Rider fitness.....inspire me!

kc100

kc100

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Ok so I'm definitely on the chubby side. Not obese, but definitely needing to shift around 2 stone. As much as I am aware of my size and unhappy with the way I look, somehow I'm still lacking motivation to do anything about it so this is where I need your help!

I have a gorgeous new horse that I share, I ride her 4 times a week and ride a friends horse 3 times a week (so I ride Monday, Tuesday, Thursday then 2 horses on Sat and Sun). I also try and run, did a 10k on Sunday (albeit slowly!) - typically I try and run twice a week so I am exercising in some way pretty much 7 days a week if we count riding as exercise. You'd think with all that I'd be a lithe looking thing however that is not the case, still pretty short and dumpy looking :p I think its my food that's the problem mainly, but also because both horses are young and green the schooling sessions are short and probably not keeping me all that fit.

Oh and I work from 9-5.30 mon-fri so sit on my butt most of the day looking at my computer!

So I'd love to hear from you all how you manage to ride, work and keep yourselves slim all at the same time - if I hear from you lot how you are all superhumans who fit in a million things in a day that might give me the kick up the bum I need! I'm getting married next year and want to start taking the dressage relatively seriously when share pony stops trying to kill herself so I dont want to be the chubby blob on the gorgeous grey WB :o
 
I just don't have any nice food to hand. I work in a physical job which helps but I take fruit to work and don't buy biscuits at home. Family moan though!!
My downfall is alcohol...I stopped drinking wine during the week and lost a lot (I drink whisky instead now - LOL - but only have one small whiskey instead of half a bottle of wine.)
 
Pilates is the way forward! Great for lengthening, strengthening and toning every muscle known to man, and will really improve your riding as it strengthens your core - bonus!
 
The key to the food is definitely not to buy bad food to start with. Then you only have to have will power once a week when you go food shopping instead of each time you walk past the kitchen.

Also with your exercise it sounds like you are not really yourself as much as you need to in order to really see a difference. Why not try doing some faster intervals when you are running. They do not have to be long to really make a difference. It does not have to be technical or complicated. On one of your normal runs you can just pick a tree or a lamp post a short distance away to sprint to and then let yourself jog gently for the minute after that. How about trying an exercise video. I find that is a great way to get in a short burst of cardio exercise and because all you have to do is walk to the lounge and put the TV it is easy to fit in to your day even if you only have 20/30 mins. I find the key to exercise is to mix it up so you don't get bored. Also don't over-do it or you will put yourself off.
 
I am pretty active and really notice it if I lay off the exercise for a while as I start feeling squidgy.

You're doing plenty of riding. I also find the yard duties (mucking out, poo picking etc) help. I do run but not as much as I should. Also swim once or twice a week and do yoga. Yoga is great for toning and strengthening.

What is your diet like? As said above, alcohol can be a major culprit. Cut out any alcohol for a few weeks, see if that makes a difference (not suggesting you're a heavy drinker but even a glass of wine or two a night is quite a lot of calories). Drink plenty of water so you don't feel as hungry. Don't keep fatty or sugary snacks at work or at home. If you have to out specifically to buy them, you're less likely to bother. Even little things like always taking the stairs at work rather than the lift. Do you make your own lunch to take to work? Do that if not, as you'll know what is in it.
 
Thanks for the ideas so far everyone - I'm trying to avoid any forms of exercise that cost money, I do like swimming but each swim adds up to valuable competition entries for me ;)

Exercise DVD is definitely something I'm considering, looking at the Jillian Michaels 30 day shred as its only a 20 minute work-out and sounds really intense, just have to encourage myself to get out of bed earlier - I love my sleep but would have to fit this in before work!

Do you all manage to exercise and ride in the same day? I do make excuses and think because I'm riding I dont need to do any other exercise that day but perhaps I need to change that thinking. I could easily get up in the morning half an hour earlier, I just need to get the motivation to do it!

