Why LYQUID Finally Made Strength Training Stick For Me

This blog is a guest post from Hydrow Member William Dobe. 

If you had asked me a few years ago to describe my relationship with strength training, I would have told you that it was inconsistent at best. 

I’ve always considered myself an amateur. I wasn’t someone who grew up lifting weights or following structured programs. My approach to fitness was pretty typical: I’d see something in a magazine, read about a routine online, or hear about a workout an actor used to prepare for a role. I’d try it for a while, see some results, and then inevitably, it would fade. I’d miss one workout, then two…then three…then four. Before I knew it, I was starting all over again. 

Gyms were never really part of the equation for me, either. Time was always the biggest barrier. If I only had 30 minutes, the idea of spending most of that driving to and from a gym was enough to talk myself out of going altogether. It became an easy excuse not to start. 

Finding Hydrow—and wanting more

A few years ago, all of that changed when I discovered Hydrow. I tried a rower at a family member’s house and immediately understood the appeal. It was efficient, engaging, and most importantly, effective in a short amount of time. I brought one home and stuck with it longer than anything else I’d tried before. 

So, when Hydrow introduced strength training and later, LYQUID, I was all in. I’d always known strength training was important, not just for fitness, but for long-term health, staying active with my friends, and keeping up with my kids. I wanted to feel capable, confident, and strong in everyday life. LYQUID felt like the missing piece. 

Getting started with LYQUID

The first time I used LYQUID—and specifically, React Mode—I was honestly shocked. 

At first, I didn’t fully understand what was happening. But by the end of the first set, it started to click. By the second set, I was thinking, “Wow.” And by the third? I was completely wiped out.

What surprised me most wasn’t just how challenging it was, but how different it felt. The resistance was smooth and consistent throughout the entire movement. Instead of feeling strain at certain points, the effort was evenly distributed. The result? I worked harder, but without the brutal soreness I’d experienced with traditional strength training.

No “I can’t function in public” days. No dreaded two-days-later soreness. Just effective work that left me feeling strong instead of beaten down.

A routine that actually fits real life 

At one point, I was using LYQUID for six or more days a week because I wanted to try everything. Eventually, I settled into a rhythm that works really well for me: alternating days between Hydrow and LYQUID for six days a week, with a rest or stretch day mixed in.

What I love most is the flexibility. If I have 20 minutes to work out, I can do something meaningful on LYQUID. If I have 40 minutes, even better! There’s no commute, no setup barrier, and no mental gymnastics to convince myself to start. 

In fact, my LYQUID is close enough to my desk that I can literally step onto it between meetings. Ending a call early and squeezing in a workout used to feel impossible, and now it’s just part of my day. 

Coaching that builds confidence

Before LYQUID, most of my strength training was completely self-led, which meant I was never fully confident I was doing things correctly. The coaching from the Hydrow Athletes changed that. 

Their cues about posture, foot placement, breathing, and form are invaluable. Even after repeating workouts, I still hear new bits of guidance that help me improve. Each session leaves me feeling more capable and more confident than the last, and that confidence is a huge reason I keep coming back. 

Feeling the results everywhere

One of the biggest surprises has been how much LYQUID has improved everything outside of LYQUID. When I went back to rowing after taking time away, I expected my performance to take a major hit. Instead, I bounced back far faster than I ever had before. Strength training regularly with LYQUID made a real difference.

I’ve also noticed it in everyday life—like with carrying groceries, moving boxes, reaching for things overhead. I feel stronger and more confident, without that nagging fear of tweaking something the wrong way.

And in sports? The difference is undeniable. Whether it’s baseball, softball, football, or lacrosse with my kids, I feel faster, more agile, and more powerful. Movements that used to come with aches and pains just don’t anymore.

Why I know this will stick

I’ve started and stopped plenty of programs before, so I don’t say this lightly: LYQUID feels different. 

It removes excuses, adapts to my schedule, and delivers results I can feel quickly. And the technology and infectious energy from the Athletes keeps me engaged. 

Honestly, React Mode alone is enough to sell the experience. You can read the data and see the numbers, but until you’re halfway through your third set and realize you have absolutely nothing left to give (in a good way!), you don’t truly understand it. 

For the first time, strength training isn’t something I force myself to do. It’s something that fits my life—and that’s why I know it’s here to stay.