Fear cuts deeper than swords

OOH I LOVE SCAVENGER HUNTS. Placeholder. I'm working on this. Goodbye sunday night productivity.

EDIT Aug 11, 11:44pm PST

1.) something that is gray.

2.) Something reminiscent of rain. It rains so much in my city and on those days I like to have my tea and soup and all the yummy hot homecooked food at school in the library while I study. I already have a great thermos for my tea and hot cocoa but not for my soups/food.

3.) Something food related that is unusual. I don't know if this is necessarily food related but WOOOO TEA. MANA-TEA. Seriously this is awesome.

4.) Something on your list that is for someone other than yourself. A wii for my mom because she has been wanting a wii or ipad for a long time. My bro and i think the wii would be better because at least we could all play it together when we go home to visit.

5.) I will recommend this book to anyone and everyone. It's the book I just finished reading and I feel like it has helped me a lot. I am so much more motivated and driven and it is helping me make some tough choices in my life. I am a senior in college but this book can help anyone who is at any place in their life I think. I currently have this on my wishlist which is like a supplement to the book. Seriously though, read it, share it with everyone you know. Let's make the world a happier place.

6.) An item that is less than a dollar. Awww yeee. They always seem to have one of these on the coffee table at my brother's house. Wherever he lives. Even though it's never his. But yeah, they're cool but I don't actually want one.

7.) Something related to cats. THIS IS SO AWESOME. I have another mug with the disappearing thing on my wishlist too. But yeah, I love cats, I just don't have much cat stuff on my wishlist. I do need a real cat though... hint hint nudge nudge

EDIT Aug 12, 12:15am PST

8.) Something that is not useful, but so beautiful you must have it. Okay it's not Amazon but it is beautiful and I have had my eye on it for a year. Despite that fact that I do not plan on having children for at least 8 years. Dem hormones are a'ragin.

9.) I know it's not REALLY a movie but... A movie everyone should watch at least once in their life. Why? Because it is so beautiful and awe inspiring. It really brings me a sense of peace every time I watch it.

10.) Something that would be useful when the zombies attack. Explain. I can put on my holy strainer hat and pray to The Flying Spaghetti Monster to save me from the zombies.

11.) Something that would have a profound impact on your life and help you to achieve your current goals. I know I used this for another one but really, I think doing these exercises would help me in all areas of life.

12.) One of those pesky Add-On items. These beauties, even though I doubt I can grow them without a yard...

13.) The most expensive thing on your list. Your dream item. Why? My little acer hand me down freezes a lot, can't do multiple things at once, doesn't have a cd drive, has a screen too tiny to edit photos or edit my website. Basically everything is frustrating. And I'm a college student. So I use the computer for basically everything... and everything the little laptop CAN do takes forever.

EDIT Aug 12, 1:51am PST

14.) Something bigger than a bread box. If you don't think that is big enough, then here, but it's newly added.

15.) Something smaller than a golf ball. Well, I'm pretty sure this is smaller than a golf ball. If it wasn't, I'd be disappointed.

16.) Something that smells wonderful. Mmm imagine the ginger lemon grass!

17.) A (SFW) toy. And here's another one because I couldn't decide which one looks more fun...

18.) Something that would be helpful for going back to school.

19.) Something related to your current obsession, whatever that may be. Currently obsessed with learning all kinds of new jewelry techniques! Also obsessed with tea because it's the one thing my boyfriend and I developed an interest in together. It didn't start out as either of our interests.

20.) Something that is just so amazing and awe-inspiring that I simply must see it. Explain why it is so grand. THIS IS SO PRETTY AND USEFUL AT THE SAME TIME. Seriously so cute, has lovely details, 8gb, and you can wear it as a pendant. Whaaaat!

EDIT: this lovely is made in oregon!

1.) These postcards are mostly grey. And black and white. And they are also good for grey days. :)

2.) This is The Dead Weather's debut album. A good one. (jack white <3 <3 <3)

3.) As you will see on the track listing, the eponymous The White Stripes album has TWO songs on it that relate to food: "Sugar Never Tasted So Good" and "One More Cup of Coffee". Plus, the cover has the traditional swirly mints of The White Stripes. (Also, this one reminded me that I don't have Neutral Milk Hotel's first album on my list! So thanks for that.)

4.) The postcard books are for my friends. I send postcards to them. This TOTALLY counts. Especially the David Choe ones since David Choe is amazing. And I know that my friends like his art.

5.) If there is ANY chance that you have not read Sabriel, you need too. Really, really, really.

6.) This was on my list, but was removed after the lovely /u/scrumtrelescent sent it to me! And heads are definitely not related to hair, because heads can be bald. And the biggest annoyance about these things is that they sometimes get stuck in your hair. So it's really an advantage if you have no hair. :)

7.) This postcard book is actually titled "Wicked Witches and Creepy Cats", so there are lots of cats in it. If you look inside, you will see a cat dancing with an owl, an awesome dress covered in cat faces, and a very cute cat in a pumpkin. Also some truly scary cartoonish cats. Avoid the one in the bowtie. shudder

8.) I really don't need another dress, but this one is so cute!

9.) So...I don't have movies on my list that I have seen before. I actually only have this one. BUT. I can save this. This is a Studio Ghibli film. And Studio Ghibli films are awesome. (Spirited Away is my favorite movie <3) So...my argument is, everyone should watch every Studio Ghibli movie at least once in their life because they're so great. Which is why I want it! :)

10.) When zombies attack, it is important to be able to run quickly. No one could run faster than someone wearing SUPERMAN SNEAKERS!! I mean, he's faster than a speeding bullet!

11.) My biggest current goal is to make new friends, since I'm moving to a new city (eek! yay!). Board games always help with friends! This would definitely help me out.

12.) I'm going to interpret "pesky Add-On items" as anything that a company encourages you to purchase after an initial purchase of an item. Instead of what you really meant. So you should probably just ignore this one. BUT. An expansion to Munchkin would be so fun! Even if you don't really need it at all... <3

13.) I wouldn't call this my dream item, but it is the most expensive item on my list. This NES game for a number of reasons. First, it's a GREAT game. Second, I think it's funny having an amazingly expensive item on my list. Thirdly, what if someone actually bought me the "new" one? That would be Amazing.

14.) (I love the edit-I always just knew what size a breadbox was from playing 20 questions with my mom...) So. I don't really have large items on this list so much. BUT. [Fabric] (http://www.amazon.com/Aviary-Sparrows-Cavern-Black-Fabric/dp/B004VNVE7A/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=NO029QAH2C2U&coliid=IEEZTV09MV12V), while perhaps being able to fold up into something smaller than a bread box, could also wrap around the bread box. This must count for something. It's already 42" across, so that's wider than a bread box...Plus, what if you just purchased 100 yards of it? Then it wouldn't fit inside...

15.) My dad has one of these and it is so useful. I want one too! I'm pretty sure it's smaller than a golfball. It's possible that it's longer than one, but if you smushed it into little pieces, the total volume would definitely be less than that of a golfball. :P

16.) If I ordered this now, it would be brand new when I recieved it in September, and new books just smell SO GOOD!

17.) I love Rio Grande games, so I really want to try Power Grid. Plus, if you worked at an electrical company, your boss might even think you were just hard at work on some new electrical line, soooo it's definitely safe for work. (hehehe)

18.) Since I'm starting grad school this year in a new city, far from my undergrad friends, I need chocolate to help me when I'm sad and lonely! (Another good way to make friends, too!)

19.) This summer, the only thing I've been doing is making things. I really want to get into making hats (for some reason), so I've been rather obsessed with finding sinamay-it would be so useful to have the forms already made too...

20.) Purchasing this item gives you TWELVE Toblerone bars (you get two of the beautiful 6-pack boxes that you see pictured. That's ELEVEN MORE than usual!!! I can't explain the amazingness of this any better.

BONUS ITEMS

Anything that has my real name on it: Hm. Will have to do more research. :)

Made in Oregon: While perhaps not recorded or manufactured in Oregon, as The Decemberists are from Portland, OR, these songs were certainly composed there!

fear cuts deeper than swords

Do it before she arrives. It is more difficult to set them yourself but once you have them in place you can hide the straps easy. And I don't recommend leaving the room, but I do recommend a blindfold. I've listed below some cheap starter equipment if you are looking for more tools to play with. Generally I will start slow and work up to something be it an orgasm, or paingasm and then start the cooldown.

So start slow, build up, climax of some sort, then aftercare. Remember the aftercare. Seriously, aftercare. I generally will take some virgin coconut oil and give my sub a massage after we play.

• Blindfold - Cheap version ($10 http://amzn.com/B001E7BPPW) Expensive nice version (http://amzn.com/B003CGJRNK)
  
• Cuffs - Neoprene with velcro ($14 http://amzn.com/B0052Z8UUK) are the easiest but alot of people like handcuffs ($10 http://amzn.com/B001D4XSYM) but the metal is really taxing on a sub. Leather ones are the best IMO but not cheap (http://amzn.com/B007W52ACW)
  
• Forced orgasms/orgasm denial - The hitachi magic wand is best for this ($47 http://amzn.com/B0089175GE). It's expensive but worth it. Plus you can buy attachment heads for it down the road.
  
• Rope play (Shibari) - You can grab some soft rope for bedroom play ($13 http://amzn.com/B002UV70DM) and visit twistedmonk.com for some instructional videos. For serious rope work you might want to invest in hemp ropes from twistedmonk and sissors for cutting free (http://amzn.com/B001D6YXIU)
  
• Sensation play - feathers ($7 http://amzn.com/B0026I02JI), tickling, pinwheels ($10 http://amzn.com/B000B7N1DA), ice (free, check your freezer)
  
• Spanking/slapping - Using a hand and staying in roughly the safe areas (ass, tits) till you know limits and interest levels
  
• Nipple clamps - Get some aligator nipple clamps that are adjustible so you can start out light and work your way up to harder ($10 http://amzn.com/B002JVWZSI). If you like you can add weights to them down the road
  
• Wax play - You will want to buy special paraffin candles that melt at lower temp for dripping melted wax on your partner ($10 per candle http://etsy.me/18Gwv7b)
  
• Floggers - You can make a call on this based on your experience with spanking ($40 and up http://flogmebaby.com/)
  
  These toys should give you a good baseline on what you like and what you don't. From there I would look around at places like stockroom.com or extremerestraints.com and find out what interests you. Stockroom.com has some of the best selection but is expensive.
  
  Best of luck.
  
  *Edit fixed some links

Not a woman, but I'm going to share my wife's two favorite toys with you - and both happen to be SUPER affordable.

Another redditor recommended this Shibari rechargeable magic
wand to me last year when I was trying to figure out a great toy to get for my wife.

If you don't ever buy another sex toy, buy this. Holy shit, the things it does to her! It gives her incredible orgasms;
we use it by itself, we use it on her clit during PIV. It is the cheat code
to making her squirt. It is the only toy that we have ever owned
that she will outright ask for. I cannot give it enough stars.

You can use it during solo play (obviously), but it works great during PIV
sex, too, and has multiple intensity settings... it's our go-to PIV toy.

I have had so many people here on reddit chime in about how great this toy is. Best of all - it's less than $30, and has a ton of great reviews - read
them - don't take my word for it!

--------------------------

For penetrative play, we've really enjoyed this Paloqueth g spot dildo/vibe. It's another super affordable toy ($20) with a ton of great reviews - I actually spent a lot of time reading not only Amazon reviews, but various sex toy blog reviews and the like, before I settled on a model.

This thing has PLENTY of power, though it starts off slower if you prefer that. It has patterns (not that we use them), but inserts easily and has a nice curve for really getting her there. And yes... g spot stim does lead to squirting. :)

This is another great little investment. Both toys I list here are waterproof and rechargeable, both will last for several sessions before you need to plug them in.

Do you believe that the anabolic androgenic ratio rating (done in mice I know) could be a surrogate for non-AR mediated anabolism to AR mediated anabolism? You say that Test has equal effects through both mechanisms, which would be supported by this idea because it is 100:100.

Regarding androgen affinity of masteron you can see this full paper here.

You are correct that masteron has affinity for the androgen receptor, but interestingly it's androgenic rating is only 25-40, less than half that of testosterone. This could be suggestive that the majority of the effects are non-AR dependent. The hormone was originally intended for breast cancer patients, and I believe that it may mediate anabolic activity by acting as an antagonist at the estrogen receptor. By blocking receptor binding of estrogen, it may allow you to reap some of the anabolic effects (increased IGF-1, sodium retention) of estrogen without experiencing the femininization (sp?) properties.

Let me try to summarize the thoughts going around here, and see if I can suggest an option to address this.

1. High SHBG may be good for uncoupling anabolic effects from androgenic ones in AAS
   
2. AAS generally lower SHBG but have an overall anabolic effect
   
3. Estrogen production/aromatase activity results in SHBG production^1
   
4. Having androgen dominance in some tissues is good (tits, dick, brain [to a degree]) and bad in others (primarily hair).
   
5. Estrogenic dominance may be good for anabolism (probably good for mitigating hairloss) and one way may be through elevated SHBG
   
6. Estrogen mediated anabolism is likely most effective in insulin sensitive (low bodyfat) individuals
   
7. Insulin, GH, IGF-1, androgens, and prolactin negatively regulate SHBG production
   
8. So we see that the favorable anabolic products of estrogen reduce SHBG production. How then do we keep SHBG up, insulin sensitivity up, and favorable androgenic dominance in tissues where it matters.
   
