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to stay on a strict diet, but you have to be aware of it for fitness and health in general. sure, eat mcdonald's occasionally, but don't do it five times a week. You don't want to limit until it's not fun, but maybe step up your nutrition awareness—and i don't care if you're 15 or 55." BoB GUtowitz is a personal trainer based in West Palm Beach, Fla. In addition to training riders on an individual basis, he volunteers his time annually for the Robert Dover Horsemastership Sessions, conducting morning fitness programs for the participants. meGan kepferle is the business manager at Sinead Halpin Equestrian in Chester, N.J. She's committed to sustainable avenues promoting good horsemanship and the sport of eventing, and her dedication to fitness has inspired her to share her story and help others toward what she calls "the path of awesomeness" at MyBody Tutor.com and as a blogger on COTH.com. Megan Kepferle's Dos & Don'ts Canadian olympic eventer kyle Carter has long placed a pre- mium on his own fitness. He competed nationally in modern pen- tathlon when he was younger, and he's always been a runner. but a few years ago he started running more races—first just a series of 5ks. Then his wife jennifer ran a half marathon and proposed the couple train together for a full, so he started running even more seriously. In august, the Carters completed the big Wild life runs Moose's Tooth Marathon in anchorage, alaska. "The training was very educational as far as working with fitness in animals," says kyle, who's since started emphasizing fitness in a new way with his students. "I'm more inclined to be critical of someone who isn't [working on his or her own fitness], which in the past I've never been. "I think it's a useful tool for people, because you understand if you shirk off doing the work with your horse, what it does to that horse in the long run. you learn you're really doing that horse a disservice," continues kyle, of ocala, fla. "[by engaging in] exercise, you learn more about how a body works. It's a very use- ful tool, almost from a clinical aspect." It's not Just About The Physical Benefits DO: • Eat lean protein at every meal. no, lunch- ables do not equal lean protein. • Eat more vegetables than anything else. you've really got to learn to love these guys. They can be the life of the party, I promise—you just have to invite them. • Drink so much water. not Gatorade. or Vita- min Water. or bourbon and water. just water. • Tackle the challenge of making healthy choices by thinking, "eat this, not that." This outlook is much easier (and more successful in the long term) than "I don't eat any of that." DOn'T: • Give up on yourself when you have an inevi- table weak moment. "oh, s***! I just ate some Texas toast and bacon sugar donuts with grits and a frappuccino, so I guess I'll just start my diet over on the first of the next month and binge eat until then." Stop. Doing. This. It will change your life. • Eat processed food. It makes you feel processed. • Think fat is the devil. au contraire! Sugar, my friend, is the devil. • reward yourself with a treat after the gym. This one has made the biggest difference in my life. just don't do it. adrenaline is your reward, you greedy american! c h r o n o f h o r s e . c o m ja n ua r y/ f e b r ua r y 2 015 41

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