[CowGirlUp9448]

I have several New Year resolutions.. One is to get healthier and lose weight (pretty common lol) right now I kind of eat whatever I want but I do drink water all the time..

I also want to get back into riding full time not like this year when I only rode once...So with that being said.. Has anyone had any luck with certain diets? I have tried a few but they didn't last long.. If not an actual diet can anyone give me some advice on swiching from whatever I want to getting healthier foods?

Also what are some things I can do with Arrow (my mini) and Winter that will also help me loose weight/burn more calories, however I should put that lol...I'm debating on getting a membership to curves but I am also going back to get my GED so my Shedule is going to be tight but I'll manage hehe

Or anyother advice you would want to give on the matter would be greatly appreciated as well My mom is terminally ill and dosen't remember my name half the time and she was the one who was always giving me advice about this stuff.. So I thought I would ask you all hehe

 

[MuleWrangler]

Hey, CowGirl, I am so sorry about your mom. That's gotta be very hard, and not easy for you to try to make changes with having to go through the stress I am sure you're dealing with! Great for you for wanting to make those healthful changes!

About getting better health--don't try diets. Getting on diets implies they are something you get back off of, and they usually change too much too fast. You need to make lifestyle changes--things that you change over time for your health and well being. What do you eat/drink the most of that is worst for you? Try phasing that one thing out and replacing it with something healthful: Soft drinks are the worst, because they are really just empty calories. If you drink a Coke a day, say, replace it with V8 juice or just water. Or if you snack on potato chips or Doritos in front of the TV, try changing to carrot sticks or try to change away from eating while you are doing something else altogether (don't eat while reading, watching TV or sitting on the computer--eat for the sake of eating and gaining nourishment and give your whole attention to it. It's so easy to throw on 1,600 calories from chowing down on a whole bag of Cheetos in front of the computer and not even really notice you're eating them). If you love Cheetos and can't live without them, have 14 of them by themselves and pay your whole attention to eating and enjoying them, then get on the computer.

Make changes slowly--don't all of a sudden change everything you eat and the way you eat and expect it to stick. Change one thing at a time, starting with the worst offenders, then, when you're comfortable with the change, try changing the next worst thing.

About exercise--you might try walking and jogging your horse around a pen or arena or field. You can also do things like jogging places instead of walking, climbing gates instead of opening them, climbing stairs if you have them, etc. I try to climb our set of stairs ten to 15 times a day, when I can.

Joining Curves can be a good thing, but you have to make the commitment or you will be out a lot of money. Is there anyone else who can go with you to keep you going? It's always good to work out with a buddy, because you can keep each other motivated and hold each other accountable. Or maybe you can do that with someone you meet at Curves. You might ask the people there if they know of anyone who might be interested. You can schedule it right after your GED classes (good for you for going back to do that!!), so it's on your way home and a stress-reliever from studying.

You are wanting to do the right thing for yourself, congrats! Good luck on getting yourself in a good place!

 

[CowGirlUp9448]

Hey, CowGirl, I am so sorry about your mom. That's gotta be very hard, and not easy for you to try to make changes with having to go through the stress I am sure you're dealing with! Great for you for wanting to make those healthful changes!

About getting better health--don't try diets. Getting on diets implies they are something you get back off of, and they usually change too much too fast. You need to make lifestyle changes--things that you change over time for your health and well being. What do you eat/drink the most of that is worst for you? Try phasing that one thing out and replacing it with something healthful: Soft drinks are the worst, because they are really just empty calories. If you drink a Coke a day, say, replace it with V8 juice or just water. Or if you snack on potato chips or Doritos in front of the TV, try changing to carrot sticks or try to change away from eating while you are doing something else altogether (don't eat while reading, watching TV or sitting on the computer--eat for the sake of eating and gaining nourishment and give your whole attention to it. It's so easy to throw on 1,600 calories from chowing down on a whole bag of Cheetos in front of the computer and not even really notice you're eating them). If you love Cheetos and can't live without them, have 14 of them by themselves and pay your whole attention to eating and enjoying them, then get on the computer.