   I am not sure I have the perfect answer, but here is how I plan to do it in my next cycle:
   
   
9. Keep DHT levels slightly above normal levels systemically via Testosterone E (600mg/wk) + finastride (1mg inhibits 64% of DHT at scalp) I expect this to give me about as much DHT as my cruise dose (Yes I know its high) of 210mg/wk at which I don't notice any major hairloss on. The reason I plan to use a high dose of testosterone is because I believe that in combination with finastride it uncouples the androgenic (DHT) from it's anabolic effects to a degree. Maybe if the mouse studies were done on mice receiving AI + Finastride + Testosterone the anabolic:androgenic ratio might be more like 100:35, giving it a relatively more favorable anabolic to androgenic ratio than boldenone. Also if you look at the binding profile of testosterone from the paper I linked, I believe that it may have antagonistic effects at the progestagenic receptor, and I believe I am sensitive to progestrone activity.
   
10. Keep Estrogen slightly elevated by using aromasin at sufficient doses to keep me slightly above range
    
11. Use an anti-androgen at the scalp (RU58841)
    
12. Use topical DHT cream at the nipple
    
13. Include masteron E (300mg/wk) for extra nipple protection
    
14. Include Bold Cyp (700mg/wk) because of it's relatively uncoupled anabolic to androgenic properties/ratio. Thought about using DHB instead, but in terms of it's grams/$ relative to bold cyp I am not sure the benefits of no 5-ar or aromatase activity would be worth it since boldenone already has very weak activity with aromatase and 5-ar. Additionally DHB and bold cyp share the same ratio, and despite bold cyp's reduced potency compared to DHB I could brew it at twice the concentration, so in the end I am pushing the same amount of oil.
    
15. Include metformin to attempt to maintain insulin sensitivity on a modest caloric surplus
    
16. Stick to /u/bznnnj 's recommended diet of 2:1 glucose to fructose ratio, high fiber, low fat (10-20%), appropriate protein (shooting for 1g/lb despite the common knowledge that only .85 is needed as I believe that improved nutrient partitioning and protein synthesis in enhanced users may necessitate increased protein, and even if that isn't the case the thermal effect of protein may improve my metabolism to keep the gains even leaner). This should hopefully keep that liver full and pumping insulin. Fat sources will be mainly animal derived (beef and eggs) with some almonds thrown in, veggies will be spinach and brocccoli (uncooked to maximize sulrophane content), fruits will be kiwis and oranges, carbs will be sweet potato (and basmati rice if this ends up being too much fiber [I currently tolerate around 50gs]). Thoughts behind this being that we want stable insulin and glucose and as such should stick to carb sources with low glycemic index/load and /u/bznnnj has already discussed the advantages of increased fructose. Animal fats are selected for fat soluble vitamins. Veggies, Fruits, and Starches are selected for good micronutrient ratios (high potassium low sodium) getting enough calcium iron and unsaturated fats etc.
    
17. I am staying away from anything that has affinity for the progesterone receptor as I am not sure how it plays into all the previously mentioned mechanisms, and I have had poor reactions to them in the past.
    
    I thought I would include supplement choices since I am writing a book here anyways:
    
    
18. nightime - melatonin , magnesium glycinate (2x docotors best), P5P (I have the MTHFR mutation so I take mainly active forms of B vitamins and usually above the RDA), Zinc, CoQ10, Garlic
    
19. Morning - 10K IU Vit D (I have a vitamin D receptor mutation so I again go above the RDA), Vit K, B-complex, 2 xFish Oil, uridine
    
20. In order to stabilize dopamine, because I believe I am susceptible to post-cycle depression due to increased dopamine sensitivity on cycle I: Don't partake in psychoactive substances on cycle (including coffee), and utilize the Mr. Happy Stack (crossovers from /r/nootropics will know this is Uridine + Fish oil + and Choline (get choline from my eggs)) and off cycle I use a mixture of microdosed and periodic full doses of LSD to improve my dopamine sensitivity (and to deepen spiritual connection), modafinil, and caffeine and L-theanine to help me with the androgenic comedown.
    
    I am on the fence about including HCG, because I was running it on a cruise for a while, but it was aggravating my pubertal gyno and when I went to get my bloodwork I found that I had above range prolactin and in range estrogen and test. I was only on AI + Test + 500IU HCG/wk administered E3D. I may include it just to improve lipid metabolism, and increase estrogenic tone, because boldenone seems to act similarly to masteron insofar as it has not well understood anti-androgen effects.
    
    Sorry for the manifesto.

You're so welcome!

Hmm, I see. That is strange. I'm not an expert, but,,,

Perhaps it would be that:

- You are sensitive to some or combo of ingredients common in watery layers. Some things that irritate your skin can make it feel dry and tight as well, instead of rashes or acne-like stuff. Like if you were sensitive to butylene glycol (very commonly used in watery things), or plant extracts or essential oils/fragrance that is making your skin react. I have heard some people are sensitive to certain pH adjusters/preservatives as well. It's all very individual.

- Some skin need some amount of exfoliation before watery layers and other stuff to penetrate. If your skin woes aren't caused by getting dehydrated via overexfoliation, I would maybe try a AHA to gently take away some of the top layers to let the other stuff penetrate. AHA can be hydrating as well, while BHA can be drying (but anti-inflammatory). The gentlest options are PHA (polyhydroxy acid) like lactobionic acid, and AHAs like mandelic acid, and lactic acid. Glycolic may be too harsh. PHA and mandelic are the gentlest options, as far as I know.

- There isn't enough water before/inbetween steps. I would probably use a hydrating mist right after washing and in-between layering stuff. The humectants work by absorbing water around them, so it is helpful to have as much water before the occlusives as possible.

- There are ingredients that tend to be drying in your watery layers, like alcohol. Or they're just not optimal formulations. Even some stuff with alcohol can be quite moisturizing, if they're formulated right.

- Your humectants and occlusives just aren't cutting it. Personally, just using cerave cream or vaseline or aquaphor didn't help me when my skin was at the deepest dank dehydrated place, lol. I had to use ASSLOADS of really effective humectants and occlusives as much as possible. That meant incorporating urea and lanolin, panthenol, allantoin, etc. on top of everything else like ceramides. This is just a personal hypothesis, but I think what my skin needed was healing, not just moisturizing. I was CHRONICALLY stressed, which lowered my immune system, and prevented my skin from healing as readily. I needed stuff that would really HEAL instead of just provide moisture. What I also needed most was to get enough sleep at the right time, and do exercise or meditation or whatever else to keep my stress levels lower. Your skin can't heal no matter how much stuff you throw at it if you aren't letting your body rest and stop being so inflamed, y'know? And that starts internally.

Getting optimal nutrition I think helped me a lot as well. I wasn't getting enough sunlight and nutrition in my diet, too. I take vitamin d supplements (5,000 IU daily, in the morning) because getting it through that is better than damaging your skin outside baking under sunlight, which has DNA-destroying effects. And take vitamin k2 MK-4 & MK-7 because it's important to take it with vitamin d, to properly direct calcium into the right places (so you don't get calcium deposits aka stones and shit). Vitamin K is quite rare in food, but they're important in dental and bone health. You can get K2 MK-4 in egg yolk, but it goes in and out of your system very quickly, like within a few hours. K2 MK-7 can be found in food like natto, but I'm not Japanese and don't eat natto, so I get it in supplement form. It's VERY rarely found in food, and it actually stays in your system unlike MK-4.

Having balanced omega fats in your diet is important as well. We need something like 1:1-1:4 Omega 3 to Omega 6 to keep inflammation down and be in optimal health. Americans are at something crazy like 1:16 to 1:24 or something like that. Because we eat so much bread and other types of meat and stuff like that, and not enough seafood. Humans have evolved eating lots of seafood, so that is what we should be eating to be in optimal health (optimal, not just alive, lol). I don't eat a ton of seafood, altho I'm Asian, but I do have different types of fish and seaweed in occasion.

Instead, I take fish oil pills. You can't just take any fish oil pills as many have shown to be rancid, or have high levels of mercury and other toxic heavy metals. And you're better off not taking in any oxidized oils than not taking anything at all. The one I have found that has the best EPA/DHA levels and best bang for buck is NOW Foods Ultra Omega-3 (they have another fish oil, but this is different). You can check out this site for highly ranked supplements here: https://labdoor.com/rankings

But you don't need to take all these supplements and stuff if you have a good diet. I just take those three (vitamin d, vitamin k, and fish oil) because I'm lacking them in my diet. It's something that many Americans lack in their diet as well (I'm not sure what nationality you are). And you don't want to just nilly willy take vitamins and shit without researching them first, especially fat-soluble ones, as they build up inside you instead of getting flushed out if you have too much, like water-soluble ones.

On top of that, I would also just keep myself hydrated as well. Not that drinking water is directly correlated to skin hydration, but it's just good to keep hydrated. It's not enough to just drink a ton of water, keeping the electrolytes balanced plays an important part, too. You can't be "hydrated" if your electrolytes are totally out of whack. Which is also why you can't just give a dehydrated person who's been out stuck somewhere before being found just straight up water and kill them lol. (But really, don't worry about that electrolyte stuff, unless you're an athlete or something. Just drink a ton of water.)

To calculate the amount of water you should try to be drinking everyday is your weight in lbs * 0.66 (or .67 doesn't matter). For example, I weigh 143 lbs, so 143 * 0.66 = about 94 fl ounces of water a day. Feeling thirsty means you have already become dehydrated long before that.

SORRY I WROTE A FREAKIN' THESIS PAPER BUT I HOPE THINGS WORK OUT FOR YOU!!!

I had a 3 year long relationship that had some similar hurdles.

We dated from 18-21, but even at 18 he had erectile dysfunction, and he didn't have the best hygiene practices.

We talked about it a lot and eventually, we had a bit of a breakthrough with hygiene.
Instead of me complaining or nagging at him, if I was feeling frisky I would lead him to the shower and I would wash him.
This is a wonderfully intimate practice, and it helps you open up to each other's bodies.

Even now, at 28, with a husband that travels all the time, I'll have gorgeous lingerie on when I get him from the airport, but he's funky after a day of travel, so we'll get in the shower while I'm still in lingerie, and I'll wash him and initiate sex while we're in the shower together.

That could be a workable option for you guys, it'll open up your intimacy and help with the hygiene, as he'll subconsciously also begin to associate cleanliness, showering and the overall sensations with arousal and this will likely result in him being more hygienic overall.

As far as his quick ejaculation, men tend to be very sensitive about this, and believe it's incurable, when the reality is that it must be worked through.
Given that he has had very few partners, and he does this, it's likely there's never been an opportunity to learn to build up tolerance before ejaculation.
There are numbing lubricants that can help with this as well.
But ultimately, the best way to build resistance to finishing too quickly is to practice being physical and intimate without bringing him to completion.
Using your hands, mouth, toys.

Have him pleasure you with a toy while you stroke him or give him oral, this way you'll get satisfaction and you can manipulate when he is allowed to ejaculate.

The best toy I have ever used is the hitachi wand with variable speed control, you can also get a ton of different attachments for it, so there are many different options to try and find what you enjoy the most.

I would assume he will enjoy seeing you aroused and enjoy being a part of it, and you can work together to get you to finishing, then maybe you can mount him to have him finish inside of you.

There are so many remedies for these issues and I hope you find some things that work for you to help heal your marriage and build your intimacy together.

Feel free to PM me if you have any more questions. I wish you all the best.

There is also an all natural non-toxic product called Leather Honey. It's been around for a long time.

I've found it to be very useful on all types of leather, from my cowhide backpack, my SO's new winter boots, and my deerskin moccasins. It does tend to darken the leather you apply it to significantly. I've applied it to several of my things several times each and have not yet used a quarter of the bottle. However, I keep a small rag about 2x2 inches in a zipped bag and it's well saturated. I think this helps with not wasting the product.

I think you need to be careful with what you use to condition and recondition leather, especially old leather. Sometimes you might apply something and it works great, but you discover in a couple of years that the leather has begun to rot.

Do what you wish, but be aware that the tanning process (a preservative) can break down over time. When you try to restore your leather, you want to penetrate it with leather-friendly moisture that will not chemically undo the tanning.

Finally, whatever method you decide to do, test an inconspicuous area and wait a few hours. If you like what you see, gently apply your conditioning product (boughten or home made) and let it sit overnight. Sometimes I'll set the item a few feet in front of a space heater to gently warm the leather for a few hours.

I've also been known to use a hair blow dryer on seams to make sure it's penetrating well. Too close will just make it dry and crack. Reapply the next day, and let it soak in. Keep doing this slowly and patiently, until you see that your leather is not absorbing any more. Let it sit another day, then heat it a bit and begin to gently buff away any excess reconditioning material.

You should be left with something pretty amazing.

Best of luck!

> So, to start off, I downloaded MyFitnessPal.

Excellent! I like MFP, it's working well for me even with its quirks.

> it's been awhile since I've had access to a good scale for people of my weight

You are going to need some way to measure your progress, eventually! I had a poke about amazon and they're not hugely expensive:

eatsmart scale

this one measures %bodyfat and is on sale!

%bodyfat information is hugely valuable for accurately tracking your progress and adjusting your diet.


> Excersizing has always been hard for me, I have severely flat feet, even my specially made inserts don't do much to prevent masshive pain if I'm on my feet too long

Stationary bike is your friend!

If you can, start walking second daily/daily for 10-30 minutes.

> It asked how much weight I wanted to lose a week, it recommended 1 pound. Is going with 2 pounds a week that big a deal? Do you think it'll be harder?

If you are 5'10" and 360lb+, you should eventually aim for 2lb/week. You may want to start at 1 pound a week to see what it feels like though.

> White bread, frozen things such as chicken tenders, sandwhich meat, cheese, baked chicken, hamburgers.. I used to eat other less healthy things but I've cut a lot of food out due to my chronic acid reflux, I eat a lot of bread and drink a lot of milk because they're relatively safe for me. I also tend to drink two cans of pop a day, though I'm going to try cutting those out.

You can eat, what you can eat. That said, as you lose weight, your reflux may improve.

If you are having trouble working out what to eat, just start with what you already eat, but control the quantities with calorie counting. You will want to do a few initial days of just counting what your current intake level is, so you can slowly lower your intake.

The easiest way to generate meals is to start with some good lean protein, then add some vegetables to that, and some flavouring, but don't forget that sauces count as calories!

