Wow, over a month. So much for my plan. I am so easily distracted and probably a little, or a lot, afraid to keep a blog. As a kid, I was very quiet and introverted, even voted "Quietest" of my senior class. Now, though, I tend to talk a lot. So I am afraid of "talking" too much, but also keeping my blog to just a few things because I think about a lot.
Today...hmmm...I think I'll try to keep it short and talk about my first hunting trip.
My husband and I are pretty good couch potatoes. I didn't think much of it when he started watching the show Duck Dynasty. But before you know it he was investing in all kinds of hunting paraphernalia. I'm not a fan of guns, especially in homes with children, but he went through hunter safety class, read up on all sorts of laws, and spoke with experienced hunters. He bought a gun safe and keep the ammunition separate, plus he was cleaning his gun one night and heard someone creeping around outside. He walked out to find a man trying to break into a car. The guy ran when he saw the gun (unloaded, of course). Still one cannot be careless because that is what leads to accidents, which is my worst fear. I trust Billy, my husband; it is me I am afraid of.
I did go through hunter safety training for several reasons: 1) to know how to be safe around firearms and while hunting, 2) to go hunting and spend more time with Billy, and 3) he said he'd take dance lessons with me, if I went hunting with him. My weapon of choice is a compound bow. Archery seemed a little less dangerous, but I still try to treat my bow like a gun. The only real difference in shooting, aside from the obvious, is that bows that a little longer to sight/aim before shooting (maybe because I'm still a novice) and one can't fatally wound oneself with a bow (at least I can't think of a way).
My first hunting trip was about a week ago on March 28. We went with an outfitter, so I was practically guaranteed a kill, wild pig in this case. And it was pretty easy in a few ways. We came upon our prey within 15 minutes of being on the trail. I was kind of surprised because the pigs were so close and I was hesitant. I hesitated so long the pigs spooked and ran off up a hill. They paused 20-30 yards away, I think. I took aim on one and release an arrow. I was aiming for the lungs, which would have been a quick end to my hunt. Unfortunately, I hit the sow in the gut, which not prolongs suffering but could spoil the meat. In hunter safety class, we are told to NOT run down the prey, but let it run and expire than track it. The outfitter had different ideas. More money and quota anyone? So we kept after it climbing the steepest hills I've ever been on with lose dirt and narrow paths, just wide enough for wild pig to run on. After taking three more shots and losing two more arrow (the first went through and was lost), she went into a thorn bush and Billy was able to use his pistol to end her suffering. All in all, I'm glad it is over. I will be practicing my sighting and aim; consistency of posture is key, Billy says. Also, next time it will be him and I so we can hunt more ethically. Of course between my pig and the one he got later that morning, we really won't need anything for the freezer for a while. I would actually like to get some fish for the freezer.
Which brings me to what I originally sat down to write about. I need to eat more fish because I am trying to lose weight while having hypothyroidism, which I have been researching like never before.
I was initially diagnosed 14 years ago after I returned from England where I had been studying for several months. I had lost 50-60 pounds by walking everywhere, especially up a step hill most mornings to get to my classes. Back in the US and no more walking everywhere, the weight was coming back quick. After being diagnosed with Hashimoto's hypothyroidism, I started the Protein Power Life Plan. I was good for about 6 months, but never really transition out of Phase 1. I re-lost 40 pounds, and continued to eat with some of what I learned from Protein Power. I was not strict with limiting my carbohydrate consumption, however. So as I started dating and eventually marrying, I was also slowly gaining weight. Truthfully, though, I wasn't worried; I knew what it would take to lose the weight again and I was still below my heaviest weight of 230 pounds. Alas, that was my weight about 20 years ago. WOW! Now, I am almost there again.
What I have found in my research is that I am one of the luckier ones. It has taken years to get back to this weight, while some people pile on the weight in the months after being diagnosed. I've found that like before losing weight is going to take tremendous willpower and determination. Losing weight will take double the hours recommended to a normal person. I will need to cut carbs, which I love. Plus, I am a woman in my 30s. All this equals hard, hard, hard.
During summer, it is easier to live without carbs and eat more fruits, veggies, and meat, and drink more water. It will be easier to sweat, too. I have an appointment with my endocrinologist this week, so I want to ask him about testing vitamin and mineral levels to see if any supplements will help, too.
See what I mean about talking on and on. I'll end now and see ya' later.
