I've lost 20lb since last year, that in itself feels so slow. Everytime I'm making visible and mental progress, start feeling good about myself, I end up putting myself on the back burner and then regret it because progress stalls.
I have medication and a hormonal imbalance stacked against me as well as being a woman in her 30's that carries the mental load of the household.
Things always come up where I'm busy taking care of everyone but me and its like everything goes out the window. It then gets hard to get back into the swing of it because I feel down that I've let myself give in to the cycle again. It goes as far as forgetting to drink water.
I'm supposed to be going cold water swimming tonight (my one activity truly for myself most weeks) and I feel like I should miss it because I have things to do and would rather wallow.
Any tips for making yourself and your health a priority? I'll never get anywhere keep doing this, but feel awful guilt when I put myself first especially is busy household times.
I just needed a rant and figured there must be others that feel the same that are on weight loss journey.

This was posted in the AngryObservation subreddit (that I stumbled on two seconds ago)
Essay posted by u/dcmetro7
https://www.reddit.com/usedcmetro7/
Democrats have a branding problem : AngryObservation (reddit.com)

Democrats have a branding problem

😴 Long Observation 😴
I was inspired by u/Randomuser1520 's post about the Democratic Party's seemingly weak bench of future potential presidential nominees.
A lot of the problems trace back to 2016, but I'd argue the Democrats' branding woes go back even further. Think all the way back to the last time the Democrats had a consistently strong electoral record as a party -- the 90s, where the only truly bad year for Ds was 1994. Bill Clinton had successfully rebranded the party under the 'Third Way' label that Dems at any level could embrace and benefit from, and he had a clear successor in Al Gore. But Gore loses narrowly in 2000, and the problems for the Dems' brand begin.
'Yes We Can'
After 9/11, the electorate supports Bush and they support war. Dems' brand takes a hit and they lose the 2002 midterms. In 2004, John Kerry is successfully painted as an out-of-touch Ivy League liberal, disengaged from 'real America.' Dems lose and their brand suffers further.
But by the end of Bush's term, most Americans are disillusioned with Dubyaism. They wanted change, and one man promises to lead them to it with posters that proclaim 'HOPE' and cries of 'Yes We Can,' heralding in a new age of politics. Barack Obama and the Democrats are swept into a trifecta in Washington.
And we certainly got a new age of politics. When Obama was inaugurated, pundits speculated about the 'emerging Democratic majority', and how the GOP may literally go extinct in ten years. By the end of Obama's second term, those same pundits are surveying the absolutely decimated state of the Democratic party at all levels of power. Dems had lost the Senate, the House, most governorships, and most state legislatures. Control of the state legislatures makes the GOP's hold on the House even stronger. Control of the Senate effectively leads to control of the Supreme Court.
While Obama certainly can't be blamed for everything the GOP threw at him, I feel like it's safe to say his rebranding of the Democratic party failed in the long run. The 'Party of Hope' was sunk into the quagmire of a slow economic recovery, some of the most cynical politicking ever, and some of the most dysfunctional White House-Congress relationships in the history of the country. Obama's signature healthcare legislation would languish in the 30s approval-wise until after he left office. By 2015, no one was talking about the Democrats as the Party of Hope anymore. Even the guy who designed the original 'Hope' poster said he was frustrated by the lack of progress under the Obama admin. I'd argue that the Republicans were responsible for the clear majority of this dysfunction, but if their goal was to muddy the waters between the parties, they succeeded. And with the Tea Party, they were better at rebranding themselves even when they were in the opposition.
And none of this was helped by the face that Obama seemed extremely reluctant, even uninterested, in stepping into the role of party leader. Congressional Democrats were frustrated at the way he kept his distance from them, making it hard to solidify the policy goals they'd implemented in his first term. This article (https://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/19/us/aloof-obama-is-frustrating-his-own-party.html) sums it up well, with this prescient quote sticking out:

In interviews, nearly two dozen Democratic lawmakers and senior congressional aides suggested that Mr. Obama’s approach has left him with few loyalists to effectively manage the issues erupting abroad and at home and could imperil his efforts to leave a legacy in his final stretch in office.