Frozen food has the useful benefit of having very detailed nutritional information on the side of the box, and snap frozen vegetables have high nutrient value.

> How do you guys go about snacks? I usually eat something, be it some chips or something microwavable every few hours.

Chips are generally not great, but if you need them, count their calories into your budget. There's definitely a range of microwave foods out there with decent nutritional value (good amount of protein and essential fats).

> Also, what do you do at night when you're trying to sleep but it feels like you're starving?

When you get your eating right, this may be less of a problem. The right balance of proteins and fat help with satiety, whereas not having enough of those in your dinner meal may leave you hungry as you go to sleep.

> it says that I should consume no more than 2290 calories a day. I've used other calculators online though and have seen anything from 2600-2900 calories a day.

You probably have relatively little muscle mass because of your issues with your flatfeet. The main determinant of how many calories you should have is muscle mass. (%bodyfat measurements will let you determine this far more accurately though).

2300 calories per day is probably a good eventual target. However, first you need to measure how much you are currently eating, then work down from there.

> a bit of weight training.

I would suggest with working towards bodyweight squats and lunges. You may or may not be able to do a full movement with your current size, but a few partial squats are safe and will start conditioning your knees and muscles.

Also, try to get your hands on some cheap dumbbells and learning what movements you can do at home. You don't need the gym to lift weight!

Overall it sounds like you have a good attitude and an openness to learning. With patience, time and the right feedback, you can definitely achieve not only your temporary goals, but more than you thought possible!

Hello all, I have been wearing faux leather all my life from Zara and I just got my 1st real leather jacket, Koopes Leather Bomber Jacket!

Need some advice on leather cleaner and conditioner since I never cleaned or conditioned my faux leather jackets before. There didn't seem to be a good search results on leather cleaning and conditioning or I must have missed it. From most of the threads I read, it seems like the brand name doesn't matter as much for cleaner and conditioner, but sounds like it is important to NOT use my boots conditioner due to silicone.

My lamb skin jacket did not feel as stiff as my faux leather which I really liked since I want something comfortable for usual wear rather than a stiff jacket with a bit more durability.

My research shows Saddle soap may be a great cleaner and Lexol cleaner and conditioner seem to be a great option too. I read Leather Honey is a great conditioner, albeit the premium price!

I wanted to ask the experts at r/MFA what they personally recommend for lamb skin leather:

1. cleaner
   
2. conditioner! I hear different conditioners can leave a different amount of oils and can even change colors a bit.
   
3. waterproofing, is this worth it?
   
   Edit: Also, I just wanted to confirm that Dry Cleaning leather jackets is NOT okay. I read it may dry and/or crack the leather. Is this true? Sounds like I should just use the cleaner and conditioner once or twice a year?

I've been a regular drinker for years (~4 standard drinks per night). It's obviously not the healthiest choice, but I take a number of supplements to (hopefully) mitigate the effects.

You've discovered what is probably the number one health detriment of drinking, sleep disruption. Lack of good sleep is going to destroy your health way faster than the direct physical effects of ingesting alcohol.

I struggled with bad sleep for a number of years. I believe in was a combination of more heavy drinking in the past and the stresses of graduate school.

Here's my recommendations for greatly improving sleep. Starting with the most helpful.

Glycine (3 grams before bed) - I found this recomendation on examine.com exactly for the problem of waking at night and this had probably the most obvious benifitial effect of any suppliment I've ever taken. It's an amino acid that I buy in bulk and mix in water with True Lemon to make a tasty drink before bed, but you could even eat it straight. Amino Acids tend to taste like sugar so you can save a lot of money by avoiding capsules.

L-Theanine (somewhere around 100 - 300 mg before bed sublingually and dose again if I wake up in the middle of the night) - I also buy this amino acid in bulk and keep an extra dose next to me throughout the night in case I do wake up too much. It helps you relax, lots of people like it. It's also good with caffeine during the day to improve focus and reduce jitters. The taste is a little acquired, but it's not too bad/strong. I kind of enjoy it.

Magnesium (citrate/glycinate oral or topical lotion) - This also helps with relaxation and is better with helping you fall asleep in the first place. I apply lotion because my digestive system does not handle oral well. Start small with oral and build up until you have loose stools then back off or go slower. I find that I sleep way more efficiently (as measured by FitBit) when I take the time to apply the lotion generously to my arms and legs before bed.

Slow release melatonin (5mg) - People have widely varying opinions about melatonin. I'm less sure how much it helps me, but I do take it and don't have any deleterious effects.

Let me know if you have any questions. I would order the glycine today. That stuff is amazing!

This wiki/blog post is helpful but here is a past comment I made as an answer:

• 
  A fitness mat (thicker) is nice for the plyo day (easier on the knees) but you otherwise want a thinner mat (e.g., yoga mat).
  
• 
  Resistance bands or weights. I have bands and might break down and buy weights. It is just easier and more intuitive. They are fairly expensive though...
  
• 
  Pull-up bar. I think this bar works well and it's not too hard to put together. Bonus: bands.
  
• 
  Chair for certain exercises.
  
• 
  Yoga blocks. I have not used them and you can get away without them but I can see their use. They make stretches easier (or harder) and are demonstrated in p90x.
  
• 
  Protein shake and bars. I hear the p90x products are actually very good but they're definitely expensive. I opted for Optimum Nutrition Whey Powder with a cheap blender bottle and these bars after a little research on /r/fit and google.
  
• 
  Lots of water and even more motivation! It feels like such an accomplishment after each day though. Off to go do Plyo for week 3!
  
  Ninja Edit: Heart rate monitor and push up bars are two very optional but very useful items that I plan to invest in soon.

I love my AeroPress. I have a chemex for larger brews, but I have yet to find something that replicates the amazing flavor that I get out of my method of AeroPressing. v60, French Press, drip. . .Tried them all. There are some rules that I abide by for my brew.
First off: METAL SCREEN FILTER! Never paper!
https://www.amazon.com/Filter-Original-AeroPress-Built-Guaranteed/dp/B00A1GVVMY/
That's mine that I bought in 2010, still working great! I don't like paperfilters in any brew method.

Second: do full cup brews in it, Not concentrations. No dilution.

Here's how it goes:

1. 18 grams of coffee, slightly larger than table salt grind
   
   
2. Put the plunger in the very tip top of the aeroPress and then invert the unit so it's sitting on the plunger.
   
   
3. Add the ground coffee to the brewing chamber.
   
   
4. Add 100 grams water, quick stir (5-10 seconds)
   
   
5. Add another 150 grams of water (250g grand total, it will barely fit in the brew chamber)
   
   
6. Screw on the screen/cap.
   
   
7. Flip onto the top of a cup
   
   
8. Carefully remove the plunger (tilting it to the side helps).
   
   
9. Add another 50 grams of water (300 grams grand total now)
   
   
10. Put the plunger back and plunge for 20-30 seconds.
    
    Done. No dilution, no concentration. That's one cup of coffee, and if you have quality beans it will be amazing. Variations I tend to go by:
    
    For some African coffees (Kenyans, Ethiopian, and even Sumatrans), I might not even plunge, that metal screen filter will let the coffee drip right through and it will preserve the more floral/citrus flavors that I tend to find in those coffees better.
    
    If I do have a medium roast coffee (rare, I like light roasts), I would press very delicately and probably not stir much at all.

1. I use the following, in order of preference: butter (4tbsp), heavy whipping cream (1/3 cup), avocado oil (1/4 cup). All are great but butter is aweome.
   
2. If you order the weekly special (10% off) and grab 4 bags (5% off) you'll get both discounts. There are coupons out there occasionally as well. Without coupons it works out to 84 servings at $2.69 cents before your fat/oil source. If you go with Baja Precious avocado oil from Amazon, with subscribe and save it works out to $0.55 per serving. That's $9.70/day if you do 3 shakes. Now Ultra Omega 3 works out to $0.23 per day bring you to $9.93 per day.
   
3. Immersion blender is the way to go. I spent the first month using shaker/blender bottles. It's slow and doesn't always fully mix. Immersion blenders are super easy to clean and it takes me about 3 minutes (or less) to fully clean with hot water and dish soap.
   
   I use a gallon pitcher, add (1.5 cups avocado oil or 2 cups of Darigold heavy whipping cream or 24 tablespoons of melted Kerrygold Irish Grass Fed salted butter), 6 scoops of ketochow, fill it 3/4 of the way full with water, give it 60 seconds with the immersion blender, let it sit for 2 minutes, and do another 60 seconds with the immersion blender. Then it goes into 6 bottles which is good for 2 days worth. I usually do 3 pitchers for 18 total servings, or 6 days.
   
   I normally don't need anything else to get me through the day, but I keep extra stuff in the refrigerator if do need a snack, or I'll replace one of my Ketochow servings with a combo of bacon, eggs, cheese, and veggies.
   
   I am lazy AF so I also regularly visit Costco and buy bags of Babybel cheese minis (regular, white cheddar, and light), packages of Kirkland precooked bacon, and boxes of Kirkland peeled hard boiled eggs. I also buy cauliflower, broccoli, and avocados for snacks. I'll occasionally grab a few rotisserie chickens, cut them in half while they're still warm, and refrigerate them, and have half as a meal when I'm craving something more substantial than Ketochow. 350f for 30 minutes heats them up perfectly.
   
   I recommend https://keto-calculator.ankerl.com/ to figure out your macros and deficits and cronometer.com to track your dailies.
   
   I've lost 31 pounds in just under 3 months eating mostly just 3 ketochow servings a day with a few supplements (omega 3, magnesium, fiber capsules). Started at 210 and I'm now 179 (46m, 5'10", goal weight 170, possibly 160).
   
   The only downside I've encountered is having to buy a bunch of sealed bottles (and having to wash them).

Use one of these. You'll probably need some kind of barrier between the toy and your glans. You can use a glove filled with lube, a soft linen pillowcase, pretty much anything that isn't too coarse. You can get a sense of what it feels like to overstimulate with just a single orgasm, but for best results you should try and maintain a state of arousal for a little while. I've been trying my hand at erotica, and I often found that if I got blue balls and it became unbearable, this would clear out any...erm, "congestion", I might have experienced. Kind of crazy in retrospect. At sixteen, blue balls were awful; it was like a testicular cramp that radiated all throughout the abdomen. At thirty-three, I can be so congested that my urine practically sparkles from precum and barely even feel phased by it.

When you ejaculate, hold your shaft in place and keep the bulb of the wand firmly pressed against your glans. You should feel your whole body ramp up until it becomes unbearable. During the first climax, if you don't ever take the wand off, it may feel as though the amount of stimulation your body is capable of registering either reaches a plateau or drops off to something sustainable. But if you take the wand off, wait a little less than a second, and then press it against your glans again, it's like being tickled from the inside. Like a tingling, noxious ecstasy that lances from your prostate to your obliques (if you're wired like I am anyway.)

I learned this the hard way when the hand that was holding my dick slipped and I tried to dig in there for a little extra. Something about pausing and then restarting while I'm ejaculating is like hitting a reset button my tolerance for stimulus. I imagine other people are like this.

I sometimes have difficulty interpreting what people mean by multiple orgasms. I often have a single, prolonged orgasm with anywhere between three and seven ejaculations, so I'm not really sure how to count it. But yeah, when you asked about refractory periods, I chuckled. You'd be amazed at how quickly you can skip them, especially if you get a weak orgasm with like one or two short spurts. Those don't even register as orgasms anymore. And they're almost always a guarantee that the second round will be several orders of magnitude more intense. Sometimes my prostate actually feels sore afterward, like an overjuiced lemon wedge. And that's without penetrating myself.

I'd suggest a Hitachi magic wand, but you really have to find a reputable vendor (i.e. not Joey Rando on Amazon or ebay), otherwise you stand a very high chance of purchasing some shitty, low-powered replica that you thought you were buying at a bargain. I don't know if they make the same shitty replicas of the shibari halo, but I nabbed this on Amazon and don't regret in the least.

In two years, I'll also be a professional making 6 figures so I understand where you're coming from. It's not necessarily about the money but about the motivation to do something more with his life. Also, if you want to settle down, you want someone with more stability and potential to help support the family. It's okay, you'll be okay. Cry if you need to because you guys had some good times together. You made the right decision, for you and for him. I wish I could give you a big hug.

Maybe with your next awesome paycheck, you can buy this little baby and you can cum lots and lots all on your own. :) Feel better, lady! It'll get better with time. Just go at your own pace and don't look back.

Oooh, I love the <$5 items! Let's see what you might like.

Okay, haha, I just found this ring in my random searching today and thought it was hilarious. Perhaps you might enjoy the ridiculous humor of it as well? All joking aside, this pocket watch made me stop and stare for the longest time. I can't believe it's under five bucks. Also, I am of the strong belief that everyone needs a head massager for those stressful days that just won't quit. You should also have a keychain flashlight for any emergencies that may arise (trust me, this thing comes in so handy). And since this one is solar powered, you don't have to worry about the batteries running dry at the worst possible moment on earth. This keychain key ring is super sturdy, and it's actually less than one dollar! What could be better! Hrm, purse organizers are super handy as well. But I think perhaps the best under five dollar item I've come across lately is this portable dinnerware kit, in case you need utensils on the go.


CROCHET THIS FOR ME! If I happen to win I'd die for a Jayne hat, because when I walked down the street with it on this winter people would surely know that I'm not afraid of anything.


Thanks so much for the contest! I'm in awe of talent like yours. Seriously, I tried to make a scarf once. It was... Yeeeeeah.

Well, as far as the toys go, start simple. To pull a rabbit out with someone who isn't all that sure about sex toys is probably pretty intimidating.

I would get a bullet type toy, and maybe a vibrator you can wear during intercourse that might give her orgasms while you're in her.

