Hog Tight Horse High Part I

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Hog Tight – Horse High!

A few weeks ago, I found myself standing in the middle of a large field at a historical site in Palmyra, New York. I listened intently as the tour guide described the great effort that had been made to re-construct the farm, log houses, fences and barns to what it was in the early 1800’s.

While it was all quite fascinating to me, I was especially interested in her comments about the fences. As she pointed to a split rail fence near us, she noted how important it was for the homesteaders to build the fences, “hog tight and horse high.”

You see, the farmers built wooden fences around their property to keep their animals in and other animals out. They learned quickly that if their fence was not built just right, the hogs would dig and crawl under it and the horses would jump over it. Hence the term, ‘hog tight and horse high.”

I don’t know why, but for some reason my mind connected that concept to my experience with my surgical tool these past 13 years. You see, like the fence, my surgical tool does exactly what it was designed to do. However, through the years, I have learned how to go under it and how to jump over it! Sound familiar?

Throughout these past few weeks, I have searched an identified ways that I sneakily crawl under and jump over my stomach pouch tool. And I know that I am a sneak! And to what end? Well an unwanted 17 pounds, duh!.

This little discovery has been a great eye opener and has served as a catalyst for changing some of my self defeating behaviors. We all know how essential our habits are to our long term success, and it is good to take stock (no pun intended) to fill in the gaps and fortify the foundations of our fences.

Hog-tight.

As I searched, I found gaps that needed fortified and several holes that needed filled. First, my shopping habits had gotten a bit lax. It is so easy to justify the cookies, candy and chips by saying
. They are for my family. But, time and time again, those worthless calories were working way into my mouth. No more! I patched up that hole and have recommitted to making better choices when I shop.

Next, my exercise had slipped a little. Ok, a lot. My husband’s hip surgery and recovery was the perfect excuse to stop going to the gym; a deadly decision for me. Our membership expired and we have not yet re-joined, but in the meantime, to patch up that hole, I purchased a few new exercise videos to do each morning. A temporary patch? Probably, but at least it is not a hole anymore! Stay tuned for Part 2

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