@Allison09 I had asthma all my life but since I got fit I never had to use my medication again (6 years free of inhalers, although I found recently during cleanings my old blue Ventolin inhaler). Exercising with asthma is tricky but not impossible; it is even recommended nowadays. I know a few athletes with asthma (although not each asthma is the same) but I can speak only for myself.
When I started my weight loss anything like running was out of the question. That would trigger an asthma attack almost instantly. Instead, I found out I could cycle indoors, which helped me build aerobic capacity (which people with asthma really need because this will make their bodies use oxygen more efficiently). So started with short 10 to 15min spinning sessions at an easy pace, with no fatigue and gradually increase the time to 30min+. Go easy but if you think you feel ok then turning the intensity up will help improve the base further. You will start noticing the difference when your body will condition to the new activity. I was advised by my doctor to take a puff of blue inhaler before and after exercise but with my experience, I would say "if you feel you must". It's because you may develop a habit that will create a mental block (feeling uneasy without that puff). Make sure that the place you exercise is properly ventilated, not too hot, not too cold etc. The gym environment can be a good place but I just used a spinning bike in my bedroom.
The level-up for me was running which was a big "no-no" before. When I already lost some weight, I added to my daily lunchtime walks short jogs (like a 1min jog and then a walk and repeat). The jog didn't have any impact on my asthma so I started increasing the time of jogging and reducing walking (then I decided that maybe it was time to get proper running clothes 🤣). I was still cautiously taking a puff of the inhaler before and after but that was the mental block I mentioned before. Looking back at it, it was totally unnecessary.
Now, 6 years later no more asthma. I lived 37 years with asthma avoiding exercising which probably was a mistake. Do it smart and who knows, you may be in the same boat. Knowledge about asthma changed over the past years and there's even a theory that "exercise-induced asthma" doesn't exist but there may be different factors causing the issue (like being overweight).
