Does anyone have a waterrower?

[mint]

If you have one, can you please say whether it's easy to use, unwrap and go, and whether it's a pleasure to own?

I am looking at an entry-level machine.  I AM very used to rowing machines and I fancy it helps my asthma.

Better still, if you have a waterrower that you don't use and want to sell (at a biggish discount of course[:)]) please get in touch.

[woolybanana]

Wat on earf is a watterrower pliz? It sounds like two sailors having a dispute at sea.

[Yonner]

Hi Mint,

yes I have one. I bought it second hand, already built, but its just allen bolts to assemble as far as I can see, so looks pretty easy.

A pleasure to use.....mmmmmm ...... No, its hard work if your following a program, but its smooth, and has a pleasurable whoosh if that's what you mean.

It was a toss up for me between this and the concept rowers, but I chose the waterrower because it looks more like a piece of furniture and takes up little space (about 50 x 50cm) when stored upright in a corner, which has proven to be the case.

[mint]

Hi Yonner

I've just bought mine!

I always thought I'd buy a Concept II but, when I saw a waterrower, I determined to get one[:D]

When I used the rower in the gym back in the days when I was still in the UK, I found it the best bit of kit for aerobic exercise.  Took me ages to last more than 5 minutes or so but I built up my stamina over months, little by little.

Of course nothing beats a personal trainer but alas I gave mine up many years ago; couldn't justify paying all that money in the end.

I did look for a second-hand one but the ones I saw advertised cost more in France than a brand new one from the UK.

Hey, once I get going and have trained a bit, maybe we could have a race on our rowers!  No cheating by saying you've done more than you have, mind!

[Chancer]

I have a Klepper folding kayak, takes half an hour to assemble if you still have the knack from the last time, if not its like putting up a caravan awning.

Like my bicycle it gives a better work out than any static machine and in much more pleasant surroundings.

That said when I had the pleasure of staying at the boot camp the rowing machines were very good for cardio exercise, the one I used drove a big fan which also kept you cool.

Not as pleasurable as cycling or kayaking but for me there is nothing to beat running for cardio exercise, a one hour 12km run is Worth probably 3 hours of fast cycling and 4 + hours of kayaking.

[Chancer]

Hey Mint!

I had an asthma attack yesterday, the first one for I reckon 15 years plus, I had been using an air chisel to remove a parpaing infilled doorway.

I had a ventolin in the car that I could never bring myself to throw away and it still worked [:-))] I bet it has a use before date of 1995!

My peak flow test doubled after a couple of puffs.

Now that I am fit my peak flow is significantly higher than my best of 15+ years ago when I was in good health (no asthma) despite it being supposed to go down with age.

[Chancer]

editted

[Yonner]

LOL< yes a rowing race may be fun.

I think as far as exercise kit goes, the rowers use more muscle groups than any other, so it always appealed from that point of view.

My problem was always mental, I got bored on long stints, but fixed that to some degree by setting up a telly or listening to radio comedy shows.

I think Chancer may be right about the running thing, but frankly, I don't want to crunch 14 + stone through each knee and ankle for miles at my age. I've seen enough skinny joggers at yoga whose knees don't work to put me off.

Enjoy the rower.

[mint]

Chance, I reckon that, as you dive, your peak flow must be pretty OK.

I wanted to buy a kayak but I have since decided that I am not so keen  water sports after all plus it would mean getting the car out and driving somewhere before being able to get it on the river.

Come winter, I don't think I'd be the least bit tempted.

I have a super verandah (glassed in) and I think I'd be happy to use the rower there, work up a bit of a sweat, have a shower followed by a cup of tea.

I walk at least 3 times a week with groups of people in the summer but in the winter, it's just short walks with the dog and OH.

I am very envious of Rose and Yonner for being able to go on the Compostelle.  You just feel so "complete", body, mind, spirit and just so at peace somehow.

Talk about an exercise high, eh?  That's got to be very near Number One for that elusive happiness and sheer contentment.