And sure enough, Obama's legacy was in peril before he even left office.
'Stronger Together'
In 2016, Democrats didn't plan for a primary, they planned for a coronation. Hillary Clinton had been locking up all the support she could get from the Democratic establishment while Obama was serving his second term. Biden would seem like the clear establishment successor, but by the time he was able to turn his attention from VP duties to the primary he realized Hillary had completely boxed him out. She had already corralled all the big donors, operatives, and endorsements into her corner, and Joe was checkmated before he even sat down to the board. Thus, he turned down the opportunity, likely burying his long-nurtured presidential ambitions.
But then the coronation gets bumpy. Sanders challenges her from the outside, and immediately begins putting her on the spot as to why she's running. In other words, what does she envision for the Democratic brand? Hillary herself doesn't know. Is it a third term of Bill (whose star was starting to fade among everyone whose name doesn't rhyme with Shames Scarville), a third term of Obama (whose Hope posters have since become landfill), or an all-new thing?
To Hillary's credit, she couldn't portray herself as a total break from the past, both because she had been was strongly anchored to the national political landscape for the last thirty years, and because she could hardly attack Obama's record too harshly. In the end, she also struggled to brand both herself and the party. Consider the slogans most associated with her campaign; 'Forward Together' and 'Stronger Together' sound like the slogans of a centrist third party with no concrete policy ideas. They just attempted to project a feeling of unity onto a people who were united only, if the candidacies of Sanders and Trump meant anything, in the feeling that 'establishment' politicians like HRC had failed. And, of course, 'I'm with Her' was barely a rebrand at all, simply associating the party with its uncharismatic yet seemingly unstoppable frontrunner.
In the meantime, Trump had done the opposite, rebranding himself and the GOP as the party of 'America First populism.' What that meant exactly in terms of policy seemed to change from day to day But as a brand, as a forceful statement of intent, it worked, especially when contrasted with a seemingly rudderless HRC campaign that failed to answer the age-old question: 'Why are you running for president?'
'For the People'
After the 2016 fiasco, the Democrats were decimated and leaderless. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid had passed his leadership position to Chuck Schumer and passed on soon after Trump took office. Tim Ryan led a mutiny against Nancy Pelosi, blaming her in part for the party's plunge from ascendance to irrelevance in the House. Hillary Clinton disappeared into the woods of Chappaqua. Obama started making a docu-series for Netflix. Joe Biden entered semi-retirement and wrote a book.
But in all of this, they found something they had been lacking. A brand.
Not the one they would have preferred, but one that would work nonetheless for winning elections. House Dems would embrace the (once-again) vague slogan of 'For the People' ahead of the 2018 midterms, but the aim was clear. The Democrats were now the Opposition; the Anti-Trump party.
Trump's approval rating was not just low, but incredibly sticky. People tended to have very firm opinions on him, and so his approval rating barely escaped the 35-45% range, with him almost hitting 50% before the pandemic hit. Thus, running on opposition to Trump would be fine electorally. In 2018, the Democrats had a blue wave year based mostly on opposition to Trump, retaking the house. Ironically, a big policy motivator for voters was backlash against the GOP's effort to repeal and replace Obamacare -- a promise that had driven Republican electoral gains since the bill was passed into law. Republican branding and messaging had been so successful that, for the better part of the decade, people trusted them to 'fix' the ACA until the very last minute before the replacement was signed.
'Battle for the Soul of the Nation'
But the problem remained for 2020 -- who would lead them? This was a difficult decision even before the pandemic. And Democratic primary voters were treated to a veritable buffet on angles on how to rebrand the party to beat Trump.
Should the party embrace democratic socialism under Sanders, or heavy consumer advocacy under Warren? Should it embrace a young, charismatic up-and-comer like Harris, Buttigieg, or O'Rourke or someone just as 'establishment' as Hillary, like Michael Bloomberg? Old-school liberalism with the Klob? Whatever Andrew Yang was doing?
But as the polls drew near, the Democrats seemed to conclude that beating Trump was simply more important than charting a new course for the party. If they could get elected or rebrand, they'd choose the former. And so all the other more moderate candidates dropped out to consolidate the vote around Biden, as the safe, expected pick who could stay the course. Biden and his surrogates began adopting the slogan 'Battle for the Soul of the Nation,' an epic and apocalyptic phrase that is still fundamentally reactive in tone, implying that the biggest motivator to vote for Democrats that fall was not to pass any specific agenda, but to put a stop to the GOP's plans.
Biden wouldn't govern in this way, but he would campaign this way -- as the normal, capable candidate who could lead the country's post-covid recovery in opposition to Trump's perceived incompetence. Biden won, but Democrats didn't get nearly the boost they wanted from covid, and House candidates underperformed Biden nationally, leading to a surprising loss of seats in the House. And after the effort to throw out the election failed, Trump left office with severely damaged standing with independents. The anti-Trump brand had delivered Dems a trifecta; now it was time to use it; hopefully to establish a new brand for a new decade.
'Building Back Better'
Upon taking office, Biden and the Dems lay out their agenda; the 'Build Back Better' plan, which centers on a three-pronged approach; a pandemic relief bill, an infrastructure bill, and a social policy bill. Passing such plans will involve all 50 Senate D's on board in some cases, and a bipartisan filibuster-proof majority of 60 senators in other cases.
People laugh, think back to 2010, and begin arguing whether a prediction that the GOP will control 55 Senate seats by 2023 is too conservative. Nancy Pelosi is trying to manage a mere five-seat majority in the house. Mitch McConnell, who once feasted on the Democrats' lost hopes the way a hungry turtle devours a plate of juicy strawberries, still held enough sway in the Senate to hold up any significant policy not related to budget reconciliation. Even then, Schumer must wrangle mavericks like Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema. Dramatic divisions still rip across the fabric of American society. But then, something truly strange happens.
The 117th Congress ends up being one of the most productive sessions ever.
Whether or not you think any or all of the 117th's acts were good policy, it's undeniable that this was an unusually politically efficient session, especially considering the last decade of hardball politics. Bipartisan majorities drive the infrastructure act, a gun control act, a tech-manufacturing promotion act, and even a somewhat-legalization of same-sex marriage nationwide. Plus, Schumer and Pelosi navigate their tiny majorities toward passing partisan priorities, like the pandemic relief act and the scaled-down Build Back Better social policy bill, rebranded as the Inflation Reduction Act or IRA. McConnell drops his trademark stonewalling and collaborates with Biden on the bipartisan bills, and 'Yea' votes roll in even from deep red states -- Republican senators from Mississippi, West Virginia, and North Dakota get these bills over the line. Bipartisanship returns to Congress in fleeting glances -- something that I feel confident in arguing absolutely no one expected Biden or the Dem leaders to be able to do.
Of course, no one has forgotten 2010, and 2022 looks to be another rough year. Inflation soars, and Biden's approval rating drops. Dems brace for impact. The Dobbs ruling happens, but polls repeatedly suggest that the economy is the top issue on voters' minds, and they don't like Biden's handling of it.
But while these things are true, they ignore a crucial factor -- the GOP is embroiled in an identity crisis of its own. The leader of the party is claiming to be the legitimate president of the United States, which is a bit of a hard issue to ignore. Trump loyalists beat out 'establishment' Republicans in the primaries, and bring their hard promotion of the MAGA brand to the general elections. And they lose.
I think it's fair to say that the GOP lost most of the key races of the 2022 midterms, rather than Democrats winning them. Swing state Republican parties chose candidates who adhered so closely to a brand so toxic that independents still chose the Democrats, even in some cases where they were dissatisfied with the party. Republicans who have managed to establish a brand for themselves -- DeSantis, Kemp, and DeWine among them -- soar, while the Trumpiest candidates fall flat. McConnell remains in the minority, and McCarthy becomes the head of a very, very dysfunctional family.
Will Brandon's Rebrand Stand?
