Indoor rowing machines...any thoughts or 1st hand experience

pearsall001

I've been looking into getting an indoor rowing machine for cardio (for my ticker after the heart attack) & overall fitness. I've been using a stationary bike but I think the benefits of rowing far outweigh the bike. A couple companies look pretty good, Concept2 & Stamina. Budget is to stay under 1K. Any other companies to check out & of course your recommendations would be most welcomed.

Emlyn

I would say go with a Concept2 model, probably the Model D to stay under $1K. The Model E is a bit nicer. If you have not tried one, they are widely available at fitness centers and are used by many rowing clubs for land based training. The company's website has a finder feature to see where their rowers are in use in a local area:

http://www.concept2.com/indoor-rowers/finder

Good luck on your efforts!

I should also add that the rowers need a fair amount of space when in use. The Model D calls for a free area of 9ft by 4ft but it folds up when not in use. Weight is 57 lbs.

pearsall001

Emlyn wrote: »

I would say go with a Concept2 model, probably the Model D to stay under $1K. The Model E is a bit nicer. If you have not tried one, they are widely available at fitness centers and are used by many rowing clubs for land based training. The company's website has a finder feature to see where their rowers are in use in a local area:

http://www.concept2.com/indoor-rowers/finder

Good luck on your efforts!

I should also add that the rowers need a fair amount of space when in use. The Model D calls for a free area of 9ft by 4ft but it folds up when not in use. Weight is 57 lbs.

Thanks for the info. The Concept2D comes out tops in all the reviews. I'm going to check one out at a local gym to get a real feel for it.

WastelandWand'r

Own the Concept 2. It folds up for storage so that is a bonus and is what sold us on it when we lived in an apartment. Has been nothing but solid so far.
Like most exercise routines, form is paramount with rowing.
N

shawn474

Would suggest another machine instead of a rower. People get these all the time with the hopes of getting into a routine, start full bore and develop other problems due to poor technique. If you have never used a rower before, I almost exclusively recommend an elliptical. It is relatively non impact, gives a great cardio workout and is fairly foolproof in terms of use. Rowers can cause rib problems and back issues on very short order if technique is off. The key to an effective exercise program is one that is consistent - injuries, boredom, etc contribute to non-compliance. Anyway, just my .02

Emlyn

I have an elliptical and indoor cycle and prefer those over a rower myself during the winter. Of the bike and elliptical, the elliptical would be the better choice for someone wanting to have a low impact routine and lose weight. It's basically fool proof unless someone makes the mistake of starting out by pounding away on it like they're in a race. The key is to spend a few minutes to get the heart rate up in the right zone and spending half an hour or so of time in that range.

The bike is good for someone already in decent shape and offers the possibility of a workout as difficult as anyone wants. Pro soccer players use indoor cycles as part of their fitness and recovery routines. One of my friends is a spin instructor and it's interesting to see a range of people in her classes. Some are marathon runners, some are triathletes, and some are people just trying to drop a few pounds. Everyone fits in. Getting into group exercise is motivating.

cfrizz

I would agree with Shawn on this. Phil, you should discuss what is safe for you to do for your heart to stay safe. Like it or not, you will have to make changes to your exercise routine in order NOT to over stress your heart.

Please talk it over with your doctor before you go ordering equipment that would be risky for you to use.

pearsall001

Great information as usual on any topic. Thanks everyone.
Cathy, my heart Doc wants me to do cardio for 30min at least 3 times a week. He really wasn't very specific on the intensity level. I'll get that info & look at bikes, rowers & elliptical's. I'll see if he has a preference to a certain machine to best work for me.

Willow

Pfft! Just lift your wine glass or beer faster!

Had a rowing machine and it was great; at collecting dust. Hurt my back too many times. If was ever in the market for a machine it would be treadmill or elliptical.

cfrizz

The most important thing is to listen to your body. If you start struggling to breathe...STOP!

