What other physical activities do you enjoy?

[glinda]

I can honestly say that I have never enjoyed any exercise except riding. I loved it for years. Unfortunately I am now too fat to ride without the poor animal buckling at the knees.

Obviously I am working on my diet, but I am looking for inspirational, fun exercise ideas that might help me to lose enough weight to get back into the saddle again.

No ideas are too weird!

poo-picking steep fields, mucking out filthy beds and grooming hairy, muddy ponies! Increase fun levels by listening to music a the same time and having a bit of a dance about (when you think noone is looking!) ;)

I have recently got into running.

Try C25K and give it a good shot - you will surprise yourself! Seriously, I'm not insane!
I am someone who has never ran in her life and I got addicted!

Poo picking is another good one!

I also have been walking my TB out in hand alot recently - thats good fun and burns a shit load of cals - you are more than welcome to borrow him

Cycling and karate. I cycle to work so it's "free" rather than planned exercise that takes up my time and my local karate club started a group specifically for new adult starters which is perfect. Very much driven by your abilities and fitness levels.

I have to say though, nothing beats the physical side of horses. Any local stables you could help out at? Mucking out 16 per day gave my metabolism a serious kick start

Another vote for running and a little bit of light weights plus squats, lunges, push ups. Mix it up and think about how you want to look in your breeches . George Morris says the best exercise riders can do is to put down their fork...I'm inclined to agree. Riding and horse care burn a heck of a lot of calories but you DO have to watch what you eat too. No snacks, no sweets, no seconds. I've never been overweight but I suspect I would be if I didn't watch it and/or stopped exercise. If riding is your goal, then make that work for you...you can do it!

I cycle to work so it's "free"

I walk to work on the same concept - getting some incidental exercise without having to think about it, or set aside time to actually do the exercise. For the first time in my life, I have a job that I can walk to, although it is 40 min each way. Makes for a lot of walking exercise, but that's ok as I don't have a horse atm.

Also I have a yoga DVD that I can pop in once a week/whenever I feel like it, to help with the flexibility side of things. It is pretty low level (Yoga for Dummies ), but it does the trick.

I am like you, love riding, but I also really enjoy walking our dog, and I do a yoga class once a week....would love to do it more than that, but can't fit it in.

I cycle and I do pilates which helps with core strength and generally stretching out the bits that get tense and sore in the saddle. Mountain biking and cyclocross are not that dissimilar to hacking, in a way - you're still out in the woods or the trails, getting muddy, enjoying the scenery, there are fast bits and slow bits, and it's great fun on your own or with company. Tried running, but I just didn't enjoy it - you've got to find something that's fun if it's going to stick.

Running, cycling (I call my bike my urban steed), gardening.

I don't do running, it hurts my back and my knees, but I can happily walk for miles so I do that whenever I get a chance. I've got a pedometer which is good for incentive (not allowed a dog in rented house so pedometer will have to do! A little man jumps up and down on the screen when I get to 10,000 steps ). I also ride my bike and do gardening/allotment. I used to go swimming but got out of the habit so that's something I want to try and start up again, if I can find the time!

Does your local park have any of the outdoor exercise machines adult playground? Ours does and ds and I have great fun on them. He's 14 so too old for the swings and slides but he enjoys the adult ones and they help him keep fit. He is disabled and has some mobility problems but can manage most of the machines (they have rowing/skiing etc). Have you got a mate you can go with and have a laugh? although we usually end up in cafe afterwards which defeats the object somewhat.

I can't handle any exercise that doesn't have a non-exercise point, it's why I love riding - it's challenging on a mental level as well as a physical level.

I've found rock climbing, walking (to get to things or to experience things) and dancing are all good exercise while also keeping me entertained.

You're weird, Bluechampagne when I ride my bike around the neighbourhood with the DC, I pretend I'm riding my horse and that every curb is a jump. Good two-point practice .

How about orienteering then? How are you at reading maps?