So, coming off an unusually strong midterm, where does the party go in 2024? Probably, as u/Randomuser1520 said, back to Biden. When your party wins one of the most fiercely contested elections in American history, has a productive legislative session, and then massively overperforms in the midterm, you don't usually change horses regardless of what approval polling says. If Biden were just 10 years younger and the health concerns were off the table, there would be no question in anyone's mind who to nominate.
The establishment and progressive wings of the party seem to be behind him if he runs, meaning challenges will only come from real outsiders like Marianne Williamson and Robert Kennedy Jr. The DNC will probably work to make those challenges as unviable as possible.
2024 is tricky to predict. Trump is favored on the Republican side, and as said before, his brand is so toxic that Biden can probably glide to reelection barring any massive economic downturns or serious health problems. I won't get too much into 2024, because it seems pretty clearly on the path to becoming another referendum on the GOP's brand, not the Democrats'. Biden's second term (and the rest of his first term) may be defined as much by implementation of the legislation they passed during the 117th as much as by new legislation, if not more.
So the question becomes this -- where does the party go in 2028? Or, in other words, what will Democrats take away from the Biden presidency, and how will Biden shape the party's brand going forward? Who they choose to lead the party next will tell, and Biden's presidency may already be laying out a blueprint.
In his 1996 State of the Union address, Bill Clinton declared 'the era of big government is over,' essentially conceding that Reagan and his vision of a small role for the federal government in domestic affairs had won out for the time, and that Democrats would need to work within that political reality in order to win elections. Obama's efforts to change that status quo resulted in an avalanche of backlash from Tea Partiers, self-proclaimed champions of fiscal conservatism. Hillary Clinton's failed campaign strategy arguably rested more on that understanding of the political climate than anything else, causing her to miss a series of growing frustrations with Reaganism at times channelled by Sanders and, at times, Trump -- at decimation of the manufacturing sector, at the growing gap between rich and poor, at China's seemingly unstoppable three-decade rise at the expense of the U.S.
Biden's approach to American industry and government is a strong repudiation of Reaganism, based around the idea that it is the government's job to fortify and guide the economy in ways that are necessary where the free market has little incentive to. It argues that the issues of infrastructural decay, manufacturing decline, and the growing need for green energy in the face of climate change will only be solved if the government directs the power of the private sector towards those goals at great upfront cost. And free trade, long held as the unassailable source of America's prosperity, must now only be employed in moderation -- if the U.S. has to arguably break international law to lure foreign investment into the U.S. through generous subsidies, it will be worth it, even if it earns the fury of our economic partners. This may be the groundwork of Bidenism.
These plans may fail. The money may be wasted by incompetent or corrupt administrators and the American people may become even more jaded at the thought of big government. But movement within the GOP may suggest a broader shift in the American mind towards this kind of economic interventionism is already in progress. Promising to reverse the decline of manufacturing through tariffs and other measures would have been political anathema twenty years ago, but it has become a core Republican plank. Florida Republicans' punitive measures towards Disney and the GOP's growing support for government action against Big Tech companies suggests openness towards not just using state power to guide the economy, but also to reshape the social landscape by manipulating the private sector. It may well be that the era of small government is over.
I've sorted some potential 'brands' and some of the people who might be nominated in 2028 / become party standard-bearers should the Democrats go in that direction. These lists aren't exhaustive; I'm just trying to establish a general vibe.
The 'Biden Blueprint': Kamala Harris, Pete Buttigieg, Gina Raimondo
These are members of the Biden admin who have been given great power (and great piles of money) to enact the legislation of the 117th. If American sentiment towards big government changes as quickly as I think it could, a Cabinet secretary could have a decent shot in 2028. Harris would be the natural successor as the VP, but Transportation Sec Buttigieg and Commerce Sec Raimondo, who were empowered to implement much of the Infrastructure Act and the CHIPS Act respectively, could become standard-bearers for this new vision of technocratic governance if they administer these programs well (and in a way that makes headlines). If Energy Sec Granholm were a natural-born citizen, she would definitely fit here as well, considering how much power the IRA gave her department.
The 'New New Deal': Amy Klobuchar, Catherine Cortez Masto, Mark Kelly, Tammy Duckworth, Raphael Warnock
Liberal senators who are capable of working across the aisle to achieve compromise could be a strong bet if Democrats want to recreate the success of the 117th Congress in the future. There's always an argument that effective legislators won't necessarily make for effective executives, but these choices would help with Democrats' goal of rebranding the Democratic party as the party you vote for if you want Washington to function properly and anticipate constituents' needs. Such a ticket could brand itself as the path to bipartisan yet assertive solutions on familiar and emerging issues like immigration reform, federal protection for abortion, the housing shortage, and the drug crisis.
The 'Bulwark': Roy Cooper, Laura Kelly, Andy Beshear
I'll admit that when I began writing this post, I had a more favorable opinion of the above three governors and politicians like them as presidential nominees and the potential 'future of the party.' I no longer feel as strongly about them, however, because I don't believe they do enough to change the brand of the Democrats and the political environment as a whole. These governors are best known for winning races in red states; for holding the line against the most conservative policies while finding areas of compromise, especially on kitchen-table issues.
But this brand of Democrat is fundamentally reactive, even defensive -- it assumes that most of the job will be obstructing right-wing legislation from a red legislature. In other words, it is a kind of strategy you use when you're trying to hold ground, not gain it. It works well when your opponent's brand is toxic (as the GOP's has been since 2016), but this I suspect this brand of 'competent normality' will struggle if the opposition ceases to actively repel voters. If Trump and his acolytes continue to hold a strong grip on the party through 2024 and beyond, this brand may not be a bad bet short-term, but long-term Democrats want to be the ones establishing the rules of the game, not just beating your opponent at theirs. That's what a successful political brand does. While Dems in similar situation should definitely look to these governors for guidance in running their campaigns (and hopefully, their administrations), I would caution at this point against basing the national party's brand on their model.
I think somewhere between these three groups lies a successful path forward for the Democrats that towards becoming the dominant party in U.S. politics at the federal level. There are some other interesting currents in the party; like how Democratic governors like Whitmer, Evers, and Walz have rebuilt D strength the Midwest after a rough 2010s, and how Western Dems like Jared Polis, Mary Peltola, and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez have found unexpected electoral stength by embracing a form of libertarianism. However, these currents may be regional, and Democrats shouldn't necessarily try to nationalize every idea that works in one part of the country. Creating different regional 'flavors' of Democrat would be necessary to keep the party relevant in all parts of the country.
Regarding the 2020 primary runners-up, I don't think most of the visions laid out then work post-2024, and for this reason I tend not to give too much weight to current Democratic primary polling, because it assumes these same people would be running again.
Assuming Biden ends his term without catastrophe, I don't think the party needs to place all their faith in a young, charismatic Obama wannabe like O'Rourke or Swalwell, nor does it need to drastically pivot to the center, nor does it need to proclaim itself the party of 'outsiders,' nor does it need to give the reins to the progressive wing. If everything goes right, they can remain ideologically where they are now (roughly) and establish a solid brand for the first time in a generation.
The Democrats been losing the branding war since the days of Nixon. They may currently have all the tools they need right now to change that, and set the expectations for the next fifty years of politics. Let's see how they do.
This is my first big write-up, so I almost certainly missed some stuff and made some assumptions. Let me know what you think.

