stamina for the unfit!

Question
Hi,
I am seriously unfit so have started jogging/running to improve things. I can walk forever but as soon as i start run, i flake out after a few minutes, perhaps because i have been a heavy smoker until recently. I have looked at various ways to improve stamina however all these programs and tips are for those that already have a base line fitness level which, sadly i do not yet. I am hoping that you may have some suggestions for someone who is starting from the very being?! Not sure if it would make any difference to the tips/advice that you may give but i am not looking or need to loose weight.

any help would be great,
thanks
becki

Answer
Hi Becki,
Perhaps reading my free guide on my site would help give you some ideas.  It's called the Mini-Max Method and is meant as a minimum baseline to start with for working out, or for those who are experienced yet confused with all the stuff they read, as a way to get back to the real basics of working out with some simple stuff.

The guide can be downloaded here:
http://speeddialcoach.com/minimax.pdf

I hope it helps you well,
Rick Karboviak

PS: the smoking from your past will cause some inhibitions at first for the demands of running, since running demands a lot from your lungs to exchange large amounts of oxygen.  Think of having a big balloon versus a smaller one, and how much air can be put into it.  Walking doesn't take much oxygen, compared to running.  It's the 'smaller balloon' for the demands that are being met.  If you have smoked in the past, your lungs are only capable of transferring so much oxygen, so you won't have quite the full capacity of the 'bigger' balloon, maybe more of a medium-sized one.  Plus, if you haven't been used to running at all or in general, a regular workout schedule, your body itself (muscles, bones, nerves, etc) will have to demand to that new rigorous schedule.  Just keep these things in mind and don't expect yourself to be an athlete right away.  You only get better one workout at a time, and that's if you recover well enough from that workout.