Hello there guys. I'm Just in need of some guidance here.

Im 16 years old, 6 ft and 185 pounds, and was offered a development scolarship for a Rugby team. However before I could take this up I was involved in an accident and managed to break my left leg in 3 places. This meant I was immobile for a long time. After recovering I noticed that I had put on about a stone and half, most of it on my chest, hips and bum. Now I Go to college full time, and work at night so I dont have time for the gym. I currently own an Abdo board (which I used to use to tone my chest) and I am looking at a Magnetic Rowing machine in order to really help me burn that weight and get back to my former self.

What I am asking is, Is There a better source of home workout than a Rowing Machine ? Will a Rowing machines combined with a calorie cutting diet help me lose that weight ? Also what times and velocity should I look to work with on My Rowing machine ?

Any cardio will help you lose weight. I personally have never used a rowing machine, so I'm not the best to give advice on it. You could run before school? You'll need the respiratory conditioning for rugby anyway.

I am still rather fit, I Jog regulaly, however I read that Rowing machine work 80% of the bodys muscles, so this blatantly shows (if true) a rowing machine to be much more effective.

ohhh i gotcha

I read your post wrong, my bad.

Ive heard good things about rowers, just never used em hehe.

I row occasionally, it's a great way to get your cardio in, it burns a ton of calories and if done correctly, you should definitely feel it in your back as well. However, I wouldn't say that it's a full body workout, or even 80%. Being that it's a pulling exercise (and obviously a row) it is mainly working your back, and maybe biceps a tiny bit but not a significant amount at all. You do have to use shoulder strength to pull, but it's still working your back, oh and it works hams a little bit too, but it will not work chest, tris, shoulders, or quads much. I think you should try it out though if you wanna lose a few and get in shape. Hope that helps

This site has an excellent write up and diagrams of the muscle groups used when rowing with correct form. It is a complete body workout.

Muscles used when rowing

that is for actually rowing, not a rowing machine, it feels completely different because with a rowing machine you can only pull back to your chest/abs, when actually rowing you can pull your arms and elbows back much further. it does work your back well and will get you shape, both a rowing machine and regularly rowing, but it is not a full body workout in the sense that it will work and develop all muscle groups, this is because it is a pulling exercise, therefore there is no pushing going on like in presses, dips, and tricep exercise..etc

Spanky,
Are you looking to get back into rugby?

Yes, Im hoping that a fitter me will be able to win another shot at professional rugby.