Weight Impacting Performance

[iangallagher]

I didnt post this under Health & Fitness as i think its more about training.

I weighed myself this morning after my wife said i was looking skinny and i was surprised to see that i was down to 89 kgs.
I was 97kgs a year ago when i was lifting every day and doing no cardio. I then introduced some running and got down to about 94kgs before i started rowing and the weight seems to be falling off. The only trouble is its mainly muscle.

My question is - will this be detrimental in terms of performance? Or will it be negligible?
Will i see a loss in power over shorter distance but maybe a better performance over longer distance?
If i manage to put some muscle back on should i expect an uplift in performance?

Im an all or nothing type of guy - so ever since starting rowing i have completely neglected everything else but its now obvious i need to start lifting and increasing calorie intake.

[MartinSH4321]

I didnt post this under Health & Fitness as i think its more about training.

I weighed myself this morning after my wife said i was looking skinny and i was surprised to see that i was down to 89 kgs.
I was 97kgs a year ago when i was lifting every day and doing no cardio. I then introduced some running and got down to about 94kgs before i started rowing and the weight seems to be falling off. The only trouble is its mainly muscle.

My question is - will this be detrimental in terms of performance? Or will it be negligible?
Will i see a loss in power over shorter distance but maybe a better performance over longer distance?
If i manage to put some muscle back on should i expect an uplift in performance?

Im an all or nothing type of guy - so ever since starting rowing i have completely neglected everything else but its now obvious i need to start lifting and increasing calorie intake.

At 1.82m 89kg is more than enough I would say (with normal bodyfat), except the sprint distances where you can't be strong enough. Elite rowers are (on average) much taller but not that much heavier, most of then will look "skinnier" than you
Every kg of extra weight must be pushed up and down the rail, and, what's more important I think, extra muscles need extra oxygen but won't help you at longer distances.
Keith had the same "issue" lately, he lost around 7kg if I remember right, but he's still very strong and his middle and longer distance PBs improved.
And looking at your 8x200m session you just posted, your power is definitely there, no pure sprinter of course but a well balanced, very strong rower I would say. You could try a 500m or 1' TT, you'll propably surprise yourself how fast you are

[Dangerscouse]

I'm 6'4" (193cm) and I'm weighing 89kg nowadays. I always used to be around 94-96kg, before lockdown and not doing any weights. Since lockdown I have set seven new PBs so I can't say it has been detrimental.

Recently I have been more mindful of it, and trying to eat more but I can't weight on, but I am rowing more than normal too. I do still do dynamic Pilates twice a week so that involves quite a lot of calisthenics, which is maintaining strength.

[hjs]

I didnt post this under Health & Fitness as i think its more about training.

I weighed myself this morning after my wife said i was looking skinny and i was surprised to see that i was down to 89 kgs.
I was 97kgs a year ago when i was lifting every day and doing no cardio. I then introduced some running and got down to about 94kgs before i started rowing and the weight seems to be falling off. The only trouble is its mainly muscle.

My question is - will this be detrimental in terms of performance? Or will it be negligible?
Will i see a loss in power over shorter distance but maybe a better performance over longer distance?
If i manage to put some muscle back on should i expect an uplift in performance?

Im an all or nothing type of guy - so ever since starting rowing i have completely neglected everything else but its now obvious i need to start lifting and increasing calorie intake.

A toprower is strong and lean, with no bulk. Often 10/15 cm taller than you are. Weighing in the mid 90 ies. Most otw rowers you height are lightweights. Sub 75kg. And the very best pull sub6.
Also, you being a high rater, so you row on fitness and less on a strong stroke.

Woman often don’t like a man to be to skinny. Call me sexist, but being a bit bulky, in a good way, is for most attractive.

And how thin are you? Are you abs fully to be seen. Or is there still some fat. At 182 89 is still heavy, I bet you are not to lean.

[iangallagher]

I didnt post this under Health & Fitness as i think its more about training.

I weighed myself this morning after my wife said i was looking skinny and i was surprised to see that i was down to 89 kgs.
I was 97kgs a year ago when i was lifting every day and doing no cardio. I then introduced some running and got down to about 94kgs before i started rowing and the weight seems to be falling off. The only trouble is its mainly muscle.

