Pandering to overweight riders

[Sossigpoker]

I am menopausal and whilst not fat, am over my ideal weight.

I do not have any medical issues that will prevent me from loosing weight. I simply need to stop eating biscuits, crisps and chocolate. I eat generally quite well. But of course this could be improved.

I walk up to eight miles a day, and also take very physical excercise. But in order for me to reach my goal weight my diet needs to be addressed.

I’m not being smug, just practical.

You’ve actually had some brilliant advice regarding what would help you with regards your diet (including from me ).

I'm the same. I'm a bit podgey myself and the reason for that is my snacking. I eat so many biscuits and crisps and chocolate. I know when I've managed to "be good " , as I do my horse every day and ride most days , my weight starts to fall quite easily.
But not snacking is easier said than done !

 

[TPO]

As a regular culprit for spiralling off on a tangent I am a hypocrite pointing it out here but...

I couldn't give a flying figure what someone's weight is. No one has been "fat shamed".

The origin of this thread was the welfare concerns when people who are too heavy for a horse CHOOSE to ride regardless of those welfare issues.

People can be too heavy for multiple reasons; not just that they are "fat".

As discussed on numerous other threads there are countless reasons why people may be overweight but again that wasn't what was being discussed.

Like I said I couldn't care less what anyone weighs but I do think it's shameful to expect a horse to carry excess weight for someone to "enjoy" riding.

Losing weight is simple*. You can't out exercise a bad diet. Less calories in and more out. Ideally fill up on unprocessed foods. Try to eat as much as you can within a calorie deficit instead of how much one can deprive themself then invariably binge.

*However simple doesn't equal easy. Simple things can be hard. As discussed numerous times there can be loads of reasons for weight gain and an assumed inability to lose it. That's a whole different topic from this thread.

Be whatever weight you want, deal with it however one sees fit, get the professional help needed but don't expect horses to carry it.

I also think it lessens the topic when people start questioning their 8st weight. No one had said you need to be a skeleton to get on a horse but people can see and know what is unfair to expect of a horse no matter, what they want to tell themselves so they can carry on.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Have just caught up with the new comments, I think perhaps the thread has gone off on a tangent.

It doesn't matter the reason for being overweight , medical reason, self inflicted , lack of mobility etc.

The common theme in any of those instances is the rider being overweight.

No matter the reason if they are overweight they shouldn't be riding .

I don't think that's mean , it's just looking out for animal welfare

Edited to say : I appreciate that might be upsetting the thought of not riding if the person is very much struggling to loose weight , but it's one of the instances in which you have to put your feelings to one side and think of the bigger picture.

I think we have to be very careful to say 'overweight for your mount'. It doesn't matter whether the mount is a Welsh Section A or a Shire, if the rider is *too heavy for that equine*, they shouldn't be riding it.
It seems that the big shows that have asked riders to dismount have particularly asked adult riders who were 'warming up' children's ponies, a practice which has been going on for years and is surely unethical.in anyone's book.

 

[Rowreach]

Surely this thread is about anyone who is too tall or too heavy for the equine they decide to sit on, and is a very valid topic of discussion? It’s not necessarily about people who are “overweight“.

Nor is it a personal attack on anyone in particular or a comment on those who need/want to lose weight in general.

There are loads of diet threads on HHO with masses of useful information covering that.

 

[SDMabel]

I think we have to be very careful to say 'overweight for your mount'. It doesn't matter whether the mount is a Welsh Section A or a Shire, if the rider is *too heavy for that equine*, they shouldn't be riding it.
It seems that the big shows that have asked riders to dismount have particularly asked adult riders who were 'warming up' children's ponies, a practice which has been going on for years and is surely unethical.in anyone's book.

Yes that's a very valid point , I apologise for my use of the term overweight .

 

[misst]

Blimey the crab sticks were one day. Haven't had crab sticks for probably five weeks now. I probably don't eat healthily but I don't believe I ever asked for anyone to critique my choices. When I created the weight loss injections post I wanted peoples feed back on their experiences of it. I didn't ask for all the dietary advice. It wasn't the purpose of the post.

I don't think it was me who said # bekind. Crikey that ship sailed long ago on this forum.

Anyway FWIW going back to reply 484, I should just stay away from this subject, I should've known better than to comment cos to some posters it's like a red rag to a bull.

