Interview Kondis.no, Torbjørn Laundal – Exercise is my best medicine
In late May 2023, Kondis.no published an unusually detailed feature interview with Torbjørn Laundal from Skien, Norway. The conversation focuses on living with multiple sclerosis, staying active, and how daily structure and rowing on a Concept2 machine have helped him regain control and balance in life. Over six months, Torbjørn lost around 50 kilos and built routines that turned exercise into his most effective medicine – physically and mentally.
Read the full Kondis.no interview (PDF)
About the interview
The story begins back in 2008, when Torbjørn was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis after years of vision problems and optic nerve inflammation. Instead of dwelling on worst-case scenarios, he made a conscious decision: to follow medical treatment strictly and focus on what he could control — daily structure, activity, and mindset.
In 2014–2015, after becoming a father, he realized his weight and fitness level were holding him back. Determined to turn things around, he created a clear project plan. Having researched efficient training methods, he discovered indoor rowing and bought a Concept2 ergometer. With consistent effort and three workouts per day, he lost about 50 kg in six months. In the Kondis interview, he underlines that this pace is not something he recommends blindly — but for him, the risk of staying inactive was greater than the risk of change.
What caught the attention of many readers was his description of the daily 10,000-meter row: roughly 38–40 minutes at about 90% of maximum heart rate — every single day — for more than 1,000 consecutive days. He explains why 10,000 meters became the perfect number: long enough to require focus and pacing, yet short enough to repeat daily. The article also explores how the routine helps him fight chronic fatigue, combining physical effort with mental structure.
The interview also gives insight into a structured and determined mindset: setting clear goals, logging every session, and balancing effort with recovery. Torbjørn emphasizes that his progress has always gone hand in hand with effective medication (Tysabri) and medical follow-up, alongside vitamin D and energy management. He also highlights the importance of community — from MS-forbundet (the Norwegian MS Society) to the global indoor rowing community that became a social anchor.
This English page has been created to make the 2023 Kondis interview easier to find for readers searching for MS + rowing, “exercise is my best medicine,” or Torbjørn Laundal together with Kondis.no.
Keywords
Interview Kondis.no, Torbjørn Laundal, MS, multiple sclerosis, exercise is my best medicine, daily rowing, Concept2 ergometer, rowstreak 10 000 m, weight loss 50 kg, physical activity and MS, chronic fatigue, MS-center Hakadal, structure and mindset, Skien Norway, Telemark MS Association, training motivation, Row4MS, English MS awareness.