Fat Noob needs starting advice

[Kenoz]

I as well am new to rowing. I'm 59, 210 lbs and have a desk job. I currently can only go a few minutes due to flexability issues. I have a question regarding many posts where the post mentions resting every so often during a rowing session. Does one stop all together or do you just row so slowly as to keep the monitor going?

[Bob S.]

I as well am new to rowing. I'm 59, 210 lbs and have a desk job. I currently can only go a few minutes due to flexability issues. I have a question regarding many posts where the post mentions resting every so often during a rowing session. Does one stop all together or do you just row so slowly as to keep the monitor going?

There is no rule. It is up to your own choice. The same with the timing of rests, although some plans, like parts of the Pete Plan, have specified rest times for intervals. There is also a rule of thumb, that you wait until your HR drops down to double your resting HR. Now that timing method will vary a great deal depending on whether you stop rowing (passive rest) or row slowly (active rest). And, of course for active rest, it depends on just how slow - a bit too intense and the HR will not get down that far.

There is a problem with resting too long. The monitor will shut down after a set period (4 minutes?) of inactivity, but you can keep it on by having it attached to a computer of by punching one of the buttons, like the unit change or the display change (NOT the menu back). Probably a single pull of the handle will also extend the monitor running time.

Bob S.

[wphunter]

As Bob S. said, its up to you. Probably if you are really out of shape you may stop altogether, which I used to do. As I became more comfortable on the rower I would try to set a minimum pace for the rest period and continue to row. Now I row continuously but always row at a "rest pace" for the rest period, and add the calories burnt to the total.

Wayne

[jamesg]

If the piece is tough, we'll be forced to stop whatever. I usually get going again when HR drops to the band below, to keep it there and avoid getting cold. But then I don't usually take a long rest anyway, max 2 minutes, which is plenty for HR to drop by more than 30.

[macher]

I as well am new to rowing. I'm 59, 210 lbs and have a desk job. I currently can only go a few minutes due to flexability issues. I have a question regarding many posts where the post mentions resting every so often during a rowing session. Does one stop all together or do you just row so slowly as to keep the monitor going?

Hi I started rowing 2 months ago and doing the Basic Conditioning Plan...

http://therowingcompany.com/training/guide/basic_conditioning

The plan says 30 seconds rest or any time needed. Since I'm not fit but more fit than a couple of months ago, in the beginning I was regimented to not go over 30 seconds rest. I thought by sticking to 30 seconds it would better cause the goal is to row 30 minutes continuous at UT1 band. It wasn't working out too well for an unfit person like myself. The Basic Plan isn't regimented, it says take a rest as long as needed. Another poster suggested a 2 minute rest and try increasing my time. It worked out well!

I'm currently doing 6'X5,18-21SPM, 6'/work stroke with 2 minute rest. When I rest it depends on where I'm at in the 6'X5. My first 3 sets I'm more fresh so after I'm done a set for the 1st 2-3 sets I take a drink of water then row slow for 1:30. The last 3 sets I need more rest so I take a drink of water then do nothing for about a minute then row slow for 1 minute. The last set sometimes I have to completely rest for 1:30-2 minutes. What's interesting is my last set is tough. What works to help with this is I lower the rate to 18SPM and and I'm still able to do the same work per stroke(6-6.40W). I would think that since it's my last set at lower rate that I'm not able to do the same work/stroke but I can at the lower rate. In the last set sometimes I do some even lower rates like 16SPM and still do 6-6.40W'/stroke.

But the rest has helped me tremendously for this unfit(but more fit than 2 months ago).

[wphunter]

Hi all, I have started in the individual Mud Season Madness challenge but just a reminder that the team World Erg Challenge starts on March 15. If you are looking for a team to join, Japan & Friends Indoor Rowers is open to any and all, Japanese or not, in Japan or not, short distance and long distance rowers. No meter total too small! You can also join as an affiliation. Happy rowing!

