Welcome to our open thread. Charles dives right in with a question about the “training mask.”
Hey Kap,
Is there any training tools you like to use? Ever heard of the “Training Mask”/ thoughts, opinion?
Big fan of your blog!
-Charles
Charles,
You may be less of a fan after you read my reply. That’s a risk I’m willing to take.
When I hit search, I held my breath. “Please don’t be gimmicky, please don’t be gimmicky.” Repeating a wish more than once makes it more likely to come true, did you know that? I digress.
When this image popped up, I figured the wearer was safe in the event of a toxic spill, but I had no idea how the product was going to simulate training at high altitudes. At that point, I figured I had some homework to do.
Before we launch into the product, let’s discuss what makes training more difficult at a higher altitude. I like this simple explanation from ericwongmma.com:
Altitude training is based on the premise that when you’re at altitude, there’s less oxygen in the air, making exercise a lot harder. The higher you go, the less oxygen there is, the harder exercise is.
So, theoretically, training with a device that simulates training under these conditions could arm an athlete to perform better in a competition at the top of a mountain, for example. Here’s the issue. There have been studies conducted that suggest that altitude training isn’t a dependable system for high altitude competition.
Basically, that when hypoxic training (training at altitude) was compared to normal training, subjects on a 4 week interval training program showed NO DIFFERENCES IN RESULTS.
That means there were NO CHANGES in:
Aerobic fitness (VO2 max)
Anaerobic power (Wmax)
Anaerobic lactic power (OBLA)
The ability of your body to transport oxygen (hemoblogin and hematocrit)…
… between training at altitude vs. training normally at sea level.
Check out the entire piece for the in depth science and a really cool breakdown.
As always, Charles, my reply to your inquiry isn’t about this device, per se. It’s much more about gimmicks, shortcuts and expending our limited bandwidth on them. Instead of mining the easiest way, which training devices (not always) and supplements are generally focused on, I suggest zeroing in on the training programs and food that works well for our bodies.
With that, I’ll close with some acceptance. A workout with a mask, a pair of compression shorts, a weight belt and some energy gum is better than sitting on your porch ripping on a blunt.
Baby steps,
Kap
Hit me with your thoughts.
Zach says
Hey Kap,
Do you have alternative excercises that fit into the 5×5 if you don’t have access to a squat rack or bench? For various reasons, the only gym I can get to has a handful of machines and free weights (limited to 50lbs), but I still want to get the same benefits as the traditional 5×5 with squats, deadlifts, etc. What about resistance bands?
-Zach
Colt says
Zach- buy a sandbag you can fill them up to 300lbs I use the battle bag made by onnit it’s 50 bucks but sand us only 4 bucks per 50lb bag
bill says
yeah but I’m watching a training video while I’m ripping on that blunt!
HooksDauss says
Forty years ago, my dad was an early advocate for intermittent hypoxic training for quarterhorses and thoroughbreds in NM and Colorado. I was just a kid so I don’t know what the science was at that time, but he was a true believer. I might be skeptical about the devises that simulate the real thing. You played in Denver, what did you make of the issue of training & recovery at altitude? http://www.go2altitude.com/horse.html
William Ferullo says
I believe that product is marketed all wrong. Will it help for training or racing at altitude, probably not. However, I think it has value in certain applications to build up the intra respiratory muscles. I use it during easy workouts such as yoga or an easy bike ride, that become harder due to the restricted breathing. These workouts don’t beat up my body, but I still feel I get some cardio bnefit. I also use it to recover during interval sets. Just a thought, I’m no expert.
Chris says
Kap,
Maybe you’re not aware of it as you breathe in the warm fresh ocean air of Malibu or bask in sun of the Dominican, but here in New England we have been buried with about 8 feet of snow during the last month. For those of us that shovel, how should we factor it in with our 5×5’s and with rest?
Cody says
KAP!
I start work very early in the morning, around 5am, and usually make breakfast the night before to bring to work so I don’t have to get up earlier than I need to. Reading Stephanie’s post on intermittent fasting got me thinking about skipping breakfast altogether in the morning to save time, I usually find I’m not that hungry that early in the morning anyway. We’ve all been told for a long time that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but is it really true? If there are benefits to Stephanie’s method of not eating until 5pm after she wakes then it shouldn’t hurt not to eat breakfast in the morning right? Curious to know if breakfast really is the “most important” meal of the day, or frankly if you need it at all.
Thanks and keep up the good work! Go Dodger!
Cody