How should I tackle this CO2 table issue

switch to some thing else for a couple of weeks. apnea walks, or o2 tables, or challenging square breathing. Then come back to your co2

Burdy said:

I recently started APNEA training for the first time after going spearfishing with a buddy. My goal is obvious, more time under water. I downloaded the Stamina app and began working on CO2 tables.

My first max breath hold attempt was 1:52,
I have retested after every 6 successful sessions (3x a week for 2 weeks) of the CO2 Tables (8 rounds @ 1/2 max breath hold attempt with 1:20 rest all the way down to :10 rest)
I had never had issues passing any of the 8 rds of C02 tables leading up to now.
My next retest was max hold restest was 2:32, then 3:00 then 4:09.

The issue I have is after the successful 4:09 max breath hold, the new table (set at 2 min) has been tough for me.
In 5 attempts, I have only completed the new C02 tables once. I continue to fail on the very last round where I only have 10 seconds between the two 2-minute holds.
What is very strange is that the first 6 rounds on this 2 min table are probably easier for me than any other tables I have done leading up to this time, but round 7 becomes a chore and 8, well, I have only hit it once.

Should I continue pressing on getting just 7 rounds, or should I back up to maybe 1:45 holds since there was such a jump between my 3:00 and 4:09 max hold?

I am attempting to delay contractions for as long as possible, I don't have any contractions at all until Round 7.

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With everything you've said, I can see 3 major problems that would need to be fixed to improve your performance.

1: You cannot re-test every 6x sessions. This works at first {1:50, 2:30, 3:00, 4:10}.. Now you've hit the limit of your natural talent & must actually train (I wouldn't consider what you did to date actual training. It's more like UNLOCKING). At this stage you would probably need to train for at least 3 to 4 weeks before re-testing, and this training time will get longer and longer as you progress.

2: Stamina app is crap: The problem with these apps is that they don't incorporate even the most basic training principle: Overload. Doing a table at 50% over and over is not training. A REAL training program must get harder over time. Example, Starting at 40% (week 1), 45% (week2), 50% (week 3), 55% (week 4) is just the most basic version of how to do this. In reality there are more basic rules of training (like as the %% increases, the total number of holds MUST decrease (doing 8x holds every session is not good training for doing a 1x max)

3: Adaptive Resistance: Our body/mind/nervous system can easily get used to anything (in training this can be TOO-USED to something). If you do 8x 50% with {1:45, 130,115,1:00, 45,30,15) recoveries ALL THE TIME, you will develop adaptive resistance. Other exercises must be included, and intensity (%) and volume (number of reps) must be strategically varied to actually produce fitness. My most basic STA programs include 4x different exercises to make sure this doesn't happen.

** Number 3 in particular explains your "round 7-8" problem. You're not going to improve at this exercise until you recovery the adaptive resistance you've build on it.