We have lots of sex toys, but my wifes least favorite is the very expensive rabbit I got for her...thouhg I've yet to bring it to the bath. (thanks for the reminder!) She likes one like a rabbit, but its smaller...I'll link it below.

Also, on the glass toy, does your wife masturbate? Either alone or with you? if not then this toy is going to be useless to her most likely. My wife doesn't masturbate alone, so she really only likes toys that I can use for her that enhance our sex together.

Now here is my golden advice...get a Hitachi Wand with a strength adjustment box. This is by far her favorite thing. I can start out using it as a massage enhancer and eventually use it with my fingers before intercourse. Its big enough that its perfect since she likes doggie the best and she can put it on a pillow and use it while I'm behind her hand free. If I flip her around, she can hold it with no issues. My wife usually orgasms 2-3 times per session. If there is one sex toy every hetro couple needs, its an Hitachi. I'll also link.

This is the Hitachi we have

This is the butterfly toy we have that she used to really love

I've been using the disposable foam ones for about 2 years. They worked well with my Sena, but music was a bit muffled, but worth it since it got rid of a lot of wind noise. Last week, I decided to try the non-disposable ones. They arrived in the mail on Friday, so Saturday morning I thought I would go do a 20 minute test ride with the new plugs. WOW! Way better! My 20 minute ride turned into 3 hours because I was enjoying the music too much to ride home. I am not endorsing the brand/model I linked to, as these are the only ones I have tried, and there may even be better ones. But I would strongly suggest trying some of these if you like to listen to music through your Sena while riding.

If you can't hear your Sena, even with disposable plugs, you might try moving the speakers around to find the sweet spot. I have found that even a 2mm change in the speaker placement makes a huge difference in volume.

No side effects, just use it as it is intended. Definitely noticed benefits, but I also avoid junk/fried food and colas and try my best to eat healthy stuff.

I use it with one spoon of creatine, one big spoon of peanut butter and a banana sometimes. You need to drink lots of water if you're consuming creatine. Yeah, I have noticed some improvements, my shirts are getting tighter from forearms and I can't fold my arms in front of my chest without tearing my shirts.

I use ON whey protein, it's considered to be the best one out there in terms of mixability, results and everything else.

One 30 grams scoops has like 24G protein and everything else is negligible. Calories is around 120, so if you can easily get a low calories high protein diet with one scoop or more. When you are lifting heavy weights, your muscles will break, to repair and build new muscles protein is necessary. Since whey protein is almost 90 percent protein that is in liquid form, it gets easily absorbed helping in muscle growth.

Haha coffee is a complex thing, as you're finding out! Part of the fun though, IMO. Thousands of combinations and coffees to try, each different and unique, light roads, dark roasts, blends, etc!

IMO, the Porlex mini is a great grinder...for travel and hiking. You might not mind hand grinding the first week or so, but I've heard after that it can be kinda annoying. Plus there's something super satisfying about electric grinders to me haha.

For me, here in the US, the Porlex is showing at $54 on amazon. At that point, why not just put in the extra $76 to get the Encore which will last you 20-30+ years down the road?

Edit: and for filters, that's personal preference...if you are partial to French Press coffee, then you would like the metal filter more, which lets more oil through and those associated flavors. Paper filters filter out a lot of those oils, and give you a clearer, brighter cup. All personal preference really. I prefer the metal filter, though paper is still great too. Paper are a tiny bit easier, by just popping them in the trash vs having to wash a metal filter. Here is the one I have: http://www.amazon.com/Filter-AeroPress-Ultra-Stainless-Coffee/dp/B00A1GVVMY/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1409687482&sr=1-1&keywords=aeropress+metal+filter

If you haven't already, you could consider yoga-style exercises. Anything that's basically big stretches and breathing. Hold a pose and breath into it. The breath is key for relaxation. Longer exhales than inhales will cue your body to engage the parasympathetic nervous system, which is the auto-pilot process for resting and digesting (think opposite of fight/flight). So breath is a way to have your body tell your muscles to chill, which makes them easier to stretch, which helps give you the relaxation and results you want. Massage is all about engaging the parasympathetic system and encouraging and facilitating the body's natural healing processes.

If you're talking about the theracane, I know plenty who love it. They're great. I've used one and plan to get one, but I don't own one yet so I can't speak for long term use. I have good results with tennis balls between my back and the wall, or on the floor. If you're curious about self care options, google 'self myofascial release' and check out foam rolling stuff. There's some really cool stuff you can do for yourself just by rolling around on the floor for a few minutes each day. :]

You're not eating enough to build muscle. Building muscle will make you feel better about how you look. You can do muscle building activities like squats/situps/crunches without even using any weights.

You need to eat MORE healthy food. You will not get fat. You will get defined.

If you're nervous about eating more, just add a little tiny bit more per day for a week or two at first and see what happens.

Also I have a scale that measures body fat % and muscle mass % and that's super motivating to me, I care so much less about my "weight" now and care a lot more about how my body is built, it helps motivate me to eat healthy and work out.

Here's the scale I have.

Also if you use this scale and you ARE NOT eating enough you can really see how much that will cut into your muscle mass and you'll end up with a higher body fat percentage. I know that because I work a super active job and occasionally get really busy and don't eat enough, it really messes with my muscle mass. So I eat a lot more snacks than I used to like nuts, apples, protein bars.

I like magnesium citrate specifically for anxiety and sleep. I actually take this brand for insomnia: https://www.amazon.com/Natural-Vitality-Magnesium-Stress-Orignal/dp/B000OQ2DL4/ref=sr_1_2_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1475193261&sr=1-2 it doesn't make me sleepy necessarily but I get racing anxiety thoughts and I find that it helps me calm those down, and that in turn makes it easier to fall asleep. More like it quiets my brain so I can try to sleep, instead of straight knocking me out...best way I can describe it is like the feeling you get when coffee finally wears off. Except even if I didn't drink any coffee lol. There are cheaper versions of it too as well as flavored if that interests you!

I have read that gylcinate is easier on the stomach but I never had problems with citrate so can't personally comment on it.

Tenga Eggs are great to start with. I bought my partner a variety pack for $25 on Amazon and we've been having a lot of fun with them together and he's been enjoying them on his own as well. The first time we used them he came twice in a row (the first time without ejaculation and the second time he came really really hard and ejaculated a fuck ton). The eggs are supposed to be one time use but we've extended the use of them by washing them with soap and water afterwards and having my partner remove the egg just before he comes to keep them a little cleaner (when we use them together he cums in my mouth and thats a lot of fun anyway). I would recommend the Tenga Fliphole as a long term toy but until then using the eggs can be a lot of fun and can give you a toy to use for a few months or so for not a lot of money. The variety pack I bought can be found here for $35. Its a bit more than when I bought it (Easter special) but this is still an amazing price for the pack of toys and I would absolutely say they are worth the money. The lube they come with is pretty shitty though so I would use your own lube and just use the eggs. My partner and I use them with Sliquid Gel lube and it works out great.

Okay, here we go. First of all, good job having safe sex but let this scare be the motivation to have safer sex, i.e. get on some birth control on top of the condom use. There are a variety of options and is cost/parents are an issue go to your local Planned Parenthood to go over your options. :)

That being said I understand what you are going through right now. A lot of what you're describing is what I suspect not pregnancy just because it'd be crazy early to be getting signs of being pregnant. I'm thinking you're just being hypersensitive to things because you're stressed and worried. Google is hell for people who suspect unwanted pregnancy, haha. If it would make you feel better, take a test, but I'm not sure it'd pick up on pregnancy this early so it may be a waste of time.

http://www.amazon.com/Wondfo-Pregnancy-Test-Strips-25-count/dp/B0002YIQEQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342981043&sr=8-1&keywords=pregnancy+test

I would buy a pack of these for the future to have on hand for possible scares like this one down the road. They're cheap, work, and it's nice to not have to worry about picking up a test at the store when you're already stressed, especially with you being so young. I would also pick up the morning after pill to have on hand. Not now because it is not an abortion pill and will not work if you're already pregnant and you can only take it up to 72 hours after your sexual encounter, but again, good to have on hand.

Overall, however, if your condom didn't break then I'd say your chances are slim to nil that you actually are pregnant.

I would also take this as an opportunity to talk to your partner about unwanted pregnancy. Would you want to adopt, get an abortion? It's your decision, but would you have your partner's support both emotionally and possibly financially? Would he want to keep it? These are important questions that I think it's important to ask your partner.

If you have any more questions, ask. I've been in your shoes before and know how it feels.

1. About .4 to .9g of protein per pound of lean body mass per day (Lean body mass = total body weight minus fat weight + (fat weight x .25)). So if you were 250lbs with 35% body fat, that would be 87 pounds of fat, so lean body mass would be 250 - 87 + (87x.25) or 184 pounds. So your protein intake would be between 74g (absolute minimum per day) and 165g, higher protein requirements are needed the more active you are especially if you do high-intensity or weight training exercise. If you need help figuring this out, then reply back with your height, weight, and BMI if you know it and i'll do it for you.
   
   As for carbs you should be aiming for 20-30g of netcarbs per day (a netcarb = Total carbs minus fiber carbs). So if you were eating 15g of fiber per day, your total carb intake would be 35 to 45g.
   
   The rest of your calories should come from fat. So if you were eating 1600 calories per day, 100g of protein, and 20g of carbs, that would leave 1120 calories for fat, or 124g of fat. To calculate this yourself: fat in grames = (total calories - (protein in grams + carbs in grams)x4) / 9. Using the above example numbers that would look like: (1600 - (100+20)x4)/9 --> (1600 - 480)/9 --> 124g of fat.
   
   If you need help figuring out how many calories you should be eating, provide the numbers requested above for calculating total protein intake and i'll help you figure that out as well.
   
   
2. It really doesn't mater when you eat your carbs. Spread out throughout the day is probably ideal, but it's really not important. Eat when you're hungry and have time.
   
   
3. It really depends on the type of exercise. If you're just doing low-intensity cardio (such as walking or biking or any other form of exercise under 60% of heart-rate max) then a post workout really isn't necessary.
   
   
4. I'm not sure what the question is here honestly.
   
   
5. As many or as few as you want. You shouldn't purposely eat multiple small meals. Eat when you're hungry and when you have time. Some people only eat one large meal per day (usually as their post-workout), others eat only two (usually skipping breakfast and/or only have fat-calories for breakfast such as MCT oil). Most people would probably be best starting off with three meals per day as they're used to and then transition to fewer (or more) meals depending on hunger levels throughout the day.
   
   
6. You should be getting about 3-4 grams of total salt per day. This usually means either drinking salted water (1/2 teaspoon of salt twice a day) or a salty consume or bouillon broth (be sure these are MSG-free) or even a home-made bone broth with additional salt.
   
   I would also recommend a magnesium supplement, somewhere between 300-400mg per day. If you get diarrhea, then you should probably take two smaller doses of ~150mg twice daily (use a pill splitter) or switch to a slow-release version. If you still have issues even with two smaller doses, then reduce the dosage until you no longer do (usually after the first month of magnesium supplementation you'll probably need to reduce the amount to 200-300mg per day depending on how much you're getting from food). Also be sure to get a chelated form of magnesium (magnesium aspartate, magnesium citrate or magnesium citrimate). And when determining how much magnesium is actually in each dose, you will need to calculate it based on the RDI (the RDI is 400mg per day). So if the dose is 50% of the RDI then you would know that it's only 200mg per dose.
   
   If you decide to take a potassium supplement, make sure you aren't on any other medication that might interact negatively (such as blood pressure medicines). If you plan your low-carb diet well you can get enough potassium from food. If you do decide to use a supplement or a potassium-salt, be sure to stay below ~500mg per day and preferably spread throughout the day. Excess potassium, especially from quickly absorbed supplements, can cause serious health problems.
   
   The last two supplements i would recommend would be 1g-1.5g of Omega-3 fish oil capsules (or liquid) and ~2-5000 IU of vitamin D3 per day. There might be cheaper/better brands of these two supplements out there, but the two i linked are what i personally use.

> 1. My first concern is the reps. I found myself not able to do as many reps as the trainer wrote on my plan (For example, i had to do 4x15 reps of chest exercises-i pushed 15kg weights with handles away from my ches). I could only do the first 15 but then it gradually got harder and i could do 8 or at most 10. I'm worried i'm not going to make any progress if i don't stick to the plan. What do you guys recommend ?

That's...likely pretty good. You don't gain muscle by doing 15 reps of the same weight all the time. You gain muscle by trying to do 4x15. You can't do all of them. Stop when your form starts getting bad. Next time try again. You'll probably be able to do 1-2 more reps the next time.

When you can successfully do all the reps, then it's time to increase the weight a little bit. With more weight you won't be able to do all the reps right away. You do as many as you can. The next time you do the same thing. Again when you can do all the reps, then you increase the weight...

People working out doing 4x15 reps spend very little time actually doing every one of the 4x15 reps, because when they can do it they increase the weight a little and with more weight, next time they can't do them all again. That's how you gain muscle.

> 3. The 3rd thing is food. My father is a vegetarian so we don't eat meat at home.

You don't necessarily need meat, most people go with it because it's the easiest.
You need protein.
You can find protein in eggs, protein in milk, etc.
You can also buy protein powder:
http://www.amazon.com/Optimum-Nutrition-Standard-Double-Chocolate/dp/B002DYIZH6/ref=zg_bs_6973717011_4

Short answer: lifting will definitely help.

I suspect your head is forward like that to counterbalance your chest going back. If you'd like to geek out a bit and try to understand what the different components are to a bad posture, I found this 5-part series helpful (don't mind the title and the tone of the piece; the information is solid, even though it's written for a very particular audience).

There are a number of venues of exploration for you:

• weak muscles (posterior chain: back, glutes, hamstrings, + core)
  
• tight, wound-up muscles (static stretching might help, but better would be mobility work like others have recommended here. Esp. consider soft-tissue work like trigger point self-massage; this thing is awesome.)
  
• bad cues for everyday posture. <-- this I want to explain a bit.
  
