Best health & personal care according to redditors

New plan. Constantly blow whistles outside the White House and at all trump speaking events from now on. That would make him so enjoyably livid.

EDIT: thank you for the silver and gold! Let’s get out there and blow some fucking whistles!

SWS 72Pcs Plastic Whistles, Training Sports Whistles with Lanyard, Loud Toys Whistles for Christmas Birthday Party Goody Bag Fillers Games Survival Emergency, 5 Brilliant Colors https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07J65XRNQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ffIMDbQYF44JS

EDIT 2: Thank you again for the awards! I feel it is also my duty to remind you to save your hearing. I have comments of people who want to get together to get this done. Pick and time and place and I’ll post it. Protect your ears! You only get one set and tinnitus is permanent.

Mack's Ultra Soft Foam Earplugs, 50 Pair - 32dB Highest NRR, Comfortable Ear Plugs for Sleeping, Snoring, Travel, Concerts, Studying, Loud Noise, Work https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0051U7W32/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_EbJMDbYPVHZG9

EDIT 3: Thursday 10/10 at 6pm. Bring your whistles to the Target Center in Minneapolis. Get some whistles, get some friends, get irritating.

EDIT4: It’s been awesome to keep getting responses and interest in making this an actual thing! I’ve heard from people in MN, DC, SLC, California, and even England who want to get this started! I’m all for it, but let’s make sure we are there as an irritant, not as bullies. If you go out to blow some whistles tag your work with #irritatingwhistleblowers. So go get some friends, get some whistles, and get irritating!

EDIT 5: Good morning! Head on over to r/whistleattrump for further updates and shenanigans. I’ll continue to post updates and events as people get me the information.

Wow, I could have written this. I'm down 54 lbs as of this morning (220 to 166).

First, please check out r/loseit. There are wonderful people over there who absolutely excel at providing advice and support much better than me. You'll see thousands of stories of people just like you (and me) who have been where you are and who are still where you are.

As others have said, motivation fades and sheer determination is what will pull you through. Just take one small step every day. Today, just read a little on r/loseit. Next week, google TDEE and write down what you eat without trying to restrict.

Also - No zero days

You've got this and people are here to help!

EDIT: OK, now I'm on a computer and can type for real. I'm 35, female, 5' 5" tall (or 1.67 meters) and weighed 158 lbs at 10 yrs old. I've been there. I've been depressed. I've felt worthless. I won't pretend to understand exactly what you're going through, but I think I can relate.

First, let me say congrats on taking a step by posting here. You know you want to change and that's the first thing you have to do - make a decision. The second step is much harder...actually taking the step. You can plan forever and feel like you've accomplished something, but planning doesn't count without action.

Before I type out actual weight-loss advice. I want you to check on one thing - your medication. I'm absolutely not saying you need to go back on it, but please take a hard look at going off and if what you're feeling is related to that. Please, make sure you're working with a doctor to change/go off your medication. You may still be "coming down" from it. I truly don't know the specifics of these things, but I've seen the effects. I've seen too many people go off their medication because they "feel fine" not realizing that it's the medication that creating that feeling. Talk to your doctor, (s)he may say it's normal, maybe you need to try something different, maybe you don't need them any more, but please please please put some hard, rational thought into it. OK PSA over.

I know you're looking for motivation, but motivation fades. And it's not even determination that keeps you going. It's habit, making something so common, so boring, so regular that it feels weird to not be doing it. Measure your food (e.g., servings) until anything more than one serving that looks weird. Walk 15 minutes everyday at 4:45 PM until going a day without it feels weird. By the way, it took me maybe 3 months of dedication for these things to become habit. Make a chart. Do your habits 3 days next week. 4 days the week after that. Work up to 6 or 7. Give yourself gold stars. (No zero days...)

Ok, some concrete things. I'm going to offer a few universal pieces of advice, followed by a few things that worked for me. Take everything with a grain of salt. If I've learned anything, it's that everyone needs to figure out what works for them.

