Fresh fish searching for help!!!

[Titi]

Hi ,everyone,I was told you guys are the rowing specialist,so I come for some help.I'll be so appreciated if you can give me some advice about the rowing data.I just start my rowing,and I have no idea about what kind of data I should focus on.First I am 23 years old,I'm a female.I row to build my body line.So maybe I should keep my eyes on the cal?but what else?

[Sakly]

Hi,

welcome to the forum from another relatively fresh fish

If "building my body line" means you want to loose weight - this is done with your food intake and needs a caloric deficit.
But surely rowing can support much as it nearly trains the whole body, burns a lot (if done with some intensity) and is fun (at least for me )

So best advice: learn proper technique and get on the rower several times per week. Progress slowly what matches to your fitness level and also throw in some harder intervals from time to time, but only if your technique is properly developed
Beginner often use Pete Plan to stay motivated and progress on the rower (some other will surely give a link to the plan or you can use Google...)

[Dangerscouse]

Welcome to the forum.

Don't row for calories, as these are notoriously unreliable, and you should really fall in love with the process, rather than trying to progress towards a fixed end goal. I have seen it many many times, that when you lose enough weight, you think it's all done. But it never is, as it's a lifestyle that you need to adopt.

If you follow any sort of plan, it will always be based on average pace, or possibly watts. These are definitely the best options for the data, and they will also give a great indication of improvement.

To start with, as Sascha says, learn the proper technique, as it is surprisingly technical, and row either with a HR monitor, or at a 'conversational' pace. This is a pace that you can talk fairly easily, or sing a few lines of a song. If you can't, you're rowing too fast.

Rowing is hard, and that is why so many people avoid it, but it does get easier with practice, so don't feel overwhelmed if it feels too hard to start with.

[JaapvanE]

The only thing you need to look at is how much fun you have on the machine. Key to any excercise is to able to maintain it. If it becomes a chore, don't do it. You should love what you are doing and calories will be burned automatically in the process. It helps you mentally and physically.

Perhaps time on the machine is a nice indicator. Distance or pace might motivate you to do step on it again and do better next time, but above all: just do what you love. Be there for the long haul, and most people can't motivate themselves to get on any machine if they don't love the process. And I personally think that it really shows when people are happy with themselves and what they are doing regardless of physical dimensions.

[Titi]

The only thing you need to look at is how much fun you have on the machine. Key to any excercise is to able to maintain it. If it becomes a chore, don't do it. You should love what you are doing and calories will be burned automatically in the process. It helps you mentally and physically.

Perhaps time on the machine is a nice indicator. Distance or pace might motivate you to do step on it again and do better next time, but above all: just do what you love. Be there for the long haul, and most people can't motivate themselves to get on any machine if they don't love the process. And I personally think that it really shows when people are happy with themselves and what they are doing regardless of physical dimensions.

I used to swim, but rowing seems to be something totally different. I really hope I can keep it, since you are all having a good time, maybe I will find something interesting. (sorry i click the report by mistake )

[Titi]

Welcome to the forum.

Don't row for calories, as these are notoriously unreliable, and you should really fall in love with the process, rather than trying to progress towards a fixed end goal. I have seen it many many times, that when you lose enough weight, you think it's all done. But it never is, as it's a lifestyle that you need to adopt.

If you follow any sort of plan, it will always be based on average pace, or possibly watts. These are definitely the best options for the data, and they will also give a great indication of improvement.

To start with, as Sascha says, learn the proper technique, as it is surprisingly technical, and row either with a HR monitor, or at a 'conversational' pace. This is a pace that you can talk fairly easily, or sing a few lines of a song. If you can't, you're rowing too fast.

Rowing is hard, and that is why so many people avoid it, but it does get easier with practice, so don't feel overwhelmed if it feels too hard to start with.

"sing a few lines of a song" sounds like a accessible way to test my state,i'll give it a try~

[JaapvanE]

I used to swim, but rowing seems to be something totally different. I really hope I can keep it, since you are all having a good time, maybe I will find something interesting.

