Is it cheating to breathe out when seeing how long you can hold your breath?

[TheReal4982]

Simple question. When trying to see how long you can hold your breath, is it cheating to breathe out, so long as you don't breathe in.

[lando]

Yes. You have to hold your breath not let it out

[Radene]

It can't be cheating, since at the moment you start to breathe out, the challenge ends.

But that's the deal, the moment you do it, the clock stops, you can't gain extra seconds with it.

[TheReal4982]

Appreciate the answers.

[TheReal4982]

Originally posted by Shallow Poser:

Why would one breathe out? That's just shortens the time they would be able to hold their breath as there would be less oxygen to sustain them for the duration.

Perhaps, but once the oxygen turns into C02, that is what makes it hard to hold your breath. Being able to breathe out the CO2 would actually make it a lot easier.

[Laguna]

Depends what you're requesting the person holding their breath do.

[TheReal4982]

Originally posted by Laguna:

Depends what you're requesting the person holding their breath do.

Show off.

[L1qu1dator]

I think I've heard something some time ago that some free divers are diving on exhale, or not completely filled lungs, and that's because seals are doing it this way (seals as the other animals, not the killers for hire). But I'm not sure.

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Take quick breaths in/out a few times before you fill your lungs to increase the O2 levels in your blood stream.

[TheReal4982]

Originally posted by L1qu1dator:

I think I've heard something some time ago that some free divers are diving on exhale, or not completely filled lungs, and that's because seals are doing it this way (seals as the other animals, not the killers for hire). But I'm not sure.

Having tried both ways, going on inhale is easier than going on exhale. Those divers are either dumb, or they know something I don't.

Originally posted by cSg|mc-Hotsauce:

Take quick breaths in/out a few times before you fill your lungs to increase the O2 levels in your blood stream.

:qr:

Yeah I figured that out rather quickly (I was doing it more to get myself mentally prepared, but the extra O2 probably helps as well)

[Florida Man]

I can hold my breath forever, as long as I can take quick breaths occasionally...

[TheReal4982]

Originally posted by Florida Man:

I can hold my breath forever, as long as I can take quick breaths occasionally...

I could go the rest of my life while completely not breathing.

[Fajita Jim]

Originally posted by cSg|mc-Hotsauce:

Take quick breaths in/out a few times before you fill your lungs to increase the O2 levels in your blood stream.

:qr:

This is called hyperventilating and is a bad idea, especially if diving, because it actually lowers the level of O2 in your blood. Plus, you can pass out BEFORE you feel the need to breathe because of the way it alters CO2 blood levels.

See here: https://healthfully.com/437154-i-hyperventilate-while-swimming.html

[TheReal4982]

Originally posted by Fajita Jim:

Originally posted by cSg|mc-Hotsauce:

Take quick breaths in/out a few times before you fill your lungs to increase the O2 levels in your blood stream.

:qr:

This is called hyperventilating and is a bad idea, especially if diving, because it actually lowers the level of O2 in your blood. Plus, you can pass out BEFORE you feel the need to breathe because of the way it alters CO2 blood levels.

See here: https://healthfully.com/437154-i-hyperventilate-while-swimming.html

Well yeah, I thought it went without saying not to be that extreme. Just 1 to 3 deep breaths.

[Fajita Jim]

Originally posted by TheReal4982:

Well yeah, I thought it went without saying not to be that extreme. Just 1 to 3 deep breaths.

Really good swimmers know how to take advantage of the mammalian diving response, and prefer to breath slow, regulated breaths. You should spend as much time exhaling as inhaling, and you never actually HOLD your breath.

[JobeGardener]

"I can hold my breath for a looong time,ahaha..ha..ha!"