[Rowing Machine] Two Sixty Seven

Two hundred and sixty seven. The most I’ve ever weighed at just around six foot. The last time I let myself go this badly was coincidentally around a time I could easily join a training program that taught about general health and specific fitness. I burned sixty pounds in six months. Gaining the weight back was inconsistency and a little more, so now that I’m back at rowing and thinking healthier, here’s what works for me.

My two biggest psychological factors in fitness are the consistency to make healthy choices on a regular basis and the accountability to keep with those choices.

I started posting updates on Twitterthe micro version of this site, on my second day with the plan of light rowing in the morning and evening. These consistent updates with the accountability of sharing this information live developed into rowing vigorously, counting to 50 rows, so I could gather data on my average pace. My best time was one minute and sixteen seconds with my average being 1:21.7.

This data helps when chatting about progress. A buddy did 200 rows in about six and a half minutes recently and that was actually part of my goal of ‘200 rows, 200 pounds, 200 years.’ The first goal is easy and will require maybe another month of effort. The second goal is harder and will require between six to ten dedicated months of effort. The third goal is to help remind me that this isn’t about vanity.

What interests me about exercise is how it shifts my appetite.

When I’m in “fat mode” I will desire cheeseburgers, cereal with milk, and other foods loaded with simple carbohydrates. While it’s not a switch that once I begin to exercise to any degree that I’ll suddenly switch to eating healthier, I was surprised when I went for the oatmeal one morning, almost like my body was craving more substantial food. Not to say I’ve completely omitted heavily processed food. Just limited it.

Another buddy of mine was a personal trainer helping obese people lose weight. He’d plan their diets around their favorite foods so perhaps once a week they could have a cheat meal of their favorite food while the rest of the week they would eat more productive food. After enough people cheating, because they weren’t consistent with the plans and they wouldn’t hold themselves accountable for their lifestyle change, he quit.

Myself, I don’t plan to quit.

I plan to expand into an aerobic five minutes perhaps in the morning and an anaerobic 50 rows in the evening? Maybe adding in other exercises like running? The remaining factor, along with consistency and accountability, is maintenance. Maintaining both the machine and myself. Not letting either machine collect dust. When I’d row in the past, it was more out of obligation, though now it feels easy. Perhaps it was the shoes. I certainly feel better after having burned off some weight over the past five weeks.

While the number can fluctuate with water intake, I burned seven pounds.

My big goal is writing. My most important goal is writing "The Story." All other goals should work toward that central goal. My proudest moment is the most recent time I overcame some fear, which should have been today. I'm a better zombie than I was yesterday. I'm not better than you and you're not better than me. Let's strive to be better every day.