I was recently searching across the web and ran across something called the Big Eq diet. Out of curiosity, what exactly is it?
Same thing as the Olympic gymnast diet. In other words, starvation.
I always figured it was like Emily Blunt’s character’s diet in The Devil Wears Prada:
See, I’m on this new diet, well, I don’t eat anything. And right before I feel I’m going to faint, I eat a cube of cheese
steamed fish and water
Anorexia and/or bulimia
[QUOTE=Janeway;9030029]
I always figured it was like Emily Blunt’s character’s diet in The Devil Wears Prada:
“See, I’m on this new diet, well, I don’t eat anything. And right before I feel I’m going to faint, I eat a cube of cheese.”[/QUOTE]
:lol::lol::lol:
Water, cocaine. Maybe vodka on Sunday nights.
Although I feel there may be some pot-stirring going on…(low-calorie broth in the pot, of course)…I have to say that I’ve always thought starvation seems so counterproductive when you are going to be getting upon a large animal with a will of its own and judged upon the security of your position in the tack (which takes some muscular control).
Lol at the Emily Blunt quote. Or, my favorite from the British TV show Absolutely Fabulous:
Edina: Have you eaten something?
Patsy: No, not since 1973.
Alterrain, you forgot diet coke and ADD medication. I think the cocaine gets added after you age out of the juniors but before your dad stops paying your bills, or at least that was my experience.
It’s something that has extreme potential to ruin your life (passing out, teeth falling out, infertility, $$$ medical bills, hospitalizations, losing friends, family headache, and potential death). I’ve experienced all but the last one. Fully recovered (never thought there was such a thing)…but please…eating disorders are chains around your neck. And what really sucked was still reaping the physical effects 20 years later.
Take care of yourselfs. We are athletes. Be wise.
“It’s something that has extreme potential to ruin your life (passing out, teeth falling out, infertility, $$$ medical bills, hospitalizations, losing friends, family headache, and potential death). I’ve experienced all but the last one. Fully recovered (never thought there was such a thing)…but please…eating disorders are chains around your neck. And what really sucked was still reaping the physical effects 20 years later.
Take care of yourselfs. We are athletes. Be wise.”
^^THIS ^^ Great response, lovemyboy. And, like Impractical Horsewoman said, how can one expect to ride well when one is starving their brain and their muscles? Judges don’t look for skinny, they look for accuracy, effectiveness and skill. None of those things come without first having the ability to think clearly and stay on.
Big eq diet…follow Hunter Holloway’s diet. Seems to work for her just fine. You must eat to be strong. Some are more naturally skinny but still eat for strength. Eat like an athlete…lean meats, high protein, vegetables and small frequent meals. George Morris in a clinic my kid was in asked the largest rider what she ate in an average day. Then he asked the smallest rider (my kid) what she ate. My kid’s list was considerably longer than the heavier kid which surprised him and sort of screwed his point. George’s point was that starvation is never the right way to be strong, just like being overweight is not the best way to be effective.
A nice passage from from Brigid Colvin’s USEF hearing (T being Tori):
Steve called T and asked her when she is going to start on a diet. I am sure he will remember that. T looked at her and said, don’t worry Betsee, I got this. Because my daughter is not fat. She picked up a piece of bacon and ate it right in front of Betsee.
Good for Hunter and Tori. The lasting effects of an eating disorder are awful. Hopefully some of these girls recognize they need to be healthy over Barbie thin.
Seems like a real troll-y first or second post, BUT:
The only “diet” any rider or athlete should be on is one that keeps us strong and healthy (and happy! Sometimes you just kinda need a damn chocolate bar).
OP, if you or anyone you know is struggling with dieting or if you’re developing disordered eating habits or thoughts about eating - I really hope you seek help. I don’t know your location, but here is a starting point for resources:
http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/resource-links
Riders are athletes. We need to be strong and have fuel in our bodies - and those bodies can be such a huge variety of shapes and sizes. There is no “right” way to look to be a good rider.
[QUOTE=Impractical Horsewoman;9030271]
Although I feel there may be some pot-stirring going on…(low-calorie broth in the pot, of course)…I have to say that I’ve always thought starvation seems so counterproductive when you are going to be getting upon a large animal with a will of its own and judged upon the security of your position in the tack (which takes some muscular control).
Lol at the Emily Blunt quote. Or, my favorite from the British TV show Absolutely Fabulous:
Edina: Have you eaten something?
Patsy: No, not since 1973.[/QUOTE]
I understand your point, but just a note that for those suffering from an eating disorder, the knowledge that it’s counterproductive isn’t particularly helpful - anorexia and bulimia aren’t rooted in logic. One of my friends suffered from severe anorexia and our trainer at the time repeatedly told her that she needed to eat to ride effectively. Obviously, that wasn’t super productive.
Dessert at least a few times a week. Oh wait, that’s my diet. No, I think that’s right, everyone deserves it.
@longtimelurker–absolutely, and I just want to make clear that my sarcasm was not directed to young riders but to foolish trainers who would in any shape or form encourage unhealthy eating.
Pressuring your student to skip meals or eat only a few hundred calories a day is a great way to have a kid pass out on her horse (or at best, space out and forget her course or be too weak to ride properly).
Agreed as well (as your example illustrates) that sometimes it is not the student’s trainer to blame but other complex issues surrounding the disorder including low-self esteem, perfectionism (“well, if I can’t be the best rider, at least I can be the thinnest”), and a desire for control.
Eating disorders are just as individual in their nature as the people that have them. Sometimes a sport can create a culture which encourages the disorder, sometimes it can be healing and an oasis from the issues which have fostered it. It all depends on the situation and the person.
And good for Tori eating that damn piece of bacon!
Pretty sure when I was actively competing my diet was:
Breakfast - Tim Hortons Bagel & Coffee
Lunch - Burger & fries or usually, at some shows Subway when they were the sponsor, the best show of my life was when there was a pulled pork vendor
Dinner - What ever local restaurant we could find
and on Saturdays dinner was followed with a healthy dose of what ever the bar was serving
I don’t know how anyone would maintain any kind of diet at any of these shows. I definitely eat better now that I have a 9-5… yet somehow I was skinner then… Think if I take up my old diet I could get my old body back? :lol:
I don’t know about a diet as I am pretty slim but what about height? My trainer has never told me to go on a diet but picks on me that I’m a short stumpy rider and will never do good in the EQ classes. Granted I don’t do the big EQ but when I pin well in an EQ class I say to me trainer “short and stumpy my ass” lol
Any diet or exercises to make you taller?
