Is a rowing machine the silver bullet to weight loss?
Discussion
I love rowing.
I would say a good routine would be to alternate between using in for HIIT, 2000m "sprint" and then maybe a longer 30/45 minute row.
With the 2000m row you aim to get faster and faster so it's easy to track your progress and the same with the timed row, gradually get further.
The weight loss will obviously mainly come from the diet, but you'll get great fitness and cardio from the rower.
I would say a good routine would be to alternate between using in for HIIT, 2000m "sprint" and then maybe a longer 30/45 minute row.
With the 2000m row you aim to get faster and faster so it's easy to track your progress and the same with the timed row, gradually get further.
The weight loss will obviously mainly come from the diet, but you'll get great fitness and cardio from the rower.
Interested in this also. I can run 5K in 30 minutes and can run 15K in under 100 minutes. Not great, but I'm getting there with my marathon training.
I jump on the rowing machine and I'm sweating and knackered after 10 minutes. Looking at my history I only managed 2283 metres in 10 minutes. I followed some tutorials to try and find the correct method. I push out with my legs and pull the handle with me as I extend, bring to mid chest and leaning back, then reverse this by bring my hands forward, leaning forward and bending my knees and then repeat. Perhaps I'm not been that efficient, or I'm trying to go too fast? I couldn't imagine rowing for 40 minutes.
Thanks.
I jump on the rowing machine and I'm sweating and knackered after 10 minutes. Looking at my history I only managed 2283 metres in 10 minutes. I followed some tutorials to try and find the correct method. I push out with my legs and pull the handle with me as I extend, bring to mid chest and leaning back, then reverse this by bring my hands forward, leaning forward and bending my knees and then repeat. Perhaps I'm not been that efficient, or I'm trying to go too fast? I couldn't imagine rowing for 40 minutes.
Thanks.
I used to row a lot. Training twice a day, 6 days a week.
It's a great way to burn calories, but so is any sustained CV exercise, like swimming, cycling and running.
All four exercises have their problems, either related to injuries and technique, nothing is perfect, and a balance of all is probably the best thing. Of course it all means nothing if you eat to fill the hunger these will give you.
This post is my own opinion, from personal experience. Your opinions and experience may differ, and I'm not trying to start a fight, so just relax.
It's a great way to burn calories, but so is any sustained CV exercise, like swimming, cycling and running.
All four exercises have their problems, either related to injuries and technique, nothing is perfect, and a balance of all is probably the best thing. Of course it all means nothing if you eat to fill the hunger these will give you.
- Rowing is reliant on a good technique to avoid back issues. 95%+ of the people you see in the gym have bad technique which over time will cause problems.
- Swimming requires the ability to swim (to a reasonable level) before you'll really get into a good fat burning zone, although even the old granny swimming many do is better than sitting on the sofa.
- Cycling can requires a bike, opens you up to risk of accident on the road, but gives an enormous sense of freedom.
- Running is probably the easiest from an entry point of view, but can wreak havoc on your knees if you are starting heavy.
This post is my own opinion, from personal experience. Your opinions and experience may differ, and I'm not trying to start a fight, so just relax.
louiebaby said:
I used to row a lot. Training twice a day, 6 days a week.
It's a great way to burn calories, but so is any sustained CV exercise, like swimming, cycling and running.
All four exercises have their problems, either related to injuries and technique, nothing is perfect, and a balance of all is probably the best thing. Of course it all means nothing if you eat to fill the hunger these will give you.
This post is my own opinion, from personal experience. Your opinions and experience may differ, and I'm not trying to start a fight, so just relax.
I agree with you regarding rowing technique. The number of people I see bending their backs through an arc while rowing if frightening - going to cause all sorts of back issues if they keep up like that.It's a great way to burn calories, but so is any sustained CV exercise, like swimming, cycling and running.
All four exercises have their problems, either related to injuries and technique, nothing is perfect, and a balance of all is probably the best thing. Of course it all means nothing if you eat to fill the hunger these will give you.
