Living with a smoker

shampooman

Hey lads,

Hope ye are all well. I love running, my main sport is football which I play at a decent enough level and am known for my ability to get up and down the pitch I have one question that some of you may be able to help me with. I'm living with a smoker, although she never smokes in the same room as me, usually just kitchen area... I wonder would 2nd hand smoke have any negative impact on my cardiovascular fitness? Any of you guys live with smokers and notice any negative effect on your fitness?

I should mention I train every day.. from weight training to endurance, strength and skills.

Thanks lads!

Nanazolie

I've smoked since I was 18 (1 to 3 ciggies a day), and I can do 80 lenghts in the pool (including a few without breathing), have ran a few marathons, half ones and used to cycle every day to work (I'm out of action temporarily due to injuries, but still swim 3 times a week).
I'm not condoning smoking, it's bad for me and I know it. But I wouldn't worry too much about the smoke your girlfriend produces in a separate room. Just make sure to open the windows often. Car exhaust fumes causes more damage in my opinion if you cycle in the traffic

Carpenter

In the early stages of the TDF 1 of the winners was a chain smoker

Chivito550

shampooman wrote: »

although she never smokes in the same room as me, usually just kitchen area

That is fairly disgusting and totally selfish. Tell her to do her smoking outside or move out.

hfallada

I know plenty of smokers. But I don't know a single one that smokes in their house or apartment. I know someone whose parents smoked in the garage( and still do) as they never wanted him to see them smoking.

Second hand smoke kills and that was the bases of the smoking ban. If I smoked, I wouldn't mind having to smoke outside if it was going to affect your health

Nanazolie

hfallada wrote: »

I know plenty of smokers. But I don't know a single one that smokes in their house or apartment. I know someone whose parents smoked in the garage( and still do) as they never wanted him to see them smoking.

Second hand smoke kills and that was the bases of the smoking ban. If I smoked, I wouldn't mind having to smoke outside if it was going to affect your health

That would be me, lol. I have 2 young kids and I don't think they know I smoke. I smoke outside, out of respect for my husband and kids. I have a friend who smokes indoor and I hate the smell in her house, so I can understand why you don't like it if you are a non smoker.

Cabaal

Nanazolie wrote: »

That would be me, lol. I have 2 young kids and I don't think they know I smoke. I smoke outside, out of respect for my husband and kids.

Don't be under any illusions,
The kids very much smell smoke off of you, as you've mentioned though they are young they likely just don't know what the smell is.

If you are a non smoker you'll very easily pick up on the smell of smoke from a smoker,

I say this given I'm a non smoker and always have been but my wife smokes on occasion and there's a few smokers in my family. I can always tell when they've smoked, even if outside.

I will say though, I have alot of respect for smokers that take the time to go outside for the consideration of others. Many smokers don't care who they affect when they smoke.

seamus

2nd hand smoke probably won't affect your day to day training in any appreciable way, however it does make you more likely to contract respiratory infections, and will make recovery from such illnesses longer. Over the long term it can also cause heart problems.

The level of exposure is important though. If she takes two cigarettes a day in the kitchen, usually when you're not around, then the effect is going to be minimal. If she smokes 20 a day and you spend a lot of time together, the effect will be noticeable.

rom

Nanazolie wrote: »

That would be me, lol. I have 2 young kids and I don't think they know I smoke. I smoke outside, out of respect for my husband and kids. I have a friend who smokes indoor and I hate the smell in her house, so I can understand why you don't like it if you are a non smoker.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lZrw2SKQq4

Nanazolie

rom wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lZrw2SKQq4

Thanks, but as I said, I don't condone smoking and I know it's bad for me. I don't live in denial and just because I'm way fitter than a lot of non smokers I still accept it is a bad habit. I don't drink, I don't eat junk, and I will eventually stop smoking. I can spend days without having a smoke, stopped without any 2nd thoughts when I was pregnant. I guess I'm just not ready right now

ThisRegard

Nanazolie wrote: »

That would be me, lol. I have 2 young kids and I don't think they know I smoke. I smoke outside, out of respect for my husband and kids. I have a friend who smokes indoor and I hate the smell in her house, so I can understand why you don't like it if you are a non smoker.

As Cabaal said, one thing a smoker never realises is the smell off them, particularly when just after finishing one. You can be sure they're well aware you do because of the smell.

Nanazolie

ThisRegard wrote: »

As Cabaal said, one thing a smoker never realises is the smell off them, particularly when just after finishing one. You can be sure they're well aware you do because of the smell.

That shouldn't be an issue because I only smoke after they've gone to bed, and by the time they see me the next day I've had a shower, brushed my teeth and changed clothes

I guess they'll eventually find out

rom

Nanazolie wrote: »

I don't live in denial and just because I'm way fitter than a lot of non smokers I still accept it is a bad habit. I don't drink, I don't eat junk, and I will eventually stop smoking. I can spend days without having a smoke, stopped without any 2nd thoughts when I was pregnant. I guess I'm just not ready right now

:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

username123

Nanazolie wrote: »

That shouldn't be an issue because I only smoke after they've gone to bed, and by the time they see me the next day I've had a shower, brushed my teeth and changed clothes

I guess they'll eventually find out

A woman in the gym I am in never personally smells of smoke but I knew she was a smoker when she sat next to me and opened her gym bag to take her towel out - the entire bag and contents smelled of cigarettes. The smell lingers on things that you wouldnt notice as a smoker.