• Small steps - Please don't go from 2500 calories a day to 1200. You'll fail by dinner. This week, just weigh/measure and write down what you eat and look up the calories. Don't try to cut anything out yet. You need to get a baseline. Maybe all you need to do is cut out the daily Starbucks. Maybe you eat healthy, but too much - cut each serving by 1/4 cups. You won't know unless you figure out where to start.
  
• Don't set an "all or nothing" attitude - I'M NEVER EATING SUGAR AGAIN!!! The quickest way to get a stubborn asshole like me to do something (i.e., eat sugar) is to tell me I can't do it. I feel this is a universal issue.
  
• CICO - aka Calories in vs. calories out. This is the weight-loss guiding principle. Google and read about total daily energy expenditure (TDEE). The amount of calories you burn in a day. Using 5'5", 21 yrs old, and "sedentary lifestyle" you burn about 2,100 calories by simply sitting on the couch and breathing. To lose weight, you need to take in fewer calories than you burn (calories in vs. calories out - CICO). Period. That's it. A 500 calorie deficit per day = 1 lb lost per week. If you want to eat more, you're going to have to move more. I eat about 1800-2200 calories per day, but I make sure I move a lot too. If I didn't want to exercise so much, I would have to eat less.
  
• Be prepared - Have healthy snacks on hand. Have water on you at all times. Know when you're going to a party and may over-indulge (and that's ok). EXPECT THE SCALE TO GO UP AND DOWN. Get your mindset around that now. You will probably drop up to 5 lbs the first week you really go hard at this. That rate won't last, be mentally prepared for that. Here's my daily weigh-ins. Be mentally prepared to gain. lose, and plateau.
  
• Stick to it - This is the single most important thing you can do. You fucked up yesterday. It's going to happen. Ate a bowl of brownie batter crying alone in your bed with your cat while watching old Friends re-runs? (My husband is a lucky man). Ok. But this is something you're going to have to fight for a long time. It can't be all or nothing (see above). You have to find a way to pick yourself up and try again. So many times I've said, "well, fuck it. I ate the brownie batter yesterday. What's the point? Might as well just quit. But if you're in this for the long haul, the concept of giving up doesn't make sense. Give up what? My treadmill habit? What's the point.
  
  Ok some specifics that worked for me.
  
  
• Daily weigh-ins - most people will tell you to weigh yourself weekly or monthly. However, after doing that for years, I would always get discouraged when my weekly weight was higher. I started doing daily weigh-ins and learned to embrace the ups and downs. When you pull back on a year's worth of work it puts everything into perspective. It also helped keep me focused. 2 days up meant suck it up buttercup and put down the peanut buttercup.
  
• Take a few before pictures - Take more photos every 10 lbs you lose. I saw results in the photos before I saw them in the mirror.
  
• No cheats, just treats - There is no "off limit" food for me. I pretty much eat what I want. Having said that, what I want is to lose weight and what I want to eat is food that will help me do it. I have my treats, but maybe one cookie, not 12. We're going out to dinner tonight so I'm having a light lunch. I'm not "doing" Keto, paleo, vegan, whole30, weight watchers, Facebook milkshake diet. Props to those of you who do, but to me, those are not permanent. And anything that I "go off of" when I'm "done" = massive weight gain post-"diet" in my world.
  
• Pick a tracker (MyFitnessPal, FitBit, SparkPeople, excel, whatever) - Most people use MyFitnessPal to track food and weight. I use a combination of SparkPeople, Fitbit, and excel. I like excel. I'm both fat and a nerd (my husband is a lucky guy). Make tracking a habit. If you miss a day, start again tomorrow, MyFitnessPal doesn't care. I get excited to update my spreadsheet. Hell, I'll send it to you if you want (PM me).
  