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...But he never asked me if I had one.....
Last year I was going through an incredibly stressful time and hadn't been eating as much... I was also going through a separate health concern that I've been trying to figure out with my General Practitioner.
When I met with the psychiatrist he started checking my weight when he prescribed me adderall ER (insurance covered generic). When he noticed I was losing weight he asked "are you being healthy?". I said I was trying to.. but was still dealing with a lot of other bullshit... which wasn't something I was able to address with him but had been with my therapist. . I lost about 7lbs and eventually noticed some hairloss (which was something I has already been dealing with the situation I was working on w my other doctor that was hormone related -potentially pcos-. but when the adderall kicked it up a notch I called to say I wasn't comfortable continuing ...)..
During my follow up psy' checked my weight again and I was back to my normal weight....
however, Rather than prescribe me another adhd related medication... he tried to shift the focus to my anxiety.. Which i also refused because I was only willing to consider meds to treat my adhd. my anxiety isn't bad enough, or debilitating, where I need meds. i can work on that in therapy (I see my therapist 2x a week) ..
But when my therapist told me the psychiatrist made a note "denies eating disorder and thoughts of SI*" i didn't know what to make of that. Could that be why he dropped trying to treat my adhd? Does he think I'm phishing for weight loss pills or something? I was the one that said I wanted to stop the adderall and even noted that I would rather not be on anything that messed with my weight (up or down)...
wtf?
(he also didnt ask about my SI...he just said "you don't seem depressed. right?"... I brushed it off because I knew hes just trying to numb me out.. which JUST MAKES ADHD WORSE! I cannot function because of the F*ing ADHD!)