Yeah, I hope so too. But it is an aquired taste, and we all just suffer from the same type of craziness. But in more serious note, start slow, focus on technique and work from there. Technique is something that is a bit of a hurdle at first: Dark horse rowing and UCanRow2 have great youtube video's that teach the basics and you can row along to. Getting the basics right and having fun can get you a very long way. Singing might help

(sorry i click the report by mistake )

No problem, the moderator is a friendly intelligent person, he won't hold it against any of us. I often push the wrong button as well.

[Rick]

A fitness instructor at the FBI National Academy told us “if you’re doing any type of exercise, it’s better than doing none. It’s benefitting your health.” His point was to not get too focused on goals, number of reps, number of workouts… just pick a thing to do and start! It’s most important that you’re on the erg and rowing, so congratulations for getting your start.

I often refer “fresh fish” to Shane Farmer’s Dark Horse rowing channel on YouTube. It’s free, and Shane is a personable and experienced rower who will get your technique right while integrating the lessons into fun and challenging workouts at all levels. He even has a synced Spotify playlist if you like to listen to music while rowing. I have a tv on the wall in front of my rower, which works out perfectly. I’ve been rowing about 1.5 years now, am working toward 3M meters in that time, and still work out with Shane’s videos regularly. Look at his beginners videos and get the stroke down, then move on up at your pace.

Whatever you select, grab something that works for you and keep at it. Getting on that seat and rowing is what matters, and doing it consistently. Good luck!

[Cdub]

Is Shane still making new videos?
I haven’t found any YouTube videos that are newer than several months old.
Has there been a change in Dark Horse?

[Cant Climb]

Is Shane still making new videos?
I haven’t found any YouTube videos that are newer than several months old.
Has there been a change in Dark Horse?

Looks like he just doing Instagram and one minute shorts now. It was a good run.

[JaapvanE]

Looks like he just doing Instagram and one minute shorts now. It was a good run.

That's a shame as I learned a lot from him. His training video's are quite good.

I recentrly discovered UCanRow2. Less energetic that Shane, a bit less productive in number of video's, but they did teach me some stuff Shane didn't (like lifting your butt before the row, and that overcompression is a really bad thing).

[Erik A]

there are a heap of you tube vids from a bunch of different posters. obviously there is Dh and Ucanrow2. Eric Murray has a few on there but has also stopped which is a shame as his are quite good. and i was cruising around last night and there are quite a few others but havent watched any to see how good they are. there is also the concept 2 daily workout email if you subscribe to C2

[Titi]

A fitness instructor at the FBI National Academy told us “if you’re doing any type of exercise, it’s better than doing none. It’s benefitting your health.” His point was to not get too focused on goals, number of reps, number of workouts… just pick a thing to do and start! It’s most important that you’re on the erg and rowing, so congratulations for getting your start.

I often refer “fresh fish” to Shane Farmer’s Dark Horse rowing channel on YouTube. It’s free, and Shane is a personable and experienced rower who will get your technique right while integrating the lessons into fun and challenging workouts at all levels. He even has a synced Spotify playlist if you like to listen to music while rowing. I have a tv on the wall in front of my rower, which works out perfectly. I’ve been rowing about 1.5 years now, am working toward 3M meters in that time, and still work out with Shane’s videos regularly. Look at his beginners videos and get the stroke down, then move on up at your pace.

Whatever you select, grab something that works for you and keep at it. Getting on that seat and rowing is what matters, and doing it consistently. Good luck!

OH!!I wish i can also watch some video while rowing,I feel a little bored now~~but it seems like ergzone don't allow this??

[Rick]

OH!!I wish i can also watch some video while rowing,I feel a little bored now~~but it seems like ergzone don't allow this??

Depending on your situation, maybe an iPad and some AirPods? It’s really helpful to me. For my amateur uses, about the only time I’m not watching something during a row is when I am testing for time. Otherwise I’m either rowing with an instructor or watching something to pass time on a long (for me) distance row.

I don’t know a lot about ErgZone, so can’t help you there. I use my phone to track on ErgData, an watch the TV for “entertainment” during the row. Good luck!

[jamesg]

In a few hours time you can watch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2D9dzoTlaI

This is an extreme version of what rowing is all about. You can see some of the world's best. Starts at 9.30 UK time.