Acclimatizition to Colorado

[SweetheartSarah 3]

Once the petition gets approved we will, in all likelihood, be moving to Either California or Colorado. My Fiancé is a Colorado native, and having spent a couple of weeks there over the holidays I can honestly say that I love the place.

I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with moving to a high altitude location long-term and how it affected them/how they were /able to carry themselves as normal. I would also like to hear about physicallly active people coming from sea level and whether they were able to regain the level of athleticism and acclimate accordingly to the high altitude.

Mostly, I just want to know what it's like to move to a high altitude long-term, if it has any effects I wouldn't think about and any tips on this or anything else I may want to know!

Thanks!

[Lainie B 465]

I grew up at a sea-level town and I once had a job where I spent summers in a high-altitude area of Arizona, mainly hiking around forests. I found it took some time to get used to (about three months - as long as the summer, so I would be nice and acclimatised right when I was due to finish!). I would be out of breath after walking up a small slope. You may find similar effects, but long-term your body will adapt and you will be fitter than before. As you probably know a lot of athletes train at high altitude to enhance their abilities at low altitude.

[Ippsy Pippsy 31]

If you hope to ever buy a house, don't move to California! Or get a good reality check at zillow.com.

[Mononoke28 135]

I moved to Colorado from L.A. in 1998 and it took me about three weeks to get used to the high altitude. It took the same amount of time for my family to get used to it and in all honesty you just feel a little sluggish and sleepy that's all. As far as physical activities go, Colorado is one of the healthiest states in the nation, there's tons of trails for walking/running, biking, hiking, you name it and you'll see people enjoying the outdoors on a daily basis throughout the year. So as soon as your body gets used to altitude, which in all honesty doesn't take that long, you'll be able to do any physical activity you enjoyed while living at sea level.

Diana

[paojack 41]

You should definitely move to Colorado, its awesome and so many outdoor activities to do!

I still struggle with the high altitude but I know I will get used to it at some point.

[SweetheartSarah 3]

You should definitely move to Colorado, its awesome and so many outdoor activities to do!

I still struggle with the high altitude but I know I will get used to it at some point.

How long have you been there for?

[SweetheartSarah 3]

I moved to Colorado from L.A. in 1998 and it took me about three weeks to get used to the high altitude. It took the same amount of time for my family to get used to it and in all honesty you just feel a little sluggish and sleepy that's all. As far as physical activities go, Colorado is one of the healthiest states in the nation, there's tons of trails for walking/running, biking, hiking, you name it and you'll see people enjoying the outdoors on a daily basis throughout the year. So as soon as your body gets used to altitude, which in all honesty doesn't take that long, you'll be able to do any physical activity you enjoyed while living at sea level.

Diana

I was in Colorado for two weeks from December 23 to January 8 of this year, and I can honestly say that, without doing any demanding physical activity, I was fine within the first four days. I had to drink a lot of water, but besides that I was fine.

However, January 6 we went to Red Rocks and was out of breath climbing the steps of the Amphitheater slowly, whereas here, in Montreal, I can easily run up steps and be slightly out of breath. What I'm wondering is more along the lines of how long until, things I can do here easily [such as running up steps] becomes as easy there? I'm not talking surpassing my current abilities, but just making it so that the things I can do here, now are not so taxing once I'm in Colorado?

[N M 96]

Like the earlier posters, it took me a few weeks to adjust. No major effects though - just slight headaches and general lethargy in those first few weeks.

Now - I go to sea level and I'm like Superman. Lombard Street in San Francisco? No problem to this (slightly over weight and hyper tensive) mountain goat.

I love Colorado, and the mountains are beautiful. But this incredibly dry, high desert climate kills me - especially in winter. Sure we have snow - and summer monsoons, but I honestly couldn't tell you the last time it rained properly in Denver. October maybe?

And as nowhere in Britain is further than 60 miles from the sea, being transplated to a state that's 900 miles from the ocean takes some getting used to. Given the choice, I'd take CA with it's mix of ocean AND mountains any day.

Edited February 7, 2012 by N M

[pepper 34]

We've been here in Colorado for a year and a half now and for nature lovers like us it is awesome. But since moving here I constantly suffer from epistaxis(nosebleed) and sinus problems.Adjusting to the altitude and dryness is not that bad but it took a year for the nosebleed to stop but other than that.....it is fantastic!- a nature lover's paradise!!!

Edited February 7, 2012 by pepper

[Dave&Roza 748]

Like the earlier posters, it took me a few weeks to adjust. No major effects though - just slight headaches and general lethargy in those first few weeks.

Now - I go to sea level and I'm like Superman. Lombard Street in San Francisco? No problem to this (slightly over weight and hyper tensive) mountain goat.

I love Colorado, and the mountains are beautiful. But this incredibly dry, high desert climate kills me - especially in winter. Sure we have snow - and summer monsoons, but I honestly couldn't tell you the last time it rained properly in Denver. October maybe? That would be July of 1996 . You must like wet heavy snow in March and April. Of course this last storm on Friday was nothing to sneeze at--18 inches at my house.

And as nowhere in Britain is further than 60 miles from the sea, being transplated to a state that's 900 miles from the ocean takes some getting used to. Given the choice, I'd take CA with it's mix of ocean AND mountains any day.

It would take me a few days to readjust to the altitude after moving to Kansas. I moved back in 2007 and I would say it takes about one month before activities at lower altitude are accomplished with the same ease in Colorado. I will point out that when I moved back, my blood pressure was consistantly higher to the point my DR put me on medication. One thing to keep an eye on. Now my BP is normal and we are beginning to process of getting me off the medication.

Just take is easy for the first few weeks and before you know it you will be running up stairs with no problems.

Dave

[Mononoke28 135]

Just take is easy for the first few weeks and before you know it you will be running up stairs with no problems.

Dave

Definitely. Just start slow at the beginning and you'll see that within a few weeks you won't be out of breath while doing any physical activity. My husband loves to play soccer and the first time he played a game with a few friends he was completely out of breath within five minutes of just moving around, a few weeks later he was playing the whole game without a problem.

Diana

[X Factor 1,112]

It's good to get a book like "Culture Shock USA" to get a feel for life in the USA. It is under $10 at Amazon.com

[scott76 22]

I moved from Arizona to Colorado when I was 10.

...only 2 problems!

1) Nose bleeds

2) Dry Skin. You will buy a LOT of lotion and chapstick. And your hair will be curlier.

Colorado is so active that it's not going to put a dent in your athleticism at all. After a few months the only time you'll notice high altitude is when you do serious hiking (like a 14er) or when you go back to sea level and blow everyone else away in sports.

One side bar though - I seem to get a lot drunker a lot quicker at altitude too. But that's a myth that some people claim is not true.

Edited February 16, 2012 by scott76