Now what?

[underwater]

Tomorrow I will complete my weight loss programme. Hooray for me!!! Now, the question is what do I do to maintain my current weight and fitness level? Do I just repeat the final 4 weeks of the program forever? Is there another training program I should follow? I like the longer rowing sessions and I know that I will never be a competitive rower so an hour 5 days/week is no problem for me, but I don't want to get bored with the same routine every day. All suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

[Bob S.]

Tomorrow I will complete my weight loss programme. Hooray for me!!! Now, the question is what do I do to maintain my current weight and fitness level? Do I just repeat the final 4 weeks of the program forever? Is there another training program I should follow? I like the longer rowing sessions and I know that I will never be a competitive rower so an hour 5 days/week is no problem for me, but I don't want to get bored with the same routine every day. All suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

If you were using the one from the UK IP and liked it, the IP 2K programme on that same site might work out well for you, even though you are not interested in training for competition. It has a structure to follow and has a lot of variety, so there isn't a lot of boring repetition. Just ignore the "race day" aspect of the final day scheduled and regard it as a time trial for assessing your condition.

Bob S.

[Carl Watts]

Get RowPro.

I have no idea how people manage to continue to row for years without it. Join others online and it makes rowing 4 or 5 times a week easy.

It's not about being competitive, it's about regular rowing with other like minded individuals for fitness and being part of the great online community.

[jamesg]

Underwater: once fit we can do whatever we like, walk, climb stairs, scull, kayak, bike, climb mountains, swim, according to weather, time and place. Simplest is to go to work on the bike, but anything will do, even the erg if we can't get outdoors. You've written the the keyword yourself: forever.

I try to do most of these, and otherwise cycle though the first few weeks of a C2 UK Interactive.

[underwater]

Thanks for the replies. I apologize because I guess that I didn't give enough info or created an incorrect impression. I enjoy rowing and tend to like rowing longer distances. I have over 12 million lifetime meters.

The issue is that I got burned out and didn't row for a year which is why I needed to lose weight. Before I stopped rowing, I was just rowing in UT1 for hours at a time. I have found that the variety of sessions in the weight loss program helps keep me motivated or at least didn't de-motivate me by having to do the same workout every day.

Toward that end, RowPro looks interesting although it does create a couple logistical issues. I saw a couple references to a free 20 day trial and discount coupons, but not on digitalrowing.com's site. How/where can I get a coupon? Also, they indicate that they have hundreds of training plans, are any of them geared toward accomplishing >10Km/day?

Again, I greatly appreciate your assistance.

[Carl Watts]

I really only use the online feature and am not into any form of "Training Plan". At the end of the day a plan is just a method to get you to commit to regular rowing and X kms a week. Rowing online with others is more or less the same but it uses the "Gym buddy" approach where you row with others so it motivates you to sign on for regular rows to meet the same people. Personally this works far better for me as its interactive and there is also online chat and we evaluate the results online post row in terms of spm and heartrates etc.

The RowPro software is very cheap for what it enables you to do, however there is obviously a bit of added expense in terms of a PC if you do not have one.

In terms of long term motivation its hard to beat. The majority of Ergs must get sold within one to two years due to lack of use. Currently I'm rowing just over 2 million metres a season which is about 5.7Km a day. There are plenty of 30 minute rows setup and a few 10km's as well so even if you have to join two rows you should get through your 10Km a day average no problem.

[Bob S.]

Get RowPro.

I have no idea how people manage to continue to row for years without it. Join others online and it makes rowing 4 or 5 times a week easy.

Carl,

Some of us are just loners and function OK that way. As a college oarsman, I was a sweep rower, so obviously part of a team - 8 plus cox in those days. We generally had 4-6 boats out for each practice so it was a big group and we spent a lot of time together, what with commuting to the boathouse from the campus for daily workouts and taking train trips to competitions. I enjoyed the team spirit and camaraderie of being part of that at the time, but I had learned to row in heavy skiffs as a youngster and had spent many long hours out on the bay just rowing by myself. It seems perfectly natural.

In my 70s, I took several extended solo, self-contained bicycle tours and regret that I had not taken the time to do more.

Bob S.

[Carl Watts]

I understand, however you have to admit that any sport has a social side and for the typical person this is the problem with the erg and rowing on it long term. There are always numerous ergs for sale over here and the most common reason stated is "lack of use" rather than the best I have seen..."Torture machine".

You may be fine rowing on your own for a year or even two with the aid of music but its hard to stay motivated without others to row with and race against.

I live in hope that one day there are so many RowPro users you can just jump online and row with 16 others whenever you want.