- Rowing is reliant on a good technique to avoid back issues. 95%+ of the people you see in the gym have bad technique which over time will cause problems.
- Swimming requires the ability to swim (to a reasonable level) before you'll really get into a good fat burning zone, although even the old granny swimming many do is better than sitting on the sofa.
- Cycling can requires a bike, opens you up to risk of accident on the road, but gives an enormous sense of freedom.
- Running is probably the easiest from an entry point of view, but can wreak havoc on your knees if you are starting heavy.
This post is my own opinion, from personal experience. Your opinions and experience may differ, and I'm not trying to start a fight, so just relax.
The magic bullet for losing weight* is simply finding an exercise routine you WANT to do.
Whether it is cycling rowing or running, if it is something you are happy to do it will work for you as you'll keep doing it.
I usually do 750-1000 calories 2-3 times a week on my bike, which I find really helps. A lot is done commuting so it fits in easily, and I don't find it as boring as running.
If you reckon rowing will be one you'll enjoy enough to keep going back to - it will work for you.
Whether it is cycling rowing or running, if it is something you are happy to do it will work for you as you'll keep doing it.
I usually do 750-1000 calories 2-3 times a week on my bike, which I find really helps. A lot is done commuting so it fits in easily, and I don't find it as boring as running.
If you reckon rowing will be one you'll enjoy enough to keep going back to - it will work for you.
- after diet obviously - easier to not consume 500kcals than to burn off 500.
Diet is way more important. I think the sensible approach to exercise is as an adjunct to diet - smoothing out the odd indiscretion but not factored in
I think it's quite hard to rack up enough time on a rower to compensate for increased appetite. They are time distorting instruments of torture. Half hour going hard is 500cal. Most people will struggle to rack up 400
I don't find it easy to watch TV whilst rowing. Music helps
I like to get outdoors so running and cycling for me. I'd rather run for an hour than row for half hour
On the positive side, rowing will stimulate a more balanced aesthetic muscle distribution and is pretty effective for HIIT type sessions and my concept 2 is always there for when I have running injury!
I think it's quite hard to rack up enough time on a rower to compensate for increased appetite. They are time distorting instruments of torture. Half hour going hard is 500cal. Most people will struggle to rack up 400
I don't find it easy to watch TV whilst rowing. Music helps
I like to get outdoors so running and cycling for me. I'd rather run for an hour than row for half hour
On the positive side, rowing will stimulate a more balanced aesthetic muscle distribution and is pretty effective for HIIT type sessions and my concept 2 is always there for when I have running injury!
Diet 80% - Exercise 20%.. What you stick in your mouth and the amount ( more importantly ) of it is paramount to your success.
Regarding the rower C2,, its a good worker. I have one, along with a Life Fitness elliptical trainer. For me, the downside with the C2 was the amount of muscle I gained from the waist upwards. I hate the bully beef cake look, may never of had the levels set correctly on it, tbh.
Cross trainer I find is a awesome piece of kit, if you do get the resistant levels correct. Its kept me in great shape and trim.
Regarding the rower C2,, its a good worker. I have one, along with a Life Fitness elliptical trainer. For me, the downside with the C2 was the amount of muscle I gained from the waist upwards. I hate the bully beef cake look, may never of had the levels set correctly on it, tbh.
Cross trainer I find is a awesome piece of kit, if you do get the resistant levels correct. Its kept me in great shape and trim.
oddman said:
Diet is way more important
This, IMHO, is the 'silver bullet', if there is such a thing. I lost 3 stone by diet alone (16st to my current 13st), and it's only now that my weight has plateaued that I'm going to the gym.
Even then, my weight is staying the same, but my body fat is coming down and lean mass is going up.
Rowing is great and also very low impact. I need to get back into it after a Christmas lay off.
Very important to get the technique right though. The number of people you see doing completely wrong in the gym is huge.
Great tutorial vid here. I really want a water rower to use at home.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfnAhEAa_T8
Very important to get the technique right though. The number of people you see doing completely wrong in the gym is huge.
