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Post by chickadee223 on Aug 2, 2016 7:01:18 GMT -5
Join in if you are someone who loves, owns, has owned, leases, rides, or just likes to watch these magnificent animals! We love to share stories and talk about the critters that keep us on our toes and in the saddle while on this weight loss journey. If you don't see this thread, please feel free to start it. (Hagd-Have A Great Day!)
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Post by chickadee223 on Aug 2, 2016 7:12:56 GMT -5
Good morning!
I thought I'd start this up today, since I'm up and about early on this Tuesday morning. I also had a question that I thought might make for an interesting QOTD:
How has your weight loss journey affected your riding?
For me, I am unfortunately at my highest, non-pregnancy weight. However, I have really increased my physical activity, logging about 25 miles per week of walking. More than anything, this has had a terrific impact on my riding, in terms of balance, core strength, and stamina. Before starting this walking regime (and being mostly sedentary), my lessons were pretty pathetic, in terms of my ability. I find this fascinating, because even though I weighed less back then (I'd say 4-5 months ago), my performance was totally sub-par compared to now.
This has been a big revelation to me, being a person who for so long equated higher weight with shame, scorn, and self-loathing! I am still plugging away to lose the pounds, but I am just flabbergasted at how much I can accomplish in my riding sessions now.
I guess a part-two to my question of the day is: how awful is it to the horse I'm riding to have to carry a heavier rider? But, this may be its own QOTD 😋
Have a a great day, all; I am in and out today, but look forward to reading any replies!
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Post by barbl123 on Aug 2, 2016 8:24:06 GMT -5
Thanks for getting us going (and getting into the swing of things!) Was all set to ride - but the weather not co-operating (no indoor) Weight? that's a hard question -like most of us - I would love to be 10 (15?) lbs less -I "play" with 3-5 lbs up & down -all in all I would not say I am "heavy" but certainly could stand to lose the weight. And yes, when I am down the few I do feel better about riding -guessing so does my horse! I only trail ride now (having done H/J & dressage showing in my past, younger days!) so not accountable to anyone but me & my horse! I keep on plugging away.
Exercise? since Penny is boarded at "semi-rough" board - where they feed but I (and pasture mate's owner) are responsible for cleaning -which we do daily -i get a somewhat steady amount of exercise - i have not been to the gym in months -just can't seem to get motivated so between barn & 15mo old puppy who needs alot of exercise -that will have to do for now!
Hoping to see more here as word gets out - HAGD -
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Post by squiggle37 on Aug 2, 2016 9:23:28 GMT -5
Good morning.
As to increased wt and riding, I did find the more I weighed the less agile I was in the saddle and the harder it was to mount. My belly kept getting in the way. Now I'm not riding but my belly still gets in the way. I'm tracking using the Momentum plan on the iTrackbites app and I'm slowly losing the wt. Today was WI for me and I lost .8# which makes a total of 6# since I've been tracking with Momentum plan.
Barb-did you enjoy Star Trek? Today DH and I are going to see The Secret Life of Pets as today is senior Tuesday and tickets are $6 each.
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Post by whiskeytango on Aug 2, 2016 9:25:37 GMT -5
Morning all- good questions... I'm at my heaviest right now, but I've yo-yo'd so I know how much better riding was when I was lighter. I have bad knees and my endurance (how long I can ride before my knees start to really ache) is so much better when I am lighter and exercising. Exercise is probably more important than what I actually weigh though. After a couple surgeries 2 yrs ago I have not really exercised at all- and that needs to change now. My main riding horse is a gentleman stallion, so he does not let on that I weigh too much, he just man's up and carries me with pride... but I imagine he would like it if I shed 50 lbs.
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Post by barbl123 on Aug 2, 2016 9:45:49 GMT -5
Talking about knees. while my mare is not tall (15H) when i hop off after an hour+ trail ride the ground is jarring - and I usually do "ugh" as I land. One day as I was hopping off and did so - a jogger -about my age-was going by & chuckled and said " I get it - I ride!" LOL
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2016 14:52:10 GMT -5
Hi good question and not just for riding. I don't have as much energy if over my "uh oh" weight. and I don't feel as agile. not riding now but that answer goes for all activities I think. and speaking of knees, my knees feel better when I am lighter so thanks for the reminder. and Chickadee, thanks for starting the board.
I had a few surgeries the past few years and I can say if you are cleared to exercise, you will feel better if you do. just go slowly. or have PT to see what you can do. I think exercise really helped in my recoveries.
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Post by chickadee223 on Aug 2, 2016 15:07:22 GMT -5
Morning all- good questions... I'm at my heaviest right now, but I've yo-yo'd so I know how much better riding was when I was lighter. I have bad knees and my endurance (how long I can ride before my knees start to really ache) is so much better when I am lighter and exercising. Exercise is probably more important than what I actually weigh though. After a couple surgeries 2 yrs ago I have not really exercised at all- and that needs to change now. My main riding horse is a gentleman stallion, so he does not let on that I weigh too much, he just man's up and carries me with pride... but I imagine he would like it if I shed 50 lbs. I hear you on the knees! I've also noticed a big difference in the creakiness and pain in my knees in the saddle after building up my quad muscles over the past few months. I like the description of your horse - he sounds like a good boy😊
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Post by chickadee223 on Aug 2, 2016 15:10:44 GMT -5
Talking about knees. while my mare is not tall (15H) when i hop off after an hour+ trail ride the ground is jarring - and I usually do "ugh" as I land. One day as I was hopping off and did so - a jogger -about my age-was going by & chuckled and said " I get it - I ride!" LOL Ha, that's so funny that that jogger sympathized with you. Dismounting continues to be one of my greatest sources of angst when I ride; after a challenging lesson my jello legs are sometimes not to be trusted, and I can end up in the dirt!
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Post by whiskeytango on Aug 2, 2016 16:26:43 GMT -5
I like the description of your horse - he sounds like a good boy😊 He's a dream- you can look him up on Facebook- he has his own page a quite a following from when we were competing in a televised trail riding competition- his page is under "Bravo Canyon - Kiger Mustang". He's very "manly"- does manly things like holler at me if I have to stop the trailer for gas and take too long at the restroom, he'll "woman!" me if I'm late with food (he'll only do it once though and then he expects his point has made), he has a "man cave" that he hides out for most of the day in... He's a hoot. He looks after me and it is thanks to him that I am really riding again. I had some falls and got to be a very nervous rider, but with him I can really go anywhere and do just about anything. Love him!
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Post by amy on Aug 2, 2016 17:34:31 GMT -5
Hi All, Riding is my favorite activity on earth and I definitely am riding better the more fit I become and the more weight I lose. When I was at my heaviest I used to have to take a break some times just to catch my breath during a lesson. Now I can easily make it through an hour lesson without getting winded. We take walk breaks more for the horse in the heat and humidity. I also used to know in my head what I wanted my body to do and sometimes could not get it done, things are going much better now and I can do so much more. I showed a little bit at my heaviest but I always felt self conscious about how I looked in my show clothes. I am no model now but it does not bother me anymore. The only time I did not mind the extra weight is when my first horse, a TB, used to get a little out of hand I felt more solid in the tack if he was trying to dance a little too much.
My next show is not until September (some people were asking). I did not really want to show in the heat of August since it becomes a long day and we are usually the last horse on the trailer to show.
HAGD Amy
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