Elevation Training Mask

guy in my gym was benching the other day wearing one of those things. for the life of me i can't figure out the benefit unless you're getting ready to compete at altitude

I don't think they are worth it. it won't improve your workout quality because it limits the o2 intake preventing you from hitting higher intensities which would benefit you more than wearing the mask... shorter amounts of time, mean you need to be hitting the highest intensities possible to get the most bang for your buck.

At altitude, there is NOT less oxygen as a percentage, but the actual pressure is less. (the percentage is the same.) You might as well train with a scarf covering your mouth.

Also, I've trained and raced at altitude, and as a sidenote, these do not help with Altitude, at least in my opinion and/or experience...which includes a lot of clinical research on altitude tents, masks, etc.

Best of luck in training

Good grief, why! Living in high altitudes makes exercising harsh on the lungs, friend. As far as I knew the only advantage to training at high altitudes is that when you go to lower levels you do SLIGHTLY better in races and such. I don't believe you burn more calories or anything like that. So you're just adding pain to working out. Oxygen wants to be your friend!

Can I just point out, that a breathing restriction, in no possible way, replicates being at altitude?

Just think for a minute.

The benefits of training at altitude are the result of the kidneys responding to the reduced oxygen pressure "over time" to increase their production of EPO. A week to 10 days following that, your body will have responded to these higher EPO levels by increasing the production of red blood cells. It is this increased red blood cell count that produces performance benefits, and many of these benefits are experienced just by living at altitude (training not required).

Optimal benefits of altitude training come after 4-6 weeks at altitude, although some benefit is experienced after only 1 week. I have not seen any data that would suggest that reducing available oxygen only during workouts would produce the desired benefit. Now if you wore that mask 24/7, I could see it.

Assuming it worked though, there are some other considerations to keep in mind. Iron supplementation would be advised to assist in the increased production of hemoglobin. And the kidneys will not increase their production of EPO if you are even slightly sick with a cold or the flu.

In all seriousness though...I do not believe this post to be serious....

It is/was partially serious. I was dismissing it at first but then I thought I would see what some of minds here thought.

I did some other reading and while most agree that it does not mimic the effects of high altitude training, some insist that it does act as training for your diaphragm by restricting airflow (much like a scarf around your face).

Either way, thanks for the input.

I do admire the fact that you are training to be a super villain. Much more interesting than the run of the mill 5K or something...