Weight Loss Support

[Dar]

A brief bio - 53 year old woman, 190lbs, severely allergic to most forms of exercise. I was at a hotel many years back and went with one of my healthy, fit, sickeningly good looking friends to the hotels health club. I started playing with the rowing machine since every other piece of equipment made me sneeze uncontrollably and there were hives too, I broke out in hives! I found I really enjoyed the rowing machine. Years later I moved to Hawaii for 6 years and spent at least a couple of days a week kayaking. I loved to row! When I hit that 190 mark, and saw 200 chasing me down the cookie aisle, I knew something had to be done. I did some research and found this forum and immediately, in spite of my STRICT budget (which also makes me sneeze), ordered up a model D. I rationalized it by thinking about all the money I'd be saving on french fries and chips. It's being delivered today and I just wanted to say that I love this community. I've been reading some of the posts here and it's a joy to see the support and kindness you have for those just starting out.

I just wanted to introduce myself and say "thank you" for being a wonderful group of people. It's a comfort to know you're here.

[Dar]

It's here! And, after reading so much about why you don't want to overdo it in the beginning, I have logged my first 5000 meters. I didn't do it all at once, I took me about 6 go's at it but I wanted to see if I could get it done before I go into work tonight. And so I have. I think a diversion in the room would help, a television or something to keep me from watching the monitor all the time. It's kind of like the watched pot that refuses to boil.

[Steve W]

Welcome, Dar! Glad to see you got back on the horse several times. Rowing is a great activity in working toward a healthy lifestyle. Mix it up with distances & goals so you don't get bored, stay motivated and post your progress, or challenges, on the boards. Members are quite the knowledgeable & supportive group. Great job on choosing a wise investment and activity.
In health,
Steve W.

[Myopic Squirrel]

Welcome Dar, and congrats on your continuing efforts! In your enthusiasm, please don't do what I usually do - overdo it, screw myself up, and then have to lay off while my body recuperates. If you haven't already, check out the C2 correct technique video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ82RYIFLN8 IMO technique in the beginning stages is critical, because if you stick with this, unless using the correct technique you're going to develop some bad habits that will be very difficult to undo (don't ask me how I know *G*). And since you enjoy kayaking, who knows - one day you might be rowing on the water. I would also check out the C 2 site - http://www.concept2.com/ There is a LOT of very useful info, especially under the TRAINING tab re: programs, technique, Workout of the Day, etc etc. Most importantly - have fun with it!

[NurseBobbi]

Welcome, Dar! Congrats on the new erg and your first meters. Keep it up (but don't overdo it)! I've had a model B since 2001, but I didn't take advantage of it for a long time. I started rowing regularly a year ago as part of an attempt to feel and move better. I'm 60 and have osteoarthritis. My weight topped out at 214. (I'm 5'8-1/2".) in addition to rowing, I've improved my eating habits and started strength training. It's working! My strength, balance, flexibility, and endurance have all improved, and I have far less arthritis pain.

I have a sound system in the basement, so I listen to music while I row. I would like to add a TV down there, but for now, I occasionally set up my laptop or iPad and watch streaming TV shows. I just put it on a chair in front of the erg.

Good luck and happy erging! If you haven't joined an affiliation team yet, I'd love to have you on Row Pain, Row Gain.

[sekitori]

I am in a distinct minority when it comes to training on my C2. Aside from the timer, I cover the rest of the monitor. I do not care to see how fast I am going or how far I have rowed. I'm competitive and when I see numbers and diagrams on the display, I have a tendency to have them guide my workout. As a result, I am more often than not trying to create personal bests when I row--and that is NOT an intelligent way for someone as competitive as I am to work out.

I have learned to use the principle of perceived exertion when I row. It basically states that if you feel you're working too hard, you ease up a little and if you believe you're not working hard enough, you increase the amount of exertion. Here is more about it:

http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/eve ... rtion.html

This method may not be for everyone, but I think it's a good way for a beginner to start. After you get a feel for rowing technique, whether you want the monitor to guide your workouts is up to you. As I have said, I believe most people do. But even without getting any feedback from the monitor display, I am still quite pleased knowing that after I row an hour a day six days a week at what I believe to be a fairly stressful level (around 14 or 15 and occasionally up to 16 on the chart in the above site), I have accomplished something good for myself. A couple of days a week, I alternate harder one minute intervals with easier 30 second slower ones and I do that for an hour as well. During this interval training, aside from showing the elapsed time, the monitor remains covered.

I am never out of breath and I don't feel any physical distress throughout these workouts and when I finish, I always feel as if I could have exercised even longer. And if people ever ask me how far or how fast I have gone, I tell them that I have no idea and that I really don't care. All I know is that rowing with this method has gotten me into pretty good physical shape and that to me is the most important result of all.

[JoeCPA]

I watch netflix or youtube videos it does make the time go by. Sometimes I cover the monitor with a towel if I'm doing a long distance (5k or 10k is long to me).

I also like to use Rowpro and use my previous rows as paceboats (or ghosts if you're a gamer). Most people can out row me without effort, but rowing against myself has proven to be quite fun and challenging.

I'm looking to shed some pounds too. at 250lb I got a lot to shed.

Good luck.

Joe