i have asthma... and its really hard to exercise...what do you recomend i should do

i have asthma and im trying to lose like 20 pounds .. i used to do the elliptical, jog and skip but now everytime i do it  .. i get so out of breath its like im going to die... pls do you have any advice on what i can do...

Hi, I also have asthma & chronic bronchitis.  Do you take any medicines for your asthma, if you are under the care of a doctor, ask about albuterol for when you experience breathing difficulties.

I exercise but nothing real strenuous.  I suggest you try walking, gradually increasing your time & speed.  Walking is really a good way to burn calories and if you do it regularly it will help.  Good Luck.

You could try doing pilates, it can help tone your body but it's not hard on your breathing.

It is difficult to say without more detailed information.  I grew up with asthma and still managed to be quite physically active including varsity track and cross country in high school and college.  I had at least one team mate who used an inhaler before races.  There are many professional athletes as well as Olympic medalists dealing with asthma.  So I am inclined to believe that you should be able to manage with medication.  You need to discuss this with your doctor.  But push for a positive outcome.

The best thing you can do for yourself is to consult a pulmonary therapist and learn breathing exercises.  I do a series of deep breathing exercises every day, and it's improved my lung capacity.  I was in a class with a lot of people with different problems, including asthma, and we all felt better after the 6 week course.

Once you are breathing properly, you'll be able to do a lot more.  The goal of this kind of therapy is to improve endurance, not to increase strength or speed.

A good friend of mine also has asthma and stays fit by doing intense yoga. 

I have asthma and I ALWAYS make sure I have my puffer with me where ever I go and espcially when I know I'm going to be active. I make sure I take 2 puffs before doing any strenious exercise and I keep my puffer with me during exercise for any emergencies!

o ok thanks...

I also have asthma so i walk 1 hour daily monday - friday and the weight is coming off very slow. When i try to do more i cant breath even with my inhaler so it looks like walking is my only choice so far. Good luck

Talk to your doctor about ways to exercise more with asthma. I did, and I now use my inhaler (2 puffs) shortly before exercising, even if I'm not having any symptoms (do consult with your doctor, thought). I also find that the following is useful:

• Warm up/cool down (seems to make my lungs happier).
• Keep hydrated--asthmatics tend to acquire thick mucous in the lungs; water helps move it out.
• Interval cardio (see various threads on HIIT). The important thing for me was to work up very slowly.
• Doing cardio before resistance training if I'm doing them in the same session (various people have posted that this isn't they way to do it to build muscle; however, I'm finding that it is the way to do it to keep my lungs happy. It also seems to provide an extended cool down affect.
• Get enough sleep! (I'm very bad at following my own advice here, but when I do it helps).
• If you can afford it, find a personal trainer who is compatible and interested in helping make things work for you, and buy a few sessions of training

As a side note, I'm 55 and recently did a treadmill stress test with a heart monitor. The attending cardiologist said my heart was fine and I didn't even miss a beat (and the whole test was less strenuous than my usual cardio). Considering that several years ago, I could get winded walking (slowly) around the block, I think I've done pretty well despite asthma.

Good luck and feel free to send me email if I can help in any way.

You could practice deep breathing exercises to work on your lung capacity and to improve your overall respiratory health.

Personally, swimming was a godsend for my asthma as a child.  My asthma was horrible, but I eventually became the best at holding my breath underwater in my swimming class (maybe due to all the years of forced practice =\ ).

Swimming really helps you focus, relax & control your breathing.  I'm not saying jump in and try for 10 laps. =)  Pace yourself, just submerge yourself and focus on your breathing.  When you feel comfortable, try swimming laps.

I have found that eating healthy and daily exercise has actually helped my ashma.  I used to use my inhalor at least twice a day, and now I don't even need it most days.  I still carry it, mind you.  There are times when it is necessary, just not nearly as often.