Exposed!

As a horseperson, I like to ready “horsey” things. Some books, yes, but I really enjoy getting my monthly Practical Horseman magazine, and I tend to read it cover to cover. One of my favorite columns is Jim Wofford’s “Cross Country Clinic.” Its always educational, and usually witty. Right up my alley. A few months ago he shared a story about a woman he taught in a clinic who—Jim made clear—was too large for her horse, quickly tired, and eventually had an unplanned dismount. Oh! The letters that were written to PH afterwards! Were people really taking Wofford to heart? Did they think he was calling them fat ladies? Sheesh… get a life folks!

In January of this year, PH published an article about eventer Becky Holder, and her success with a commitment to better eating and fitness. I could relate to both Jim’s point-- that riders (like the one he wrote about) shouldn’t put undue weight on their horses, and to Becky’s point of view… that fitness isn’t about a size, its about being healthy and strong for ourselves and our equine partners. So I wrote to PH, and shared my thoughts with them about these two articles…. And thought nothing more of it.

Until yesterday, when I flipped through my newest PH that had just arrived in the mail and saw my name in big bold letters in the “Your Turn” section of the magazine. CRAP! What have I done!?!? Now the entire equestrian world knows I am a fat, fat pig! I thought that information was just between me and the three of you who actually read this blog!

I paced around and panicked a few minutes… then franticly texted a couple members of the ME Team. They actually thought it was cool. Cool? COOL?!?! Are you kidding? Well.. now wait… let's stop and think about this a minute. Maybe it is cool. Afterall, I started this blog to share my story and my life. Why am I complaining about it appearing in a magazine where I’m a faceless nobody? Shouldn’t the appearance of my letter in a nationally published magazine be even more motivation for me to carry on with and stick to my goals?

Yeah, it should be. So see it for yourself here. Click on the blue “inside” button. I’m “Amanda F Smith, Georgia”. Its not anything you haven’t seen here, really, but it is kinda cool to see it somewhere... you know... real.

Now… here’s another issue… with my recent... *ahem* notoriety... do I really and truly go public with the blog? I’ve shared with a few friends that I have this wacky little project going on. But do I let everyone know? I’m not sure…


Weight Loss Update
One of the things I love about WW online (remember, that’s Weight Watchers) is all the little tools it gives you. Oodles and oodles of food items you can search for to make tracking your Points easy, a Points calculator, and even a recipe builder (!!). But I particularly like this cart:

Yup, that’s where I’ve been. The purple line is where I want to go. Where the chart dead-ends is where I am now. 171.2lbs. Periodically you get a little colored star that denotes different milestones (first 10 pounds lost, additional 5 pounds lost, etc) to keep you motivated. It is worth mentioning that this chart represents the entire length of time I have been on WW, about a year and a half. The steep bit at the beginning of the chart looks scary, but was really only a loss of about 2 pounds per week, which is good and healthy.

Hopefully I'll continue a downward trend, and not so many more "uphill" sections will show up on the chart!


Alfie Update
It was absolutely, drop dead, unbelievably gorgeous here in Georgia this weekend, so I took the time to visit and ride my horse twice! Saturday and Sunday the temps were in the mid- to upper-60’s and the sun just beckoned one to be outside. And that’s where I was!

Alfie was a little more relaxed and focused than usual, and I was very pleased about that. Considering he’s (a) still fairly green and (b) really done nothing but eat and poop all winter, he was good as gold. I couldn’t have asked for more. His birthday is March 1st, so look for a little post all about the little guy next week!

So, About this Diet and Exercise Thing…

Let’s talk honestly here for a minute. Painful as that may be, its important. We all have flaws and faults and things we want to change. That’s completely ok. Like the saying goes… “the first step is admitting you have a problem.” In recognizing that there’s an issue, there is room for improvement. If you refuse to acknowledge your own issues, you can’t very well move on, can you? In order to make this easier on the rest of you (all three of the rest of you!) I’ll go first. Lord, save me from embarrassment…

The Dreaded Truth
On August 1st, 2008 I weighed a whopping (here’s the embarrassing part) 190 lbs. I’m only 5’5”, so that’s pretty freaking gross. I had been aware of this problem for some time, and I knew I needed to do something about it, but for whatever reason, I wasn’t moved to change anything. But one afternoon, as I was getting ready to leave my office, I thought “You know what? This is just bullshit. I’m fat. I shouldn’t be fat. I don’t want to be fat.” And before I logged off my computer I went to Weight Watchers On-line and signed up.

By October of that year, I was down to about 165lbs. My husband and I had also joined a gym that summer, so between the Gym and Weigh Watchers (WW from here on out) I had lost about 25 pounds of flubby and mushy in a few months. My fitness was greatly improved. I was ecstatic. I was getting lots of compliments from friends and co-workers, and I was so motivated to keep it going. My goal weight was 140, and I knew I could do it. I was already half way there!

