So, I goofed and Catwoman had gained a significant amount of weight in a mere 2 weeks! Overfed on her treats, especially nuts. I know I shouldn't have but I was so caught up in trying to get them to do forage that I didn't think about the repercussions until it was too late.

I stopped all treats altogether. I count my blessings that she is such an active glider. She LOVES her wheel, and she's always testing out her jumps from one object to the next, just taking my breath away with her crazy dexterity. It saddens me that while she used to be a ninja, she now thuds around. But in three days' time, I can already see improvement, so I know we are on the right track.

For bonding purposes, I've been hand feeding them fruits and veggies from their dinner plate, and adding egg white (no yolks) to increase their protein. They would have gotten added protein from their meal worms but they are currently cut off due to Catwoman being on a diet.

I feel horrible about having to do this Batman, who was never an over-eater. He, despite the many nuts to be foraged, only ate what was necessary and not a bite more. It's so strange that I always thought he would be the one to get tubby since he is ALWAYS in his pouch and seldom exercises.

There IS a bright side to all this. Now that she's gained some weight, she will actually let Batman on the wheel. Before, she used to hop over him, going so fast, that all he could do was hold on, and then as soon as she took a break, he'd get off and make a mad dash for his wheel. (I almost picture him saying, "Jane! Get me off this crazy thing!" LOL) But since she no longer has the endurance to do that, he can actually work out for once. Maybe when she gets back in shape, the two of them together will be equally paired partners in the wheel. It seems he is moving with less stiffness in his joints now. (And he's also getting out of his cage more.)

I am also taking them off of HPW Complete. It appears it doesn't have the Wombaroo powder in it at all, despite its acronym, and only yields 14% protein. Thank God I was not shy on dishing out those mealies before!

We are going to try HPW Original first. That's the one hubby likes best. Me, I am seriously liking Val's Green Variety diet...but as it contains the bee pollen and lists High Protein Wombaroo powder as an optional addition, I think we might eventually try that. I, too, believe variety is the key to a successful diet.

My other choice is LGRS Suggie Soup but with the dried fly pupae...Man, we better NEVER use that blender for margaritas, that's all I've gotta say. That's a glider-only blender after that. Yuck. And then I'm thinking about the time I mistakenly tasted HPW Complete. I used a knife to pop out the cube of supplement out of the ice cube tray, and then used the same knife to cut up some honeydew. Then I decided I wanted some honeydew. And, of course, the knife still had some HPW Complete on it. Oops. Now, flash forward to what if that was Suggie Soup. OMG, I think I would vomit. LOL. Just gotta be sure to cut up fruit & veggies FIRST, I think.

Well, we are on the right track, I think. Catwoman's losing weight, and the snacks are off limits for the time being. When the time comes, I will research and see what an appropriate amount of snacks look like. I don't want to repeat this mistake! But I will cross that bridge if/when we get there.

 

RChurch
Gender: Female
Occupation:Licensed Massage Therapist
Member since: Sep 21, 2011
Posts: 1377 View my pictures!
My Hobbies
I enjoy making toys for gliders. Lots and lots of toys. I also write poetry, cook, watch movies and read books. But of course, if I have any time at all, it's given to my precious suggies. :) Favorite Quote
"But who prays for Satan? Who, in eighteen centuries, has had the common humanity to pray for the one sinner that needed it the most?" ~Mark Twain

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