Can we have an adult re-rider support group?

I’m in, I need to get in shape, not quite yet but in a month or so I’ll start exercising again. I just need to find something I like! I can’t stick with much.

I need to get my core in shape big time. With all the surgeries its a hot mess. I purchased a book called “The Rider’s Exercise Program”. If I can stick with it, I think it will help me.

If the side effect IS a victoria’s secret body, hey great. But that aint gonna happen.

Tell me more about the rider’s exercise program. I don’t want want to join a gym; I need stuff I can do at home. I have a rowing machine, and I like to ride my bike sometimes. I should do it regularly.

[QUOTE=spacytracy;6056830]
I’m in, I need to get in shape, not quite yet but in a month or so I’ll start exercising again. I just need to find something I like! I can’t stick with much.

I need to get my core in shape big time. With all the surgeries its a hot mess. I purchased a book called “The Rider’s Exercise Program”. If I can stick with it, I think it will help me.

If the side effect IS a victoria’s secret body, hey great. But that aint gonna happen.[/QUOTE]

I have that book too! I think it is excellent – I just need to stick with it!

http://www.amazon.com/Riders-Fitness-Program-Dianna-Dennis/dp/1580175422/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1325518488&sr=8-2

Thanks for the link, spacytracy. I realized from scanning the reviews that this is not for me as I don’t want to go to a gym or buy exercise equipment. Good luck with it, though, and I will certainly cheer you on!

I will take a walk today to start off on the right track.

I have a bunch of pilates/yoga dvds I can burn for you! Pilates is awesome to strengthen your core.

I LOVE the Rider’s Fitness Program!! It does work too. When I was doing that 3x per week I was so much stronger than I am now, and thinner too as going to the gym made me stick to being more mindful about what I eat. For me, weight is totally about what I eat. I just eat too much and the wrong things. Working out helps, but if I don’t control the eating, I don’t lose weight (proved that doing 1 hr cardio/day 5x a week for months and not losing anything). Count me in as I SO SO SO need to get back on track and get back to the gym (and eat right).

Went to the barn yesterday and had a nice ride. It was cold and windy, so we started in the round pen again. I’m pretty spastic at that, so good thing he knows what he’s doing. Cantered down a few lines of poles and basically just putzed around talking to my friends. Trying to convince myself to go to the barn today but 45 and windy just doesn’t sound like what I want to do today. Forcast is for VERY cold weather (southern cold) to come in tonight so we are predicting the ring will be permafrost for my Wednesday AM lesson. Maybe I can make it up when the cold spell snaps.

[QUOTE=Dewey;6056889]
Thanks for the link, spacytracy. I realized from scanning the reviews that this is not for me as I don’t want to go to a gym or buy exercise equipment. Good luck with it, though, and I will certainly cheer you on!

I will take a walk today to start off on the right track.[/QUOTE]

Some of the exercises in it could be done with soup cans for hand weights and if you have a beach ball or something that could be used for a few others. Might be worth it to check to see if your library has it or if they can do interlibrary loan for it for you (if your ILL charge is reasonable).

Along with the standard advice of checking with your dr before starting any strenuous program — dont forget to get a baseline of your current physical self.

Remember back in grade school all those fitness tests? Same thing. See how many jump ropes you can do, how fast you can run a certain distance, how far you can comfortably run in a certain time, how many jumping jacks, sit-ups, chin ups, …
Ill let the rest of you add in some other baseline activities to add.

    Dewey, there are lots of exercises you can do at home. Check the DVD aisle at K-mart/Wal-mart for exercise vids and take from them what works best for you. Any place to swim? 

    Mixing it up on a [U]weekly plan[/U](rather than saying " oh, what will *I* do today" somewhat like a horses training chart. 
 Always have a couple different warm up- and cool down routines, then stick that days interval training in the middle. Im sure theres plenty of internet resources that will offer good ideas too.

     Maybe eventually everyone can take a turn setting up the weeks exercise plan and do it together.:yes:

Well, I just got back from my walk to see all these replies about getting fit. Yay!

