One Step at a Time
- Thread starter AnnSparks
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AnnSparks
New member
So I took yesterday off for the most part to just recuperate after that intense hike lol. I did still do a tiny bit of work with Sadie and did work Sam a little but not nearly as much as normal. Today I was feeling a lot better though so I was able to get back to normal for the most part.
In short, I went out and spent about an hour and a half with Sadie. But before even that, I spent an hour roughly riding Sam. I tried out a new saddle on him and it was like I was riding a totally different horse! He was so much more calm and relaxed, it was amazing. I guess it just goes to show how much an ill fitting saddle can affect a horse. There's still plenty of room for improvement (for for me and Sam) but at least now we're finally starting to get somewhere. I am going to ride in this saddle a few more times just to make sure it wasn't just a fluke that today he was just behaving better than usual lol. But if he's still going this nicely by the end of the week, then I guess I've got myself a new saddle.
Also, my weight really hasn't changed. I was losing a bit of weight but since my step-mom came for a visit, I did eat out a little more than usual which I was fine with it since she wasn't even here a full week and I just wanted to spend time with her. So I'm at about the 204-206 lb mark. But I've been starting to get the itch that I need to do more. I know I've been lax lately on my meal prep and have gone behind to the point I have had some food spoil on me.
So I'm going to work towards cooking more meals ahead of time again to make that a bit easier. I also want to get back into a workout routine since I've been getting my energy back and I want to get in better shape. I saw this pic of me today on Sam and I can't help but see how fat I look on him and it's driving me nuts. I need to take this weightloss thing a bit more seriously and not just be like "eh, ya, I lost a little weight" or "I didn't lose weight, just maintained but it's all good". While it's not necessarily bad for me to think like that, i just find I tend to get complacent pretty easily. So ya, I'm about to try to step up my game a bit more.
In short, I went out and spent about an hour and a half with Sadie. But before even that, I spent an hour roughly riding Sam. I tried out a new saddle on him and it was like I was riding a totally different horse! He was so much more calm and relaxed, it was amazing. I guess it just goes to show how much an ill fitting saddle can affect a horse. There's still plenty of room for improvement (for for me and Sam) but at least now we're finally starting to get somewhere. I am going to ride in this saddle a few more times just to make sure it wasn't just a fluke that today he was just behaving better than usual lol. But if he's still going this nicely by the end of the week, then I guess I've got myself a new saddle.
Also, my weight really hasn't changed. I was losing a bit of weight but since my step-mom came for a visit, I did eat out a little more than usual which I was fine with it since she wasn't even here a full week and I just wanted to spend time with her. So I'm at about the 204-206 lb mark. But I've been starting to get the itch that I need to do more. I know I've been lax lately on my meal prep and have gone behind to the point I have had some food spoil on me.
So I'm going to work towards cooking more meals ahead of time again to make that a bit easier. I also want to get back into a workout routine since I've been getting my energy back and I want to get in better shape. I saw this pic of me today on Sam and I can't help but see how fat I look on him and it's driving me nuts. I need to take this weightloss thing a bit more seriously and not just be like "eh, ya, I lost a little weight" or "I didn't lose weight, just maintained but it's all good". While it's not necessarily bad for me to think like that, i just find I tend to get complacent pretty easily. So ya, I'm about to try to step up my game a bit more.
All sounding good Ann. I get it about the complacency part and it's always good to feel that extra motivation to get back on track. I think you've been setting up a lot of good foundations for long term healthier living with all your activity. Food is a tricky one as so many of us have gotten into habits with it that are sometimes hard to break but you seem to know how you need to eat to get to the goals you want.
Do you log your food into an app at all? I find that's really helped me understand my food choices and the various food values--nutrient and calorie-wise.
Lovely pictures as always!
Do you log your food into an app at all? I find that's really helped me understand my food choices and the various food values--nutrient and calorie-wise.
Lovely pictures as always!
AnnSparks
New member
@liza
I used to, but I figured things out fairly quickly mentally on how to track things so I don't really have to track it on an app.
@LaMaria
Ya, that's why I started the weight loss journey in the first place or rather I've been using the horses as my main motivation to get healthier. Definitely helps keep me on track better than if I didn't have them around.
I used to, but I figured things out fairly quickly mentally on how to track things so I don't really have to track it on an app.
@LaMaria
Ya, that's why I started the weight loss journey in the first place or rather I've been using the horses as my main motivation to get healthier. Definitely helps keep me on track better than if I didn't have them around.
AnnSparks
New member
Today has been good. Spent time with Sadie like usual but changed things up with Sam. I gave him a rather thorough bath which he was not impressed with, especially since I even went about washing his face and he doesn't like having his face wet. But an hour or so later, he forgave me and came begging for treats lol.
Finished off the day with going to see Jack and how he's doing with his training and hopped on him for a short ride as well. He's definitely progressing well and I can't wait till he comes home again which should be soon. I also tried out a saddle on him and he looks rather fancy and grown up in it. At least that's how he looks to me anyway.
Finished off the day with going to see Jack and how he's doing with his training and hopped on him for a short ride as well. He's definitely progressing well and I can't wait till he comes home again which should be soon. I also tried out a saddle on him and he looks rather fancy and grown up in it. At least that's how he looks to me anyway.
AnnSparks
New member
Hey all. So it's been about a week since the last time I posted. Reason for this is because I got rather discouraged and upset with myself because my weight was going back up and I got up to 208 again. And I didn't feel like coming back on unless I managed to lose some weight. Well, as of today, I'm back down to 205.5 lbs. So I have successfully managed to lose weight again. But it seems like these last few pounds to get to the 200 mark and below are a real struggle so I think I'm going to have to find a way to up my game and push myself more to be able to lose that weight.
