asthma

Question
I have suffered asthma since I was 5 years old.  I am now 57.  I was about 2stone overweight until about 6 weeks ago when I started walking.  I have lost about 6lbs but my problem is that I still manage to get very out of breath when I am walking especially when I am trying to go up moderate hills.  Can you please tell me what to do to avoid being so breathless.  I have to say though that since I first started walking my pace has got quicker but it just gets me down that I am so out of breath

Answer
My own mild exercise-induced asthma has always made uphills very difficult. Yet I have raced ultramarathons for many years. I can certainly empathize with being out of breath on uphills. Unfortunately, the only thing that will reduce the breathlessness is to slow down. That is typically how I have raced -- slow on the uphills and fast on the downhills.

Your progress sounds good, however. Losing 1 to 1.5 pounds per week is the optimum rate to take weight off. Six weeks is a relatively short time to have pursued a walking program. Give yourself some time. They may never seem easy, but as your weight comes down and your conditioning improves, you should find the hills easier to take.