I thank those with good intentions for their comments which have been taken in the spirit they were given and will ignore the more contemptuous ones because without fuel the fire ceases to burn. I'm stepping away now. Have a good evening folks

Birker I really think you take things too personally. People did try to help you and you do push back at everything that is not what you are already doing. It is difficult to change our beliefs but it is possible so maybe read some of the injection thread being very mindful of peoples intentions. I don't think anyone on there was contemptuous. As far as this thread goes none of it was about you and whilst I am sympathetic (as a post menopausal overweight snacking person) to your weight loss difficulties it does not alter the moral theme discussed on this thread which is not fat people shouldn't ride. It's no one should ride a horse if they are too heavy for it. You love your horses so much so I am confused as to why you would not just agree with that statement. It's not aimed at anyone - it's aimed at EVERYONE. x

 

[paddy555]

I'm the same. I'm a bit podgey myself and the reason for that is my snacking. I eat so many biscuits and crisps and chocolate. I know when I've managed to "be good " , as I do my horse every day and ride most days , my weight starts to fall quite easily.
But not snacking is easier said than done !

have you considered that you could be addicted to sugar. if you remove that addiction then sugar is no longer controlling your mind and your desire (or insistence) to eat bics and chocolate. So then before you get hungry you can plan ahead and eat a more suitable snack, possibly one with protein.

 

[Sossigpoker]

have you considered that you could be addicted to sugar. if you remove that addiction then sugar is no longer controlling your mind and your desire (or insistence) to eat bics and chocolate. So then before you get hungry you can plan ahead and eat a more suitable snack, possibly one with protein.

Yes I probably am and I'm constantly exhausted too so always looking for a pick me up.

 

[paddy555]

Yes I probably am and I'm constantly exhausted too so always looking for a pick me up.

so it's sugar and I guess possibly coffee and it doesn't work as you are constantly exhausted.

there are other ways.

 

[Sossigpoker]

so it's sugar and I guess possibly coffee and it doesn't work as you are constantly exhausted.

there are other ways.

I've got various health issues hence I'm exhausted most of the time. I just use sugary treats to treat myself a bit too much
OK,.a lot!

I actually just checked my BMI and I'm in the upper green range so not over weight according to that but I definitely have a spare tyre or two that I could do without !

 

[southerncomfort]

Just myself really.
I don't want a personal trainer at this stage as I get injured doing things other than spin or swimming, these activities are great for me as they are none weight bearing. I started boot camp and got injured. I restarted and got injured a second time. I'm not morbidly obese but my muscles struggle, like I press anywhere on my body and it hurts. Physio reckoned myofacial pain I think it was called. Doctor says no but can't say what it is. Won't investigate for fibromyalgia either, actually said it was all in my head.

When I did boot camp (circuits) I struggled to get off the mats from lying down carrying out certain activities. This prompted me eventually to go to the doctors. Blood tests FBC revealed no issues other than low vit D. Why I am so achey, and struggle so much is a mystery, no rheumatoid arthritis or inflammation markers.

I'm waiting for an appointment for support/treatment at a clinic via my doctor for weight loss and also an appointment from the pain management team.

Had some helpful advice from a girl at work who did me an activity/food plan and from people on the forum too.

I'm eating more of the right things now too.

B - I can highly recommend walking.

It's low impact, no special equipment required except maybe a pair of walking boots, but best of all, its a fantastic mood booster and is proven to improve mental health.

I can't run any more cos my knees are knackered, so I took up hiking and I absolutely love the sense of freedom and well being it gives me.

I won't pretend it burns much in the way of calories but I find walking regularly gives me more energy for other activities.

I also find it good for all my random aches and pains!

 

[Cortez]

Actually walking is one of the very best ways to exercise, especially if you have other factors limiting what activities you can do. I walk my dogs from 5 - 10km almost every day. After my husband died and my last horse went it has meant that I can maintain a level of both mental and physical fitness.

 

[misst]

Another vote for walking. My knees are knackered and I am not fit enough to do running even if I wanted to. I don't enjoy proper swimming (like a splash about though) and I dislike any gym stuff. I keep promising I will do some pilates or beginners yoga but for now I walk the dogs and walk a fair bit at work (when I actually do some as semi retired). There is nothing better than watching the seasons change and noticing little things daily. The dogs give me the reason to do it and it is so good mentally. As cortez and southerncomfort say it is free, nothing special needed and even if I don't feel like it when we set out it is always a stress reliever when I get going. Lots of thinking time and quality pondering time .

 

[LadyGascoyne]

Birker, in 2003 I was diagnosed (MRI) with central/centro lateral intravertebral disc prolapse bilaterally at C6/7 and posterior prolapse at C5/6. Subsequent MRIs revealed multilevel disc disease throughout the spine and anterolisthesis of L4 on L5 with secondary stenosis (a vertebrae has slipped and narrowed the canal). My cervical spine has grown new bone in attempt to stabilise and 2 of these osteophytes are impinging on a nerve. Despite this, until 4 years ago when I stopped going to the gym, I was able to weight train using machines.

Have a word with the instructors in the gym and they will be able to advise you.

That sounds pretty horrendous! I hope you’re doing ok.

I have a herniated disc at c3/4. If it’s aggravated I loose a bit of feeling and motion down one arm and leg. I end up missing steps and knocking things over. It’s really quite scary.

