How to stay in shape for riding

Birker2020

Birker2020

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How do you ladies stay in shape for riding? Do you go to the gym or just watch what you eat? I am aiming to lost a couple of stone in the New Year and found that by walking for an hour three or four times a week really helped me before. Since back with my partner I have put on nearly a stone and a half, not far off my initial weight that I lost way back this spring!

Very depressing. So what is your secret?

I am starting to panic as the buttons on my show jacket get progessively tighter on each outing :(
 
Previously I worked with horses so I had no problems in burning calories and staying fit, however now I work in an office things aren't so straightforward! A couple of years ago I lost a stone (all I really wanted to lose at the time but I could have lost more and I kept it off) using the My Fitness Pal app and wearing a Fitbit. They work together and if you are disciplined (logging EVERYTHING you eat on the app), it is so easy. If you do lots of exercise in a day i.e. you go for a long walk you are allowed to eat more, plus it records what you eat in terms of fats, protein, carbs etc so you can see how balanced your diet is. I use an iphone to record everything but I think there is an android app too. The app is free and the Fitbit costs about £75 but you could probably get a cheaper second hand one on Ebay.

In terms of rider fitness - swimming and pilates is also great :)
 
I've put on weight since I was with my ex, but luckily we've now split up, so i'm back at the gym again, not eating out so much and have re-joined weight watchers! i also have a fitbit, which motivates me to go out for walks at work! and to also park at the stables and walk the massive trek down to the field, rather than leaving my car half way up the lane so I only have to walk half the distance!! for me, its having that bit of extra time on my hands that is helping me lose some weight!! before I used to have to waste that time on seeing a horrible boy!
 
Running between 12 and 20 miles a week (weather and time permitting), and trying to do some core and arm exercises in between. I also love cycling but the 'time v calories burnt' ratio is not nearly as good as running and so, with limited time, I find it much easier to run than cycle. You can also run more safely in the dark than cycle, which makes it easier to do in the winter.

I find fitness makes a massive difference to my riding so worth the effort. You do need to find something you enjoy though otherwise it's not sustainable.
 
I have jsut started pilates and a weighloss ftness class. As I drop a bit more weight I will be taking up Park run and I am supporting a friend training with her for a charity swim :)
 
Kezzabell2 said:
I've put on weight since I was with my ex, but luckily we've now split up, so i'm back at the gym again, not eating out so much and have re-joined weight watchers! i also have a fitbit, which motivates me to go out for walks at work! and to also park at the stables and walk the massive trek down to the field, rather than leaving my car half way up the lane so I only have to walk half the distance!! for me, its having that bit of extra time on my hands that is helping me lose some weight!! before I used to have to waste that time on seeing a horrible boy!
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Thats the problem. I split up with my chap and lost the weight but now we are back together we are always eating out, and eating big meals at home too. Everything is food orientated, even at work, no sooner have I ate my dinner then I will be thinking about what's for tea.

I plan to start walking again every night in the summer. At the moment where my chap lives is in the countryside so other than the canal tow path (dangerous in the dark) there is no where else to walk as the lanes have no pavements. With the dark nights its too dangerous to walk along such lanes. I wish I could run like jungle fairy but I got plantar fascitis last time I tried and have no wish to repeat the experience.

I used to do pilates but found it a little boring after 18 months of going. Like JF says, unless its enjoyable its no fun.
 
I am in a similar position to you OP previously lost weight and was riding a lot then I got a youngster which meant less riding until she was old enough and now I'm in a happy relationship it's far too easy to cuddle up with an alcoholic drink and bad food to eat... This year I have gone up to a size 14 in clothes next year I'm determined to get back to a 12.

I've previously used myfitnesspal, jogging, personal trainer and bootcamp (seperately) plan for next year will be to organise myself more and have set fitness classes/routines as well as improving my diet. Good luck!
 
epeters91 said:
I am in a similar position to you OP previously lost weight and was riding a lot then I got a youngster which meant less riding until she was old enough and now I'm in a happy relationship it's far too easy to cuddle up with an alcoholic drink and bad food to eat... This year I have gone up to a size 14 in clothes next year I'm determined to get back to a 12.

I've previously used myfitnesspal, jogging, personal trainer and bootcamp (seperately) plan for next year will be to organise myself more and have set fitness classes/routines as well as improving my diet. Good luck!
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Thanks I will need it as behind my horse, food is a close second! :)
 
I eat what I like but don't eat large quantities (although can still consume an entire packet of bourbons post mucking out :D). I go by little and often and not denying myself anything as then I crave it and would binge.
Exercise wise I've not done lots over the last couple of weeks as work and life have got in the way, but usually I go to the gym 3 or 4 times a week at lunchtime and do a variety of weight/resistance based exercise and round off with pilates. So a typical week would be:
Monday: 30min TRX class, 15 min Abs class - the TRX class is usually done as a circuit and mixes in some cardio with the resistance based work
Tuesday: 20 min stretch class - relieves the aches caused by the day before, and I usually put in 10-15 mins on the cross trainer or the rowing machine to get some cardio in as well
Wednesday: 30 minute weights class usually focusing on whichever area we didn't push on Monday but by choice focusing on legs.
Thursday: Is an and/or day - the gym does a 30 minute kettlebell & corebag class or a 45 minute pilates class and I can't do both, so if I've missed one of the weights based classes earlier in the week I do the K&C class and stay for 15 minutes of pilates to stretch out, if I've done the weights class then I do pilates.
It provides a pretty rounded level of fitness (and a lot of washing :D), and it's really helped through this winter when I've struggled to sneak in any daytime riding so often have only ridden at weekends.
 
