The core idea of daily adaptation seems so obvious to me that it should not have to be stated. It goes against the grain for a competitive rower and rowing coach to advocate “moderate” rather than competitive rowing. Exercising every day seems extreme rather than moderate to many people. And rowing on a machine is not perceived as fun. D.P. Ordway, Row Daily, Breathe Deeper, Live Better: A Guide to Moderate Exercise One reason was to overcome the many misconceptions about rowing and healthy exercise. Many people mistakenly think rowing is not for everyone because it has to be strenuous and is inaccessible. The common idea of limiting exercise to three days per week also must be reconsidered. These two misconceptions bracket what this book is about. D.P. Ordway, Row Daily, Breathe Deeper, Live Better: A Guide to Moderate Exercise This book is based on a simple, self-evident truth: Your body adapts to how it is stimulated every day by tuning itself to do more of the same, only better. D.P. Ordway, Row Daily, Breathe Deeper, Live Better: A Guide to Moderate Exercise Your body is designed to be used more actively than occurs in the average, sedentary modern lifestyle. A simple conclusion follows from these two fundamental notions: A daily routine of breathing more deeply with moderate exercise will stimulate your body to develop greater fitness and energy. D.P. Ordway, Row Daily, Breathe Deeper, Live Better: A Guide to Moderate Exercise The worst bad habit is not to exercise. The most important good habit to develop is to exercise every day. D.P. Ordway, Row Daily, Breathe Deeper, Live Better: A Guide to Moderate Exercise The body responds daily to the activity it experiences whether we exercise it or not. For example, my body responds not only to the weight-lifting I do on Monday but also to my sitting at my desk, in airports, in the car, and in front of the computer and television on Tuesday through Thursday. D.P. Ordway, Row Daily, Breathe Deeper, Live Better: A Guide to Moderate Exercise The plan I set forth here is simple: Start rowing today on an indoor rowing machine. Do it easily, without pushing. And then continue to do it moderately every day, to the extent you can. D.P. Ordway, Row Daily, Breathe Deeper, Live Better: A Guide to Moderate Exercise Every day that you engage in exercise that safely and effectively causes you to breathe more deeply (but still comfortably) for thirty to forty-five minutes or more, your body will reward you with better lung power. Better lung power is the foundation of better fitness and that translates into yet more effective exercise. It is a cycle you will learn to use to your benefit. D.P. Ordway, Row Daily, Breathe Deeper, Live Better: A Guide to Moderate Exercise Keep in mind that every day you skip, every day you do not engage in some exercise that causes you to breathe more deeply, you are instructing your lungs to become less efficient. The body does not coast; it declines without positive stimulus. D.P. Ordway, Row Daily, Breathe Deeper, Live Better: A Guide to Moderate Exercise