Great tutorial vid here. I really want a water rower to use at home.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfnAhEAa_T8
Davey S2 said:
Rowing is great and also very low impact. I need to get back into it after a Christmas lay off.
Very important to get the technique right though. The number of people you see doing completely wrong in the gym is huge.
Great tutorial vid here. I really want a water rower to use at home.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfnAhEAa_T8
Agree. My trainer recently showed me the best technique for sprinting rowing and endurance. The number of weird techniques is insane, I really want to tell them but I can guess what the response would be so I don't bother.Very important to get the technique right though. The number of people you see doing completely wrong in the gym is huge.
Great tutorial vid here. I really want a water rower to use at home.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfnAhEAa_T8
johnwilliams77 said:
The number of weird techniques is insane, I really want to tell them but I can guess what the response would be so I don't bother.
When I used to use commercial gyms for training, for example when away from home for work or visiting friends, I was horrified by it. Some people really do live in a bubble though.Even when I was sitting on the rowing machine for the entire duration of their time at the gym, (80 min steady state being common,) wearing a rowing one-piece, doing 18 stroke a minute to their 35 strokes a minute, and going significantly faster for over an hour than they managed for their 2km max effort, I was probably only asked for tips twice. Once by a staff member, and once by a user.
Commercial gyms don't have a solution for dealing with a pool of sweat around the machine either. A mop would have been handy, instead of a whole pack of paper towels.
Being born and bred in Henley on Thames, suffice to say rowing isn't alien to me 
(rowed for Uppoer Thames at college). Memories of having to sprint on ergos until we threw up whilst training!
Now, many years later, I've been thinking about getting a rowing machine so I can exercise irrespective of weather and whilst I watch TV
Any recommendations on machines? I see the water based ones are about £750, but knowing the risk of it getting put under the bed, should probably consider something a bit more affordable?
(rowed for Uppoer Thames at college). Memories of having to sprint on ergos until we threw up whilst training!Now, many years later, I've been thinking about getting a rowing machine so I can exercise irrespective of weather and whilst I watch TV
Any recommendations on machines? I see the water based ones are about £750, but knowing the risk of it getting put under the bed, should probably consider something a bit more affordable?
I'm a long time out the sport now, but I'd have thought a Concept II is still the gold standard. I'd quite like a Dynamic one, but have no money or anywhere to put it. I spent far too much time on a Model D on sliders, and a Row-Perfect.
Keep an eye on GumTree and eBay, I'd have thought the prime time for them showing up is Feb/Mar, just like the drop off in gym membership.
Keep an eye on GumTree and eBay, I'd have thought the prime time for them showing up is Feb/Mar, just like the drop off in gym membership.
The silver bullet is whatever you will do when the novelty value runs out.
FWIW I bought a recumbent gym bike about 15 years ago and still use it regularly. More recently, I plonk the tablet against the timer screen and watch YT videos for 30 minutes.
FWIW I bought a recumbent gym bike about 15 years ago and still use it regularly. More recently, I plonk the tablet against the timer screen and watch YT videos for 30 minutes.
Edited by Hoofy on Friday 13th January 12:30
smifffymoto said:
Would you say 2000m is a good starting point.I did that the other day,24spm.Is that a decent stroke rate to start with?
I bought a Concept II second hand last December as I wanted some cardio exercise and to see if it would help with a back issue I've had for years. Does the job for me, a 10 minute session on the machine seems to be enough to just get the heart beating and loosens my back up nicely. It's worth it for that alone.2km is the distance I usually row, and I do it comfortably in the 10 minutes. What's interesting on the rowing machine though is that it seems very easy to do a steady rate, say the 2km in 10min, but when you try to go just a little bit faster, say 2km in 9.30 min, it becomes bloody hard very quickly!
The one issue I have with it is that the machine is too noisy to hear much over, so I find the 10 minutes of just sitting there pulling away (oo'er missus) a bit too boring. I've bought some bluetooth earphones so will try them out as I don't want the machine to just become an ornament.
The guy I bought it off reckoned for what I was wanting a cross trainer might have been a better option.
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