Need Inspiration For Weight Loss

[[old] neilb]

I altered my diet just a bit and rowed most days (building up to 60 min sessions). Lost 1-1.5lb on average per week over 20 weeks or so. Small changes and rowing worked for me. So slow and steady did the trick.<br /><br />Neil

[[old] Laupi]

<b>For american food I believe you may calculate to need to row 50 minutes per Big Mac - its crazy isnt it. Its eaten in just two minutes......</b>

[[old] kgsk8]

Jill - <br /><br />Congratulations on making such a great purchase in your rower & for getting started on a rowing program. Just stick with it and you'll do great. Especially if you are significantly overweight, rowing is wonderful because it's easy on your knees & feet, which can take a pounding on other forms of exercise. Excellent choice!<br /><br />I've lost 200lbs and still have 100 to go. Exercise is definitely the key along with lots of water and reasonable, healthy eating habits. Just work through the bad days and know that every meal is a chance to make good choices and every day is a chance to exercise and be healthy. Don't let a slip turn into a slide.<br /><br />Kimberly<br />

[[old] bw1099]

<!--QuoteBegin-Laupi+Nov 16 2005, 03:37 PM--><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><div class='genmed'><b>QUOTE(Laupi @ Nov 16 2005, 03:37 PM)</b></div></td></tr><tr><td class='quote'><!--QuoteEBegin--><b>For american food I believe you may calculate to need to row 50 minutes per Big Mac - its crazy isnt it. Its eaten in just two minutes......</b> <br /> </td></tr></table><br /><br />What's worse is that the <b>Large Fries</b> will take another 45 minutes of erging and most of us order them without even thinking about it because they are part of the combo.<br /><br />I was looking through my log book today and remembered how when I started erging two years ago, I would do about 20 minutes (2000m then 2500m) twice a week. That was about all I could handle. Then I'd gulp down a Gatorade. At some point, I realized that the Gatorade was about the same number of calories as I had just burned. Now I am doing 30-60 minutes, 3-4 time a week (and gulping down water).<br /><br />The biggest inspiration is seeing how I have gotten into better shape. I was aware of increased muscle, but didn't really lose any weight until I started counting calories about 4 months ago. (My wife taught me how. She has been doing it for years. I log everything I eat, with my best estimate of how many calories. And I weigh myself every day and log that on the same page.)<br /><br />It still surprises me that rowing as hard as I can for a new 2000m PB is about equivalent in calories to a can of pop.<br /><br />bw<br />

[[old] WRJake]

A good choice for a lazy woman (or man)? No. Nothing will help the truly lazy.<br /><br />A good choice for an overweight woman (or man)? Maybe.<br /><br />It all depends upon your level of motivation. When I've been motivated, the C2 has been used twice a day for six days a week. (I dropped 13 pounds between Thanksgiving and Christmas one year. I also went from tight 36 inch waist pants to loose 34s.)<br /><br />When I lost my motivation, my weight went back up, my pants got tighter, bigger and tighter again. (Next time, the pants go to Goodwill as soon as I can get into a smaller size.) <br /><br />So my wife got a full-wall mirror installed in the bathroom, and I got motivated to row again. It helps having a C2 Erg in the house to use whenever I want to.<br /><br />Started out with medium to long slow to moderate intensity rows, and am working up the intensity levels. I won't lose 13 pounds during the holidays, this year. But I won't gain that many either. <br /><br />Good luck in finding what motivates you, and in losing the weight you want to. It will amaze you what kind of physique you may be hiding.<br /><br /><br /><br />

[[old] Slowkiwi]

Jill,<br /><br />You have taken a fantastic first step in purchasing the C2D.<br /><br />I'm down from 290lbs to 253 and its taken about 2 years. <br /><br />I'm not sure that I can offer you any tricks or motivation but the greatest thing for me is that I can erg in private. At 290 lbs I was kind of embarressed about my weight and was finding that I was sending myself lots of bad mental reinforcement whilst at the gym. <br /><br />With the C2 in the room above my garage there is zero stress involved with working out. <br /><br />Kia kaha<br /><br />Duncan

