How do you control YOUR weight?

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Sandylou

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I've had my horse for 1 year and I have found that I have piled on the pounds.....7lbs at least! I put this down to not having the time or the money for a gym membership (I work full time, have been renovating the house and then obviously have horsey to give time to) and also not having time to plan and prepare evening meals as well as I used to. Winter yard work does help for the first few weeks of winter but my body gets used to it pretty quick and soon it has no impact at all.
How do you all keep on top of your weight? When do you fit in additional exercise?
Thanks - Chunk aka Sandylou :) x
 
General yard duties, plus riding 5 days a week ensured my weight and the tone of my body was good. That, coupled with eating well kept me fit and healthy.
 
I go to the gym at the weekends before doing horse stuff. Other than that I just avoid snacking and eat reasonably healthy meals.
 
Not sure I can offer much help, more like empathy!

I manage to fit in yoga three times a week which does keep me toned and helps my back stay healthy, but my weight just seems to keep drifting up. I must admit I think it is very hard to eat light healthy meals when you have been out in the freezing cold/rain working hard at the yard or riding, when you come in you just want something hot and carby!! :D

Be interesting to hear if anyone else has any joy
 
rather than having take aways if I'm running late back from the farm then soup and toast does the trick plus it is cost saving too

I manage to get to yoga twice a wee, but if you are riding 5 times a week then that sould keep you pretty fit. Walking is also another good one
 
i think that it must be al down to your eating habits... i need to shed some weight before eventing starts so will try and get a bit of running in in the morning but otherwise just try and eat more healthily...i know its easier and more tempting to grab fatty foods but you need to try and think about eating more healthily...
 
The old saying 'Eat less, Do more' then!!
Just to add....I don't eat take aways very often, I do make evening meals but they tend to be based around pasta, one pot meals (ie chilli con carne, spag bol, casserole, etc) or quick and easy out the freezer into the oven type things.
I can't ride in the week as I don't have access to indoor school so it's just weekend riding until the clocks go forwards I'm afraid! I will start to walk to work which will burn a few cals and give me less time to eat at lunch (I'll need to walk home at lunch to get my car so that I can go straight to the yard after work!). I will also dust off my 'your shape' wii game and get cracking with that a couple of times a week! :)
 
I have found that no amount of strenous exercise can get rid of the extra weight if I continue to eat like a horse :D

A lady in my office lost 3 stone at Weightwatchers, she never takes any exercise ever and I thought she wouldn't do it but she did and it was all down to eating less (she ate quite healthily anyway, just too much of it!).
 
Sandylou said:
I'm veggie too! :)

Do you all work full time too?
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Yep, and I sit down majority of the day which I think is where the problem lies.

I am not really one for junk food, but I find myself wanting pasta and jacket spuds in the evenings when I know to lose weight I should be having salads and soups.

That said I am would not class myself as fat (5'4 and just under 9 stone), but it bugs me that my tyre around my middle is getting bigger and that year by year the weight just keeps creaping up, whereas my friend who has an active job (owns a hunting livery yard!), eats over twice as much as me and can't keep her weight on!
 
I used to use marie claire diet club (an online thingy) and it made me realise why I'd got a bit plump.... Too much wine, too much of the wrong food and too big portions. I upped the horse ridnig and took a horse on part loan, was a bit more careful with the wine and started eating better monitoring it on the online thing. I lost over 3 stone and most of it has stayed off, might have put a bit back on over the winter but nothing I can't shift in a month!
 
Since my dog passed away I try and go running twice a week with my pony! Always early in the morning to avoid the funny looks I get from dog walkers but it does raise a smile or two :D
 
I work full time and to be honest I dont diet, I pretty much eat what I like within reason. A good mix of healthy food and junk food. I have at least one take out a week :D
But I do muck out and ride everyday. Then at weekends im always riding horses for friends as well as my own so usually end up riding 3/4 horses sat and sun. Plus walking the dog.
So I find it all works for me and keeps me fit.
 
I'm a student....bad ankles and bad knees + lack of co-ordination = no gym for me! I only get the chance to ride when I'm at home, which is not very often....Luckily I'm a lanky bean so doesn't affect my physically, but I have the tendency to feel lethargic which only adds to my sloth like tendencies.

Tell you what though, dancing like a total prat to your fave songs for 20/30 mins when you first up doesn't half make you feel invigorated!! xoxo
 
Just with riding and looking after them I guess, must admit during winter with the dark nights and mornings and don’t get to ride as much in the week so I do put the pounds on but during weekends I’m at the yard all day long, which is my short fall really as I’m that busy I forget to eat, have my breakfast in the morning and my tea at around 7pm, not ideal.
During summer I ride more and also go running to help with my fitness for riding, must admit I become a bit of a lazy bum during winter though, I should run during the week after work to keep me fitter.
 