My thighs are tingling after a fairly brisk 25-minute walk. I guess that means I am not in shape, but I already knew that! :lol:

I like the emphasis on getting stronger and increasing what I can do rather than in losing x number of pounds. I am never going to weigh what I did when I was 22, so fixation on weight is counterproductive for me. Of course, eating right is important, but I think I do have a pretty healthful diet most of the time. I do allow myself some treats on weekends.

I like the idea of making a plan most of us can do together. Speaking for myself, I am more likely to stick with it if I have friends to hold me accountable.

[QUOTE=iechris;6057190]
Some of the exercises in it could be done with soup cans for hand weights and if you have a beach ball or something that could be used for a few others. Might be worth it to check to see if your library has it or if they can do interlibrary loan for it for you (if your ILL charge is reasonable).[/QUOTE]

I used to have some hand weights. I don’t know where they are. I may have given them to my son. Soup cans is a good idea…I have plenty of those.

[QUOTE=brightskyfarm;6057220]
Dewey, there are lots of exercises you can do at home. Check the DVD aisle at K-mart/Wal-mart for exercise vids and take from them what works best for you. Any place to swim? [/QUOTE]

I do like to dance–maybe I can find a “Swinging to the Oldies” DVD–:lol:

Swimming–ugh. I know how good it is, but I hate it. My husband swims laps. I just know I’d be setting myself up for failure I I tried that.

one thing that has helped me is to ride western. it utilizes a few different muscles that english doesn’t. i did a ride to music at our barn party yesterday and had a pretty intense warm up and my outer thighs are feeling it this morning as well as last night. i use my core better, too, with western.

One of the things my trainer does is to sit on one of the big exercise balls when she is at her computer. Helps her balance and her core. Cough, cough - mine is staring at me from the corner - time to drag it out.

I’ll be focusing on dumbbells, walking (when it warms up) and the elliptical machine while it’s cold or rainy. And if I’m still doing all of this in 3 months, I’ll join the local 24-hour gym to start doing serious weights again.

So, yes, I’d be interested in a support group here within this thread. Even if it’s just a ‘this is what I did’ kind of deal.

For me – and I know she’s all over the place now – Jillian Michael’s first book is what helped me lose a good 25 pounds the last time I tried. It is a lot about diet, but there’s a nice, thick section about exercises, many of which you can do with little or no equipment. I bought the book when it first came out and absolutely didn’t regret it.

Opus Opus Opus. Look at this cutie!!
http://www.dreamhorse.com/show_horse.php?form_horse_id=1748169

Oh – and I had another pretty good lesson today. I’m going to work with Trainer No. 2 on Thursday, and she told me she was going to put me in her dressage saddle, so I had Trainer No. 1 give me a lesson in a dressage saddle today, so I wouldn’t look like an epileptic monkey when I rode on Thursday.

It was interesting. It took about 1/2 the lesson to get me off my crotch and back on my bum, and about the same amount of time to not put my heel down … and by the end of the lesson, I had a halfway decent sitting trot in a dressage saddle.

For the poster that mentioned riding in different saddles works different muscles, you’re absolutely right. My legs were sore/weak today when I got off, but in different muscles.

Happy New Year everyone! I am in for the fitness support group! I also HATE the gym!! I usually take a class twice a week through the local community college however it has been on hiatus since Thanksgiving!! I am lazy and definitely need help with motivation especially since it is dark and cold when I get home. It is hard enough to get to the barn sometimes!! I miss summer!!

[QUOTE=spacytracy;6058222]
Opus Opus Opus. Look at this cutie!!
http://www.dreamhorse.com/show_horse.php?form_horse_id=1748169[/QUOTE]

WOW. Have you already made an offer? :smiley:

Love the TB-Welsh cross, love the coloring and looks like it would be a good size for you! Not too young, not too old. Temperament is calm. They say she isn’t very forward moving. Is that something you’d be OK with? Or something you’d prefer?

I want lazy, can go for long periods without being ridden, barefoot, easy keeper, sweet, likes people and gets along with other horses, no vices, will do ring/trail/jump a little, trailers/clips, etc.

And yes I emailed.