Rowing Machine

TurbotH

TurbotH

TurbotH

Associate
Joined
7 Feb 2007
Posts
134
I'm wanting to get a big fitter (and thinner). I'm thinking about buying a rowing machine as i've always enjoyed using them in gyms in the past and starting to run on the road. I know there are quite a few fitness/gym gurus on here. I was just wondering how useful the rower will be in gaining fitness or will it mostly just build up arm muscles? I want an air resistance one and have seen this

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/York-Mag-AIr-...temQQimsxq20100112?IMSfp=TL100112223001r14279

anyone used this make/model before? Can't find much about it online. Is it a fair price? Also are there any slightly different ways of using a rower to exercise different muscles etc?


Thanks in advance.
 
From what i remember of the last few threads on rowing machines, the general idea is either:
1) fork out for a concept2
2) get a gym membership and use the machines there.

The one you've linked to looks to me like a fairly solid machine, but having never used anything other than a concept2 (and a real boat :p ) i dont really have any basis for a comparison.
 
Concept2 are the best rower if you're going to use it seriously.
It won't build up arm muscle, read the sticky.
It is very good for cv fitness
 
Rowing will not build your arm muscles. If you're getting an arm workout from rowing you're doing it wrong. Your legs and arse should feel like jelly after rowing, not your arms.

I've only ever used concept rowers, from what I know they've very good but come with a large price tag.

Excellent exercise though. I prefer to row than to any other CV exercise.
 
exhashdotdot said:
I actually find the rowing machine to be incredibly boring. I only use it for a warm up before I hit the weights.
Click to expand...

I find them quite the opposite. I can focus on my rhythm (legs, arms, arms, legs) and it's timing. I can also distract myself by monitoring my split time plus I find the repetative whole body motion helps me zone out. Where as when I'm running for example I've nothing to watch other than the time and find it difficult to zone out as such.

Also low impact so better on the joints too. Each to our own :)
 
Invest in some decent running trainers, get a Nike+ Wristband for added fun to monitor your distance, calories, speed etc.. and go road running now the roads are in a better condition - get some good music on an mp3 player.. Rowing machine is good for like exhashdotdot said a warm up but not for improving overall fitness in my opinion running is the best way, your using all your body to push along the road (unlike treadmill which takes your feet and does some of the work for you :P).. will start to cut you up, if introduced with some situps, pull ups and press ups ull be sound - much cheaper too. Gets you out and about too, get on google maps and start palnning some routes! :)
 
Thanks for the advice guys. Going to go an see that machine tonight and if it looks solid i'm going to get it. I wasn't born where i live so the google maps idea is a good shout
 
Bodseh said:
Rowing machine is good for like exhashdotdot said a warm up but not for improving overall fitness
Click to expand...

I've actually never heard a more ridiculous statement. Not good for overall fitness?! Either you've never used a rowing machine or you've no coordination/rhythm when using it.
 
I'm sorry that statement is ****.

If anything a rower is better for fitness as not only are you pushing with your legs but you are also very lightly pulling with your arms, which will burn more calories and place greater demand on the heart than just swinging them when you run. Leaning slightly back will also brace your core too.

Any for of CV exercise will get him 'cut up' providing it's coupled with a decent diet plan. Running isn't the be all and end all of CV exercise. I personally don't really enjoy it and would much rather skip or row although I do occasionally run for a bit of variety.
 
Very little better for improving fitness then a good erging schedule.

And as said, C2 or don't bother - spend the money on gym membership instead.
 
Last edited:
Forget these crap machines, get a model c concept 2.

They won;t buildd up arms though as rowing is supposed to be mostly legs. get onto the concept 2 site and look at the training and advice to show you how to row properly. I can guess that if you think it trains your arms then your technique will be horrible, unfortunately like 90% of people out there :(
 
-Ad- said:
Forget these crap machines, get a model c concept 2.

They won;t buildd up arms though as rowing is supposed to be mostly legs. get onto the concept 2 site and look at the training and advice to show you how to row properly. I can guess that if you think it trains your arms then your technique will be horrible, unfortunately like 90% of people out there :(
Click to expand...


I've seen some absolutely shocking techniques :(

One was a girl who bent her legs with arms, end result was her going back and forth on the slider, hardly moving the cable.
 
I often see people barely bending their legs, bending their backs, mis-timing. I've seen someone row with their arms twice before having pushed with their legs once.

If people actually payed attention in gym inductions and also checked they were doing it correctly by looking for instructions on the, rower, internet or asking an instructor people would find it much more enjoyable.

One of my flatmates said that rowing was 'Killing my arms, I really like rowing but my arms are knackered by the end of it'. A lecture on rowing then flew out of my mouth.
 
Benny06 said:
I'm sorry that statement is ****.

If anything a rower is better for fitness as not only are you pushing with your legs but you are also very lightly pulling with your arms, which will burn more calories and place greater demand on the heart than just swinging them when you run. Leaning slightly back will also brace your core too.

Any for of CV exercise will get him 'cut up' providing it's coupled with a decent diet plan. Running isn't the be all and end all of CV exercise. I personally don't really enjoy it and would much rather skip or row although I do occasionally run for a bit of variety.
Click to expand...

Dude, this guy is trying to get back into fitness, get thinner etc boffin.. you think that by basing your workout around the rowing machine he will achieve that? GOOD LUCK! The rowing machine is tough, don't get me wrong and a great workout (thats why i use it do get warmed up, get my blood pumping).. But in my opinion it's too hard to do for a decent time.. i can do like 10-15 mins before im either nackered or bord (plus hitting the weights after/before a run will burn calories too, no point using up your strength at this point?).. Like I stated in my view running is better, different scenery, as with the rower you can slow down or speed up... To be honest, apart from the serious fitness freaks who use the rowing chart etc at the gym i hardly see people on the rower for a decent time, for fat burning you need to be doing some distance.. anyone can run as a steady pace for 40mins plus, fat burning.

