Back at it (again)

[Realistic]

Greetings everyone,

so i've been rowing on and off since 2k12 (mostly off), and each time I learn something new. Previously I would obsess with getting better EVERY work out, even if it was just a marginal improvement. Problem was that it took the joy out of rowing, and I dreaded working out. I've learned that I don't need to give it 110% every day, and in fact I'd say that at the end of my work outs I feel like I could do more, but I don't. Why? Because A) I need to be able to physically row the next day, and i'm more likely to stick with it over the long haul if I don't hate each work out.

Now what I find amazing is that some people on these forums seem to be insanely fit. Like a sub 3 hour full marathon just seems crazy to me.If I do my math right 500m pace of 2:08 over the entire marathon would be about 3 hours. Right now I can't even maintain 2:08 for a 2K.

Anyways. I'm working on shedding 20lbs, which is mostly due to excessive hamburgers, and too much chair time. I finished a 10k in 47 min last week, but I typically don't do more than 30 min a day. I'm thinking about adding interval training to the mix, instead of just "long" distance rows. I really don't enjoy doing interval work outs, but I just need to get over it

[edinborogh]

due to excessive hamburgers, and too much chair time

story of my life... i lost 13 Kg over the past 8 months, started rowing 4-5 days a week only during the last few months, cant do any better then 2:20/500 but i like this sport, and i am sure that as you see the pounds coming off - you will like it as well.

[Ripples]

For me, my erg is a tool, not a passion. I'm in awe of the really passionate rowers here. I'd drop dead trying to match their stats.

I might glance at stroke rate and speed but my main objective is staying within 65 to 80% of my MHR to build cardio endurance for a sport that is my passion.

I'll do 30 to 45 minutes every other day (alternate days are strength training and core work). I do download my stats to a spreadsheet and have found that in the three months I've been erging, my stroke rate and speed have increased, but it takes me longer to get my heart rate up. Figure that must be good. Still hate the first five minutes of each workout but that levels out and around 20 minutes into the workout, I'll start pushing my HR up to 85-95%.

Wish I could solve getting a dry mouth and throat, though.

[Carl Watts]

I love hamburgers and also steak cheese pies washed down with a cold Peroni !

If you row your ass off you can eat whatever you like. Loose some fat and gain some muscle and your body consumes more calories, even while sitting on the couch.

Its hard to beat long steady state rows of over 30 minutes on a regular basis to keep the weight off. RowPro has allowed me to continue doing this for years without getting bored.

[hjs]

I love hamburgers and also steak cheese pies washed down with a cold Peroni !

If you row your ass off you can eat whatever you like. Loose some fat and gain some muscle and your body consumes more calories, even while sitting on the couch.

Its hard to beat long steady state rows of over 30 minutes on a regular basis to keep the weight off. RowPro has allowed me to continue doing this for years without getting bored.

Bad advice, you can,t outrain a bad diet. Poor food will ruin your body.

[Carl Watts]

Lay off the sugar for starters, don't even have it in the house there is already too much of it in the food we eat.

You can eat anything and the younger you are the more you can get away with.Pretty simple calories in and calories out, row your ass off with distance rows and your not going to get fat.

Not sure what you guys are doing but managing to keep the body fat at 20% and I just turned 50.The 2.75 Million meters must have been enough.

[hjs]

Lay off the sugar for starters, don't even have it in the house there is already too much of it in the food we eat.

You can eat anything and the younger you are the more you can get away with.Pretty simple calories in and calories out, row your ass off with distance rows and your not going to get fat.

Not sure what you guys are doing but managing to keep the body fat at 20% and I just turned 50.The 2.75 Million meters must have been enough.

Carl, i am exactly your age, and really have to stuff my face to get to 20% bodyfat. I am no natural big eater though.
Age is just an excuse, if you stay active metabolism does not alter much. Most 40 plus people start doing less.

Remi, get a grip!

[lindsayh]

I love hamburgers and also steak cheese pies washed down with a cold Peroni !
If you row your ass off you can eat whatever you like. Loose some fat and gain some muscle and your body consumes more calories, even while sitting on the couch.
Its hard to beat long steady state rows of over 30 minutes on a regular basis to keep the weight off. RowPro has allowed me to continue doing this for years without getting bored.

