Newbie...again

[dixiedd]

Every day I tell myself I'm going home on getting on the Evil Rowing Gadget only to come home and head for the recliner. Not tonight.... I decided enough was enough and forced myself to row for 5 minutes. No more excuses. I hate the cold. Thanks to daylight savings I now get up in the dark and get off work in the dark.

My goal is to row 5 minutes each day for the next 7 days. Doesn't sound like much but it's a start.

Good news is I'm down 9.2 lbs. I've been following the Weight Watchers flex plan. My goal is to be down 15 by Dec 31st.

Until next time,
Dixie
Southern IN

[annabassand]

Good luck and welcome I am also rowing for weightloss and control + it's a great way to stay fit. Usually I row 5-6000 meter. Tonight I will try and push it to 10,000 or 60 minutes.... I'd like to get into doing some longer workouts 2 times a week...

Stick with it

Anna

[Birdi]

Yeah Dixie! WOOHOO! Celebrate all goals and surely celebrate all lost pounds! I'm with you and Anna. I row for weight loss, fitness. I have lost near 50 pounds. Had some slides back and forth usually because I lost my momentum and drive. I just pick myself back up and go for it again. I still have more to go. I know I feel WAY better when I stop the excuses and get moving again. Then eating better just falls right into place (for the most part) to beat the late evening snacking I set aside some tv time on the erg, watch a program while rowing. I try for 5-7500 meters per day as I'm going to do the Holiday Challenge for my 4th time. I usually exceed 230-240k now on it. I do some weights and I have an eliptical trainer and a big ball, all at home in an upstairs room with tv and stereo so NO excuses! I even rowed a half marathon in the middle of the Holiday last year, my first then did another later. Slow times as I'm not quick but steady and I finish, all that matters to me. Sometimes I don't put in the meters I want because I do other workouts but oh well you have to keep it interesting and work other muscles in different ways or you plateau. Erg for weight loss, weights for muscle gain so you rev up your metabolism and burn more fat. Eat 4-5 times per day, small balanced amounts also keeps your furnace burning. Don't get too hungry from exercise then eat a big amount all at once. I've learned so much through my own failures! Let's all keep chugging along and let each other know how we are doing, OK? See ya! Birdi

[blue_heron]

I've lost 20 lbs. over 6 months using WW as well. been trying to find a rowing partner without much success. I, too am trying to get back on the horse after having a literal fall from a horse and injuring my back. only managing a few K each time I row, and want to make it more steady and build up. want to join me? your number gets mine for training partners.

keep up the good work!

[KathyWeigand]

wow - a few of you mentioned doing 5 - 6000 meters a day without a problem - what am I doing wrong after 2000 meters with a slow time of about 3 minutes per 500 I'm exhausted. I'm 47 years old and only 10 lbs. overweight I guess I have to sign up for one of those indoor classes.

[blue_heron]

Kathy,
how long have you been doing this? if you're just starting out only start with about 5 min. and work your way up. I only manage about 1700 per 10 minutes on rower, and am breathing hard as well. put on music, and set your machine so you only get about a 30 sec to 1 min. break between sets. it may help psych you up. good luck-keep rowing!

[Wood_Duck]

Great news on the weight loss everybody!! That is fabulous!!! It is hard work and takes consistency and dedication and determination!!

Kathy--It all depends on how if you have exercised in the past and how long you have been exercising now. It takes time to build endurance. One thing someone taught me was "power 10" every 5 minutes or every 500 meters, pull hard for 10 strokes and then go down to "normal" this will help with all kinds of things.

The other question that comes to mind, is where do you have the lever? I recommend 3 for most women and less if you are just getting started. The lever is not "resistance" like on a stationary bike--how hard you pull is the resistance. But the lever can be like getting a battle ship going versus a race car.

Another thing I recommend is getting a heart rate monitor. That way you can see if you are working in the 60% or 70% (or 80%) of your maximum heart rate.

Hope this helps!

Susan AKA Wood_Duck

[MomofJBN]

Kathy - another thing to do is make sure you are using good form so that you are not wasting your efforts. If you got your erg from C2, it should have come with a DVD. If not, ask and people will point you towards how-to videos.

Schenley

[KathyWeigand]

Thanks to everyone that offered advice to me - a complainer that can't row more that a 2000. I am trying all the suggestions - and Yes - I am very new to exercise - Walking was about all I did this past year - because of everyone's encouragement I am going to make this work - I have printed the Holiday Challenge and put it on my refrigerator and yes I realize it's a long strench for a newbie but someone has to push my but. So I'll check back after Christmas to let you know if I getting my act together yet. Thanks - Kathy

[MomofJBN]

So I'll check back after Christmas to let you know if I getting my act together yet. Thanks - Kathy

I hope you check back sooner than that. Chatting with everyone is a good way to stay motivated. There will most likely be a thread dedicated to the Holiday Challenge for people to comment on their progress (or lack thereof).

Schenley

[dixiedd]

Well.. I tried to reply to the thread but....as you can see I did something wrong. Blue Heron...you might want to rethink me as a training partner. Although I really need to ask what's involved before I count myself out. One other thing I have to change is the way I see myself and talk to myself. I count myself out before I've even started.

Where do I found out about the training partners.....

AAAArggggggggggggggh the holiday gluttony season is fast approaching.

Dixie

[bikermom]

Hi everyone, I too have just started rowing routinely and try for 6000 to 7000 meters 3 to 4 times a week and hope to be move up to 5 times a week in a month or so. Out of curiousity how long have all you long distance rowers been rowing? At some point I would like to move up to 10 k rows but would like to get there without causing myself injury.

thanks
Kathy

[Bob S.]

Out of curiousity how long have all you long distance rowers been rowing?

75 years — with a 40 year break, about 1950-1990.

Bob S.