POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: aupointillimite on July 14, 2007, 07:08:55 pm
-
So, I've quit smoking. Yes. Two weeks of no smoking. Go me.
When I quit, I told myself that I would let two weeks of healing happen until I began the next step in my "Be more healthy regimen" thing.
In the spirit of that... I... am... going... to... start... oh God... exercising.
Yeah. Exercise.
Me.
I have some sort of idea that the endorphins will provide a nice, mood-boosting alternative to nicotine... and I'm also rather tired of being indie-rock thin. I've been rocking that look since 2004, and it's time for a change.
I plan on discussing this with my ID doc... I'm sure she'll be thrilled... but I have some questions and such.
And I was wondering if you cats had any advice for combining HIV and exercise. I think it will help with stress... but is there anything I should concentrate on eating? More protein is a must, I know. But anything else?
Oh, and I plan on focusing on swimming (I went to Junior Olympics in swimming a number of years ago, so I know how to do this quite well), and probably some other aerobic activities with muscle building.
Any help or advice would be appreciated.
-
Exercise? Isn't that a disease worse than having HIV? ;)
-
Nice going, Benj. Metamorphism.
xxx,
Mike
-
Who are you and what have you done with our Benjamin?
-
Wow, you're undertaking a lot - esp the quitting smoking - it's a real bitch, but doable. By not smoking you've done the single most important thing to preserve your health and help your HIV stay in check.
Before exercising have a power bar and a glass of OJ, so you don't slump. I like to ride my road bike 15-20 miles (that's not so far really), lift weights, go to a weight lifting class (weights and music - I know so gay, but if the shoe fits...), and other exercise classes if I feel like it. Do consider the class route - having someone direct the activity will ensure you get it done efficiently. I'm glad you're over the indie rock thin look - it's been so done. Young hot guy with trim, hard body - now there's a look I think you can pull off well.
-
Who are you and what have you done with our Benjamin?
I'm almost 25.
25 is the age where you can't get away with it so much anymore.
I always swore that once I turned 25, all the smoking and boozing and drugging would cease, decrease dramatically... and decrease dramatically. Respectively. I'm trying to get a head start.
Anyway, I'm thinking that being healthy would be different for a change. And if I'm going to hang around for decades pissing people off, it's not gonna be done on the backs of Camel cigarettes.
-
I can't wait until you "get Jesus" on us next week.
-
I can't wait until you "get Jesus" on us next week.
If he "gets Jesus", does that mean we get to crucify him too?
-
I can't wait until you "get Jesus" on us next week.
I've had Jesus. He's great. He has HUGE wood.
~YPT
(Who is SO going to Hell for this post.)
[attachment deleted by admin]
-
Running is the best nicotine replacement drug there is. It worked for me anyway.
If you've gone two weeks, you're home free. The rest is all in your head. I'll still occasionally have a cig, but they taste like shit and make me sick. Then I always tell the cigarette, "Cigarette, we were once in love and it was beautiful, but I'm sorry honey...all things must pass."
With the whole working out thing, just listen to your body. You'll find where your limits are. And expect to be sore all the time for a month or two...you'll learn to love it. :D
GOOD WORK!
brian
-
Excellent move!! Next month, I celebrate 20 years off of cigs. Smoked 17 before. Quit at 2+ packs per day. ID doc said when he listens to my lungs he cannot detect I EVER smoked. Hang in. Every so often, a lit one will smell intoxicating, but most will stink. Inhale. Hold your breath for 30 seconds and the urge, if you have one, will pass. Tres bon!!!!!
-
I've had Jesus. He's great. He has HUGE wood.
~YPT
(Who is SO going to Hell for this post.)
Something tells me that large cross marks the place along the highway where you lost your virginity.
-
Exercise it the best thing to keep you off cigarettes. When you're body needs more oxygen due to exercise, the last thing you'll want is to smoke...
The body was designed to move...
Sorry no specific advice.
Keep moving what ever you do :)
Mauricio.