Hi wedding friends, I am getting married in September and am so happy it’s finally here. However, last year I was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis and it changed my life drastically. In that process, I had to cancel my destination wedding plans and do it in my city instead. I’ve had to make many alterations to my dress, as it was originally for 50 degree weather (F) and now it’ll be 90+ degrees. You can see my dress on my profile if you’d like.
My question is, how did y’all handle weight gain for your wedding? I have gained 40 pounds in the last year due to being on heavy doses of medications to keep my body from fusing my joints further. I work out when my body allows, PT once a week, eat healthy for the most part but the weight just will not come off. I know it’s not a huge deal but it’s hard to feel excited for wedding photos when I don’t recognize the body I’m in.
Any advice is appreciated, just going through a rough time…

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Hello all, I've been following many stories on this sub for successes people have been having and finally decided today to share mine.
I started my weight loss journey at the beginning of February at 253.2 lbs, morbidly obese category. I did lose 13.7 lbs on my own before I got approved for Wegovy in mid March by committing to not eat between the hours of 7pm and 12pm, essentially a form of intermittent fasting. I also have sworn off as much sugar and snacks as possible. But since then I've lost another 25 lbs (38.7 total) to today, where I find myself at 214.5, almost 50% of my goal, with a BMI of 29.9 putting me in the Overweight category. The time on Wegovy has been so much easier than when I was just trying on my own in February, especially since I started 1.0 which has worked much more consistently than the lower doses for me. And I will be staying on it for now to see how it does without moving to the next tiers yet.
I'm super happy and excited. I've struggled with weight since middle school and now at 40 really felt like I needed to get my weight struggles in hand so I can lead a long healthy life for my children.
I've lost over 15% of my body weight, or how I often think of it, no longer carrying around daily the weight of my 6 year old, which is mind boggling. And I've been able to take two vacations which in the past has always been what knocks me off the wagon on any diet I've tried. Both times returning at the same or even a little less weight than I left with.
My goal is to get to 175lbs which would put me several pounds into my normal zone. And from there who knows? With the hunger suppression and better feelings of fullness and satisfaction often before I get half way through a meal, I feel like a new person. I wished for years that someone could make a medication to help curb my hunger which often led to binge eating snacks or extra portions of food. It is such a release to discover something that I now recognize is missing from my body and metabolism which is a system of checks against eating way more than my body actually needs.
I really look forward to what comes ahead and hope to hit my goal before the year is out. For those struggling, stick with it, try to make conscious choices to change ingrained habits with the support this drug and the wonderful people here can lend you.

