How Rowing and a GLP-1 Helped Me Finally Take Control of My Health

This blog is a guest post from Hydrow Member Dominic Batstone

For years—maybe even decades—I knew I needed to lose weight. I tried different diets, cycled locally and on my smart indoor bike, and went vegetarian (and almost completely vegan), but the scale barely moved. It was frustrating, confusing, and honestly, a bit soul-crushing. 

I was fat, but fit. I had great thighs that could pump out some great power outputs on the bike. I could cycle 100-mile charity rides with little to no training. Even so, I’d tell myself every day: “You’ve got to lose weight.” But nothing ever really stuck.

Then this year, everything changed. I combined two things that finally worked: a GLP-1 medication and a Hydrow rowing machine. Together, they’ve been a total game-changer.

The wake-up call

Right now, I’m pushing 50. I work for a major tech company, so most days, I’m standing at a desk staring at a screen. I have four young kids, and I want to be around for them—not just present, but active and healthy. I’ve known people who’ve died at 50 from heart attacks. That reality lit a fire under me, and I knew I had to do something—now. 

So, I started a GLP-1 medication. I know they get a lot of buzz (and controversy), but ultimately it’s a tool, just like you’d use a spade to dig a hole in a garden or a cold remedy to treat a common cold. 

Thinking about losing weight every day, for decades, is not good for mental health or physical health. People talk about the side effects of GLP-1s, but the side effect of being overweight is heart disease (the biggest killer in the world), diabetes, and other serious illnesses. I was at the point where I had nothing to lose but everything to gain. 

Within weeks of low-dose GLP-1s, I dropped 15 pounds. But I quickly realized that GLP-1s aren’t magic—they don’t build muscle, and they don’t burn fat on their own. They just make space for change. That’s where rowing came in.

Why I chose rowing

I’ve always liked cycling (and still do), but I needed something more well-rounded. I hated the gym—too many mirrors, too many backward baseball caps, too much grunting, and too many crashing weights from angry-looking people. I wanted something that felt productive, focused and that could be done at home.

When I was a member of a gym, I used their rowers all the time to warm up and do some hard interval sessions. I was actually quite fast when I was at university, but I’d had literally no training. However, it turns out I’d been doing it wrong for 30 years! When I got my Hydrow, I finally learned how to row properly with their instructional videos. 

To hone my skills, I booked a session with Hydrow’s in-house coach, Megan Hanewald. She reassured me that what I’d learned during the first few classes had improved my technique dramatically. We tweaked a few things that I hadn’t put much thought into, such as where my sit bones should be on the seat and the type of shoe I should use (or not use, in my case!). 

I also like that the Hydrow Athletes are professional, clear, and not trying to put on a show, although there are funny moments and often emotional stories, too. That alone makes workouts fly by. I’ve been using my Hydrow nearly every day since it arrived, including really pushing myself on short, sharp, 10-minute sprint rows and 60-minute endurance rows, and to relax and recover with some slower, more chilled-out rows. 

There are so many classes to choose from that I’m spoiled for choice. When I don’t fancy rowing, I will take a yoga, strength, or mobility class. Using a standing desk all day, this is super important to stop seizing up!  My Hydrow Pro also has a swivel screen, so it’s easy to work out on the floor alongside my rower. 

Rowing + GLP-1: A perfect pair

My GLP-1 helped me learn how to stop overeating, adopt new eating patterns and realize what my food mistakes were, but rowing helped me feel strong and healthy again.

What I love most is that Hydrow doesn’t leave me wrecked the next day. I get that sweaty, satisfying, “I did something hard” feeling without the brutal muscle soreness I’d get from lifting or sprinting on my bike. Plus, I’ve started to notice real muscle definition, especially in my arms and core. That never happened with cycling alone.

Another bonus is that when I’m on the bike, my fitness and overall strength has improved dramatically. I didn’t ride my smart bike for the first month of having the Hydrow, but I happened to join a live 30-minute cycling class that took my fancy, and completely destroyed my previous best power output for 30 minutes—it was literally a 20% improvement! Considering I’ve had the bike for several years, it was amazing that I achieved this in such a short amount of time and it’s 100% thanks to Hydrow. 

And here’s the kicker: My internal health metrics are improving, too. I have some Withings devices that record various body metrics, and they showed that my arterial stiffness, nerve health, and blood pressure are all moving in the right direction, even on weeks when the scale doesn’t budge. It’s proof that fitness is more than weight loss. It's longevity.

My advice for anyone starting this journey

If you’re thinking about starting on a GLP-1, I’ll tell you this: You need to pair it with movement. Otherwise, you’re just losing weight without building a foundation for the rest of your life. For me, rowing became that foundation.

So ask yourself—are you ready to take control? Not just to drop a few pounds, but to really change how you feel in your body? If you are, rowing and a GLP-1 might just be the best investment you can make. It certainly was for me.

If you want to learn more about my experience and follow my progress, check out my YouTube channel or follow me on the Hydrow leaderboard, name DomBat.

Disclaimer:

This blog is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The content reflects personal experiences and opinions and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical guidance. Always consult your doctor or a qualified healthcare provider before starting any new exercise program or making changes to your health regimen, especially if you are considering or currently using GLP-1 medications.