how do *you* keep fit?

[impresario08]

Just wondering really! I have a gym membership but with horses I have less time to go and it is working out quite expensive per gym trip if you look at how often I manage to go compared to how much it costs me a month. I'm thinking of cancelling it if it's possible to stay in shape without it (I have to keep my core and back muscles up due to a dodgy joint in my back, and I have a sensitive TB so core strength is always helpful!)

Does anyone else manage it?

 

[webble]

I'm currently training for a marathon in Sept so no choice but to keep running at the moment

 

[impresario08]

I'm currently training for a marathon in Sept so no choice but to keep running at the moment

good luck!!

 

[[59668]]

I train with a pt 3 times a week and attend a bootcamp. My riding has improved massively. I think it really helps to work in the gym and I think you can't really be fit enough to ride and compete properly without doing something other than riding

 

[catwithclaws]

I'm a fairly busy freelance groom and also run for half an hour 5 days a week. alas I am still not a size 8...or even a 10

 

[tls]

I do pilates twice a week, a body conditioning class and at least 1 cardio class a week. It is a struggle to fit everything in, that hardest thing for me is planning when to eat, so i'm not eating at 10.30 at night. I also have 2 sensitive mares so core strength is a must

 

[SpringArising]

I've got bad knees so can't do much 'hardcore' stuff, but I walk to and from work every day (half hour each way) and have a jump rope at home which I use for cardio every day as well. Every once in a while I go for a run & we often go for long walks after dinner too.

 

[Wimbles]

I have recently got back on a bike after many years, getting up and cycling to go and see our sheep every morning. I'm not ready for the Rio Olympics just yet but I do think that it's having a really good effect on my riding and even though I know that I must look ridiculous I'm secretly quite proud of myself!

 

[RubysGold]

Im lucky, I can eat as much as I want and don't put weight on. So I don't worry about doing much
However I am a dog Walker so naturally stay pretty fit. I also do dog agility 3 nights a week and compete some weekends so a bit of running round. Then there is the obvious horsey stuff, mucking out. Ragwort picking (not exactly keeping me fit but it can be hard work in the hot sun) and riding (though I could do with doing some sort of cardio work as I struggle a bit in my riding lessons. They are hard work)

 

[SadKen]

I don't do anything as intense as the above, but I'm still quite fit - I mountain bike twice a week for around 10-15 miles a time (and we are committed to going quickly - it's very intense). I also walk the dogs with a big walk on Thursday nights. Other than that I just ride which involves walking to get my girl etc. TBH there isn't time for anything else, and I've found that over exercising really ruins my weightloss efforts as I end up overtraining and binging on sugar to compensate. The above is a happy medium for me; I'm considerably fitter than nearly everyone I know, barring the triathlete with abs of steel.

 

[DD265]

I go to the gym (weight training mostly), swim and run. I go in the morning before work - horse is on full livery as I have a 35 mile commute to work.

 

[supsup]

I decided last October that I had to do something to keep fit through winter when I do less riding. I started with the NHS couch to 5K podcast to get into running. I kept it up all the way into spring too, and my fitness really improved. Then the nice weather and long days set in and I had better things to do than run ;-) and I've been slacking off for the past couple of weeks. But I think that's balanced by doing much more with the horse and around the yard.
Running is convenient because you can do it anywhere with minimal gear (shoes, from home or work) and for free. My greatest problem is to find time - I get up at 6:40 and often don't get home until 8:30 pm after a full day at work and riding in the summer. Winter is easier because I get home earlier and don't mind running in the dark. The other thing I struggle with is that I find running essentially boring. Headphones with music/podcast/audiobook are a must for me.

 

[chestnut cob]

I cycle mainly. When the weather is good I'll get out a couple of times per week, doing 10 - 20 miles depending on how much time I have. If weather is bad I'll do a turbo trainer session instead. They're pretty hardcore and I'll usually do around 45 mins plus some circuit type exercises like lunges, squats etc. If I've been out on my bike a couple of times I usually try to fit in a short turbo session too, again depending on time.

