While strength and endurance were awesome benefits, the most impactful benefit of rowing an hour every morning was how it affected my mental health. Getting that time to myself every morning to breathe deeply, to enjoy the meditative repetition of movement, to watch inspiring YouTube videos, and to not have anything or anyone to worry about was priceless. I felt happier, less stressed, and just more grateful. Waking up at 5 a.m. every day was worth it for this benefit alone.
But rowing every day also improved my sleep. It helped me feel tired at bedtime, and I'm on a rhythm now where I go to bed and wake up at the same time. I'm having really vivid dreams, yet I'm waking up fewer times in the night, and I wake up feeling rested and excited to row!
I didn't lose any weight in regards to the scale (I know people will ask!), and actually rowing this much increased my hunger, so I was eating more. I did notice fat loss in my face, my waist, and my upper body. There's more definition in my arms and upper back — when I look in the mirror, I love how strong my shoulders look! My legs look leaner, yet my bum feels firmer, and overall, I've noticed I look stronger.