New Bee

[Jessy68]

Hi everyone,

I am completely new to this. I have just signed up to everything and I will be starting my little journey at some point this week.

I just wanted to ask did anybody have any problems with asthma whilst doing this?

[Fabulous450 Graduate]

Well done for signing up Jessy! There are others on the forum who have asthma and doing the programme. I’m sure they’re will be along to share. Welcome!!❤️

[Susanwalsh070870]

Good luck 😉

[ccarter100]

Welcome!

[Steved110 Graduate]

I always use my inhaler before a run, and carry it with me. Never had a problem but I am well controlled

[Helloyougorgeous Graduate]

Welcome!

I have recently graduated over a period longer than 9 weeks. Part of the reason was that I felt exhausted and totally out of breath even during the short runs. Turns out I do suffer with exercise induced asthma - of which I didn't have a clue!

A few appointments with the asthma nurse at my local GP practice later, I am fine and managed to graduate whilst keeping the asthma under control.

If you do suffer from asthma and the exercise is a concern, I would suggest a visit to your GP or nurse to devise a treatment/management plan that is right for you.

For me it means to have some puffs before I lace up my shoes and I make sure I always carry the inhaler with me. For that purpose I finally discovered the practicality of a flipbelt.

Whatever your situation is with asthma, find what is a safe way for you to go on this journey - the aim is to stay healthy, after all.

[Suzi73 Graduate]

I have asthma, my first couple of runs I needed my inhaler. But along the way I've noticed that I'm using my lung capacity to the max. I don't need to use my blue inhaler any longer. As my jogging and breathing become in sync. I still take my brown inhalers. I'm so glad I started this app all those week's ago. I always had my blue inhaler with me just in case. But lucky 🍀 me I haven't needed it.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Welcome to the forum.

This guide to the plan is essential reading healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

Many find that their asthma becomes more controllable after they start running, but do consult with your GP or asthma nurse.

Enjoy your journey.

[Janrt]

I’ve had asthma since age 12. I’m now 53! I started trying different exercise from age 40. Before then I had frequent asthma attacks. Many resulting in hospital. All I can say is I haven’t had one attack since ! I take my inhaler daily as prescribed. Recently the hot weather has made it more difficult to breathe. But don’t get asthma mixed up with being “out of breath” due to being unfit. The app does give very good tips on how to breathe properly. Keep going it definitely will help your asthma.

[Hidden]

I have exercise induced asthma. It is the number one reason I have never attempted running.

I cannot and will not lie to you. Week one day one was a disaster and it was a little frightening. The breathing was the hardest and worst part. I was gulping and gasping for breath like a fish thrown on a dock. No matter how hard I breathed in, I felt I couldn't get enough air. (You know the drill. It's not the standard, "Oh, I'm so out of shape and gosh I'm out of breath." It's beyond.)

I did a lot of Googling around and reading about running and breathing and asthma. The best piece of information I read was from a respiratory therapist who said that the panicked gasping feeling of not being able to get enough air in your lungs is not actually not getting air in, but that you're not getting the "bad" air out. S/he recommended really being sure to empty your lungs out before trying to fill them again. Does that make sense?

I use this visual to help me on runs now. Rather than trying to pull more "good" air into lungs full of "bad" air, I concentrate on clearing them out and then pulling it in.

Who knows if this is bunk science and I trusted some teenager with internet access pretending to be a medical professional... it works! It calmed me down and that's all that matters.

Here is the one thing I hope you will hear and take away from this: You can actually improve your respiratory health and breathing capacity. It is happening to me. I swear to you on all I hold dear on the first week I was talking out loud, "I can't. I can't. I can never. I can't." I truly believed and FELT in my lungs that I could not only not finish this program, but that I could not make it to the next week. It was very humbling. It was very discouraging. I spent every single second of those walking breaks trying to catch my breath. It confirmed what I always knew: I can't run with asthma.

And then...I did. Every day 1 increase was a challenge, yes. But each time easier somehow. My lungs feel bigger? Stronger? More capable? A crazy thing happened in week 4: the walking breaks started feeling a little TOO long, I was ready to get back to the running bit.

Slow down. You will read it again and again, you may even roll your eyes and think "These people have no idea how slow I'm ALREADY running." I did that, said that, and meant it. But one day in the first week I decided to stop being stubborn and contrary and listen. I slowed down. It made the hugest difference.

I don't know that I can graduate. I have faith in my legs and my feet and my will and determination, but I can't quite rely on these lungs. But I don't feel like I did a few weeks ago - I can't. I can't. I can never- and that alone is miraculous, believe me.