I’ve also tried to keep up exercise. Immediately afterwards, after being off my feet for 6 weeks, I struggled to get back into exercise. I put on weight and have really struggled to get back to my pre-injury fitnesss. It has been about 2.5 years and I’ve only recently (past 6 months) managed to start getting back to my old self.

I started walking, doing yoga and doing some stretches and floor work. I’m now starting dance classes this week

I also don’t really ride Mim anymore, and won’t until I’m back at a weight that I’m happy with. I do come in at under 20% including her saddle, and she is a strong little Araby horse, but I know I’m carrying extra weight and I don’t expect her to have to. I want to be the best version of myself that I can be if I’m going to sit on her. I know I can’t minimize all strain from carrying a human but I can put the least strain on her as is reasonably possible for me. I’d rather not ride when I know I am carrying unnecessary weight for my frame.

 

[Red-1]

Actually walking is one of the very best ways to exercise, especially if you have other factors limiting what activities you can do. I walk my dogs from 5 - 10km almost every day. After my husband died and my last horse went it has meant that I can maintain a level of both mental and physical fitness.

I vote for cold water swimming. I go 3 x a week. Swimming is low impact, cold water swimming in winter also eats calories as you use them all to warm up again after. It has huge mental health benefits.

I also cycle. I have switched to an electric bike for my knee, but do a fair bit of mileage. Getting out into the countryside is amazing for mental welfare.

Of course, doing my horses is good exercise too.

I do know how difficult it is. At perimenopause, I put on 4 1/2 stone. I was also wildly deficient in Vitamin D, and seem to be lacking B12 too. I now have a huge amount of tablets, but just vitamins.

I improved my diet to high protein. That meant fewer carbs/sugar, just so I stayed under a calorie count. I also cut processed foods. My weight was again contained, by the diet change and the vitamins. I was also energised.

Recently, tragic circumstances have meant my diet has suffered. Bad diet has brough all manner of aches and pains back. My plate (mostly) hasn't looked 'bad' but it has been processed food. I am weaning myself back onto the diet (as in lifestyle diet, not a temporary diet) for my own health.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Just the boobs comment made me laugh I’m on phone so harder to type/edit nothing sinister! That’s why there’s a new paragraph

My boobs must weigh a stone each… no kidding

 

[Time for Tea]

I walk, cycle and ride. I managed to lose a stone over last winter, and have kept most of that off. I need to lose more though, to get on my Nf youngsters. I am about 1 kg over 20%. My older Forester is 15hh and strong with a short back and short cannons and good bone, weighs 70kg more than the properly sized youngsters. He is fine, and only jumps with my daughter, who is 8 stone. I have found I am more flexible and have less aches, just from eating more healthily, or carrying less fat, which itself is inflammatory I believe

 

[ester]

I have hEDS - I lucked out and got diagnosed by a rheumatologist in my teens, health care systems don't seem to take it very seriously - but I have a lot of general, achey pain (from the myofascial). I haven't actually many "proper" dislocations (so lucky) that needed putting back in by someone else, I get these weird feelings in my joints that I can only describe as something not being in the right place. My knee was like that for a fortnight before I went to the doctor and I was made to wear a knee brace for two months before they could put it back in. Just to give you an idea of the feeling of it.

Just in case any of that sounds similar to you, the exercises that also works for me (in addition to cycling and swimming, like you mentioned) is Pilates on Fitness Blender website (so I can do it at home and not get carried away with reps etc.), the Activate Your Seat exercises with a bungee, a wobble board (great in front of the TV!), wearing Fitflops (including their shoes at work) - not exactly exercise but they have been blooming miraculous for me pain-wise (get them on sale from Amazon as they're as expensive as a horse's set of shoes )

Im hypermobile, I suspect that is the cause of my touch me anywhere and it hurts situation, as well as a few other issues. Hence the core work but it has to be the right core work, pilates often made it worse for instance.

 

[ester]

Yes I probably am and I'm constantly exhausted too so always looking for a pick me up.

tiredness is my worse thing for sugar craving. It helps that I know that at least though that doesn't always fix it.

Cold water swimming tends to get cancelled out by the amount of home made post swim cake that gets brought in winter (summer I swim alone )

 

[Glitter's fun]

As TPO says- simple doesn't = easy. But it is simple.

1)Cut a string to your own height. Cut it in half. It fits round your waist you are a healthy weight.

2)Weigh yourself holding your tack. x by 5. Need a horse who's healthy weight is at least that.

3)Never, on anything, is commenting on Face Book the right way to deal with it. People go on FB to have their existing views confirmed. Other people wish to pander - leave them to it.


See - simple

Tin hat on & run. It's my share day so I'm just busy - not hiding, honest.

 

[ester]

You mean baler twine yes?

