My trainer told me I am too heavy for a horse...and that was ok

[Cat_Tap]

OP you should realize by now that on Coth we wander off the original topic a bit. Makes it more interesting. When I post I try to be very careful that I can manage any negative comments I may elicit so my feelings won’t get hurt. I once got jumped on because of spelling when it was just a typo I missed.

Back on the weight problem, has anyone tried drinking water with honey and three tablespoons of apple cider vinegar? It is supposed to kick start your metabolism. I am forever trying to loose 5 lbs. Sometimes I am successful. My friends can’t understand this but I try to explain that this has prevented me from gaining more.

[BigMama1]

[QUOTE=SendenHorse;8735397]
Yes, of course since muscle weighs more than fat then of course it’s not about thin-ness or scale.

I’ve never ever talked about “thin” here, you did

what is you % body fat? that is more telling to me then scale, pants size, etc.[/QUOTE]

I have no idea - haven’t had it measured in years. It was high then and I’m sure it’s still high now. I’m not pretending I weigh 200lbs because of muscle. I am the same weight and size I’ve been for the last 3 years but at least now I’m stronger and feel better. And though I haven’t lost any weight Inhavent gained any either - a small victory when I consider the 5lbs I gained each year for 10 straight years.

[BigMama1]

Also I’m not sure where anyone got the idea that I’m upset or that my feelings are hurt. Yes I was shocked at how nasty some people were on be other thread, but shocked is not upset. If I were overly sensitive I wouldn’t be talking about this on the Internet LOL

[SendenHorse]

[QUOTE=BigMama1;8735423]
Also I’m not sure where anyone got the idea that I’m upset or that my feelings are hurt. Yes I was shocked at how nasty some people were on be other thread, but shocked is not upset. If I were overly sensitive I wouldn’t be talking about this on the Internet LOL[/QUOTE]

Go back and re-read the posts. I’m not trying to pick at you, but from my screen this is very obvious. Just my frame of reference. I’m seeing now that you probably aren’t as upset as you sound, and that is good! I was concerned about you!

It is patronizing and insulting for strangers on the Internet to tell fat people that weight affects health and we should just eat less and move more.

[SendenHorse]

[QUOTE=BigMama1;8735417]
I have no idea - haven’t had it measured in years. It was high then and I’m sure it’s still high now. I’m not pretending I weigh 200lbs because of muscle. I am the same weight and size I’ve been for the last 3 years but at least now I’m stronger and feel better. And though I haven’t lost any weight Inhavent gained any either - a small victory when I consider the 5lbs I gained each year for 10 straight years.[/QUOTE]

you don’t know your % body fat? I ask because you seem to be struggling with a plateau.

Disregard if you will be offended by advice, but stay with me…

Have you tried Gluten free? (kidding!!!) :lol:
It really helped me ride better, amazing how much more one can progress with not puking from gluten and loosing weight stored in my belly.

[danceronice]

[QUOTE=LilyandBaron;8734159]
I’ll chime back in, since I think the key point of all my posts was missed. I could give two figs about a persons’ weight. My pet peeve are the people who approach me and open up a discussion about their attempts at weight loss and make no sense. There are legit reasons to struggle for some, but I’m thinking of specific examples of people who say goofy things about behaviors, not serious medical issues. I can’t be the only one who’s had this happen? People who say, literally, “working out didn’t work for me,” or “weight lifting makes you too big” [/QUOTE]

http://www.bodyforwife.com/the-exercise-myth/

Exercise isn’t for everyone. It doesn’t work long-term unless you have the luxury of devoting a lot of your time to something naturally unpleasant. Long-term diet changes (mostly just caloric reduction) are about the only thing that work. Especially once you pass 30 and generally no longer have the flexible time and metabolism to keep up the only level that burns enough calories to make a difference.

And I doubt ANYONE on this thread is talking about the “super obese.” Those people are not only very much not going horseback riding, they KNOW that they are obese, and they are in fact long past the point where any sort of exercise and diet alone will help them instead of radical medical intervention. The problem with horse sports (at least those in the English vein) is they treat sizes that are not remotely close to morbidly or super obese as if they are.

[BigMama1]

[QUOTE=SendenHorse;8735449]
Go back and re-read the posts. I’m not trying to pick at you, but from my screen this is very obvious. Just my frame of reference. I’m seeing now that you probably aren’t as upset as you sound, and that is good! I was concerned about you!

It is patronizing and insulting for strangers on the Internet to tell fat people that weight affects health and we should just eat less and move more.
[/QUOTE]

Yeah I’m not upset about it - quite used to that LOL. Just posting a PSA on behalf of fat chicks everywhere.

[mp]

[QUOTE=danceronice;8735542]
http://www.bodyforwife.com/the-exercise-myth/

Exercise isn’t for everyone. It doesn’t work long-term unless you have the luxury of devoting a lot of your time to something naturally unpleasant. Long-term diet changes (mostly just caloric reduction) are about the only thing that work. Especially once you pass 30 and generally no longer have the flexible time and metabolism to keep up the only level that burns enough calories to make a difference[/QUOTE]

If you find the exercise “naturally unpleasant” of course you won’t continue it. The key is finding an activity you enjoy. I’ve been running and now mostly walking for exercise for many many years. I love it. Am I always eager to get up early and go? No. But I do it (most days ;)) because once I’m out there, it feels great. And I plan on continuing as long as I can put one foot in front of the other.

