Training masks

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gatzke123
gatzke123 Posts: 48 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
What's up with those training masks. They claim to make a big difference in endurance and burn extra calories. But some people say they just mess up your breathing. What's your opinion on them. Does anyone here use them?

Replies

  • jessef593
    jessef593 Posts: 2,272 Member
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    From what I've read they're supposed to mimic high altitude training by limiting oxygen supply. But in reality they just put extra strain on breathing since what makes high altitude training so unique is the fact that there's less total oxygen in the air, so it forces your body to adapt to high intensity with less total oxygen available
  • kirkor
    kirkor Posts: 2,530 Member
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    Total gimmick. It doesn't change your red blood cells. Best that can be said is that it conditions you to operate under labored breathing conditions, so there'd be some possible mental toughness, a la a gut check.
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,344 Member
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    kirkor wrote: »
    Total gimmick. It doesn't change your red blood cells. Best that can be said is that it conditions you to operate under labored breathing conditions, so there'd be some possible mental toughness, a la a gut check.

    So in other words, you could pretty much get the same effect by stuffing a sock in your mouth while you workout, and it would be a lot cheaper. :D
  • VKetoV
    VKetoV Posts: 111 Member
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    Not worth it unless you are an extreme endurance athlete. Weighted vest training is a very good method to increase caloric expenditure for cardio
  • thereshegoesagain
    thereshegoesagain Posts: 1,056 Member
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    I have a friend who used one with great success as he trained for Everest, so if you plan.on doing big climbing, go for it!
  • kirkor
    kirkor Posts: 2,530 Member
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    AnvilHead wrote: »
    kirkor wrote: »
    Total gimmick. It doesn't change your red blood cells. Best that can be said is that it conditions you to operate under labored breathing conditions, so there'd be some possible mental toughness, a la a gut check.

    So in other words, you could pretty much get the same effect by stuffing a sock in your mouth while you workout, and it would be a lot cheaper. :D

    You'd need the sock in your mouth *and* a clothes pin over your nostrils! B)
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
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    kirkor wrote: »
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    kirkor wrote: »
    Total gimmick. It doesn't change your red blood cells. Best that can be said is that it conditions you to operate under labored breathing conditions, so there'd be some possible mental toughness, a la a gut check.

    So in other words, you could pretty much get the same effect by stuffing a sock in your mouth while you workout, and it would be a lot cheaper. :D

    You'd need the sock in your mouth *and* a clothes pin over your nostrils! B)

    Kinky....

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