Food wise I'm very good with the shopping, its the office that is my downfall :o There are always left over platters of sandwiches, sausage rolls, pork pies etc from client meetings, someone's birthday = cake, vending machine filled with chocolate, and then friends who want to go to the pub for a carvery sandwich at lunchtime (washed down with a glass of wine of course!). So there is no temptation around at home, but in the office its so hard to avoid! I have cut out wine though at home apart from a glass or two at weekends, I dont drink during the week anymore unless its at the pub with work (and that's once a week max).
 
Could you not rope your colleagues at work in to a healthy eating/fitness drive. I am sure some of them would like to lose weight for the Christmas party season.
 
The best thing for weightloss that I have found is having two little boys:) I skinnier now than ive ever been because of kids and horses:) On a serious note, I find doing everything with purpose helps. When I walk I walk fast even if that's around the house. If Im walking up to the yard then I move quick, I do poo picking quick, I walk or run out with my horse. Just do everything with a spring in your step.
Like others have said, don't buy in the rubbish so then if you feel like eating rubbish you actually have to make the trip out to get it which I can never be bothered to do unless its time of the month.
I found having one day a week to stuff my face with whatever I want really helps me to be controlled for the rest of the week but only buy enough to eat in that day. If you go really mad then its there for the next day and you don't want that.
You could get your collegues in on it and say 'don't let me eat or you get to choose a forfeit for me'. I sometimes do that with hubby and then Im accountable and have to pay if I do eat rubbish.
 
Yes I exercise on the same day as riding. If I'm being good I might for for a 30 min early morning swim then ride in the evening, or run before work and ride at night. BF and I also do a fair bit of walking; if we get back from a walk early enough I will usually ride that day too. Could you maybe cycle or run to and from work? My sister has started cycling the 3 miles to work which although it doesn't sound much, is still 6 miles per day that she wasn't doing and it adds up through the week.

RE work, I don't mean to sound like I'm being horrible but that is simply a case of willpower. Just because you go to the pub doesn't mean you have to eat something fatty or high calorie, or have a pudding. You can have a salad and ask for the sauce on the side, so you can regulate how much super-fatty Caesar dressing (or similar) they put on. Substitute the glass of wine for tap water or orange juice. We often have leftover lunches in our office too - just ignore them. Or snack from the leftover fruit rather than the cakes, and feel smug ;) I really do think the leftover stuff in the office and lunches out is just down to willpower and choice, no easy way to say that I'm afraid. You can still go to the pub with colleagues but it's your choice what you pick from the menu, and you can make the choice to have something healthy without the wine :)
 
I've just started weight lifting and yoga at home. Im not a cardio fan so class mucking out and poo picking as cardio and you know lifting weights is helping me slim down ALOT quicker than cardio ever has in the past :eek:

I have two dumbells and I have a short but intense work out and on alternative days I do a DVD yoga session for beginners. I ride about 6 days a week and its really working.

Food and wine is my downfall but cutting out the drinking in the week and going to try vodka and lemonade at weekends if i want a drink (I always do, lol)

Food I ALWAYS have a list of dinners for the week, all meals are planned and i eat before i go shopping which makes shopping really boring so i dont buy goddies. I make lunches for work and I have a mid morning and afternoon snake so eating five times a day so never feel hungry and manage to, mostly, say no to bad foods :)
 
cinnamontoast said:
Is swimming any good? I'm considering taking it up again :redface3:
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swimming is excellent. However you have to push yourself a bit. Many years ago I lost a lot of weight with weight watchers and I swam a lot. I used to do 100 lengths three times a week, mostly breast stroke. Then I registered to train as a lifeguard, and probably swam nearer 25 lengths three times a week while training (the training continued afterwards while I worked we had regular training/fitness sessions) but the swimming was harder - warmup was three lengths of crawl, three breast stroke, three back stroke as fast as possible, then the rest of the lengths were training tows or diving to rescue things etc. I noticed a huge difference when I stopped breezing up and down in breast stroke, which I found easy, and started on the more pushed type of swimming...
 
xDundryx said:
Circuit training and spinning.. Hard work but so worth it! :)
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I did circuits last winter and loved it. It's fallen by the wayside this year but might start again now you've reminded me! I will also be doing some spinning classes and turbo training at home once it's too dark to ride at night, or too miserable outside to contemplate sitting on a horse.
 
