Newbie with weightloss and getting lean in mind

[gads]

I'm thrilled to be the proud owner of a new Concept 2 D that arrived on Friday. My goal is weightloss and getting lean. I'm 39 yrs old, 6'7 and right at 300lbs and I've never rowed before Friday.

I try to go to the gym every evening after work but found there were some nights that I'd get home too late and couldn't make it. I embarked on finding something I could do at home and through my searching came across rowing and the Concept 2. Matter of fact, I came on this forum prior to my purchase and read many of your posts and that sold me.

I rowed yesterday and could not make it 10 minutes without stopping. Today I was able to go for a longer period so I can see the benefit of building up slowly to my goal of rowing 10000m a day.

The Concept 2 is going to be great for me and I look forward to being a part of this forum going forward. Any suggestions would be greatly apppreciated.

Eric

[shu246]

HI - welcome aboard.

I've had my Model B for something like 20 years now. With several long stretches away from using it, for one reason or another, I am just on the top side of 8 million meters.

Started lurking the weight loss board recently, hoping to score some motivation and discipline to push off about 15 pounds.

My suggestions are be attentive to a good stroke form, and go for time on the machine rather than speed.

I am 64 yrs old, with some creaky vertebrea in the lower back. I am 6 ft 2, with rather long arms and legs.

I have learned to keep my back straight (not bent forward) on the catch and pull. At the catch (forward end of stroke) I don't let the crotch of my elbows get forward of my thighs, nor my lower legs get past vertical. A shorter stroke (not reaching too far forward) also allows a faster stroke rate, and improved distance performance.

It's tempting to keep trying to beat yesterday's time or distance. But if I let that run away, comes a day I push too hard and get a headache. That means two or three days down time. At my age I am concerned about keeping the heart rate and blood pressure at a reasonable level and not blowing out an artery.

Nicest thing is start at a very slow pace and once going, let yr mind drift (or get some music or the TV and some headphones). Forget the clock in front of you. You will fall into a sustainable cruise speed. Then look up, check yr posture and stroke form, and note the stroke rate and 500 meter stroke time from the clock.

Oh - and look for on the the teams to join. Ancient Mariners Organization rules!


Regards - Shu

[gads]

The last few years I've bulked up from lifting weights but as I'm getting older I do not see many benefits from being bigger. I've had rotator cuff surgery on both shoulders within the past three years from lifting and understand that proper form is very important.

I understand where you are coming from when you say to go for time rather than speed. It would be easy to try and get a PB on each row. I want to do it the right way and not get discouraged.

[logdoc]

Glad you found the rower. It has been great having one. I come home from work and don't think about anything but getting on the machine and letting the day's concerns fall away.
Be some what forgiving of your self if you can only go some far. Slow and steady is a good course of action and a reasonable approach. Watch your diet, add more fruits and veggies and give up the after dinner snacks that those of us on the long side of 250lbs have always liked.

[gads]

I've not been paying attention to my time rather trying to build endurance. I am up to thirty minutes a day, taking about a 2 minute break at the 15 minute mark. I've been pushing my distance up each time. This morning I rowed 6300m.

I can tell it is getting easier each time and I'm shooting for 10000m a day. Some of these times I see on the forum are awesome and motivating to shoot for.

Gads

[Mike_AU]

Hi.

I have been rowing a couple of years using similar motivation to your own. I'm about to push through 3 million metres, and I couldn't be happier with the machine or it's results. I have my weight under control, and I'm fitter and healthier than I have been since high school.

I use a HR meter every row and I do a couple of things religiously for every workout.

One is to do a warmup on the machine - a slow-paced 1-2k that brings my HR up to 110-120 and then I run through a routine of stretching taken from row2k:

http://www.row2k.com/physio/overview.html

Once I've done that, I'm back on the machine for my session followed by a 1k cooldown where I concentrate on technique also at a slow pace. I'm looking for my HR to come down to the mid 130's (I'm over 50 and limit my high HR to 160, but have not done any max HR testing)

It's one thing to manage your exercise, but you also have to manage your food intake if you are looking to reduce weight. I'm sure you are doing this, and there are lots of good suggestions on this site.

Don't forget to keep the fluids up, water is best IMO.

Hope that helps,

Mike.

[ppetta8262@yahoo.com]

Gads...how are you doing now? Have you kept it up? I am 53 yrs old and weighed 216lbs when I started back rowing...I row at least 40 minutes per day (5 or 6 days per week)...Doing this you will lose about 3 to 5 lbs per month...1year = 35 lbs lost (more or less) 2 years = 70 lbs. But you will find that you will cut back on eating things like candy bars naturally. Why? You will look at the calories (350-450avg) and think, "My God, is it worth 40 minutes on the rower to eat this stupid candy bar? I'm cancelling out my whole workout this morning." Consequently you will be able to resist temptations easier. Remember 3500 calories = 1 lb.
If you continue rowing for 1 year any weight lost is permanent. Good luck!