Introduce yourself

[Little Miss Muffet]

Hi everyone. I posted the intro below last night in the weightloss forum and then found this spot for introductions. I am looking forward to being here more often.

I ordered my rower tonight and I'm excited for its arrival.
I've been reading the posts in this forum and its very inspiring to hear the success stories and know they started out where I am now.

I'm 45, mom to 2 girls, and simply have not taken care of myself. My father passed away just before Christmas. I used some of the money he left me to buy the Model E for my family. My Dad was very unhealthy his entire life....obese, high BP, CV disease, diabetes, depression, knee, foot, hip problems, etc. My goal is to use this machine to get myself into a healthy state of being and to not go thru the misery he did. AND to set an example for my girls to live by. I want them to grow up healthy and strong--like me-their Mom. Other than the extra weight and some past achilles and plantar fasciitis problems, I'm in good health. My husband, walks the dog every morning, has much more stamina and endurance than me, and just carrying a small amount of extra weight, although he is type 2 diabetic, cholesterol problems. Both of us have hit that wall that says 'you are in your 40's, and are no longer in the shape you were in college'. I used a rower briefly years and years ago in college. I enjoyed it then. I prefer working muscles and getting cardio on the side. I've never been a runner or elliptical person. I don't have the lungs for it.

It's time to get busy on changing the things we let slide for the last 20 years. I am hoping to drop some weight/inches in a reasonable amount of time, simply because I will be more active and not sedentary. But my diet--ugh--I am a person that would happily live on bread and water alone--seriously---happily I could eat just that. If I can get 50lbs off I will be thrilled....but won't I complain if 20 more want to drop off too.


anyway--that's a bit about me.

Until my rower gets here I will be reading posts, watching videos, reading, learning, etc. And maybe one day I'll figure out what all the numbers mean when people post them.

see you around
Rhonda

[Quatroux]

Welcome to the club. The machines made by Concept2 mimic the two most strenuous sports known to humankind. However, they are also low impact and can be done the rest of your life. Your rower is not only a piece of fitness equipment, by also a key training tool used by Olympians and performance athletes the world over. It is the gold standard and so popular that it has become a sport in its own right. I'm sure you've read about erg competitions. They could be a great goal for you if you really want to get competitive. Otherwise, Concept2 has some great motivational tool on their web site. This forum is a big part of that.

My only advice to you is read. I don't think you will ever stop learning how to improve your stroke or vary your training.

[foxglove]

Reintroduction. It has been long enough that I had to reregister. I'm a SAHM of 5. The oldest just graduated high school, the youngest just started kindergarten. Starting this month, I have hours alone on weekdays for the first time in 17 years. Pretty heady stuff. Rowing helped me stay fit before so I'm back again. I like getting all-over exercise without having to go anywhere, pay anything, and in the least amount of time so I have more time for other stuff like gardening, volunteering, working with my kids...and laundry, of course!

I was introduced to rowing my final year in college and loved it, it was my first and only team sport. But it was being out on the water that I really loved. Now I erg purely for fitness. I finished my first 5M several years ago (2008?) but since then have only rowed another 500k, less than 100k a year. I rowed a marathon way back in 2004 or so, I can't even remember anymore. Here's to reaching 10M and rowing one more marathon in the next two years!

[Agatha72]

Hi everyone, Just ordered my Concept2 last night(model E). Very excited about starting rowing, I have an ancient health rider(22years old). Needed something better to work out with. My background is that I'm 47 years old, married, one kid in college, second kid starting college next year. I'm a homemaker that volunteers during spring at the local high school as assistant Track Coach, javelin ,sprints and distant racing. I have always enjoyed rowing with my dad in Wisconsin when young, almost rowed on a team during high school. Had no money, so it was x-country and track for me. Husband has a knee issue and metabolic syndrome. I'm heavy, 178lbs and 5' 8" so I wanted to have something to do indoors for the rest of my life. It was hard work on deciding on a erg to get. I it was between the Concept2 and Water rower, decided after trying the Concept2 in a local fitness show room. I like the community forums as I find they are so helpful.

[Shurla5]

Hi my name is Shurla and I live in the midwest. I am 52 and just received my concept 2 rower jan 4th. I love it and can see a change in my body already. I am doing between 5 -5.5k meters 5 days a week. I have logged over 105k meters since I've got my rower. I'm hoping to lose 10 - 20 lbs , but more than that I want to get in shape.