Op i am in a similar position to you, ride my cob 3-4 times a week and 2 horses on a weekend although is usually just a gentle hack for the old man so not much calorie burning there lol, i muck out and poo pick everyday and at a weekend throw the muck heap back, sweep yard top to bottom and scrub stables so you would think i would be a skinny minnie but sadly not! ;)

I to need to shed a couple of stone but just have no motivation, I work 8-5 mon -fri some physical but mostly sat in front of my computer, then when i get home i care for my partner around doing my horses. as my partner is currently out of work due to illness money is very tight so and exercise which costs money is out of the question ;)

I dont drink so alchohol not a problem and dont eat chocolate (yucky stuff) but bread is a big prob for me as its cheap and easy, i cant cheat at work as have my mum their watching me hehe but weight just wont seem to shift! My biggest prob is i do comfort eat and probs over the last year is where the extra weight has come from ;)

At the moment i am trying to fit in walking my dog for 30mins to an hour depending on my partner (if he can be left) but this is usually around 9 at night before i collapse into bed in a heap haha!

I really want to start jumping my lad next year and at this weight (14 stone, size 16) i feel a bit top heavy ( my big chest doesnt help lol) so interested in peoples ideas lol :)
 
splashnutti1 said:
At the moment i am trying to fit in walking my dog for 30mins to an hour depending on my partner (if he can be left) but this is usually around 9 at night before i collapse into bed in a heap haha!
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Could you maybe turn the walking into running gradually? Just do it bit by bit - run for 10 strides, walk for 10, etc, if you've never run before. Also maybe it's possible to get some help looking after your partner - does he have any family nearby who could stay with him for an hour or so while you go for a run? I've said it a lot on these type of threads recently but try some online yoga - Yoga Journal website has some great routines for beginners that you can do at home, you may only need 15 mins or so. I often do a 15min one first thing in the morning.
 
I bought myself a Vibration Plate (AKA wobble board)

Like this -
http://www.sportandleisureuk.com/ca...d&gclid=COKc7d7z9bkCFcbLtAodPiEAkg#googlebase

It's brilliant I'm short on time like you OP so manage to squeeze 10-20 mins on this every other day (ish) and by god it's brilliant!

I've always had thighs that meet in between my legs which is seriously uncomfortable in the summer for skirts and things but honestly after about 4 weeks of just standing on the board I've lost a good inch from each leg.

I've not lost weight but it's really toning.

Highly recommend these weird things.

Apparently you can do yoga style exercises on it to vary it all a bit, I must get a book or DVD to help me move on with this.
 
chestnut cob said:
Could you maybe turn the walking into running gradually? Just do it bit by bit - run for 10 strides, walk for 10, etc, if you've never run before. Also maybe it's possible to get some help looking after your partner - does he have any family nearby who could stay with him for an hour or so while you go for a run? I've said it a lot on these type of threads recently but try some online yoga - Yoga Journal website has some great routines for beginners that you can do at home, you may only need 15 mins or so. I often do a 15min one first thing in the morning.
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yes good idea may see if i can eventually turn a walk into a run with my dog once i get fitter, definately interested in the Yoga could do that at night before bed and would still be near for my partner so sounds perfect, sadly his family live miles away and arent really supportive at all so its all down to me, friends have offered to sit with him but he finds his condition difficult to deal with around people he doesnt know well so is a difficult one.
 
Someone mention Jillian Michaels 30 day shred DVD- I fully recommend it- 20 mins high intensity workout..

Fitting it in is easy as you need no special equipment , can do it it your lounge and it only takes 20 mins.

Be prepared to hurt tho... Took til day 5 till I could walk down the stairs without hurting!! The first few days are horrible but by day 6 you kinda get in the swing of it.

Some amazing results to be had by sticking with it tho!!
 
ellis9905 said:
Someone mention Jillian Michaels 30 day shred DVD- I fully recommend it- 20 mins high intensity workout..

Fitting it in is easy as you need no special equipment , can do it it your lounge and it only takes 20 mins.

Be prepared to hurt tho... Took til day 5 till I could walk down the stairs without hurting!! The first few days are horrible but by day 6 you kinda get in the swing of it.

