I am 18 years old and 18 stone (although i have a highly masculine tank-like build, so not as bad as it sounds (hehe)) and have recently been given a concept 2 model D rowing machine to aid with weight loss (as a picky vegetarian i found dieting alone to be fairly awkward, despite beaing fairly controlled (i have been on diet since september, with a break for xmas) and due to being on a computer degree, my excercise usually consisted of 45 mins of walking a day on monday and tuesday and maybe another 30 every 2 days rest of the week).

For around 5 days i have been rowing 2000 meters in 500 meter bursts with a break of around 1-2 minutes between (on resistance setting 3/10) in the morning before starting my day (and another 500-1000 later if a get a chance).

I am having issues with muscle ache caused by the machine. Although i would expect to have ache caused by the machine afterwards (usually in forearms and thighs) it usually stays with me the whole day (as well as a stiff back, despite keeping my back as straight as possible) and continuing into the next morning, effecting my performance. This has built up to the extent that i could only do 1000 meters this morning due to thigh ache, and feel even worse from it. I would like to know how long this is likely to continue, and if i should have a break to recover.

At the moment i am eating the equvilent of a slice of toast for breakfast with with either marmite (almost calorie free yest spread, for those not in the know) or a boiled egg, for lunch, either a tortilla wrap with a slice of artificial meat and english mustard (somtimes cress or red onion too) or a vegtable stir-fry (with soy sauce and a few sprays of 1 calorie spray oil) and a bowl of pasta, greek salad or mushroom and onion omlette with rice/cous-cous for main meal.

Any advice would be appriciated on what my rowing regime should be (short term and over time), ways of avoiding aches so i am able to continue (as well as reasurance that my stiff back is normal, despite keeping it mainly straight during excercise) and what my daily calorie intake should be/ suggestions for what kind of thing to eat or comments on my current eating (note. i dont eat fish or meat, but eggs are ok). My goal is to lose the weight as quickly as possible, but without extreme measures.

Edit: my butt is a bit bruised from the seat too, haha. Any tips for that?

Since you're going for weight loss... Are you weighing and tracking everything that goes into your mouth? If not, then you should.

From your description it's hard to tell if what you're experiencing is regular muscle soreness or an injury (either waiting to happen or happening). If you could manage it, you could alternate rowing days with resistance days, so as to give that movement pattern a break.

well, i'm fairly certain that it is just general muscle ache as i've done another 3000M or so this morning, at a slower pace, so maybe i was just being too aggressive for a beginner.