Here I go again!

[MsLisa]

I just came across this forum and thought I'd post for advice, training partners etc. I'm looking to lose 25-40 pounds and have lost 30 by ERGing before, after my first son was born. Now I'm facing 40 and need to get serious about this. ERGing has made me so much stronger and healthier and I am ready to get back into it again.

I have been easing back into an ERG routine. My goal is 40 minutes 5x a week. I'm at 30 minutes about 4 times a week now. I try to row every day, even if I can only go for 15 minutes. For me, the longer row is a mental challenge more than physical. I know I can do it physically...mentally I am jumping all over the place looking for reasons to stop. It is terrible! I have my iPod on but it is a struggle.

I eat pretty well too. I try to eat fruits and veggies and some lean protein during the day and then allow myself some complex carbs and lean protein for supper. I am doing pretty well with this too. I lost about 6 pounds in the past month and am now stalled....Very frustrating! S I'm trying to kick it up a notch to the 40 minutes a day and it is HARD. I'd like to do some strength training 3x a week as well to build up some muscle. Any thoughts on this would be great too. It's got to be something I can do at home with weights or video (pilates???)

I've printed out my little training sheet from the british Concept2 site and wonder if that is helpful or if sticking to a longer row (with varied intensity etc) works just as well.

I have 2 little kids so carving out 40 minutes of "me time" is pretty precious.

Thanks,
Lisa

[Rhubarbarian]

I'm still a novice at the rowing, but also struggling with weight loss. A couple of things I've found to be useful:

Check out the C2 website for their ongoing virtual challenges. I find having a goal, even a virtual one helpful. There's a new one coming up for June.

Your dietary goals sound solid, but I would suggest that you try to get a little protein, even if just nuts, with each meal; helps keep you from getting hungry between meals.

[moodygirl]

One of the things that I found that is helpful to keep me rowing, I set the monitor for a specific amount of time or distance. The counting down is easier than going up and rowing for a time when you keep looking at a clock and coming up with excuses to stop.

For strength training check out: www.hundredpushups.com or www.shapefit.com

shapefit has tons of information from diet, wt loss, cardio, strength training but lacks info on rowing.

Hope some of this helps

[SarahG]

I eat pretty well too. I try to eat fruits and veggies and some lean protein during the day and then allow myself some complex carbs and lean protein for supper.

I have 2 little kids so carving out 40 minutes of "me time" is pretty precious.

Thanks,
Lisa

Lisa,

I'm with you there . . . I found out three years ago I'm type 2 diabetic. I had to lose about 80 pounds quickly, and did it, but it was torture. Now I'm on the other side of another baby, tight schedule, but determined to drop these last pesky 15 pounds.

Just a suggestion---if weight has always been a struggle for you---when do you normally row/work out? Often, women who are apple-shaped and keep weight on are insulin resistant, even if their blood sugars are normal. If you consume your complex carbs in the evening, try rowing/working out within an hour of finishing your meal. There's a reason for that . . . or . . .

One experiment you can try is to consume your complex carbs in the morning. If you are even a little insulin resistant, eating even the best carbs at night can really mess with your insulin production and sugar uptake.

So, try some complex carbs in the morning instead of at dinner.

Also, hyperinsulinemia (producing too much insulin because your body is resistant to it, very common in women with visceral [abdominal] fat) can be countered by strength training. Strength training takes up sugar more quickly than cardio training. ERGing is the best overall workout, but try to supplement with the strength training, especially in your larger muscle groups (core, legs).

You might see some results, you might not . . . either way, I hope this helps. It worked for me, and I'd been trying to lose weight for 12 years.

Best of luck to you!

Sarah