Kit review- Elevation training mask v1.0

This will be a review that will divide opinion. The benefits or using gas masks and gas mask simulators have been debated for some time now with evidence on both sides for permanent benefits vs a short term goal. I'm not going to get into that here, but here is the link to the information from the makers of the mask (Which is obviously tilted in their favour!): trainingmask.com

Inspirational and helpful people

If you'd have asked me a few years ago, I'd have told you that the only person that matters in training is you. It's you that has to have eat the right foods, make the right choices, put the time in for whatever sport you're doing, get the sleep and rest you need to achieve your goals.

However, I've recently been inspired and helped by a few people close to me. I'm not talking about sports personalities or celebs, but by people I know.

Practical fitness training

When I decided that I needed to get fit again, at first I struggled to find a goal once I had decided that MMA was no longer to be for me. With MMA it was simple- You needed to be fit and strong enough to survive the rounds, strike and wrestle with others of similar weights. With those "rules" removed and the fitness prerequisites stated on all of the obstacle run courses being pretty low, I needed to decide on what my goals were to be.

End of year review 2011

Here's the second one then, starting off with the beginning of the year...

Before, again the only pic that I have of Jan 2011

And the after...

Jan 2012

Jan 2012

 The main thing that I have noticed is that my weight has not really fluctuated. I still walk around at ~75Kg despite putting on more muscle and definition. I've put this mostly down to the training that began for Tough Mudder, which I started in October 2011. This was the first time I had taken the need to begin running seriously, and although by the end of December I had still not completed more than 6 miles in a row, the fat and shape cutting benefits of running had become clear for me to see.

I'd also by this time properly taken time to look at my diet, embarking on a well supplemented version of Paleo, though without the hardcore carb cutting. Bascially however I was eating a lot more natural protein and supplementing with a healthy combination of amino acids, whey and Creatine.

End of year review 2010

I thought long and hard before posting up and before/after training pictures. After all, I don't have the detailed understanding of most people that put these things on-line on diet or training systems. All I am going on is ability and determination.

My goal when I started this process in October was to simply get rid of the wobble and perhaps see my long lost 6-pack again.

The before.....

The before picture was taken in 2007, but my body had not really changed. I have done this through very light weights, a lot of core exercising (Particularly a new-found love for bicycle crunches) and primarily good 'ole fashion body-weight exercises. I also went "cold-turkey" on chocolate, sweets and as much processed food as practical.

The following is the first "after" picture. Unfortunately I don't have one of the front for a proper comparison!

After, Jan 2011

All in all, I've been pretty pleased with progress for a short period of time.