Breathing while exercising!

diadojikohei
diadojikohei Posts: 732 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I am new to exercising so forgive me if this sounds dumb!

I've been walking and doing 30 Day Shred, I have a heart rate monitor with a chest strap. Recently my heart rate while exercising has been 188 to 195 beats, which sounds very high, but within seconds it can drop to 130 beats. This must be a glitch in the monitor/ me interface, so I have been deliberately inhailing deeply while walking. Normally I am a shallow breather, so I have to remember to breath deeply. Today the monitor said I didn't go over 140 beats which sounds ok to me.

My question is,
Does breathing/type of breathing whilst exercising effect the quality of the exercise?
How do you breath whilst lifting and doing cardio?

I think I have more or less been holding my breath during exercise!! lol!

Replies

  • sho3girl
    sho3girl Posts: 10,799 Member
    My Trainer tells me off about this alot ...

    bump want to know the answer myself
  • Ainar
    Ainar Posts: 858 Member
    Does breathing/type of breathing whilst exercising effect the quality of the exercise?
    No, it won't effect quality of exercise you are performing. All tho it can effect performance and therefore indirectly also exercise itself. For example if you breath "wrong" when you jog you will get tired faster have to slow down and rest to get breath back = less calories burned in the duration of time.
    How do you breath whilst lifting and doing cardio?
    Well, I just breath normally when I do cardio. Like it feels natural, that's the best for me. For me it's fast breath - exhaling once every second.

    Typically, you wanna breath smoothly while doing cardio, meaning you don't wanna hold your breath, breath faster and slower, etc. You wanna keep same pace of breathing all the time. So just breath in a pace what seems natural without trying. Also you don't wanna hyperventilate yourself by forcefully breathing too fast or breath too slow, or hold breath, and not get all needed oxygen. Breath with your belly not your chest. That will let more air into your lungs.

    When weight training. I kinda breath freely too. That's not that important like when doing cardio. Holding breath or fast exhaling while lifting can give you that extra strength to finish that last rep. If it works for you then great, use it. It's all ok as far as you don't become oxygen depleted cos of holding breath for too long or dizzy cos of breathing too fast.
  • Yogi_Carl
    Yogi_Carl Posts: 1,906 Member
    Sorry to go completely opposite to the poster above - we are all individuals so each has their own experience - but I would say that breathing does affect the quality of the exercise you do, in fact breathing is everything.

    Take the basic push-up. Try breathing out as you lower from the plank (raised) position to the floor and then breath in as you push yourself back up. Now do the opposite - breathe in as you lower and breathe out as you push back up. Notice the difference?

    Regarding cardio, your body does to a certain extend dictate a breathing pattern according to oxygen demand. You find a natural rythm that ensures enough oxygen is going in as you do the exercise.

    I hope this helps and I hope I haven't upset anyone by coming in with a different view.
  • LexyDB
    LexyDB Posts: 261
    Your body regulates its temperate with either perspiration or respiration.

    Also, you need oxygen within your cells to convert sugar into glucose for use by the body. Also, ATP requires oxygen to convert glucose to glycogen, fuel for your muscles.

    So breathing is rather important.
  • diadojikohei
    diadojikohei Posts: 732 Member


    Take the basic push-up. Try breathing out as you lower from the plank (raised) position to the floor and then breath in as you push yourself back up. Now do the opposite - breathe in as you lower and breathe out as you push back up. Notice the difference?


    This made me laugh! I'm still working on doing a proper push up I do a modified girly push up- just about!

    Thanks!
  • sho3girl
    sho3girl Posts: 10,799 Member


    Take the basic push-up. Try breathing out as you lower from the plank (raised) position to the floor and then breath in as you push yourself back up. Now do the opposite - breathe in as you lower and breathe out as you push back up. Notice the difference?


    This made me laugh! I'm still working on doing a proper push up I do a modified girly push up- just about!

    Thanks!

    start with a box press... this is how I began ..
  • Yogi_Carl
    Yogi_Carl Posts: 1,906 Member
    Generally, when doing strength things you breathe out on the effort (the pull or the push) and breathe back in as you relax or do the negative part of the movement.