Fortunately, I don't have serious weight to lose, but I've noticed that if I'm not a bit careful, the middle-aged spread is starting to happen, with a few kilos going on over winter and not wanting to come off again by themselves!
Last winter I was very disciplined and managed to start and keep up jogging 3x a week (no more than half an hour) using the free NHS choices "couch to 5K" podcast. I live in town, so I have the option of lit streets and firm pavement before/after daylight. Once spring rolled around, all extra time was spent with the horse though, and I stopped running and failed to pick it up again this autumn (not helped by a few bad colds in a row). I'll try to get back into a routine though after the holidays, at least for Jan-Mar. It really helped my aerobic fitness, which I noticed during lessons.

On the eating side, I decided a few weeks ago to try and stop snacking and stick to three meals a day. This was actually prompted more by a lengthy dental treatment and my frustration over getting tooth decay despite not eating/drinking a lot of acid/sugary food. But I do like to snack my way through the day (on reasonably healthy fare). My only rule is to eat everything in three meals, i.e. any snacks that I'd usually eat I'd be free to have as a dessert or with a meal. Turns out, I didn't usually have much room left after a decent meal, so I've been eating less without really noticing. It was odd initially to actually feel hungry at times between main meals, but it's not that uncomfortable, more that I was unused to it. And the next meal is never more than a few hours away, which I find entirely doable in terms of willpower. Not sure this would work well for a person who struggles with portion size and would be likely to overeat a lot at meal times though. This seems to be working for me though. A nice side benefit is that it's much quicker now to pack my lunch (as I'm not also having to plan for a healthy morning and afternoon snack).
 
When I decide I need to lose weight (after having a baby for example), I apply the following rules:
During the day I can eat whatever I want, so long as it's an apple, or a glass of water. I usually opt for the water, as it's more satisfying.
At the evening meal, I have no more than the tiniest amount of carbs, and a modest portion of meat. I can eat as many vegetables as I like, but don't feel like it because it's not really food, is it?

I appreciate that this is extreme, but it does work.
The excessive 'riding to take my mind off the hunger' gets me fit.
 
applecart14 said:
Thats the problem. I split up with my chap and lost the weight but now we are back together we are always eating out, and eating big meals at home too. Everything is food orientated, even at work, no sooner have I ate my dinner then I will be thinking about what's for tea.

I plan to start walking again every night in the summer. At the moment where my chap lives is in the countryside so other than the canal tow path (dangerous in the dark) there is no where else to walk as the lanes have no pavements. With the dark nights its too dangerous to walk along such lanes. I wish I could run like jungle fairy but I got plantar fascitis last time I tried and have no wish to repeat the experience.

I used to do pilates but found it a little boring after 18 months of going. Like JF says, unless its enjoyable its no fun.
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Damn the boys, they always make us fat!! and they can eat it without getting fat too, gerrr!!

i would just say that allow yourself anything that you want, just do it in moderation! I think that cutting things out of your life is the wrong way to go about it, as you will only end up binging on them when you decide to have them as a treat!! or at least thats what i do, haha!

Can you do any excercise when you're at work during the day? lunch times?

Defo don't go walking down the tow paths at night!!

Have you thought about joining anything like WW or SW? just to help you get motivated? I lost 4 stone on WW and managed to keep it off until I decided I didn't need to go to the meetings anymore, turns out i do still need to go haha. so i'm back and ready to win again! but you do need to be in the right frame of mind to do it! and xmas is a hard time to be in that mind set!
 
Walking, running, cycling, pilates, sit-ups, press-ups and I use hand weights once a week.

I don't drive so I have to get everywhere under my own steam which does tend to keep me pretty fit! Running is my second favourite hobby after horses which also helps. Plus I have 4 kids! ;)
 
I can't run either (bad back and hips) but started going to boot camp to support a friend and fell in love with it - neither of us are riding much at the mo, her because of kids and messy divorce, me because my horse is injured (another very kind friend lets me ride her horse every week or so). We want to keep fit and are late-40s so it's a struggle; boot camp has now finished for the winter but I've just started with the same trainer's HIIT class and fitness pilates. They are only half hour sessions but they absolutely break me! There are always low impact options and i'm not the only one in the classes with dodgy joints which helps. The group is called Kick Start Fat Loss, think it's a franchise, so there might be one near you. I also power walk and ride my mountain bike but this wet and windy weather is not conducive!
 
