For those that have been frequent users of the erg, how has it benefited your life?

[Path-erg]

Has it been overall weight loss? Drop in clothing sizes? More toned physique? All of the above?

Or has your physical body seemingly stayed about the same but you row for the mental and emotional benefits (ie stress relief and the zen of the spinning wheel)?

Would really appreciate hearing people’s thoughts on how their lives are different since regularly using the erg. Sometimes it’s easy to get wrapped up in all of the minutia of trying to maximize workouts to the highest degree and it’s easy to lose the forest from the trees. At least it can be for me.

Appreciate your “big picture” thoughts! Thank you.

[DavidA]

I use it mostly to help maintain my physical and mental health.

David

[JaapvanE]

I own my own erg, and it is in my home office. For me, it is a great stress-relief to just jump on for 10 minutes when I'm frustrated.

For me, rowing is all about physical excercise (just keep moving) and having something relaxing to do.

[jseymour]

For me it's about cardio-vascular fitness and I just plain enjoy rowing

[MPx]

I like being able to do stuff. We have quite a large property and most of the stuff that needs doing is heavy and takes ages to do. So I need to be strong enough and fit enough to do it. The erg does that for me - keeps me strong enough and fit enough to do all of the other things that I want to do. As a by product it also keeps my weight in check. If I don't exercise then I get heavier...and I never want to need to go on a diet, much prefer to just eat whatever I fancy and not think about it!

[Erik A]

i use the erg for all of the reasons you listed.
weight loss,
cardio fitness
stress release
I like it.

however im up and down with its use and to be honest if i was more regular i would probably be in a better headspace with the stress release etc.
just recently did the DASS scale and turns out i have extreme depression and stress with mild anxiety. so need to get back to doing things that relieve stress and depression (not taking meds)
i also have an erg at home and its in the home office/mancave/exercise centre/ storage facility so it should be easy to get off the couch and walk into the next room and row. while we are in summer i am walking more than rowing.

[Dangerscouse]

I find it's a significant stress buster and has definitely kept my weight very stable for a number of years.

I've rowed for almost 23 years, on and off, and until 2012 without any real idea of what I was doing. When I wasn't rowing, I peaked at 112kg, but since 2012, it's been very stable at around 90kg.

[Sakly]

Not for weight loss, not for stress relief.
For me the rower is an additional tool to my gym sessions (3/week which got my weight and stress levels in the right corner). I could gain much more endurance, get huge advantages also for my gym sessions. And the most important: it is fun. The second important: you can rank pieces and go for team challenges - good for me as I am a competitive person who likes that stuff

[Dangerscouse]

I'd also add that like everyone who regularly ergs, I'm made to move. Movement and the associated dopamine/ endorphin rush are intrinsically linked in my mind

[p_b82]

I recently put a post up in the health section about what the effect rowing has had for me in only 6 months.

Assuming I keep at it 2/3x a week as I am*, I foresee there being more of the same as the distance/years go by.

*during better weather I skip the weekend row for doing things outdoors.

[GlennUk]

I like being able to do stuff. strong enough and fit enough to do it. The erg does that for me - keeps me strong enough and fit enough to do all of the other things that I want to do.

As per Mike, we have a 'large garden' we also cut down our own fire wood, and chop it which requires a certain degree of stamina.

I started exercising as i have two young kids when thye were much younger, Im now 62 but found when i started erging in 2010, that i wanted to be able to run and play with them without having to stop for breath frequently. They have long since stopped making me run around, and now if they run, generally despite the age difference, they give up before me, although im sure if they really wanted to they could beat me.

I now erg as i want to keep fit and active into my dotage, my wife also provides an incentive to keep fit

I run a small consultancy with my wife, and have to deal with all the pressures that go along with that, as well as the porject work i do personally, the erg helps me to deal with the stresses, especially at the end of a hard day.

On top of that i have a problem with weight, well actually its not the weight per se, but the 'soft muscle' that i develop if i dont control my calorie intake thats the issue!

So erging, helps me to control my body, more to do with shape and tone, and when i look in the mirror i dont go yeeuch, which i did for years when I was 2 stone plus heavier than i am now, and this makes me feel good about myself.

In summary, erging helps me keep fit and active, it helps with my mental health both in terms of stress management, and self image. I used to run a lot and got the erg because it was low impact, im sure i could get some of these benefits with other forms of exercise, the erg is the one for me.

[EarthRower]

I started rowing in September 2022 after listening to an audiobook where the author described the unique challenge of 2k compared to all other sports. I liked his description of rowers seeking the "suck" during the 2k, and the triumph of finishing one. Before that, I had always overlooked the rowing machines in the gym because they lay so low on the floor. I got my own Erg, and now rowing is part of my daily routine. I row 6 days a week and have only skipped it for three days since September due to COVID. I lost a few pounds of fat, gained some muscles, and became leaner, and I continue to see improvement in my score. I row first thing in the morning, paying as much attention to the strokes as my monkey mind can. It is not only an exercise but also a sort of meditation for me.

[jamesg]

The erg helps maintain good habits rather than bad. Our essential exercise reduces temptation to overeat, drink and smoke. Also, it stays possible to do anything else physical and becomes easier to identify any health problems that might appear, offering a large incentive to get rid of such.

[WayHand]

These days I am running more frequently than rowing, however, I find my running times improve with a mid-week row. I also think it’s a good idea to work other muscle groups to avoid injury from doing too much of one sport. Exercise definitely helps my weight, lost over 3 stone in the last decade or so.

[PaulG]

Erging has been the best thing that ever happened to my skiing. I can now go longer, faster, harder at age 66 than I have before due to the increased stamina and leg strength.