Exercise
 

Does anyone have any experience with rowing machines? I have not been out to look at them or try them out but although they look like they may be difficult (?) to use I am quite interested.

So, any personal experiences, pros, cons or you just think I'm crazy :p

I currently use a treadmill and pilates body bands but I'm thinking a rowing machine might let me push harder in a differnt way.

I had a rowing maching many years back.... when I was just a young pup! :wink: It was a great all body work out. But right now, for me, I wouldn't try it, because I know how hard it is and know my present limatiations.

But, having said that, it might work for you... just know it is a fully body workout and very hard! And I was in really good shape at the time and still found it challenging.

Not trying to discourage a workout, just giving my experience. Good luck finding what works for you. But, just an afterthought, you might try to find one just to try out a few times...... I can't remebmer, it might have tension adjustments on it, and maybe I just had it set on a hard position.

Funny you should mention that, Snoopy . . . I had just posted about that on the following thread:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread43930-2.html

I have found the rowing machine to be one of my best investments, to be honest, for the following reasons:

- you mostly use upper body strength to "work it"
- your legs get stretching and movement (without really using any leg strength or energy)
- you can (almost) get an aerobic work-out, i.e. increased heart rate
- it works your abs, buttocks, and arms
- it's kinda' fun, as exercise goes :rolleyes:
- you can do it while watching TV :D
- it doesn't take up much room

I had gestational diabetes with my pregnancies, and would have to do 20 min of exercise after eating certain things (like banana's). I had to re-test my blood sugar after that work-out on the rowing machine (too fat to run :D), and every time it would be back down to normal levels. (Hence, it must have been doing "something" for me ;) ).

Cherie

That was my at home gym when I was weller than I am now. ;) I can't get up from it anymore. :(

You can get a darned good workout if you want to. My habit was to keep up with fast music for the duration of a CD. If you plan to get serious, keep a clean towel under it to preserve your carpet.

I found a pretty comprehensive buyer's guide here:
http://www.mens-total-fitness.com/rowing-machines.html

Dangit, Snoopy, you have me thinking about another one and I have no idea whether I'll be able to get off the bugger!

AMN - I hadn't even considered how low to the ground the machine may be and my ability to get up from it. That's something I will need to check into.

Thanks, Cherie. I understand getting the upper body workout but will it also give the legs a workout?

Friend2U, That's what I'm looking for - a total body workout. I tend to push my limits but I have done this for so many years I know when I can or can't push.

I can get myself to the point of shaking because I pushed beyond what I should have but I also know (in my case) I will recoup and recover given a little rest time - also taking a cool shower after working out helps my recovery time.

snoopy..ya know hubby and i own a gym...but i do have to say...i LOVED my tony little gazzel. i got the elite one. they fold up and don't tke up much room. totally quiet.

it works in a stepping gliding motion. it works your whole body.

i can find a link if you are interested.

You can choose to either slack off with your legs, or use them to give yourself more POWER and a better work-out.

I have very weak legs though, so I tend to not utilize them so much and just use my upper body. (That's why I don't like a treadmill, stationary bike, etc.) What I really like though, is that my legs get stretched, and accumulate some amount of tone, just by moving them with the rowing motion.

I'm not sure what Curious is referring to, but I'd love to see the link, please. :D

Cherie

Cindy is there any way to build something for it to mount to so it is up higher off the ground? Something that you could just step off it? Like knee level or higher? You are clever with a hammer, nails and skill saw I am sure!!

http://www.tonylittle.com/detail.aspx?ID=4

http://www.tonylittle.com/images/Gaz...se_DVD_200.jpg

I found this - it's a bit pricey but I am fasinated by it :rolleyes:

http://www.waterrower.com/


Curious, I would love the link. Like Cherie I have no idea.....

Sorry, Cindy :p

Cherie, my legs are weak and it's the stiffness that keeps me up and moving. I like the treadmill and have been known to swear at my legs as I'm on it :rolleyes:

My max on the treadmill is 2 miles. I haven't been able to get to my max in quite awhile. I have now increased the incline to 3 percent, at 3/4 of a mile with a max speed of 2.1 - I'm short so my speed is limited otherwise I'm running and that's NOT going to happen :p

LOL, I did give it some thought, but my balance would probably have me tipping it over. I think the thing to do is haul my carcass over to MC and test drive one, figure out whether I could invent a way for myself.

Hey, Snoopy, the water ones are cool, but have you ever had a fishbowl? They take a fair amount of care and quite a bit of space; the air ones are huge, too. I'm aiming for the shove it under the bed method, myself.

LMAO

I was trying to figure out if they did have water in them but I wasn't sure - of course if I would read things completely through that would probably help :rolleyes:

Scratching water rower off my list :Writting: adding the shove it under the bed kind to my list

Well, Snoop, you'll appreciate this, I went over to MC Sports for a bit today (and kudos to Josh for not ignoring the gimp on a scooter!), and didn't see any rowers.

But, I did fall in love with this gigantic elliptical machine. It's fun! I loved it and I know I'll be in some wicked pain tomorrow, that's for sure. I found the steeper incline easier than the flat and went a good while on it. The big thing was that it lifts my foot for me, so no tripping. I wish I had a 25 sq. ft. room with nothing in it. The thing is enormous, but waaaaaay fun!

Are you sore this morning, AMN?

I have looked at elliptical machines but never really "looked" at them. Since you found it fun and could use it are you considering getting one?

I have pretty much given up on the idea of a rower. I had not considered how low to the ground they are until you mentioned it and then when I mentioned a rower to my DH his first comment was - he didn't think I would be able to get up from it.