 

[Gloi]

As TPO says- simple doesn't = easy. But it is simple.

1)Cut a string to your own height. Cut it in half. It fits round your waist you are a healthy weight.

2)Weigh yourself holding your tack. x by 5. Need a horse who's healthy weight is at least that.

3)Never, on anything, is commenting on Face Book the right way to deal with it. People go on FB to have their existing views confirmed. Other people wish to pander - leave them to it.


See - simple

Tin hat on & run. It's my share day so I'm just busy - not hiding, honest.

Wrap the baler twine round your waist, double it and that is how tall you are going to grow.

 

[sbloom]

It won’t work for everyone. But it’s a damn good place to start.

Why I am so achey, and struggle so much is a mystery, no rheumatoid arthritis or inflammation markers.

There aren't always underlying issues though are there? Mental health problems definitely come into play with some obese individuals, but I know many who really do fall into the category of 'you are what you eat' and they can't blame medication, poverty or underlying health issues. I'm related to some of them (we have the good doer gene in my family) and one in particular drives me up the wall because she feeds her kids chips with everything and they're huge. When those kids stayed with her sister for a fortnight and actually had to eat decent food or starve they dropped weight.

we all know the basic principles of losing weight even if there are individual factors that make it easier/harder x

The individual factors are way more significant than the basic principles. If they weren't we'd not have such weight issues in the population.

https://www.facebook.com/WeAreRebelfit/posts/pfbid02WUnzipbmNjyAddQHzzAQT13HAhyqfUdHSbJMRekFzHKUVQrUD6dU67nisoE9dRQwl

 

[m1stify]

The individual factors are way more significant than the basic principles. If they weren't we'd not have such weight issues in the population.

https://www.facebook.com/WeAreRebelfit/posts/pfbid02WUnzipbmNjyAddQHzzAQT13HAhyqfUdHSbJMRekFzHKUVQrUD6dU67nisoE9dRQwl

exactly what I have been trying to say.

 

[AmyMay]

Yeah, right

 

[planete]

Liam may be right but the more stressed I am, the thinner I get...something does not compute.

 

[sbloom]

Liam may be right but the more stressed I am, the thinner I get...something does not compute.

You have a different response than most - it can depend on the stress. We all know plenty of people that stop eating enough when they're loved up, or super stressed. This is long term, almost generational (again, epigenetics, generational trauma), environmental stress. I posted a link a way back to a podcast that addressed this kind of stuff too.

 

[SEL]

The individual factors are way more significant than the basic principles. If they weren't we'd not have such weight issues in the population.

https://www.facebook.com/WeAreRebelfit/posts/pfbid02WUnzipbmNjyAddQHzzAQT13HAhyqfUdHSbJMRekFzHKUVQrUD6dU67nisoE9dRQwl

But the absolute basics are that what is on that plate DOES matter. I was at my heaviest commuting long distances and dealing with the after effects of a difficult break- up. Standing on the scales was a shock. Eating better was hard, but I think posts like that FB one give people justification for eating poorly. We all have days ,weeks, months when we eat badly especially if something is going on in our lives but ultimately what is on the plate is absolutely essential to weight loss.

I also tend to find that once someone starts to take notice of their diet and eat better they generally feel better full stop.

 

[stangs]

I know people who eat far healthier than I do, and exercise far more than I do, but they're still overweight because of their family underwent generations of starvation and famine. Epigenetics has a massive influence on the metabolism; cardio won't help you when you were born with genes prepared for starving to death.

I know someone who does everything right, and is on Ozempic to boot, but still can't lose even a pound. No one, not even the specialists, can figure out why.

There is a place for the 80-20 rule, especially in a country where UPF is a big issue, but it is incredibly cruel - and, above all else, arrogant - to say that everyone can lose weight if they just put effort into it like you did.

 

[sbloom]

But the absolute basics are that what is on that plate DOES matter. I was at my heaviest commuting long distances and dealing with the after effects of a difficult break- up. Standing on the scales was a shock. Eating better was hard, but I think posts like that FB one give people justification for eating poorly. We all have days ,weeks, months when we eat badly especially if something is going on in our lives but ultimately what is on the plate is absolutely essential to weight loss.

I also tend to find that once someone starts to take notice of their diet and eat better they generally feel better full stop.

So do we just yell at them louder to change what's on their plate or do we try and help with all the factors that are stopping them changing what's on their plate?

Those who can snap back to healthy eating when life feels a little better are probably in the minority as are those who can eat better to feel better. There is more and more research into this - we are hardwired to eat calorie laden food to protect us from famine. I don't understand why it's so hard to see how this can work against us, and anyone who says people need more willpower fundamentally misunderstand what willpower is. A lot of lack of appreciation that research is starting to prove what may of us so far have only had empathy towards - that many people will find it massively more difficult than person A to lose weight.