my story....

[douglashaller]

I thought I would share, hopefully it will help someone.

I started rowing for weight loss/fitness last thanksgiving, and I set a goal to row 100 hours in the 5 months from Thanksgiving until May 1, 2007. It was a simple goal, average 20 hours a month, at a slow steady pace.

I am 52 years old, short (and historically somewhat round) and I row at a fairly slow pace.... so I figured "time on the erg" was a good goal for me to set. I was able to achieve my goal of 100 hours, and during that time, rowed about 1,200,000 meters. According to my calculations, the rowing from Thanksgiving till May, burned about 65,000-70,000 calories. That amount of calories translates to 18-20 lbs of body fat, but I actually lost a bit more, I ended up losing about 28 lbs during my 5 month "program". I expect that this extra weight loss was due to a better diet, and maybe a higher metabolism. I had to be away from the erg for a two week vacation in March, but I increased my before and after vacation rowing, so that I still met my goal.

During May and June, I have continued , and have rowed another 500,000+ meters since May 1, and lost another 12 lbs. After all this, I am approaching 20% body fat, and feel better than I have in years.

It has been a lot of work, but for me, setting a long term goal, then breaking it to monthly/weekly/daily goals made the weight loss simple.

For me, it hasn't been a magic pill, but it has been nearly a "magic pull"

[hjs]

Good work.

Stay this way now !

[Liquid]

Excellent, love those weight loss success stories. I'm about your age, height (short too) and was round though I'm not yet 3 months into my regimen.

Are you at your weight goal and maintaining now? Check out the national weight loss registry site, you can join if you lose 30 lbs. and keep it off for a year. Be cool to have some rowers on there, I'll join when I'm eligible.

[DavidA]

Douglas,
Congratulations on the weight loss. You have a good attitude towards the exercising - spend time doing exercise and not necessarily trying to be so fast. Good luck with continued erging and getting to/maintaining the weight you want.

David

[douglashaller]

Its been over a year since I started ergin'

I erg every day... and with more than 230 days through the Concept2 year, I am in the 10,000+ per day club... I want to continue , I am approaching 4,000,000 lifetime meters, and if all goes well, plan to hit 5,000,000 by May 1st.

I was the Team Captian for the FRC at my local YMCA and am now doing my second Holiday Challenge.... Ive lost another 10 lbs, since I last reported, for a total of 50 lbs lost. While I would like to lose 10 more, I am not really fat (anymore)

for me, it has been lots or work and time, but worth it, .... and I have made new friends at the Y in our little erg corner. The social aspect at my local YMCA has really helped keep it fresh.

[johnlvs2run]

Congratulations.