Year 35

[canglem]

Last week while I was on vacation with my in-laws, I had my 35th birthday. I realized while there that I missed 4 things...my dog, my pillow, my electric toothbrush, and my rower. I've had the rower since the end of April, and had just been rowing to build fitness/stamina first, then had the long term goal of wanting to hit 1,000,000 meters for the season. I decided for my year as a 35-year old, I wanted to go just a bit further, averaging 3,535 meters per day. That's just under 25,000 per week, and would be just under 1,300,000 for the year. As an overweight person, I'm hoping it also helps me lose weight, with a year-long goal of 35 pounds. I plan to keep this thread updated weekly to help keep me accountable.

I don't know what my starting weight was as of my birthday, so I'll have to go from my last weigh-in before vacation. The plan got off to a rough start as the birthday was Wednesday, and our plane landed late Saturday, then had a slight stomach bug Sunday. Not to mention that due to a bevy of other excuses I'd only rowed once since the end of the Fall Team Challenge, so as I found out last night almost all of my erg fitness is gone.

Starting weight: 298.7
New weight: 296.7 (overall change down 2)

Weekly meters rowed: 12500
Total meters rowed: 12500
Overall deficit: -12245

It's going to be a long slog, but should be worth it.

[Ombrax]

I'm hoping it also helps me lose weight, with a year-long goal of 35 pounds

It's been mentioned here before, but worth repeating - it's really tough to row off a lot of weight. The human body is surprisingly efficient when cycling and rowing (less so when running) so it takes a lot of work to burn off the calories from say, a single tasty blueberry muffin.

If you want to really attack the weight issue, the surest way is to exercise regularly AND to reduce your calorie intake - with particular emphasis on the second.

Good luck with your goals.

[Dangerscouse]

Good luck with it all but as you get used to rowing try and do more longer rows and maybe have some rest days.

I know it will wreck your averages but doing 45 mins and over will be more beneficial for weight loss than doing lots of shorter rows.

[canglem]

Good luck with it all but as you get used to rowing try and do more longer rows and maybe have some rest days.

I know it will wreck your averages but doing 45 mins and over will be more beneficial for weight loss than doing lots of shorter rows.

That’s the plan. I have 2 rest days built in every week since I bowl twice a week, and don’t feel like rowing at 9:00 pm when I get home.

There’s also diet changes with it, as my wife is trying to lose some as well

[Dangerscouse]

That’s the plan. I have 2 rest days built in every week since I bowl twice a week, and don’t feel like rowing at 9:00 pm when I get home.

There’s also diet changes with it, as my wife is trying to lose some as well

Good yo hear that, it's always easier when your doing it with someone and you don't have to fight temptation on your own.

[mitchel674]

Congrats and good luck on your decision to incorporate rowing in your weight loss plans.

25km/week is a good start. If you can meet that challenge, you will likely find that you can increase your distances during each session after just a month or two. Long, steady rows will be very helpful. As mentioned, diet is key for weight loss. You may also want to consider rowing in the fasted state. A lot of good evidence to support selective fat burning if you exercise prior to eating. Perhaps just get on the rower first thing after waking in the mornings.

[canglem]

Congrats and good luck on your decision to incorporate rowing in your weight loss plans.

25km/week is a good start. If you can meet that challenge, you will likely find that you can increase your distances during each session after just a month or two. Long, steady rows will be very helpful. As mentioned, diet is key for weight loss. You may also want to consider rowing in the fasted state. A lot of good evidence to support selective fat burning if you exercise prior to eating. Perhaps just get on the rower first thing after waking in the mornings.

I've never been a morning person, but that may be something I start trying to do, especially if I fall behind due to holiday travelling.

[Row50]

Hey canglem,
I started rowing aged 50 earlier this year. My advice (which you didnt ask for ) is to keep it fun. I joined a virtual team (free spirits) and have been doing the cross team challenge and it has been the general banter on their website that has remotivated me after periods of work travel etc. I always remind myself when I don’t hit goals/targets that I’m a hell of a lot healthier than if I hadn’t embarked on this. And besides, I’m having a lot of fun trying to hold my (not very high) place in the boat pecking order in the CTC. Good luck!
L.

[canglem]

Hey canglem,
I started rowing aged 50 earlier this year. My advice (which you didnt ask for ) is to keep it fun. I joined a virtual team (free spirits) and have been doing the cross team challenge and it has been the general banter on their website that has remotivated me after periods of work travel etc. I always remind myself when I don’t hit goals/targets that I’m a hell of a lot healthier than if I hadn’t embarked on this. And besides, I’m having a lot of fun trying to hold my (not very high) place in the boat pecking order in the CTC. Good luck!
L.

I'm on the Luna-tics team, I enjoy hanging out with them on here, reading how everyone is doing!

