TLEF316
Footballguy
So its basically been a month since my first row. Still liking it very much and definitely seeing results. I've probably lost 7 or 8 lbs (forgot to weigh myself at the start, but I have a pretty good sense of where I was. Was nice to see a number under 180 lbs for the first time in probably 7 or 8 years) and I've definitely noticed that my face and midsection (which is generally where I gain/lose weight first) are thinner/tighter. Still a lot of work to do (abs are made in the kitchen, not the gym, and I dont eat like a 37 year old needs to in order to have a 6 pack) but I'm happy with my gains so far.
The best thing by far (and my main motivation for doing this) is my back pain. I feel SOOOO much better/stronger there. I've always had bouts with back pain, even going back to when I was a teenager. Once or twice a year, I'd wake up and just not be able to move for a couple of days. (apparently I have weak hip flexors.....) Then it turned into 3 or 4 times a year (for a week at a time). And before you knew it, I was feeling tight basically ever day until I got in a hot shower and got loosened up. So yeah, action had to be taken. Its still not perfect, but no pain after the workouts and its been feeling good in the mornings (other than last week after I had to move a bunch of furniture around my house).
In terms of the actual workouts....I've basically been doing a mix of 5000 meter rows, just rowing for 25 mins or some "sprint" days where I do like a 500 meter warmup and then a fast 2500. My times/distance have been improving but I know I'm capable of more. I'm just someone who has ALWAYS hated endurance/cardio workouts, so when I get into it and start getting a little fatigued, my mind just tells me to slow down/quit. I've been powering through it, but I know I'm leaving some meters on the table so to speak. I feel pretty gassed at the end but perfectly fine like 5 minutes later, so I know I've got some gas in the tank.
Powered through that a little bit better tonight and rowed a 21: 23 5,000 meters, about 50 seconds faster than my previous best. Obviously not world beating, but much better (one of my goals is to break 20 mins by the end of the year) So yeah, I think its safe to say I've probably been dogging it a little bit. Just gotta train my mind to suck it up and go faster.
Pretty sure I'm going to find a more guided program to do starting next week (I know Oats suggested downloading Asensei, so maybe I'll look into that). I just think I need something a little more varied/structured as opposed to me just saying "I'll cut off 10 seconds this week" until I can't cut anymore.
Still super happy I did this and look forward to having this outlet during the winter once golf (and the associated walking) is no longer an option. My basketball league also re-starts next week (After a 9 month COVID hiatus) so I'm excited to see how I can perform now that I'm doing some actual exercise. (and have a mostly working lower back)
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Trying to get back to at least 60 minutes of walking per day plus whatever yoga Adriene serves up to me for the day. I've been on track for a week. Heading into coordinating two house purchases, two moves, and two house sales for me and my mom/stepfather, so more stress to come! Gonna work it out through the walking and the Adriene so that hopefully I'll stay reasonably fit throughout. 
