Former smokers, in here

Do your lungs ever completely regain all function or am I doomed forever to not have the lung capacity I could have had if I never smoked? I've been quit for 1.5 years after smoking a pack a day for 12 years. Last year I ran a bunch of 5-8K's, a tough mudder and a 1/2 marathon. I slacked on cardio over the winter and got my ass handed to me when I ran the metrodash last weekend. I mean really, really gasping for air. I can chug along at a moderate pace, but when I try to pick up the pace, I get smoked. Thoughts?

Quit smoking about the same time you did, have recently started to run and my heavy breathing is not from the smoke, it's from the fact I'm out of shape. On the other hand, my father smoked for 40 years, quit cold turkey two years ago and has not gained any more use out of his lungs. It will take a while for your lungs to repair themselves. Just be happy ya quit. I am.

I quit a couple years ago after 10 years of smoking and cant tell any diffrence at all. YMMV as being out of breath was never a major problem for me then or now. My legs give out before my lungs do.

OP;

How old are you and has your physician ever ordered a lung function workup for you?

I smoked about a pack a day for 8 years. It will be 3 years since I quit in August, my lung function is now 100% or close to it.

Yet I still have cravings every morning when I drink my coffee.

Gasping for air is not necessarily indicative of a lack of lung function. Generally, in otherwise healthy people, pulmonary function does not limit endurance performance. You could do a lab test to determine maximum VO2 capacity if you really want to know.

As far as your symptoms - how often do you train at higher than a moderate pace or for distances much longer than those at which you're trying to run at an elevated pace?

I quit almost 3 years ago. My cardio is right up there with the pro fighters who train 6 days a week at my MMA gym. If they aren't at 100% they are damn close.

My cardio and lung performance was pretty good, but most of that is credited to the Insanity workout. It has done wonders for my stand-up.

You can't tell a difference between how you feel now, and how you'd feel now if you'd never smoked?

Vexing...

I feel more like I do now than I ever have before...

I smoked for about 8 or so years with about a year off in the middle somewhere. I haven't had a cigarette since January, and I feel fantastic. No cravings and I have been doing more running than I ever have in my life.

I think my lungs are a lot healthier than when I smoked. I was never a strong runner and now that I run about 3-4 times a week, I almost forget that I smoked for as long as I did.

I feel and breath the same as when I smoked....my sense of taste and smell also hasn't improved that I can notice. I will say that I got delight out of passing guys on road bikes when I was riding a mtn bike and had a cigarette hanging out of my mouth. It really did suck to stop a bike ride for a smoke though and I felt like a dumb ass for eating right and riding 100+ miles a week and still smoking:(

I will say I feel much better about myself and my wallet thanks me for quiting

I smoked for 27 years. I quit 3 years ago last November. I feel more like 30 now than when I was 30 and doing 2 packs a day. I have been doing basic core strength training since last October and just turned 47.

I don't think I will ever be like I was at 21 doing a 21:30 3 mile as a young Marine as far as lung function and running , but the improvements have been tremendous. So much so that I am dissapointed in myself to have wasted so much of my life (potentially the best years) as a nicotine junky and making myself feel like crap from smoking. It dials your health down like a reostat switch so slow you can't see it until you are miserable.

When I reach my strength training basic goals I am planning to move on to a more intense cardio workout, but at my age joints have to be supported properly first....

At post junky 1.5 years I still was cleaning up my lung function at 3+ years I feel a lot better than at 1.5. My best advice is to go see a Dr get your function checked, get a physical and tell your Dr what you are doing and when he clears you run and do cardio until you discover for yourself how far back you can come.

Way back in the 80's there was a woman that went from 2 packs a day for 20 years to a top teir marathon runner at 35 or 40 years old so anything is possible with enough work, discipline and goals.

Good Luck

Post Script: Just by being able to kick that demon weed you have shown an above average level of focus and willpower, always remember that. Those that have never beaten an addiction like tobacco haven't a clue.

I'll be 32 next month, and I typically avoid doctors so no, I've never had a lung function workup.

I smoked from 18-30ish.

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And thanks everyone else. Maybe I need to really step up the cardio game and see what I'm capable of. I haven't REALLY pushed myself for speed, just distance. One more thing now that I'm thinking about it. I feel like I still have to clear the phlegm out of my lungs every morning. Normal, or something else? I drink milk and have heard dairy products can cause phlegm issues in some people.

I quit ten years ago. I feel better now than ever. Just takes time and good breathging during cardio. Fresh air to.

I quit @ 20 years ago. I asked a knowledgeable buddy who said our lungs take in more air than can be processed. According to him, if you train right and are in shape, you could run a marathon with 1/3 lung capacity. I'm not sure I believe him but I would like to.

I quit last february. I run 2 to 3 times a week and smoke guys half my age in the gym. I smoked 2 packs a day for 15 years

I quit about 4 years ago after smoking a pack or so a day from when I was 12 until I was 27. I've noticed a substantial improvement in lung function, but my activity level has also increased quite a bit, which probably has a lot more to do with it than quitting cigarettes.

I was fast approaching a 2 pack a day smoker, when I quit 26 years ago (1/4/86) After about 2 years I was functioning excellent with breathing, endurance,skin tone,tastes and smell. I've had lung function tests with excellent results. My Doctors do say that since I was a smoker I will always have a higher risk of lung disease.

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