A Few Weeks Into My Journey

[lsufan1972]

Quick brag, I'm over 800K meters rowed and down 45 pounds.
More importantly, I don't feel like I'm on a "diet" and I love my workouts.

...so I know there are 1000 posts about how to get into the proper zones for the best weight loss (or whichever goal you choose).
I'm not putting those down AT ALL. Those are awesome posts, and I love to read them, and may one day get that technical.

I just sort of started to row.
I have a concept2 rower at the house, because I was trying to get into CrossFit for a while, and my wife was ok with it as a 25th Anniversary present.
It was basically collecting dust and I was collecting additional pounds.
I worked, I ate and I watched TV. Lather, rinse, repeat.
I have been VERY unhappy for a VERY long time.

One day I decided to start "trying" to lose weight again, for the 500th or so time.
All I will say about my diet, unless asked for more, is that it stays between 2000 and 2200 calories MOST days.

When it comes to rowing, it was something I enjoyed at CrossFit, but never really did with any regularity.
I thought since I was trying to lose weight I'd try to row 2K per day, if I could manage it.
One day I tried for a 5K about a week or two into my plan and I survived.
I slowed my pace dramatically, but I got through it, so I did it again and again.
I decided to do 5K per day, and then one day I did one in the morning and one in the evening.
Now I'm rowing between 10K and 20K per day MOST days.

I row at a pace that is comfortable for me on that specific row.
When I feel good, I row at or below 2:15/500 pace.
When I'm not feeling it, I row somewhere around or over 2:20/500 pace.
The pace is irrelevant, and it's relative. If comfortable for me was 2:45/500, that's where I would row.

I'm losing about 2-3 pounds per week now since February, and I'm going to continue until I'm down about 125 pounds.
My starting weight was 324 and I hope to one day see 199 again.

My point is this: Just get on the rower and enjoy yourself.
Find a way to make it a daily thing, maybe try to extend your rows a little longer when it feels good.
If you make losing weight and getting fit "easy", you won't have to work so hard to get off the couch and away from the TV (or the table).
At least that's how it happened for me.

Best of luck to all of you who are on your weight loss journey or just starting out.
You can do this! ...and so can I.

Just FYI. I am 47, 5'11, and currently 279 pounds. ...and I'm enjoying the rower and this community immensely.

[Tony Cook]

Quick brag, I'm over 800K meters rowed and down 45 pounds.
More importantly, I don't feel like I'm on a "diet" and I love my workouts.

...so I know there are 1000 posts about how to get into the proper zones for the best weight loss (or whichever goal you choose).
I'm not putting those down AT ALL. Those are awesome posts, and I love to read them, and may one day get that technical.

I just sort of started to row.
I have a concept2 rower at the house, because I was trying to get into CrossFit for a while, and my wife was ok with it as a 25th Anniversary present.
It was basically collecting dust and I was collecting additional pounds.
I worked, I ate and I watched TV. Lather, rinse, repeat.
I have been VERY unhappy for a VERY long time.

One day I decided to start "trying" to lose weight again, for the 500th or so time.
All I will say about my diet, unless asked for more, is that it stays between 2000 and 2200 calories MOST days.

When it comes to rowing, it was something I enjoyed at CrossFit, but never really did with any regularity.
I thought since I was trying to lose weight I'd try to row 2K per day, if I could manage it.
One day I tried for a 5K about a week or two into my plan and I survived.
I slowed my pace dramatically, but I got through it, so I did it again and again.
I decided to do 5K per day, and then one day I did one in the morning and one in the evening.
Now I'm rowing between 10K and 20K per day MOST days.

I row at a pace that is comfortable for me on that specific row.
When I feel good, I row at or below 2:15/500 pace.
When I'm not feeling it, I row somewhere around or over 2:20/500 pace.
The pace is irrelevant, and it's relative. If comfortable for me was 2:45/500, that's where I would row.

I'm losing about 2-3 pounds per week now since February, and I'm going to continue until I'm down about 125 pounds.
My starting weight was 324 and I hope to one day see 199 again.