Then I got a crappy cold. Then my birthday. Then Thanksgiving. Then Christmas… and New Years… and before you know it Easter, which means Cadbury Eggs. And then summer, which is Ice Cream season, and before you know it you’re right back at Halloween again, which should be called “Eat for Three Months Straight Eve.” Its not widely popular as an official holiday yet, but I’m working on it.

*sigh*

I currently weigh 171.8 lbs. Considering that I have gone a whole YEAR without keeping track of my WW points, and really slacking off at the Gym (I was going 3-4 times a week), I haven’t done too badly with keeping my weight off. But I know I can do better. And I will do better. The best way to do that, for me, is to jump on the wagon again.

What I Did
First and foremost, at the beginning of 2010 I re-committed myself (feel free to laugh at that phrase all you want) to reaching my original goal weight. I started keeping track of my WW points again as a way to be accountable to myself for myself. At the first of the year, I actually weighed a few pounds more than I do now… so I’ve already lost some weight. I also decided to start this blog… its another way to be accountable, in a way, but I also feel like writing down what I’ve been doing and where I am on my journey will be another form of positive reinforcement that I can share with someone else (again… all three of you!).

Second, I started with workout baby-steps. This may be laziness on my part, and y’all can think that if you want. But let me tell you something… I typically can’t bring myself to leave the house once I get home in the winter time. Its already dark when I get there… add the cold to that and I’m not feeling motivated to do much of anything but sit on the couch in my jammies. This winter has been incredibly and unusually cold and damp, so I have not yet been back to my gym in many moons.

I did start doing 30 minutes of cardio on my mini stair-stepper once a week for the past couple of weeks while I watch TV. I don’t think its as good as a treadmill or an elliptical machine, but its something, and knowing me during winter is the reason I bought it. I also occasionally supplement my stair-stepping with the On Demand workout routines my cable company offers.

A moment of praise for “Fitness TV”… I love it. L.O.V.E. IT. And while I don’t visit Fitness TV as much as I should, when I do, I am always so impressed with the volume and variety of workouts available any time I want to use them. From 4 week “make over” workout regimens, to 15 minute “build a better butt” quickies, from Pilates to kickbox cardio, they have it all.

When I opt for one of these On Demand workouts, I usually do more than one. I’ll browse through the (never ending) menu of options, and find a couple that target the area(s) I want to target and are short… about 20 minutes or less. This tactic is two-fold; Mentally, I feel like its easier to handle and less daunting to complete two smaller workouts than one big one, and also I can do two totally different things in less than an hour—like cardio and Pilates. Or Legs and core strength.

Next Steps
Getting myself back to the gym is going to be a big hurdle, and I’m not really sure why. It shouldn’t be. Its as easy as hopping in the car and driving three miles down the road. Maybe it’s the misconception that everyone at the gym is watching you. Maybe its guilt or shame I’m feeling about all the months that I have been paying my membership, but haven’t been going.
I also want to be able to actually ride Alfie more often. I can be as “gym fit” as I want to be, but that doesn’t translate into “riding fit”… and vice versa. I could be fit enough to run five miles a day, but that doesn’t mean I have the core stability and the right kind of strength to ride for 30 minutes.

I’ve considered starting the workouts that are in the book “The Rider’s Fitness Program”… but part of me is a little intimidated. It’s a 6 week schedule with three different workouts each week. Each workout is only 6 or 7 different exercises… but looking at the pictures of the exercises and machines and equipment in the book, I get the heebie-jeebies. The weight machines at the gym kind of intimidate me anyway… even the simple ones. But add to that different moves and attaching certain handles to the cables… and I feel like I’m in over my head.

Three workouts a week, plus riding 3 or 4 days a week, plus needing to get 3 or 4 days of cardio in per week… When am I going to have time to even do all of that? I work a full time job! And it takes me an hour to get there and an hour to get home! And what about making dinner for myself and Dear Husband? And walking the hounds? And cleaning the house and doing laundry and… sleeping? Its overwhelming!!!

Maybe that is my problem. Maybe I’m trying to do too much. But what is a good balanced approach to all of these things? Ah HA! That’s why the blog is here… I don’t have an answer now, but I’m sure I’ll figure it out by trial and error eventually. You now see where baby steps come in handy for me.

Final Thoughts
We all want to be fit and healthy. We all want to look fantastic in our breeches. But we aren’t all blessed with that long, lithe body the models in the Dover catalog have, so we have to work hard in able to look half that good.

