July 12, 2012, Thursday: 185.5
Net: -2.5 Pounds
Daily Calories: 1807

1’m up half a pound, but I think it’s just water weight. I drank five 16.9 ounces of water and two 48 ounce mugs yesterday. I rode and did my barn chores in 90-100 degree weather and sweated until my clothes were wet. I’m just happy I didn’t get heat stroke! Today is going to be the same, so retaining some water is a good thing.

Today is also going to be challenging since I ate the last of my prepackaged salads last night. That means I’ll have to go to the store after my riding lesson when I’m pretty hungry. That’s always a challenge. However, I feel like I have some momentum from staying on my diet all last week. Plus, either the heat, or my allergy medication is keeping my appetite pretty manageable.

I really have trouble staying motivated on a diet when my goals is to look good six months from now. Knowing I’m going to be in my tight white dressage show clothes, which show every little bump and lump, in just a month is helping keep me honest. (Coats will almost certainly be waived due to the summer heat.)

What’s really keeping me focused is knowing that every extra pound I carry makes it that much harder to stay quiet in the saddle. All that extra motion makes it very difficult for the horse to tune out the noise and focus on subtle, invisible aids. Plus, all that extra bounce looks awkward. All the professional riders I see look so utterly at one with their horses when they’re in the saddle. My quad muscles are burning, but I just can’t grip tight enough to the saddle to compensate for the extra 35 plus pounds. My lower leg has to rest lightly on my mare’s side except when used for aids so pushing off the stirrup is a no no.

It’s much easier to stay on my diet when I’m battling to maneuvere that bulk in my stomach, hips, back, and thighs every morning.