Weight Loss Success Stories... please share!

[Wonginator84]

http://resultofboredom.xanga.com/735716 ... thematics/

Didn't want to write this all up twice... Short version I'm down about 60 pounds (215--->157) since February 2010 from erging everyday, before, during, and after pictures are all in there.

[slwiser]

http://resultofboredom.xanga.com/735716 ... thematics/

Didn't want to write this all up twice... Short version I'm down about 60 pounds (215--->157) since February 2010 from erging everyday, before, during, and after pictures are all in there.

Way to go...keep it off by continuing on with your new life.

Lots of other success stories around here as well.

[jcastro20111]

Hi,

I rowed in HS, and shortly after HS started gaining weight.

Just before my third child was born, I decided to take weight-loss seriously. I started with the vague concept of using Strength Training + Cardio + Diet to get me to my goal. I purchased an erg that year. Took 7 years, and have not quite yet reached my goal weight of about 209lbs, but getting closer and it is nice knowing that I weight half of what I started at. I have gone through setbacks in progress and motivation that were big, small, and everything in between.

In 2009 decided to compete at the Atlanta Erg Sprints, and to my surprise, I won my age group. In 2010, I decided to do a few more indoor rowing competitions and was able to be competitive. This year I went back to the Mid-Atlantic Erg Sprints, where I last competed in 1988, and ran into my HS coach and some old teammates. I won a silver and a couple of golds. I also competed at the CRASH-Bs and placed 7th for my age.

I just bought a second erg so I can race my son who rows for Saint Andrew Rowing Club. I plan on joining the local rowing club this summer and get back on the water.

[gregsmith01748]

Juan,

Congratulations on your weight loss and your crash-b performance. You beat me by 18 seconds.

I'll look forward to you beating me again next year, hopefully I can close the gap a little.

[jcastro20111]

Thanks Greg.

Which heat were you in? I love the the race replay they have on C2.com. Gave me some insight into my 2k and ideas as to things to adjust in my raceplan. I tried the adjustments when I got home and was able to see improvements in my time.

Now that CRASH-B is over, its time for me to concentrate on dropping those last few pounds.

[gregsmith01748]

Hi Juan,

I was in heat 20, erg 62. Here's the link to the replay of my heat.

http://utilities.concept2.com/replays/c ... 11/CHeat20

It was my first race ever, and I had a blast. I've never rowed on the water, and got into this mainly to lose weight (235 down to 185), but I really got caught up in the competitive aspect. I sliced 8.3 seconds off my PB at the CRASH-Bs.

I agree that the replays are helpful. I can see how much I suck at sprinting in for the finish, and I'm going to up the amount of speed/power work that I do to try to improve.

[Bob S.]

Hi Juan,

I was in heat 20, erg 62. Here's the link to the replay of my heat.

http://utilities.concept2.com/replays/c ... 11/CHeat20

It was my first race ever, and I had a blast. I've never rowed on the water, and got into this mainly to lose weight (235 down to 185), but I really got caught up in the competitive aspect. I sliced 8.3 seconds off my PB at the CRASH-Bs.

I agree that the replays are helpful. I can see how much I suck at sprinting in for the finish, and I'm going to up the amount of speed/power work that I do to try to improve.

Actually, I was impressed at how steady your pace was. Almost all 1:40-1:42 until the end when you got in a good number of 1:38s and 1:39s. Not a spectacular sprint, but a solid one. If it had been faster, it would have suggested that you held back too much early on.

Bob S.

[jcastro20111]

Greg,

What was your stroke rate? Do you find it easier to raise your stroke rate at the sprint? I calculated my sprint shaved about 6-7 seconds off my time.

I'm boat 11 on http://utilities.concept2.com/replays/c ... 11/BHeat20 and I started my sprint at 320m When I ran the same raceplan and started the sprint at 370m, I shaved over 3sec from my time.

The most important thing is to know how long you can sustain your sprint.

---
Carlos

[gregsmith01748]

My recollections are somewhat foggy from oxygen deprivation, but I believe that I was pulling 32 to 33 SPM for the whole thing. I did not rate up much at all in the last 500m. Mostly, I was trying to ignore the voice in my head that was saying "Stop doing this RIGHT NOW!"

That's why I'm thinking some sprint specific training would be useful. I appeared to row the whole race from muscle memory, I had my eyes shut for a lot of the race, basically peeking at the PM every few strokes, but my splits and SPM stayed exactly where they always do when I do L1 sessions. I hope that if I regularly mix in shorter sprints, I will develop a new "gear" in my transmission, that will let me rate up around 36 to 38 and pull closer to 1:30 for short periods.

