I’m currently doing the Bridge 3.0. My gym requires a face mask to be worn at all times, with absolutely zero exceptions. I’ve been able to adapt to wearing a mask during low-rep sets of deadlifts, squats, bench, etc.
But whenever I have to do 10-rep sets of squats, the mask just completely kills my ability to do the sets adequately. The weight doesn’t even feel heavy, and I get all 10 reps in. It’s just that once I get to around the 7th rep, I am literally gasping for air at the top of each rep, and I sometimes even lose my brace mid-rep (this is the worst). And this doesn’t feel like the same as the kind of respiratory fatigue I get when not wearing a mask. It feels like I’m suffocating and about to pass out.
What I’m more shocked at, is that no one’s talking about this. Is no one else having trouble with their mask nearly making them pass-out during high-rep high-intensity squat sets?
Anyway - Dr. Baraki / Feigenbaum, do you have any suggestions for how I should address this issue? Thanks!
Since masks don’t reduce oxygen intake to the respiratory system during exercise, I wouldn’t worry about it. I’d bet if you went lighter, took a few more breaths between sets, or give yourself a few weeks to adapt to the likely novel, higher rep range…you’ll be fine
Hey doc, just curious here, if masks don’t reduce oxygen intake to the respiratory system, how come so many people (myself included) “feel” more tired when exercising with it? I have a hard time breathing through it whe running as well.
The endurance sport world, and I guess the fitness world in general dealt with this a few years ago with the whole fad of altitude masks. The theory was that by making it harder to breath on purpose you would get the benefits of training at altitude. The only thing you really get is a slightly stronger diaphragm. You’ll get used to the feeling and be fine. I just went on a two hour bike ride last week wearing my mask and other than being less comfortable due to the trapped heat around my face, I was fine.
