Regaining fitness

[Furio-92]

I need to regain fitness. I am a smoker, gradually cutting down, then to fully quit. Whats the best ways to build my fitness level back up?

[JamesR]

Sprints or hill sprints are fantastic for building fitness quickly I have found. Other than that just jog as far as you can, then walk for a couple of minutes until you have recovered then run again and so on for a couple of miles and then go back.

If it's too boring then skipping / punch bag / circuit training / fast cycling will also help and work. Also plenty of water, push yourself and try and eat well, good luck :)

[Furio-92]

Ok, thanks mate. How often, every other day?

[JamesR]

Entirely up to you, obviously the more you train the quicker you will get fitter. Might want to start off gradually at 3 times a week and see how you go.

Mix in some weights / bodyweight exercises (Pressups, Pullups, Dips, Situps etc) and you'll see improvements within a month ish :)

[Giraffe]

Just a quick point on what James just said, the more you train the quicker you will get fitter isn't strictly true. You still need quality rest to recover, your heart is a muscle as well.

[JamesR]

Just a quick point on what James just said, the more you train the quicker you will get fitter isn't strictly true. You still need quality rest to recover, your heart is a muscle as well.

Of course I meant within reason, I don't think he's going to have the time to spend 5 hours a day running and training every day lol

[Giraffe]

Of course I meant within reason, I don't think he's going to have the time to spend 5 hours a day running and training every day lol

The other advice was sound, but if he did start running for an hour every single day and tried weight training etc, probably wouldn't see much progress... was just clarifying.

[Furio-92]

So what would you both recommened weekly to see the best results? Start with weights in a bag while running?

[Giraffe]

So what would you both recommened weekly to see the best results? Start with weights in a bag while running?

Just go for a run for now or something. When you say fitness I assume you mean cardiovascular, so just go for a jog or a run, on a beach or in a park or whatever, see how you get on.

[Saxologist]

Skipping, running up and down the stairs are good starts.