I usually ride 4 days a week and have a sharer for 2 days. She's away until end of Sept now so I'll be riding 5 days a week which means I might not be able to fit in the extra bike session. I did a lot more exercise last summer but wsa working from home so it was easy to fit in. Now I'm up at 5.50am daily to commute to the office an hour away so I fit it around work and horses when I can.

 

[Annagain]

I'm doing nothing at the moment and I'm really noticing it. I usually run a couple of times a week and until last September I had a personal trainer once a week. I developed plantar fasciitis which meant I had to stop everything and then just as I was getting over that I tore my calf muscle quite badly trotting the horse up for the vet! I hate doing nothing but I've really struggled with my calf and can't get it right. As a result of favouring the other leg and not being able to do the right excercises to help avoid it (calf stretches) the plantar fasciitis is back in the opposite foot. It's so frustrating.
Luckily I can ride, but can't stand in my stirrups for any length of time. As it happens my boy is recovering from an injury too so we're taking it slowly together!

 

[epeters91]

I have just signed up with a local gym and started gong to classes. Find it much more motivating that just being in the gym although my thighs are completely locked from sqat jumps today! Classes are at 5:30 so I can head home get changed go to class home for a quick shower and head to the horses. Fine with the light nights but I'll struggle when it gets to winter so will possibly change to th later class options then so I can ride my pony first

 

[LeannePip]

I go to the gym every day, and do a range of things; heavy weight lifting, spinning, cardio/ fat burn classes and run twice a week - I have PT sessions once a week but can sometimes be 2 or 3 times. I only really have time to do this amount as I haven't ridden properly since before Christmas due to old horse being on limited work due to ulcers, then box rest for a tendon then bringing back into work, shes now gone out on loan and new youngster who wasn't up to much as only recently backed has now been off work for 3 weeks due to holiday and then cellulitus!

I love going to the gym, mainly for the social side too, but i would much rather be riding my ponies! I couldn't tell you if its really helped my riding (see above!) but Mum and i lugged some rubber mats around at the weekend and it didn't seem nearly as hard!

 

[sheep]

I do a mixture of things, not as fit as I could be but getting there. At the minute I'm trying to do a bit of interval training, general work with weights and also a wee bit of Olympic weightlifting which I am finding to be very addictive!

Edited to add, I think that gymwise, it's important to find the right place - my previous gym was a bit crap cos the owner was really grumpy and had a chosen clique - at the new place, all the staff are genuinely lovely, friendly and very encouraging, and make an effort to get to know names etc. It actually makes me want to go!

 

[samlovesprilly]

If you were planning on cancelling the gym membership, I'd advise HIT (high intensity training) that you can do at home. I would suggest either T25 (25 mins of intense fitness by the guy who does insanity) or 30 day shred (3 levels of similar workouts).
many of them are available on youtube or you can buy the dvd's, and take about half an hour or less so you can fit in before work/ in the evening. They are pretty intense but really good for toning up and getting you a decent level of fitness. Some of them include weight training too which is good for building muscle (you'd need to invest in a pair of weights for this, and also a mat for floor work).
I'd mix this up with some running for the cardio or cycling if you prefer it.
I do agree that if you don't use a gym that often it can be a bit of a waste of money, but I do love gym classes like spinning and body pump and think I work harder when I am in a group and have a teacher shouting at me!

 

[impresario08]

If you were planning on cancelling the gym membership, I'd advise HIT (high intensity training) that you can do at home. I would suggest either T25 (25 mins of intense fitness by the guy who does insanity) or 30 day shred (3 levels of similar workouts).
many of them are available on youtube or you can buy the dvd's, and take about half an hour or less so you can fit in before work/ in the evening. They are pretty intense but really good for toning up and getting you a decent level of fitness. Some of them include weight training too which is good for building muscle (you'd need to invest in a pair of weights for this, and also a mat for floor work).
I'd mix this up with some running for the cardio or cycling if you prefer it.
I do agree that if you don't use a gym that often it can be a bit of a waste of money, but I do love gym classes like spinning and body pump and think I work harder when I am in a group and have a teacher shouting at me!

oooh I own 30 day shred! I love my gym and the people there but I would rather have that money elsewhere in case of an unexpected vet bill...