  People will tell you things like "stand up straighter", but they don't necessarily understand how to achieve this result, so they'll say things like "pull your shoulders back". Just pulling your shoulders back will probably not work though, because your shoulders will just get tired, you'll forget, and you'll slump again. I think a better cue is: roll your shoulders up towards your ears, then back and down your back, and when you get to that back and down position try to keep them there. If they start feeling forward again, roll them up, back and down again. For the head, think of pushing your chin back and into your chest, prolonging the back of your head. And try "stand up straight" not by lifting your ribcage up, but by keeping your abs engaged, maybe 15-20% of your max, to encourage them to support your spine (+ the shoulder & head thing above).

I don't know if this is relevant to your interests or not, but if you do a bit of reading about trigger points and get yourself one of these, it may greatly amplify the helpful effects you describe. (+make it possible to reach parts of your back/neck/shoulders that you otherwise wouldn't be able to.)

It makes a huge difference - it has for me at least - but I can't stress enough, that it helps to learn about how the muscles go together + where the relevant points are. Otherwise you'll just be jabbing yourself aimlessly. Because what might feel like the "sore spot" may just be referred pain, and you could unlock further improvement by addressing the originating points instead.

There are books on the subject, and plenty of massage-therapy-related things, but a good visual reference and tl;dr is this app (Muscle Trigger Point Anatomy) which shows you the places to address, the affected areas, with accompanying anatomical descriptions.

For whole-body care and maintenance it's something I definitely recommend (in addition to exercise and other healthy stuff, haha.)

YES so many good tips for digestion!

the probiotic that i take and love is garden of life women's raw probiotic (http://www.vitacost.com/garden-of-life-raw-probiotics-women-85-billion-90-vegetarian-capsules-1) and although it can taste funny, i think it's a great probiotic and it also makes me drink more water!

lots of fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, pickles (bubbies is a fermented brand, make sure you check ingredients and make sure they're redriferated or else the live cultures are killed during pasteurization), gut shots (https://www.farmhouseculture.com/gut-shots), kefir (forager project makes a cashew milk based one), and yogurt (if you don't do dairy i like sodelicious plain coconut milk yogurt or kite hill plain unsweetened almond milk)

almost every night i take natural calm magnesium (https://www.amazon.com/Natural-Vitality-Magnesium-Stress-Orignal/dp/B000OQ2DL4?th=1) the taste can be a bit off putting so i just add 1-2 tsp of it to some organic cinnamon apple tea and it really helps with my digestion and puts me to bed! also it's good to supplement magnesium bc most americans are deficient in it! esp women, it's super important to get even more magnesium during your period too

somethings to help your gut as well could be collagen, gelatin, and bone broth. they're kind of expensive but totally worth it!! http://www.vitalproteins.com/ and epic foods makes a really good bone broth! hope this helps

Well, electrolyte pills aren't "fuel" but it makes sure you don't screw that part up. Temp of 65 means you can probably get away with two bottles, but if you're not pissing clear or close to it then that's problem #1.

At a 65 temp, you're probably not in a monster UV area (southern US or lower, or Australia). If you are, and you're outside during like noonish for 5 hours, you could be getting a headache from that (some people do). Another random thing to watch out for, but it seems very unlikely here.

What do you crave when you get back home?

• Anything and everything: increase general food count on the ride; possibly electrolytes as well
  
• Chips, pasta, other salty things: increase electrolytes and maybe food
  
• Liquid things that aren't beer: increase water + electrolytes
  
• Water: Increase water
  
• Passing out tired: try to take it a little easier
  
• Nothing because you're nauseated: electrolytes, some water
  
• Beer: Looks like you got it right :)
  
  Lastly, I do Salt pills from Paceline because Paceline makes butt butter and that stuff is amazing. These are amazing too.

I live at sea level so didn't have the chance to train in high elevation. Luckily I do have some mountains nearby that are about 2000-3000ft and I love to run. I would run those mountains over and over. I also ran a lot of stadiums and would walk the stadiums with my pack on. I also ran 12-13mi for fun and cycled 20+mi.

Surprisingly walking/running the stadiums helped. A lot of the JMT is literally stairs going up a mountain. The combination of running and endurance training helped me prepare mentally and physically for the elevation and distance you are going to have to travel per day on the JMT. I did not have a problem acclimating.

Also these salt pills seemed to help, although it may have been a placebo effect:
https://amzn.com/B002IY96B0

Hiking poles are a must. You don't need anything fancy, just make sure you have some. I had some cheap $30 poles, couldn't have done the JMT without them.

Be prepared to be hungry all the time. Unless you resupply every 2-3 days, I just don't see how you can pack enough food.

Make sure your pack supports heavier loads as well. I didn't know this was a thing until after the JMT. I used the Osprey Atmos 65. Anything above 45lb, it felt super mushy and unsupportive.

Be prepared to be in shock for a week or so when you come back to the "real world." For me everything was crowded, loud, and bright.

This hilarious coffee table type book will surely make her laugh and it's only 43 cents so I'll link head massager to relax her.

Should I win I would love this sweet cake pan so I can make minicakes for everyooooone! :D

I hope your college bound sister enjoys her gifts! That's so sweet of you!

I use Downbeats, I've had them for a little over 6 months now and they have been working great at a price standpoint. The earplugs are fairly small, so if you like discretion I'd recommend these. As far as clarity I'd rate it at an 8/10, so not much issue with sound quality, although at times I've had a tiny bit of trouble hearing people(only when super close to the speakers). It's so gratifying knowing I can go to these events and come back without any hearing loss lmfao.

Edit: I'd also like to point out that earplugs are amazing in camping environments when you're trying to sleep... These were a lifesaver at Beyond 2 weeks ago.

I actually failed three times before I got it down. Cutting out sugar and carbs was sooo hard because I am pakistani and all of our meals contain carbs. Also, I love love love chocolate. The first day the only carbs i ate were nuts....toward the end of the day, I felt so nauseous like I was going to pass out. I immediately went for a cookie and felt instantly better and at that point I knew my body tricked me lol. Then I tried again and failed again grabbing a cookie. The third time, I realized that the reason I felt so nauseous was because I wasn't getting enough electrolytes. So i ordered [Saltstick Caps] (https://www.amazon.com/SaltStick-Electrolyte-Replacement-Capsules-bottle/dp/B002IY96B0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1497512701&sr=8-1&keywords=salt+sticks) and took them twice a day. I ate eggs cooked in beef bacon fat with veggies for breakfast. For lunch I had smoked salmon and for dinner I ate a hot dog wrapped in cheese. I basically ate whatever was in my fridge and wasn't carb heavy. I made myself "fat bombs" out of coconut oil and cocoa powder. I put the mixture in an icecube tray, put em in the fridge and ate one whenever I felt like I wanted something sugary. Bullet proof coffee was nice too for breakfast. I also drank a TON of water like 2-3 liters throughout the day. Eventually I found that breakfast made me so full and I had to actually force myself to eat my meals to maintain my calorie intake because I wasn't eating enough calories....(never thought that would happen ha). In one month, I lost 35 pounds. It's been a year now and I've lost a total of 50 pounds and my skin has never looked better. So anyhooo......if you're easing into it...you should have a meal plan set for the week so you don't find the need to grab anything sugary because you're too lazy too cook. It takes roughly three days for your body to get into ketosis so keto strips are helpful and saltsticks were a life saver. You don't have to keep buying them...eventually you'll start finding foods with the electrolytes you need and you'll begin to love salt water haha. Jk....you'll hate it but it's easier to get some electrolytes that way if your meals are not sodium heavy. Your pee will also start smelling different when you're in ketosis so you won't have to check your piss every time to see if you're in ketosis or not. Also, you'll find that there are so many delicious recipes out there so that made it much easier. There's only one food that I still miss and cannot find a equally delicious substitute for: mashed potatoes. I tried different mashed cauliflower recipes but its just not the same. One thing to note is that you can only have a certain amount of carbs a day before you get your body out of ketosis. Mine is 28g so sometimes I'll save my carbs for the end of the day so I can have a sandwich or even mashed potatoes if I feel like it. The cool thing is that you don't need to calorie count on this diet....only carb count. I calorie count only because I find myself not eating enough and I don't want to be toooooo skinny..never thought I'd ever be saying that either lol. One major Con for me is that I pee at least 10-15 times a day. It's very inconvenient and my bladder loves to drive me crazy when I am driving -_-

Ooh, I know a lot about both these things! For sex toys, I always recommend the site www.shevibe.com, as they have detailed information on every one of their toys: exactly what it's made from, whether it's waterproof, batteries or charge, etc. Knowing what your sex toy is made of is really important because some materials are not body-safe and the sex toy industry isn't regulated. (More information here)

I don't know anything about ben wa balls, but LELO is a reputable brand, I've only heard good things about them. If you want both vaginal and clitoral stimulation at the same time, a rabbit vibe is probably your best bet. This is the one I have, although the clitoral stimulator isn't very long so I have to rock it back and forth to hit all the right spots. But I don't mind :P. However if you have vaginismus it may be difficult to penetrate with a toy like that. My favorite toys for just clitoral stimulation are the WeVibe Tango bullet vibe, and the Hitachi Magic Wand if you want something with a lot more OOMPH.

As far as nipple piercings, I got mine done about a year ago and I love them. But I made a mistake when I got them pierced and didn't properly research my piercer and proper piercing procedures. I recommend you search the Association of Professional Piercers to see if there's an APP member in your area. My original piercer used 14 gauge stainless steel externally-threaded barbells to pierce me. The gauge was good, but the other two were not. I ended up having a reaction to the metal (as it's not implant-grade, so it's not meant to be inside the body for long periods of time), and externally threaded barbells are bad because they can harbor bacteria and cause trauma to the piercing site any time the piercings are removed. When I bought new piercings, I got 14G (1.6mm) titanium internally-threaded barbells. (Nipples should be pierced at 12G or 14G, as smaller jewelry has a high risk of migration.) They're a bit more expensive, but it's worth it to make sure you don't have a bad reaction or get an infection. Any APP member will use implant grade materials and internally threaded or non-threaded jewelry, and of course use safe and sanitary tools (needles, clamps, etc).

Regarding pain... I'm not gonna lie, it hurt a lot. Some people get both done at the same time, I got one done after the other. It hurt a lot the first day, but after that it was just sore for a couple weeks then it only hurt if I bumped it. Your piercer will tell you about aftercare. Personally, I wore a sports bra for a couple weeks because I have fairly large breasts and I wanted to keep them in place. Some people prefer not to wear a bra at all. You'll want to soak it daily in sterile wound wash, which you can find at any pharmacy but will also probably be sold by your piercer. (I initially mixed the saline myself, but I used table salt and didn't measure it and that was a terrible idea.) I used a shotglass, fill it with wound wash and invert it over the piercing for 5-10 minutes a day. Try not to mess with the piercing, rotating the barbells or anything like that, as that can introduce bacteria to the piercing site. It will take 4-6 months to heal, and you shouldn't change the jewelry during that time. And don't use plastic net shower loofas, because they can and will get caught on the piercing and it hurts like hell. I've caught it on a loofa, on my shirt, on my bra, on a doorknob... it's all terrible. Be careful those first few weeks.

Overall I found getting a piercing to be very rewarding. I feel sexier, even though nobody can see them but me. I think they look really pretty (mine are purple anodized titanium - if you get anodized, they let you choose the color). It was definitely worth the pain. Let me know if this was helpful :)

Thank you!!!

I started about 10 months ago and, admittedly, have been a bit more lax the last couple months.

Fasting: I'm a workaholic with a mentally demanding job. Usually, I do 20:4 because it means I can work 10ish hours straight and plow through everything I need to do in the day. If I do 16:8, it's a high protein snack midday (like greek yogurt or string cheese) and then a meal after work.

Diet: Normally, I eat about 1200-1400 calories per day. On average, 35% is protein, 32% carbs, and 33% fat. I try to keep carbs at about 100g/day and to make sure protein is higher. With the 20:4, it's often a struggle to get to 1200 because I'm eating one meal and then piecemealing the additional calories I need! When needed, I'll have a protein shake (I love Gold Standard Double Rich Chocolate) to boost my protein.

Exercise: As far as working out, I average 6 days a week, but half of those days it's walking (about 60-120 minutes). The other days I run or, if the weather is poor, hop on the elliptical. Sometimes I'll do both if I'm feeling particularly motivated! I aim for at least 7000 steps but always try for more.

Tools: I use a FitBit charge and MyFitnessPal to log my food. I really like how easy MFP is for food logging and it connects with the FitBit app so I'm not having to do stuff twice.


Hope that helps!!

The Gorge winds at night (and day 1 last year) can be crazy chilly! I think last year it got down into the low 40's at night, but when its been 90+ degrees all day 40 can seem like FREEZING! Make sure to get a locker to store your jacket/onsie in! (Bringing extra clothes into the venue is probably my #2 for most important things!) To go along with bringing extra clothes you want to make sure to get a fire blanket to put on top of your tent. It keeps out the hot and cold! Make sure to pay for really cold nights and hot as fuck days!

1 is get a water backpack it will save your life!

I also recommend ear plugs! You can get them pretty cheap on amazon. I got these last year and they were great!

https://www.amazon.com/DownBeats-Reusable-Fidelity-Hearing-Protection/dp/B00A3Z44RM/ref=sr_1_9_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1494292859&sr=8-9&keywords=concert+ear+plugs

This year I found these... it came with 2 pairs.

https://www.amazon.com/Rave-High-Fidelity-Ear-Plugs/dp/B01GJ6BERQ/ref=sr_1_5_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1494292859&sr=8-5&keywords=concert+ear+plugs

If you have a Facebook there is a Paradiso tips and tricks page you should check out!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1700643270194555/?fref=nf

For yourself, I think the Tenga eggs from Japan look like a lot of fun. They seem like they'd be soft and squishy and interesting. I can't talk my hubby into trying anything like that though. Oh well.
https://www.amazon.com/Tenga-Easy-Beat-Egg-Masturbator/dp/B002DE6SWA/

For the two of you together, the vibrating cock rings are pretty amazing. They aren't always the highest quality and we didn't have luck with them lasting for very many uses. It was good enough that I'd sign up for auto ship every 3 months. :-) No particular model was a favorite.

