Help! The out of shape rider!!

[My_Two_Cents]

@danacat

Wall sits are a great ‘at home’ exercise for legs, core etc.
https://kickasshomegym.com/wall-sit-benefits/​​​​​​

I can’t get the link to work. I also would love a bit more fitness for riding sporadically.

[danacat]

@My Two Cents

I can’t get the link to work. I also would love a bit more fitness for riding sporadically.

Right! Link doesn’t work! Grrr. Just google ‘wall sits exercise’ and you’ll get tons of sites.

Maybe this one will work: http://blog.anytimefitness.com/how-to-do-a-perfect-wall-sit-boost-it/

[ohmylivia]

@PNWjumper

I have 2 prone-to-being-ultra-dull-especially-if-they-think-they-can-get-away-with-it-horses. My rule for both of them when other people ride them is that starting from the minute they get on, I want the rider to be uber aware of their cues. If they cluck the horse MUST respond! MUST! EVERY SINGLE TIME that noise is made. So no extraneous clucking allowed (this is much harder for most people than they realize)! I tell the riders to cluck when appropriate and if they don’t immediately feel the horse surge forward a little bit then they need to give a wallop with the whip. And that HAS to be a legit whack…not one of those pansy ass taps that don’t do anything. It usually takes a few of those responses and suddenly the horse realizes that the rider means business and they both get shockingly easy to ride. If the rider doesn’t master that skill they both drag their feet and barely go for the rest of the ride.

As the owner of a horse that really would love to be slow and dull, this x1000. He’ll test every new rider to get away with the least amount of work possible, he isn’t stupid! I wouldn’t be surprised if your lease is similar in that way.
In terms of external fitness, wall sits and squats are your best friend, as well as planks. It doesn’t have to be a ton at a time, but even if you get up and do 10 squats a couple times a day when you’re at work that’s better than nothing. There are lots of plank challenges out there to build up time, my trainer is always encouraging us to do them. If it’s an option, I’ve also found that a standing desk really helps.

[phoebetrainer]

Incorporate exercise into your daily routine. Park further away from your work and walk to work the last few blocks / mile. Use the stairs. If you can’t cope with all the flights to get to your office, walk three flights and then take the elevator. Next week add another flight or two in. Use your break times to go up and down the stairs. Walk everywhere you can for fitness rather than driving. If you have time in your day, add running or swimming 3x / week. Increased fitness will make everything easier.