[LucyBrawless]

Hi Ladies, brand new rower here, just got my new concept2 model D a few days ago. Loving it so far and hoping to lose about 15lbs give or take with muscle gain. I am a very small 4ft11in 38yr old lady. My 2k time is around 10min and am hoping to get that down to 9min within the next 6 months.
Happy rowing!
Lucy

[RhodyMMM]

Hi Ladies, back on the erg after an extended absence (for a number of reasons, but no good excuses!). Just finished treatment for breast cancer (it's been a very long 9 months) and now ready to turn a new page in my life. So back on the erg that has been collecting dust. Also getting ready to join a Learn to Row class at a local rowing club, and will be looking into another local club that has a breast cancer survivor's Dragon Boat team. Trying to decide which one to get involved with, I don't think I can do both. It has long been on my "bucket list" to get onto the water in a row boat, but I need to find a way to make my knees cooperate with the entry to the boat. As I was going through my cancer treatment I was blessed to meet a physical therapist who is a certified women's health therapist (she helped me with a lot of post-op challenges), and in the course of conversation I found out she was a member at the same rowing club that I have been contemplating....seemed like fate to me! So now it's time to get back on the erg and work on getting in shape. I am 54, have lost about 20 pounds over the last year but still need to lose more. Working on diet and lifestyle changes. The cancer treatment was brutal; I really don't want to go through that again!
Looking forward to getting to know some of you.....
Martha

[rowterri]

Hi, I am new to the forum, starting rowing for 1st time August of 2013. I started by going to this indoor rowing fitness place. LOVED it. The "coach" was great and left the 45 minute class drenched in sweat. And went from a couch potato to a fairly fit!
But the classes are expensive, could have bought my own erg! So now I joined a gym and row there everyday for 30 minutes if I can (meaning if no one is waiting for it). I am 40, 5foot and 105 lbs, which means I am not built for rowing! But I love it anyway. I didn't start logging my meters until January so I am behind on my million meter goal. I am on a new kick to convince my husband to get me on my own erg! Mostly he resists because of space issues, we live in Brooklyn, and we have 2 kids, so we are space challenged. Glad to hear your kids use it, maybe that will help convince my hubbie.
We need duck names? I like it, but why ducks? Did I miss something?
Nice to meet everyone!

[Bob S.]

@ rowterri: I have read your posts on the training forum, so I know that you are familiar with both the dynamic and the model D (grounded). Since you are considering the purchase of a C2 rower, I wanted to make a few comments. As you know, the dyamic takes up somewhat less space that D (and far less space than a D on slides). There are some disadvantages. The price of the dynamic is higher, of course. Since is is all one unit, it cannot be broken down and stored in a smaller space like the D and it is harder to move around. Also, online records on the dynamic are listed separately from the records for the other models. One big advantage, in my mind, is that the dynamic is easier on one's back than a grounded machine. I did use a D on slides for a while, which is also easier on the back, but eventually switched to the dynamic because the slides took up too much space.

Bob S.

[rowterri]

Hey Bob, thanks, yes the cost of the dynamic is quite daunting and I think it needs to be bolted to the floor? I will probably buy a D when I make some space in our apartment

[Bob S.]

Hey Bob, thanks, yes the cost of the dynamic is quite daunting and I think it needs to be bolted to the floor? I will probably buy a D when I make some space in our apartment

No. There is no need to bolt it to the floor. In fact, I have mine mounted on a pair of small furniture dollies to make it easier to move around for vacuuming the carpet. That might not work out well for the monster power rowers who give mighty yanks on the handle, but at my level, it is not at all a problem. Actually, since both the seat and foot boards move, it would probably not even be a problem for the guys that make a grounded D jump around like a grasshopper.

Bob S.

[mhousenga]

Very new to this. I just acquired a Model C off of craigslist. I am a mom or a four year old boy and an eight month girl. After looking for a piece of exercise equipment to fit in my low ceiling basement, rowing seemed like a good choice. With two young kids, I need something I can do at home quickly. Living Minnesota is wonderful, but we get extreme weather -hot and frigid so something inside is a great option. I am looking forward to joining the rowing community. My goals are to improve my fitness and hopefully shed a few pounds.

[Karate-Chris]

Bonjour! My name is Christine. My hubby is an avid rower/cross fit junky, however my thing has always been Karate. I hold a 2nd degree in Shito-Ryu and a 1st degree in Chito-Ryu. That being said, I unfortunately put on a load of weight - 50lbs since I had my 4th child 20 years ago.

I continue to practice my martial art 3x/week (about 4hrs) and I started rowing 5K on the off days. So, I am motivated, yet I am hoping that this forum is still sufficiently active to help with the support process.

Tnx and cheers to all!

[Doublemeasure]

Hello, I am a 57 yo woman returning to fitness after piling on too much weight over the last 8 years! I have dabbled on and off with indoor rowing over the years, so as a result of losing 14 kilo's, I have returned to the gym. I knew I had to get back on it! Only another 46 kilo's (at least) to go!
So, here I am, joined the forum and the Concept logbook to record my return to fitness. I want to look good again and get off the high blood pressure tablets!
Thanks for your help in advance.

[LKarlson]

Hi! I am fairly new to this as my main source of exercising. Back injury has sidelined me from full CrossFit for a while, but rowing does not make the pain any worse. So this is going to be it for a while along with old fashioned weight training, (no kettlebell swings..). So glad to find this site and great information. The more I read, the more I think I can embrace this change and have a good time with it.