Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
Skinny Cow ice creams are pretty yummy, but I wouldn't call them weight loss food. I speak from experience.
While I wouldn't say that I "struggle" with my weight in general, there have been periods in my life when I've packed around a muffin top, spare tire, and some junk in my trunk. I'm only 5'3" so 10 pounds either way are pretty noticeable. I've never been one of those wispy, willowy girls as I've always been physically active and solidly muscled. As kids, we spent our afternoons riding bikes and roller skating. In high school, I ran track and rode my ponies throughout the hills and mountains of the Coast Ranges, mostly bareback. As an adult, I spent many years riding endurance races, often running along side my horse. Even so, there have been times when my vertically challenged body has becoming horizontally challenged as well. My "club skinny" weight is about 118, but Hubby thinks I am way, way too thin at that weight. I have to agree, but I sure look good in clothes when I am that thin. My holy crap weight is 148. When I am there, I am bursting out of said clothes and looking for elastic. It seems to take me about ten years to go from Club Skinny to Holy Crap. You've seen some recent photos of me, so you probably can guess where I am right now. Let's just say that there are no Skinny Cow ice cream bars in my freezer. When my tall boots started to get tighter and tighter and a pair of size 30 breeches were feeling snug, I decided that something had to be done. So, for the past few weeks, I've been pretty damn hungry. And when I say hungry, I really mean cranky as hell. Hubby now has a slightly thinner wife, but she's too pissy to enjoy being around! It started with a few stressful days at work. I simply lost my appetite completely, which is extremely unusual; I am a total chow hound. Realizing that I wouldn't actually die by living on fewer calories, I took advantage of my reduced appetite and started feeding a thinner body. By that, I mean I started eating what a skinny person would eat. And wonder of all wonders, the pounds started slipping away. Now, when I say what a skinny person would eat, I am talking about my Club Skinny self. It's not much food, but at least it's healthy food. My meals have consisted of a hard boiled egg at 7:00 a.m. followed by a low fat yogurt or string cheese at 10:30. Lunch has been a very small meat portion with less than a half cup of low fat cottage cheese. Dinner has been a seriously reduced portion of whatever I've made Hubby (some roasted vegies, a piece of chicken, and a quarter cup of couscous for example). And that's it. I start the morning with a cup of tea, no caffeine, to help me feel like I've at least had something. I get to work at 6:30 so by 7:00 a.m, I am starving. I also drink as much water as possible with no other beverages until I have my glass of wine and/or a couple of hard ciders. As of right now, I've lost about 8 pounds, and I am hoping to get 5 more off. This is dressage related of course. Losing those extra pounds means my boots are zipping up quite easily and my breeches aren't bulging across the butt and thighs. I also feel lean and mean with more muscle and a lot less fat. All of this must surely improve my balance. And if nothing else, at least my boots are fitting better!
Sandra
9/18/2013 01:03:19 am
HAHA! I too am at Holy Cow weight! I retired from the military last Tues and spent the last few months "off my game" due to herniated disks and cracked vertebrae. (Not a horse related thing) I use to run up to 12 miles a day and ride 4-5 times a week. The lack of physical exercise has caused me to gain quite a bit LOL (muffin top and all) Now that I have retired I plan to diet and walk my way back to fitness. Thanks for the motivation!
Karen
9/18/2013 11:31:44 am
Best of luck to you. Twelve miles? My best is 6 miles, and I thought I was going to collapse - even after months of training! :0)
Sandra
9/18/2013 03:15:31 pm
I was a marathoner and MISS it so bad! I have NEVER been so heavy LOL
Karen
9/18/2013 11:32:16 am
Exactly! I am better just going cold turkey! 9/18/2013 01:58:23 am
I'm at the Holy Cow end of the spectrum these days too. (our spectra are exactly the same vertical and horizontal!)
Karen
9/18/2013 11:34:25 am
We practice healthy habits at my house (no fast food, no sodas, etc.), but we like to eat and I tend to cook very savory, yummy meals. Unfortunately, I think I've been enjoying too much of those meals. So, it's a bit of boot camp for me. :0)
Karen
9/18/2013 11:35:11 am
Preaching to the choir, Sister! Hence - NOTHING sweet in my house at the moment. :0)
Angela
9/18/2013 03:11:13 am
HA! There's no hiding or denying those HOLY CRAP extra 10 lbs (or nearly 15 in my case) ;(
Karen
9/18/2013 11:40:00 am
Still, Angela? You must have really tweaked it! I get so much exercise just by being at the barn. If I was "laid up" with a bum foot/knee/ankle etc. I would would be HUGE.
Angela
9/19/2013 12:25:47 am
STILL...and, yes, I tweaked it really good. Ugh!! I seem to have hit plateau with it, so guess it's going to take even more time...
Karen
9/18/2013 11:36:33 am
I thought I was doing well, but he past three or four days have seen zero movement on the scale. I hope I haven't hit a plateau - there is no way I can eat any less. :0/ Hopefully the weight loss will resume as my body acclimates to the fewer calories.
Karen
9/18/2013 11:37:17 am
Thanks! We're going to the fair this weekend which might set me back a bit! :0) Comments are closed.
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About the Writer and RiderI am a lifelong rider.
I began endurance riding in 1996 where I ultimately completed five, one-day 100 mile races, the 200-mile Death Valley Encounter, and numerous other 50, 65, and 75 mile races. I began showing dressage in 2010. Welcome to my dressage journey. About Speedy GSpeedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse. After helping me earn a USDF Bronze medal in the summer of 2020, he is now semi-retired. Speedy is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.
About IzzyIzzy was started as a four-year old and then spent the next 18 months in pasture growing up. I bought him as a six-year old, and together, we are showing at the lower levels. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.
National Rider AwardsState Rider Awards
State Horse Awards
Working Towards:
CDS Sapphire Rider Award Third Level: 63.514% Third Level: 62.105% Fourth Level: Fourth Level: 2023 Show Season
Show Rating (***) CDS/USDF/USEF (*) CDS (s) Schooling (c) Clinic (r) Ride-a-Test Clinic 2023 Show Schedule
TBD 2023 Completed … Pending 2023 Qualifying Scores
Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC) Qualifying Training Level 3 Scores/2 Judges/60%: Score 1: Score 2: Score 3: Archives
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