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* My initial few sessions I ignored the manual and let my blood O<SUB>2</SUB> saturation drop to around 80%, which is enough to make me feel light headed and my vision to change. After 6-8 sessions, the saturation dropping to 80% did not cause the same problems.
==Results==
I’ve used the AltoLab for two periods of race preparation and I’ve found it effective, but not without some significant downsides. Using the AltoLab seemed to improve my race performance at sea level slightly, though it is hard to separate out the benefits of AltoLab from the benefits of hard training. I did notice that I do somewhat better at altitude after using AltoLab for a while. One simple test I have not been performed was to check my O<sub>2</sub> saturation when flying. After using the AltoLab, I found that my O<sub>2</sub> saturation was noticeably higher than before. (I used a barometric altimeter to check the cabin pressure to make sure the circumstances were similar.) The downside to using the AltoLab is probably similar to other altitude training systems; being in a low O<sub>2</sub> environment is unpleasant. I find myself struggling to perform the training sessions as the feeling of asphyxiation was off putting. In theory you can watch TV while doing the AltoLab, and that’s how I used it, but the low O<sub>2</sub> saturation makes it hard to concentrate on anything interesting. Reading a book will using AltoLab is tricky as you need to hold the tube in your mouth. The initial sessions of training did seem to leave me a little weakened and slower at training than normal. I also found that the system long enough altitude training tended to see resultsgive me a headache that would come back periodically. Overall, I think the AltoLab is a cost effective and useful way of training for high altitude conditions, and possibly for improvements at sea level. I suspect that the downsides of using other intermittent systems will post my perceived results laterbe similar to AltoLab. From what I understand from other people who’ve slept in altitude tents, there are different, but equally significant downsides to that approach, including poor sleep quality.
==CO<SUB>2</SUB> Scrubber==
* The CO<SUB>2</SUB> scrubber lasted for two sessions of an hour, 6 minutes on, 3 minutes off. AltoLab claim 2-3 sessions.