My point is this: Just get on the rower and enjoy yourself.
Find a way to make it a daily thing, maybe try to extend your rows a little longer when it feels good.
If you make losing weight and getting fit "easy", you won't have to work so hard to get off the couch and away from the TV (or the table).
At least that's how it happened for me.

Best of luck to all of you who are on your weight loss journey or just starting out.
You can do this! ...and so can I.

Just FYI. I am 47, 5'11, and currently 279 pounds. ...and I'm enjoying the rower and this community immensely.

Great effort. It’s brilliant that you are achieving your aims by doing something you are enjoying.

[Dangerscouse]

Well done, and I totally agree. You need to enjoy the process and the benefits should be consequential, then you will keep going even when it feels tough and there's much more chance that you will create a habit rather endure a chore.

[mict450]

.....I have a concept2 rower at the house, because I was trying to get into CrossFit for a while, and my wife was ok with it as a 25th Anniversary present.

Your better half sounds like a keeper. If I wasn't spoken for already, I would ask if she had a sister. . Even better would be if she would join you in erging.

[lsufan1972]

.....I have a concept2 rower at the house, because I was trying to get into CrossFit for a while, and my wife was ok with it as a 25th Anniversary present.

Your better half sounds like a keeper. If I wasn't spoken for already, I would ask if she had a sister. . Even better would be if she would join you in erging.

I have been asked if she has a sister a time or two.
She doesn't, but she is definitely a keeper. She isn't so much into the Erg though, unfortunately.

[canglem]

Thank you for this post. I've had mine just over a year but have kind of slacked off the last month and lost some erg fitness. The Heptathlon has me back at it this week a little stronger, but I need to really buckle back down. Good luck on your continued journey!

[DavidA]

Quick brag, I'm over 800K meters rowed and down 45 pounds.
More importantly, I don't feel like I'm on a "diet" and I love my workouts.

...so I know there are 1000 posts about how to get into the proper zones for the best weight loss (or whichever goal you choose).
I'm not putting those down AT ALL. Those are awesome posts, and I love to read them, and may one day get that technical.

I just sort of started to row.
I have a concept2 rower at the house, because I was trying to get into CrossFit for a while, and my wife was ok with it as a 25th Anniversary present.
It was basically collecting dust and I was collecting additional pounds.
I worked, I ate and I watched TV. Lather, rinse, repeat.
I have been VERY unhappy for a VERY long time.

One day I decided to start "trying" to lose weight again, for the 500th or so time.
All I will say about my diet, unless asked for more, is that it stays between 2000 and 2200 calories MOST days.

When it comes to rowing, it was something I enjoyed at CrossFit, but never really did with any regularity.
I thought since I was trying to lose weight I'd try to row 2K per day, if I could manage it.
One day I tried for a 5K about a week or two into my plan and I survived.
I slowed my pace dramatically, but I got through it, so I did it again and again.
I decided to do 5K per day, and then one day I did one in the morning and one in the evening.
Now I'm rowing between 10K and 20K per day MOST days.

I row at a pace that is comfortable for me on that specific row.
When I feel good, I row at or below 2:15/500 pace.
When I'm not feeling it, I row somewhere around or over 2:20/500 pace.
The pace is irrelevant, and it's relative. If comfortable for me was 2:45/500, that's where I would row.

I'm losing about 2-3 pounds per week now since February, and I'm going to continue until I'm down about 125 pounds.
My starting weight was 324 and I hope to one day see 199 again.

My point is this: Just get on the rower and enjoy yourself.
Find a way to make it a daily thing, maybe try to extend your rows a little longer when it feels good.
If you make losing weight and getting fit "easy", you won't have to work so hard to get off the couch and away from the TV (or the table).
At least that's how it happened for me.

Best of luck to all of you who are on your weight loss journey or just starting out.
You can do this! ...and so can I.

Just FYI. I am 47, 5'11, and currently 279 pounds. ...and I'm enjoying the rower and this community immensely.

I think that is a great attitude towards it all, and is more likely to have you keep at it, and keep improving your physical and mental health.
Good luck with all of it.

David

[Rob1966]

This was great to read. I am similar story and about 2 months newer to it than you. I am about to start week 7.

