Another noob with 50+lbs to lose! Introduction

[Little Miss Muffet]

Hi everyone,
I ordered my rower tonight and I'm excited for its arrival.
I've been reading the posts in this forum and its very inspiring to hear the success stories and know they started out where I am now.

I'm 45, mom to 2 girls, and simply have not taken care of myself. My father passed away just before Christmas. I used some of the money he left me to buy the Model E for my family. My Dad was very unhealthy his entire life....obese, high BP, CV disease, diabetes, depression, knee, foot, hip problems, etc. My goal is to use this machine to get myself into a healthy state of being and to not go thru the misery he did. AND to set an example for my girls to live by. I want them to grow up healthy and strong--like me-their Mom. Other than the extra weight and some past achilles and plantar fasciitis problems, I'm in good health. My husband, walks the dog every morning, has much more stamina and endurance than me, and just carrying a small amount of extra weight, although he is type 2 diabetic, cholesterol problems. Both of us have hit that wall that says 'you are in your 40's, and are no longer in the shape you were in college'. I used a rower briefly years and years ago in college. I enjoyed it then. I prefer working muscles and getting cardio on the side. I've never been a runner or elliptical person. I don't have the lungs for it.

It's time to get busy on changing the things we let slide for the last 20 years. I am hoping to drop some weight/inches in a reasonable amount of time, simply because I will be more active and not sedentary. But my diet--ugh--I am a person that would happily live on bread and water alone--seriously---happily I could eat just that. If I can get 50lbs off I will be thrilled....but won't I complain if 20 more want to drop off too.


anyway--that's a bit about me.

Until my rower gets here I will be reading posts, watching videos, reading, learning, etc. And maybe one day I'll figure out what all the numbers mean when people post them.

see you around
Rhonda

[giftogab]

Congrats on your decision. I have had mine for about a month and am slowly getting up to where I feel like I can do some things and understand my machine a bit better. This place is GREAT! I joined a team so I could do some of the challenges and have a goal to try to work with. I joined TimbukTOO and they are quite supportive. No matter your level, they seem to like that you put some meters in and rejoice in your accomplishments.

I hope that you don't get down on yourself if you cannot do a lot to start. Whatever level you begin with is a place to go from and get better each day out. Use the log book. It really does help. Use your log card. Seeing the meters build over time encourages more rowing! GOOD LUCK! I sincerely wish you all the best!

[Ergmeister]

Welcome Rhonda and congratulations on your decision to make a change in your lifestyle. All too often that decision is made for you by way of a health catastrophe, so getting in front of it is great!

For weight loss and health, I'm a proponent of diet and exercise. I know-I know, nobody has ever thought of this before but this works for me. Like you, I really let myself go after I turned 30 and somehow became twice the man I was by 50. After a heart attack 6 years ago at 53, but now am a very different person.

Rowing is great for large people because it doesn't stress your knees and legs under the crush of weight that obesity brings. Exercise is only half the equation; diet is the other half. I don't like dieting so I made a lifestyle change that's not a diet. I eat as much as I want, pretty much whenever I want to but I'm eating plant based exclusively now. I responded to a post (dizziness during rowing) in this forum where Kayakr posted a link to Forks Over Knives. You should check it out. There are so many misunderstandings about plant based eating its hard to list them all, but in a nutshell its the real deal and easy to do after week two. The first two weeks are challenging like any lifestyle change, but after that you will have such sudden and dramatic weight loss (coupled with exercise) that you will be totally into it and locked on to go. I was down 22 lbs in 28 days on the Engine2 Diet 28 day vegan challenge.

Dairy is a major culprit along with things we've allowed to sneak into our food chain that really shouldn't be there.

You can be down 50 lbs in 3 months; I did it. I'm competing in my 3rd CRASHB this Sunday and really looking forward to it. I am on the water all summer and the reward on all fronts is enormous. My cardiologist took me off nearly all post heart attack meds at my last visit in December. My blood chemistry is better than ever with total cholesterol of 117.

For you the key is support and getting in a DAILY routine that is not too ambitious and is sustainable along with a significant lifestyle change in what you eat. No food after 7PM no matter what. NOTHING! When the going gets tough - hop on the erg to take the edge off, don't head for the fridge. Remove sweets and bad foods (you know what they are) and don't buy that for your kids either - they don't need it and that will only send them down the same path of weight gain.

Congratulations on not waiting until your health made this decision for you. You WILL do this! Your kids will treat you totally differently and be very proud of you - draw strength from them. They will follow your example and the reward you give to your family in this is immeasurable.

