Hey fellow moms! Remember when you used to leisurely get yourself ready every morning, blasting your favorite music and then making your way to the gym for a nice, long workout? Every fitness blog I read after having my child said that stationary bikes were the answer to an efficient workout, but there was just one problem –I hate them! I've always thought pedaling furiously on a bike that goes nowhere is the least fun thing I can think of doing with my life.
That’s why I wanted to kill my husband when he pulled up to the house with, of all things, a stationary rower. He’d heard from one of his gym buddies that the AVIRON Strong Series Rower was the greatest thing ever and that was all it took for him to be sold. He bought it with financing ($0 down and 0% APR ) so our monthly payments are just $66.
To me, the rower is the bike’s cousin, and I wanted nothing to do with it. But he swore I would have the best workout on it, so I finally caved and gave it a try. And let me tell you, I do not regret it! Here are five misconceptions I had:
1. I thought it would be uncomfortable
One of my biggest complaints about stationary bikes (aside from the boredom) is that the seat is wildly uncomfortable. I have to pedal with my bottom out of the seat to get in a decent workout without irritating parts of myself that I’m quite fond of. While that gets me to burn more calories, it’s exhausting!
I was pleasantly surprised with how the AVIRON was designed. The seat and frame height are totally accessible, and they even have a patented foot width adjustment feature, so it's a perfect fit for everyone. And let me tell you, the premium steel construction means this bad boy is built to last. No wobbling or instability here!
On top of that, the machine seamlessly adjusts to whoever’s using it. My husband is significantly taller than me, so not having to change the settings when I want to use the rower after him is a huge time-saver.
2. I wasn’t sure I could afford the investment
No matter which way you slice it, a consistent workout routine is going to cost something. I have no problem investing in a gym membership, but I wasn’t sure I could afford to have a machine like this one in my home. Well guess what? I was wrong about that, too!
I won’t lie to you, it’s definitely an investment–$2,199 to be exact–but considering the fact that it has pretty much everything I need, it’s totally worth it. It’s easy to use, comfortable, and gives me a super effective workout right from the comfort of my home. Plus, we got financing with $0 down and 0% APR financing so monthly payments are just $66.
3. I thought I would be bored
Like I mentioned, I’ve had some disappointing experiences with stationary machines. The idea of putting in all of the effort and going absolutely nowhere makes getting through at least 30 minutes of exercise feel more like an eternity (and I’m putting it mildly).
The Rower made it impossible for me to get bored, though. It has this awesome touchscreen that quite literally opens up a world of possibilities. There are over 500 workout options, with everything from games and live competitions to coached programs and immersive backdrops that take that cool-breeze-in-your-hair feeling to the next level.
Being able to play a game with other people in real time leads me to push past my limits, and the gamification of workouts keeps me motivated to hop on the rower at any time to keep my streak going. It’s seriously so fun to use! No wonder why US Weekly (one of my favorite magazines) said When we say that Aviron can be fun, we seriously mean it.
On top of that, I can even steam my favorite apps, like Netflix and Hulu, if I want to watch my shows while I’m rowing. I still haven’t gotten through all the possibilities with this machine. Rather than boredom, I’m actually entertained.
4. I thought I would get too hot
I don’t know about you guys, but when I work out, I get seriously sweaty. While that can be a good thing because it lets me know that I’m getting in a really good workout, it makes using stationary bikes a huge pain since they don’t have built-in fans like some treadmills or ellipticals do. Plus, my workout room at home is small, so it gets hot and stuffy super easily which makes me want to quit mid-workout.
With the AVIRON Rower, this wasn’t an issue. It has a built-in cooling effect that keeps me comfortable while still feeling the burn from the workout. Seriously, it was like rowing in a cool breeze. In fact, if I closed my eyes, I could picture myself in the middle of an ocean somewhere. It’s so good that I have to force myself to get off the rower to get back to everything else on my to-do list; I could go forever.
5. I thought it would be hard to use
Stationary bikes may be boring, but at least I’ve ridden a bike before. Even if it’s not my favorite type of exercise, I know how to get on the bike and pedal away without a whole lot of guidance. Rowing, on the other hand, was something totally new to me. I thought I would fumble my way through it, get frustrated, and give up, but it’s surprisingly easy to use. I would even say it’s beginner-friendly.
On top of that, it’s the most effective workout I’ve ever done. As opposed to stationary bikes which only work my lower half, the rower works everything from head to toe, engaging a whopping 86% of my muscles! That is what I call a full-body workout!
I’m so glad I gave this a shot
Looking back, I can’t tell you how glad I am that I didn’t pass up the chance to try this rower. Yes, I had my doubts about how comfortable and affordable it would be, and my previous experience with stationary bikes almost had me convinced that it would be just another boring workout, but I’ve never been happier to admit that I was wrong.
For a busy mom like me, having a workout routine that keeps me engaged in my fitness journey is life-changing. I don’t have to worry about hitting a plateau or getting bored because every workout session leaves me feeling energized and ready to take on whatever the day (and my four-year-old) brings. And even though I’m a complete fan, you can try it risk-free for 30 days and return it for free if you need that little peace of mind.