Anyway, so work has started up for me again so now I have to work my schedule around that once more. I've also gotten a bit discouraged with Sam since it seems like we make progress with riding but then we're back at square one. So that hasn't been fun to deal with. Things with Sadie have gone well though and I'm able to start leading her outside of her paddock which is exciting. Also, Jack should be coming home soon too so that's also pretty exciting.
One thing I did do to help with the weight loss and scheduling is precooking some meals. So I have some meals that are sweet potato, peas and corn, with some beef. Another is baby potatoes, mixed veggies, and some fish. I only managed to get 4 meals out of that but it's about all I need for lunches for work anyway. I just have to cook something else for breakfast and supper.
Another thing I'm starting this week is taking Sam for a walk. I'm going to alternate between riding and walking so some days I'll ride him, other days I'm going to take him for a walk out on the dirt road. Should be interesting to see how that goes.
One thing I'm not too keen on with now having to factor in work is the fact that I have to get up at 5am to be able to accomplish everything I want to in a day and still have a bit of personal time. (Although the cats, mostly the kitten, think I should be awake at 4:30 instead) But oh well, such is the way of life.
Anyway, so work has started up for me again so now I have to work my schedule around that once more. I've also gotten a bit discouraged with Sam since it seems like we make progress with riding but then we're back at square one. So that hasn't been fun to deal with. Things with Sadie have gone well though and I'm able to start leading her outside of her paddock which is exciting. Also, Jack should be coming home soon too so that's also pretty exciting.
One thing I did do to help with the weight loss and scheduling is precooking some meals. So I have some meals that are sweet potato, peas and corn, with some beef. Another is baby potatoes, mixed veggies, and some fish. I only managed to get 4 meals out of that but it's about all I need for lunches for work anyway. I just have to cook something else for breakfast and supper.
Another thing I'm starting this week is taking Sam for a walk. I'm going to alternate between riding and walking so some days I'll ride him, other days I'm going to take him for a walk out on the dirt road. Should be interesting to see how that goes.
One thing I'm not too keen on with now having to factor in work is the fact that I have to get up at 5am to be able to accomplish everything I want to in a day and still have a bit of personal time. (Although the cats, mostly the kitten, think I should be awake at 4:30 instead) But oh well, such is the way of life.
alligatorob
Respected Member
First congratulations for being down, that is great! And second for me I believe regular posting has been a big part of my weight loss, I suggest you post especially when you are not losing weight, for me its important, perhaps it would help you too.
And do keep posting, I enjoy reading your posts, and of course seeing the pretty girl and her impressive horses!
AnnSparks
New member
@LaMaria
He's definitely showing off his good looks with this summer sun out to make him shine lol. And food prep is definitely handy for work. Saves time in the mornings trying to figure out what to make for lunch lol.
@alligatorob
I can see your point in that. I guess for me, it's more that I was discouraged and disappointed in myself that I didn't want to "disappoint" you guys so to speak by having an update saying I gained some weight back. It feels more like an accomplishment to be able to come back after a bit and say that I gained the weight, but I worked at it and I was able to lose it again. Either way, I don't plan to disappear. I find talking on here has helped me stay on track a lot longer than anything else ever has which is nice.
And I'm glad you're enjoying the posts so far
He's definitely showing off his good looks with this summer sun out to make him shine lol. And food prep is definitely handy for work. Saves time in the mornings trying to figure out what to make for lunch lol.
@alligatorob
I can see your point in that. I guess for me, it's more that I was discouraged and disappointed in myself that I didn't want to "disappoint" you guys so to speak by having an update saying I gained some weight back. It feels more like an accomplishment to be able to come back after a bit and say that I gained the weight, but I worked at it and I was able to lose it again. Either way, I don't plan to disappear. I find talking on here has helped me stay on track a lot longer than anything else ever has which is nice.
And I'm glad you're enjoying the posts so far
alligatorob
Respected Member
Hey Ann, the only way you can disappoint us is by not posting! As LaMa says no judgement here, only support. Post any time that support will help you!
AnnSparks
New member
Little update for today.
I managed to get out for walk this evening. Once I got home, I tacked up Sam and then proceeded to take him for a walk. I think I walked about a mile one way (give or take) and as we walked along the highway at the end, I worked Sam a bit by getting him to run around and burn off some of his energy. After letting him get that out, we started to walk back. But I realized that in one spot, the ditch was deep enough that if he stood at the lowest point, I was high enough on the edge that I was able to hop on. So that's what I did. I rode Sam back at a calm walk back to the farm. It was a really nice way to finish the day.
However, it's also gotten late and I haven't even had supper yet lol. I've got a plum to eat, but not entirely sure of what else I'm going to have yet. Anyway, here are some pics from today with Sadie and Sam. Oh, and the pics of Sam without the saddle is from the work I did with him this morning.
I managed to get out for walk this evening. Once I got home, I tacked up Sam and then proceeded to take him for a walk. I think I walked about a mile one way (give or take) and as we walked along the highway at the end, I worked Sam a bit by getting him to run around and burn off some of his energy. After letting him get that out, we started to walk back. But I realized that in one spot, the ditch was deep enough that if he stood at the lowest point, I was high enough on the edge that I was able to hop on. So that's what I did. I rode Sam back at a calm walk back to the farm. It was a really nice way to finish the day.
However, it's also gotten late and I haven't even had supper yet lol. I've got a plum to eat, but not entirely sure of what else I'm going to have yet. Anyway, here are some pics from today with Sadie and Sam. Oh, and the pics of Sam without the saddle is from the work I did with him this morning.