Do we get better?

[ExTex]

I am hoping that I will get some increased lung capacity before bicycle season gets started this year.

Last year, I could hardly keep up and it was embarrasing.

Grateful for every breath.

 

[Doreensfree]

It sure does EX..

I've got more energy now than I had 20 years ago..and I'm still surprising myself..

Your lungs are healing all the time..I'm betting on you doing better this year..xx

[Tink]

it sure does get better and its a good time to start pushing yourself, I used to hate running but I run with all my dogs now even uphills which whilst smoking would have been a big NO NO unless an ambulance was waiting at the top for me  :blink:

[Boo]

Our lungs have a remarkable ability to heal themselves and improved lung capacity goes hand-in-hand with that.  Recent lung research provides good news for those of us who abused our lungs for years.  Cells in the lungs not only regenerate, but also differentiate as needed.  Type 1 cells can take the role of Type 2 cells and Type 2 cells can take the role of Type 1 cells as needed to repair the lungs.  Research is also finding that beyond stem cells regenerating, mature cells "awaken" in response to injury.

 

Our bodies are not invincible, but the survival instinct is strong within.

[Doreensfree]

This is true..our bodies are amazing..I'm really sorry I have given mine a rough time ..

[MarylandQuitter]

Of course, not even close!

[bakon]

Good news. We were all so dumb

[Stewie]

Yes, we do get better! I have a lot more stamina and i did nothing to earn it other than quitting. I tell you, this quitting thing is an all win proposition.

[sgt.barney]

You get better by stressing the systems and adaptation to overcome said stressors. Want to be better at biking? Log more training miles at higher intensity.

 

As far as Sarge can tell, the rate of improvement is independent of smoking status. In 2008, as a 30-smoke-a-day addict, Sarge improved his matathon time from 5:48 to under 4 hours. While being a full time smoker. On the flip side, there are scads of never-smokers getting winded by a couple of easy miles on a bike.

 

It's all about the consistency, effort, and effectiveness of your training.

 

What quitting does is raise the *potential* to do better. Without the work that potential is never fully realized. You likely will see some minor level of improvement just from quitting, but the real benefit is that quitting allows better, more consistent, more intense training ... and it's that training where it'll really kick in the overdrive.

 

Go ride.

 

Your VO2max will improve by going out and sucking wind every day. The more frequently and more thoroughly you get winded, the more your cardio vascular system adapts to become more effecient at processing O2.

 

It's kinda why we train, right?

 

Easy Peasy

[Jackie]

Look at you go EX!!!!!  So proud of you quit buddy! :)