by cadence » Thu May 26, 2005 12:06 am
#ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Well, I'm like a lot of people, I carry around some extra pounds which I have been trying very, very hard to lose - I watch what I eat, lots of veggies and salads, do exercises, walk where I can, etc. Found out my thyroid was super low and so got started on pills for that. I utilize green tea and cayenne pepper even! (stimulates the metabolism). #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#So, we have a quadrille dressage team at our barn and they are short 1 rider for a second team. I asked to join and I was turned down by the coach. The second team is just simple walk, trot, canter and some basic circles, leg yield and curves. Well, my horse is schooling at level 3 dressage and he is very well mannered with other horses, etc. Plus, we used to be in an 8-horse quadrille and jumping quadrille team when we lived in Calgary, so we both know how this works. So, to myself, I was wondering what was the scoop. The other team members were open to the idea of me joining, but the coach said a flat-out "NO". Then I overheard her mention to a team member that it was because I was overweight (I have 30 pounds to go) - obviously she didn't know I was close-by or maybe she did and just didn't care if I heard. All the other team members were slim. She wanted an elegant look to the team and me being 30 lbs overweight wasn't elegant enough for her liking. Granted, an overweight person has the impossibility of looking lean, trim, slim, long-legged and model-like on a horse, but that doesn't mean we don't know how to ride and to ride well and correctly! And I am certainly fit enough that I don't huff and puff while riding. #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#It was like getting kicked in the teeth. You know, some of us struggle terribly with weight and we do our very best, but there is still always some prejudice that all overweight people are junk-food junkies and like we gorge ourselves all day and all night. I drink 10x more water than my skinny sister-in-law, no coffee, no tea (except green), no pop, no alcohol, no chips, no chocolate, no potato/rice/bread and still that's not good enough for some people. Apparently, overweight people shouldn't be allowed food, period. It's craziness. #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl# #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl#Anyway, I'll just continue on as is and continue trying to lose... but I had to vent. Thanks for listening. #ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#DIV#ed_cl##ed_op#/DIV#ed_cl#
Patience! Practice! Persistence!