I’m with you!! I’m a pretty normal-sized 5’4.5” person, but I weigh 145. I keep comparing myself to the size I was when I got married at 22 (125lbs), and I tend to be on the higher BMI side. But I’m very strong for being a woman/my size so I try to remember that :)

This is the scale I have! I’ve had it for two years and I like it a lot. The app is pretty good and of course it connects to health kit if you’re and apple person.

We also got this little wand from Amazon and it’s super awesome for the price. Flexible head, super strong vibe, and is great for her to use on her own as well as when we’re together!

Shibari Mini Halo 20X Multi-Speed...

Yes, that's possible. I have friends who had periods the entire way through multiple pregnancies - everyone's different. I've had several losses, and I know exactly what you mean as far as how it feels. We might all have different experiences, but I know what my body feels like when something's up, and it's very different from anything else. Best thing to do is test! =)

FYI, tests are super cheap. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004AOMAOG/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

We're not TTC yet (soon! can't wait!) but I have a couple of medical issues that necessitate weekly testing. Holy fuck, if I had to pay $10/test, we'd be in the poor house! =)

Good luck!

I use an eatsmart scale (specifically this one: http://www.amazon.com/EatSmart-Precision-Capacity-Recognition-Technology/dp/B004L6NTHU/ although the "body fat %, body measurement calculators" are to be taken with a grain of salt as they are seldomly very accurate but could be good for consistency measuring purposes). It's a great scale to track weight and I tried "fooling" it like you did (stepping on, stepping off, letting it reset, then stepping on again) and it always gave me the exact same reading...even if i waited like 5 minutes.

So personally, I can vouch for that one but reading the reviews on Amazon, any of the eatsmart scales (there are 3-4 of them..$50 being the most expensive) should be good.

This seems like it would be handy to redo stress as a College Bound kid. Plus, it's easy to pack. =)

My kids would love this (on my "play" list). If that doesn't suit you, you can surprise me. =)

Thanks for the contest! You are a very sweet sibling to send your sister off with a bang.

Hi girls! So I bought a black Gucci Soho Disco from Joy about a year ago. Honestly do not love the quality because when compared to an auth. the leather isn't as supple/buttery, and a well used auth. sort of falls into itself whereas my version is still super stiff and boxy, even after I've used it a lot. I'm not even sure if it's real leather, but it just goes with SO many outfits, so I still wear it quite a bit.

I was wondering if anyone had any advice on how to try to condition the leather on your reps to make them look more authentic/improve the look of the leather? I was looking on Amazon and found this, which has a bunch of good reviews but wanted to know if anyone had any better suggestions?

https://www.amazon.com/Leather-Honey-Conditioner-Furniture-Accessories/dp/B003IS3HV0/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1519753442&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=leather+conditioner&psc=1

Thanks so much!!!

Holy crap, I didn't know they had metal filters! That's amazing!

For those that are wondering, this one and this one are the two highest reviews that I've found.

I'll be picking one of these up as soon as possible, though I've always managed to get good extractions out of my Aeropress following this guide minus the swirling at the end, and it always works out pretty great. It's true though, the paper feels like it detracts from the overall body / "creaminess" of the cup, compared to other methods I've tried.

Not for long, though. =)

I've been on a generic version of Lybrel for almost a year now. I had some break through bleeding for the first few months, but since then it's been perfect. No cramps, no bleeding, no pregnancy. No weight gain for me either. I absolutely love it and it's totally worth having to take a pill every day.

Like /u/CreakyTom mentioned, i would definitely recommend the bulk pregnancy tests. Link.

And just think of all the savings on tampons and pads!

Hi!

I used to get massages by a PT as well, and the type of massage that worked best for my pain was a deep tissue trigger point massage, which I believe is similar to the massage you've said is effective for you. As you mentioned, that easily becomes expensive, but my neurologist turned me on to a much cheaper solution. I do home massage therapy on myself using a Theracane and workbook and get the same benefits I was getting from having the massage done to me by a PT. I'm posting this from mobile so pls message me if links don't work. This way I can also get exactly the relief I want where I want it and most importantly when I want it.

2nd this. I've had this one: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0032TNPOE/ref=cm_sw_su_dp for about 8 months & I love it. My parents bought one too.

I initially thought the massive # of reviews was a bit weird (I think there were exactly 1200 when I bought mine), but they actively encourage customers to do an Amazon review. In fact, there was a "Please Review!" note in the box when I got mine, and I did (which is rare for me) because it is a great scale for a really reasonable price.

Did a literature search, and there is some association between Ehlers-Danlos and scoliosis it seems, but it's thin, and it would still be hard not to call yours "idiopathic". There are, like, 8 types, and I don't know much between any of them at this point. Lots of people have lax ligaments and no scoliosis, and lots of people have scoliosis with strong ligaments. That said, it puts you at a further kinetic disadvantage.

Get a new doctor. Healthcare is still (allegedly) private in this country. That means if you don't like your customer service there'll be another doctor that would be more than happy to do what it takes to earn your money (especially now, and it's only going to get worse, but that's another subject).

So, like, pretty much the last thing you have left to hold yourself together with good posture and limited pain is your muscles. That's important.

What you need are as follows:

1. A diagnosis or not for your fatigue/stretchy ligaments, whether it's Ehlers-Danlos or not.
   
   
2. A world-class physical therapist that knows both spine stabilization and PT in hypermobility syndromes. You'll need an academic center. Not many PTs are qualified.
   
   
3. A specialized regimen of working out. Muscle stability, strength, and balance. That's kind of your best bet for being fitter and having less pain.
   
   Oh, and THIS for the knots in your neck and shoulders. Is awesome.

Do you have a body fat% scale? I have one (and granted they're all a little inaccurate) and it shows my body fat and muscle mass % which really motivates me. I know it's not 100% accurate but the percentages changing over time IS accurate. Mine was pretty cheap too and gets great reviews on amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/EatSmart-Precision-Capacity-Recognition-Technology/dp/B004L6NTHU/

There are different ones on there too.

I also just bought a garmin vivofit band to count my steps and I love it.

Dude. This thing is awesome. And it's cheap, so start with that. My favourites are glass, though. This and this one are my personal go-to ones.

As for just vibrators, I LOVE this and this. They're both AMAZING. Like, holy shitballs amazing. Seriously.

1. This blanket because I'm a tiny bit obsessed with Harry Potter.
   
   
2. This scale because it gives a lot more information than just weight which is more helpful in the weightless process. It would be helpful to know how my body fat/muscle/water weight/etc. is being impacted when my weight doesn't seem to be moving the way I'd like.
   
   
3. This artwork because I'm also a little obsessed with The Legend of Zelda.
   
   
4. This dress because it's perfect for valentine's day.
   
   
5. This because it looks cute and comfy.
   
   Your boss sounds great, and you do too. Thanks for hosting this :)

Check out downbeats on Amazon, they came recommended to me and they are awesome.

They are easier to put in then the disposable ones, come in a small carrying case, and work pretty well.

Pretty cheap too and good customer service too.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A3Z44RM/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_qDyWtb14JN7SD

Gummies are fine, but be aware that most do not have iron. I've actually never seen a gummy prenatal that includes iron. If that's an important supplement for you, you'll have to get it a different way or choose a pill prenatal.

Fish oil probably doesn't hurt. I personally take one when I remember. I've heard it helps baby brain development or something, I don't remember. Either way, I've seen nothing that says it's harmful, just that it either does nothing or is beneficial.

Just remember that any vitamin or supplement is just that, a supplement. If you're getting what you need in your diet, then all you really need is a folic acid supplement for TTC purposes. Many women aren't quite getting everything they need, especially when they try to grow a baby, which is why prenatals exist.

An app that doesn't use temps is really just guessing. If it uses CM, it's educated guessing. If it just goes by cycle length, it's an averaged shot in the dark. My average cycle is about 25-26 days. A period tracking app would tell me that I probably ovulate around cycle day 11. I actually ovulate on cycle day 15 on average. If I used one of those app, I'd miss my entire fertile window.

OPKs will predict when you are about to ovulate. Temps will confirm when you've ovulated. OPKs can't confirm ovulation and temps can't predict ovulation. Temping is a very cheap and easy way to track your cycle, including ovulation date and Luteal Phase length, but it drives some women crazy with obsession and other women have trouble because you really have to temp at the same time every day after a decent amount of sleep.

Many people use Wondfo's. You can get them from Amazon for relatively cheap and they're easy to use. Just pee in a cup, dip the end for 3 seconds, and wait. They're also about as sensitive as most other pregnancy tests. There are some, like First Response, that are both much more expensive and more sensitive.

Good luck!

Bulk you say? Wondfo brand is super cheap on Amazon, but they are just the strips so you have to pee in a cup first and then dip. I personally prefer that, cause I think it's easier to pee in a cup than on a stick. It's always good to have another brand on hand in case you're not sure (something with a digital read out), but this really gives a good bang for your buck.

Natural Vitality Natural Calm Magnesium Anti Stress, Original, 16 oz https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000OQ2DL4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_-Yc6BbD9XSW3J

Seriously, it is an absolute lifesaver for constipation, and works as a gentle muscle relaxant and sleep aid as well. It’s amazing. I got it because it was recommended to me for pain from TMJ disorder, but I use it more frequently for constipation than anything else! I take medication that causes chronic constipation, so this is a lifesaver. Mix two teaspoons in a bit of warm water, then add as much cold water or other drink as you want (it has just a mild acidic effervescent taste, kinda like club soda but much more mild- you can also get flavored versions but I prefer unflavored). Do this before bed and you should wake up ready to go!

(Rarely it will take two doses to get things moving, if things are really backed up- sometimes I’ll double the dose at once if I know it’s kinda severe but if it’s your first time just start with two teaspoons and see how you feel. If it’s been more than 8-10 hours you may want to take another dose, either right then or that next evening).

You can also find it at GNC and some drug stores, but I’ve found it cheapest at Wegmans. It’s in their vitamin section.

Behold the power of stainless steel! http://www.amazon.com/Kaffeologie-Filter-Stainless-Coffee-AeroPress/dp/B00A1GVVMY no more paper and it lets that sweet sweet oil pass through unlike the paper stuff. I highly recommend trying out the aeropress world champion recipe! Ofcourse with good beans comes great drinkability! http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002GWM8CS/ref=oh_details_o08_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 also recommend blue horse kona its expensive though :/

Sounds like a good plan. I'd consider possibly adding a probiotic and Rhodiola for some more energy. An omega 3 supplement should definitely help with energy and brain fog. I use this one. When are you taking the zinc and magnesium? Magnesium is a relaxant and for some people even acts as a mild sedative in helping put you to sleep, so it's best taken at night before bed. From your last part about B vitamins, it sounds like you're basically already taking a B complex. Also, the multi you get may contain all the B vitamins you need.

Creatine timing doesn't matter once your muscles are saturated with creatine.

Your fish oil seems very low in epa/dha. My current fish oil contains 750mg combined epa/dha. So I only take 2-3 a day. I don't think there is any benefit to take more than 1-2 grams per day. That amount is perfectly safe.

I would recommend Rhodiola from my personal experience. That's another I buy from NOW.

L-Carnitine in the form of ALCAR affects the brain and the body. In LCLT form it only affects the body. You might get extra stimulatory effects from ALCAR, but you may not get the same testosterone uptake response you get from LCLT.

It's your personal preference if you'd rather juice a beet root before each workout, or take a scoop of powder. The difference is probably insignificant.

Rhodiola will help immensely with stress. That's it's main purpose. There shouldn't be any negative drug interactions. ALCAR has also been shown to have antidepressant effects.

The only thing else I would recommend is a multivitamin. I suggest Rainbow Light for Men because of it's high potency and bio-availability. A good multivitamin should improve your energy and mood.

The reason I posted this is because of personal experience. I developed tinnitus last year due to a perforated eardrum surgery (surgery went well besides the tinnitus...) and after surgery I not only have experienced tinnitus but also sensitivity. I can't be at a party, a bar, or even a friend's house sometimes without wearing earplugs. It's fucking depressing and I don't want anybody else to have to go through this. My other ear which is also perforated has now developed tinnitus as well. It is one of the most depressing things in the world especially since I am currently in school studying to enter the music industry. (non-musician side)

It's hard for anybody to not want to turn their music up loud and jam out or go to a ton of concerts. In fact it's pretty unavoidable. What you can do though is get a pair of nice earplugs. Not the foam kind even though those do work they just muffle sound. The kind I'm talking about can in fact improve your concert experience and they allow you to hear what's important (the music) and you can still carry on a conservation with them in! I'll be honest they weren't the best pair for me in the last live event I was at. I was at a house show and the speakers are right there next to you so that on top of my sensitivity was probably what did it. They do have higher level protection though. [Here's] (http://www.amazon.com/LiveMus-HearSafe-Ear-Plugs-Hypoallergenic/dp/B00H2F87I8) a link if anybody is interested!

> Post a link to your favorite NSFW Wishlist item. you may send it to me in PM, just note that you have done so.

My Favorite NSFW Item right now is a Hitachi with speed controller.
> What is your favorite NSFW subreddit if any?

I really like /r/passionx because I want people to enjoy themselves. Win/win/win. He wins, she wins, I win. Fake passion turn me off so much.

> What is your favorite sex toy if any?

Well, it was the Hitachi aka "Vroom Vroom McNeeds-a-Throttle" as my gf named it, but the one we had died a mysterious death from overuse. See the above link regarding favorite wishlist item, this one has a throttle...
> What is your favorite sex position if any?

