Newbie here and loving it but after some advice....

[Iggymnewrower1]

Afternoon all,

Hi im new to rowing and to be honest do it more then weights now, Ive been rowing for 3 weeks now and cant see myself stopping...

I have started using the rowing machine on my lunch breaks which i only get 1 hr, so using time is 30-40 mins maximum im still trying to find the best use to get most out of weight loss and toning up in my 5 day usage of the gym....

what ive done so far,

5000 mtrs in 21 minutes then upto 7300 mtrs in 35 mins to see what i can do
7000 mtrs as fast as i can each day roughly 33-35 mins
5000 mtrs at 30 secs as fast as i can then 30 secs slower pace to get my breath back
5 mins warm up at a average constant pace then the rest of the 5000 mtrs 100 mtrs all out and then 100 mtrs steady get breath back pace it took me 22 mins 47 seconds

Now i have no idea if that is good or bad or average for my age (42 and 14 and a half stone 5 foot 10 in height)

My question is shall i carry on experimenting to help the weight loss or does anyone know a good plan that i can do in 35 mins etc?

fyi i have noticed looser clothes but weight stayed the same and muscle has bulked and got tighter so i might be seeing the the gain before it comes off?

Thanks for any help and hope to get involved alot more

[winniewinser]

Hi,

Welcome aboard. I'm fairly new to this myself but a good plan to have a look at is the Beginners Pete Plan.

https://thepeteplan.wordpress.com/beginner-training/

I'm now on week 18 and it's been very good so far for progression.

Cheers
Alex

[Iggymnewrower1]

Brilliant thank you

[Gammmmo]

Hi im new to rowing and to be honest do it more then weights now, Ive been rowing for 3 weeks now and cant see myself stopping...

Welcome. That's a long time to be rowing...

I have started using the rowing machine on my lunch breaks which i only get 1 hr, so using time is 30-40 mins maximum im still trying to find the best use to get most out of weight loss and toning up in my 5 day usage of the gym....

Maximum calorie burn....I'd do hard 10K efforts, should be able to get under 40mins fairly quickly.

5000 mtrs in 21 minutes then upto 7300 mtrs in 35 mins to see what i can do
7000 mtrs as fast as i can each day roughly 33-35 mins
5000 mtrs at 30 secs as fast as i can then 30 secs slower pace to get my breath back
5 mins warm up at a average constant pace then the rest of the 5000 mtrs 100 mtrs all out and then 100 mtrs steady get breath back pace it took me 22 mins 47 seconds

Now i have no idea if that is good or bad or average for my age (42 and 14 and a half stone 5 foot 10 in height)

Not that fast...but then you've only just started. You'll get faster quickly. What's your cardio background like?

fyi i have noticed looser clothes but weight stayed the same and muscle has bulked and got tighter so i might be seeing the the gain before it comes off?

In 3 weeks doubt there'd be THAT much body re-composition but bear in mind water retention makes big differences even on a day to day basis.

[Iggymnewrower1]

Gammo,

Cheers for the replies mate and lol to the 3 weeks

10k sounds doable to ill try that tomorrow,

cardio is ok i suppose, ran 4 marathons play football 3 times a week and gym rowing 1 hr a day, Karate and boxing 2 days a week so able is the word id use lol

I do feel bloated alot of the day so not sure im eating enough or drinking enough so thats the next goal to achieve ....Diet!

[Dangerscouse]

Welcome to the forum. Don't worry about your times at the moment, they are only useful to use in later months to see how far you've progressed, as trying to compare to other experienced rowers is a bad idea at the moment.

Until you are used to the movement, have refined your technique and built erg-specific fitness you wont be comparing apples with applies.

Try doing 30r20 (30 mins at stroke rate 20) as I'm assuming that you're usually doing higher rate sessions except when recovering between intervals?

[Iggymnewrower1]

Yes that's right I'm putting the tension on 10 or 9 so I'm guessing to drop that to about 4-6? I could constantly hit 30-35 strokes for 20 mins, maybe going to fast I dont know I just want to get my heart rate going

[Citroen]

Yes that's right I'm putting the tension [sic] on 10 or 9 so I'm guessing to drop that to about 4-6? I could constantly hit 30-35 strokes for 20 mins, maybe going to fast I dont know I just want to get my heart rate going

Don't use the "damper lever" position (not "tension") it can differ between machines. It can differ if you're significantly at an elevation way above mean sea level. Learn how it controls the airflow through the fan cage by studying https://www.concept2.com/indoor-rowers/ ... etting-101

While doing that, learn to row https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqVmMd7FdAA

[Anth_F]

Yes that's right I'm putting the tension on 10 or 9 so I'm guessing to drop that to about 4-6? I could constantly hit 30-35 strokes for 20 mins, maybe going to fast I dont know I just want to get my heart rate going

You need to learn to row properly... 30-35 strokes for 20mins is wasting lots of energy that you should be putting into the flywheel when you develop a decent technique and more powerful stroke. Try pushing hard with the legs when you begin the stroke, that'll soon get the heart rate racing

[Dangerscouse]

Yes that's right I'm putting the tension on 10 or 9 so I'm guessing to drop that to about 4-6? I could constantly hit 30-35 strokes for 20 mins, maybe going to fast I dont know I just want to get my heart rate going

If you do a hard 30r20 I can assure your heart rate will be pounding. Try doing it at a pace + 3/4 secs slower than your free rated 30mins

[max_ratcliffe]

Maximum calorie burn....I'd do hard 10K efforts, should be able to get under 40mins fairly quickly.

I've been at this for nearly 12 months and I'm still not close to 40'. Of course, I may just be spectacularly untalented, but it's not just me - 50%ile is 41:27.

[mitchel674]

Maximum calorie burn....I'd do hard 10K efforts, should be able to get under 40mins fairly quickly.

I've been at this for nearly 12 months and I'm still not close to 40'. Of course, I may just be spectacularly untalented, but it's not just me - 50%ile is 41:27.

Same here. I find comments like that quite obnoxious.

[Ombrax]

Same here. I find comments like that quite obnoxious.

What do you mean? I'm sure nearly all newbies are able to do 10k workouts at an average pace of better than 2:00 after just a few weeks of training. After all, it really isn't that hard.

(jk, of course)

[Gammmmo]

Maximum calorie burn....I'd do hard 10K efforts, should be able to get under 40mins fairly quickly.

I've been at this for nearly 12 months and I'm still not close to 40'. Of course, I may just be spectacularly untalented, but it's not just me - 50%ile is 41:27.

What's your sporting background like Max? How tall are you? What's your training looking like? I suppose it's all relative...I look at people who can do 35s and 36s as having something hard to do. I suppose also mates of mine or people who I have known from bike racing have made me think my engine is really nothing special so I assume say sub 40 should be do-able for most. I plucked that figure out of the air given the OP said he was time crunched in his lunch hour and it seemed roughly right as to what he might have time for.

[Gammmmo]

Same here. I find comments like that quite obnoxious.

What do you mean? I'm sure nearly all newbies are able to do 10k workouts at an average pace of better than 2:00 after just a few weeks of training. After all, it really isn't that hard.

(jk, of course)

No, but I think it's something he could work towards and that may well come quite quickly, as said. He's got lots of newbie gains to come.