Having a lazy horse keeps me fit (!) but also I park my car at my parents and cycle from their house to work 3 times a week and once a week I jog to the livery yard (it's only about 3 miles but I am not a natural runner so is plenty for me!) and OH comes to take me home when I've finished mucking out etc. I don't have the time or money to join a gym so I find if I can make the exercise fit into my normal routine I am more likely to do it! You could also try going vegan (even if just temporarily); it cuts out just about every naughty-but-nice food you can imagine!(although after 4yrs of strict veganism I have found some good alternatives!) X
 
Dunno about you ladies as I am a bloke, but mucking out, lifting heavy barrow, lifting heavy water tubs, heavy wet hay nets lifting onto tie rings, bags of bedding, bags of feed, pulling hay off strapped bales and filling nets, riding a strong forward going ginger sausage, or daughters rocket Arab, grooming and all the rest that goes with a horsey lifestyle 7 days a week, my muscles are bulging and stomach flat :-)
 
Pedantic said:
Dunno about you ladies as I am a bloke, but mucking out, lifting heavy barrow, lifting heavy water tubs, heavy wet hay nets lifting onto tie rings, bags of bedding, bags of feed, pulling hay off strapped bales and filling nets, riding a strong forward going ginger sausage, or daughters rocket Arab, grooming and all the rest that goes with a horsey lifestyle 7 days a week, my muscles are bulging and stomach flat :-)
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Liar! :wink3::wink3::biggrin3:

Alec! :)
 
Pedantic said:
Dunno about you ladies as I am a bloke, but mucking out, lifting heavy barrow, lifting heavy water tubs, heavy wet hay nets lifting onto tie rings, bags of bedding, bags of feed, pulling hay off strapped bales and filling nets, riding a strong forward going ginger sausage, or daughters rocket Arab, grooming and all the rest that goes with a horsey lifestyle 7 days a week, my muscles are bulging and stomach flat :-)
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Yeah i do that too. My muscles are bulging too (with flab lol)
 
I broke my finger two weeks ago , and between not riding being restricted in what I can do and going out a lot to Christmas type dos I am gaining weight it's scary how quickly it happens .
 
I sympathize. I seem to have spent most of my adult life yo-yo eating. The final straw was after having my 2nd son, I took a pony to a show and struggled with the jacket, I had fat creases and it was straining.

I wanted to back my youngster and needed to shift 2 stone in order to feel comfortable doing so. We've got a Wi, so wi-fit purchased. I've cut out non-essential carbs, no bread, sweets, crisps, biscuits etc. I walk when I can and swim. (Is Tudor Grange still open?)

I try not to eat processed foods, just fruit, veg, meat and fish. I do get my chocolate fix from a low cal hot choc drink else I'd be eating people alive!!!
 
I just joined a local gym! Very friendly people and I hope it helps! Going there again tomorrow in the afternoon after sorting the horses, planning on 3-4 times a week, and it's very handy for when I'll be coming home from work. I am determined....
 
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Gym 3 to 4 times a week including a pilates class one evening. Mucking out/looking after four horses/ponies at home. Riding 4 times a week. Running around after two children, two dogs and a husband. Cleaning a reasonable sized house (no cleaner). And watching everything I eat. Luckily I don't like biscuits/cakes/chocolate. I do have a weakness for red wine though. :/
 
I used to enjoy Les Mills classes, especially body pump. Unfortunately my gyms timetable changed and now they only do classes during working hours, so I've left.
Try walking, running if you can, do some weight training, and if you can handle it (a degree of fitness is required for this imo) HIIT training is brutal but works.
 
I admire all of you who manage to plan time for the gym 3-4 times a week! What I found to be key for me is to make changes that are have a low threshold and become (almost) effortless after a short while. Otherwise, I just can't maintain those changes. Organized sports classes (whether that's gym or something else) have never worked for me if I didn't genuinely enjoy the sport (and apart from riding, I've never found one that held my attention for long). If I have to get over myself every single time to make it to the class, it is pre-programmed that I'll start slacking off sooner or later. It's also a question of time - to jog for half an hour, I need to add 5min to change shoes and clothes and get out of the door. If I had to add the travel to the gym both ways, it would eat more into my free time, and I'd be less likely to keep up with it if things get stressful. I'm all for building the exercise into daily routines, rather than making exercise another time consuming activity that has to be squeezed in somewhere. That's what works for me, anyway.
 
I can't bring myself to do any sort of 'forced' or 'organised' exercise (gym or classes and the like).

I am now almost 50 though and have noticed this year that my middle has been getting bigger (and flabbier) and it's more difficult to shift so am going to try for some major changes in the New Year.

One of the things is I'll be going back on WW - not totally strictly but I'll be cutting down on carbs and bulking up on fruit and veg. My other downfall is wine and I also want to cut down the amount I smoke, when I drink wine I smoke more so, for the first month I am cutting down to no alcohol during the week - wine at weekends only. Once I've got used to that then I will try to keep to once glass of red per night - if I can't keep to that I'll stay on booze free week days.

Hopefully that will help and I plan to ride more.
 
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