BTW, I don't seem to have an an email from ebay regarding my purchase of the rower so I'd better check to make sure they ARE sending it[:)]

[Chancer]

Well its about 50l/min higher than it was 20 years ago so its bucking the trend but after the first website  I found that told me I have the peak flow of a 24 year old I was pretty chuffed but all the others tell me I am just normal, no more no less, its why I removed my triumphant posting [:(]

So it would appear that 20 years ago my peak flow was quite low for my age which I am sure was the case, I did not have the fitness then that I have now, no fitness at all really.

[Chancer]

What do you make of this table:

http://www.sh.lsuhsc.edu/fammed/outpatientmanual/PeakFlowTables.htm

As it seems to have numbers much lower than others like this:

http://www.healthcaresouth.com/pages/asthmaaverpeak.htm

The first says that I should have 486 yet the second says about 530l/min

The first table does not specify the units.

[mint]

Chance, I really haven't bothered about my peak flow rate for years.

Went to see a specialist before going off on the Compostelle and he said all was well.

I leave well alone and don't look at figures, etc.

This winter I am probably going to see a specialist to review my drugs regime.  I just carry on doing what I am able to do and I stop when I am out of breath.

I don't have any views on your tables, desolée!

[Chancer]

My pal has just come round and put me to shame as he blew 700 on the first puff, he is just shy of 60, was fit and healthy when I firts knew him a decade ago but being a piccoleur has taken its toll, he is now on heart tablets, is border line diabetic and has some as yet undiagnosed prostrate problems but 700 is what someone of his height should have blown at 20 years of age.

TBH before Google I never knew what predicted peak flow rates were, I just used my truc as a comparator which is what I will dod from now on.

[mint]

Without remembering the actual figures, I CAN say that when I am ill, my lung capacity is down to 30% of my normal function.

The nurse always looked worried when she told me but I don't know any different.

As I said, I just do what I can (which is quite a lot of most things) and I ignore what I am unable to do.

I do want to try and get my lungs working better though so I think I'll build up the proposed workout on my rower (if I have managed to buy one on ebay that is)

[mint]

Yonner, are you still about?

And did you complete the camino?

I just thought I'd let you know that I had no end of problems with buying a waterrower from ebay.  I do mean ages and ages and it was meant to have been from a British company.

In the end, I got my money back via my credit card and then I looked around and they were soooo expensive in France.

After a while, I started looking in Germany and, after WEEKS, I bought one from Germany but not a waterrower.  It is a First Degree Neptune Challenge, so really a waterrower by any other name.

Then I waited weeks for OH to put it together.  Then, we didn't manage to get the last bits in.  I waited a few days before asking a friend to finish it off.

After that, I'd lost the motivation to start and then I started off half-heartedly and we all know that that won't work in a month of Sundays.

Eventually, about a week ago, I started in earnest but could only do about 3 minutes max before huffing and puffing.  I persevered and today I hit my aim of TWENTY minutes.  My back has been hurting somewhat and I wondered why on earth I was punishing myself.

However, I am now fine with the rower.  NOT yet able to challenge you to a race but it will only be a matter of days, so are you up for it?[:D]

[Yonner]

HI Mint, Happy new year.

Yes we finished the camino in late Oct, took us 5 weeks, and lost about a stone, but have managed to find it again since!! As you'd expect its very hard on the feet, and the trick is to minimise pack weight if you're carrying all your own kit from day to day as we did, but getting it down to the recommended 10% of your body weight is nigh on impossible. A fantastic experience though.

Re the rower, mine too has been left largely unused for some months, perhaps a race would be the motivation I need. 20 -30 minutes is my mental limit, and I have to have the I player or similar distracting me on the tablet to sustain that. I'm doing about 5200 metres in 20 minutes, and would like to gat to the 10k mark in 45 minutes this year if possible. My problem is being in the same location as the rower for long enough - we're taking a year out travelling, hence the camino thing. If you want to post some times and progress, I'll do the same by pm, but you'll need to post sex and age range to make it fair :) Good Rowing !!

[woolybanana]

Madness!

[mint]

Wow, Yonner, you did well on the camino!  Took me 6 weeks.  Right on the first day, my feet were shot to pieces, then I had a chest infection, then I nearly gave up with bed bug bites.

Yes the 10% of body weight was impossible for me as I only weigh round about the 55 kilo mark.  My sack was TINY.........