[giftogab]

YEs...food. I didn't mention it because I do something a bit different I do a paleo diet because carbs just turn ti sugar and halt my loss. it is a lifestyle change too. SO I agree with ergmeister, whatever you choose for a healthy eating plan, choose one you can live with. I am never a big fan of never because this is life and if we say never, life trips us. When that happens, get back on the erg (or horse) and ride. Change your mind about food. Learn about what you are putting in your mouth and how it metabolizes in your body so when you are hungry, you reach for something you want instead f have to have.

[kayakr]

Check out "forks over knives" for an inspiring movie showing unhealthy people returning to health. I was out XC skiing for 3 hours yesterday. Being fit and healthy can have so many benefits.

[kennyhassman]

Hi everyone,
I ordered my rower tonight and I'm excited for its arrival.
I've been reading the posts in this forum and its very inspiring to hear the success stories and know they started out where I am now.

I'm 45, mom to 2 girls, and simply have not taken care of myself. My father passed away just before Christmas. I used some of the money he left me to buy the Model E for my family. My Dad was very unhealthy his entire life....obese, high BP, CV disease, diabetes, depression, knee, foot, hip problems, etc. My goal is to use this machine to get myself into a healthy state of being and to not go thru the misery he did. AND to set an example for my girls to live by. I want them to grow up healthy and strong--like me-their Mom. Other than the extra weight and some past achilles and plantar fasciitis problems, I'm in good health. My husband, walks the dog every morning, has much more stamina and endurance than me, and just carrying a small amount of extra weight, although he is type 2 diabetic, cholesterol problems. Both of us have hit that wall that says 'you are in your 40's, and are no longer in the shape you were in college'. I used a rower briefly years and years ago in college. I enjoyed it then. I prefer working muscles and getting cardio on the side. I've never been a runner or elliptical person. I don't have the lungs for it.

It's time to get busy on changing the things we let slide for the last 20 years. I am hoping to drop some weight/inches in a reasonable amount of time, simply because I will be more active and not sedentary. But my diet--ugh--I am a person that would happily live on bread and water alone--seriously---happily I could eat just that. If I can get 50lbs off I will be thrilled....but won't I complain if 20 more want to drop off too.


anyway--that's a bit about me.

Until my rower gets here I will be reading posts, watching videos, reading, learning, etc. And maybe one day I'll figure out what all the numbers mean when people post them.

see you around
Rhonda

Hi Rhonda, welcome. I bought my Concept2 Model E in Dec '12 and finally got going Jan 1. I've used it most days with a slight lapse (of pure sloth) but I now wake-up thinking of getting on the erg and because I sit so much (as a successful writer) I have started doing two rows per day. Just so you know, when I started six weeks ago I thought I was going to die after 5 minutes. This morning-6 weeks later, I just finished 5000 meter row and will do another one late in the afternoon.I am not breaking records for time-in fact I ranked my 5000 meter row this morning and I was in next to last place of all people who entered their 5000 meter time. I'm happy I am able to do 5000 meters 2X per day. Unlike some of the stories I read here of large amounts in short periods of time I'm down 8 pounds in six weeks. If I can keep this pace up that would bring me close to the 70 pounds I need to lose by the end of one year. Though I feel impatient I'd be happy. It's taken me most of this time to finally figure out the settings and what the monitor is telling me . Take your time and be patient with yourself.

Ken

[Little Miss Muffet]

Thanks for the warm welcome.

I prepared to be the tortoise and take this slow and easy. The last time I tried the 'fast' route I ended up tearing my achilles & plantar facia in BOTH feet. It took almost a year to recover from that and get back to just being able to do the daily around the house walking. Stretching my feet has become a way of life now and the idea of spending another year not being able to walk is not one I want to entertain.

Five minutes a day is fine in the beginning, maybe the next day I'll do 6 minutes

[giftogab]

Thanks for the warm welcome.

I prepared to be the tortoise and take this slow and easy. The last time I tried the 'fast' route I ended up tearing my achilles & plantar facia in BOTH feet. It took almost a year to recover from that and get back to just being able to do the daily around the house walking. Stretching my feet has become a way of life now and the idea of spending another year not being able to walk is not one I want to entertain.

Five minutes a day is fine in the beginning, maybe the next day I'll do 6 minutes

Sounds like you ahve your head on strait. I realize that even starting slow progress is made! Each time I climb on the erg is time I am not just sitting around or standing around or reading ro watching tv. I can do some meters and get to otherthings I have to get done feeling energized and invigorated!