Cowgirl

>* Reddit Raffle with the phrase "I like it when"

I like it when she cums so hard she passes out or loses the ability to speak.

EDIT; Forgot to link my NSFW List

http://www.dysautonomiainternational.org/page.php?ID=44

Increase Fluid and Salt Intake

"It is often recommended to increase both fluid and salt intake in order to increase blood volume, which is typically low in POTS patients. This has proven to be particularly helpful in patients with blood pooling, hypovolemia, or hypotension.2 Except for the hyperadrenergic subtype of POTS, a fluid intake of approximately two liters and an intake of three to five grams of salt is typically recommended per day.3 Note that salt includes sodium and chloride. One gram of table salt contains approximately .393 grams (393 milligrams) of sodium. That means that five grams of salt contains approximately 1.965 grams (1965 milligrams) of sodium. This number can be useful when tracking salt in food with nutrition labels, which often list sodium content."

5 grams of salt sounds like so much. I think it probably varies for each individual. I'm seeing a specialist soon and definitely going to ask about the salt because I don't want to be taking too much.

Edit: I take salt pills and you're right that sprinkling a little salt on your food is not enough. Forgot how much salt is in each off the top of my head.

2nd edit: https://www.amazon.com/SaltStick-Electrolyte-Replacement-Capsules-bottle/dp/B002IY96B0/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1496179412&sr=8-3&keywords=salt+pills These are the ones I take, they have 215 mg in each pill and I take a minimum of 3 a day.

Buy a new scale and keep it in one spot. You're already all over the map when you move it around, so I think your (not ridiculous) fear of the electric one is valid, but misguided. Scales actually read better when they stay in one spot and don't move around a lot. Also, the floor material can change the scale. Don't weigh on carpets, try to make sure the floor is level.

FWIW, I was also terrified about this when I just purchased my new scale which I absolutely love. I was weighing at the gym with one of those sliding balance ones and was convinced there was a five pound difference. Turned out to be half a pound, and easily attributed to user error. Because your scale is all over the map, think about the peace of mind you'll have once you get a digital scale that you will leave in one place to make sure it stays accurate. You got this!!!

Take a test. It's not physically impossible for you to have gotten pregnant; it's just very unlikely if you used condoms properly. But not impossible.

Another possibility is stress, which can make your period late. It could also simply be your wonky cycle being, well, wonky. Mine is wonky too. It's been like that for so many years, in fact, that I go on Amazon and buy these in bulk because it's way cheaper than buying the pee-on-a-stick kind. This is what that use in doctors' offices, and they're easy and I'm poor.

I'd recommend also going and getting on the pill. Your period will show up regularly (or not at all, depending on which kind), and it's an added layer of protection on top of condoms. If you really don't want to gamble with pregnancy, it's a good idea to take the pill.

Congrats on losing your V-card. I wish you many years of happy, healthy fuckin'!

Sounds like a good answer. I'm assuming that you can't go wrong with either, as the design is fairly simple/similar. My only regret for not going with aliengear was the price so far, but I'm perfectly happy with my galco.

Something you might be interested in:

http://www.amazon.com/Leather-Honey-Conditioner-Since-Bottle/dp/B003IS3HV0

I got handed these at a gig a couple months ago

http://www.amazon.com/DownBeats-Reusable-Fidelity-Hearing-Protection/dp/B00A3Z44RM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1406217480&sr=8-1&keywords=downbeats

and I haven't gone out to play or went to a club/festival without them. Custom fitted ear plugs would be ideal but these work well for me for now, I highly recommend all DJs carry some kind of hearing protection with them. I have a few DJ friends and friends from the military with tinnitus and from what I've heard it's not something to take lightly.

It's a little over $50, but I love my scale.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N9ENKDI/ref=cm_sw_r_taa_lyPEybA9040SV

the really cheap scales I've had in the past weren't as accurate, and broke quickly. I've only had this one a couple weeks but so far it's great! I really like having all my info added to my tablet automatically because I like data, and am usually rushing around in the mornings.

Yyou might consider changing the batteries before buying a new one. I know my scale goes stupid when the batteries are low. Which happens way more often than it should because apparently I have a ghost who likes to try to weigh in frequently too.

I have a weight watchers scale that I got through my credit card rewards program, I don't think the particular model is made anymore, but I've heard good things about the other weight watchers models too.

When I get a new one, I'm probably going to get this or another by the same brand. My mother has had one of that brand for ages and it still works great and she loves it. Also no waiting for it to be ready to use - it's just step on.

I am a pictarian as well, and i take protein shakes religiously. This is what a normal day looks like for me. I am a 24 m 5' 11" 179 lbs and doing p90x + cardio everyday. Im doing the lean program at the moment. I take http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002DYIZH6 once in the morning with my oatmeal (not together) and one after my workout at 6 pm. Lunch is usually salad with 2 egg whites, ready made 4.5 oz flavored tuna (no fat, 2g carb, 30g protein) with multivitamin, dinner is usually brown rice, lima beans (or other types of beans), lentil soup, spinach. Sorry for the long post about my diet but just putting that up there so you can compare. The flavor i like is extreme milk chocolate and tastes pretty damn good for a protein shake. All i need to make that shake is some luke warm water and stir for like 20 seconds. I aim to put my protein intake atleast at 100g a day, so the shake helps me with that goal.

I'd suggest purchasing a Bio Impedance scale to help keep track of your body fat percentage. It's not perfect in that it can be off from time-to-time, but as long as you measure at the same time of day each week you'll get a roughly consistent measurement. This way you can eat more and know if you're gaining muscle or just gaining more fat (at least to a degree).


Below is the one I purchased a few years ago but seems like there's a lot of options now so you may want to do some research.


https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B004L6NTHU


I've gotten official DEXA scans which is the most accurate way to measure BF% according to many but costs $45 each time. The scale above was off by about 0.6% BF when compared to my DEXA scan. Eg. My scale said I was 10%, but the DEXA reflected 10.6%. No food or water before either measurement.


Outside of that, make sure you're getting enough protein (many studies suggest between 0.82g of protein per pound of body weight is the max your body can utilize, but some prefer to go by 1.0g per pound of body weight).


Hope this helps.

I use Aeropress daily. Here's what I've come up with as the most consistent. (Not sure what kind of coffee you enjoy; I almost exclusively drink Ethiopian Yirgacheffe -- may make a difference)

Filter: I recommend a metal filter, particularly this one. Vastly improved flavor and mouth feel while being easier to plunge.

Weights: 300g water to 18g coffee.

Grind: ~10 (pretty fine) on a Breville Smart Grinder.

Temp: 205F

Use "inverted Aeropress method" with stopper at the 1 position to start. Fill water to the 2 position and allow 45 second bloom with n initial 10 seconds of stirring. Pour water up to the 4 position and finish with a nice and slow 30 second plunge.

Damn tasty, every time.

i have an aeropress, and ill be happy to answer any questions.

it works well and you really are able to control your coffee perfectly. But the filters are a bit thick and soak up a lot of oil (my favorite part) so i would reccomend a metal filter (i just bought mesh wire from home depot and cut a circle. the one on amazon is 10 bucks, and im cheap). http://www.amazon.com/Filter-AeroPress-Ultra-Stainless-Coffee/dp/B00A1GVVMY/ref=pd_sim_k_9?ie=UTF8&refRID=0GTY25R561NQ7XXDB5MT

also aeropress takes roughly the same amount of time to make 1 cup as it does for 4 cups, which is roughly the same amount of time it takes to prep 1 caraffe of french press. I wouldnt advise it if youre making a lot of coffee.

Cleanup is super fucking easy though.

/u/cochon1010 I can attest to the EarPeace HD. I'm a jazz & funk sax player, and often sit in front of a ton of brass, as well as drums & amps, etc. My hearing as of late has been more sensitive and I'm still young, so I gotta be careful. I went and saw Tower of Power in a very small expo center and they were SUPER LOUD. Had my earplugs in, and they really saved my hearing AND I could still hear clearly. Worth the $20. I just keep 'em on my belt loop everyday, all day.
another pair worth considering: [L!veMusic HearSafe] (http://www.amazon.com/LiveMus-HearSafe-Ear-Plugs-Comfortable/dp/B00H2F87I8/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1450336559&sr=8-3&keywords=concert+earplugs)

The only thing to consider w/ these is that they're separate plugs for different decibel reduction amounts; with the EarPeace, they have little inserts (red and flesh) that you swap out depending on how much reduction you want to happen.

If you're the type who is paranoid about being pregnant (I totally get it- I am too) I recommend buying pregnancy test strips in bulk and keeping them on hand. Here is what I get, it's 25 strips for $12 and they work just as well as the store bought tests. https://www.amazon.com/Wondfo-Pregnancy-Strips-25-count-medical/dp/B0002YIQEQ?th=1

$12 dollars is a great price for peace of mind in my opinion and I love that they ship to my house. I look much younger than I actually am and I always feel uneasy buying pregnancy tests in stores, like the cashiers might judge me. Buying the strips in bulk so they're there whenever I get paranoid has really helped me a lot with the "am I or am I not" anxiety.

Sorry, I misspoke: After going to the cupboard, turns out I don’t use lite salt, I use a no salt potassium called “Original No Salt” (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0049IRCAA/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_tai_oviTCbGW5D9ZH). I added the link cause it’s easier than taking a picture of it and posting that here. Oh, and I can find it in my local grocery stores.

I got this cause I don’t need the extra salt - that’s what the bouillon cubes are for...

And since I’m typing this, here’s a link to show you the magnesium supplement I use, unflavored Natural Calm: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000OQ2DL4/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_tai_NCiTCbW2VCPKP Again, the link is for the picture - I can buy it in my local grocery stores (tho this one IS cheaper from Amazon).

The combo of bouillon and the No Salt is a salty drink, but I personally don’t think it tastes too salty. But, I love the taste of salt, so there’s that. 😊

I second the EatSmart Scale but I got a slightly different one. Great scale, wide base, and excellent customer service.

Also, it's slim enough that my bathroom door opens overtop of it so I have more flexibility in where I place it. High weight limit, too!

Yes! So with this particular issue the muscle that you need to release is actually located between your shoulder blade and your ribs which makes it virtually impossible to get at from your back!
You have to go through your armpit! LOL Believe me for days I was massaging my back, trying to squeeze into my shoulder blade as much as I could with minimal relief.

I'm thinking the other pain you are experiencing is "radiating" pain from the actual trigger point. You would be surprised at how much better all the muscles around it feel after its released.

Ok, now how to release it!
This is the video I used, it worked so quickly my mind was blown.
Subscapularis Static Release

So if this happens for you a lot I would suggest buying a theracane or the different variation that they use in the video.

It does hurt a little but if you stick with it for 30seconds to a minute you will be amazed at how much better it will feel.

EDIT: If you don't have a theracane and can't wait you can search for "Subscapularis static release" or "Subscapularis dynamic release" for a stretch that will release it.

Breast tenderness, swelling, and growth are all side effects of BC.

If you don't get a period and still feel worried, testing a couple more times never hurts. These are great strip tests to have on hand. They're inexpensive and work just as well as the ones from the drug store. :)

I just started riding about 3 weeks ago. I didn't think wind noise was a real issue what so ever. I routinely came home from riding with intense headaches and neck aches. Read the advice here about 5 days ago a and ordered a good pair that reduces I think 29db. Been using them for 2 days and my 70+ mph ride is SO comfortable. I also no longer have a headache when I get home. I don't know why I didn't do this earlier. Simply amazing. Even if you don't care about hearing loss, care to make your ride more enjoyable. This may have saved my riding, was thinking I couldn't keep riding if I came hoes with intense headaches. 10/10 would highly recommend. Here are the ones I use keep em on my keychain.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00H2F87I8/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1478845722&sr=8-1&keywords=livemusic+hearsafe+ear+plugs&pi=SY200_QL40#

This is a weird one - have you been check for adrenal fatigue ? Look into that.

• Also look into a Mg supplement like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Natural-Vitality-Magnesium-Stress-Orignal/dp/B000OQ2DL4
  
  This one had a really good impact on my life in terms of being in a calm alert state after I wake up. Most supplements you hope are good for you like Vitamin D, B12 etc since their effects tend to be long term and harder to measure. But this one is different - you will feel the short term impact on your mood, stress levels, focused energy levels almost immediately, something you can't say for a lot of other mineral or vitamin supplements.
  
  
• Take a plant protein based shake before you go to bed. Protein is essential for metabolism, and if you are running low for some reason during sleep, you will wake up without energy.
  
  Again, these are experiments. You will have to try many things that you think can make sense to you and see if it works.

Oh wow as if it's nutrition and supplement thursday on the one day I am looking to commit and switch to using supplements!

You gotta know, money's tight so want to get the protein I need on my heavier workout days at least without having to pay for it as the second half of the month is always tough.

I was 250lbs, now 180lbs. Switched to weight training at the start of the year while trying to keep up my cardio but want to lose that last bit of fat and figured supplements could help.

I've heard good things about this- http://www.amazon.co.uk/Optimum-Nutrition-Standard-Protein-Chocolate/dp/B002DYIZH6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1426761079&sr=8-1&keywords=whey+protein

But not totally sure what it does, when to take it etc. Oh also- HOW to take it? Like what do you mix it with? Milk?

Also what's this casein night stuff?

I've had a good search but it tends to be people's results threads that show up, I just want some pointing in the right direction.

I SWEAR SWEAR SWEAR magnesium is amazing. You can get a version called "Calm" from Amazon, that is a powder and you add it to water for a tasty treat before bed: http://www.amazon.com/Natural-Calm-original-16-Ounce/dp/B000OQ2DL4

If you are more of a pill taker, you can get it in pill form.

Not only does magnesium help soften your stool, it also helps with restless leg syndrome (that many pregnant women get) and it also helps calm you in general. I take this before I go to bed every night and have never had any issues.

Magnesium is completely natural supplement and your body needs it for a variety of reasons, so it is a huge win-win!