The old caffeine and nicotine diet :o

My new years resolution was to eat better, just don't have time! Well, I could find time I suppose, just rather be riding.

I am fairly active & fit though, despite the fags, cycle to work every day, ride every day & walk the dog for miles :)
 
You don't need access to an indoor school to ride in winter - that sounds like an excuse not to ride. You don't shrink in the rain when riding outside!

I work shifts, and around 200hours a month, and I fit in the gym up to 4x a week depending on shifts, plus riding just about every day, and ground work with the baby pony.

You have to be disciplined and MAKE yourself do it.
 
Just looking after a stabled horse (in at night) used to keep my weight down. Haven't kept one in since I was pregnant with my first and didn't shift my baby weight until my horse needed two weeks box rest, mucked out twice a day and the weight just dropped off me! It was not quite enough though, could do with another two weeks of it!
 
Sandylou said:
The old saying 'Eat less, Do more' then!!
Just to add....I don't eat take aways very often, I do make evening meals but they tend to be based around pasta, one pot meals (ie chilli con carne, spag bol, casserole, etc) or quick and easy out the freezer into the oven type things.
:)
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I am having similar issues due to busy London desk job, not riding at the moment and piled on pounds over Christmas (blame my Mums very good cooking skills for that!!). Anyway I have started running as part of my commute 9km three times a week and lost a stone since january. Anything you can build into your dailty routine you are more likely to stick to. I am not veggie but eat a lot of veggie dishes. Why not swap the chilli/pasta for stirfrys? They are quick/easy and tend to be lower in fat. I bulk mine up with tofu or noodles. I also bake butternut squash (fab with sweet chilli) instead of baked potatoes. My OH is also on portion control watch. I don't eat bad foods but I have a mega appetite and can easily eat the same as him :rolleyes: so I just have to watch how much I pile on the plate.

Lilaclomax- I wish I had a pony (or dog) to run with, would make it so much more worth while.
 
Suggestions welcome.

Can't eat veggies (I love them, they hate me), limited amount of fruit. Avoid caffine for health reasons, knackered ankle, knee, hip improving now had surgery (what preceeding two need but can't afford time off work), very knackered shoulder including metal, can walk, but don't appreciate uneven ground, run about 2 steps before too painful, can't afford gym. Muck out 2 stables per day. No school so can't ride over winter months (I leave for work 6.30am, get back 5.30pm). Horse now ready to come back into work after 6 month rest for injury, so will have to take things gently. All road work, can only use fields when dry (currently mud). Used to be extremely fit until injuries kicked in & stopped me training. Any ideas how to shift weight which has accumulated? Have few small gadgets at home to improve core strength, but too much aggrevates stuff. Very frustrated! Wish I could afford year off to get all surgeries done & in best condition now possible so could start doing things again.
 
CrazyMare said:
You don't need access to an indoor school to ride in winter - that sounds like an excuse not to ride. You don't shrink in the rain when riding outside!

I work shifts, and around 200hours a month, and I fit in the gym up to 4x a week depending on shifts, plus riding just about every day, and ground work with the baby pony.

You have to be disciplined and MAKE yourself do it.
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I need access to some sort of lit area which I don't have so I can't ride in the week during the winter because it's dark when I get to the yard. Trust me, if I was able to ride on winter evenings I would so not really an excuse not to ride at all!
 
High protein meals, 3 meals a day, If you get a sugar craving in between then have some fresh fruit. Dont starve yourself as it will only make you crave more if you must have it then eat it as youll only binge if you give in. Nothing wrong with a treat or takeaway just use a smaller plate when serving, learn to listen to that lower stomach that says you are FULL.. Just because theres food left on you plate dosnt mean you have to eat it. LOL

If you have the time walk to the yard/ shops ect do it rather than taking the car.
Take the horse for a walk rather than riding him. x
 
I find that my lifestyle helps keep my weight at bay.

The horses do help alot, what with mucking out 3, riding 2, walking 1, poo picking etc
I also have 2 dogs, both need alot of exercise so they get decent walks.
I'm addicted to the wii fit(!!) and I do atleast 30 mins of yoga a day.

This year I'm trying to lose the pounds so I'm trying to fit in as much exercise as I can... I even do exercises at work now!!

I work just shy of 200 hours a month, all waking night work too. My job is physically and mentally challenging, if I didn't discipline myself to do it, I'd either be joining the inmates or star on the biggest loser! (Which actually I wouldn't mind....)
 
mystiandsunny said:
I struggle to eat enough to maintain my weight!
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This. :(

I have to eat at least 5 times a day, plus take protein drinks to stay around 114lbs, which is 20lbs less than I should be. I get happy if I have gained as little as 4lbs at the end of the day, on a bad day I can lose up to 6lbs. It isn't fun, I am not lucky and I hate being this skinny, I find it very stressful.

I only do yard work.
 
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