I lost 160 pounds in a year — thanks to a key piece of fitness equipment

An innocent comment from his preschooler sent Jason Henriques on his weight loss journey.

Henriques told TODAY.com last week that he and son Wyatt, then 3, were playing on the dining room floor when Wyatt remarked, “When I get big like you, I want a big tummy like you.”

At the time, Henriques was 37, and his obesity was seriously affecting his health. He struggled with asthma, allergies, herniated discs, torn ligaments in his knees, and gastrointestinal problems like colitis, gastritis and gallbladder issues.

His son’s comment was kind of an epiphany for Henriques. The next day, with Wyatt in a stroller, the father of three set out for a long walk. He maintained a daily constitutional of 3 to 12 miles a day until the winter weather in Connecticut found him looking for alternative paths to fitness.

After joining a gym and taking advantage of free personal training services, Henriques was introduced to the challenge and reward of rowing machines.

“I was in a routine of walking, jogging, and cycling. Rowing shook it up, and change is hard sometimes,” he told TODAY.com. “But I loved it because it didn’t have the impact of running or cycling on my joints. I felt great.”

Per Healthline, rowing, meant to mimic the motion of rowing a boat, is nearly a full-body exercise. It stimulates most of the major muscle groups, including the lats (latissimus dorsi), upper back (rhomboids), quads (quadriceps), hamstrings, core, biceps and forearms.

Regarding calorie expenditure, rowing is comparable to running but has far less impact on joints. Precise calorie burn depends on several factors and varies from person to person.

On average, a 175-pound person can burn 555 calories an hour with moderate rowing and 833 at extreme intensity. 

The US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week.

Henriques, 44, appreciates the balance that running and rowing provide, “Rowing is the perfect counterpart to running because you can build your endurance on the rower without the impact. And once you hit the streets, you can use rowing as recovery from your running.”

He recently completed a 48-mile row, rowing 4 miles every four hours for 48 hours.

In the first year of his health journey, Henriques lost 160 pounds.

“I just fell in love with the whole world of fitness and how I felt afterwards,” he gushed.

In the subsequent years, his gastrointestinal issues have subsided, his joint pain has vanished, and his allergies and asthma have abated. While he still has herniated discs, core strengthening exercises, including rowing, have helped him build the muscle needed to protect his spine.

In addition to physical exercise, Henriques revolutionized his relationship to food. He and his wife rid their home of junk food, and with the aid of a food diary, he discerned which foods aggravated his gastrointestinal issues.

Henriques and his family also began paying more attention to where their food is sourced. And while buying fresh, local and organic items comes at a steeper cost than the processed and packaged foods he was consuming before, it is a price he is more than willing to pay.

“I’m investing in my health now versus having to spend the money on healthcare later. I’m investing in the quality of my life,” he explained.

Henriques’s passion for health and wellness has even helped him forge a new career path. He was invited to audition and eventually join the team at Row House in Monroe, Conn., coaching others in the mornings before work.

Henriques has recently expanded his role at Row House, taking on the general manager position, a leap from being a self-employed photographer, “It was a little bit scary, but it was one of the best decisions I ever made.”

He believes his own fitness journey and health issues have made him a better coach, “I can relate to people who have them, and I can be more strict on form because I know being out of alignment the tiniest bit can aggravate some injuries,” he told TODAY.com.

As a coach, Henriques is open with his clients, sharing stories and struggles, “Somebody else in that room might be going through something similar. They can relate. I really like to build those connections…I had the potential to help other people who might be going through something I’ve been through. What’s better than that?”