 

[sarahw123]

If you were planning on cancelling the gym membership, I'd advise HIT (high intensity training) that you can do at home. I would suggest either T25 (25 mins of intense fitness by the guy who does insanity) or 30 day shred (3 levels of similar workouts).
many of them are available on youtube or you can buy the dvd's, and take about half an hour or less so you can fit in before work/ in the evening. They are pretty intense but really good for toning up and getting you a decent level of fitness. Some of them include weight training too which is good for building muscle (you'd need to invest in a pair of weights for this, and also a mat for floor work).
I'd mix this up with some running for the cardio or cycling if you prefer it.
I do agree that if you don't use a gym that often it can be a bit of a waste of money, but I do love gym classes like spinning and body pump and think I work harder when I am in a group and have a teacher shouting at me!

Best advise here.

 

[ljohnsonsj]

I don't do much except the horses. I own 3,compete weekends along with working full time and riding and competing for other people so lots of running around really. The dogs go on a long walk on a night and sometimes I take them for a run with me. I do like running but find it so hard to find the time if I don't mix it in with taking the dogs out! I split up with my partner in March and the workload we used to share has come completely to me now, I have gone from a size 10-12 to A mainly 8-10 which is great and I feel much better. I am an active person but as far as fitness goes I would probably to do any cardio for a lenghty amount of time!

 

[lhotse]

I'm a keen runner when I'm not riding the horse! I've run one 42 mile ultra marathon on the Brecon Beacons this spring and have another one lined up for Sept so am running plenty of distance at the moment. I also like shorter, faster races too.
In June, I ran the Man versus Horse marathon in Mid Wales and that was an amazing experience, seeing all the very fit endurance horses pitted against some amazing runners. I managed to beat 10 of the horses too!

 

[BBP]

I've been really lazy lately and feel rubbish for it. Usually I pole dance several hours a week, do silks/aerial training with a local circus group for a couple of hours a week, go to crossfit 2-3 times a week and run if I'm not doing those things. Like I say I got lazy recently but am kick starting it again this week. I ride my horse 7 days a week but it definitely isn't enough to make me feel 'fit'.

 

[FfionWinnie]

Ride at least once a day for at least 1.5hrs a day keeping up an average speed of at least 8km/hr. Just got another horse so probably riding about ten/eleven times a week now which I definitely think on top of my walking based outdoor job, keeps me reasonably fit.

Wanted to start running to increase my cardio for XC on horse. However I've hurt my foot and it keeps reoccurring so waiting til that settles down before I start that caper. I do tend to sprint a bit between jobs while working tho. Doesn't take much to really improve my fitness.

Sadly I like chocolate and other rubbish far too much or I would be much slimmer.

 

[exracehorse]

I work as a cleaner so am busy all day plus ride every evening and care for two horses, various cats and dogs plus 3 kids. Struggling to keep weight on at moment. But I'm naughty and live off chocolate and pot noodles!

 

[southerncomfort]

I run and I do pilates.

An instructor once told me that running isn't good for riding as it makes your calves too big to be able to hang nicely around your horse. Have to say I've never found this to be the case!

 

[rowan666]

i used to walk and run alot (with the dogs) and do 1k sits ups every day, i was super fit and rode most days... now i dont really ride so dont do much atall, my job is physically demanding and i walk my dog ( the dog i have now dosnt require as much exercise as my last dog)... i should probobly do more, my mare definatly needs to do more (were both overweight and lazy) no excuse really

 

[amandaco2]

I do 5k run 5 to 6 times a week, including some decent hills

 

[Holly Hocks]

I try to go to the gym three or four times a week - sometimes more in winter. I do a mixture of work on a Wattbike (proper training bikes - real leg killers!), rowing and weights. I go through phases of doing a lot of swimming as well but I do prefer the gym. I may not be thin, but I am fit. I used to do quite a bit of running up until a few years ago, but can't do that any more due to arthritis in my spine and knees.

 

[Fools Motto]

I play badminton twice a week, and go for the occasional 2 mile run. (did a half marathon in march, and loved it, but time doesn't allow for many more miles)
I'm also a keen walker, although there are times that I amble rather than stride out! lol

Then horses, muck out and ride 4-6, about 5 times a week.