As for this week, it was a rough one with a bowling tournament over the weekend, meaning eating out, and hanging Christmas lights while it was nice outside. I also last night instead of rowing before dinner took my son to see the https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/4014/ Big Boy locomotive after work, as he, as most 3 year old boys do, loves trains. It'll be another "bad" week this week as I have to leave town for another bowling tournament, but hope to row on the 3 non-bowling days. I know a year is a long time, so once I get through these couple weekends I'll be able to start making up ground, especially with the holiday challenge coming up.

Weight: Up 1.1 lbs.

Weekly meters rowed: 11511
Total meters rowed: 24011
Overall deficit: 25479

[Cyclingman1]

I hate to be blunt, but you've got some really bad eating habits: what and how much. Eating out has got to be worst thing for controlling weight. All of those places add in extra fat, etc. In fact, for me a low fat diet is essential for losing weight. Others may disagree. But for sure, calorie counting is mandatory. 3500 cal equals one pound. In other words, a 3500 cal deficit is necessary for losing one pound.

Secondly. it is almost impossible to lose a lot of weight with exercise alone. You may burn around 100 cal for every 1K rowed. 35K = 1 pound.

I always recommend well over weight people to start a serious walking program. At least twice a day, maybe three. Not less than five miles a day. Good shoes required.

Nothing is fast. It takes a lot of time to put on weight. It takes a lot of time to take off weight. Plenty of people do it, but only the committed. One lb a week is fifty pounds in a year. Doable.

[canglem]

I hate to be blunt, but you've got some really bad eating habits: what and how much. Eating out has got to be worst thing for controlling weight. All of those places add in extra fat, etc. In fact, for me a low fat diet is essential for losing weight. Others may disagree. But for sure, calorie counting is mandatory. 3500 cal equals one pound. In other words, a 3500 cal deficit is necessary for losing one pound.

Secondly. it is almost impossible to lose a lot of weight with exercise alone. You may burn around 100 cal for every 1K rowed. 35K = 1 pound.

I always recommend well over weight people to start a serious walking program. At least twice a day, maybe three. Not less than five miles a day. Good shoes required.

Nothing is fast. It takes a lot of time to put on weight. It takes a lot of time to take off weight. Plenty of people do it, but only the committed. One lb a week is fifty pounds in a year. Doable.

I understand, but when I'm out of town I don't have a whole lot of choice. Most of our meals are made at home, and as I stated earlier, my wife is trying to lose weight as well, so our meal planning includes making a menu each week before we grocery shop and making sure we have veggies/fruits at every meal and try to avoid the "bad" things. We've already seen some progress on that end as well, as I had my biometric screening for insurance last week, and all of my numbers (weight, bad cholesterol, good cholesterol, etc.) were much improved over last year's blood work. Can't cook for every meal when you're 2-5 hour drives away from home ‾\_(ツ)_/‾

[canglem]

A better week this week despite another out of town bowling tournament and a HD last night. Also thankful for the nurse who decided to take 14 lbs. off for clothes at my annual checkup weigh-in so the doc thought I had lost 25 pounds

Weight: Down 6.5 lbs (291.3 lbs)
Weekly Meters Rowed: 22045
Total Meters Rowed: 46056
Deficit: 28,179

Hoping for a good week despite the holiday travel the next couple days.

[Cyclist2]

C2's Holiday Challenge starts tomorrow! I have used that to keep the holiday eating guilt at bay for the last 19 years, and to build endurance so those cold dark months that follow are easier to row (if not to find the motivation to actually get on the machine).

At your current level, you'll easily reach the 100K goal, and with a little effort, the 200K goal is not out of the question. Plus you'll earn money for great charities. Give it a go! C2's main page has the link. https://www.concept2.com/.

Have fun, whatever you do!

[canglem]

C2's Holiday Challenge starts tomorrow! I have used that to keep the holiday eating guilt at bay for the last 19 years, and to build endurance so those cold dark months that follow are easier to row (if not to find the motivation to actually get on the machine).

At your current level, you'll easily reach the 100K goal, and with a little effort, the 200K goal is not out of the question. Plus you'll earn money for great charities. Give it a go! C2's main page has the link. https://www.concept2.com/.

Have fun, whatever you do!

Thank you! I am going to try for the 200k, but I know it will be tough since we have Thanksgiving travel tomorrow, and also a sister getting married in December so I'll lose another weekend. All I can do is try, though

[Eric308]

Quit making excuses for NOT being able to row and/or lose weight. Become a "morning person" in order to achieve you weight loss goals. I'm almost 74 and can still wear the same tux I wore at my wedding 35 years ago (44L). You have to establish self-discipline and walk away from the table. I'd also recommend some weight training to develop muscle mass, and it will also help with cardio if you limit rests between sets. No elevators, park as far away as you can in parking lots, and run instead of walking to the store. How tall are you?