Please Scroll Down to See Forums Below How bad is smoking cigarettes for you if you lift weights. I have heard people say it will seriously inhibit gains and then i have heard others say that it doesn't do much. I just wanted to see what everyone here knew about smoking and weightlifting. I don't want to hear the average smoking kills you stuff because i already know this, just what it does in regards to your body building muscle.
Smoking and weightlifting
- Thread starter pmd287
- Start date
I don't think there have been any studies looking at it... or at least I don't know of any.
Smoking does cause vasoconstriction (makes your blood vessels clamp down), which can decrease blood supply to your muscles. This could keep you from getting a good pump, and could theoretically cause your muscles to get a decreased amount of amino acids delivered to it.
The vasoconstriction can also cause your intestines to absorb less nutrients, which can hinder progress.
As I mentioned earlier, I am not aware of any studies, and what I am stating above is THEORY.
I would try to quit smoking. I know it's hard. I smoked while in college. Smoking and weightlifting are like weightlifting and eating fatty foods. It's really bad for your health, can predipose you to lung blebs (which could pop with heavy lifting, giving you a pneumothorax), causes injury to blood vessels and high blood pressure (which worsens during heavy lifts, predisposing you to an aneurysm), and not to mention many other health effects.
However, it seems like you are already aware of these effects. I only mention them for others who are looking for reasons to quit.
Smoking does cause vasoconstriction (makes your blood vessels clamp down), which can decrease blood supply to your muscles. This could keep you from getting a good pump, and could theoretically cause your muscles to get a decreased amount of amino acids delivered to it.
The vasoconstriction can also cause your intestines to absorb less nutrients, which can hinder progress.
As I mentioned earlier, I am not aware of any studies, and what I am stating above is THEORY.
I would try to quit smoking. I know it's hard. I smoked while in college. Smoking and weightlifting are like weightlifting and eating fatty foods. It's really bad for your health, can predipose you to lung blebs (which could pop with heavy lifting, giving you a pneumothorax), causes injury to blood vessels and high blood pressure (which worsens during heavy lifts, predisposing you to an aneurysm), and not to mention many other health effects.
However, it seems like you are already aware of these effects. I only mention them for others who are looking for reasons to quit.
Yeah the vasoconstriction is one thing i have thought of, I definitely do need to quit. Thank you for your input, i also wonder what all the chemical additives in cigarettes do. When i inhale smoke i deliver these additives to my lungs which carry them through my body, delivery would include to my muscles. I wonder what the effects these additives have on the muscles are?
silver_shadow
New member
i'm feeling too lazy to search, but nicotine probably blunts GH and testosterone production.
I'd love to point you to some scientific studies but all I can do is tell you from personal experience because, I'm ashamed to admit, I've done both, lifted while smoking and not smoking. If you quit your weights will go up and your endurance will increase. Reduced oxygen puts a HUGE damper on lifting. Enhanced or natural, you will NEVER reach your full potential if you continue to smoke and lift weights, simple as that.
Also, cigarettes are LOADED with an appalling amount of toxins, all of which have to be dealt with by your liver.
Also, cigarettes are LOADED with an appalling amount of toxins, all of which have to be dealt with by your liver.
silver_shadow
New member
lolrnch said:what else do you need to hear? how ferkin' STOOOPID can some peeps be? jayysusssss......
safety4lyfe
New member
I would just drop the smoking act altogether. It definatly wont help weightlifting...
Does anyone know if chewing decrease test and gh? I gotta quit that habit as well, heh.
Does anyone know if chewing decrease test and gh? I gotta quit that habit as well, heh.
Nick_Escalantes
New member
just smoke a nice cigar with a scotch
safety4lyfe
New member
im more of a stogie with cogac man
fireflyer
New member
Smoking decreases the body's ability to absorb oxygen
Even a modest amount of carbon monoxide in the lungs decreases your body’s ability to absorb oxygen. It also decreases the amount of oxygen your body transports to your muscles. Moreover, tar coats the lungs and makes it more difficult to breathe. If that’s not enough, smoking causes a swelling of mucous membranes in the lungs, which also affects breathing.
During exercise the heart has to work harder if your smoke
A smoker’s heart rate is elevated. Thus, when exercise is attempted, the effort seems more arduous and the heart rate speeds quickly. In all, your heart will have to work harder to do the same amount of work a non-smoker does. And, you’ll feel less comfortable doing it. If you’re prone to high blood pressure, smoking makes it worse.
Increased fatigue during and after exercise as a result of smoking
You’ll also find that smoking increases your fatigue level during and after your exercise session. Endurance is reduced and physical performance may not improve as much as if you did not smoke.
With all the above negative effects, it’s easy to see that smoking and fitness do not mix.
Got this from this link -
http://www.thedietchannel.com/Smoking-Effects-On-Workouts.htm
Even a modest amount of carbon monoxide in the lungs decreases your body’s ability to absorb oxygen. It also decreases the amount of oxygen your body transports to your muscles. Moreover, tar coats the lungs and makes it more difficult to breathe. If that’s not enough, smoking causes a swelling of mucous membranes in the lungs, which also affects breathing.
During exercise the heart has to work harder if your smoke
A smoker’s heart rate is elevated. Thus, when exercise is attempted, the effort seems more arduous and the heart rate speeds quickly. In all, your heart will have to work harder to do the same amount of work a non-smoker does. And, you’ll feel less comfortable doing it. If you’re prone to high blood pressure, smoking makes it worse.
Increased fatigue during and after exercise as a result of smoking
You’ll also find that smoking increases your fatigue level during and after your exercise session. Endurance is reduced and physical performance may not improve as much as if you did not smoke.
With all the above negative effects, it’s easy to see that smoking and fitness do not mix.
Got this from this link -
http://www.thedietchannel.com/Smoking-Effects-On-Workouts.htm
safety4lyfe
New member
do the right thing a pick up a tin of chew. one UFC fighter said it gives him that extra buzz he needs to shit pump.
well, im a cigarette smoker. im probably in the same boat as you, and I can personally tell you my lifts have gone up steadily, and am capable of shedding body fat rather easily..quitting is always a better option, but to answer your question I would say the effects are minimal unless talking about endurance and general health
safety4lyfe
New member
i was just joking around...i need to quit. i guess im too much of a hick.
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