I'm not one that uses a lot of gadgets for performance because I'm a purist and a cynic at heart. However, I wanted to perform better on the ergo (rowing machine). I was on the Concept 2 UK website and saw this little thing (the POWERBreathe).

The science seemed good enough for me, so blew $180 on a couple of these POWERBreathe thingeys. I figured if they didn't work, I could write a scathingly vitriolic letter to them and satisfy my urge to get back at them And if it did work, then I was better off for ordering the darned things.

I know that 90% of adults do not breathe properly. I thought I did (and for the most part, I do). But not nearly as well as I should.

After using the Fitness Plus model for only one week, I've noticed a huge difference in my cardio. I'm not a cardio bunny, but these things have really kicked me up a notch! Which tells me my inspirators were surprisingly weak ...

Therefore, I'm sold on this little contraption.

You can get it in different models (the Ironman being the toughest and most challenging -- and it's actually sanctioned by the Ironman -- POWERbreathe® Training » IRONMAN.com and POWERbreathe » IRONMAN.com).

If you're interested, go to this website first to see what the different models are:

Concept2 Shop - Power Breathe

Then depending on where you live, go here and tell them what you want:

Canada: Remington Medical: Leaders in Infection Control and Rehab (not shown anywhere -- just email them)

US: Gaiam: Green Living, Yoga, Fitness, & Organic Products (but they don't have the Ironman models so if those are what you want you can get them here: IronmanStore.com.)

Just a thought for people who are interested in strengthening their inspiratory musculature

Thank you for the info

hmmmm, that is interesting!

are you using one? tell more about how, why, when, what effect and all that.

your testimony I am interested in ILM! The ad is fine, and I read the Ironman writeup, but tell me your eperience.

challenging the breath is a great idea. Sorta like forcing nostril breathing and keeping pace, which will drive the free breathign pace up some.

never seen a gadget liek this before.

sweat daily
FF

Seriously, I put this thing on the max setting (10), and I would have suffocated in about 30 seconds. I simply couldn't get any air into my lungs whatsoever sucking into this little contraption at that level.

So I started at the lowest setting (way too easy), cranked it up to 1.5, did that for a week or so, then tried it at 2, did that for about a week, and now I'm on 3. I've got the POWERBreathe Plus Sports Model (red one).

I also have the POWERBreathe Plus Fitness Model (blue model), and I actually put a nose clip on and try sucking air through that while I'm on the stationary bike at the gym a couple of times a week. Yeah, people give me some pretty weird looks because it looks bizarre, but they sure ask a lot of questions after I'm done! Trying to suck air through this thing is tough, especially when you're doing cardio. Needless to say, I'm not "giving 'er". I'm at about 50% resistance and I can only do my cardio for about 10 minutes before I feel oxygen deprived But my regular cardio is light years ahead of where it was before. My lungs don't feel as "heavy" or taxed as they used to. Breathing is much easier.

Specifically, what do you want to know FF? If you were going to get one, I'd suggest the Ironman model. But you may not even need to get one if you can do an Ironman

IF I can !?! what is that supposed to mean... hahahahahaa

hypoxy swim tricks will train this too.

woudl you be willing to make a lil video fo you working this thing for us?

Sorry, bad choice of words there FF!!!

WHEN you do the Ironman

Yeah, hypoxic swimming helps to turn off the hypercapnia mechanism in our brain. And it forces you to work without breathing. Tough to do.

There's nothing to "working" this little contraption. You suck air in, you blow air out (without using your nostrils). Pretty simple

so that's a "no" to the video request? ehehheehje


I am feeling better now

did ya miss me?

Here's the link for the POWERBreathe training guide: Concept2 Rowing Machines | POWERbreathe Training Guide (click on the download)

or just go here: http://www.concept2.co.uk/docs/train...athe_guide.pdf.

Once my bicep tendon tear has healed and I can row again, I'll be using this on the ergo

Hmm.. this sounds weird.. I don't think breathing usually is the limiting factor in regular people (IE, those who don't suffer from any diseases)

Actually, today I was looking at your journal and I thought "Where the heck is FF? I wonder if his Ironman training finally did him in?"

I was ready to send out an APB

Nice to have you back, though

I think the benefits to this are much greater for people over 35, Karky

But then again, I'm not a regular people

I've never used one so I can't give my personal input, but my mom's a woodwind player. Lots of professional wind instrumentalists use similarly themed devices to help them develop their breath duration and control.

I've seen some which are literally as simple as a pingpong ball in a plastic tube with a breathing hose on top and 3 differently sized finger holes to increase or decrease difficulty. Those actually force you to maintain a breathing speed to stop the ball from dropping at all.

I'm wondering, is there a difference between the different models? Like the Plus, the Classic, and the ironman? The Classic seems cheapest, but the Pro and IronMan models seem to be the same price. They all come in 3 different versions.