Some amazing results to be had by sticking with it tho!!
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I've just gone and ordered it, eeek! Out of interest (hope you dont mind me asking), have you lost weight or just generally toned up from doing this DVD? I've read around online and some people lose weight, but the consensus is that you often dont lose anything, just tone up and notice your clothes getting looser etc. I wouldnt say no to the latter mind but would like to lose some pounds (well, stones!) too.
 
Honestly, I find that doing all the riding and yard duties myself is more than enough exercise to keep me slim. I feel like I've gotten a bit tubby over the summer, but I'm not worried as i know it will all go as we hit the winter. Last year i basically ate whatever I wanted and managed to still lose weight- to the point where everyone was telling me I was getting too skinny and I had to use my leather puncher thingy to make extra holes in my belt!
I was doing 2 big horses on DIY livery tho (first time I've not had horses at home!), so would start the day mucking out, changing rugs, walking the boys up a hill to their winter field, then wheeling up a bale of hay in a wheelbarrow thru the mud (back breaking work!) and sometimes having to wheel up some water too! The day would end with grooming, riding, poo picking the field, filling and carrying water buckets, putting beds down, filling hay nets, rug changes and a quick sweep of the yard. And that's just a few basic jobs- usually there would be other 'manual labour' things to do also! Lol
I also found walking the horses out in hand (one was lame for a few weeks so couldn't be ridden) helped my fitness, as we have LOTS of hills round here!

I am not a big fan of gyms (not that I'd even have time to go anyway!) and find that having horses means I do a lot of physical work, but at the same time I don't really notice it and it defo doesn't feel like exercise.

Maybe you could get involved with the yard work side of things- ESP as you're there anyway? It's something which is free to do and could even save you (or your sharer) money on livery costs! Even if you only did a few evenings a week, it all adds up! Plus once you start building muscle it will burn more calories! :)
 
Both my sister and myself have been doing it- I have more to loose than my sister...

I have noticed a definite change in shape... I am losing lbs to but I can't say that it's soley the shred as I'm also on the couch to 5 k running programme...

My sister with less to lose has toned and lost inches more than lbs.
You very much get out what you put into it :)
 
star26 said:
Honestly, I find that doing all the riding and yard duties myself is more than enough exercise to keep me slim. I feel like I've gotten a bit tubby over the summer, but I'm not worried as i know it will all go as we hit the winter. Last year i basically ate whatever I wanted and managed to still lose weight- to the point where everyone was telling me I was getting too skinny and I had to use my leather puncher thingy to make extra holes in my belt!
I was doing 2 big horses on DIY livery tho (first time I've not had horses at home!), so would start the day mucking out, changing rugs, walking the boys up a hill to their winter field, then wheeling up a bale of hay in a wheelbarrow thru the mud (back breaking work!) and sometimes having to wheel up some water too! The day would end with grooming, riding, poo picking the field, filling and carrying water buckets, putting beds down, filling hay nets, rug changes and a quick sweep of the yard. And that's just a few basic jobs- usually there would be other 'manual labour' things to do also! Lol
I also found walking the horses out in hand (one was lame for a few weeks so couldn't be ridden) helped my fitness, as we have LOTS of hills round here!

I am not a big fan of gyms (not that I'd even have time to go anyway!) and find that having horses means I do a lot of physical work, but at the same time I don't really notice it and it defo doesn't feel like exercise.

Maybe you could get involved with the yard work side of things- ESP as you're there anyway? It's something which is free to do and could even save you (or your sharer) money on livery costs! Even if you only did a few evenings a week, it all adds up! Plus once you start building muscle it will burn more calories! :)
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Wish I could be more like you :)

Sorry if it wasnt clear, I am the sharer rather than the owner and the owner has her on full livery so no jobs for me to do unfortunately - however I have worked weekends as a weekend groom before (tell me about wheelbarrows and bad surfaces - felt like I was going to die!) and with my old share horse I did all the chores 4 days a week and still gained weight :(

So tried the groom job for the extra pennies and hoped it would help me lose weight, still gained though - how the hell does that work?! And it was a solid 5-6 hours of mucking out (about 8 stables), poo picking, sweeping, hand walking.....I'm sure there is something wrong with my metabolism lol!

