Training Advice for asthmatic

suckslikeafox

Howaya folks, my first venture into this forum.

Looking for some advice, training not medical.


My situation is this: Used to be super fit, played soccer, football and rugby and was the fittest on every team, could do 2 training sessions a day etc no bother. This was from when I was 14-17. I've had asthma from birth but its never been an issue, unless I had colds, etc. Then when I hit 17 it started to get very bad, got medical advice but no use, eventually I had to quit everything altogether.

I'm 21 now and have free gym access in work so I've decided to make use of it and try go get back playing sport if possible. Been hitting the gym on/off since January, my basic routine is:

- 1.5k in 10min on treadmill
- 2.5k in 15min with gradient on treadmill
- 20min on resistance bike
- 15 min light weights
- 2.5k in 15min on treadmill w/light sprinting

My question is had anyone any advice/experience for building back fitness with asthma or something similar? My general aim is to start playing rugby properly for next season so I'm trying to build to that. Any input would be great, thanks!

macadam

Get a good road bike , i spent last year in the gym exercising and swimming, nothing beats freash air and the strain of hills to get the cardio going, wont be going back to the gym.

brianthebard

I'm asthmatic too, didn't get worse when I got older though, did you notice any changes in your lifestyle? Start smoking/drinking/eating something different? If its still causing problems then the first thing would be to have a look at your lifestyle. Perhaps the medication you've been using when younger is no longer effective?
I find that weights training isn't too hard on the lungs, and would be useful for rubgy.

kippy

Have asthma here as well.
It hasnt really gotten any better as time has gone on. I am a fairly unfit person but the last two years I decided to do a bit more. Started playing Tag, Soccer (goals) and Surfing. Attempted to start running but failed miserably.
I know a lot of people whose asthma gets better as they get older. As the previous poster suggested some lifestyle change or dietry chang could be havin a major impact on yours.
Mine has improved no end in the past 6 months, right after I got a new mattress (dust mite free allegedly, with the memory foam) and a new pillow.
You may want to try a few alergy tests as well. I have a close friend who had one done and was advised to avoid all dairy products (not easy), has has done so, his asthma is far better and he is doing tri-athlons now, lost a power of weight as well fair play to him.
Personally am gonna give the running another go. Amnt a fan of gyms having tried them once.

rebel girl 15

I'd echo the last poster and go for allergy testing - it is very available nowadays. I know my brother, who is an asthmatic, got tested for allergies when he was young, because his asthma was quite bad, and it turned he was allergic to dairy, nuts, dustmites, pollen and quite a few other things!!

You don't have to go out and get a new mattress, dust mite covers do the job as well. If it turns out that u are allergic to pollen, and do go out playing, using a small bit of vaseline under your nose will catch the pollen particles and prevent the reaction.

many small things like that will help your training programme no end

chicken_food

Another asthmatic here-I was on the same medication for nearly 12 years, as the doctor I went to never changed it or addressed any issues that it wasn't getting any better. Then by chance, I was in at my college doctor and she heard my heavy breathing from all the stairs. She did a few small tests etc and was disgusted to here I was still on the same inhaler/medication since i was 10.
Over time, your body begins to 'get used' to the medication thats fighting for you. So you then need more of it to help the attacks. So she put me on a new one-within 10days I noticed a complete change!! I now no longer wake up at 2am in need of an inhaler. I probably take my new medication about once a month IF THAT!!

Its changed my life-im delighted by it! My eczema also cleared up,which was ALWAYS A PROBLEM on my last inhaler Still need to get allergy testing done-but keep putting it off.

I know this may not be the case for everyone-but actually getting a doctor who has some expertise in the area makes a big difference!!

Training wise-I only started in the gym about 10 months ago after giving up most competitive sport for a few years (only 23 now). I now would mainly do alot of weights with the odd bit of cardio (mainly play squash). Asthma has never been an issue or a hinderence, but I did notice a big change when I learned to breath properly during my sets. I was running short of breath before-but not anymore.

Best of luck with the training-whatever you do, don't let asthma get in the way or become an excuse! I have a friend who complains of having asthma (despite doctors telling him othewise) and whenever we play any sport he uses it as an excuse for being unfit (its definatly not the 15 smokes a day!!)