I bought a concept2 22 months ago when we moved into a new house with a ridiculous sized master bedroom hat was big enough for an erg and a 3 station weight rack. The idea was that I would find the time to get stared and hire a trainer and never did. I looked at the memory the erg two days ago and it had 9 hours of use the first month, 11 hours the second month and then zero use for 18 months.

I am 53 years old and slowly been putting on weight for the last 20 years. 5 years ago I twisted my knee golfing and tore my meniscus. Two surgeries later and no meniscus, I was told to consider a knee replacement and I can't walk more than 30-40 minutes at a time or I will limp for days. I have been flying to Europe for knee treatments just to allow me to no longer swing my leg when I walk so I certainly will never jog. I tried a couple of gyms and they insisted that squats and lunges are a must. I was very frustrated and just kind of had no idea where to turn.

Then came this virus lockdown. I live on a small island and we got totally locked down. We could only leave the house for groceries/pharmacy 3 specified days a week based on last name and we are just now starting to come out of that after 10 weeks. I decided early on it was time to use the lockdown to make some changes. I started with two weeks of keto diet and went from 323 pounds to 312 pounds but that just felt like it wasn't how I wanted to live the rest of my life and I knew this change needed to be lifestyle and not just a temporary diet. So about 7 weeks ago I walked into my bedroom where my erg sits at about 9 am and climbed on it. I had no idea what I was doing but rowed for 10 minutes. Then later in the day another 10 minutes. Then 10 the next day. Then two sets of ten the next day and I slowly built. After a week I decided that 2000 meters was a good distance and started doing that. First 2000m was 9:32 and within 3 weeks I was a full minute less and at week 7 am just under 8 minutes. I have been watching a ton of videos on technique and working that hard to become more efficient. The time doesn't really matter as much as the fact that I actually enjoy it.

I weigh 290 right now and expect to be at 275 by end of July. The weight loss is great but I am finding that for the firs time I have an exercise I can do that feels like 5-10 minutes when I have been a it for 45-60 minutes. Thats is a complete game changer. Yesterday I did 10,000m in 42 minutes. I am still fat and out of shape but its a process and its just me and my erg and I track what I am doing and do as much as I can on the days the my body tells me what's working. This is a long. long marathon and I cant afford to get burnt out or injured so I will just slowly build on it. I want to be 15,000m in under 60 minutes by end of year. I am sure I will get my weight down to 225-230 which is all that I need to get to.

I played collegiate basketball and was in amazing shape until about age 25 and then life started to get in the way. For the first time since then I feel like I have found something I can just stay at and can do anywhere in the world I happen to be.

A few things people dont talk much about based on my little reading so far on this. I want people that start this to know that its gets way easier but do some research and learn proper technique. My traps and lats absolutely killed me for the first 3-4 weeks. My ass ached for the first 3-4 weeks and then it all slowly went away. I can now row for 45-90 minutes and nothing hurts. There is a good burn from a good workout but no pain or aches. I believe that my only competition on this machine is my mental and physical state on that day. Some days I will push harder than others and feel like intervals. Some days I feel like putting on some good tunes, loud and just row for fun until I feel like stopping. Its only been 7 weeks but I can say for sure that this thing will change my life. To anyone who is new to this, jus do what you can do as often as you can do it and it will get easier slowly. I have a long ways to go and am now also lifting weights 5 days a week as well s rowing 6 days a week. I am fortunate its just in my bedroom but for others, just go chase it.

[Dangerscouse]

This was great to read. I am similar story and about 2 months newer to it than you. I am about to start week 7.

I bought a concept2 22 months ago when we moved into a new house with a ridiculous sized master bedroom hat was big enough for an erg and a 3 station weight rack. The idea was that I would find the time to get stared and hire a trainer and never did. I looked at the memory the erg two days ago and it had 9 hours of use the first month, 11 hours the second month and then zero use for 18 months.

I am 53 years old and slowly been putting on weight for the last 20 years. 5 years ago I twisted my knee golfing and tore my meniscus. Two surgeries later and no meniscus, I was told to consider a knee replacement and I can't walk more than 30-40 minutes at a time or I will limp for days. I have been flying to Europe for knee treatments just to allow me to no longer swing my leg when I walk so I certainly will never jog. I tried a couple of gyms and they insisted that squats and lunges are a must. I was very frustrated and just kind of had no idea where to turn.