And, yes, it is possible to exercise and burn enough calories to make a difference. I am waaaaay past 30 – like 30+ years past. If I decrease or increase my activity, even incrementally, it makes a difference in my weight.

PS – This is just what works for me. By no means do I believe weight loss or maintenance is a simple, easy proposition for everyone. Metabolism and genes play a role, as does your ability to move (e.g., I have no problems with my knees or hips, thank heavens). It just seems silly to say no one can stick with exercise for the long-term.

[BigMama1]

Activity can make a HUGE difference but for most people it isn’t enough without watching portion sizes and calorie intake too.

That’s one of the reasons Instarted working part time at the barn. Mucking stalls, turning in / out and sweeping in addition to riding ensures Inam active, whether I want to be or not. I’ve gone from a desk job and a 45 minute walk or run a few days a week to moving an average of 17,000 steps a day. That’s the reason my weight gain finally stopped. Unfortunately I obviously upped my calorie intake without realizing it enough to maintain my weight at that level of activity. It’s easy to do!

I had a friend who found her metabolism totally changed at menopause and everything she used to do to drop a few pounds easily didn’t work at all. She started by addressing activity and began running for the first time in her life using the Couch to 5k program. Once she got to the 5k mark she started competing in races and fell in love with running. That in turn led her to consult a nutritionist and totally change the way she eats. 3 years later she’s in her mid-50s, 53 pounds lighter and regularly runs half and full marathons.

It is possible but it wasn’t easy. Most of us, myself included, just aren’t willing to make the time or work that hard to totally transform our lives. I’m ok with that for now but as I set new and harder goals for my riding down the road I know more changes will be needed

[Countrywood]

Re changes, please look in to the Paleo Food plan (it’s food, not a diet). One can eat quite a bit, be very healthy, yet lose weight and most importantly, keep a stable weight once a goal is reached ( and live a real life, aka stick to the plan which has a lot of healthy and tasty options, yet not be calorie counting nor deprived)

[Countrywood]

Imo ( and I am a normal weight ), the problem many heavy/fat people have about losing weight is they have unrealistic goals, thus it is so difficult or far off they can’t do it or won’t do it. (my mom was very heavy so I did grow up around the problem and how it impacts someone’s life)

For example, a 200 lb person may want to get back to an ideal weight of 130 lbs , but the reality is that is so difficult it makes it almost impossible. So maybe a weight of 160 lbs , or 170 lbs, for that person is a still healthier, but more realistic, easier to achieve and maintain (and still give plenty of improvement re looks, clothes choices etc)

[SendenHorse]

I’ve been gluten free for a few years and it’s been great for me. I learned though to make sure you work with a doctor to monitor (!!!) your health. I wasn’t getting enough iron since I was “so healthy” and I got sick from being healthy. ARGH! :yes:

Oh yeah, here we all go swapping unasked for tips! :eek:

[mp]

[QUOTE=BigMama1;8735719]
Activity can make a HUGE difference but for most people it isn’t enough without watching portion sizes and calorie intake too.

That’s one of the reasons Instarted working part time at the barn. Mucking stalls, turning in / out and sweeping in addition to riding ensures Inam active, whether I want to be or not. I’ve gone from a desk job and a 45 minute walk or run a few days a week to moving an average of 17,000 steps a day. That’s the reason my weight gain finally stopped. Unfortunately I obviously upped my calorie intake without realizing it enough to maintain my weight at that level of activity. It’s easy to do!

I had a friend who found her metabolism totally changed at menopause and everything she used to do to drop a few pounds easily didn’t work at all. She started by addressing activity and began running for the first time in her life using the Couch to 5k program. Once she got to the 5k mark she started competing in races and fell in love with running. That in turn led her to consult a nutritionist and totally change the way she eats. 3 years later she’s in her mid-50s, 53 pounds lighter and regularly runs half and full marathons.[/QUOTE]

I have a five month-old border collie puppy. And let’s just say I might be doing half marathons by the time I get done trying to wear out that little guy. :eek:

re: barn work
I was probably my absolute fittest about 10 years ago when I kept horses at home. Mucking stalls and hauling water buckets, stacking hay and feed. It was like a workout at a gym twice a day. And I had to do it no matter what.

At one point my doctor asked me if I was running marathons because my pulse rate was only 45 bpm. He said for someone my age, he’d normally suspect heart problems. But everything else looked good.

Then my broodmare died, I got lazy, turned everyone out on pasture and gained 10#. Eh … don’t miss the “manure fork” elbow to be honest. But as a fitness regimen, it was awesome.

[Lady_Eboshi]

[QUOTE=danceronice;8735542]
http://www.bodyforwife.com/the-exercise-myth/

Exercise isn’t for everyone. It doesn’t work long-term unless you have the luxury of devoting a lot of your time to something naturally unpleasant. Long-term diet changes (mostly just caloric reduction) are about the only thing that work. Especially once you pass 30 and generally no longer have the flexible time and metabolism to keep up the only level that burns enough calories to make a difference.