Make changes slowly--don't all of a sudden change everything you eat and the way you eat and expect it to stick. Change one thing at a time, starting with the worst offenders, then, when you're comfortable with the change, try changing the next worst thing.

About exercise--you might try walking and jogging your horse around a pen or arena or field. You can also do things like jogging places instead of walking, climbing gates instead of opening them, climbing stairs if you have them, etc. I try to climb our set of stairs ten to 15 times a day, when I can.

Joining Curves can be a good thing, but you have to make the commitment or you will be out a lot of money. Is there anyone else who can go with you to keep you going? It's always good to work out with a buddy, because you can keep each other motivated and hold each other accountable. Or maybe you can do that with someone you meet at Curves. You might ask the people there if they know of anyone who might be interested. You can schedule it right after your GED classes (good for you for going back to do that!!), so it's on your way home and a stress-reliever from studying.

You are wanting to do the right thing for yourself, congrats! Good luck on getting yourself in a good place!

Thanks I don't really eat a lot of junk food I mainly eat to much.. LOL I was a tea-a-hoic but have went completely to water Very proud of myself for that hehe.. My fiancee's mom works at Curves so I won't have to pay anything and my friend wants to go with me but I'm not certian she is dependable and will stick with going.. Thanks so much for all the advice

 

[Vidaloco]

I think going to Curves is a great big step. Being with others who are fighting the weight battle and to just get moving is going to help a bunch.
I plan to drop some weight between now and spring. I quit smoking a bit over a year ago and told myself I wasn't going to worry about anything but that for a year. Well the years over so time to start thinking about other health issues. I'm sure my cholesterol and other bad heart stuff is way above normal. I'm 52 and have heart disease in my family. I think the half century mark put a fire under my butt to get healthier.
I plan on doing Weight Watchers which has always worked for me in the past. They have an on-line thing now so that should make it easier. They mostly concentrate on portion control rather than completely changing the way you live. So in other words if you have to have those potato chips, go ahead, just in moderation and you'll have to give up something else that day or make up for it the next.
Good luck to you in your new years plans.

 

[my2geldings]

My advice is short: Hand sized meals every 2-3 hours all day. The second your belly stops digesting, you start storing fat. The guy I work with at the gym has had me follow this and I have been at a really healthy weight for the last year(was underweight until then).

Water is the only thing I drink other than the 1-2 times a week, glass of OJ.

Good Luck!

 

[CowGirlUp9448]

Thanks to you both

 

[Walkamile]

You've been given some very good advice and pointers. So all I will add is to keep it simple.

I am notorious for getting way too detailed and complicated in both the nutrition and exercise department. Eventually, I can't keep it all going.

So, I keep what I do very simple. Lots of water (which you all ready do), portion control so I don't have to "give-up" any particular foods and I try very hard to do something physically beneficial every day. For example, instead of hitting my treadmill, I might go snowshoeing. Used to be that I would try to do it all, and that was just too much!

The biggest thing for me is to always ask myself, "why do I feel I need to eat/drink this". That has helped me from doing a lot of damage to myself. :wink::lol:

Best of luck to you, we are all behind/beside you!

 

[CowGirlUp9448]

Thanks so much to everyone who has responded.

I have decided for the time being I am going to start out slow. Being more active with my horses for one. I want to teach Arrow to do little trail/obstacle courses And me and Winter and my sister and Arrow already go for walks but I think we will try to make them a little longer Also I plan to take my mini pin out for more walks as well (I have a HUGE fenced in yard so I don't really HAVE to walk him but I think it would help us both hehe). So all in all I am going to be doing a lot of walking. My vehicle is broke down at the moment so that is putting me on hold to start my GED classes and going to curves so that's why I decided to start with the walking

 

[Lis]

Why not take your mini running? You both get exercise and get fit.

 

[PaintsPwn]

I did a lot of ground driving with my horse just because, and I'll tell you what - I lost a lot of freaking weight XD My pants kept wanting to fall down during the sessions. You're walking, sometimes jogging, and doing things with your arms and body... I've found it's a pretty good work out.