At the end of the day if you consume less calories (or even maintain your recommended calorie intake with decent healthy food) and exercise more weather it be running, rowing, cycling, skipping.. a good mixture would be best then your doing to lose weight and gain a better figure.

However, personally - Skipping and rowing arn't in my program, and i have excellent co-ordination using the rowing machine cheers TheBrooder..
 
Bodseh said:
Dude, this guy is trying to get back into fitness, get thinner etc boffin.. you think that by basing your workout around the rowing machine he will achieve that? GOOD LUCK!
Click to expand...

Why are you calling me a boffin?
Where have I suggested basing his entire workout around the rowing machine? I have merely given my opinion that a rowing machine would be more benficial whilst also being low impact. Also care to explain how rowing, cardio vascular exercise, is not good for improving fitness?

I haven't suggested exercising will get him 'cut up' without having even asked about his diet or aims which are the most crucial part of any exercise plan.

The rowing machine is tough, don't get me wrong and a great workout (thats why i use it do get warmed up, get my blood pumping).. But in my opinion it's too hard to do for a decent time.. i can do like 10-15 mins before im either nackered or bord
Click to expand...

Too hard for a decent time? You might not be as fit as you first thought. Just because a particular peice of CV equipment is tough doesn't mean it's bad or should be neglected.

(plus hitting the weights after/before a run will burn calories too, no point using up your strength at this point?)
Click to expand...

Again this will depend on the OP's aims. Hence why most people prefer to perform CV exercise at different times of the day to resistance training or on completely different days.

.. Like I stated in my view running is better, different scenery, as with the rower you can slow down or speed up... To be honest, apart from the serious fitness freaks who use the rowing chart etc at the gym i hardly see people on the rower for a decent time, for fat burning you need to be doing some distance.. anyone can run as a steady pace for 40mins plus, fat burning.
Click to expand...

Again you don't need to be doing 'serious distance' to burn fat. Ever heard of H.I.I.T? 40 minutes on the rower gets me 10KM. 20 minutes H.I.I.T on the rower gets me 3.5KM and I will have burnt significantly more fat. Yes there are arguments for long periods of steady state cardio at a low intensity burning fat (aerobic) but the truth is shorter distances at short higher intensity bursts (anaerobic) burn more fat.

At the end of the day if you consume less calories (or even maintain your recommended calorie intake with decent healthy food) and exercise more weather it be running, rowing, cycling, skipping.. a good mixture would be best then your doing to lose weight and gain a better figure.
Click to expand...

Nail > Head

However, personally - Skipping and rowing arn't in my program, and i have excellent co-ordination using the rowing machine cheers TheBrooder..
Click to expand...

Do whatever works for you but don't be so quick to throw advice around when you aren't entirely sure yourself.
 
Last edited:
Good points..

About fitness levels, I am fit enough for what I want to achieve... I didn’t suggest to neglect the rower, i use it to warm up every time i goto the gym, or sometimes to finish me off after a workout - because its intense i find..

I do vary distance with high intensity training.. like you said, you can cover the same distance & calories agreed - just easier to complete distance sometimes (too many factors to account for here surely..) but as a whole agreed.

I’ve spoken to a lot of people about losing weight and best ways to build up good CV levels, not once have a read or been recommended to use the rower for more than like 2000m or a small amount of time, say 10-15mins.. so going by what i know i guess..

I'm not 'throwing' advice around - note I’ ve repeatedly put 'in my opinion' or 'in my view' so all totally relative to myself mate, no offence intended.

Maybe he should just goto a circuit class and get the best of everything :P
 
Bodseh said:
Good points..

About fitness levels, I am fit enough for what I want to achieve... I didn’t suggest to neglect the rower, i use it to warm up every time i goto the gym, or sometimes to finish me off after a workout - because its intense i find..

I do vary distance with high intensity training.. like you said, you can cover the same distance & calories agreed - just easier to complete distance sometimes (too many factors to account for here surely..) but as a whole agreed.

I’ve spoken to a lot of people about losing weight and best ways to build up good CV levels, not once have a read or been recommended to use the rower for more than like 2000m or a small amount of time, say 10-15mins.. so going by what i know i guess..

I'm not 'throwing' advice around - note I’ ve repeatedly put 'in my opinion' or 'in my view' so all totally relative to myself mate, no offence intended.

Maybe he should just goto a circuit class and get the best of everything :P
Click to expand...

In a very simple nutshell it's all relative to your goals. For someone with a lot of muscle mass looking to drop bodyfat HIIT would be preferable as less calories are burned and those which are, more of them will be from fat.

Looking to drop 'weight' and get back into shape in general you want to be burning calories. So in theory either HIIT or steady state cardio can be used though it is best to alternate between them regulary.

I'd also say there's no reason in the world why you shouldn't use the rower for as well as you damn well like. There's no point at which it becomes detrimental to fitness and joint health/levels.

Because it's a low impact exercise I'd probaly reason that it's better to begin with (that or a cross trainer) than running and can be used to ease the beginner in to exercise. Worth nothing that the types of CV exercises, periods of time and levels of intensity (speed, incline etc) should all be regulary changed before the body can adapt to them and utilise less energy during the process.

Fair shout, this is a place for people to discuss their views and thoughts however personal preference isn't a valid reason or proof as to why one thing may be better than the other. It's a very subjective topic (exercise) what works for some won't for others.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom