For years, I had been carrying around more weight than I cared to admit—easily tipping the scales at over 290 pounds on my 6'0" frame. It wasn't just the numbers; it was the constant fatigue, the way clothes never fit right, and the avoidance of mirrors, photos, and just people in general. I'd brush it off as "I'm making money, who cares" or blame it on a busy lifestyle, but deep down, I knew my habits of eating fast food and skipping workouts were catching up. Life felt heavier in every sense, but I hadn't hit a breaking point yet. That changed one sweltering summer day when my buddy and I headed into the woods with my BullPath gear to shoot some product photos and videos for my outdoor gear company.

We found a sturdy tree that seemed perfect for demonstrating the one-stick climbing method, so I geared up and started the ascent. Right away, my oversized stomach pressed against the trunk, making every move a struggle—my arms burned, my breath came in gasps, and by the time I reached the top, I was utterly exhausted. I hung there for what felt like ages, pretending to pose while my friend snapped away, but really just catching my wind. Rappelling down was a mercy; shimmying down the tree would've been a nightmare. 

I remember the moment I touched the ground and took off all my gear, I ran to my buddy with excitement. I knew he is an amazing photographer and I let him use my new camera for the shoot. I was expecting to see some bomb ass pictures and videos.

When we reviewed the footage back on the ground, my heart sank—there I was, looking far larger and more out of shape than I'd imagined, my gut protruding awkwardly in every shot. The rolls protruding from my body. The neck that didn't exist. In some photos, I looked wider than the tree itself. That raw, unfiltered view was one of the catalyst I needed, it shattered my denial of how big I actually was. Shortly after that, my buddy looked at me and uttered the words that led the crushing blow. " Damn, you got fat". I got pissed and was instantly crushed.

From that day, I committed to small steps: tracking calories, hitting the gym three times a week, and swapping junk for real food. It wasn't overnight, but that moment in the woods pushed me toward reclaiming my health, one determined choice at a time.

After almost of 1.5 years of tracking what I eat, getting some sort of physical activity everyday, and staying away from temptations, I have successfully lost 120-130 pounds. I have not felt any better in my life, and I'm very thankful I went down this path.

In this article, we will talk about my own journey and opinion. How it felt to hunt while being fat. What is took to shed off all the fat from my body. Lastly, what it feels like to hunt while in shape and what it has done for me in the deer woods.

Mobile hunting whitetail deer when you're fat as fuck is a brutal grind that turns what should be an enjoyable experience  into a punishing ordeal. Every scouting trip starts with optimism, but within minutes of stepping onto uneven terrain, your lungs are screaming, and you're gasping for air like you've run a marathon. In the sticky heat of spring and summer, it's even worse—sweat pours down your back and face, soaking your clothes before you've covered a hundred yards. Navigating obstacles feels impossible; thickets snag at your oversized frame, and fallen trees become insurmountable barriers because your gut and thunder thighs limit your range of motion, making it hard to twist, climb, or squeeze through without excruciating joint pain flaring up in your knees and hips. You're not gliding through the woods like a shadow; you're a walking pig, every step a reminder of the extra weight dragging you down, turning a simple scouting mission into an exhausting battle against your own body. On the contrary, while I was actively working out and eating cleaner, I literally treated every scouting mission as a workout. The funny thing is, it always was. Typically at the end, I physically was dead and mentally drained. 

The worst part isn't just the physical toll—it's how it poisons the joy of being outdoors. You dread the hunt before it even begins, knowing you'll be huffing and puffing, red-faced and drenched, while trying to stay quiet and stealthy for those elusive bucks. Instead of soaking in the serenity of dawn in the deer stand or the thrill of spotting fresh tracks, your mind fixates on the discomfort, the embarrassment of your labored breathing echoing through the woods. And if you're creating content about it, like videos or photos for my own business, it's all smoke and mirrors—carefully angled shots to hide the belly rolls, strategic poses behind gear or trees to mask the reality of your size. You edit out the wheezing pauses and the sweat-streaked close-ups, projecting an image of rugged capability, but deep down, it's a facade built on shame, making the whole experience feel like a lie rather than the passion it's supposed to be.

