The Evolution of Atlas: A Breeding (and Chat) Thread

[robhuncor]

You must be so proud - and relieved - that Michael has accomplished such a big feat! I hope he continues to improve his health and life. He's an inspiration!

 

[seminolewind]

He's lost over 100 lbs I think he said, not sure the exact amount. He is well under 300 lbs. I know he was hitting close to 400 lbs, scary! That was heart attack territory. I PM'd to ask him about the current total. Michael is 6'2" tall. Not sure where the heck he got his height, not from us! His brother is only 5'9" tall. He was never like that as a kid, a little pudgy, but not after he gained his full height and got into karate full bore.
He's had both legs done, but he said something about going back to needles and injections on July 12 so I guess it's a process. But he said something about a burning down one leg now being completely gone, which is a blessing for a restaurant manager who is on his feet all the time.

good for him losing all that weight!

 

[seminolewind]

Yes, he had a lot and bad ones, too. But, he's getting his life back and I hope he continues. He answered and said he'd lost 102 lbs so far, held steady during the time he could not get to the gym after his leg surgeries. Nutrition is 95% of weight loss anyway, but adding muscle increases metabolism.
Tom is determined to do his physical therapy torture. He's there now. He goes on Monday and Friday. I kept telling him to use the weights at home like I do for his upper body. I have more arm muscle than he does even not flexed because I've done exercises regularly to strengthen my arms, ,shoulders and upper back for lifting stuff, plus some leg exercises. Hasn't helped my weight much since I'm hypothyroid, but at least I don't really gain more than a couple of pounds when I get lax about my eating. We do a lot of vegetables, stir-fry and such, using meat as a condiment more than a big portion of a meal and have been that way for years, other than the occasional burger with 90% lean ground beef or the even more rare drive-thru burger-wow, those fast food burgers seem so salty after not eating out for years!! Such a contrast to eating at home all the time.

Downloaded my driveway game camera this morning, lots of pics of us, the chickens, Finn and one of this guy who keeps hoping we'll leave the garbage out of the can for him. I heard a fox bark several times after sunrise close by. Usually, I don't hear that so late in the morning. View attachment 1831165

That's quite a picture!
I think your meals have hit a great idea with me-using meat as a condiment. It's like a mind set, I need to burn it into my brain!

 

[seminolewind]

Little buggers move quick!
View attachment 1828683

How cute! My chicks are 6 weeks. It seems like I had them longer.

 

[seminolewind]

I wonder who turned on this humidity? It's been hot here so getting things don't outside has been going real slow. All my chickens hang in the shade under some trees all day. So I put water out there for them. Getaclue, are things majorly hot down by you? Anyone else having really hot weather?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I wonder who turned on this humidity? It's been hot here so getting things don't outside has been going real slow. All my chickens hang in the shade under some trees all day. So I put water out there for them. Getaclue, are things majorly hot down by you? Anyone else having really hot weather?

It's been a swamp here. Constant rain, and humidity. . We need to make our hay but it isn't happening anytime soon. We are sopping wet. Our temps don't go past 90 generally but humidity can be pretty bad. I already remember how much I hate summer. Heat, bugs, weeds, and snakes.

 

[speckledhen]

Omigosh, I almost stepped on a Whitetail fawn this morning! Tom said he saw a doe in our pasture and we were on our way to the barn. I never saw the doe, but I thought I saw a big rabbit, it was so low to the ground and went running, but very un-rabbit-like. I said it looked like a tiny fawn. We were slowly walking to the bottom corner of the perimeter fence to look for it, thought we saw it go to ground. We were walking to the fence, were looking for the fawn when it suddenly jumped up right at my feet, bleated and ran further onto our property back down the back fence line toward the old coop! I thought it was on the other side of the fence, didn't even see that baby! Or maybe this was a second one of twins! Can a new fawn get over a 4' fence? Or it found an opening or maybe even was born inside the perimeter? I don't know. I hope mama finds it. I never could see it again, not sure where it hid. I hate that I scared the baby, but dang, I never saw it until my foot touched it.

 

[seminolewind]

Don't ya love it when wild animals jump up right in front of your face? LOL

Oldhenlikesdogs, how many cuttings do you get per season? For the first time I watched my neighbor cut the hay, then blow it into lines (?) , then come thru with this thing that creates round bales. It was interesting. I guess he grows all his own hay for his cows for the winter. Many farmers, it looks like they do a cutting of hay, then plant corn. I guess I should hit the farmer's market!

 

[seminolewind]

I can't wait to let these chicks run around outside, but i'll have to be there because they still peep and I think that would alert the hawks.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Don't ya love it when wild animals jump up right in front of your face? LOL

Oldhenlikesdogs, how many cuttings do you get per season? For the first time I watched my neighbor cut the hay, then blow it into lines (?) , then come thru with this thing that creates round bales. It was interesting. I guess he grows all his own hay for his cows for the winter. Many farmers, it looks like they do a cutting of hay, then plant corn. I guess I should hit the farmer's market!

We generally get two cuttings, occasionally three. This year we will be lucky to get one. Hay will be old and tough. Thankfully we aren't feeding anything that needs something better, except for the old donkey who will probably get put down this year. She doesn't have many teeth left and won't make it through another winter even with extra rations. She's 32 this year.

Another problem around here is many farmers haven't been able to plant their crops, especially corn, so the price of feed may climb. Husband may be eating a few birds to lighten our load, if that happens.