Xeno,
I recently got my first lactate profile at the local university along
with an updated VO2max. My 2mmol is about 125 watts. 4mmol was about
160 watts. Actual reading was 2.9mmol at 150 watts. 200 watts was
10.1mmol. I think the machine (old and not well maintained model C) I
was on wasn't reading the watts high enough. It seemed like I was
exerting more than it was reading. Anyway, it was tested with a
Lactate
Pro tester. My VO2 was 4.0L/min or 54.8ml/kg/min. Not bad for someone
who has only been active for the last 7 months. I still have work to
do. I would like to shift my lactate curve and hopefully increase my
VO2 to around 60+ ml/kg/min and about 4.5-4.7L/min uptake. This is
also
in preparation of attending the camp this summer in Tahoe. Have you
had
more interest? Any ideas on which weekend?
I decided to write a brief story of how I got into indoor rowing. Feel
free to use my first name only when referring to me (without my email
address):
My journey started January 2003. I was up to 210 lbs and I thought I
was healthy. My doctor physicals didn't show any abnormalities but my
doctor wanted me to lose weight. I decided that I wanted to as well.
So I started watching the calories that I ate, nothing major just
estimating it in my head. By Sept 2003, I was down to 185lb. Pretty
good work and I was happy with it. In March 2004, I had swelling in my
neck just under my jaw and I went to my doctor. He indicated that it
was an infection in my salivary gland and prescribed antibiotics. I
also went to an ENT specialist who said the same thing. The
antibiotics
helped and the doctors told me to increase my water intake to ensure
proper hydration. The swelling went down but there were still hard
nodules in my neck. That's when my ENT did a fine needle aspiration of
the nodule to have the tissue analysed. Results came back as
non-typical lymphoid tissue but no real conclusive diagnosis. Then we
started with the wait and see approach.
In August 2004, the infection came back. I also had enlarged tonsils
in
addition to more hardened nodules in my neck. Two weeks later, I went
in for my first surgery, a tonsilectomy and lymph node excision from
under my chin. The pathology results came back about a week later.
Inconclusive. It appeared to the pathologist that I had pre-cancerous
cells in my tonsils and non-caseating granulomas in my other lymph
node.
I also had to be rushed to the ER about nine days after my surgery
because I had started hemmoraging blood inside my throat. This was my
second surgery and it was to repair the bleeding. This was the reason
I
decided to get more healthy. There was nothing I could do to rewind
the
clock but I could do everything that was in my control going forward.
When it came to exercise, I knew my limitations. We have hot summers
here so I knew that I didn't want to be required to be outside to work
out. Also, I needed to be able to it at home rather than having to
drive somewhere since I have an erratic schedule. It had to be full
body and low impact because I already had issues with my knees. I also
wanted one machine since I didn't have room in my house for a full
complement of workout apparatus. A rowing machine seemed ideal. After
a bit of searching I decided on finding a used Concept2 Model C. I
purchased it and had it shipped to my house. Sept 4, 2004 was my first
session and I instantly loved it. I also started my constant doctor
appointments. Oncology, ENT, I was going to see a doctor or have a CT
scan nearly every week. No one really knew what was going on and all
of
my tests were not making sense. My blood work said I was also having
some king of problems as my direct bilirubin count was very high but
they couldn't detect any hemolysis or another reason for the high
count.
There was only one last thing to do, pull out the salivary gland along
with associated lymph nodes in my neck for further histology. Sugery
number three came in November 2004. I had only been erging for two
months but it was dissappointing when the doctor said I couldn't
workout
for three weeks since I had hemmoraged before. I cheated near the end
and did some very short, slow workouts. The results of these tests
came
back the same, non-caseating granulomas. There was no obvious lymphoma
but no one could tell me what caused the granulomas. Good news, they
tell me it is most likely not cancer. Bad news, they can't tell me
what
is destroying my lymph nodes. I realize now that all I can do is make
the best choices for the rest of my life, what's done is done.
I got right back on the erg, finished the holiday challenge 200k. Then
started focusing on getting to lightweight. I am now right around
165lb
+/- 1lb and 10% body fat. I monitor my food intake every day to ensure
I am getting the right combination of fat, carbs, and protein in my
diet. My diet is completely changed and I feel so much better. I
expect to finish my first 1 Mil meters some time in May, only 9 months
after starting. Indoor rowing has changed my life. I am looking at
the
possibility for getting on the water sometime and try sculling. I have
never enjoyed a sport as much as I have enjoyed indoor rowing and this
has become a permanent change for me. I plan on using indoor rowing to
keep me in great health for my son and everyone else in my life. Also,
at 4 yrs old, my son is also rowing and he has lots of fun. Hopefully,
he will continue to enjoy it as much as I have.
Take care,
Steve
Xeno Muller, Olympic gold and silver medalist, indoor rowing, rowing technique.
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