Gas Mask At The Gym?

Atarahh
Atarahh Posts: 485 Member
edited November 11 in Fitness and Exercise
I saw a guy at my gym with what appeared to be a gas mask or something of similar presentation. I had to do a double take. What and why is this?! Is this a new fitness innovation or what? He had it on throughout his workout. Never seen it before. Anyone?
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Replies

  • Jruzer
    Jruzer Posts: 3,501 Member
    Maybe training with reduced oxygen for competition or some event at high altitude? Just a wild guess.
  • bellaa_x0
    bellaa_x0 Posts: 1,062 Member
    http://www.trainingmask.com/training-mask-2-0/

    like this?
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    it's for training to resemble high altitude conditions



    and it's DUMB
  • FitOldMomma
    FitOldMomma Posts: 790 Member
    It has to do with high altitude training.
  • Atarahh
    Atarahh Posts: 485 Member
    bellaa_x0 wrote: »
    http://www.trainingmask.com/training-mask-2-0/

    like this?

    Yeah something like that... really caught me off guard
  • Atarahh
    Atarahh Posts: 485 Member
    DavPul wrote: »
    it's for training to resemble high altitude conditions



    and it's DUMB

    Agreed!
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    DavPul wrote: »
    it's for training to resemble high altitude conditions



    and it's DUMB

    yes...
  • shor0814
    shor0814 Posts: 559 Member
    edited January 2015
    Atarahh wrote: »
    I saw a guy at my gym with what appeared to be a gas mask or something of similar presentation. I had to do a double take. What and why is this?! Is this a new fitness innovation or what? He had it on throughout his workout. Never seen it before. Anyone?
    It could be a mask for measuring VO2 levels if it had hoses attached and a collection device.
  • madrose0715
    madrose0715 Posts: 463 Member
    DavPul wrote: »
    it's for training to resemble high altitude conditions



    and it's DUMB

    Not that I have ever seen such a thing...but what if someone is planning a trip or something where they will be living in high altitudes? Wouldn't they want to condition themselves for this?
  • brianpperkins
    brianpperkins Posts: 6,124 Member
    The training mask simply makes it harder to breathe in an attempt to simulate altitude. It doesn't replicate the lower O2 concentration at altitude nor is it worn long enough to stimulate the capillary adaptation that results from prolonged exposure to that lower O2 concentration ... and that adaptation is what makes the lungs more efficient at gas exchange. The masks can have some positive impacts on the muscular portion of breathing, but that is about it.
  • ElliottTN
    ElliottTN Posts: 1,614 Member
    madrose0715 wrote: »
    DavPul wrote: »
    it's for training to resemble high altitude conditions



    and it's DUMB

    Not that I have ever seen such a thing...but what if someone is planning a trip or something where they will be living in high altitudes? Wouldn't they want to condition themselves for this?

    It doesn't work. It adds resistance to breathing but it doesn't thin out the air like it would at high altitudes. Just a marketing gimmick.
  • Burt_Huttz
    Burt_Huttz Posts: 1,612 Member
    I just put a plastic bag over my head, it's really no big deal. I understand that David Carradine used to train that way for Kung Fu.
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    After some protein shake farts, it's the only way to fly.
  • Atarahh
    Atarahh Posts: 485 Member
    it looked even more awkward because he was on the rowing machine. anyone on this thread actually wore one?
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    madrose0715 wrote: »
    DavPul wrote: »
    it's for training to resemble high altitude conditions



    and it's DUMB

    Not that I have ever seen such a thing...but what if someone is planning a trip or something where they will be living in high altitudes? Wouldn't they want to condition themselves for this?

    Some people would say stepping out of their cities is dumb.

    That said, as someone who does alpine, I can tell you they don't work. They will restrict your air intake, but it doesn't give an approximation to high altitudes at all. Tents and chambers can, but really, just go to a higher altitude.
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    Burt_Huttz wrote: »
    I just put a plastic bag over my head, it's really no big deal. I understand that David Carradine used to train that way for Kung Fu.

    Before he upgrade to good ol rope?
  • DragonShoe_GCole
    DragonShoe_GCole Posts: 137 Member
    Atarahh wrote: »
    it looked even more awkward because he was on the rowing machine. anyone on this thread actually wore one?