BTW: Is there a way to get more specific "raw" data from the CRASH-B rows? I'd love to be able to look at my stroke rate.

[jcastro20111]

I don't know what other data the folks at crash-b have. I suggest running the 2k at home like you normally do, and take a look at your 500m splits or even get more granular and set it for 200m splits. It will give you spm and split times.

[Bob S.]

I don't know what other data the folks at crash-b have. I suggest running the 2k at home like you normally do, and take a look at your 500m splits or even get more granular and set it for 200m splits. It will give you spm and split times.

The limit seems to be 100m minimum, which would give you 20 data points. Not as good as what they seem to get at BIRC but a lot better than the usual 4 points from most venues.

Bob S.

[speedwell]

Hi everyone. New to rowing and trying to lose some weight before my daughter is born in July.

Looking to compare my meager times with more experienced folk here and find some tips on technique etc so I can improve my results.

I'm Male, 47 - best time so far are 1.38 for 500M, 7.52 for 2000M and 41.06 for 10,000. I was 350lbs when I started and now I'm 280 - hoping to get down to 220 or thereabouts.

Rowing seems to be the thing that makes the difference. I'm eating very little and going to the gym every day but not seeing dramatic weight loss - losing the 70lbs took me a year for example. Now I've started rowing though, the weight is dropping more rapidly - probably because I can barely stand (or sit) at the end of the 10K row

Tip and advice appreciated.

[gregsmith01748]

Hi speedwell,

Wow! 70 pounds down, that's terrific. Congratulations on the sustained efforts and great results.

I wouldn't say that 70 lbs over a year is slow. I got into erging for weight loss, but I stayed for the competition, both with myself and recently against others. I lost 50 lbs, and got to my goal weight over about 6 to 9 months, and I've stayed about the same (185) for the past 9 months or so.

As for advice...
1. If you aren't doing it already, start using the online logbook and record all your rows. Watching the meters pile up is a great motivator. It was downright embarrassing how proud I was (and still am) of my 1 million meter teeshirt.

2. Start ranking standard distances (500,1000,2000,5000,etc). When I started, I was blown away how much faster others were, but it gave me incremental goals to shoot for. Whether it was to beat some guy from new Zealand who was a couple of places ahead of me or to hit a certain percentile, it turned "working Out" into "training", which is more interesting and challenging.

3. Think about a training plan. There a few different options, but all of them provide structure and variety, which keeps it interesting, and tends to entice one into longer sessions (which means more calories burned)

Now the optional advice:
4. I bought a HR monitor and learned a bit about heart rate based training. I highly recommend it. A key thing about most HR based training plans is a mixture of shorter workouts close tour max HR, and longer workouts at less challenging paces. Before I learned more about this stuff, I tended to row every session as if I was trying to escape a large shark. Life is much better now.

Good luck with your rowing, it sounds like you're doing great.

[speedwell]

Thanks Greg - great advice.

I listen to music on my phone while I'm rowing so I've been taking shots of my best times. Sounds like it's worth recording every time too and keeping track. Are there any good iPhone apps for doing so? I didn't see any Concept2 specific ones but maybe there is a rowing log. If not, I should make one

When you say ranking do you mean here on this forum? No one else uses the machine at my gym as far as I can tell so it's hard to find someone to compete against. I'd love to start trying to rise up a list.

The training plan sounds good. There is a lot of great info out there - I'm interested in some of the more unusual watts versus time ones - even with music, I find it a bit of a struggle mentally to keep doing the same thing for 40 mins or so. Some variety would be nice.

BTW, which setting for the damper should I be using? Does it make a difference to the time? I only thought about it this morning so I guess I can try different values. All my times were set at level 5 which I was told is most like rowing on water.

I know what you mean about rowing like you're escaping a shark I'm usually completely spent at the end of a session - especially 10K. The one I hate most is 500m sprints - I'm so out of breath at the end - I feel like I'm going to die. Hoping when I lose another 50-60lbs that'll get easier.

Thanks for the feedback - very excited about this.

How do I generate one of those tables of times/distances I see - is there a tool I can use and add to my sig?

Cheers.

[teddythebeer]

Are there any good iPhone apps for doing so?

Safari

maybe there is a rowing log.

http://www.concept2.com/sranking03/log.asp

When you say ranking do you mean here on this forum?

http://www.concept2.com/sranking03/rankings.asp

Cheers!