-
I can't wait until you "get Jesus" on us next week.
Ew.
I very well might get Anton LaVay on you guys... but never Jesus.
-
LMAO
-
And I was wondering if you cats had any advice for combining HIV and exercise. I think it will help with stress... but is there anything I should concentrate on eating? More protein is a must, I know. But anything else?
Oh, and I plan on focusing on swimming (I went to Junior Olympics in swimming a number of years ago, so I know how to do this quite well), and probably some other aerobic activities with muscle building.
Any help or advice would be appreciated.
I basically started doing the resistance machines two to three times a week and would intermix cardio/yoga and swimming. I would do all my muscles groups (chest, back, shoulders, arms and lower) at once. When that eventually stopped increasing muscle, I started doing weights more often but less per session by categorizing my muscles groups. I would do back/bicepts one day, then chest/shoulders/tricepts the next and then lower. By breaking it up, I could spend a little more time on each group and exercise them better. The next phases was to get off the machines and do free weights. I did spend a little on a personal trainer (which was crap) but mostly started paying attention to the people I knew were doing it right from what I could ascertain from the internet. I've been in that mode for quite awhile now.
I've been pretty steady at the gym for about five years. There's never going to be one right way to do it because you'll be building in phases all the time. And then there is the need to keep it fresh and varied through classes to keep you going. Honestly, my first suggestion would be to find a fun gym where you have some friends and a lot of cruising to keep you motivated. Having classes really helps too for when you just want to be told what to do.
Best of luck.
-
Hey Benj....
GOOD FOR YOU!! Most people your age don't get futuristic in terms of health and fitness issues so your efforts are truly commendable. The swimming is a great cardio regimen....it doesn't wack your legs like runniing will. I don't have time to do the gym so I just do a basic routine every morning: stretches followed by 150 squats and 100 push-ups. Of course when I started this routine 3 years ago it was 10 squats and 20 push ups! Whatever you do, start slow and work your way up! (kinda like good sex!)
Keep on keeping on!
Craig
-
My My I am impressed. This has to be some kind of miracle and I dont believe in miracles. So, I guess Ben got the pants scared off him. Good luck Ben.
-
My My I am impressed. This has to be some kind of miracle and I dont believe in miracles. So, I guess Ben got the pants scared off him. Good luck Ben.
I'm full of surprises. ;)
-
so you're only doing this because of "teh boils"?
-
so you're only doing this because of "teh boils"?
Well, I'm not so stupid as to think that recurring staph infections are signs of a flawlessly functioning immune system. I'm already prone to wretched skin infections anyway, and if the first sign of immuno-suppression for me is incredibly disfiguring, unbelievably painful boils and abscesses on my face that keep me out of work and socializing for over a week at a time... well, I'm going to do what I can to prevent that from ever happening again.
This is twice in two months now... and Benjamin is a smidgen tired of it.
-
Well, did you doctor indicate this or is it more of a case of "in the wrong place at the wrong time"? I was not aware your numbers were so low. Maybe I missed something.
-
Well, did you doctor indicate this or is it more of a case of "in the wrong place at the wrong time"? I was not aware your numbers were so low. Maybe I missed something.
They're not particularly low... but they're not that great. The staphies seem to pop up in moments of stress... and I'd like to remove some of the behaviors that haven't been really helpful in dealing with stress lately.
If you think I'm cutting everything bad out completely... no. I'm not someone who can abstain completely... nor would I want to. But I'm talking about cutting back by like 98%. Except in smoking... that's gotta go. I can't do that socially.
-
I agree.....socially...its not cool to smoke anymore. Thats why I quit. Well, that and the fact that my doctor told me that after 40 years of smoking I had early stage emphysema and would end up tethered to an oxygen tank.
I quit the day that the city of philadelphia banned smoking in bars. Now its just pathetic to see the people outside the clubs who have to smoke .....wind and rain, summer or winter. And teh butts are really annoying. They stick to your shoes.
