An aggregate resource for all those riding in the 9th seat
If you could give one piece of advice to any coxswain, what would it be?
One piece? I could never give just one piece of advice…
After thinking about this for awhile I think I’m gonna keep it simple – be confident in yourself and your abilities and always, always trust your instincts.
I’m trying to go down from heavyweight to lightweight. Since the beginning of our training trip, I’ve gained three pounds (137 to 140 lbs) even though I’m basically eating fruits, veggies, limited carbs, no artificial sugars, protein, and quite a bit of water. I’ve been doing two a days (OTW/ergs) and then additional cardio and core work. What suggestions do you have for losing weight? I’d love to go down to 130 by end of Feb. Thanks!
I doubt you’ve actually gained three pounds given how many calories you’re burning right now. It’s most likely just water weight – don’t worry too much about it.
As far as going from heavyweight to lightweight, definitely continue eating healthy. Don’t limit your carbs too much – people jump on bandwagons and assume carbs are bad for you but the right ones aren’t. Once you get back to your normal routine (without the two-a-days), try and do some form of cardio at least 3-4 times a week for 45ish minutes a session. Keep doing your core work 2-3x a week in addition to your cardio. Also, don’t forget to add in some strength training…
Remember that as you work out, you’re inevitably building muscle. Muscle is denser than fat, so if the scale reads a higher number than what you normally weight, don’t automatically attribute it to doing everything wrong. Obviously you’re not gonna build that much muscle in such a short period of time … I’m talking more long term here.) Some bodies aren’t meant to go below a certain weight though so don’t try and force it. Make healthy decisions when it comes to eating right and working out. It seems like you have a good thing going with your diet and workouts right now so try and maintain what you’re doing and go from there.
So what’s the deal with five seat? I’ve heard a lot of jokes where people say five seat is the strongest but one time I was rowing five and another girl on my team goes “hey isn’t five seat the fat person?” Is that true or is it just kinda the same thing as “threetard’?
Boat personalities, while sometimes true, are mostly made up just to poke fun at everyone in the boat. They aren’t an actual indication of the character or abilities of the person sitting in that seat.
5 and 6 tend to be some of the bigger people in the boat which is why they’re put in those seats since that’s where the widest part of the boat is. That doesn’t translate to them being “the fat kid seats” though. Their responsibilities are purely power production (which is why the middle four is called “the engine room”) so it makes sense to have the bigger guys in those seats.
Over the years I think I’ve perfected the art of layering when it comes to getting ready to go out when the weather is less than ideal. Coxing in Syracuse (and now in Boston) meant that there was no getting away with not having the proper clothes so one of the first things I did when I got to school was go on a big “cold weather gear” shopping trip so I could stock up. Lots of wind/waterproof stuff, lots of Patagonia, and a lot of Hot Hands.
If your team has survival suits for you to wear, definitely consider wearing one. If you do that you can forgo the coat and rain/snow pants since the suit accomplishes the same thing.
When you’re layering up, try to avoid cotton layers and instead stick to wool and other moisture-wicking fabrics. Under Armour, Nike, Patagonia, and LLBean all have plenty of great options. Wool socks (or any thick, hiking-esque type of sock) are a must and if you’re wearing Hunters, I can’t recommend the fleece sock inserts enough. I have a pair of Uggs that I wear the majority of the time I’m out (don’t judge, they’re so warm) but if it’s raining or snowing I’ll wear my rain boots with the fleece socks to keep my feet warm and dry. Gloves that block the wind and keep your fingers dry are also important since it’s really hard to steer when you can’t feel or grip the cables.
For more on what to wear to combat the elements, check out the “what to wear” tag.