    I wear an elevation mask during training all the time. I practice MMA and it has dramatically helped my conditioning. I'm glad people find it "awkward" or even "dumb"... More cardio gains for me!!
  • DragonShoe_GCole
    DragonShoe_GCole Posts: 137 Member
    I will say that it's altitude claims are a gimmick though. All it does is make it harder to breath and after several weeks has increased my lung capacity/stamina
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    DragonShoe_GCole wrote: »
    I will say that it's altitude claims are a gimmick though. All it does is make it harder to breath and after several weeks has increased my lung capacity/stamina
    before a match dose some clen, at 40mcg I think. You'll feel like you can breathe in the entire world all at once.
  • ChrisM32205
    ChrisM32205 Posts: 218 Member
    That mask reminds me of Hannibal Lecter.
  • CipherZero
    CipherZero Posts: 1,418 Member
    ChrisM32205 wrote: »
    That mask reminds me of Hannibal Lecter.

    I was thinking Bane, myself.
  • giantrobot_powerlifting
    giantrobot_powerlifting Posts: 2,598 Member
    I live in flyover and I have yet to seen anyone in a training mask, I hope I never have too.

    That being said, I hope I do soon, I could always use a laugh.
  • mustgetmuscles1
    mustgetmuscles1 Posts: 3,346 Member
    Was it this guy? Because you should probably run.

    latest?cb=20120511112335
  • giantrobot_powerlifting
    giantrobot_powerlifting Posts: 2,598 Member
    DragonShoe_GCole wrote: »
    I will say that it's altitude claims are a gimmick though. All it does is make it harder to breath and after several weeks has increased my lung capacity/stamina
    Play tuba.
  • mustgetmuscles1
    mustgetmuscles1 Posts: 3,346 Member
    CipherZero wrote: »
    ChrisM32205 wrote: »
    That mask reminds me of Hannibal Lecter.

    I was thinking Bane, myself.

    Ah you beat me by a few seconds. :smile:
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    madrose0715 wrote: »
    DavPul wrote: »
    it's for training to resemble high altitude conditions



    and it's DUMB

    Not that I have ever seen such a thing...but what if someone is planning a trip or something where they will be living in high altitudes? Wouldn't they want to condition themselves for this?

    if they are going to be living there, then no, because they'll start training and adapting to those conditions when they get there. if they are preparing for an event that takes place at altitude, then you can make a legit case for considering it's inclusion in your training program.

    .....but 98 times out of 100 it's a dude that just saw some other dudes training with it on Instagram and thought it was cool, brah
  • zanqundria
    zanqundria Posts: 7 Member
    All I can do is laugh because I saw a guy with one of those on riding past my house on his bike and I had to do like you and do a double take and I was like what the heck is that on his face and my son said I think that's his Halloween costume like mine (my son was Bane for Halloween) lol
  • jazzy550
    jazzy550 Posts: 264 Member
    ...wait maybe the person was on oxygen due to an illness?
  • tomatoey
    tomatoey Posts: 5,446 Member
    edited January 2015
    bellaa_x0 wrote: »
    http://www.trainingmask.com/training-mask-2-0/

    like this?

    jeez. lung training:

    Our multi-level resistance system reduces air flow through our patent pending flux valve system. Training Mask 2.0 promotes increased lung capacity by forcing you to inhale fuller deeper breaths. When your body adapts to the resistance your lungs will be trained to take deeper breaths and use oxygen more efficiently. A short explanation of how this works is simple. When you breathe against resistance the lining in the lungs essentially stretches out allowing the alveoli’s surface area to become "stretched" thus in return allows for more blood flow to the alveoli for more (oxygen transportation). When you increase "surface area" you increase red blood cell count that will be able to carry more oxygen out to the extremities

    "breathing against resistance"! yeah it sounds like a baaad idea.

    but maybe it's not that, maybe it's something else (e.g. the guy has exercise-induced asthma or something)
  • tomatoey
    tomatoey Posts: 5,446 Member
    zanqundria wrote: »
    All I can do is laugh because I saw a guy with one of those on riding past my house on his bike and I had to do like you and do a double take and I was like what the heck is that on his face and my son said I think that's his Halloween costume like mine (my son was Bane for Halloween) lol

    well that's different, maybe it's not fun to breathe in exhaust on a daily basis. i've seen a few cyclists wearing masks in my city, and it seems reasonable enough to me.
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