My question is - will this be detrimental in terms of performance? Or will it be negligible?
Will i see a loss in power over shorter distance but maybe a better performance over longer distance?
If i manage to put some muscle back on should i expect an uplift in performance?

Im an all or nothing type of guy - so ever since starting rowing i have completely neglected everything else but its now obvious i need to start lifting and increasing calorie intake.

A toprower is strong and lean, with no bulk. Often 10/15 cm taller than you are. Weighing in the mid 90 ies. Most otw rowers you height are lightweights. Sub 75kg. And the very best pull sub6.
Also, you being a high rater, so you row on fitness and less on a strong stroke.

Woman often don’t like a man to be to skinny. Call me sexist, but being a bit bulky, in a good way, is for most attractive.

And how thin are you? Are you abs fully to be seen. Or is there still some fat. At 182 89 is still heavy, I bet you are not to lean.

Thanks HJ. Im well aware I’m not an ideal rowing physique. Never gonna be a lightweight rower that’s for sure.

At my lightest ever weight I was 80 kgs and punching out a 2.34 running marathon. So still relatively heavy compared to the whippets around me.

I’d describe myself as surprisingly dense. 6 pack
Has been visible all my life. Wasn’t great when I was 97kg but still visible. Having said that - can still pinch some fat

Your point about the strong stroke is what made me post this. As I know it’s muscle that I’ve lost so I’m curious as to how much that might impact stroke strength which I knew wasn’t my strong point.

Thanks all for your input

[hjs]

Thanks HJ. Im well aware I’m not an ideal rowing physique. Never gonna be a lightweight rower that’s for sure.

At my lightest ever weight I was 80 kgs and punching out a 2.34 running marathon. So still relatively heavy compared to the whippets around me.

I’d describe myself as surprisingly dense. 6 pack
Has been visible all my life. Wasn’t great when I was 97kg but still visible. Having said that - can still pinch some fat

Your point about the strong stroke is what made me post this. As I know it’s muscle that I’ve lost so I’m curious as to how much that might impact stroke strength which I knew wasn’t my strong point.

Thanks all for your input

Was not trying to put your build down ofcourse. There are a few guys, mid 180 who still made it. But those are rare.

Thats a solid marathon at that weight pound for pound very good.

I myself am also relative heavy. 186 and been low 90 to around 100kg. At my heaviest with weights 103 ish. Last time I was 90kg, my wife also did not like that. I would not call myself “dense” though, more wide. My shoulders always blew up when doing weights.

[KeithT]

I didnt post this under Health & Fitness as i think its more about training.

I weighed myself this morning after my wife said i was looking skinny and i was surprised to see that i was down to 89 kgs.
I was 97kgs a year ago when i was lifting every day and doing no cardio. I then introduced some running and got down to about 94kgs before i started rowing and the weight seems to be falling off. The only trouble is its mainly muscle.

My question is - will this be detrimental in terms of performance? Or will it be negligible?
Will i see a loss in power over shorter distance but maybe a better performance over longer distance?
If i manage to put some muscle back on should i expect an uplift in performance?

Im an all or nothing type of guy - so ever since starting rowing i have completely neglected everything else but its now obvious i need to start lifting and increasing calorie intake.

Ian, as Martin mentioned I have been fighting this too. I have lost weight and not put it back on and recently lost even more (195 lbs now). I am very lean (recently measured at 9.9% BF) especially for 52 years old but still carry much more muscle than most rowers I am sure. I still lift weights but only like 1-2 times a week and not too heavy. I am still fairly strong but I do think my rowing power has come down. However, it has been more than offset by improved fitness at least for rows 2K and up. Will be doing a 1K TT tomorrow so will see where that is but I am sure my 500m and 1' would be slower right now but I haven't worked on it either. It's a tough balancing act and I also use to try and keep in competitive CrossFit shape but have not competed there for a while and don't plan to any time soon. I eat a ton of food but doesn't seem to matter, I am burning calories and staying at this lower weight. So, long story I think the lower weight really only impacts the shorter rows if you have lost some muscle. Considering only a few distances are short, prob better to have superior fitness.

