Zero to hero/slightly more than zero...

Bluefoam

Since I was young I've had trouble getting fit. In recent years I have done allot of mountain biking & could be out on the bike for between 2.5 - 7 hours on the weekend, with a 4 mile training spin during the week. But still cannot tackle a hill. I have been off the mountain bike for at least a year, but have recently bought a road bike to get some exercise.

I have asthma, but was told by my GP it was not severe and didn’t need any treatment for it. I have an inhaler, but only because it was given to me by someone else. I was born with a heart murmur, but my doctor told me years ago not to worry about it, that it'll never effect me.

I find that I get severe burn in my diaphragm when exercising & have allot of difficulty breathing - also getting coughing fits. The inhaler only seems to provide some very mild relief.

I have an issue with strength in my legs as the tendons on the outside of my knee are stronger than those on the inside. I will concentrate on building those up & I feel that they definitely have an impact on my cycling/fitness in general.

Anyway... I do want to build up my fitness to a level where I can enjoy going for a cycle with friends, without holding them up. In the long term I'd love to be able to attempt an event like Gael Force, but at the moment I'm reluctant to even join a tag rugby team because I'm so embarrassed about my lack of fitness.

I would like to seek professional advice on how to do this correctly, but my experience of sports professionals is that they just tell me to do more, to 'feel the burn' and the more I do the fitter I'll get. Which is a load of ****e, because I have attempted this approach & watched those around me progress much quicker. From what I've said above, you can probably tell that I think my GP is utterly incompetent and I don't trust him with my health.

So, how should I approach this issue...? Should I hire a team of fitness coach, sports psychologist & doctor to finely tune my fitness regime or is there a professional who can help me with my dilemma? As is case with most things these days, money is tight at the moment, so any suggestions would have to be reasonably cost effective.

Thanks in advance...

d'Oracle

If you have no confidence in your GP, change GP.
You really need to trust your doctor.

papajimsmooth

Bluefoam wrote: »

I have an inhaler, but only because it was given to me by someone else.

You should never use medication that isnt prescribed to you, also there are several types of inhalers such as preventative or reactionary inhalers so dont assume that just because the one your using dosent work for you that a different type wont either.

Bluefoam

d'Oracle wrote: »

If you have no confidence in your GP, change GP.
You really need to trust your doctor.

You are right & intend to as part of this process.

papajimsmooth wrote: »

You should never use medication that isnt prescribed to you, also there are several types of inhalers such as preventative or reactionary inhalers so dont assume that just because the one your using dosent work for you that a different type wont either.

I accept your criticism - in fairness, it is the same inhaler that I have been prescribed in the past by two different doctors for the same purpose.

At this point I'm looking for some advice on how to approach this. I'm willing to put in the effort, but I don't want to take the attitude of 'just get out and do it' because this method hasn't worked for me in the past & has set me back rather than give me the impetus to move forward.

Would you suggest I seek help from a fitness instructor or should I approach a doctor? Are there doctors who specialise in these sorts of issues?

BossArky

Bluefoam wrote: »

I find that I get severe burn in my diaphragm when exercising & have allot of difficulty breathing - also getting coughing fits. The inhaler only seems to provide some very mild relief

This isn't the place to where you can get advice on the above. Try a different GP.