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expand a lung and freedive training??????

Thread Status: Hello , There was no answer in this thread for more than 60 days.
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freediver111

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Feb 3, 2005
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Hey folks,
I am a freediving spearo who is completely clueless to freedive training techniques. I have a static breathold of around 2-2:30 minutes and want to train for increasing my breathold for dives in the 70 to 80 foot range. When I hit those depths I usually only last 10-20 seconds of bottom time.
My question's are as follows: Are the expanda lung contraptions good for training and who knows of any freedive schools near Honolulu.
I've been looking at training tips on this site but I find the jargon confusing. I need to find out the basics of training first and find a coach or something to help me along. I've been freediving since a kid and feel like my apnea time has always been about the same.
Help me out if you can.
Thanks a bunch.
 
Hey there, strange that no-one's answered your message, but it possibly got overlooked. There's a lot of info here in the forums, though it's buried fairly deep so you'll have to look hard. If you find one thread that has some tips, then look at the very bottom and you'll see threads that are related. Read through as much as you can and then come back with specific questions and you'll be more likely to get a quick response.

I'm also a beginner and am trying to find out as much as I can by just following the forum every couple of days. Slowly, over the weeks, I've picked up a lot of information and feel like I now, almost, know what I'm talking about. I also ordered Umberto Pelizzari's book on freediving which is available from the deeperblue.net online store. It only arrived yesterday though so I can't say much on it yet. It does seem to be the most comprehensive single source of information out there at the moment, however, so if you're looking for something along those lines I'd recommend that you pick it up.

Generally, however, you'll want to read about doing O2 and CO2 tables, doing exercises while holding your breath (aerobic and anaerobic) and training in the pool. And, as you might have seen other people say to me, don't train without a partner (in the water at least).

Good luck!
 
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Hi freediver,
I did miss this post, sorry. Keep reading, you will figure out what you need. The forums have so many discussions at so many levels, some at the extreme top, that it is often hard to figure out what applies to you. I had the same problem; it passes.

If you can dive 70-80, longer statics should be easy. First, I would work on improving your static time, which will increase your co2 tolerance and help your subconcious get used to longer dives. Figure out how to do co2 tables, they will help. Second, work on better relaxation,streamlining technique and breathing in the water. Breath fast inhale, very slow exhale (around 15 sec or more if its comfortable). This slows the heart and doesn't blow off too much co2. During the dive, think down your body head to toe , actively tell everything to relax. Keep going over this during the dive. You may be surprised at how tensed up some muscles are. Get weighted right, so you are neutral relatively deep. The general rule is 33 feet, but for spearo dives of 70, a deeper neutral might be a good idea, depends on your style. Pool trainig is a great suggestion. Swim 25 yards, hold for increasing amounts of time, swim back. Good simulation of your target dive. You should find your ability to stay at depth goes up fast. Do it with a partner.

The expand a lung, power lung, etc gadgets have gotten mixed reviews. Use the search function.

There's lots more, but that will keep you busy for a good while. Have a good time with it.

Connor
 
Regarding your question about breathing devices. Link is below followed by the text (in the event the link is dead). Cheers, dave

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3871/is_200210/ai_n9130246
A breath of fresh air
Swimming Technique, Oct-Dec 2002 by LeBlanc, Pamela

Save a personal copy of this article and quickly find it again with Furl.net. Get started now. (It's free.)
Apparently, it's not enough to train only the muscles we use to propel our bodies through the water when we swim.

A trio of products that target athletes-and especially swimmers-is aimed at strengthening the muscles we use to inhale and exhale. If you buy into what the manufacturers say, a few minutes with an adjustable, hand-held device can enhance your breathing efficiency, increase your lung capacity and, thus, improve your performance. Even better, you can do all that without drug inhalants or supplements.

First, a physiology pointer:

* Respiratory muscles, like the diaphragm, work in conjunction with muscles in your belly, back and sides to bring in oxygen that the heart pumps through the bloodstream to your muscles. Theoretically, if you strengthen those muscles, you'll improve oxygen delivery and, thus, athletic performance.

Sounds simple, but it's a tenet that went largely ignored until recently. Before, most people assumed that the heart and cardiovascular system were the limiting forces of our physical endurance and performance.

So, take a deep breath. It's time to leam,a little more about these little pieces of equipment that some people say will make you a better swimmer.

And listen carefully. Because while the PowerLung, SpiroTiger and Expand-A-Lung all purport to improve your competitive performance, each has its own style, its own claims and its own pricetag.

SpiroTiger

With a balloon attached to a mouthpiece and a separate base unit that records and displays data, the SpiroTiger looks different.

According to Lucio Carlucci, coinventor, it's the only device that controls carbon dioxide levels (that's what the bag is for) when you exercise, so you don't feel dizzy while training with it.

At $990, it's also by far the most expensive. But it's a multi-user product. A swim team could buy one or two base units and up to 20 additional user sets (a mouthpiece and tubing at $98 each) to bring down the per-person cost.

SpiroTiger is an endurance trainer, not a resistance trainer. To use it, you breathe very deeply and quickly into the mouthpiece for 20 to 30 minutes. It's the same thing as if you put on jogging shoes and went jogging for half an hour, Carlucci said. It strains the muscles, they tire, and they adapt. Next time you go, they tire less.

When you train with it, the company claims, those muscles consume less oxygen, and the excess becomes available to peripheral muscles such as the arms and legs. After three or four weeks, you're not as breathless when climbing stairs or racing. The muscles also produce less lactate, he said.