I have a friend in Toronto, she had a heart attack 2 years ago that she mistook for the flu, so she went undiagnosed for over a year. It was only after she complained of shortness of breath that they checked her heart and discovered the heart attack.

This year she got a foldable exercise bike and she loves it. She was going full tilt 5 days a week, I told her it was too much and to back it down to 3 days. Her body told her the same thing, and her doctor almost killed her when Jay told her. Needless to say her doctor told her no more than 3 days a week.

However, this summer is was so humid, she had to stop all together because she simply had too much trouble breathing. She doesn't really like running the AC because of the cost, but this summer she hibernated in her apartment and had it cranked just to be able to breathe.

When she went to her PCP & cardiologist, they both told her the same thing. Listen when her body is telling her to stop, and that this is her NEW normal, and accept it and make adjustments accordingly.

You will have to do the same.

tonyb

At one time or another, I had all the cool exercise equipment. Every single one of them excelled at one thing.....hanging laundry on.

I can honestly tell you, you don't need high impact exercise equipment, especially if your middle aged or older. The best exercise you can do for your body.....is swimming. Get a membership to a club that has a pool, indoor/outdoor preferably so you can enjoy all year long. Go before work, after work, Sundays....but just go. No expensive gear to buy or take up floor space.

Simple Cal esthetics works well also, remember Charles Atlas ? Use your own body as the resistance, not weights or bands. Throw a chin up bar in the garage from the rafters....many things you can do. Swimming is still the number one exercise to work out nearly every part of your body with out the strain on the joints.

WTS

OP: I have no experience with rowing machines, but here are a few related thoughts.

First of all, check with your doctor, of course. That applies to anything below.

Now: unless your doctor says otherwise, does it have to be either-or? It's good for the body to have several different ways to exercise. That could include both an elliptical and a rowing machine (budget and space permitting, of course).

In addition to cardio, consider strength training. Bodyweight exercises (pushups, pull-ups, planks, squats, etc.) can help a great deal, if the doctor ok's them.

Best wishes!

DaveHo

Don't buy fitness equipment, you WILL get bored, and it will gather dust. Join a gym. For what you will spend on one decent machine, you can get several years worth of a membership, have a much larger selection so you don't get bored, and it will be someone else's problem to maintain the equipment. Most places will give a a free 1 week membership so you can check the place out. Take advantage of that & have a look a the ones most convenient for your daily routine.

Jetmaker737

I have a little gym in my garage. Only "machine" is a recumbent exercise bike I got used off of CL, cheap. Have a bench and free weights, jump rope, and punching bag/gloves (courtesy of goodwill). I put down a 10x10 section of that rubber floor padding stuff, pretty cheap off of Amazon. Also have a thicker fold-up pad for doing situps, etc. I throw in various calisthenics. I use the bike as warmup and cooldown mostly. This setup seems to work pretty well for me. Don't get bored and punching bag is fun. Need to add a pullup bar I think. Gym memberships don't work for me due to the travel involved.

A book I highly recommend is "7 minutes to fit". Some good exercise routines in there.

WTS

Hmmm. I thought I posted to this thread. Guess not.

OP: Ask your doctor for recommendations. He or she may want you to do one kind, or possibly not another kind.

Better yet, ask your physical therapist. (You are seeing one, right? If not, fix that oversight!) He or she will give you recommendations for exercise regimens.

You may very well want to do more than one form of aerobic exercise: perhaps both rowing and cycling, for example. Plus, if your doctor or PT agrees, strength training should be in there as well.

Upstatemax

If you already have a bike, I would also look at new interactive indoor trainers.

They can be hooked up to your phone, iPad, laptop...

They can help keep it interesting and have a massive amount of training plans.

I just picked up the Elite Rampa for keeping up my endurance during the winter months.

http://www.elite-it.com/en/products/us/trainers/interactive/rampa

So far, I really like it. MUCH quieter than my old trainers and the computer controlled resistance is nice. I'm still debating signing up for something like Zwift.