I've decided to get back into riding. I started riding when I was 8, and took lessons 2-4 times a month for a bit over 5 years. I stopped riding when I was 13, in October 2001 when my trainer moved nearly two hours away. By then, I was in junior high and had a lot of things going on other than riding. Over the next six years I missed it quite a bit. I've always been a horsecrazy girl, and I'd go to a horseshow over a mall any day. A lot of the reason why I didn't go back to riding was my weight. I was not happy with it, and I was too embarrassed to find a new trainer, a new barn, because of it.
However, I've lost a bit of weight (25 lbs) since this summer and I've decided I'm no longer going to deny myself what I love. Even though I'm still a bit off from my target weight, I'm a lot happier with myself. I don't mind the way I look in breeches, although I might keep my shirt untucked :D. Plus, I know that once I start riding, that alone will help me get into shape. But I'm not going to rely on only that. I don't eat as much as I used to, and I hardly ever eat junk food (excluding a candy bar when I really need a sugar fix). But even the candy bar may be twice a month, rather than twice a week. If I have fruit or something else that is naturally or healthily sweet, I don't even have candy. It's only because right now the money I have for food (ignoring what's currently in my fridge) is on my meal card, and they don't have anything that is healthy sweet and doesn't have lactose.
I'm planning to go to the gym at least twice a week. As I discovered today, they have a lot of machines that are perfect for strength training in regards to riding. Looking on the net I discovered that the majority of feelings towards the abductor/adductor machine are negative, but it depends from what point of view you're looking at it from. The big critique about this machine is that it builds muscle (like it's supposed to Lol) and that muscle is under the fat, which only makes your thighs bigger. However, thigh muscle for riding is good, especially for the sitting trot. I'll just have to make sure that I don't use it as much as I originally planned to, or at the very least, make sure that I do more cardio. I don't need my thighs any bigger, I need them stronger and more toned.
I also wanted to compile a list of English apparel manufacturers who realize that not all of us are 5'6 and 112 pounds. Believe me, the equestrian world (mostly English) is second only to gymnastics on the emphasis on weight. Tack shops usually carry breeches from 28" waist to 36". They run small, and if you are any larger than that, well it can be a bit hard to find breeches that not only fit, but look good. With the exception of show hunter breeches, which are supposed to be a bit larger and more loose, wearing breeches is like wearing tights, only they're made out of thicker fabric. And of course, each brand's breeches fit completely differently, even the styles usually are completely different. You may fit a pair of style A from company A perfectly, but style B seems to be three sizes too small.
Because of this, recently I've spent a lot of time in tack shops and searching for products online. Every time I do, I seem to find hidden, but very good resources. I want to list them here not only so that I won't lose them, but to also help anyone else who is trying to find good English schooling and show apparel.
Breeches
Equestrian Connection, specifically Tuffrider
Boink Equestrian - they not only have sizes going up to 2XL (and their sizes don't look like they run small at all) but they have XL petite breeches for all those short riders like me! It's only a matter of time until I purchase the Clarino Leg Patch breeches from them.
Boots
Horse & Rider, ETC - the Victoria Plus Size Ladies Field Boots are one of two pairs that I'm considering getting. Those two are the only ones I've found yet that will accommodate a calf size of 17 1/2 and larger.
Dublin Equileather - comes in calf sizes up to 17"
This entire list has boots that come up into larger sizes (not large enough for me though)
Tallyho Equestrian Outfitters do custom boots that will not cost you an arm and a leg (too expensive for a poor college student though)
Nittany also has larger sizes, but there are mixed reviews on them. These are one of my two pairs.
More to come later!
So.
It's been several rough weeks over here. Without complaining incessantly, this whole LI (lactose intolerance) thing is a pain in the pa-tootie. With more research I have discovered that it looks like LI (severe LI) rather than milk allergies. Until the end of last week, I had no food in my refrigerator, and I couldn't eat anything except salad at the cafeteria. So, stuck between the choice of eating something with dairy in it and getting sick, or not eating, I didn't eat. For two weeks, I think I ate maybe four times. While that has done wonders in making me comfortably fit pants a size smaller, I was so incredibly out of it. I felt like a zombie wandering the earth.
After two weeks, and when I finally start to eat again (I have food in my fridge), I get smacked down by the cold from hell. For some reason, my sleeping schedule got all off track and let's just say I'm beating my own personal insomnia records. Finally, a week after I get my cold, I'm 90% better and can function without being heavily medicated, when I get hungry and decide that eating a Panini, with the cheese taken off would be just fine. It did have mayonnaise, but it was a mayonnaise-Dijon blend which I reasoned couldn't upset me too much.
Boy was I wrong. Over 30 hours later, I'm still feeling icky.
I really hate LI.
Knitting wise, this is going to be quick cause I'm actually tired and I have a huge test that I'm getting up early to cram for (see what I mean about the insomnia thing? And this is nothing) I haven't been doing much of it. I'm working on the earrings project, plan to resume the Monkey socks and finish up the Counterpoint blanket.
