Contractions

[Spearnoob]

I have been doing CO2 and O2 tables twice a week for the last month and after my last cycle (with additional rest/ventilation) I always try a max breath hold.

I am really struggling to overcome the contractions I experience and was wondering if anyone had any good techniques in doing so?

I get my first kick at about 2.40... 3.00 if I have packed any which is very new to me - 5 or 6 tops.

I cannot seem to get passed it to a point where it subsides I have just been pushing my threshold to my current PB which is 3.35 riding the kicks all the way.

Am I going about this the right way or am I missing something?








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[MarcinB]

I don't think you will ever get to the point when contractions subside. They will continue to get worse and worse. However, with training they become weaker and much less difficult to withstand.
I'd advice you to stop O2 tables, you will not benefit much from them at your current level. Considering your current PB most of the statics during this table are likely well below 3 min. This is simply to short to induce sufficient hypoxia.
CO2 tolerance is what limits you right now. So focus on CO2 table only, do it every other day. Focus on relaxation. You will notice a difference in several weeks. After some time you should be able to withstand at least 2 min of contractions.
As far as max holds are concerned, I think you should stop packing it's just too early for that. It makes you more tense. Start to stretch your chest instead. It will allow you to relax with full lungs. Your contractions start quite late, most likely due to hyperventilation. It prolongs the easy part but when contractions finally start they are much stronger. This probably why you bail out so early. Try not to hyperventilate, do just one or two purge breaths before a maximal hold. It may work for you.
Don't try to improve your PB too often, it can make you frustrated. Longer holds will come soon.

Good luck!

 

[Bussard]

I'm assuming these are dry statics. In dry statics I have to ride the contractions till the very end, dry statics don't produce any dive response in me.

In wet statics, there comes a point when the contractions seem to get fainter and harder to feel. I am assuming the difference is in the DR. Eventually you barely feel them, they are there, they just go unnoticed. This at least is my experience.

This is dicey territory though, so have a trained buddy watching you.

 

[Spearnoob]

Thanks for the advice Marcin and Bussard... It's encouraging to know that it will get more comfortable.

I will heed your advice and stick to Co2 tables and see what happens.

I don't know if I am hyperventilating... I usually do 4-5 seconds inhale and 8-10 seconds exhale and start my Co2 table at 2.30. Before my breath holds I usually do a very gentle inhale that lasts about 8 seconds... All 2 stage breathing. Will this cause me to hyperventilate?

 

[MarcinB]

Try to breath normally before a hold, I mean automatically like you were watching TV. Then do maximal exhale followed by maximal inhale and hold. If contractions come much earlier after such breath up then your normal breath up is hyperventilation.

 

[Bussard]

That sounds like hyperventilating to me. 4-5 seconds is a pretty big breath.

 

[DeX_TeR]

IMHO - don't think that 4-5 seconds inhale with 8-10 (or more) exhale is hyperv. This is breath-up if my information is correct and is a form of worming up. I also do that in the beginning of every CO2 / O2 table (4 to 6 min breath-up).

Also my contraction begin between 1:30 and 3:00 first 10 are mild and then harder and harder.

Best regards,
DeX_TeR

 

[Azrael3000]

Hyperventilation is simply an increase in the flow rate. That means there is an increased volume of air going in/out of your lungs per time. So it does not only depend on how long you in-/exhale but also how deep. Imho it is nearly impossible to control the flow rate except if you let the body do the breathing. Most of the breath-ups that I have heard from are some form of hyperventilation, some more some less. So as Marcin suggested, breathing normally without controlling it is your best bet to avoid hyperventilation. (Just for completeness this does not guarantee no hyperventilation as you still might do it subconsciously.)

 

[DeX_TeR]

That is true .... all warm up exercises are a for of hyperv. in a way or another, the trick is not over do it - and also i guess all the freediving training is personal, so it depends on the individual.

 

[Bussard]

Recently I've been focusing more on resting/relaxing prior to a dive rather than consciously breathing up. The results are a very clear head right up to the end.

Before, I'd breathe up heavily, dive and emerge very fuzzy sometimes with no clear recollection of the last 25-50m.

 

[DeX_TeR]

I could try that... so you say that (at least in your case) is better to relax and breath normally then to breath-up, could this also be applied to dry-static? or CO2 / O2 tables?

 

[Bussard]

Perhaps, I actually haven't tried combining a relaxed breathe up + dry statics yet. With dry statics my problem tends to be the increasingly uncomfortable contractions, so some hyperventilating beforehand delays them. Safe as well, as I do them on the couch, no danger of falling/drowning etc.

basically for dry tables I do the exact opposite to my preparation before dynamic

 

[Azrael3000]

Bussard, I'd suggest that you try and keep the same procedure for all statics dry or wet. Particularly if you do tables as hyperventilation counters what you are trying to achieve. To say it with apneaboy "if you don't cry for your mommy at the end of a CO2 table you are doing it wrong". So if it is too hard, imho it is better to lower your times than resort to "cheating" aka hyperventilation.

And strictly speaking even dry statics can cause serious problems should you BO and your tongue block the airways.

 

[DeX_TeR]

I'm doing as i said earlier: breath-ups for 6 min. max and then, CO2 tables in 120/120/-15/8loops - at the end of the last loop i was in pain )... so i guess breath-up is not hyperv. after all.

 

[mrjomac]

Hi,
I'm just a newbie myself so take this for what it's worth but I started doing static tables trying a "3 big breaths before hold" technique and totally lost my contractions. The 3 big breaths gave me immediate results in PB, the contractions started much later but were really harsh.

Now I'm doing a light purge and just one big breath before hold, contractions kick in before half my max time and they're pretty easy to go with.

Methinks with the first technique I was hyperventilating and just holding my breath, but not learning to relax and go with the contractions.
Maybe you're doing the same.