Case History
38 Year Male, Software Professional. Desk Job
· 2018: Foot injury
Active, played Volleyball and Cricket.
Aichiles Tendonitis left foot/ankle following a sports injury. X-Ray showed bone growth.
Lasery Therapy late in the year. Immense pain on walking, standing. Starting using right foot more. Used insoles, which reduced pain.
· 2019: Start of Groin Pain, Right Leg
March – Kidney stone. Intraveneous Opiod in Chicago IL, USA. Post that developed groin pain in right. Urologist ruled out kidney related pain. No sports.
Laying on left caused pinching pain in right thigh/groin.
November2019: X-Ray/MRI of Pelvis : Nothing abnormal
Dr daignosed HIP IMPINGEMENT FAI Right Hip, based on symptoms. Redced motion in right leg
· 2020: Covid, WFH. Pain: 2-3/10
Sedentary Lifestyle recoverng after Covid weakness. Ease in foot pain, due to limited motion.
No more groin pain, put it shifted to front thigs. Never really tested range of motion.
· 2021: Grade-III Fatty Liver, HT, Metabolic Syndrome, Insulin Resistance
Back to India. Sedentary. Weight 107 Kgs by December. Working from Home. Back stiffness. Pain: 2-3/10
· 2022: Weight Loss Journey. Very less Pain

• Lost 19 Kgsin 6 months by June-2022. Low Carb diet, Walked 6-10 Kms daily with No Exercise.
• Muscle loss in calves.
• Blood work great. BP in control. Borderline Diabetes reversed.
• No more back stiffness.
• July-Dec: Reduced walking, steady weight gain, mostly muscles: 93 Kgs by December.
• Hips hurt while long hours of sitting. Tail Bone Pain
• No Hip Pain while laying on left (as earlier). Overall stiffness in right front thigh on sitting 2/10.

2023: Bilateral FAI with bony spurs. Reduced angles. Early arthritis changes?
CURRENT: Daily activities hurt.

• Laying on left side hurts.
• Laying Straight hurts. ROM Limited. Laying in right doesn’t hurt.
• Stretched right lower back(psoas?) while doing lateral heavy band mobilisation.
• Pain in lower right back Walking hurts after 15 mins. Tried PT. Increased pain. RT > LT

In Short, Resting/sitting Hurts. Standing doesn’t. walking after a while hurts. Pain: 5-6/10. Need to find postures that don’t hurt while sleeping/sitting.
I am not looking for medical advice but DO I really need surgery? All reports attached.
Will arthroscopy(shaving) be helpful or THA? My Ortho Dr has referred me to a sports specialist, which I am yet to visit. My Dr doesnt do arthroscopy. He does THR of HIP and Knee.
CT Pelvis
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MRI Pelvis
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Left Hip
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Right Hip
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https://preview.redd.it/xga2e5if3m3b1.jpg?width=1232&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c4149407c7d00481c06033c5ba5281cb6f791d51

Body recomposition is the ultimate goal for many fitness enthusiasts who want to lose fat and gain muscle at the same time. It's not a myth or a pipe dream, it's a reality that can be achieved with science-backed methods. Body recomposition is the process of changing your body composition by reducing your body fat percentage and increasing your lean body mass. It can improve your health, performance, and appearance by increasing your strength, boosting your metabolism, protecting against chronic diseases, and enhancing your physique. However, body recomposition is not easy or simple. It requires a lot of dedication, discipline, and knowledge. You need to follow a specific diet and training plan that balances your calorie intake and expenditure, optimizes your protein intake and nutrient timing, stimulates muscle hypertrophy and strength gains, and minimizes muscle loss and metabolic slowdown. Here are some of the key factors that you need to consider for body recomposition: • Calorie intake: You need to create a moderate calorie deficit of around 20-25% below your maintenance level to lose fat, but not too large that you compromise muscle growth. You can use online calculators or apps to estimate your maintenance calories based on your age, weight, height, and activity level. • Calorie cycling: You need to vary your calorie intake depending on your training days and rest days. On training days, you should eat more calories, especially from carbs, to fuel your workouts and support muscle growth. On rest days, you should eat fewer calories, mainly from protein and fat, to facilitate fat loss and recovery. • Protein intake: You need to consume enough protein to stimulate muscle protein synthesis and prevent muscle loss. A good rule of thumb is to eat at least 0.8 grams of protein per pound of body weight per day (1.8 grams per kg). You should also aim for at least 20 grams of protein per meal and include a fast-digesting protein source like whey in your pre-workout and post-workout meals. • Strength training: You need to perform resistance training at least 3 times per week using a variety of exercises that target all major muscle groups. You should also use progressive overload techniques like increasing the weight, reps, sets, or frequency of your workouts over time to challenge your muscles and induce hypertrophy. • Cardio training: You need to do some cardio training to increase your calorie expenditure and improve your cardiovascular health. However, you should not overdo it as too much cardio can interfere with muscle growth and recovery. A good option is to do high-intensity interval training (HIIT) for 10-20 minutes after your strength training sessions or on separate days. These are some of the basic principles of body recomposition that have been proven by scientific studies and anecdotal evidence from successful bodybuilders. By following these guidelines and being consistent with your diet and training, you can achieve body recomposition in a matter of weeks or months.

