advice please!!

How about walking her on inhand hacks, & later jogging while she trots? Exercise is easier & more long term than dieting alone, & you get to spend time with her too.
 
Chels90 you can't give your mare up, you love her far too much. So, easy solution, start a weight loss routine and use your lovely mare as a massive incentive. Don't starve yourself, just make do-able changes to your diet. Stop eating things like crisps and fried food, chocolate and sweet stuff. Eat fruit and nice vegetables, learn to like them. Walk fast, push yourself to do it. Believe me, no food tastes as good as you feel when you can go into a shop and buy nice clothes. Last week I bought a pair of size 14 jeans wooohooo! Once you start losing the weight, you will be so pleased with yourself, you won't want to eat the bad stuff. Do it, do it, do it! ;)
 
If you have a smart phone, myfitnesspal and endomondo are great for weighloss/ getting fit, both free too :D

I have lost 4 stone in the last year and rewarded myself with my dream pony ;)
 
Well done you.

Now, make sure ou give us updates! I think you and the HHOers are going to get on great!

If you feel like a chocolate, just come on here and we will all stop you.

Like I said, well done with the great positive attitude. You can lose weight and your horse can get muscle at the same time. Either long reining or walking and trotting in hand!

You go girl!!!
 
Hi - just want to say how absolutely beautiful your mare is!! :D
And how brave you are for posting, and for being so honest.

I have to agree with the others, I think you do look a little heavy for her.
It would be such a shame for you both to part though as from the photo, and what you have said I can see how much you both love each other :).

Good luck with the weight loss, I know it can be VERY tough (especially working in your profession - I work in it too!) but horses really do help you stay fit and healthy.

Look forward to updates :)
 
Just wanted to say well done on putting your mare first and what a difference in the second pic, she looks transformed and you both look so happy :)
Good luck - hope to see updates of you back in the saddle in time xx
 
thank you so much everyone, ive never had so much support as what ive had from you guys!! i knew i took a risk and i kind of knew that id get some really tough responses to this post you guys are right i love my mare more than anything and id never want her to feel uncomfortable with me on her back....but after what everyone has put, its made me more determined than ever, im not going to give her up, im just gonna really try!!
ive started my day off good with a bowl of porridge (filling) and a banana...and ive just got back from taking my dog for a really long walk :) im now gonna do some house work and then walk down to my ponies (2 mile walk - 50 minute walk)
i will definitely keep you all updated with posts and photos!
thanks again for all of your support xxxxxx big hugs xxxxx
 
What a great post! :) Have you thought about long lining her - that will exercise both of you at the same time!
It's what I'll be trying along with a few other things, to shift my post pregnancy weight :)
 
I can't believe the difference in her she's lovely :) If I am honest I would too be concerned about 14stone being on her back. But you can't sell her on she's too lovely!!!! If you put some hard slog in I bet by Halloween you could be a really nice weight for her.

I think your job as a chef could be your worst enemy and your best friend at the same time!

Re weight loss - If I were you at the start of every shift make yourself a bowl of things you can snack on that isn't going to put weight on - mine is radishes! They have a crunch and a peppery taste so you know you've eaten something. I would cut out EVERYTHING that comes from the deep fat fryer - yes even 1 chip! and cut your carb intake by half (rice, pasta, bread). But make sure you eat a lot more protein like chicken breast (grilled). I dry roast a whole chicken and stip it down. I swear this is whats helped me lose over a stone. Also if you do want to eat any sauces try and choose red ones over white sauces usually they are a lot less calorific!

Good luck and keep coming back for support x

ps just for one week write EVERYTHING down you eat - even if it is just one grape! and give yourself a small treat at then end of each day like a very small bar of chocolate such as a Freddo Frog. x x x
 
oh wow sounds like your doing brilliantly....well done you!!!
i love things like carrot stick and cucumber sticks so i guess they could be my little snacks :) mmm and i love grilled chicken :)
thanks for the tips ill definitely be trying them!!
x
 
Well done for asking for advise and not taking the hump, it's great too see you have been inspired.

My advise would be to find a really good local grocer and butcher. The fruit and veg will be far tastier than that cardboard crap from the supermarket. Same with butcher. Your meat will be much tastier, and less nasties added. suddenly healthy eating is tasty!

Re walking to the yard... This is a great opportunity to start doing some running. I followed a BUPA running plan, which will be similar to the NHS one mentioned above. This would fit in really well with walk to the yard, especially in this weather.

Do you have access to a local gym? If so, try and get to an exercise class on your day off. An hours intensive exercise with am instructor can really help. Spinis a real calorie killer!
 
I just wanted to say well done you for being so honest - it's refreshing to see someone who puts the welfare and happiness of their horse first and asks an honest Q expecting to receive honest answers!

I am always worrying about my weight, and I know I'm not overweight as such but still, it's about the weight you feel most comfortable at. I am 5'8 and before I had my son 5 years ago I was always around 9 & a half stone. I now veer towards 10 & a half instead and although that's fine for my height I just don't feel happy like it. I have a 15hh 2 year old Welsh Section D who I will be very lightly backing next year and I am determined to lose the weight before then!

Healthy eating is the way forward, coupled with exercise you actually enjoy. I'm like you in that walking the dog or walking to the yard is what I deem 'nice exercise' as it doesn't feel like I'm working out! Ask me to go to the gym and I couldn't think of anything worse unfortunately!