Then came this virus lockdown. I live on a small island and we got totally locked down. We could only leave the house for groceries/pharmacy 3 specified days a week based on last name and we are just now starting to come out of that after 10 weeks. I decided early on it was time to use the lockdown to make some changes. I started with two weeks of keto diet and went from 323 pounds to 312 pounds but that just felt like it wasn't how I wanted to live the rest of my life and I knew this change needed to be lifestyle and not just a temporary diet. So about 7 weeks ago I walked into my bedroom where my erg sits at about 9 am and climbed on it. I had no idea what I was doing but rowed for 10 minutes. Then later in the day another 10 minutes. Then 10 the next day. Then two sets of ten the next day and I slowly built. After a week I decided that 2000 meters was a good distance and started doing that. First 2000m was 9:32 and within 3 weeks I was a full minute less and at week 7 am just under 8 minutes. I have been watching a ton of videos on technique and working that hard to become more efficient. The time doesn't really matter as much as the fact that I actually enjoy it.

I weigh 290 right now and expect to be at 275 by end of July. The weight loss is great but I am finding that for the firs time I have an exercise I can do that feels like 5-10 minutes when I have been a it for 45-60 minutes. Thats is a complete game changer. Yesterday I did 10,000m in 42 minutes. I am still fat and out of shape but its a process and its just me and my erg and I track what I am doing and do as much as I can on the days the my body tells me what's working. This is a long. long marathon and I cant afford to get burnt out or injured so I will just slowly build on it. I want to be 15,000m in under 60 minutes by end of year. I am sure I will get my weight down to 225-230 which is all that I need to get to.

I played collegiate basketball and was in amazing shape until about age 25 and then life started to get in the way. For the first time since then I feel like I have found something I can just stay at and can do anywhere in the world I happen to be.

A few things people dont talk much about based on my little reading so far on this. I want people that start this to know that its gets way easier but do some research and learn proper technique. My traps and lats absolutely killed me for the first 3-4 weeks. My ass ached for the first 3-4 weeks and then it all slowly went away. I can now row for 45-90 minutes and nothing hurts. There is a good burn from a good workout but no pain or aches. I believe that my only competition on this machine is my mental and physical state on that day. Some days I will push harder than others and feel like intervals. Some days I feel like putting on some good tunes, loud and just row for fun until I feel like stopping. Its only been 7 weeks but I can say for sure that this thing will change my life. To anyone who is new to this, jus do what you can do as often as you can do it and it will get easier slowly. I have a long ways to go and am now also lifting weights 5 days a week as well s rowing 6 days a week. I am fortunate its just in my bedroom but for others, just go chase it.

Well done Rob, you're making solid progress. With your basketball background, it sounds like you will keep making fast progress too

[mict450]

Rob, I think you should be proud of your achievements....10k @ 42 minutes in 7 weeks is phenomenal! You'll be under 40 minutes in no time. Good job!

[lsufan1972]

Canglem:

I definitely get that. I have been on a diet/exercise roller coaster for so many years that I've lost count.
I'm feeling so much better now that I've found something I enjoy, and I'm able to stay pretty consistent.
I'm sure it's only a matter of time before you're back at it and feeling great.

Rob:

You are killing it. I think we are in really similar situations, based on your post.
I have a feeling you'll be crushing the times, especially if you're already at a 42 minute PR for 10K.
That's amazing.

[Ponder]

Quick brag, I'm over 800K meters rowed and down 45 pounds.
More importantly, I don't feel like I'm on a "diet" and I love my workouts.

...so I know there are 1000 posts about how to get into the proper zones for the best weight loss (or whichever goal you choose).
I'm not putting those down AT ALL. Those are awesome posts, and I love to read them, and may one day get that technical.

I just sort of started to row.
I have a concept2 rower at the house, because I was trying to get into CrossFit for a while, and my wife was ok with it as a 25th Anniversary present.
It was basically collecting dust and I was collecting additional pounds.
I worked, I ate and I watched TV. Lather, rinse, repeat.
I have been VERY unhappy for a VERY long time.

