Hey, I’m Ulf 👋
As a father of three I know how hard it is to fit family, job and sport into one day. 💪🏼👀 The “dad bod” says hello, and yet you don’t want to simply accept that energy, mobility and performance fade over the years.
I would describe myself as averagely athletic: I run regularly 🏃🏼♂️, train on the rowing machine, love hiking 🥾, go mountain biking now and then 🚲🌲 and play volleyball in a recreational team 🏐🙌🏻. And yes, I love good food, especially Spekulatius (German) 🤤.
Over time I asked myself more and more often:
How can I positively influence my life in the long run through nutrition, exercise and lifestyle?
How young are you really? (German) If I’m still fit as I get older (German), maybe I haven’t done too much wrong 🤭🤙🏼
A note on language: most of the articles linked below exist in German only so far. English versions are following one by one.
Contents
How it all began
While looking for good ways to train at home I came across the rowing machine and was fascinated right away. Hardly any other machine trains so many muscle groups at once and still feels more meditative than the classic “gym workout”.
At first I was simply curious, and over the years it became a real passion. A few stages of my journey:
- My first 90 days of rowing: top or flop?
- The 5-month long-term test of the WaterRower
- The Concept2 rowing machine test begins
- Indoor Rowing Instructor certificate
- One year of blogging
- The RP3 rowing machine test
- 2 years of WaterRower experience
- What happens to your body after 3 years of rowing?
If you like, you can follow the journey from the start: all articles in chronological order (German).
Getting started with rowing: where to begin?
I know from experience that getting started is not that easy. Which machine? Which technique? And what is the difference between water and air resistance, actually?
If you are just starting out, these articles may help:
- Getting started with rowing on a rowing machine: how does it work?
- Why a rowing machine?
- Which resistance types do rowing machines have?
- How long does a rowing machine last?
- Finding the right rowing machine
- Which rowing machine is recommended?
- Rowing machine test: how does it actually work?
- Buying a rowing machine: when is the best time?
- What to look for when buying a rowing machine
- Everything has its price: financing a rowing machine
- Sports watches and rowing machines: which ones go well together?
- The best rowing machines for the home gym
Training, technique and motivation
If you already row regularly, these articles help you develop your training further:
- Using the rowing machine correctly
- Workouts on the rowing machine
- Steady-state training
- HIIT workout
- Off-strap rowing: rowing without the foot straps
- Understanding and optimising the drag curve in rowing
- Aerobic and anaerobic training on the rowing machine
- Reaching flow in rowing: being in the zone
- Rowing machine training plan: how does structured rowing training work?
- Virtual training with EXR
Rowing and weight management
Rowing not only gives you excellent aerobic fitness (German), with the right training it can also regulate body weight effectively. Matching articles:
A tech fan through and through
Besides rowing machines I regularly test fitness gadgets, from smartwatches and scales to blood pressure sensors. I try a lot myself and share honestly what works and what is rather marketing:
- Apple Watch test
- Garmin 955 smartwatch test
- Bone conduction headphones test
- Withings Body Scan scale test
- Omron blood pressure monitor test
- Hilo (formerly Aktiia) blood pressure bracelet test
- Whoop band test
- Withings Sleep Analyzer test
- Amazfit Helio Strap smart band test
- airQ air sensor test
- SmartRow Power Handle test
- Wahoo Bluetooth fan test
Transparency
This website uses affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. It helps me pay for hosting, test devices and coffee ☕️ so I can keep writing honest and independent reports. How I test and what rules I follow is described under How I test and in the Editorial Policy.
In the end it comes down to one thing:
Honest experience, lasting motivation and the joy of movement, even when everyday life gets chaotic.
Thanks for being here! 🙌🏼