For the OP, its about your exposure level. If you are constantly being exposed to second hand smoke, it may have some affect on you. How much time do you spend in the kitchen and how many cigarettes are being smoked in there, whats the ventilation like etc.. Its a difficult one to quantify, but personally Id be asking her to smoke outside - its horribly selfish of her to inflict her habit on non smokers.

the_syco

Nanazolie wrote: »

That shouldn't be an issue because I only smoke after they've gone to bed, and by the time they see me the next day I've had a shower, brushed my teeth and changed clothes

Unless you do it outside, the smell will spread.

=-=

OP; depends on multiple factors. You'll only really know if you spent a week away, and if you then found you could train harder and longer.

Personally speaking, when I did smoke, I found that I would only be able to give 80%-90% if I smoked one rollie in the morning (when I'd be going to the gym 8 or 9 hours later) compared to the full 100% if I didn't smoke at all.

Other people seemed to be able to give their all to the gym, even though they smoked.

Maybe see if she'd consider switching to e-cigarettes as part of a "New Years" resolution? No smoke for you means no effect, and also no stale smell of smoke

shampooman

Hey lads,

Thanks everyone for the replies!! I'm never in the same room when she smokes so I think the affects on my training and fitness wouldn't be compromised in any big way but I do find it annoying regardless. I should be moved out by the end of the year anyways but yeah hate to have any outside influences that would have a negative impact on my fitness... In the meantime I'll make sure to continue to avoid being in the same room as she smokes and have the windows open etc.

Thanks everyone!!

Nanazolie

shampooman wrote: »

Hey lads,

Thanks everyone for the replies!! I'm never in the same room when she smokes so I think the affects on my training and fitness wouldn't be compromised in any big way but I do find it annoying regardless. I should be moved out by the end of the year anyways but yeah hate to have any outside influences that would have a negative impact on my fitness... In the meantime I'll make sure to continue to avoid being in the same room as she smokes and have the windows open etc.

Thanks everyone!!

You could ask her to smoke outside. As I said, I don't think it affects your training anymore than being on the street with all the traffic and smokers at the bus stop, but the smell is not very nice and you shouldn't have to put up with it if you don't smoke.

shampooman

shampooman wrote: »

I should be moved out by the end of the year anyways but yeah hate to have any outside influences that would have a negative impact on my fitness...

Bloody hell, moved out? I hope it wasn't an answer here that prompted it.

In the meantime, your relationship is more important than your fitness. So talk things over with your partner rather than anonymous posters on the Internet.

Nanazolie

Deleted User wrote: »

Bloody hell, moved out? I hope it wasn't an answer here that prompted it.

In the meantime, your relationship is more important than your fitness. So talk things over with your partner rather than anonymous posters on the Internet.

He never said she was his girlfriend Could just be the housemate

theboyblunder

Im pretty sure that lung cancer would affect your vo2max

smoking in the flat aint on. Its your health buddy.

YFlyer

shampooman wrote: »

Hey lads,

Thanks everyone for the replies!! I'm never in the same room when she smokes so I think the affects on my training and fitness wouldn't be compromised in any big way but I do find it annoying regardless. I should be moved out by the end of the year anyways but yeah hate to have any outside influences that would have a negative impact on my fitness... In the meantime I'll make sure to continue to avoid being in the same room as she smokes and have the windows open etc.

Thanks everyone!!

That's a long way off man :cool:

MrCreosote

Move out, or move her out dude! Life's too short, YOLO and all that sort of thing. At best it'll only be affecting your fitness slightly, but if you have even a hint of asthma or hayfever the second hand smoke could be having a big effect on it. Even the second hand smoke off her clothes.

Cabaal wrote: »

I will say though, I have alot of respect for smokers that take the time to go outside for the consideration of others. Many smokers don't care who they affect when they smoke.

I have a lot of respect for these smokers too, in the same way I greatly respect people who have the consideration for others to take a dump in the toilet rather than pushing out a steaming pile of sh*t into the middle of the living room.

MrCreosote

MrCreosote wrote: »

Move out, or move her out dude! Life's too short, YOLO and all that sort of thing.

Agree with that, if it's a partner or friend not sure this is the right place for advice, if it's a stranger and it's just a house share then I guess we can't be too critical of the other person. Unless they are breaking a term of the lease, or they said they were a non smoker and moved in and started it. But the OP can have few complaints if it's allowed by the lease, or if for example he moved in after the other person and knew they smoked. Presume the concern is pretty marginal, some professional sports stars have smoked, and while clearly it's less than ideal on the other hand I can't imagine anyone here can realistically quantify the damage.

career_move

shampooman wrote: »

Hey lads,

Hope ye are all well. I love running, my main sport is football which I play at a decent enough level and am known for my ability to get up and down the pitch I have one question that some of you may be able to help me with. I'm living with a smoker, although she never smokes in the same room as me, usually just kitchen area... I wonder would 2nd hand smoke have any negative impact on my cardiovascular fitness? Any of you guys live with smokers and notice any negative effect on your fitness?

I should mention I train every day.. from weight training to endurance, strength and skills.

Thanks lads!

Apart from the disgusting smell I think it would be naive to think that it doesn't have a negative effect on your training and health in general

http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/secondhand_smoke/general_facts/index.htm