Continued Progress?

I am one day behind on my training program but I hope to catch up before next Monday. My efficiency is up but so is my weight. I am going to have to supplement with some other activities if this is going to be a weight loss program. I have said for a long time that 300 minutes a week is what is required. Right now I am around 100 minutes a week. I the trick is where do you squeeze another 3 and a half hours out of the week without short changing somebody. My toddler is sleeping better so perhaps that will provide a few extra morning or evening minutes.

introductory rows done

I see now why RowPro gives 2 weeks of introductory rows in the training program. I have learned quite a lot about stroke rate and how to row. Now the real work begins.

on the Rowed

I missed rowing yesterday but made up the workout tonight. I was looking at a video of rowing technique and apparently I am still not doing it correctly. Legs, arms, arms, legs. I am releasing my legs to early. I am not sure what difference this will make but I am trying to get the rhythm. Tonight I think I exaggerated the other way.
Concept 2 has a nice page on rowing technique.

Stroke Rate

I rowed last night despite some unplanned projects. It is a good thing I am still on the short rows in the training program.

I am experimenting with the stokes per minute (spm). There is a video on CrossFit explaining that there is an optimal stroke rate for each individual. Too fast and you are essentially braking yourself. I am trying to row at a slower rate which is not as easy as it sounds. My speed actually increased. Rowing is deceptive. I looks so simple but there is a lot of technique to learn for optimal performance. CrossFit exercises page is a great source for technical information.

Rowed to Fitness

After my daughter was born, I knew my trips to the gym would be few and far between. I bought a Concept 2 rowing machine because it is the most efficient indoor equipment available. I figured 10 minutes here, 20 minutes there, getting back into shape would be no problem. Ha! 10 minutes is time pick up the living room; 20 minutes - do the dishes.

My baby is 16 months old now and I am recommitted to making workouts work. I am only a few pounds heavier than when I got pregnant. I actually lost all of the pregnancy weight and more the first 9 months of breastfeeding but it has been creeping back.

The goal is to get back to "fighting weight" (under 63KG) and more important regain my cardiovascular and muscle fitness. I ran the Fargo Half Marathon in 2006 and had hoped to repeat in 2009. That is looking doubtful now but I want to be in that kind of shape by summer.

I bought RowPRo and set up a training program. So far so good but the demands have been very low.