Amazon.com. They have many options from packs of just pregnancy tests to packs like the one I get, which has OPKs and pregnancy tests. For $16.95, I get 50 OPKs and 20 pregnancy tests and my husband and I have amazon prime, so I get it in two days without having to pay any additional shipping. I use a pint sized take out tupperware to pee in and I haven't gotten any on my hands (more than I can say for the time I tried an expensive test stuck in my urine stream).

On the one hand, yeah, I should be supporting smaller, more local businesses. On the other hand, I can pee on things as many times as I want during the day and it's still cheaper than a Starbucks habit :)

> The aeropress makes coffee that is smoother than a french press, but not as bold. I think this is due to the paper filter stripping out oils and coffee ground sediment that the french press leaves in. I like bolder coffee, so I use the french press more these days.

You might want to give a metal S Filter a shot, it allows oils through in the same way a french press does, although you're not going to get the fines at the bottom of the cup that you do a french press. I switch between AeroPress with paper filters, AeroPress with S Filter, and V60 pourover depending on my mood and how much time I have. Each has their pros and cons, but the S Filter can help deliver a bolder cup via the AeroPress.

On the topic of using them for beer, you don't really want to brew hot coffee and let it cool to add it to the beer. When hot brewed coffee cools, you lose volatile flavors and aromas and the character in the beer would end up lacking. You're much better off either brewing a cold brewed concentrate (which you could filter through an AeroPress if you want, although it could be a hassle) or dry beaning the beer.

It's the wind that'll do you in. No matter what helmet brand or type you wear, your ears are gonna suffer from the wind.

You can buy different types of earplugs. But the two real stars are either Howard Leight earplugs or musician earplugs. They don't "plug" your ears like the first pair do but instead feel like you just turned the real world's volume knob down, because musicians need to hear perfectly what they are playing. I'd try out Ear Peace or LiveMusic HearSafe :)

Here are my two favorite methods:

---

15g, Just-below medium grind

• Inverted method
  
• Put some hot water in your mug
  
• 96˚ water
  
• 15g
  
• Add 30g of water, stirring (like a canoe -- not too fast) for 10s
  
• Add 170g of water and let it sit for 60 seconds.
  
• Empty the mug
  
• Saturate the filter and attach it to the press with the cap.
  
• Flip the aeropress and press for 20 - 30 seconds.
  
  ---
  
  30g, Coarse grind
  
  
• Boil your water to 81˚ and fill your mug
  
• Inverted AeroPress
  
• 30 grams of beans
  
• 120 grams of water
  
• Stir for 10 seconds
  
• Set the filter (paper) and set the AeroPress on the pourer
  
• Wait 40 seconds
  
• Press for 20 seconds
  
• Add 110 grams of water (or whatever best fits your preference)
  
  ---
  
  If you like more of the natural oils in your cup, check out either of the SS filters.
  
  
• http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A1GVVMY (I have this one)
  
• http://ablebrewing.com/products/disk-coffee-filter
  
  The Aeropress isn't as forgiving as some other methods, but once you get a good process nailed down, you'll have the perfect cup every time.

I use a basic digital scale by EatSmart. It's relatively cheap, easy to use, attractive looking, and so far seems really accurate. I love it and their customer service seems amazing so I'm not too worried about it breaking anytime soon.

Here's a link to my scale on Amazon

Sorry you're having anxiety problems - that shit sucks. Having cheap pregnancy tests on hand can help ease your mind when these things come up. They arrive in an inconspicuous package, and you wouldn't have to worry about going into a store or whatever is available on campus.

Long cycles occasionally happen. Sometimes stress can delay ovulation, but having the occasional long cycle isn't unheard of. If your period is actually 3 days late, taking a home pregnancy test should be accurate. If you haven't had any kind of sexual activity since March, and have had fairly normal periods since then, you are probably not pregnant. If you are 7 months pregnant, a HPT will also give accurate results. Sugar, toothpaste, anything else really won't help determine if you're pregnant. It is very important that you find out if you are pregnant or not - if you are, you'll need to know what your options are/get prenatal care. But again, I do not think it is likely you are pregnant.

You haven't mentioned if you have been using any forms of birth control. If you're a sexually active person, which it sounds like you are, figuring out some methods can go a long way in easing your anxiety. Most apps are not great at predicting when you're fertile, and so please don't rely on an app alone for protection. Babies are not the only thing you can catch, either - I would suggest having condoms on hand to help contain semen.

Most mink oil will do. I have had great success with this, and this, it also helps that it is free shipping with amazon prime.

First of all, you're not stupid. You're stressed out!

Best way to know what's up - pee on a stick. =) (Seriously!) And if you haven't already seen them, Amazon sells them way cheaper than even the dollar store. (http://www.amazon.com/Wondfo-Pregnancy-Test-Strips-50-count/dp/B004AOMAOG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1376517187&sr=8-2&keywords=wondfo+pregnancy+test)

That said, I have several friends who've recently gone off the pill, and every single one of them has said the first month or so is absolutely nuts. Hormones are regulating, mood swings all over, total pregnancy symptoms as your body adjusts to 'normal', whatever that is for you.

As far as breakthrough bleeding (fake period) or a regular period, that doesn't 100% mean you can't be pregnant. Plenty of women have periods all the way through pregnancy, which seems almost impossible, but it happens more than you might think.

And what you're describing (food aversion, bloat, fatigue, etc.) are pretty typical symptoms of hormone flux, PMS and pregnancy. You know, because nothing can be simple. :P But really, all of that can be totally normal while your body adjusts to the hormonal changes from stopping the pill.

I know what it feels like when I'm pregnant because I've been pregnant, but it's going to be totally different for everyone. My telltale signs may not even exist for other ladies, and vice versa.

So... don't feel stupid, and if you can't handle the stress, pee on a stick! =)

I like this stuff with my breakfast and one for a postworkout shake. I know it's a little pricey, but it is great quality and tastes really good. I drink one of these every night before bed. Those are the only supplements I take besides a preworkout. I like this stuff for a preworkout but if you are just starting at the gym I'm not sure I'd recommend it. If you DO choose to take a preworkout right away, BE CAREFUL. If you take too much, or you take some and then decide not to work out, you will feel like shit for the rest of the day.

Good luck on your interview! I wish i could get a job at Amazon, that would be awesome.

head massage!

I cannot speak to accuracy because I haven't used any other method of body fat measurement, although definitely am considering getting a DEXA once I'm at goal weight to help with designing my recomp, so if and when I do that, I'll let you know.

But as far as scale stuff goes, I have the Bluetooth Smart Scale by Greater Goods ( https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00N9ENKDI/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 ). I've only been using it since February 15th. It shows muscle, water, fat, and bone mass as percentages, and those numbers do not add up to 100%. I assume that's because it's double counting water, so I just pay attention to the fat and muscle masses, since that's really what I care about. According to the scale, I've lost 13.4 lbs, 9.9 lbs of which has been fat and 1.3 lbs of which has been muscle. I have it calculate a running percentage, and it seems that 74-77% of the weight that I lose is fat, which seems reasonable to me.

We have similar stats, I'm 5'2.5" and 150.6 lbs. As of today, I'm at 29.2% muscle and 31.2% fat, which seem like reasonable numbers to me, given my body type.

An interesting sidenote: I donated blood a few weeks ago and my weight was significantly down the next day, which I attributed to dehydration, and it took me two weeks to get "back" to that number on the scale. But the body fat/muscle mass/water percentages were almost exactly the same those two times, and according to those numbers, I wasn't dehydrated at all.

I've used these ones for the last couple of years. Easy to take apart and clean, comes in a nice metal case. I haven't had any issues with them and I usually can hear shows really well after putting them in. Can even carry on a conversation if I have them in if needed.

I'm sure there's others that do just as well too, I think Etymotic has some on Amazon that are similar.

I could be wrong, but the Blue Ice one is pinging alarms for me. Not really bad alarms, but more like they're selling an ineffectual money-waster.

I'd go with a simple Omega 3 supplement. Which can be hard to find, as you normally want one with high EPA/DHA and few actually list those contents. Labdoor.com does a good comparison of products. For personal recommendations, I like NOW Ultra Omega, and Nutrigold is pretty good too.

If you want pourover (though you specified you're not crazy about it), go with the Hario V-60 ceramic. Pick up one of these for expert level pouring. I also agree that the aeropress is another great (and easy-to-clean) option for a one-cup operation. For improved flavor, there is a reusable stainless filter that allows more oils through (versus paper filters). You can also pour instant coffee directly into your mouth. You're welcome.

I use a massage hook that I got on amazon for like $30 - it might seem a little pricey for a knobby piece of rigid plastic but it’s SO worth it. I got this theracane but you could do a search for massage hook and see other options.

This is the only thing that helps me get deep enough pressure to relieve some of the knots. I got one for my father in law and he loves it too. Seriously a life saver!

Oh neat! Seems fun. Fear cuts deeper than swords.

1. Something that is grey. - Wishful Thinking list
   
2. Something reminiscent of rain. - Priority Items list
   
3. Something food related that is unusual. - Health/Beauty list
   
4. Something on your list that is for someone other than yourself. - Priority Items list. For my cat Little because she gets urinary tract infections so I am always trying to find ways to keep her well hydrated.
   
5. A book I should read! - DVDs/Books list. I've wanted to read it since it came out, just haven't gotten the chance to. The movie was fabulous too.
   
6. An item that is less than a dollar, including shipping... that is not jewelry, nail polish, and or hair related! - Not on any of my lists
   
7. Something related to cats. - Priority Items list.
   
8. Something that is not useful, but so beautiful you must have it. - On a Private wishlist because the price is ridiculous.
   
9. A movie everyone should watch at least once in their life. - Already Owned. Because it's my favorite movie.
   
10. Something that would be useful when the zombies attack. - Wishful Thinking list. Because I could throw it at their faces.
    
11. Something that would have a profound impact on your life and help you to achieve your current goals. - Health/Beauty list. Because I get bad back pain and muscle knots from my scoliosis and they can sometimes prevent me from doing what I need to do properly. Alternate from a Private wishlist because I may have to quit my job due to respiratory irritation from the chemicals.
    
12. One of those pesky Add-On items. - Health/Beauty list. I hate Add-on Items.
    
13. The most expensive thing on your list. - On a Private wishlist simply because it is so expensive. It's my dream item because I want to replace my gram's old one which I accidentally shattered the bowl for. /:
    
14. Something bigger than a bread box. - Priority Items list
    
15. Something smaller than a golf ball. - Health/Beauty list
    
16. Something that smells wonderful. - Priority Items list
    
17. A (SFW) toy. - Miscellaneous list. SFW to look at, not necessarily to play haha.
    
18. Something that would be helpful for going back to school. - Wishful Thinking list
    
19. Something related to your current obsession, whatever that may be. - Miscellaneous list. I have always been obsessed with writing lists. I have these markers and I love them but a lot of them are dried out/won't write. I haven't thrown them away because it makes me sad.
    
20. Something that is just so amazing and awe-inspiring that I simply must see it. - Priority Items list. A bag that I absolutely crave with every fiber of my being. I want it soooo bad. It's pretty and comes in other pretty colors and looks cute and comfy and wonderful.
    
    BONUS
    
    
21. Anything that has my real name on it. I don't know your real name, sadly. ): Maybe someday!
    
22. Anything made in Oregon. - Filmed in Oregon.
    
    
    Any of the things I have noted being on Private lists I would be happy to send you the link to for proof can be seen here. :) Also your wishlist names made me chuckle. :D
    
    Also also Happy Birthday to my dad! <3

Here with a few more suggestions!

[Magic Wand] (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0089175GE/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1KOJU68XO5O4X&coliid=I7MEJ9FRA2YGI&psc=1) - So your wife could enjoy some her time or you can use it to tease/intensify everything.

[nice lingerie] (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0172J81WA/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1KOJU68XO5O4X&coliid=I3HZSV1EP73CMW&psc=1) (plus size just in case ) // nice lingerie - Something that always helps me is feeling sexy & some good lingerie always does the trick.

Saddle soap is soap + oils. If the leather you're working on is dirty, you should use saddle soap (or a different leather soap) to begin with, and then switch to just a conditioning (oil) product and keep applying layers until it stops soaking it up quickly. The soap is relatively mild, but should be avoided when unnecessary.

I currently use Lexol conditioner because it's cheap and easy to find locally (I was out and needed some STAT), but I've heard great things about Leather Honey and I've also gotten good results from mink oil. Honestly, the brand isn't nearly as important as just doing it regularly.

I hope I can get it at the local supermarket :O I'll keep an eye out, for sure.

I think I saw someone link to a huge pack (10-packs, 20-packs, 30-packs?) on Amazon, maybe that's worth a look if you're really paranoid. Ideally, I'd get a 3-pack every time, just to be sure, because what if the first test is sorta iffy, and then the second test is really clear and then you're torn between the two results, so you should take a third one just to be sure?! My wallet doesn't allow that, though.

Edit: Found a link of a pack of 50 tests for the curious

I've had the same experience with these ones. Really any high fidelity ones will have the same effect, but I like the downbeats because they're the cheapest ones (they're only 13.99). They're also about as stealthy as it gets.

But yeah. It's really cool how well they work. I was never able to have conversations in loud rooms before. But with them in I actually can. I actually went to a house show where there was a full band with a drum kit playing in a basement last weekend and I was able to talk to people during.

My boyfriend and I are doing just the pill for BC. If it ever makes you nervous and you want to test to make sure, use these (not the seller):

http://www.amazon.com/Wondfo-Pregnancy-Test-Strips-50-count/dp/B004AOMAOG/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1311182944&sr=8-4

I bought them and they work really well. I also absolutely love not using condoms. It feels really good to just have him inside me :)

I bought This to use with my gf and it's amazing. It's not to big and heavy like a Hitachi wand but just as good... And it's wireless!! Have fun! haha