Set yourself little goals and celebrate with something nice when you reach them - using your very pretty pony as an incentive, perhaps a little item such as a new saddlecloth, then matching girth, a set of boots etc for when you can ride her will make it seem more real

Wishing you the very best of luck :)

Kim
 
i will look into the whole butcher and grocery thing....thank you :)
i have severe asthma so i get out of breath just running to the top of the stairs :( im hoping this gets better as the weight comes off....i can walk for miles and miles so long as its all flat ground. im gonna have to stick with walking to start off with until ive got my weight down and then hopefully once my breathing has got better then i might start running :)
 
thank you so much for your post kim, i know i keep repeating my self but she is my life and i only want for her to be happy!!
the gym to me is torture because of my asthma so just like you, walking seems nicer :)
ooh i like the whole rewarding idea :) im always buying the ponies new things and thats just how i like it .....i prefer to buy for them then buy for me!!
good luck with your youngster hunny, im sure you'll both go far :)
thanks for the advice...i love how nice everyone is on here and always there to help and give advice!!
x
 
Being able to ride is such an incentive to shift some weight.

I am thoroughly enjoying riding again after a lengthy break, but need to be a lot slimmer to really enjoy it.

I have shifted a stone by replacing chocolate with fruit, bread with ryvita and by cooking at home using fresh ingredients rather than the ready made stuff from supermarkets.

Two books I have found to be fantastic to use, providing quick and easy receipes that actually do taste nice. Readers Digest Healthy and Delicious and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall River Cottage Veg everyday.

One of our favourites is in the Healthy and Delicious book, page 220. Sweet Potato Salad with raisins and orange dressing. You would not believe what a mixture of oranges, red onions, raisins, honey, sweet potatoes and mixed salad ends up as. The receipe reads like a dogs dinner but tastes devine and is one of many lovely meals that we have tried.

Good luck with your coloured pony and your diet OP. I know exactly what you mean, dieting is not easy and bad habits almost impossible to break, but the ability to ride and enjoy a horse is very special.
 
Well I am just about to tuck into the most tastiest nectarine. I have resisted it's delcious smell so far... But now it's going down the hatch! This is one from the local grocer! Seriously I used to try and eat a bit of fruit, as your supposed to. Now I shop in the grocers I walk in and look at all the delicious fruit and veg on the shelves and look forward to eating it. Couple this, and the books suggested above, you will soon be eating yourself thin. Don't forget as well that the butcher will cut your meat to order... So you dont have those "extra two" sausages in the fridge screaming to be eaten!

If you are asmatic, and struggle to run, I would suggest getting a fit/gym ball, and a book or DVD with exercises in it. This will help core strength, which will help riding, and should hopefully give a bit more of a boost than just walking alone. Perhaps also try an aerobics DVD, or similar, that you can do at your own pace, and press the pause button. Bet you soon won't need that pause button as much!

Final suggestion would be a personal trainer. He could then come up with a training programme suitable for your individual needs.
 
Another suggestion... If you are doing lots of walking, you can get little weight you put around your ankles. How about investing in some of these? I think they are relatively cheap, and will help more than just walking!!!
 
Well what a lovely post Chels you are so brave and well done on the start to the new you it will be worth it all in the end honest, but like others say go for walks in hand with your mare chit chat away you won't even notice your doing the exercise too.

I think its very comendable that you came here to ask advice and with your mares interest at heart with regards to you and her this takes alot of guts.

I am also doing the same as you too, I am tall so carry weight bit better but even still I am doing my upmost to loose the weight and I suffer a sweet tooth so its hard ha ha, I already in a week have lost 5lbs just by cutting out the sugery, chocolatey stuff and eating grilled chicken, fresh veg boiled or roasted, doing lots of poo picking, mucking out walking in hand adn to and from field is alot too, riding as and when possible, I am also going to try the long lining, and I am mega unfit ha ha.

I wish you all the very best in this, it is tough and if ever you feel your going back to old ways come on here and we'll all im sure talk it out of you and yes great idea to stick pics of your mare on cupboard doors, fridge etc etc...

Please keep us updated and remember dont get disheartened if one week you stay the same or don't loose weight, but keep at it.

x
 
How about buying some jods/breeches in a size that will fit when you've lost enough to ride her? Like non horsey people buy a dress too small? And my friend who has 3young kids & a ft job bought a cheap basic exercise bike. She picks an hour of tv she wants to watch or on the laptop & pedals slowly through it. Low impact & apparently something that's a very easy habit/routine.
 
Hi. I need to lose some weight too and know that for me, exercise is the only thing that does it! I like the idea of lots of long reining as you'll keep your bond with your lovely mare and get fit too. If you are going to get into the habit of walking to the yard, you'll soon get fed up with the time it takes so something I've done in the past is break into a jog for just a few steps and then go back to walk repeatedly. You're not really running but you are getting there faster and burning a few extra calories as well! You'll be amazed at how quickly you end up running more paces than you intended but start small (eight steps) and you won't put yourself off by ending up cream-crackered!
 
im still overwhelmed by all of the support you guys are giving me.
i took your advice wench and ive just ordered a set of ankle weights :) ill try anything for my mare!!
thanks merlywerly im prepared do anything to get my weight back down and get riding my mare again...even if that does mean taking some constructive criticism :) you are all amazing!!
littlelegs i already have a gorgeous pair of 79.99 pair of joddies that i bought back when i was a size 12 lol, they've still got tags on and i really cant bring myself to part with them so i think i may have to hold on to them :)
moleskinsmum thanks for your tips....i will certainly be giving everything a try so thank you all so much!!!
and good luck to those of you who are also trying to diet....WE CAN DO THIS!!! XXXXX
 
Chels.... It is great too see someone taking on board advise given. You have had some fantastic suggestions on here, and a month from now, you will be feeling much healthier and fitter.

If you get bored of your routine, and think your exercise is getting boring, just try doing something different for a week, maybe cycle to the yard.
 
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