SpiroTiger is designed to improve coordination among the 12 muscle groups used in breathing. Like other endurance training techniques, it spurs the muscles to increase their number of mitochondria, which allows more efficient use of oxygen.

SpiroTiger suggests starting with two to four 20-minute sessions per week, increasing to three to five sessions a week at a higher respiration rate. It's also recommended for athletes with exercise-induced asthma.

Why spend the money? To get faster. It's a hidden potential you've never been able to leverage, Carlucci said.

For more information, visit SpiroTiger's

website at www.spirotiger.corn.

You can also order by e-mail at ewaltert@spinalmouse.com.

Expand-A-Lung

It's not fancy, says inventor, marketer and Expand-A-Lung's self-proclaimed one-man-band Jorge Brouwer, but it does the trick.

The 4-inch device, with a clear silicone mouthpiece at one end and a black cap at the other, fits easily into a pocket. It's the smallest of the products that Swimming Technique researched. At $19.95, it's also the least expensive.

To use, simply pop it into your mouth, set the resistance level by turning the knob on the black cap, and inhale, hold, then exhale.

Brouwer recommends two 15-minute sets per day, gradually increasing the resistance level.

Stick with it, he says, and you'll build stronger lungs and increase your lung capacity. Hop in the pool, and you'll need fewer breaths, he says, to swim a 50 meter butterfly.

"At the beginning, some people may feel a little dizzy," Brouwer said. "That's why I recommend doing it sitting down or lying down in a well-ventilated room or outdoors."

Brouwer, who is from Cuba, where the sport of free diving is popular, says he got the idea for his Expand-A-Lung by watching innovative free divers rig up their own equipment to train their respiratory muscles.

"Because of lack of resources, they take any pipe they can find, cap it, put a mouthpiece on it and put a pinhole through it," he said. "Mine is no different, except it's more sophisticated, and it's adjustable."

Brouwer introduced his product in April, targeting scuba divers, swimmers, runners, bikers, skiers and weight lifters. "It's just a simple idea, and I've made it small, durable and economical," he said. The product comes with a 30-day warranty.

For more information, visit Expand-A-- Lung's website at www.expand-a-- lung.com. Also, see display ad, page 20.

PowerLung

The folks at PowerLung call it weight training for your lungs.

Breathe into the blue, green or yellow plastic device, which resembles an asthma inhaler or part of a snorkel, for three or four minutes twice each day, and you'll breathe easier when you race. PowerLung claims it can deliver a 30 percent improvement in lung function in three to four weeks.

Introduced four years ago, it's the only one of the three devices discussed in this article that is designed to build the muscles used both to inhale and exhale.

"It's the only product to give you inhale and exhale threshhold resistance," said Carolyn Morse, president of Powerl-ung. "It's the only product that can strength-train, power-train and endurance-train your muscles for both inhale and exhale. The others may exercise, but they don't train to do all three for both sets of muscles."

Greg Wells, a doctoral student at the University of Toronto, conducted an independent study using PowerLung. Twenty elite swimmers trained with the device; 20 did not. Those who trained with it strengthened the muscles used to breathe, especially those used to exhale. But the improvements didn't automatically transfer into performance until the swimmers were taught how to incorporate their better breathing into swimming. Then, Wells said, performance jumped.

Powerl-ung measures 8 inches and comes in a carrying case. The resistance level can be changed with the twist of a knob.

It comes in three models:

* The Sport ($104.95) is for serious athletes and has the highest resistance level;

* The Trainer ($79.95) is for recreational athletes;

* The Breather ($79.95), with the lowest level of resistance, is for non-athletes or people trying to quit smoking.

For more information, visit

PowerLung's website at www.powerlung.com. Also, see display ad, page 21.

Copyright Sports Publications, Inc. Oct-Dec 2002
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.
 
Hey Connor,

If you buy one of those gizzmos be sure to let me know how it works. I am thinking of getting one (maybe) -- depends on the cash reserves. If I do get one I'll be sure to let you know if they work. So many of these things don't work, but cha never know :)

dave
 
hi freediver111

i know a few people who have experimented with these gadgets and then eventually given them up. i recommend you spend that amount of money for the internet, download or print threads and articles about training and chose which one training method you want to give a try. i bet that within a week, after a bit of reading and practising you'll do statics way longer than your current 2:30.

cheers

roland
 
I've considered making one, but Roland is probably right.

Connor
 
hi

I remember a while back someone on DB reported that using one of those gadgets actually decreased their static time, something to think about

cheers
 
Hahahaha. I'm sold - I'll take 6! But if I'm not doing 8:40 by the end of the year there'll be trouble :naughty
 
Hi David,
I honestly wouldn't bother it won't do squat to improve your max breathold!

Think about it you would be strengthening a muscle that you don't actually use whilst holding your breath. :head
If you want to increase your lung volume then it's more useful to have a flexible diaphragm, ie more packing volume, and lower residual volume. ( Just use normal pack stretching)
This device is probably much more useful for endurance ie spearfishing and repetitive diving. For people interested in increasing their max static/depth/dynamic it's less then useless.

Wal
 
I just realised too, the posts from "Galileo" looks like is just spam. Has posted the same thing on 3 different threads. It's just a marketing quote.
 
I have been free diving for over 15 years and have used many different products over the years to increase my lung capacity and I can testify that the Expand-a-lung really works. After using this product for 1 year I can now stay down almost a minute longer than before. I am amazed at the results. Don't be fooled by similar products that claim to do the same thing. I tried them and they just don't work.
 
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