Wayne

[Kenny70]

Hi all, another large fella just starting out. 6'1 and 358lbs. 43yo. From Australia. Just purchased a C2 model d and love it. 1st row tonight and managed 1k in 6 mins. Not great but a start. I will see how sore I am tomorrow before deciding on rowing or waiting 2 days before doing my 2nd row.
Thank you to all who have been contributing to this post as it was the catalyst for me making the purchase of my C2. All the best, regards Ken

[dwalk]

The people at UCanRow2 have a "fit-foot plate" that allows a wider foot placement. Might be worth checking out.

[Kenny70]

dwalk, thank you for that information. I googled it but was unable to find any details. It doesn't seem to be on their website either. If you have any other info, I would be keen to know about it. I did another row for 6 mins tonight and covered 1k plus another 500 meters for a warm down with feet on the floor. Cheers Ken

[BorisZ]

dwalk, thank you for that information. I googled it but was unable to find any details. It doesn't seem to be on their website either. If you have any other info, I would be keen to know about it. I did another row for 6 mins tonight and covered 1k plus another 500 meters for a warm down with feet on the floor. Cheers Ken

You are right - the foot plate adapter is not on their site. But if you email the folks at Ucanrow2.com they will help you out. Good luck!

[rowingdude]

So whatever happened with the OP?

[Bob S.]

So whatever happened with the OP?

Did you read the first couple of pages of the thread? I don't blame him for giving up on the group. Instead of encouragement to keep at it, a couple of our regular and usually reliable contributors essentially told him that his output was so weak that it was pointless. A bad mistake in my view. The guy had a hell of a long way to go, but that kind of response would turn just about anyone off.

Bob S.

[wphunter]

Totally agree with Bob S., anything is better than nothing! Can't believe this thread is still going, having reread much of it this morning I am feeling pretty positive about doing more! Fall Team Challenge starts in a couple of weeks, anyone looking to join a team, Japan & Friends Indoor Rowers is open to EVERYONE. Cheers, Wayne.

[tpk]

Replying to an old response, but it looks like the thread is still going:

Doing so little at such a easy pace will hardly do you any good.
...
Rowing 100m per 1min is really not helping.

This is 100% incorrect. One of the most profound challenges that a persistently overweight person has to face is how to habituate helpful behaviours -- good eating and exercising. So even if rowing 100m per 1m was of *zero* physiological contribution, still it can act as the starting point of *psychological* contribution. See BJ Fogg's "Tiny Habits" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdKUJxjn-R8) as an example of the kind of thing I'm talking about.

Weight control is not simply a matter of thermodynamics. The primary reason we get and stay fat is not that we eat too much and exercise too little, but rather that we *want* to eat too much and exercise too little. It is a battle of desire vs reason, of akrasia, of one part of the brain versus another, and in that battle even sitting down on the machine and making a single stroke would constitute a step in the right direction if it begins to build a habit that becomes 2 strokes, then 4, then 2 minutes, then 4, then ... repeat until thin/fit.

[hjs]

Replying to an old response, but it looks like the thread is still going:

Doing so little at such a easy pace will hardly do you any good.
...
Rowing 100m per 1min is really not helping.

This is 100% incorrect. One of the most profound challenges that a persistently overweight person has to face is how to habituate helpful behaviours -- good eating and exercising. So even if rowing 100m per 1m was of *zero* physiological contribution, still it can act as the starting point of *psychological* contribution. See BJ Fogg's "Tiny Habits" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdKUJxjn-R8) as an example of the kind of thing I'm talking about.

Weight control is not simply a matter of thermodynamics. The primary reason we get and stay fat is not that we eat too much and exercise too little, but rather that we *want* to eat too much and exercise too little. It is a battle of desire vs reason, of akrasia, of one part of the brain versus another, and in that battle even sitting down on the machine and making a single stroke would constitute a step in the right direction if it begins to build a habit that becomes 2 strokes, then 4, then 2 minutes, then 4, then ... repeat until thin/fit.

Although very true, you need to build on those first step, if you really want yo change your situation, you have to be brutally honoust to yourself. You really need to want it and really have to work hard and long. Just like you don,t grt overweight overnight from eating a bit to much, the other side is the same. Doing some stuff for s few weeks is a first step, but only a step and the whole journey is a lot longer.

Feeling sorry for yourself does not help, going on a crash diet does not work, giving yourself slack will not work.
Consistancy, a good strict way of eating and having a long horizon is the only way....