To sustain lost weight and stay in shape, patients of gastric bypass and Lap Band surgery in Salt Lake City, Utah need to exercise on a daily basis. However, you don’t have to stick to standard exercise such as jogging on a treadmill or hopping on the stationary bike at your local gym, you can branch out to find more engaging full-body workouts.
If you are looking for an exercise that is more interesting than the standard Ellipticals and treadmills—try rowing, instead.
Rowing is touted for its superiority as a sophisticated sport at many Ivy League institutions, but the mental and physical exercise benefits of rowing are often overlooked outside of college campuses. Things are beginning to change as more indoor rowing workshops are surfacing all over the country. You don’t have to necessarily go out on the water to reap the weight loss benefits of rowing’s full body workout. You can use a rowing machine instead!
Row, row, row your way to weight loss.
Rowing maximizes your health benefits by using approximately 80 percent of your muscle mass and recruits nearly nine major muscle groups during a rowing workout. Rowing may just be your one-stop shop for an ultimate full-body workout to boost your weight loss success after bariatric surgery. Rowing is also considered a form of low-impact exercise so it is a great choice for physical activity if you suffer from joint pain.
Indoor rowing machines, also known as ergometers, can help you achieve the same health benefits that rowing an actual boat can. Here are some additional perks to rowing:
- Enhanced Cardiac Function: Like many other aerobic activities, the health benefits of rowing include positive changes to your cardiovascular fitness. Regular rowing has the potential to strengthen your heart and improve your blood circulation.
- Lowered Blood Pressure: Also, if you suffer from high blood pressure engaging in regular rowing workouts can help maintain the elasticity of your blood vessels while helping to keep them clear from obstruction. Both of these are contributing factors in sustaining healthy blood pressure.
- Improved Bone Density: Many people who are overweight suffer from chronic joint and bone pain. Oftentimes, they are more prone to suffering from impact-related ankle, knee, hip or spine complications. The physical act of rowing stimulates cells called osteoblasts in your body. These cells are responsible for strengthening your bones by increasing their density making them less prone to fracture. Improved bone density will also help you perform better at other aerobic exercises and reduce your chances of developing osteoporosis.
Rowing is a fun and superior form of physical fitness that can help you maximize your weight loss results. If you’re interested in rowing check with your bariatric surgeon beforehand to make sure you’re fit for exercise after surgery.