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Comment by TheCaptain4815 | Hacker News Reader

For anyone looking to start exercising, try a rowing machine. It’s practically a shortcut to getting in shape and building muscle (when done with proper form and pushing yourself).

Even 5 minutes of HARD rowing a day and you’ll see amazing results.

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Exactly! The best purchase of 2020 was the Concept2 after I was certain I'm will not go back to the gym for another winter due to covid.

It's very convenient, weather independent, joint-stress free, measurable with an app and multitasking-friendly! I just attach an iPad there, get the noise-cancelling headphones and row for an hour with my YouTube playlist that I fill regularly.

For Concept2, be sure to add additional cushions, my a.. hurts after 30 minutes without them, and after 1.5h with...

I do kind of the opposite and focus on 2-3 sets of 500m as hard as possible (with perfect form of course). My average is around 2:04, and the difference between that and even 2:14 is incredible. I could go for 1,000+m easily at a 2:14 pace but feel like I'm about to collapse after a single 2:04 set... It's helped me stay in incredible cardio shape and has built a lot of my leg muscle.

Agreed - with the start of Covid I manage to buy a Concept 2 (which wasn't easy - they were all sold out and you had to pay premium for used ones on Marketplace) but this is the best purchase ever. Since 2020, I managed to lower my hr, improve overall fitness for other sports I do and in general much happier. On my way to sub-20 min 5k, yay

Ditto! It's kind of an acquired taste. It's kind of tedious. But it's a full-body workout in one motion, more than running or cycling. It's a great way to dose yourself with exercise if you're short on time or the weather isn't good outside. I appreciate the mindful aspects of maintaining form, controlling my breath, and pushing myself to finish a workout. I basically never have a _bad_ day after rowing 5000 meters.

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