Definitely think I need to try and squeeze in exercise before work so even though I'm riding in the eve I can do a workout before work. Then need to get the food sorted - I dont eat badly but clearly I'm doing something wrong, need to get a big dose of willpower to cut out the naughty office left overs and then look at what else I eat during the day to see if I can sort it out. I use myfitnesspal on my phone and I stick to 1500-1600 calories per day (most days) so I'm not a crazy eater...

Think for some of us its easier than others, I must have been born to be chubby!
 
ellis9905 said:
Both my sister and myself have been doing it- I have more to loose than my sister...

I have noticed a definite change in shape... I am losing lbs to but I can't say that it's soley the shred as I'm also on the couch to 5 k running programme...

My sister with less to lose has toned and lost inches more than lbs.
You very much get out what you put into it :)
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That's great to hear thank you - looking forward to the DVD arriving and Jillian kicking my butt! I run anyway so I might supplement the workout with a couple of runs (currently can manage 10k but find it hard going, 5k easy but need to get faster) to help boost the weight loss side of it!
 
kc100 said:
That's great to hear thank you - looking forward to the DVD arriving and Jillian kicking my butt! I run anyway so I might supplement the workout with a couple of runs (currently can manage 10k but find it hard going, 5k easy but need to get faster) to help boost the weight loss side of it!
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When I'm feeling very good I do shred first thing in morning then a 3k run on the treadmill in the afternoon

:)
 
Oh and not sure if your into apps or not .. But there's one designed to improve your 5k time , great app tells you when to do a faster blast etc then over a period of weeks you do more faster sections til over 6/8 weeks you run at a constant faster speed :)
 
kc100 said:
Wish I could be more like you :)

Sorry if it wasnt clear, I am the sharer rather than the owner and the owner has her on full livery so no jobs for me to do unfortunately - however I have worked weekends as a weekend groom before (tell me about wheelbarrows and bad surfaces - felt like I was going to die!) and with my old share horse I did all the chores 4 days a week and still gained weight :(

So tried the groom job for the extra pennies and hoped it would help me lose weight, still gained though - how the hell does that work?! And it was a solid 5-6 hours of mucking out (about 8 stables), poo picking, sweeping, hand walking.....I'm sure there is something wrong with my metabolism lol!

Definitely think I need to try and squeeze in exercise before work so even though I'm riding in the eve I can do a workout before work. Then need to get the food sorted - I dont eat badly but clearly I'm doing something wrong, need to get a big dose of willpower to cut out the naughty office left overs and then look at what else I eat during the day to see if I can sort it out. I use myfitnesspal on my phone and I stick to 1500-1600 calories per day (most days) so I'm not a crazy eater...

Think for some of us its easier than others, I must have been born to be chubby!
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Aw, I do feel for you, as I know how annoying it is being a bit bigger than you want to be- 2 years ago I lost about 2 stone too (uni excess- drinking/take aways ment i'd piled on the lbs!). I did it the old fashioned way 'counting calories'.
I had to work hard to get it all off, but now I'm back into horses and eating normally I am back to my usual weight- tho after a summer of ice creams I am at the heavier end of 'normal' but I know I will burn it off as mucking out starts! Lol

Lol to the whole wheelbarrow thing, I once got my 'fit and strong' brother to push it for me- he nearly had some kind of attack!
Perhaps I should get a load more horses and offer some kind of boot camp- people can come and do all the chores and I'll sit around eating cakes!

Sorry to hear that you still gain weight even doing yard work. Have you ever been to the doctors and gotten tested? As things like thyroid imbalances etc can mean you would find it hard to shift weight? -perhaps something to look into?

I know it's boring but i find eating healthy foods, planning meals/snacks and sticking to a routine can help keep you on track food wise. I prefer to eat the same foods over and over when dieting- tho it's not for everyone! Cut out fizzy drinks, sugar, chocolate, crisps and eat things like porridge, yoghurt with museli, omelettes, salads and stirfrys instead. Also lots of vegetarian food such as quorn burgers and mince have a lot less calories than the real thing.

Also have a look on minimins.com - it's a really good 'dieting' site- lots of recipes and info. :)
 
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