[[old] raymond botha]

Just a few thoughts,<br /><br />Look after your health , if you start getting the sniffs you going to hard , take a Vit supplement.<br /><br />I noticed weight loss comes in cycles , you may see nothing for 2 weeks then it jumps off. Also on a smaller scale you see the loss after a days rest, it seems to give the body a chance to normalise.<br /><br />Over the years I found that a 45min workout would yield a bigger result disproportionately than 30 min and an hour would let me eat anything and still loose.<br /><br />Interval training is the best workout for me , weight loss at a whole new level even when compared to half marathons.<br /><br />Just a few thoughs for the future , I know its premature advice. I admire someone who has taken the decision to exercise . My wife woud rather starve herself (she does'nt) than exercise (they say you marry your opposite)<br /><br />The better you get at rowing the more readily your results will come once you get greater fexability. Its the best exercise in the world !<br /><br />Good luck<br />Ray

[[old] RowedandRode]

To lose weight:<br />1) Give up sugar. All of it. No exceptions. It is the poison that keeps people fat. Read labels - you'd be amazed what has sugar in it. Avoid anything that comes in boxes or bags; just eat Mother Nature's food.<br />2) Eat loads of veg - as close to its natural state as possible (that means no deep-frying, heavy cheese sauce, etc.). Note - French fries and potato chips do NOT count as vegetables. And do not drink juice. eat fruit instead.<br />3) Eat 5-6 small meals per day, with at least 20g of protein per meal. If necessary, take food with you. Whatever happens, do NOT allow yourself to get hungry!! <br />4) No alcohol. It's <i>extremely</i> fattening and gives you no sustenance at all. Drink a gallon of water every day. <br />5) Burn at least 500 calories every time you work out. This will get easier and easier as the weight drops off you. be prepared: you're going to get seriously addicted to endorphins.<br />6) Train with weights. It builds muscle, and muscle mass increases metabolism.<br />7) Stick with it. The c2 looks cool and easy but it is a hard taskmaster. It's also very boring - put it where you can see the TV and get yourself some movies to watch. Work on building long steady distance rows - these burn calories like crazy.<br />8) Take up running. It torches calories like no other exercise, and you can do it anywhere.<br />9) Cut way back on the carbohydrates, and make sure that the majority of the grain products you eat are whole grains (brown rice, large-flake oatmeal, whole wheat flour) with loads of fibre.<br />10) Depressingly, the vast majority of people who lose a bunch of weight gain it right back again. Remember that it's a lifestyle change. You can't go back to the bad old way of eating. Don't eat junk food "just this once". Don't treat your body like a garbage heap - "it would be a shame to throw it out". Don't eat because everyone else is, or because "the desserts are really excellent here". It's not a sacrifice; you'll be giving your body and mind an enormous gift. Learn to view food as <b>fuel for the body, not comfort for the soul</b>, and it will work.<br /><br />Buy yourself a copy of Lee Janogly's book <i>Only Fat People Skip Breakfast</i>. In my opinion, it's by far the best, funniest and most truthful book ever written on the subject of weight loss.<br /><br />BTW, I've lost 25 lbs since June following the regimen outlined above. I am just shy of 5'9" tall, and my weight has stabilized at 125 lbs. I never get tired of looking in the mirror and I love shopping for clothes (yes, even swimsuits!!) HA!! I finally, finally have the body I've always wanted. You can do it too.<br /><br />Best of luck, and don't give up.<br /><br />Merry Christmas,<br />M.

[[old] Rowingrunner]

I lost a lot of wieght, but the way I did it is I never viewed my workouts as weight loss efforts. I viewed it as getting into better shape and having a good time. IT more easily becomes a part of your routine and you don't think about it as much, making it easier for the weight to come off.