• Start at home - It can be daunting starting something new, luckily we live in the internet age. No one cares if you can't do a 30-min YouTube work out in your basement. No one has to know. People get intimidated by the gym - I was. I still don't go to a gym. But there are millions of workout resources online. You don't need equipment or training or cute workout clothes. You just need 3-4 days per week to form a habit.
  
  I've become addicted to seeing results and, frankly, it's kinda fun at this point. People notice. I get compliments. I feel proud. You can do this.
  
  Today is Sunday. Pick one of these things and implement it tomorrow. Download MyFitnessPal. Buy a food scale. Set up a spreadsheet. Take your before photo. Or at least read No Zero Days.
  
  Hope this helps!
  
  EDIT 2: Several people have asked me for my spreadsheet, so here it is. I'm not going to lock cells so people can edit it as they like, but the idea is that you only type in the pink cells. I filled in the first row as an example. Everything else will fill in automatically. You'll need to fill in your goal too if you want it to appear on the table.
  
  It's up to you to track calories in and out. Like I said, I use my FitBit for this . I also have a cheap fat monitor and started tracking that when I started HIIT workouts and the weight loss slowed. Anyway, add columns, delete those you don't need, and most importantly keep with it!

The miracle fruit, known as Synsepalum dulcificum that temporarily changes the way you perceive sour flavors, essentially making things such as Tabasco sauce taste sweet.

Edit: they're pretty easy to find online, here's the link to a pack available on Amazon.

LPT: When doing anything that can damage your eyes, invest $2 in some safety glasses that meet ANSI Z87.1 so you can see what you're doing.

https://www.amazon.com/Pyramex-S4110SMP-Intruder-Safety-Assorted/dp/B002KA00KS

https://www.safetyglassesusa.com/safetyglasses1.html

LPT: When doing anything that can damage your ears, invest $0.10 in a pair of ear plugs. Double up if possible when shooting firearms (ear muffs and ear plugs).

https://www.amazon.com/Howard-Leight-5-Pair-Vending-Pack/dp/B0007XJOLG/?th=1

ATTN: If you are planning to attend the rally in Minneapolis, please bring your whistles!

You can purchase a pack of 24 whistles for only $10 on Amazon here

Also please keep your ears safe! You can purchase 50 pairs of earplugs on Amazon for only $10 here

If you have any extra whistles or earplugs while at the rally, please hand them to fellow friends.

Soon WE will all be blowing the whistle on the President as well!

EDIT: Earplugs

The Miracle Berry

You'll trip balls. Inside your mouth.

It's not as gay as it sounds.

EDIT: Link to where you can buy them. Link

I'm getting my parents miracle berry tablets, so they can host a miracle berry tasting night with friends.

And then I got another packet for my boyfriend's family with whom I will be spending Christmas; that and a small assortment of foods that are fun to try, like limes and stout beer and Greek yogurt, for our own miracle berry tasting night. Miracle berries are fun and last ~1 hour; something that creates memories but not at a huge expense.

Price: $14 / pack of ten, $25 / two packs of ten.

Use Barkeeper's Friend. Will take it right off and look brand new.

*Edit: Fixed link, sorry!

That’s right damnit! The most masculine thing is to be perfectly confident with what you like and who you are, regardless of whether it’s “masculine” or not. Theres going to be someone who makes fun of you for anything you do. Don’t dress nicely? You’re a lazy slob. Dress too nicely? Must be gay. Enjoy wine? What a sissy. Talk about how you’d rather drink beer than wine? You uncultured redneck.

Just do you the best way you know how.

Also, have you tried one of these?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001IHXFQK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_jMGKDb9EBZMA4

You and me are in the same boat. I have one of those fabled Internet jobs so dispensable money comes when I want it to. Here are some of the things I bought just yesterday.