Hunting whitetail deer from a saddle while being obese turns what should be a thrilling experience into a constant battle against your own body, where every setup feels like a compromise. I'd strap into my hunting saddle and climb up the tree, but climbing was a nightmare. Especially in winter with all those bulky layers to combat the frigid weather, making every step on the climbing sticks a sweaty, wheezing ordeal. Don't get me started on cramps when you are 15 feet up in a tree trying to get to an ideal hunting height. My oversized stomach would press against the trunk of the tree, limiting my reach and turning a simple ascent into a grueling test of endurance, my joints aching from the extra strain. No Joke, I've even pulled a muscle while straining so hard to gt my tether around a tree.

Once up there, competitors' saddles were the worst; they'd dig into my hips with that brutal pinch, like vise grips squeezing my flesh, leaving me shifting uncomfortably for hours. Even my own saddle wasn't much better—I'd end up squished like a fat ball, my stomach rolls spilling over the edges, sitting awkwardly to alleviate the pain, the list goes on. Literally anything that had to do with a hunting saddle or even a tree stand for that matter, it was a nightmare to deal with when you carry an extra 20 pounds of body fat. Let alone with what I had to deal with, which was morbid obesity. It made everything difficult, even when it came to just adjusting the saddle. Only so much you can do when you have the odds stacked against you on top of the fact having to deal with the most unrelenting force on earth, Mother Nature.

The real agony hit after the shot, when the harvest turned from triumph to torture. Dragging a buck out of the woods was excruciating; my back screamed, my knees buckled under the combined weight of the deer and my own bulk, and I'd have to stop every few yards to catch my breath, everything was amplefied. The whole experience robbed the hunt. Instead of focusing on the rustle of leaves or the silhouette of a big rack in the distance, I'd be distracted by the discomfort, the way my body rebelled against the setup, turning patience into pain. It wasn't just physical; it was demoralizing, knowing that my size was holding me back from the pure enjoyment of the outdoors, making every successful hunt feel like a hard-won victory over myself as much as the deer. There have been many occasions where I was only a mile back into the woods, had the opportunity to shoot a buck, and decided not to because I knew the drag out was going to be horrible. All due to my inability to remain fit.

Achieving optimal health and fitness is a transformative journey that requires self-awareness, discipline, and a sustainable plan. Whether your goal is to prepare for demanding activities like deer hunting, where strength, endurance, and stamina are essential. Or to simply to feel stronger, more energetic, and confident in your body, the foundation is the same.Taking responsibility for your habits and making a life time of changes. Consistency in nutrition, calorie management, and regular exercise can lead to significant improvements in body composition, energy levels, cardiovascular health, and overall well-being. The key is to start with realistic steps that fit your lifestyle, focusing on nutrient-dense foods, controlled portions, and progressive physical activity.

One effective and practical approach that worked well for me was to get in shape specifically for deer hunting. Here’s exactly how I did it:

• Took full accountability: I honestly acknowledged that my previous habits, poor food choices and lack of exercise had led to being out of shape. This mindset shift was the most important first step, as it made me face reality of the situation. If you can't own up to your own mess, you should just stop reading and find some other person to listen to.
• Calculated my starting point: Before changing anything, I used online BMI and TDEE (Total Daily Energy Expenditure) calculators to determine my current body composition and daily caloric maintenance level. This gave me a clear, data-driven baseline. This is absolutely crucial, if you miss this step then you are shooting from the hip. You need to know what your body burns in a day to determine how many calories you should be eating to burn fat.
• Established a caloric deficit: This is about ever lasting change. If you go to extreme with this part, you will never be able to get into shape. I subtracted a moderate amount (a few hundred calories) from my maintenance level to create a sustainable deficit. This promoted steady fat loss without extreme restriction or loss of energy. As you progress through your fitness journey, you will end up needing to adjust these numbers. Your maintenance caloric levels when you were 300 pounds may be drastically different than yourself at 250 pounds.
• Created a structured eating plan: I reduced overall food intake and switched to healthier options by adopting a 16:8 intermittent fasting schedule (fasting from 8 PM to 12 PM, with an eating window from 12 PM to 8 PM). This helped control calories naturally while giving my body time to recover and burn stored fat. I also have taken a considerable amount of time to understand how I operate. What time do I find myself eating the most ? When do I start to get hungry? I was never a breakfast person, but I could put down some major food around 6pm. Essentially, I now hold off my hunger for as long as I can, and eat my entire caloric goal in a very short period of time. This helps me with my binge eating activities, just now in a much healthier modified version.
• Focused on high-protein, home-cooked meals: I limit myself to one - two large, nutrient-dense meals per day, both prepared at home. Each meal always contains lean proteins (chicken, turkey, beef, fish, eggs). With my protein, I also will include complex carbs such as ( rice, potatoes, nuts ) to support muscle repair and satiety. I will often pair my food with some sort of bread. I will either eat homemade sourdough bread or keto tortillas ( I'm part Mexican , ok? ). Now if I'm at work slaving away like a dog, I will eat protein bars or Tuna packs to hold me over until my meal when I get off. The goal is to eat clean and healthy while keeping yourself sain, not to kill yourself. Don't over complicate it, it is not that hard to find what works for you.
• Added consistent strength and cardio training: I committed to weight training and cardio sessions at least three times per week. This included compound lifts (squats, deadlifts, presses) to build functional strength for carrying gear and climbing hills, plus steady-state or interval cardio to improve cardiovascular endurance and stamina for long hunts. What you do in the gym goes a long way out in the woods, trust me. They called me mountain goat at deer camp last year while we were traversing through the southern hills of Ohio, and I can say with a fact that I was able to climb those mountains with ease due to me lifting and running a lot on my off time.