BEIJING, Jun. 02, 2023/PRNewswire/––WiMi Hologram Cloud Inc. (NASDAQ: WIMI) ("WiMi" or the "Company"), a leading global Hologram Augmented Reality ("AR") Technology provider, today announced the development of a face recognition algorithm system based on convolutional neural networks. It uses the gray value features of face pixels to extract all feature information in the image with its powerful learning capability, thus avoiding information loss. The system uses a combination of three methods, namely local perceptual field, weight sharing, and pooling, to improve the algorithm's performance and reduce the order of magnitude of the weight parameters, reducing the complexity of training the convolutional neural network model. The system uses multiple convolutional and pooling layers to extract and reduce the dimensionality of the input image to obtain a high-dimensional feature representation of the image. For face images, the convolutional neural network can learn the features such as contour, texture, and color of the face, thus improving the accuracy and efficiency of face recognition.
WiMi's face recognition algorithm system automatically learns the high-level features of the image, improving the accuracy and robustness of face recognition. Its training is performed end-to-end, from the original image to extract features gradually and finally outputting classification results. This training method can automatically learn the relationship between features and perturb and transform the training data by data augmentation, thus increasing the diversity and amount of data, improving the robustness of the face algorithm, and applying it to face recognition tasks of different scales and complexity. In addition, the system uses hardware acceleration such as GPU to achieve high recognition speed and meet the recognition real-time requirements.
Face recognition technology is an advanced recognition technology with unique nature and prominent position in biometric technology, which can play an efficient role in more and more fields. Compared with other recognition methods, the face recognition method is relatively friendly, and recognition is fast and accurate, and with the continuous development of computer technology, face recognition technology is also becoming more and more mature.
In face recognition technology, the accuracy of recognition is one of the core measures, and the complexity of the shooting environment, such as changes in facial expression, posture, and visibility, makes face recognition technology encounter various challenges in the practical application process.
The convolutional neural network-based face recognition algorithm has become one of the most effective face recognition technologies and is widely used in medical, retail, financial, and other industries. It is foreseeable that WiMi's face recognition algorithm should have a vast market prospect and huge development potential in the future.

Hi everyone, I've been on this subreddit for a while and I wanted to share some of the things that helped me lose weight and keep it off. These are not the usual tips you hear everywhere, but they worked for me and maybe they will work for you too. 1. Drink water before every meal.This is a simple way to reduce your appetite and calorie intake. According to Mayo Clinic, drinking water before meals can help you lose an extra 4.4 pounds over 12 weeks compared to not drinking water. Plus, it keeps you hydrated and helps your digestion. 2. Use smaller plates and bowls.This is a psychological trick that makes you eat less without feeling deprived. According to NHS, using smaller plates and bowls can help you gradually get used to eating smaller portions without going hungry. It takes about 20 minutes for your stomach to tell your brain it's full, so eat slowly and stop eating before you feel full. 3. Do not ban any foods from your diet.This may sound counterintuitive, but banning foods will only make you crave them more and eventually binge on them. Instead, allow yourself to enjoy the occasional treat as long as you stay within your daily calorie allowance. NHS says there's no reason you cannot enjoy the occasional treat as long as you stay within your daily calorie allowance. 4. Get more active in your daily life.You do not have to join a gym or do intense workouts to burn calories and improve your health. You can find ways to be more active in your everyday life, such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator, walking or cycling instead of driving, doing household chores, gardening, playing with your kids or pets, etc. CDC says being active is key to losing weight and keeping it off. 5. Manage your stress levels.Stress can make it harder to lose weight because it triggers hormones that increase your appetite and make you store fat. It can also make you reach for comfort foods that are high in fat and sugar. To cope with stress, try to find healthy ways to relax, such as meditation, yoga, breathing exercises, listening to music, reading a book, etc. CDC says stress management is important for achieving healthy weight loss. These are some of the non-standard tips that helped me lose weight and keep it off. I hope they will help you too. Remember, losing weight is not about a diet or a program, but a lifestyle change that involves healthy eating patterns, regular physical activity, and stress management. Good luck on your journey! 😳

Age: 31
Sex: Female
Height: 5’3
Weight: 220
Race: White
Duration of complaint: For nine weeks I’ve had globus sensation. I’ve been treated for everything under the sun, and I’m currently doubling my antacids as recommended by my GI doctor. I just had an endoscopy on Wednesday, and the photo of my vocal chords is from that. They just don’t look right to me.
Location
Any existing relevant medical issues: Not that I know of.
Current medications: I take a myriad of medications for my migraines, high cholesterol, hair loss, anxiety and depression and daily vitamins.
Include a photo if relevant: Photo is in my profile!