One day I decided to start "trying" to lose weight again, for the 500th or so time.
All I will say about my diet, unless asked for more, is that it stays between 2000 and 2200 calories MOST days.

When it comes to rowing, it was something I enjoyed at CrossFit, but never really did with any regularity.
I thought since I was trying to lose weight I'd try to row 2K per day, if I could manage it.
One day I tried for a 5K about a week or two into my plan and I survived.
I slowed my pace dramatically, but I got through it, so I did it again and again.
I decided to do 5K per day, and then one day I did one in the morning and one in the evening.
Now I'm rowing between 10K and 20K per day MOST days.

I row at a pace that is comfortable for me on that specific row.
When I feel good, I row at or below 2:15/500 pace.
When I'm not feeling it, I row somewhere around or over 2:20/500 pace.
The pace is irrelevant, and it's relative. If comfortable for me was 2:45/500, that's where I would row.

I'm losing about 2-3 pounds per week now since February, and I'm going to continue until I'm down about 125 pounds.
My starting weight was 324 and I hope to one day see 199 again.

My point is this: Just get on the rower and enjoy yourself.
Find a way to make it a daily thing, maybe try to extend your rows a little longer when it feels good.
If you make losing weight and getting fit "easy", you won't have to work so hard to get off the couch and away from the TV (or the table).
At least that's how it happened for me.

Best of luck to all of you who are on your weight loss journey or just starting out.
You can do this! ...and so can I.

Just FYI. I am 47, 5'11, and currently 279 pounds. ...and I'm enjoying the rower and this community immensely.

Awesome post here! Congrats and keep up the good work. One of the most important things on any journey of self improvement or weightloss or whatever goal you are trying to achieve, is to enjoy the process. It sounds like you are enjoying the process and I have no doubt you will continue on this healthy trajectory.

[mict450]

One of the most important things on any journey of self improvement or weightloss or whatever goal you are trying to achieve, is to enjoy the process.

Yes, enjoying what you're doing is important to being consistent. However, when it comes right down to it, sometimes you just don't feel like hopping on the erg, 'cuz you know you just won't enjoy it. At times like this, nothing beats falling back onto the reptile brain of habit. Habit will get you on the erg, when fun & joy are dead & buried.

[lsufan1972]

One of the most important things on any journey of self improvement or weightloss or whatever goal you are trying to achieve, is to enjoy the process.

Yes, enjoying what you're doing is important to being consistent. However, when it comes right down to it, sometimes you just don't feel like hopping on the erg, 'cuz you know you just won't enjoy it. At times like this, nothing beats falling back onto the reptile brain of habit. Habit will get you on the erg, when fun & joy are dead & buried.

Just a quick update, I'm now around 1.2 MM meters and down 57 pounds.

I still believe you have to enjoy what you're doing, or you will never create a habit in the first place.
I do fully agree with you though. It HAS to become something you are, or at least something you do.
I see myself as a rower now, and because of this, I ROW, everyday. It doesn't matter how I feel.

I actually had a very transformative row just recently.
Every meter seemed to hurt, and I simply couldn't establish any rhythm.
I was planning a 5K for the day, just to make sure I had something in the books.
When I got to 5K, almost out of spite, I did another 2K to prove to myself that I'm stronger than I ever was before.
It was strangely liberating.
I knew at that point that the weight was all gone, even though I still have about 70 pounds to shed.

Thanks everyone for the motivation and camaraderie.
I love checking in to see how everyone's journey is going, and get words of encouragement from the "veterans".

Enjoy the Erg (and if not, get those meters in anyway).

[Dangerscouse]

Thanks everyone for the motivation and camaraderie.
I love checking in to see how everyone's journey is going, and get words of encouragement from the "veterans".

One constant from this forum is that no matter how high up the hill you are in performance terms, we always stoop down with a helping hand. If you're willing to learn we are always willing to help.

Not that many people understand the attraction of the rowing machine, nevermind put the hours in to get better at it, so the camaraderie is always a natural byproduct.

That is great progress on your weight loss and adding a few metres here and there is a great way of building your distances up without even realising.