I know, I know, I was born with them. But for most of my life I've been a plus person. I've ranged everywhere from 180 to 356 at my highest, I'm around the 260 mark right now, give or take a pound or 5 depending on the day. I honestly can't remember the last time I saw more than just my toes when I looked down. Well, yesterday I looked down, and not only did I have toes... but I had feet and ankles!

I think this has alot to do with the fact that I have been riding once a week for the last few months, and though walking and working full time is good excercise, riding and standing at 2 point position and building my leg and abdomen muscles is starting to make a difference. I can actually start seeing a difference, in the sense that I can see my feet..........

Weight loss is a hard task for any person, especially for a plus person who knows that they will never be skinny. Genetics play a big part of it, and with my particular genetics, I will never be thin. I have big bones, in the sense that really, I do have large bones that will prevent me from being thin and looking normal... Now If I want to be skinny and look like an awkward giraffe... Well that's possible, but then I wouldn't be nearly as happy as I am now.

Riding at a plus size is difficult, probably not much more difficult than riding at a normal size, but plus riders have one thing to contend with that "normal" sized riders do not. The one thing? That's criticism. We hear it all the time, unless your at a rockin' barn like I am, but even then, I've heard it at other barns. The constant "You ride horses??". I dislike having to forever explain, yes, I ride, yes I'm plus, no, I'm not going to squish the horse under me. Seriously? Squish? Are you in grade 2? An 1100+ lbs horse is not going to be "Squished" under my weight. Unless for some reason horses have gotten unbeleiveably weak since the days of the knights when they would carry 400+ lbs of knight, armour and gear....... I have no problems thinking they can carry my weight for 1 hr a week, heck I'm sure they could carry it more if I took more lessons!

This is a simple reminder to all plus girls and guys out there, be happy with who you are. Just because your plus doesn't mean your not healthy. Skinny people can be unhealthy as well. If you are unhealthy and plus or skinny, work on it, you can do it!  Get outside, muck a few extra stalls, make it a game, how many stalls can you clean in an hour? 3? Tomorrow make it 4. (Now it doesnt' count if stall 4 belongs to a messy thoroughbred who likes to stomp their poop into oblivion and you can't get it done in an hour LOL).

Life is fun and full of surprises, live it to the fullest no matter what your body shape. As long as you love and enjoy life, and get out and enjoy it, it's a wonderful start!

~J