How bad is smoking effecting my weight lifting?

[la_Zuru]

Before I get the "YOU SUCK YOU DUMBASS DONT SMOKE" responses (not that I expect them, but just in case), let me present my case:

I've smoked for 5 years, that's since high school and now I'm a senior in college. I've varied in how much I've smoked several times (from quitting outright for two months to smoking two packs a day for 3 weeks straight), but I almost always smoke just ONE pack a day.

I've worked out and had moderate success, I typically supplement with Glutamine, No2, Protein (whey), and a multivitamine (Centrum). I eat 2800 calories or more a day, and I work out 4-5 times a week. At my peak I was benching two 70's, dumbells, on an incline, and was benching 225 with the bar included. I don't have any of my other numbers, sorry. Also, I weigh 140lbs and stand at an intimidating 5'4" (short man complex?)

Now the question: How bad is smoking effecting me? I've heard plenty of different things (nicotine multiplies muscle recovery time by four, cigarettes will kill you faster then steroids, etc.), but just tell me if I can have a few cigarettes a day and still see results.

I anxiously await your thoughts, everyone. 8)

[AXResources]

Smoking will hurt the cardio part of your workout and can cause you to lose your energy and breath quicker. I have heard stories of people who smoke before or After workouts and having their lungs collapse.

[Haus]

Let me start by saying that I have smoked before and enjoyed it very much. Secondly, I have hung out with IFBB pros who not only smoked, they smoked pot heavily on a regular basis.

The most important fuel a bodybuilder has is oxygen. Lots of oxygen is essential for building muscle. If you think about it, what is the most important fuel the body needs? What can you go without before you die:

Food: a few weeks
Water: a few days
Oxygen: a few minutes

Tabaco tar gunks up your lungs (duh) and limits oxygen intake. More importantly, you may be starving yourself of the most important anabolic there is.

Is the "gum your out of" Nicorette?

[dinoiii]

Hmmmmm.....

this is intriguing.


I waited to think about this.

Of course, as a medical resident, I am going to have to give you the obligatory - SMOKING SUCKS DUMB ASS comment. But in reality, I think there are pros and cons for a career in bodybuilding, should this be what you are looking for.

Now, I am not here to judge...personally, I am certain there are things I do that do not fit the lifestyle - or at least the lifestyle that is often quoted "needed" for success in the industry. Fortunately, neither does ANYONE who is training...not 100% and if they say they do, they are lying or have been dropped on their head at least once in development.

Are you sacrificing the gains you are making....well, potentially of course - but we all are...the key is giving yourself a net
BENEFIT > SABOTAGE

Sure, that is what you could potentially keep in mind while approaching the situation, but where the hell are the pros and cons...most importantly I am certain you are closely paying attention for my aiding your rationalization that smoking is a good thing.

Well, you're in luck! For every pro, an argument can always be made for an equal and opposite con - kinda like actions and reactions of sort.

Example:
Con - You are sacrificing the growth of tissue, due to not supplying it with required amount of increased oxygen demand.
Pro - Hey, who the hell ever said that the growth of tissue was likely to be muscle. Perhaps, it is fat that you have a propensity for and smoking is aiding keeping that weight down.

Example 2:
Con - Your cardio work will suffer.
Pro - If its body composition you are after, cardio could be shaving off muscle anyway. Perhaps it is better to not do cardio in the first place.



ok, ok - I know all the boys in the room look on and sigh at the doctor who says smoking can be ok...I did not say I thought anything of the sort...but I know what la_Zuru wants to hear. It is not all that unordinary either. Take the hypocrytical doc who smokes yet preaches thou shall not smoke as thee patient b/c it is bad for your health. Geesh! The fat doctor who says you as the pleasantly plump patient should go on a diet.

I think the best I could offer is if this is going to be your one slip in sabotage, allow it to be the only slip. Hell, anabolism may be affected, but it may not be as well. In the long run...there is that whole lung cancer thing though, but there is dying from obesity should you give up smoking. It will all come down to you.

Perhaps stepping back and taking a look at whether you think it is sabotaging your potential gains is more appropriate. When you look in the mirror, do you like what you see? If the answer is no - maybe a try without the cigarettes is what you, knowing yourself better than any doctor I bet, owe yourself. Now, that - only you can answer!!!

[EDAWG146]

Doc, why are all your posts so long. Not to be funny, but I can never read all the way thru. Now I smoke and and I ain't quittin'. I got four kids, three girls ages from 14 (she's going on 20) 4 and 3. I don't and don't want to do any drugs, so what's left. I've been smoking since I was sixteen and I'm 38 now and been lifting seriously now for 2 1/2 years. Oh, I drink but very very rarely.

[italndiesel]

ill give you a real world example

my cousin was 235 and jacked, he did a few cycles.....then he started smoking after about 10 years of not smoking - not only did his strength decrease, he had no stamina and even his muscles looked flat