LED light strips to accent stuff in your house, with remote control -Video example

Threadless shirts Seriously these shirts are sweet as hell. Look under clearance, too, the $10 ones are very cool. Nothing like those "LOL I KNOW MEMES!!" type t-shirts that litter most t-shirt sites.

Boon Glo Nightlight Completely, completely unnecessary and overpriced. But cool as hell. Unboxing video

Candy dispensers are fun

Sites like Woot and 1SaleADay post new deals on a daily basis, and they are often really sweet things. Bookmark them if you haven't already.

Buy yourself a sweet looking fish tank

Obligatory head massager post

Edit: Couple of you are asking about the job. I figured I had that coming. Please don't perceive this as dick-ish, but I'd rather not talk about it. Yes, it's perfectly legal and no I'm not flaunting my hot body for money, but there's some quote out there about keeping ingenuity a secret from others so...that. I will say this, though. You can make money doing ANYTHING online. Remember the used socks eBay AMA last year? That dude made thousands. Don't look at some TV commercial about taking surveys online for cash, realize it's a low paying scam, and give up. Those are shallow waters. Keep trekking!

Living with roommates sucks, especially roommates with very different class/work/sleep schedules. Everyone suggesting 9-10 pm quiet time needs to get out of their morning person bubble. Everyone else suggesting that OP go out every time they want to have a chill conversation with friends is also being unrealistic. For one, that's going to get really expensive. For another, OP has a right to use the living room they pay to rent, which is equally as strong as Roommate's right to sleep, so they must find a way to balance these rights.

I say this as a very, very light sleeper. In a decade and a half of living with roommates, I have never come to a point of not being able to work it out, nor come to a point of putting my foot down and telling a roommate they couldn't use the living room at conversational volumes whenever I was sleeping.

OP - maybe in the politest way possible, you can help your roommate explore some techniques to sleep better. White noise machine or fan, blackout curtains, eye mask, ear plugs. I would again politely encourage your roommate to at least try ear plugs for a week. I recommend the Mack's 32 dB - they are small and squishy enough to comfortably sleep on even for a side sleeper (33 dB are quite a bit bigger) and you can still hear a nearby alarm through them, though they block out background noise. Here is an Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0051U7W32/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_99exDbNDEE7RA

Same ratio as ON Whey. Chugging down 10 Taco Bell coffee's = post-workout superfood confirmed. Just be sure to not shit for a few hours or you lose your gainz.

https://www.amazon.com/mberry-Miracle-Fruit-Tablets-10-Count/dp/B001LXYA5Q Right here. Turns off your sour receptors, I think. But the acid can still damage your mouth so don’t like, start chugging citric acid after you take this.

A Rubber Band Shooting Pen

They've actually got quite a few cool things. None of them really useful, but definitely some awesome up in there.

EDIT: Also, a scalp massager.
"It makes you feel like your head is cumming." - /u/The_Horse_Yeller

You should check into one of these. They're worth every penny.

http://www.amazon.com/Bar-Keepers-Friend%C2%AE-Cleanser-Polish/dp/B000V72992

Supposedly the 8th miracle of the world.

Miracle Berry Tablets

http://www.amazon.com/mberry-Miracle-Fruit-Tablets/dp/B001LXYA5Q

Mack's Ultra Soft Foam Earplugs, 50 Pair - 32dB Highest NRR, Comfortable Ear Plugs for Sleeping, Snoring, Travel, Concerts, Studying, Loud Noise, Work https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0051U7W32/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_wp90DbVRFDFRW

You should try the noise reduction ear plugs that musicians use at concerts and things, it reduces the noise levels coming into your ears while still allowing you to hear mostly clearly.

Check em out.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A3Z44R2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_ix8Uzb1JS38B9

They make those indoor lamps that you can use for SAD. I have no idea how well they work, but maybe you could give one a try? Like this one? It's very highly reviewed. They're a little pricey but could be worth it if it helps.