I also have a cardio glide (cardio fit) and he told me to use that like I normally would then go sit on the treadmill for a few minutes - then see if I could get up. I already know what I can and can't do after exercizing and what DH suggested and after what you mentioned made me realize a rower is not going to be practical.

I find it interesting about the steeper incline because I do better with the treadmill inclined than flat.

Shockingly enough, LA, I'm really not sore at all! So, it sure begs the question of whether I really got anything out of it.:confused: The back spazzes are little more intense and frequent, but who knows?

I'm not in the market for one of those, myself, my big thing is about how much I'd be able to use a $3k machine the size of a tank. The thing is huge, it weighs 350 lbs. and it's about 7 ft. tall. Besides, that's a lot of money and I can think of dozens of ways to spend it elsewhere, like on a tank of gas.:rolleyes:

I'm not giving up on the rower because it works the whole body, the elliptical is way fun, but it's lower body only.

I will devise a climbing system to get up from a rower, probably involving my rollator. That's how I get up when I wipe out. There has to be a way!

I found this, LA. It looks like it sits a little higher.
It's like rowing and horseback riding, all-in-one.

The only thing is, it's from 1940...LOL...don't know
if it's still available.

http://blog.modernmechanix.com/mags/...excersizer.jpg

LMAO! Sal! Myself, I was looking at this one:

http://rockimals.com/images/56-4001_small1.jpg

I could see myself getting thrown across the room, by that one.:eek:..LOL

the elliptical is a full body workout. it should have had handles that moved back and forth. i can post a picture of one of ours. we have 4 precors.

it's hard to compare the quality of home use verses commercial.

wish you lived closer. i have a large gym full of equipment that's being sold for pennies on the dollar.

have you looked on your local craigslist?

www.craigslist.org

LA!

Come here and I will show you a rowing machine that gives you a view! ( my rowboat!) I can also help you out with a different workout in the canoe...how to get back in after flipping, while paddling with gusto!

I haven't laughed so hard in years- I went out for a paddle after fixing my thwarts on my canoe and immediately flipped it in freezing cold water! It's a whole different ballgame with MS and WANTING to get back in the boat NOW!! I darned near drowned laughing, wet my pants ( heck, they were wet anyway and it warmed me up) and finally rolled back in even though the canoe was filled with water ( I was a turtle and couldn't get all the way up once I was in!) The man had to throw me a line and tow me back to shore, position the canoe sideways to the shore and roll me out of it. I learned a good lesson that day and had a good laugh! ( wear the stupid wetsuit even when only 20 feet from shore when it's freezing water! The only good thing was that I had my lifejacket on!)


Cindy and Sal had me laughing near as hard with their posts above. Good thing I was home, cause I again needed the bathroom and this time I wasn't already wet and freezing and looking for warmth!:p

Hope you find something that fits your needs!

You're too kind, my four-handed friend. The elliptical is not a full body workout for those of us who have the balance of a one-legged toddler. I was on the mega-most-wow-pseudo-professional one but had to hold on for dear life. It was a hoot and the guys were laughing at me, but I loved it. Just not in love enough to want one. LOL, I'd have to have another room added on!

I'm still hung on the rower, but now I'm thinking of adding one of these puppies (with my rollator or ski poles):

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA280_.jpg

you mean the trainer didn't duct tape your hands to the bars? :wink:

come here cindy...let me train you. :D

Okay, LA, I did it. Part of it, anyway. I ordered a cheap stepper to test myself for a month. The reviewers say it will die within 90 days of use, but I'm within the weight limits and something tells me I will not be a very vigorous user. I will do it daily, just not vigorously (at first).:rolleyes:

I did the other test too, I got down on the floor and simulated the actions of managing to get upon a rower, positioning myself and then undoing it, and finally getting up. I waited until naptime to do so, to simulate the weariness I would no doubt feel. The getting up part was REALLY HARD! I haven't wiped out in a few months (thankfully) and I'm even wimpier than I thought.:o

So, plan B: I will try the cheap stepper for a month, and do a daily simulation of getting down to a rower and getting back up. If I get better at it and it doesn't kill me, I'll go for the rower!

Yes, I am disputing all my own common sense at this juncture. I'm also thinking about learning Japanese.:eek:



My yappy friend, why do I suddenly fear you?

:holysheep: that looks like the older version of my cardio glide :eek:


That's more my speed :p LMAO

Ummm.....I think I'll pass on your kind of rowing :yikes:

Yeah, aren't Sally and Cindy just a hoot :rolleyes: :p

:yahoo::yahoo::yahoo:

Hey, Snoopy! The stepper's here and it's great! I can do it with my walker and it's awesome because it picks my stupid foot up for me but I work it on the way down. I could feel it inside of 4 minutes, but, give me a month, I'll kick some butt!

For $60, I recommend in highly for anyone with dropfoot who wants to walk for exercise. Reviews claim it dies quickly, so when (if) I kill it with my infallible power, I'll get a different one with a little better quality built in.

It will be nice to have a little muscle back in these skinny bird legs of mine.

:You-Rock: :yahoo:


Is the picture above what your using? You were on it for 4 minutes? That is just awesome :yahoo:

I was just going to post that my rowing machine has been for sale for years - 5 minutes on it and my back was in spasm for 6 weeks - not fun to walk bent at a right angle to the floor or worse - to try to crawl into bed without moving any part of your spine -

Well, I have my own, but it's the same model.

*trying to run away but dumb thing doesn't move*

Yep, I think I can do five tomorrow if I'm not bawling in horrid pain by then. I had done some errands before going on it and I was already feeling it in my legs.

Here's hoping!