There are numerous ways to control weight (either up, down or flat) but in reality they all come down to two – Diet and Action. For example, you can certainly change your body with a regime which focuses closely on certain muscles. This may involve bulking up and building muscle mass via resistance training. On the other hand, jogging and other aerobic exercises can be looked at if you just want to get lean.
We’ve found that people tend to avoid the exercises that activate all muscle groups simultaneously. Rowing is one such action that requires some dedication to learn and perform correctly. As a result, people will instead often jump on the most “popular” machines in the gym without altering their routine to include some rowing.
One of the reasons for this may be because the rowing machine is not exactly beginner-friendly. Due to the wide-range of motions involved, you have to know the appropriate technique and proper form, or you could end up hurting yourself.
At the same time, gym-goers often doubt whether rowing leads to a slimmer physique. In other words, they don’t see much benefit in it, despite the strain it puts on the whole body. We think this is a misconception.
So is rowing is good for weight loss or should you swerve past it at the gym? Let’s take a look….
Does Rowing Help You Lose Weight?
In a word, yes. Rowing helps you shed off the pounds. It is one of the recommended exercises if your goal is to lose weight while engaging all the major muscle groups at once.
What’s the catch? Well, you need to have proper form and technique for rowing exercises. So, unlike with most movements, you shouldn’t just hop into a rowing machine and expect fast results.
Instead, ask a more experienced person to show you the ropes. Then, copy their exact positioning on the machine before pulling. All your body parts need to work in unison to do it correctly. Most notably, keep your back straight at all times and do not pull only using your back muscles. This movement combines a few steps, and you need to alternate between pulling with your feet, arms, and back muscles. So, learn these steps before attempting to break any records.
How Does Rowing Help You Lose Weight?
Rowing is a compound exercise and an excellent way to achieve visible results, as long as you take your time mastering it. Here are some of its effects:
Burn Calories
The only way to lose weight over time is to have a calorie deficit. However, eating clean is not enough by itself to get am aesthetically pleasing bodily form. You need an active lifestyle with the right exercise plan to help you speed up the process and burn more calories. Rowing is one of the more efficient ways to torch that extra fat.
Rowing helps you burn at least 150 calories with an intense 15 minutes exercise plan. In practice, this might lead you to shed up to two pounds per week. Yet, don’t overreach if youre a beginner. Rowing is a full-body movement that will take its toll on your muscles.
Build Muscles
In addition to calorie burning, rowing is excellent for both endurance and strength training. Think of it as a “3-in-1” type of deal, where you’ll get to lose weight while putting enough strain on your muscles to incite growth. In that manner, rowing is comparable to dead weightlifting, albeit the safer of the two.
Correct Posture
Rowing also contributes to your weight loss journey by improving your posture. Doing this exercise demands a proper form which will turn into a habit in time. Then, this will allow you to achieve progress with any other related compound movement.
Sports like jogging or yoga do not facilitate the resistant back pull movement needed to develop a strong posterior chain. However, rowing can help you eliminate the slouch by activating both your core and back muscles. Because of that, rowing will leave you drained, thus acting as a very effective part of your session.
If you’re interested in getting a rowing machine for your home gym then be sure to check out our roundup of the best budget rowing machines currently on the UK market.
Conclusion
Rowing is one of those compound exercises that seems counterintuitive at first. Yet, this is a mere visual inconvenience. After taking some time to learn the ropes, rowing becomes a great addition to your session. It offers a way to target all muscle groups at once and forces you to assume proper posture in the process. Plus, this might take you out of your comfort zone, which isn’t a bad thing when it comes to working out. The possible benefits of making this choice include a leaner physique and well-defined arm and back muscles. Therefore, consider looking into rowing as the next step on your fitness journey.