Ben Its a very mature decision and I hope you stick with it. Have your friends given up smoking? Mine...at least those still alive...all did. So being the ONLY smoker in the room was definitely a problem.
-
I agree.....socially...its not cool to smoke anymore. Thats why I quit. Well, that and the fact that my doctor told me that after 40 years of smoking I had early stage emphysema and would end up tethered to an oxygen tank.
I quit the day that the city of philadelphia banned smoking in bars. Now its just pathetic to see the people outside the clubs who have to smoke .....wind and rain, summer or winter. And teh butts are really annoying. They stick to your shoes.
Ben Its a very mature decision and I hope you stick with it. Have your friends given up smoking? Mine...at least those still alive...all did. So being the ONLY smoker in the room was definitely a problem.
Hmm... a couple of my friends have quit. All of my close friends still smoke... but they're being very, very nice about me quitting. They've cut back on smoking in front of me... I've enthused about the money I've been saving but haven't nagged them into quitting. Because that's fucking annoying.
Yeah, all the bans (bills to ban smoking in public places here in Virginia have all failed thus far, but just barely... which is saying something about the popularity of the bans) have urged me to quit... as has the ever-increasing expense. I started smoking in 1999, and it was about $2.00 a pack here then... now, it's about $3.75. That's sort of ridiculous... so I've quit.
I feel better already... can taste better and stuff. It's nice.
-
Hey Benj,
You will thank yourself for this decision. I quit six months ago after smoking for 34 years. (Love that Chantix).
Anyway, you will feel better, look younger longer, smell better, be better in bed (more stamina, you know) and discover there are smells in the world you had totally forgotten about - some of them good.
Keep up the good work!
HUGS,
Mark
(Speaking of Anton LeVay)
[attachment deleted by admin]
-
Benj, try yoga if you get the opportunity. I did it for the first time yesterday. The hour passed quickly, it only hurt a few times, and my IBS behaved itself all day long. The way I'm sore today, I think that maybe you can build muscle and maintain flexibilityif you do it regularly. But not the next day!
-
Hows it going Ben?
quote you" I started smoking in 1999, and it was about $2.00 a pack here then... now, it's about $3.75. That's sort of ridiculous... so I've quit." Gosh a pack of cigarettes only cost a quarter when I started smoking. But I have accepted the need to quit as well as save money.
Basquo has a good suggestion with the yoga. There is also an acupuncture treatment to help you stop. I know that acupuncture has helped me feel better.
-
A dr. friend of mine swears by chantrix. He claims he has had several long time smokers who after just 4-8 weeks have no desire to smoke anymore. Almost makes me want to start again. I quit over ten years ago and I still dream about them
-
There was a recent health ad campaign here that stated 50% of people in our hospitals today were there for some smoking related reason. That seemed high to me but perhaps it took into account those who weren't healing quickly due to smoking etc.
I still look back in amazement that people ever were allowed to smoke in bars, restaurants, planes etc. As a non-smoker I remember waking up after a night of partying and smelling the smoke on your pillow, and in your hair when you started to shower - yuck! Now there's a move afoot here to ban smoking on outdoor patios and even beaches, we'll see if it goes ahead.
-
Benj, try yoga if you get the opportunity. I did it for the first time yesterday. The hour passed quickly, it only hurt a few times, and my IBS behaved itself all day long. The way I'm sore today, I think that maybe you can build muscle and maintain flexibilityif you do it regularly. But not the next day!
Thanks for the idea! I should do that...
I joined the Y here... mostly because of the pool. I love to swim... but they offer yoga classes and stuff... so I think that might be something cool to try.
I went exercising for the first time today. I feel all endorphiny and oxygen-filled. Needless to say, I feel nice.
It's sort of like cocaine... except it seems to last much longer and I don't feel cracked out. Interesting. And this is supposed to keep me thin too. Hmm.
There are many, many attractive homosexual men who work out there as well.
This is a definite plus.
Why no one told me about this earlier is beyond me.