    Cardio - your body tends to set a rythm that you can keep to if you "listen" for it.
  • diadojikohei
    diadojikohei Posts: 732 Member
    Thanks I will try that tomorrow when I do my 30DS!
  • Mighty_Rabite
    Mighty_Rabite Posts: 581 Member
    On resistance/strength exercises, I try to breathe inward during the more relaxed part of the rep (such as lowering a barbell for bench press or the sled for leg press), and I breathe out during the exertion phase (pressing the weight back up in both of those cases).

    As far as cardio goes, I try to keep good steady breathing. If you get too fast and/or your breaths get too shallow, you will need breaks. The perfect balance of oxygen in and CO2 out can be a tough one to strike, but is ideal for cardio.
  • allieward
    allieward Posts: 22
    Does anyone else hold their breath without intending to whilst running? The more I think about breathing, the worse it gets. It's not asthma or anything, I just stop breathing and panic until it starts again.

    I have schizohphrenia too, so I'm wondering if it might be part of my illness.
  • diadojikohei
    diadojikohei Posts: 732 Member
    I tried the whole breathing thing this morning whilst doing 30DS, I really had to concentrate and kept getting the inhale and exhale the wrong way round! lol! But still better than holding my breath while doing the weights/strength parts! Thanks for the advice guys, my HRM said I burned the usual amount of calories but at least my face wasn't bright red at the end! lol!
  • sho3girl
    sho3girl Posts: 10,799 Member
    I tried the whole breathing thing this morning whilst doing 30DS, I really had to concentrate and kept getting the inhale and exhale the wrong way round! lol! But still better than holding my breath while doing the weights/strength parts! Thanks for the advice guys, my HRM said I burned the usual amount of calories but at least my face wasn't bright red at the end! lol!
    sounds like a good result !
  • KRaemondH
    KRaemondH Posts: 120 Member
    My doctor recently told me that I have an athlete's breathe. She explained that when I breath normal my breath and blood pressure level is VERY LOW. Not harmfully low but much lower than most normal people. This is normally an indication of either A) a medical issue B) someone who trains or does cardiac workouts on a normal basis or C) both.
    THANK THE LORD I'm B. But she told me that breathing really doesn't do much in the way of burning more calories or anything to that effect but once your body gets used to workout it starts to getting used to having your heart beating faster, your lungs breathing harder. All in all all the functions of your body working more efficiently. If you ever get to a level where you like to run, swim, bike etc. any long distance cardiac workout, your body acclimates. I found that my breathing is very slow and steady even after 4 miles on the treadmill at 6.5 mph. and my pulse slows very quickly after harder workouts. So I guess it doesn't burn more or make you lose more weight but, the higher you get in your level workouts and the more your body gets used to it the more you can sustain or even push harder on the next round :)
  • MommaKit79
    MommaKit79 Posts: 852
    Does anyone else hold their breath without intending to whilst running? The more I think about breathing, the worse it gets. It's not asthma or anything, I just stop breathing and panic until it starts again.

    I have schizohphrenia too, so I'm wondering if it might be part of my illness.

    I do this too because I try to keep good posture while I run and whilest doing that, I tend to hold my breath. BUT, the last time I tried, I consciously kept an eye on my breathing and did better.

    GOOD LUCK with this! When lifting/sculpting, I agree with what everyone else has said...in when relaxed, out when exerting the muscle.
  • FitEndAg_i
    FitEndAg_i Posts: 37
    Great Morning to Everyone, I'm an avid, vigorous fixed speed bike rider, you know, like the one I had in my youth. I've traveled through breathing myself, two inhales, one longer exhale and every now and then a deep breath in and out. Stay as upright as I can, conscious of it anyway, to breath well. My heart rate target is between 140 - 145, check it twice a month with an old fashion stethoscope with a chest ace wrap. I like the idea of listening to my heart! My cardio and metabolic health are heading in a direction I like and the pounds are falling away. So, a long answer to a short question summed up --- Great Health to You, and --- keep on breathing!
  • diadojikohei
    diadojikohei Posts: 732 Member
    @ sho3girl!
    I googled the push up variation, box push up and did that, much better for me until I get some arm strength back, (It's very annoying because I used to do climbing training everyday in my teen and 20's and now I can't even do a pull up either! ho mum, back to the weights, I guess!)
    So thanks for that advice too!

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