hate CVT. It hurts, damnit.
Oh, Kalhoun, you have looked into Allen Carr’s book on how to stop smoking, right? It has some raving reviews on this board.
No, that’s quite alright. It’s all related. Feel free.