This combination of mindful eating, strategic calorie control, and regular exercise not only got me in excellent shape for deer hunting but also improved my overall health—better sleep, more energy, reduced body fat, and increased strength. The best part is that these habits are sustainable long-term and can be adapted to any fitness goal.

For years , and even to this day, it's been a struggle to just watch what I eat. Eventually you'll just get fed up and will want to change. Unfortunately there is nobody coming to save you and tell you what to do. There is no motivation, just discipline. The only way to cultivate discipline is to practice it every day. It's a perishable skill. With discipline you will be able to change who you are. Ultimately that's the goal, and when you start to change, so does your life. A big part of my life is hunting. There is no better feeling in the world than to feel more than capable to provide for yourself and family. That includes the deer woods. It feels nice knowing I can out scout anyone, to hunt harder than anyone, and to not get tired before the rest do. And when you change from fat to fit, a trained killing machine, you'll see and feel the difference each hunting season that comes.

The extra energy has made mobile hunting so much better, especially with my Praxis hunting saddle. Before, the physical side was hard—hip pinch after sitting in a saddle for a while, and scouting felt like work. Now, being fit means I can hunt all day without getting worn out. The Praxis saddle is light and fits well, so I stay comfortable for hours with no aches, letting me focus on the hunt instead of my body. I can walk miles to check new areas or get to far-off spots without trouble, which helps me find better places to hunt. When I harvest a deer, dragging it back is simpler because my stronger muscles handle the weight without strain, even if I'm alone. Overall, I can push myself harder—going deeper into the woods, changing plans quickly, and staying out longer—which leads to more success and fun in every trip. Hunting feels like something I control now, not something that controls me.

Down below is a quick list why you should change.

• Increased Energy Levels: Being fit means I have way more stamina to hunt from dawn to dusk without feeling drained, allowing me to stay focused and alert throughout the day.
• Pain-Free Saddle Hunting: With the Praxis hunting saddle, I can sit comfortably for hours without any joint or back aches, thanks to better overall strength and the saddle's lightweight, supportive design.
• Easier Scouting and Travel: I can hike miles to scout new areas or reach remote spots effortlessly, covering more ground and finding better hunting locations without exhaustion.
• Simpler Deer Recovery: Dragging out a harvested deer is much less strenuous now, as my stronger muscles and core handle the weight easily, even when hunting solo. Even my stamina has increased by light years, I do not gas out quickly.
• Ability to Hunt Harder: Overall fitness lets me push deeper into the woods, adapt plans on the fly, and extend hunts longer, leading to more opportunities and successful outings.

Do you need help devising a plan to better your training regiment and eating habits? Reach out to us !

Get in shape, and kick ass. Everything else in life and especially hunting will follow suit. My favorite bible verse is from Isaiah 6:8, where the prophet Isaiah describes hearing God's voice asking, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" and Isaiah famously replies, "Here am I. Send me!"

Taking that verse and run with it like your life depends on it.