And I doubt ANYONE on this thread is talking about the “super obese.” Those people are not only very much not going horseback riding, they KNOW that they are obese, and they are in fact long past the point where any sort of exercise and diet alone will help them instead of radical medical intervention. The problem with horse sports (at least those in the English vein) is they treat sizes that are not remotely close to morbidly or super obese as if they are.[/QUOTE]

THIS^. Most American women today have a body image that has been grossly distorted by more than a generation’s worth of media images idealizing models, actors, and athletes who are air-brushed at that. Most often such bodies are genetically unrealistic for people who live normal lives. Most smart people of means already eat good food, don’t allow personal problems to advance to somatic disorders, and live active and full lives.

The vast majority of the market for “diets” and gyms are people who want to lose between 5 and 35 lbs.

[Moogles]

[QUOTE=alicen;8735218]
Don’t do it! Better yet, don’t even buy them. It’s all a plot between the sugar and big industry foods to get people addicted to high profit junk products.[/QUOTE]

Not BIG SUGAR!!! But they then make the beet pulp my horse so dearly loves…oh noes do I subject myself to big sugar or deprive my lovely horse of his beet pulp noms!! The horrors…

…I chose sugar, I can’t help myself and my horse will totally support my decision :lol:

[SendenHorse]

[QUOTE=Moogles;8735904]
Not BIG SUGAR!!! But they then make the beet pulp my horse so dearly loves…oh noes do I subject myself to big sugar or deprive my lovely horse of his beet pulp noms!! The horrors…

…I chose sugar, I can’t help myself and my horse will totally support my decision :lol:[/QUOTE]

Right, you know you are doing this and it’s potentially a hindrance. This is what I mean by people not really doing everything to be healthy as BM thinks.
There is something weird in the American culture about bragging how we eat. I’m not so much picking at you Moogles as you are illustrating a common point. Sugar is bad, but you don’t care and laugh it off.

I keep thinking of the Strict Germans vs Independent Americans. We have by and large very poor seats and don’t advance much. Always a reason why something didn’t work and why someone can’t get their horse on the bit.

People who are happy staying at TL and getting 62%.

Yeah, I think Americans lack discipline, in training and in diet. Just look around or watch commercials. Show me an actually HEALTHY vegan, vegatarian, and meat dish at your local restaurant…Right, doesn’t exactly exsist. We love our junk food and TV.

How many of us actually work out and really do eat well? 1%?

Why are we so unhealthy, fat, and not progressing in dressage? We don’t really try. We know what to do but the culture wants to blame something- genetics, our horse, our job, etc.

[KBC]

@SendenHorse;8736098

Right, you know you are doing this and it’s potentially a hindrance. This is what I mean by people not really doing everything to be healthy as BM thinks.
There is something weird in the American culture about bragging how we eat. I’m not so much picking at you Moogles as you are illustrating a common point. Sugar is bad, but you don’t care and laugh it off.

See now here a couple of things:

First I thought Moogles was joking

Second you know I choose sugar…not very often but I would rather drink water every day, and then when sugar filled pop occasionally, rather than a diet soda.

I will read labels and choose one that has sugar, rather than cane syrup, again choosing sugar.

However, I can’t remember the last time we actually bought sugar, like the white crystaly stuff…we never use it. So choosing sugar isn’t always a bad thing

[SendenHorse]

[QUOTE=KBC;8736111]
See now here a couple of things:

First I thought Moogles was joking

Second you know I choose sugar…not very often but I would rather drink water every day, and then when sugar filled pop occasionally, rather than a diet soda.

I will read labels and choose one that has sugar, rather than cane syrup, again choosing sugar.

However, I can’t remember the last time we actually bought sugar, like the white crystaly stuff…we never use it. So choosing sugar isn’t always a bad thing[/QUOTE]

Right, its the flippant attitude. Again its an illustration of American culture.
Rules apply to others.
I don’t need longe lessons.
Don’t separate me from my (fill in food of choice) .
I can’t believe people think exercising isn’t going to work, or there is any debate about good food choices. We know so much more now. I’ve studied food and wellness for many years. Its just that certain things don’t change. Real food, no junk. Stoop sitting around.

[exploding_pony]

Did someone really post that exercise isn’t for everyone? I’m sorry but that is just … ridiculous.

[skydy]

[QUOTE=BigMama1;8735346]
I think the problem stems from the context. If I posted a question about how to lose weight, or complaining that I couldn’t lose weight (which I have never said) then advice would be appropriate and welcome.[/QUOTE]

Exactly. Your post was in regard to rider weight and horse size and that your trainer noticed something that was not obvious to you.

How this ended up being a diet, health, and exercise “advice” thread is beyond me. We were? discussing the weight carrying abilities of horses (and also the OP’s trainer, who seems to be a peach to horse and rider).

To whomever was considering cannon bone circumference as the mark of weight carrying ability, that is only one relevant aspect of conformation. There are other considerations.

Length of back and loin coupling are important considerations as well as the structure of the legs.