Carl I am pretty sure that there is overwhelming evidence to support the view that you can't lose weight just by increasing exercise (however important exercise is) and that food intake is way more important to manage weight loss and maintenance of a healthy body weight. (and my body fat % is >20 just to prove it!)

[Carl Watts]

Lay off the sugar for starters, don't even have it in the house there is already too much of it in the food we eat.

You can eat anything and the younger you are the more you can get away with.Pretty simple calories in and calories out, row your ass off with distance rows and your not going to get fat.

Not sure what you guys are doing but managing to keep the body fat at 20% and I just turned 50.The 2.75 Million meters must have been enough.

Carl, i am exactly your age, and really have to stuff my face to get to 20% bodyfat. I am no natural big eater though.
Age is just an excuse, if you stay active metabolism does not alter much. Most 40 plus people start doing less.

Remi, get a grip!

Well sorry but I'm not that much into diets or watching what I eat, I love food, all foods. The bonus of the rowing it it allows you to keep eating what you like.

The biggest problem these days is sugar. Any form of Pop as its known in the USA is a no go, you cannot drink a single drop of that. Saw a program on TV a few weeks ago and consumption in the USA is frightening, they drink no water and live on this stuff. A mobile dentist was trying to pull what was left of a 17 year old's teeth out and a brand that shall remain nameless was being put in babies bottles to give to under 3 year old's.You also need to minimize alcohol consumption and if I was serious I would also cut that out, then again if I was serious I would be on EPO.

So while you may be able to eat anything, maybe I should have pointed out you cannot drink anything.

Basically without the rowing my body would stabilize at 108Kg and 28% body fat, I know this because I was there 10 years ago.

Currently I'm 98Kg and a shade under 20% body fat so hell no I don't want to put on 10Kg !!!!

Remi, STOP EATING ALL THE PIES !!!!

[hjs]

Ofcourse sugar is the nmr 1 cause, and yes that comes liquit a lot. Its also "normal" to be overweight in the west. And cheap crappy "food" is everywhere. Fastfood getting bigger and bigger.

Re weight, I am trying to gain weight, and find that not so easy. And mean lean weight not just "sumo" weight

[Carl Watts]

In terms of body fat percentage in the over 40 age group in this country I would estimate over 80% of the male population is over 30% body fat and its only getting worse not better.

http://www.health.govt.nz/nz-health-sta ... statistics

At 50 years of age here, 20% is incredibly low. Fitness levels are really really bad, most people do absolutely no exercise from one week to the next. Being able to row 8000m in 30 minutes would put you in the elite category in respect to the general population.

Any exercise is great, even if you change nothing else you will get great gains in the way you look and feel and the trick is to make it a way of life, something you want to do and not forced to do.

[hjs]

In terms of body fat percentage in the over 40 age group in this country I would estimate over 80% of the male population is over 30% body fat and its only getting worse not better.

http://www.health.govt.nz/nz-health-sta ... statistics

At 50 years of age here, 20% is incredibly low. Fitness levels are really really bad, most people do absolutely no exercise from one week to the next. Being able to row 8000m in 30 minutes would put you in the elite category in respect to the general population.

Any exercise is great, even if you change nothing else you will get great gains in the way you look and feel and the trick is to make it a way of life, something you want to do and not forced to do.

Modern life is very easy, fitness/strenght is hardly needed anymore, so in daily life we don,t train it. On top, people are lazy by nature, why waist energy unneeded?

Don,t think its much different over here, almost everybody has at least some kind of belly. Really heavy people are not that common yet.

[Carl Watts]

I agree most peoples attitude to exercise is a real problem these days. Many people see it as a waste of energy and the worst I have heard is essentially why waste your time doing that your not getting paid for it !!!!

[hjs]

I agree most peoples attitude to exercise is a real problem these days. Many people see it as a waste of energy and the worst I have heard is essentially why waste your time doing that your not getting paid for it !!!!

If your only goal in life is money......

[Steve1960VA]

Remi, get a grip!

Remi, STOP EATING ALL THE PIES !!!!

Why have abs, when you can have kebabs?

LOL !