The 30 Day Shred

If I blog about it, perhaps it will up the ante. I would hate to fail and embarrass myself in front of all of you. To FAIL miserably at something in which I want so much to succeed. Finding my figure again!

It's January 30 and 18 years ago today, I wore a Size 10 wedding dress, had a nicely defined waist and only laid on the bed to zip up my jeans because I wanted them extra tight. As the years went by, quitting a smoking habit, having two kids and years of bad eating habits finally caught up with me. I was closing in on a number on the scale that I didn't like; so on January 1, 2008, for the first time in my life, I started to diet and exercise. By August of that year, I had lost almost 40 pounds and not only was I thinner than I had been in years; I was in great physical condition. I had energy and stamina. I felt good!

So what the heck happened? I started slipping back into old habits, not only eating foods I shouldn't but increasing the quantity. I was bored with exercise and found reasons not to go work out. Now 2-1/2 years later, I find myself slipping into those larger sized jeans I kept around "just in case" and finding an almost perfect fit. This is NOT good.

So I am recommitting myself to losing weight and toning up. Not just talking (blogging) about it, but doing it. The formula is easy. Eat less, exercise more. How hard can that be? (Don't answer that!) I've borrowed Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred DVD from a friend and had my first workout today. Now granted, I probably didn't give it 100% (or even 80%) the first time through. One, I don't have hand weights & secondly, I was still learning the exercises, so she would be a few reps ahead of me. But I did get a good workout in 20 minutes. My neck was sweaty, I was winded and when I went to walk down the stairs, OMG, my legs were turned to jelly. So whatever she is prescribing, I am feeling it.

I am setting a goal to lose 15 pounds by Memorial Day. I'll report my progress weekly. I would like to post a picture of myself in some not so flattering breeches so you can see the curves and flab, but I don't want to ask my boys or John for help taking the picture. I'm self-conscious enough. I'll need to wait until everyone is gone and then find a suitable place to position the camera with enough room for the pose. I haven't mastered those self-portraits I see so many are fond of these days. And besides, my arm isn't long enough for a full body shot! No promises on that picture, but I do think it might motivate me.

(A photo also might motivate me to get my hair cut and colored again. It has been a long time since I have seen my natural color and I have forgotten how much I don't like it!)

For today, I'll show you where I have been the last eight years. Here's to finding that 2008 body again!

This was taken in 2003, at my first Cowgirl Weekend. Blue looks mighty substantial, too. I needed a big horse to haul me around!

My first CTR in 2004. Note: I have no waist. How the heck did Ginger carry me around. Hefty, hefty hefty!

Back to CGW 2005. Pulled out Blue again for this ride and he looks in better shape than I do. Jeez, those thighs and that gut! How attractive - not! ! And look at those arms!

Thighs continue to inflate in 2006. Windy is wondering why she drew the short straw for this trip. I am surprised her petite legs can hold me!

Note Windy's muscle tone is getting better in 2007. She has been hauling my ass around for two years now!

This picture was taken one year later, following my 38 pound weight loss & regular exercise. This picture alone should motivate me to go back on the wagon.

And by 2009, you start to see some poundage on the thighs again.

And by the fall of 2010, I started pulling out the big clothes. Windy looks tired.

Here we go again!

Where is that Jillian DVD!

Now!

There’s One in Every Crowd

Lori on Ginger

I went out to the barn twice today. The first time to check on how much of the round bale was left. Not much. They were licking the bowl, so to speak. I dropped down a couple bales of alfalfa to keep them happy for a few hours. We'll hand feed them until tomorrow morning when the corral will once again be frozen and not quite so messy moving in another bale. I went out a little later thinking I might take Windy for a short ride. I slipped on ice on the driveway walking around the garage and I almost went down. Decided then I wasn't that committed to riding today. I stopped in the tack room and grabbed a plastic scraper and decided instead, to clean my mare.

Corie on Zip

Yesterday, I took two horses to Two Rivers; one for me and one for a guest rider, Lori. Windy was dirtier than I have seen her in a long time and I swear, Blue took a roll in the mud and then tried to wipe himself with hay just to get out of loading up to go anywhere! The two cleanest horses, Ginger and Butter, made the travel team. Ginger usually is clean and pretty good for a guest rider, unless anyone runs. But considering there was still snow on the ground, I figured we probably would be taking it pretty slow. Butter is very buddy sour, but when with Ginger, she is usually okay. I gave Lori the choice of which mare she wanted to ride and she chose Ginger. I saddled the Butter-Nut-Case.

Carol on Chief

Talk about amateur hour; just what horses wore these saddles prior to this ride? All the horses have their own saddle so rigging is not usually an issue. Since Case's saddle doesn't fit me (nor him, any more), I brought Blue's for Butter, but tossed in a smaller girth. For some reason, I had a heckuva time saddling both mares. None of the rigging was right. I am sure Lori wondered just what she was getting into.

There were seven of us riding yesterday. The wildlife management area is still closed until February 1, so we rode through the park and around the lakes. The snow was still up over the horses’ ankles but the footing was good. Butter had a few moments going out, but nothing too naughty yet. We weaved our way through the woods on the north side of the park, crossed the only water crossing and headed out down a service road until it ended. When we turned to come back, Ginger got a little high headed for Lori and Butter was starting to lose her head a little. I rode out a couple bucks and some other general nonsense she was dishing out. Lori commented that she was grateful she was riding who she was riding.

Corie/Zip & Terri on "her Ginger" not to be confused with "my Ginger"

Butter would settle down for a while and then I'd ask her to do something she didn't want to do and she would freeze up or run through the bit or shoulder. She lacks the softness that Windy has and braces against the bit. A trainer who as riding with us, (and there always is when your horse is naughty!) gratefully pushed me through a few "oh, sh*t" moments. But after three hours, I was glad the ride was over. I wasn't up for the fight anymore. There are lots of times I am with other riders and see someone struggling with a horse; sucks to be me, this time.

Butter

It does make me sad because Butter has been a good little ride for all of us. Primarily ridden by my youngest son, she got away with some bad habits that he couldn't fix when he was little and that he encouraged as he got older. Now lack of use and barn and buddy sourness adds to her unpleasantness. The trainer gave me some suggestions of what we could do to work through these issues; all good advice. Hopefully I'll find the gumption to work on it this spring. She is a good little mare and I hate to see her or whoever is riding her, struggle so much along the way.

The prettiest bay mare.... yeah, right.

I got Windy cleaned up this afternoon, but didn't throw a leg over her. There will be nicer days ahead.