I don't know how to solve your neighbor problem, but I would highly recommend investing in some earplugs:

https://www.amazon.com/Macks-Ultra-Soft-Foam-Earplugs/dp/B0051U7W32

I live near a fairly major city street where a motorcycle shop moved in. These things, and a white noise generator, have been lifesavers. (At least for me, it was the relative quiet to 90Db motorcycle engine with a radio that would wake me up. This combination dulls it.)

You can also get a white noise machine that makes noise without blowing much air. It's just a little fan in a container with holes in it. They work very well.

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00HD0ELFK

Call me a corporate shill but I use a happy lamp and, I know it's anecdotal, but it makes a huge difference for my mood and energy in the winter months.

You can get a 10,000 lux lamp on amazon for 40-50 dollars. Use it for 30 minutes in the morning while you are drinking your morning coffee. Game changer.

EDIT: Since there were some questions about recommendations, [I use this one.] (https://www.amazon.com/NatureBright-SunTouch-Light-Therapy-package/dp/B000W8Y7FY/ref=pd_lpo_121_bs_img_2/166-1337885-5426712?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=G0EE30FB4N1A4WTGEJNQ) I actually spent quite a bit of time agonizing over what to buy since I have a min-max issue in real life and I have to say I'm happy with it. If I recall, a majority of the negative reviews were regarding the "ionizer" portion of the product which, to be frank, I have no idea about. There is no research to suggest that inhaling ionized air is beneficial. There is plenty of science to support the benefit of these lights for SAD as long as the strength of the light is 10,000 lux. This is important. Again, there is no scientific evidence to support that anything less than this will be beneficial. As with any product, user mileage will vary so I can't, in good conscious, suggest that you buy one of the "higher end" models for 200-400 dollars without knowing if you benefit so this is a good option. Having seen one of the more expensive lights be used in the resident room of the hospital I worked at, I suspect the more expensive ones do the same thing but are more aesthetically pleasing and have a larger spread of light.

As for use, the idea is to expose your skin to the light. I have it sitting on my dining room table so, in the morning while I drink my coffee and surf reddit, it's hitting my face. I use it for 30 minutes a day.

I can’t tell if you’re joking or not, but barkeepers friend is a cleaning powder product lol

https://www.amazon.com/Bar-Keepers-Friend-Powdered-12-Ounces/dp/B000V72992

They don't stand for fitness. They stand for profit off of people who want to be fit. Forget GNC, that shit is overpriced and no better then amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Optimum-Nutrition-Standard-Double-Chocolate/dp/B000QSNYGI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1367965804&sr=8-1&keywords=on+gold+standard+whey

Best Whey out there. Lab proven to be even better then the label says. One click shop, get it the next day, no bullshitting around bro-science idiots who wouldn't know one Amino Acid from another

I use these. Cheap, and work as well as I want them to.

Try some miracle fruit, mberry Miracle Fruit Tablets, 10-Count https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001LXYA5Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_sx1hybZPGJH1T

Makes lemons taste like the sweetest things in the world and other odd situations.

Mack's Ultra Soft Foam Earplugs, 50 Pair - 32dB Highest NRR, Comfortable Ear Plugs for Sleeping, Snoring, Work, Travel & Loud Events https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0051U7W32/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_-c4tDbS3KH1YT

Barkeeper's Friend will remove the scratches:

Bar Keepers Friend® Cleanser & Polish: 12 OZ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000V72992/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_96FeAb3K8H79A

https://www.amazon.com/mberry-Miracle-Fruit-Tablets-10-Count/dp/B001LXYA5Q/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1473815433&sr=1-1&keywords=miracle+berry

You can fix it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKcvruYCrpk

And also
https://www.amazon.com/Marpac-Dohm-DS-All-Natural-White-Machine/dp/B000KUHFGM?th=1

https://www.amazon.com/Body-Back-Company-12400000050-Massager/dp/B001IHXFQK

Aka "the tool from Gods".