[MudSweatAndYears]

I weighed myself this morning after my wife said i was looking skinny and i was surprised to see that i was down to 89 kgs.
I was 97kgs a year ago when i was lifting every day and doing no cardio. I then introduced some running and got down to about 94kgs before i started rowing and the weight seems to be falling off. The only trouble is its mainly muscle.

Are you sure it is mostly muscle loss?

Since I started running and erging, I also lost some 10% of my total weight, and my wife also complains about me being skinny. But in my case I don’t think it is mainly fat loss. Sure, my arms and legs are less bulky now and might come across as less strong, but that is probably deception.

In order to make a claim about losing mainly muscle you would need a reliable body fat measurement.

[winniewinser]

I'm no expert.... obviously! ....but since rowing the last 12m I've dropped about 10kg and find it very hard to put anything back on.

People have commented that I look a big thin but I feel good. I'd like to improve muscle definition and now incorporate weights and core sessions each week.

In terms of rowing I'd rather have the fitness than the raw power. But that's just my opinion.

Keep doing what you're doing as you have many PBs to come.

[iangallagher]

I weighed myself this morning after my wife said i was looking skinny and i was surprised to see that i was down to 89 kgs.
I was 97kgs a year ago when i was lifting every day and doing no cardio. I then introduced some running and got down to about 94kgs before i started rowing and the weight seems to be falling off. The only trouble is its mainly muscle.

Are you sure it is mostly muscle loss?

Since I started running and erging, I also lost some 10% of my total weight, and my wife also complains about me being skinny. But in my case I don’t think it is mainly fat loss. Sure, my arms and legs are less bulky now and might come across as less strong, but that is probably deception.

In order to make a claim about losing mainly muscle you would need a reliable body fat measurement.

I’m sure there is some fat loss. I only say it’s mostly muscle as I put in about 15kgs after stopping running - and that was lifting weights daily (yeah I get obsessed!). Obviously fat in there too as CAnt build muscle without but I still had visible abs (not in the right light) and certainly didn’t look like I was close to 100kg.
I look in the mirror and feel like I look the same but scales show a different story

Thanks all for the replies. Consensus is that the weight loss shouldn’t be much to worry about. But I’ll look to incorporate more weights and up calories a touch to avoid any more loss. More for vanity’s sake

[gisborne]

Most people here seem to be talking about otw performance, where lower weight has a significant impact. I'm curious about how weight affects performance on the erg. I'm 6'3" (1.91m), 220 lbs (102kg) and I've been rowing a lot more and doing a lot less (ie, almost none) weightlifting. I've started to lose weight and I also, like the OP, feel that it is mostly muscle. I've been eating freely, though healthily, because I don't see the benefit of trying to lose weight and the calories will help my recovery. On the other hand, I'm wondering if I am mistaken and excess weight actually does affect my performance on the erg.

[Citroen]

Most people here seem to be talking about otw performance,...

No they're not. Everyone on here is talking about ergo performance and very few folks have ever seen a boat let alone rowed one.

[Dangerscouse]

Yeah, I've never rowed OTW. Never really wanted to, mainly because I'm a terrible swimmer, and a pathetic wimp in cold water.

[iangallagher]

Most people here seem to be talking about otw performance,...

No they're not. Everyone on here is talking about ergo performance and very few folks have ever seen a boat let alone rowed one.

correct. i get seasick so the only rowing im doing is in my garage

[hjs]

Most people here seem to be talking about otw performance, where lower weight has a significant impact. I'm curious about how weight affects performance on the erg. I'm 6'3" (1.91m), 220 lbs (102kg) and I've been rowing a lot more and doing a lot less (ie, almost none) weightlifting. I've started to lose weight and I also, like the OP, feel that it is mostly muscle. I've been eating freely, though healthily, because I don't see the benefit of trying to lose weight and the calories will help my recovery. On the other hand, I'm wondering if I am mistaken and excess weight actually does affect my performance on the erg.

Its not about excess weight, but usefull weight. Big arms, shoulders, pecs etc, so nothing on the erg, so those are only excess kg to pull up and down.
Rowing is an endurance sport, apart from 500 and below, so being strong and explosive gets you again nowhere. You don’t need fast fibers, but slow fiber muscles.
Lightweight woman pull sub 7 min. To give you an idea. In no way you need to be 100kg. And if you and thats real rowing weight you will pull 5.40