My daily chores – which year-round include feeding and watering our animals, and in the summer gardening, lawn mowing and baling hay and straw – were enough to keep me in shape.
I’m sorry to say that as I have gotten older, the energy I expend doing chores has not kept up with the calories I take in during the day. That, and a couple of winters of drinking too much Mountain Dew and eating more chocolate than my recommended daily allowance, has resulted in the need to tip the scale to smaller numbers.
There are millions of diet plans, all promising to melt away the extra pounds, but in my observation, the only surefire way is a matter of simple mathematics: Eating less plus more exercise equals weight loss.
Thanks to my daughter, Ellen, who has taken over much of the meal planning and cooking for our family, I am eating a well-balanced diet. I always cooked relatively healthy food, but Ellen has taken it to a whole new level, incorporating grains, such as quinoa, fish at least once a week and meatless fare into her weekly meal rotations.
Ellen also bought me nutrient-dense protein bars to satisfy my mid-afternoon cravings, which, of course, are much healthier than a soda and chocolate. In case anyone thinks I can never sustain this kind of healthy eating, please know I still treat myself to a cookie or piece(s) of chocolate after dinner, so I won’t feel deprived and fall off of the good-foods wagon.
Ellen not only steered me toward healthier eating, she also is my motivational coach when it comes to exercise. Every day after supper she asks Brian and me if we want to go with her to take the dogs for a walk. I say “yes,” knowing that as I would rather settle into a comfortable chair, it’s better for me, both physically and mentally, to go for a walk with Ellen, Brian, Casey and Rosebud.
Inspired by Ellen’s example, I’ve also started taking my horse, Isabelle, for walks. I know what you’re thinking – you’re supposed to ride the horse, not lead it. However, I recently read that walking beside your horse is a good bonding experience, and a way to teach them manners. So I’m giving it a try.
Isabelle has developed a bit of an attitude when I’m saddling her and when I’m mounting her to ride, and I figured walking with her might be a good way to improve her attitude. So far, the walks have gone well, and she seems to enjoy getting out of her corral and clip-clopping down the gravel roads as I walk beside her, holding her lead rope.
Time will tell if Isabelle acts any different when I saddle her. Even if she doesn’t, I’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that, thanks to Ellen, there will be less weight settling into the saddle.
Ann Bailey is a reporter for the Grand Forks Herald.
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Pounding the pavement in an attempt to lose weight - Grand Forks Herald
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