And it is only 12 weeks away. When we first decided on this challenge it was 16weeks! God knows where that month has gone! Except for the last 2 weeks when me and Nas have been ill.

We’re still not over it, I’m ok but Nas still has the odd cough here and ther nothing like it was though! He’s still living out and that seems to be helping. I do wonder now if its an allergy or he’s just taking a little longer to get over it.

As for my weight you can see its still up over 22stone despite me seeing 21st while I was ill. I won’t lie I have been really bad, shares in cadbury’s would be an understatement.

The worse thing though has been the days I’ve tried to be good I just seem to lose the plot and don’t know what to do to be good if that makes sense? I mean I don’t know what to do: 2 meals, 3meals what snacks etc etc!

All of that though is irrelevant, I think rather than focusing on losing weight. I’ve been concentrating more on what food I can get away with eating, which really is the wrong attitude!

Especially if I want to be cantering my horse around a cross country in 12 weeks, omg that’s less than 3 months! Needless to say today I am back on track.

I have thought about what I am eating and when, I have also planned when I will be exercising Nas. And today I am going to stick to it. My head Is in the right place to get back on track…

So yesterday was the final break through before the beach ride… I actually did it, I was a bit nervous and an it was a case of ‘just do it’ jelly wobbles that got me through. Oh and the fact I have the best horse ever!  He knew what I was asking from him and he was so up for it.

In the past when I have let others ride him, Nas has been a lil bugger and made them work like hell and still not doing what they want, the times I’ve seen my horse doing a very fast trot around the school refusing to strike of into canter!

But yesterday a despite a couple of false starts and striking of on the wrong leg, which I prefer to call counter-canter,  in truth though at the time I had no idea it was the wrong leg. I was just happy to have him cantering. Boy what a different feeling to what I remember in fairness it has been over 18yrs since I last cantered.

The power from behind that was pushing me up out of the saddle was something I wasn’t expecting. Luckily I had my friend on the ground to give me pointers and tell me to lean back, despite me thinking I was leaning back. It just goes to show what you think you are doing is often not what you are doing.

Excuse my collapsing on him when we come down a pace. It’s one of my weak spots I don’t seem to have the strength to keep myself in tune with him, I think breathing helps at times like that maybe once I get over the whole riding on my nerves thing I will be able to relax a bit more.

I can’t believe the difference in me since last week’s ride even; yesterday I was more agile and even able to lift my leg above the saddle so my friend could tighten the girth. You should have seen me a few weeks ago on the first ride of 2012. I was so unbalanced I was convinced I was going to take him down with me.

The only complaint I have today is my knees hurt both of them. This is unusual normally it’s just my left one that gives me a bit of gyp. I’m not sure if it’s to do with the extra riding or the dismounting. Either way it’s not going to stop me getting on again today.

Sure I still have my reservations about hurting him, like I said he isn’t as fit as I wanted him to be, this has a knock on effect to his overall performance and despite knowing that the tricks he pulls with me, falling in at the corners, a lack of impulsion in the walk trot these are all things he does with other people.

I’ve said it before but whoever started Nas did an amazing job with him he knows his stuff and how to work properly, even though he will give some a little bit of leeway if you don’t know what you are doing, as a general rule he’ll make you work up a sweat and still not do what you are trying to ask. Basically you need to know what you are doing, or he’ll be cheeky.

I don’t know what I’m doing anymore, obviously the basics are still there and a general idea of what I need to do, but for some reason the execution is a little bit harder, I suppose some of it comes from balance and lack of fitness. I have cheated the last couple of times and used a schooling whip. You might have noticed in the first video I was trying to chase him up and then collapsing.

So yesterday was my 2^nd ride in as many days, I’m trying to get a gauge on if I am making him sore or not. So far he has showed no signs of struggling with me, even when walking around the field and he stumbled he was fine he was also a lot more flighty out there, I could feel the energy underneath me. My only concern was that if he spooked or tried to get me off I would actually end up taking him down with me.

I don’t know how quickly I could sort myself out, the strength and range of motion I have is not really adequate.  Every time I ride it all gets easier and more natural. Hence why I am upping the times I get on him. I also want the energy and strength to be able to mount alone without someone holding the other stirrup for me all the time.

So I have a few things to work on, I’m dismounting better each time and now the nerves I had before getting on are easing.  In fact I would go so far as to say there aren’t any.  Nas is one of the three best things to of happened to me in the past 6yrs and I’m so grateful for having such a genuine boy in my life.

 The shocker came though when I realised I’ve actually lost the equivalent weight as my son Horatio, he is 2st 7lbs which is about what I’ve lost give or take a few pounds. Now he’s heavy believe me I can’t carry him for any distance, it doesn’t help that he is a bit of a wiggle arse. But even when still there is no way I can carry him up the stairs etc. I can lift him and often do when play fighting etc.; I just can’t go any distance with him.

Red Nose Day 2011

Imagine then my disappointment then when I realised that I’ve got another 3 of him to lose at least. I know I keep saying it but seriously how have I got this big! Don’t answer that… I know the obvious reasons… Too much food not enough exercise, blah but ask anyone of my friends and family they will tell you It’s not like I’ve sat on my arse for years doing nothing, up until I had Horatio I worked more hours than most… I still went out and did things I had my dogs to walk. And most of my life has been about starting some diet or exercise plan.

 So why/how did I end up over 25st at 34yrs of age? When I think how much time, energy, heartache I’ve wasted over the years fighting a weight problem that I wasn’t winning makes me sad and frustrated. I know I’m still battling it and have a long way to go, what I’m not going to do is let it stop me living out my dreams

Anymore…

9th March 2011

 Yep, you saw right I got on Nas last week. If you remember back a few weeks ago I said I was going to ride him on Wednesday the 9^th of March… well I did it we had a little walk around and a few steps of trot.  And I loved it I felt so much happier than the last time I rode him nearly four years ago. And on a plus note he is still standing over a week later.

 I guess that is what I want for other people as well. Live your dreams. If you are as overweight as me, it’s not going to go away overnight. If however you’re carrying a little bit more weight than YOU are happy with. Do it now make the changes, get on top of it before you end up with an even bigger problem.

 The one thing I have to keep a check on is the fact that ok, yes I am still far too heavy but hey I am a lot fitter. I can now walk 3miles easy… I even power walked a mile the other day (felt it the next in my legs). But I don’t mind that kind of pain… That pain comes from knowing I’ve done something positive to my body by pushing it that little bit more. Whereas the aches and pains I use to get were just from trying to do even the most menial tasks such as putting socks on, or bending over to pick up something I had dropped.

I’m going to go into more detail tomorrow about my first ride… i just wanted to share it with you quickly today. To prove you can live your dreams… Burghley here i come ;->