Will the rowing machine make my upper body bigger?

Kupla71

I am a female with a larger upper body compared to my lower body. I like the rowing machine but am afraid it will make my already bigger upper body bigger. I used to be quite fit in my youth and used the rowing machine a lot. I sometimes think that’s why I have a disproportoned body. (I didn’t have a disproportioned body before) Is there any truth to this? Would I be better off focusing on biking or the stairclimber?

magnusthenerd

As in the rowing machines for doing cardio? That's not going to cause much muscle build up.

Doing actual weight rows will increase the size of your lat and back muscles. It won't change your underlying bone structure, not even when done while still growing. Arnold used to promote that idea about pullovers for expanding the ribcage, but actual physiology research shows it takes a far greater amount of force and time to actually alter bones.

MikePfirrman

In a word, no. Done the right way, rowing is 40% legs, 30% core and only 30% upper body. Getting "bigger" is a fallacy that a lot of women believe will result from weights or activities like weight lifting. You won't get bigger unless you are less than 15% or so body fat. Either that or on male steroids. I'm assuming neither to be the case, so no, you won't get bigger.

We are all built special or different in life. I have a gigantic face when I'm heavy and the weight goes right to my gut too. It's just genes. You can recomposition to a certain degree, but it takes losing the excess body fat off first, then developing more muscle in that weaker area. My legs are a bit thin, but I've been gradually building bulk in them. But if I gain weight, I will have a fat face and a big gut, just genetics.

erickirb

If you are in a caloric deficit, you will not gain any appreciable muscle lifting weights, let alone from cardio.

Kupla71

Thanks guys. I will make sure I’m in a calorie deficit and not shy away from the rowing machine anymore. It’s one of my favourite types of cardio and I’ve been avoiding it. When I gain weight it shows in my face and upper body and gut. I have to face facts! Good reason to lose some weight.

AnnPT77

I'm not sure what you mean by "big".

Over a very, very long time, rowing could result in a bit more upper body definition, but not necessarily size per se. If you're carrying excess body weight, and tend to hold weight in your upper body, the muscle definition won't show until your body fat is depleted enough to expose it. Because of the lat engagement involved in rowing, you could also end up with a bit more upper body triangularity (in how your shoulders and back join) than typical for women who don't do anything to encourage that effect.

But if you're in a calorie deficit, any change is likely to be slow, slow, slow. So, if you're worried about it, you'll have plenty of time to notice and adjust, if you're going beyond where you'd like to be. Do the exercise that's fun for you, and see what happens. I predict you'll be fine.

Unlike some of the others who've commented (if I'm interpreting them correctly), I think you can gain a bit of upper body muscularity from rowing, even as a woman, if you do a lot of it. It's relatively light resistance, but on the order of 1,200+ reps per hour, so there's potential for cumulative effect. What effect that has without a calorie surplus is questionable, though.

Why do I think this? Personal experience. I expect to be woo-ed for it, though.

Kupla71

I think I have a bit more of that triangularity of my shoulders to my back than most women. I rowed a lot in university at the gym and have always attributed it to that. I find the size of my upper body is much more noticeable when I’m heavy. I just look large, not defined. So the key is keeping slim. I don’t mind some definition which shows when I’m slimmer. I’m trying to lose weight and am looking for cardio that I enjoy. Thanks for sharing your experience.