But when it comes down to it, what motivated me was Alfie. Why should I expect him to cart my over-weight ass around when I wasn’t doing anything about it? He could safely carry me around, sure, but was it fair? Especially when I knew I should weigh less? Not really. He’s been used to feather-weight jockeys riding him… and here I come at twice that weight. With me at a healthier weight, Alfie would be able to do his job more easily, and quite possibly better. I would also be able to do my job better, as a rider, too. The advantage to losing weight was beneficial to me and Alfie as a team. If I want Alfie to eat the right things and stay fit, why shouldn’t I want that for myself?

Bottom line… you have to be properly motivated. You lose the weight and get fit because you’ll be able to do more with your kids, or you’ll be able to run that half marathon, or because you want to just look good. But its YOUR DECISION. Do it because you want to, and for the reasons that are right for you. Don’t do it because someone else tells you to do so over and over again. Its your life, and your call. It will mean so much more to you when you reach your goal than it would if you were merely trying to please others. Period.

Winterizing your Riding.

(not me, but don't they look snuggly warm?)

This past Sunday I not only had the time to ride, but it was warm enough that I actually wanted to be outside. This didn’t strike me as odd until I talked to my mom later in the day; She asked me what I had done earlier and when I told her that I’d been up to the barn she said “To ride? Isn’t it too cold for that?” What? It was 45 degrees outside, and sunny! How on earth is that cold?

Truth is… that is kinda cold for Georgia. But with the recent stretch of consecutive days hovering right around freezing (many nights in a row in the teens, and few days even hitting 30) Sunday was practically bathing suit weather. I wore only a long sleeved t-shirt and a light-weight fleece pull over and I got really warm while riding. But all those other frigid days, what was I wearing?

Duh… jammies and fuzzy socks. I wasn’t about to go outside if I didn’t have to. And yes, I am blessed that Alfie is in the capable and caring hands at a small boarding barn that made sure he was well taken care of. For the record…He was wearing three layers (a fleece, a mid-weight stable blanket, and a heavy-weight turnout with a hood). I am a wuss when it comes to cold weather. Typically, I consider 60 “cold”… not “chilly”… but “cold”. But I have been spotted outside in frigid temperatures before.

I walk my dogs nearly every morning before work, often despite it being 16 degrees. I was on the college crew team (that means rowing) for a few years, and we had a policy that we didn’t cancel practice unless it was 35 degrees and raining. Also note that its always a good 5 degrees colder once you’re on the water. In more recent history (I think last winter) I had what I refer to as the Tundradome Lesson. My guess is that it was right around 30 degrees out; a large enough section of the (outdoor, un-covered) ring wasn’t frozen, so I rode much to my trainer’s chagrin.

So, yes, I have my moments of non-wussiness… but what exactly do I wear so that I don’t lose precious digits while I’m exposed to the elements? I’m so glad you asked!

Starting from top to bottom, these are some of my favorite items for doing anything outside in the winter. Where I may not have a specific brand, I’ll link to something similar. Very little of what I own is “equestrian”. And why should it be? It’s a lot more expensive to buy cold weather gear that is “made for riders” and typically you can find similar items in sporting goods stores or even places like Target. This time of year (when spring is but weeks away) you can get really good deals on winter items, too.

A Neck Gaitor.
No joke, this is one of the best purchases I have ever, ever made. The one I have is actually a plain, navy fleece, with a bit of elastic at each opening, but this one is super snazzy. I L.O.V.E. my neck gaiter. Less bulky than a scarf, more substantial than a turtleneck, and not as weird looking as a balaclava (not to be confused with BAKLAVA, which we love and adore. Amen.). Plus you don’t have to worry about anything under your helmet, taking up what little extra space there is up there.

Typically I layer a long tank (so that I can tuck it into my breeches to keep the draft out), a long sleeved shirt and a coat or some other kind of appropriate outerwear… and the neck gaiter kind of goes “between” the shirt and the coat. If my face starts to get numb, I can pull the neck gaiter up over my nose. Try doing that with a scarf while you’re riding. Not so easy… plus with the wrapping around your neck, you might hurt yourself. We don’t want that.

The JL Long Sleeved Shirt
A leftover from my days on the crew team, this article of clothing is pretty amazing, and I have told many fellow riders about them. And they look way cool with the racing stripes on the sleeves. But the best part is that the design of the shirts is PERFECT for riders!

Who here, by show of hands, has ever had a cold draft run down your breeches because the shirt you had on wasn’t quite long enough, and the waistband of your breeches gapes a bit? Ah… See… I knew I wasn’t the only one. These JL’s are cut nice a long in the back and the “tail” practically covers your entire butt. Well... if you're me. If you're not me, your entire fanny will be covered. They’re cut this way because when a rower is reaching for the “catch” (scroll down a bit for the diagram) they run into a problem many riders face when getting up into two-point (that lovely gaping I referred to earlier). Genius, no?

