How a Rowing Machine Helped Me Shed 70 Pounds and Manage My Psoriatic Arthritis

This blog is a guest post from Hydrow member Harriet Laurin. 

As someone with psoriatic arthritis and a history of joint damage from past injuries, finding a workout routine that is effective, efficient, and low-impact has always been a challenge. Between the previous joint damage, the psoriatic arthritis, weight gains, and getting older (I’m in my 60s), high-intensity exercises like basketball or running just aren’t an option for me, so I’ve had to be more selective in the activities I choose. 

For a while, I turned to swimming, thinking it would be the perfect low-impact exercise for my condition. However, I quickly realized it wasn’t working for me. As a business analyst, I’m very data-driven, so not being able to track my progress during a swim just didn’t sit well with me. I needed something that I could measure and control. 

That’s when I tried a rowing machine at my local YMCA and realized how much I enjoyed it. The movement was gentle on my joints yet still provided a full-body workout. I could determine my own intensity, which made me feel empowered and in charge of my progress.

But, of course, there were challenges. The rowers at the Y were noisy and inconvenient—carving out the time in a busy schedule to drive to the YMCA, wait for a machine to be available, and then drive back home made a 15-minute workout become an hour-plus ordeal. With a busy life of raising a child and working full-time, it just wasn’t sustainable. I desperately wanted to get healthier and lose weight (or to be more specific, to lose fat), and I’d already made changes to my overall diet. I needed an exercise program that would work for me to go along with the dietary changes.

Discovering Hydrow 

I started looking into at-home rowing machines and stumbled across Hydrow. I loved the idea of a more interactive workout experience, but I wasn’t sure if I could swing the cost. I analyzed the company’s history, reviews, and community feedback, and I found that Hydrow had a loyal and supportive user base. Still, the price tag was a hurdle.

Fortunately, I found a used Hydrow at a great price from a nearby woman who was shifting her focus to long-distance marathons and triathlons. I’ll always remember she wanted to make sure that her Hydrow was going to go to a good home where it was going to get used, like she was parting with a puppy or a kitten! 

Not only did she offer me a great deal, but she also insisted on driving the machine to my house—her kindness really showed me how supportive the Hydrow community can be. 

Hydrow's impact on my health and body

Since getting my Hydrow, my health has dramatically improved. I've lost 70 pounds in two years and, more importantly, my inflammation levels have dropped significantly. My CRP and sed rate, which were once abnormally high due to my psoriatic arthritis, are now in the normal range. This is a huge win for me, as it means I’m preventing further joint damage.

I’m also off my blood pressure medication, with my doctor’s approval. I no longer have to use a cane to get around during psoriatic arthritis flare-ups, and I can navigate stairs without needing to pull myself up by the handrail. Another funny perk? I’m short, so I’ve always struggled to keep up with my taller boyfriend on walks. But now it’s the opposite—he’s having trouble keeping up with me!

I’m still trying to figure out clothing. Before Hydrow, I was wearing size 18 jeans, and now I’m down to a size 6. I was at Costco this Sunday and tried on a size-medium shirt in the aisle only to realize it was too loose. I went for the next size down, thinking there was no way a small was going to fit me. And as I was doing that, a stranger walked by and said, “That looks nice, but it looks really big on you.” 

I was floored! I never thought I would be able to wear a size small, and now I’m starting to hit some extra-smalls depending on the cut. I still can’t believe it. 

There is one downside of losing so much weight, though: Sometimes I pet-sit some of the pretty large dogs, and now I don’t have that extra weight to help anchor me when one of them pulls a bit too hard!

Feeling supported by the Hydrow community

Another key aspect of my success has been the Hydrow community. My family had mixed reactions to my purchasing a Hydrow, so the initial reactions weren’t very supportive at home (putting it mildly). Over time, they’ve gotten used to tolerating when I practice self-care and row for myself. But I’m the kind of person who sometimes needs the supportive validation that what I’m doing isn’t wrong or stupid, or that it’s going to have value, especially in the beginning or just when life gets tough in general.

I’m in several Hydrow Facebook groups now, including Hydrow Shorties, Dogs of Hydrow, Hydrow Training Camp, Mamas who Hydrow, Club 18, and Club 26. You can really feel the camaraderie there. It's not necessarily a competitive environment—everyone is just there to support each other and improve at their own pace. As someone with joint damage and arthritis, I don’t feel judged. Instead, I feel encouraged to do what I can and celebrate the progress I make, no matter how small. This support doesn’t just come from other Hydrow members—the Hydrow Athletes all see and accept me just for who I am, from shout-outs on live rows to the Rower’s Review with Mike and James, and coaching with Megan.

The data and metrics from Hydrow are my secret weapon for staying accountable. It took me 18 months to hit my first million meters, and now I’m pushing myself to reach my second million in just 12 months. Every row brings me closer to that goal, and the steady, measurable  progress keeps me fired up. The shout-outs, milestones, and sense of community keep my motivation high, and earning my spot in Club 18? That was a dream come true—something I never thought I could achieve!

At 62 (soon to be 63!), I’m focused on maintaining my health for the long term. With my psoriatic arthritis, there are no quick fixes, but Hydrow has been a key part of managing my condition and improving my quality of life. When I started on this health journey, I was just on the border of class III obesity (aka “morbidly obese”). Now, having lost nearly 37% of my starting weight, I am just three pounds away from being a “normal” weight. Thanks, Hydrow!