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Jesse's Hunting > Hunting Articles > Hunting Articles Archives > Get in Shape for the Hunt
Get in Shape for the Hunt
Xavier Limon - JHO ProStaff
- Southern CA
June 25, 2005
It never occurred to me that when big game hunting, I was often the target of the hunt.
This past fall I had the opportunity to hunt for elk in the Colorado Rockies. I was to hunt with my father-in-law, his guest, and my cousin. In the months before our trip, I continually joked around with my wife about what she would do if I was to pass on while hunting. It seemed to be the continual joke, to the point that it started to become annoying. I would joke about whether or not she knew how to turn off the gas in an emergency, who would feed the animals, and of course, would she marry again. The entire trip to Colorado, the assassin that had been trained to take my life was staring at me every time I looked into the rear view mirror.
My wife didn’t think my banter was too funny. At first she’d ignore me and then ultimately, turn to me and say, “Then why don’t you do something about it?”
Therein lies the problem. For the past decade I hadn’t done anything about it. As long as the store had the next size up, I didn’t see it as too big of an issue. As long as my cushy office job allowed me to sit at my desk all day, I was going to take advantage of it. As long as my intake exceeds my output, I was going up and up and away – and that doesn’t mix well with big game hunting, or chukar hunting for that matter. I found it too easy to make excuses. I don’t want to have to make excuses for not being able to hunt.
Some size charts refer to me as “stout”. I like that term, but not in the way these size charts refer. I have a mad affection for Guinness Stout, and it’s that beverage that fills my pint glass that has also filled my waistline. Hopefully in the near future, I can be Coors Light.
 I’m not writing this as my own personal crusade to open myself to the world and let people know my vaults. I know a lot of hunters are big guys – maybe it’s the biscuits and gravy we enjoy, or the chicken fried steak and the craft brews we wash them down with. However, according to the American Obesity Association, 64.5% of the nation is overweight and 30.5% are obese and 4.7% are severely obese. I’m sure that this same percentage holds true for hunters.
So, I am going to make some changes, I am going to eat more vegetables and fruit, as well as taking in much leaner meats. I will cut back on my carb’s and exercise more. The way I figure it, I’ve been carrying around an elk hind quarter for the past 10 years, when it comes off, I will make a fine mule in the hunt camp. My wife keeps telling me to do crunches when we work out. I tell her that my stomach is fine and that it will be a washboard when I shed the pounds. It has to be, I’ve been working it out by sucking it in for the past decade!
I am writing this with hopes that as I change my diet and exercise habits, it can help and inspire others during their struggle with the same issues. Hopefully the next time somebody sees me, I’ll be a bit leaner. But if you don’t see me, I will be following up with monthly updates on my progress.
Remember, scouting is exercise too! And, I’m getting the rear view mirror replaced.
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