Similarly constructed, I love the Nike runner’s shirt I found last year (its very similar to this one… but I got it in magenta!). A longer back hem for coverage, the inside of the shirt is sort of “brushed” and really soft and warm against the skin. The cuffs are also turned under on the inside, forming a little pocket to keep your fingers warm. Pretty neat feature.

Cuddl Duds Thermal Leggings
Now, I got my leggings at Target, but I’m sure you can find these elsewhere. I find them a good base layer under schooling tights on the coldest of days, as rare as those days are here in Georgia. I wear them maybe twice or three times a winter, and I feel like the quality is good enough to hold up to that kind of minimal use for several years (so far I’ve been right). If you think you’ll wear them more often, I’d probably go for a higher-end brand. But I’m really happy with the Duds I have (also have a long-sleeved shirt). One tip though… for anyone out there as bothered by bunched seams as I am… pull the thermals through your breeches or schooling tights before you put them on, so that they’re layered they way they would be while you’re wearing them. Then put the two layers on together as one item. I know it sounds odd, but I find this really helps keep things smooth and prevents bunching and twisting of the two layers.

Winter Riding Gloves
I bought these Ovation gloves a few years back on super-sale. Again, these aren’t something I wear too often in the winter… but when you need them they’re great! I do like the grip these give, though the sizes seem to run a teeny bit small. Most days I wear my crochet-back gloves, but if its bitter cold or windy, I tend to bring these out. What I really want to find is a pair of cozy winter gloves with thinsulate.... anyone know of a brand?


Smartwool Socks
And not just any Smartwool socks (though I do love them all) but these socks. I have two pair, and its not nearly enough of a good thing. They’re just… perfect. In so many ways. They’re soft and comfortable. They’re cute. They’re warm… and they’re also not too thick. And they stay up! No kidding! I’ve pulled on a pair with my pj’s before, and when I wake up in the morning, they’re still up on my calf, not bunched up around my ankle. But I don’t find them constricting in the least. They have just the right amount of snugness. I’ve worn them under my field boots and they aren’t too bulky, and I’ve worn them under my half chaps. I think I find them the most comfortable under my half chaps. Even in the warmer months, they’re a great sock. But for winter, they just can’t be beat.
(ps… they’re currently on sale at REI!)

Other Items Worth Mentioning
For not-so-specific items… I find a good polar fleece-type shell is nice for keeping out the wind and cold, and I have a few different brands and like them all pretty well, though I prefer styles with hand-warmer pockets and a half-zip front. I also have a few vests that I like to wear over a long-sleeved shirt when weather is cold, but sunny. I have a “horse brand” vest that I got for around $20, and I also have one I got at Wal-Mart for $8. They both serve the same purpose, and perform about the same. When its cold and damp, it’s a whole other ball game. I hate cold and damp, and that’s mostly what we’ve had so far this winter… and for those days (if I even brave the outdoors) I have a marvelous Lands End rain coat with a zip-out fleece liner. I’ve had it for about a year, and can’t find it on the LE site at the moment… but look for something like that if you want a nice, versatile piece of outerwear. Everone likes a two-in-one!

Other Helpful Things...
You also want to make sure you are drinking plenty of water! I am actually guilty of not following my own advice, here. In the summer, I drink a ton of water. In the winter, I totally forget, but its every bit as important to stay hydrated when you're exposed to winter weather and temperatures. On days that I remember to bring it, I put a bottle of water on my tack trunk so that when I put away my things after my ride, I have to move it. Which means a little light will go off and I'll actually drink the water! Amazing, right?

And then there's the dry skin issue. Its annoying. Its ugly. And sometimes it can even hurt. You can say whatever you want about being a "tough" rider and not caring that you have dry, cracked winter hands... but you should care. And you should use Ahava.

Coinsidentally, Ahava means "love" in Hebrew... and its such an appropriate name. I was first introduced to this a-freaking-mazing hand lotion when a college friend of mine brought some back for me from a trip to Israel, and it changed my life. Yes, hand lotion changed my life. I will never, ever use anything else. Its made with minerals from the Dead Sea, and is incredibly rich and moistureizing... but never heavy or greasy. Buy some. Love it! You can thank me later. I'll be here.

To combat dry lips, my very favorite item is Blistex Complete Moisture. It has a subtle citrus scent and flavor to it, which is really why I prefer it to other "mediciny" type lip balms. I actually ran out of this back in December... and I haven't seen it in any stores recently, so I am a little depressed about it. And my lips aren't very happy either. We're making do with something else... but its just not the same. I miss you, Complete Moisture!

Oh, and I final tidbit... this cuticle cream from Burt's Bees is also worth its weight in gold. I've had the same little tin for over two years. It stays in my purse and I use it year-round. Usually I rub a little in to my cuticles when I'm stopped at a red light during my morning commute. It sometimes pinch-hits for my beloved Blistex, too. Bonus!

So, bundle yourself up and go ride!