Rider fitness; spoon management
I’ve re-written this two or three times now. This is not the same post it was originally; this is not the same post it was two months ago.
Taking the winter off was not ideal for Confetti. It wasn’t ideal for me, either.
I was at a fairly good weight, for me, when I started with Fetti in 2010. I was riding 5-7 days a week and hiking across campus. Things went downhill a bit when I graduated, started at a desk job, and dropped to riding only 4 days a week. I promised myself that I’d lose at least a good chunk of that weight before asking my pony to do a 50. It’s enough of an uphill battle to manage her without asking her to carry an extra 20+ pounds!
September 2012
Tan breeches aren’t kind, but I think it’s pretty accurate. Also, I still regret having to sell that bridle, but it really did not fit. The new one just isn’t quite as awesome without all the sparkles. I need to sparkle-ify and find some pink hearts to glue on the halter the next time I’m feeling crafty.
The weight came off once I got serious about it. I tracked calories and watched what I ate. No fitness/workout plans, no meal shakes, no hitting the gym. I took up running a few times, and quit running a few times. For me, for where I was and the weight I had gained, I just needed to eat less.
photo by Boots and Bloomers
Slightly kinder angle, but still 20+ pounds lighter in September 2015.
But unlike the first time I wrote this, it doesn’t end there.
I am painfully out of shape right now. Taking the winter off of conditioning was not really a choice. I’ve been battling headaches and migraines almost non-stop since at least late December. My fitness has suffered. My mental health has suffered. My blogging has suffered. I just run out of spoons and can’t get it all done.
It used to be that on an average Tuesday, I could get up a bit early and get some stuff done at home, run an errand or two before work, put in my half-day at work feeling pretty productive, knock out at least half a blog post (sometimes a whole blog post!), head to the barn for a brisk 4-6 mile ride, maybe trim a hoof or two (or deal with her bale bag), clean the stall, finish brushing off the pony again, make dinner at home while reading blogs & commenting, and have an hour or so to de-stress before needing to head to sleep.
To be fair, I’m always out later with the light lasting longer in the summer, but that’s not nearly my average Tuesday now: get up just-on-time, run an errand before work if traffic is kind, put in my half-day at work feeling like I’m running terribly behind and super slow, head to the barn (now running late and hitting traffic) for a round pen session or hopefully 3-4 mile ride, refill bale bag when I have to, clean the stall, treat hooves for thrush, hope my boyfriend has dinner already at home, sleep. It doesn’t sound like a big difference, but the reality is several hours of difference and less getting done in that added time.
I’m running at maybe 60% of my normal with a headache, and 40% when the migraines hit, and I’ve been at this for four months. It’s a struggle to get my fitness back up to par when I never know how many spoons I’ll have on any given day. I feel like I’m barely making do with the spoons I have.
Today was a good day. I have no idea what tomorrow will look like.
How do the rest of you do it? Any tips for better spoon management?
I need riding to keep me in shape. I gained 20 lbs when Nilla was injured. I lost it as part off a new years resolution and then injured my arm and wasn’t riding much. Gained back 15 of the 20 lbs. Now I need to loose them again. Same reason too. Nilla’s barely capable of getting through a 25 with me at a lower weight, she doesn’t need the extra lbs. So clearly I don’t have any advice as I suck at this, but I’m hoping the extra summer hours will help. I’m already riding a lot more.
Having the migraines really is tough, as you don’t know when that will hit. Is there any other sport (other than riding) that you really like? That has worked for me, then fit in the other stuff if I have the spoons. For awhile I was Masters swimming with a coach five days a week. And I was just burned out (but in pretty great shape!). I settled for two mornings (5am, yikes), then hiking, riding and weights in front of the TV! I only ride at most two days a week (one weekday 5-8 miles, one weekend 10+ or speed).
Another thing that helped is I got a stand-up desk at work. I stand up about 80% of the day (I find it easier to take phone calls and draw when sitting). I bought an inexpensive fitness tracker too (garmin vivofit) because it has a big reminder red bar when I’ve been stationary for too long. All helpful.
Plus the usual: salads with yummy stuff for lunch, dinner a veggie burger/rice, always breakfast. Be sure you’re eating and drinking enough, the desire to cut calories can go too far and leave you without energy.
I try to remember that finding happiness in your life (riding, whatever works), even if you are 20 pounds over what you’d like to be, is the best. Just getting out, moving, doing something fun, all that will contribute too. Good luck finding your spoons.