At the gym, what is that contraption on your face?

CoraGregoryCPA

Ok.. Today, at the gym, there was this guy. He wore this contraption on his face that covered his nose and mouth. He was a muscular individual. He wore the contraption when he while he was working out. For example, while he was doing pushups he had it on, as soon as he was done he ripped it off and threw it on the floor. Rested, then would put it back on and start again on something else, then rip it off. It had two straps that attached at the back top of his head and the lower back part of his neck.

The contraption looked like something to measure VO2, but it wasn't attached to any electronical device that was recording something. It looked like something Hannibal Lector would need to wear. It was soooooooooooooooooooooo weird! Wouldn't that be gross to be breathing heavily with this contraption on your face? Was he breathing in his own carbon dioxide?

What was it and why?

CoraGregoryCPA

Oh, I just googled it. It was an elevation training mask. Interesting, but not something I would do. The other people at the gym were looking at him oddly too.

http://www.trainingmask.com/products/TRAINING-MASK-2.0.html

JonathonMars

That would scare me.

DopeItUp

Seems common among fighters to improve conditioning. Effects seem dubious, however. Not sure if there's been any real studies around it though.

mndamon

Looks like it's a total fraud. Wish I invented it, could use the $$$ coming in at $80 a pop!

Ascolti_la_musica

Perhaps he is planning to do some sort of competition at a higher elevation. The air is thinner, and people who run regularly at high elevations do tend to have an advantage over people who are used to say, jogging along the coast.

When I went from South Carolina to New Mexico, I can tell you there was a very big difference in my ability to breathe while running at first!

envy09

Bane works out at your gym!?

dolphinswimmer15

Looks like it's a total fraud. Wish I invented it, could use the $$$ coming in at $80 a pop!

It restricts the amount of air you can inhale, similar to resistance simulators I use to test ventilators at work. The restricted air flow mimics the hard to breathe part of high elevations. While having to do more research into it, at a basic level it does seem plausible.

This being said, still looks scary.

neandermagnon

Perhaps he is planning to do some sort of competition at a higher elevation. The air is thinner, and people who run regularly at high elevations do tend to have an advantage over people who are used to say, jogging along the coast.

When I went from South Carolina to New Mexico, I can tell you there was a very big difference in my ability to breathe while running at first!

this is true. when I was at uni we looked at studies on this, people who regularly work out at very high altitudes where the air is thinner have more red blood cells than those that don't. (sorry I don't remember the actual references to the relevant journal articles). some runners deliberately train at higher altitudes for this reason

Jessb1985

Bane works out at your gym!?

That's exactly what I was picturing as I was reading it!

Barbellerella

I read that as "contraception".... Its official I should be in bed.

Troublemonster

Dude at my gym wears one a lot. It's a new trend among MMA fighters. The idea being that regular cardio doesn't cut it for the endurance demand placed on the fighter during a prolonged ground exchange so, like any other exercise, adding resistance should help.

Not sure if it works or not but as a use fo force trainer I can tell you that most people are utterly smoked in under 60 seconds of active fighting and those guys do 3-5 minute rounds at very high intensity.

Kymmu

Did he sound like Darth Vader?

lacroyx

Bane works out at your gym!?

That's exactly what I was picturing as I was reading it!

I've seen a guy at my gym wearing the same thing the OP describes. The geek in me had to resist the urge to go up to him in between his sets and ask him, "Excuse me, sir, do I have your permission to lift?" :laugh:

ingies2011

Someone at my gym wears this too, he is one of the top triathletes here in New Zealand. Must be making him bike faster and breathe more efficiently when he races.

Unknown

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714rah714

Loud cry to be noticed.

Matt_Wild

Mimics training at altitude, meaning when running/working out at a lower altitude, you get more bang per buck from the oxygen you breathe.

csuhar

I used something similar to train for using gas masks on duty. But I went the cheap route and simply bought one of those 3M dust masks / respirators you can buy for $20 at a hardware store.

susanmarnold

A couple of my family members and I are hiking Pike's Peak in September and that seems like it would help train for the altitude... but I don't think I could wear it in public. LOL!

PollyWolly98

I just saw a guy wearing the same thing in a 5K race yesterday and pointed it out to my husband. Maybe it is beneficial, but it was seriously creepy looking!

Azdak

Perhaps he is planning to do some sort of competition at a higher elevation. The air is thinner, and people who run regularly at high elevations do tend to have an advantage over people who are used to say, jogging along the coast.

When I went from South Carolina to New Mexico, I can tell you there was a very big difference in my ability to breathe while running at first!

this is true. when I was at uni we looked at studies on this, people who regularly work out at very high altitudes where the air is thinner have more red blood cells than those that don't. (sorry I don't remember the actual references to the relevant journal articles). some runners deliberately train at higher altitudes for this reason

These days, the general strategy is "live high, train low". That's because the deterioration in performance that occurs at altitude more than offsets any performance increase from the increased red blood cells.

The only real benefit from training at altitude is if you are competing at altitude. Otherwise, it's just crappy training.

witchy_wife

Bane works out at your gym!?

:laugh: Just what I thought!

nexangelus

I used to use a similar gadget when I was diagnosed with asthma to improve my breathing and lung fitness...no mask, just varied resistance and a breathing tube you put in your mouth with rubbery mouthpiece. It helps a lot.

http://www.healthblurbs.com/respiratory-muscle-training-device-benefits/