As you say though it was fantastic, out-of-this-world.  If you are thinking of another longish walk, have you thought of doing the RL Stevenson Trail, from le Puy en Velay to near Nimes?

I so want to walk that but couldn't last year and now I am waiting for that window of opportunity (or whatever it's called as I don't want it to sound like some sort of military operation[:)]).

I'm going to see if my machine tells me the distance.  It does give number of strokes, total number and rate (I think) and number of calories burnt.  Not yet ready to race you, I don't think!

Also, I will have to try and find my cycling gloves as my hands are getting calloused.

At the moment, I am using it sort of mid morning as I have it on the veranda outside my bedroom (glassed in) and it's a good place, even in this cold, to work up a sweat.  I look out at trees and I imagine that I am rowing on the local river.  I spend some time mentally engaging my shoulder and back muscles (as taught to me by a personal trainer when I had one in the UK) and I imagine my lungs getting a good work out and I try to ignore the backache!

It's very early days but, when I can do 20 minutes everyday for, say, a week, I might start interval training or increasing the resistance for part of the time.

What do you think?

Also, have you planned your next travelling project?    

[mint]

Yonner, I have been so inspired by your post that I am now definitely aiming for 30 minutes.

I got the manual out this morning and it says to do 30 to 45 minutes 3 to 4 times a week for best results.

That sounds about right because I used to do 40 minutes weight training (with a trainer, so no possibility of cheating) 3 times a week and lost 5 inches off my hips and 7 off my waist in 6 months.

Happy Rowing

[Yonner]

Good for you Mint.

We haven't planned any other travel activities yet, but its likely to be the coast to coast in the UK - the thing that puts us off the long distance French paths is the cost, in comparison to the Spanish albergues and restaurants, but we've been told they are prettier than the Spanish routes - which we thought were very pretty - so we'll see.

[idun]

If I have already mentioned this, I apologise, but have any of you watched 'The Way'. I enjoyed it and it was very very beautiful to watch, such magnificent scenery..........all it lacked was the more down to earth bits that mint has told us all about.

[Cendrillon]

Yonner CONGRATULATIONS from me as well. Yes the Spanish Albergues are cheap and mainly plentiful. In France in the Basque country there were some auberges where we stayed but until we reached St Jean Pied de Port there was not the plentiful supply (if any) of budget accommodation that you find in Spain. From Saint Palais to Ostabat and then on to St Jean was a beautiful walk.

Yes Idun I have watched The Way a few times and I think it has inspired many people to give the Camino a try. There's a new DVD out I'll look for the name and post it on here.

[Cendrillon]

New Documentary http://caminodocumentary.org/

Title: Walking The Camino Six Ways

[mint]

[quote user="Yonner"]Good for you Mint.

We haven't planned any other travel activities yet, but its likely to be the coast to coast in the UK - the thing that puts us off the long distance French paths is the cost, in comparison to the Spanish albergues and restaurants, but we've been told they are prettier than the Spanish routes - which we thought were very pretty - so we'll see.[/quote]

If you want to give the RL Stevenson Trail a go (and it corresponds to the St Gilles for a large part of it), there are camp sites all along the route so it shouldn't be prohibitive cost-wise.

Plus, you'd do it in about 10 days so not like the Camino where you are talking in weeks.

I have also walked the Offas Dyke and that is a really interesting walk with lots and lots of B and Bs to choose from.

So, if it's the coast to coast, where do you start and where do you end, Yonner?

[suein56]

[quote user="mint"]

I got the manual out this morning and it says to do 30 to 45 minutes 3 to 4 times a week for best results.

[/quote].

Please follow the guidelines and do not endeavour to do 30 mins every day as that is really not a good idea.

3 to 4 times a week is ideal ie every other day. This is the advice from my super fit son who has trained appropriately since his Uni days ie 20 years ago. He follows a well-thought out diet and exercise programme to give him maximum fitness for walking in the Peak district, distance cycling, running 10 kms races, playing football and doing weight training interpersed with whatever-activity-takes-his fancy inbetween times. Exercising every day is a real no-no except for the likes of Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow !

Sue [:)]