I have some old Huel Black powder that I never got around to finishing and I'm planning on jumping on the weight loss wagon again and using Huel to help me achieve my goals. I have about 3 huel black bags all open from about 2 years ago that I've kept shut and stored in my kitchen cabinet. Is the powder still safe to consume? Some powder I even got from late 2020. It does not look or smell bad, just a little worried it could make me sick. Anyone use powder that old before?

I have worked on this over time but thought I would post it as it might help a few people. I’d also love to make improvements or fix anything that is not accurate so would appreciate feedback. I’m on Mounjaro but have modified this for peptide and compounders use. I figured this sub might also find it beneficial.
These are not set rules, but rather a guide that has been found helpful by myself and others. In the early stages of taking the drug, the following steps may prove to be helpful:

• Go buy the OTC meds listed below in the side effects. These are for just in case they are needed.
• Store your meds in the box and keep inside your refrigerator. Remember vibration, light, extreme cold or heat above 80 degrees Fahrenheit will reduce the effectiveness of your drug.
• Be intentional about selecting your shot day. For example, doing it on a Friday means experiencing maximum effect over the weekend when tendency to indulge is typically high.
• Select an injection site location and be sure to rotate between several locations. The injection is hardly noticeable but if you let the needle and Tirzepitide come to room temp for 15 minutes prior to the shot you will not get a burning sensation from the cold.
• Drinking 32oz of water three times a day helps regulate digestion.
• Incorporating lean meats and green vegetables in meals provided essential nutrients and fiber while protein helps alleviate tiredness, and vegetables regulated constipation.
• It’s advisable to minimize fat, sugar, and carbs during this period for better results.
• Purge your house of highly processed or sugary foods, and avoid artificial sweeteners as they interfere with the medicine’s glucagon impact.
• Pick a weigh-in day and maintain regularity. Don’t be surprised or discouraged by stalls that occasionally last weeks or even a month as they are normal. Aim for slow, healthy weight loss of around 2 pounds per week.
• Track calories and macros using an app of your choice. Use this journey to change the way you eat, learn about your nutritional needs, and focus on eating healthier, decreasing the loss of lean muscle mass.
• Be ready to titrate up but not too eagerly. One does not have to get to 15mg unless their doctor advises otherwise. Work with your doctor to find the correct dosage, and avoid rushing to the top. This also helps keep weight loss in the 2lb range, preventing loose skin, hair loss, and other side effects of rapid weight loss.
• Start planning for what life looks like at the end of the weight loss journey. This process is called maintenance, and it is vital to keep sight of what happens afterward. It’s essential to avoid being a statistic and gaining back 80% of the lost weight.
• Regularly test your fasting Glucose, A1C, blood pressure, heart rate and cholesterol panel.

Managing side effects:

• Taking Pepto as needed may help reduce (sulfur) burps. This may turn you tongue black which is normal.
• Taking a 20mg Omeprazole tablet as needed may help alleviate heartburn.
• Taking Imodium as need for for diarrhea.
• Taking stool softeners as needed aids with constipation early.

Note: Some people have no side effects and some people have a lot. Each person is different. If you don’t have indigestion, don’t just take a Med but have it on hand. Some people have diarrhea instead of constipation, so be prepared but see if you have a side effect before assuming you will have it and taking another medication. Don’t be afraid of side effects or giving shots or any of the other fear thoughts that are stopping you from opening that box and changing your life. You got this!

Hello! I have been keto for about 3 weeks. 31F, 113 lbs and I’m TTC (queer & 5 failed IUI in) I’m generally healthy, I am not trying to lose weight but to gain muscle, bulk up a bit. Low BP, no known fertility issues, have had all the regular tests.
I decided to try keto bc my partner did it last year and she loved how much energy it gave her and how it boosted her mood. I have generalized anxiety, and have been diagnosed with IBS, and recently have been having bad joint inflammation. Ive read on the keto sub that the keto diet has helped people with all these things - but my biggest reason for doing it is the potential benefits to fertility.
However, I’m curious: is the benefit of keto for fertility that it can help with weight loss, which for someone who is obese or overweight can impede fertility? I’ve also read that it can regulate cycles for people with PCOS, which I see how that would also benefit fertility but I don’t have PCOS and my cycles are quite regular. I’m also curious about why some peoples periods on keto are referred to shark week, are they heavier? Does it perhaps correlate to the uterine lining?
I suppose I’m seeking info - scientific, anecdotes, or otherwise, about how the keto diet can support fertility. I have established care with a new re clinic, and will ask the dr as well, but since I’m moving cities and getting an appointment takes so dang long, it’s not until august. I appreciate any thoughts/info in the meantime!