If anyone is looking to purchase one, there's a sale on 'em at Amazon at this time:
Amazon - $2.52 + S&H

Here's the kind that I bought, there's a lot of brands but this one seemed to have the best reviews. Not too pricey, and it was a fun experience, I'd recommend it at least once. Just get a potluck going with a group of friends!

http://www.amazon.com/mberry-MFT10-Miracle-Fruit-Tablets/dp/B001LXYA5Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376711277&sr=8-1&keywords=mberries

Edit: Make sure to try wasabi. It tastes like ice cream, it was my favorite of all the things I tried.

> Dohm

here you go lazy person! https://www.amazon.com/Marpac-Dohm-DS-All-Natural-White-Machine/dp/B000KUHFGM?th=1

Try Barkeepers friend!

https://www.amazon.com/Bar-Keepers-Friend®-Cleanser-Polish/dp/B000V72992

Magnesium before bed. It will help keep your tolerance down.

I think it really depends on how long you've been working out. When I was new to working out I said to myself that I would never try creatine (I still don't know why but ignorant people always seem to think it's not "natural"). However, I did a lot of reading on it and figured I'd finally give it a try last March since I kind of hit a plateau.

I started taking 5g a day (forget the "loading phase" there are no studies that actually support it) and about a week in I went from benching 200lbs x 8 to 220 x 8. I had an increase of about 10% on pretty much all my lifts! I gained 6 pounds in the first 3 weeks. I was also eating about 3500kcal a day at the time so I don't know how much of that was the creatine.

Didn't have any negative side effects apart from having to take a piss about 5 times a day due to drinking 5l of water.

Should you choose to try it be sure to buy quality creatine. Read the reviews or better yet, buy "creapure" creatine. It's manufactured in Germany and therefore strictly regulated. Most other products are from Asia/ eastern Europe and can cause all kinds of nasty side effects. It's well worth paying an extra 20% just to be sure. Creatine is still the cheapest supplement you'll find!

EDIT: I use Optimum Nutrition Creatine which is made from Creapure. At 5g/day it costs me 5$/month. Generic cheap creatine might be a dollar cheaper a month but it's not worth the risk.

This is the one we use. Ours is great. It was actually my MILs, it's lasted a long time.

Marpac Dohm Classic White Noise Sound Machine, White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HD0ELFK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_PeY0Bb5RF6RTT

ON Gold Standard Whey has been mentioned frequently on this subreddit as a popular choice (link).

That's the way I was about the flavor-changing berries on Amazon that someone linked once. I still consider it every now and then though.

Edit: Here's a link.

They sell them on Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/mberry-Miracle-Fruit-Tablets-10-Count/dp/B001LXYA5Q

looks like they cost about 15 bucks for 10 tablets

>Caffeine addictions when you don't work at a coffee shop can be expensive, and make you grumpy.

Take caffeine tablets. They are SO cheap relative to coffee, if all you want is caffeine.

https://www.amazon.com/ProLab-Caffeine-Maximum-Potency-100-Count/dp/B0011865IQ?th=1

First result on google. I am guessing you can probably do even better if you want.

What toothpaste do you use, specifically? Toothpaste with SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) is what causes the reaction. SLS is used as a foaming agent in a bunch of stuff (toothpaste, shampoo, etc.) and it suppresses your sweet taste buds. Kind of like those "miracle fruit tablets" which basically have the opposite effect.

Sorry to bring bad news, but, assuming you got the same one that Amazon calls "Nature Made High Potency", it only contains Magnesium Oxide.

Magnesium Oxide has extremely low bioavailability, and has some other issues as well. It's rust, in essence. So unfortunately you'll really not get any benefit whatsoever by taking those. Your body will only absorb about 5% or less of each softgel, meaning each is really only going to give you 10-20 mg.

Really the one you want is Magnesium Glycinate. I take the Doctor's Best brand which is unbuffered, meaning the pill contains 100% Mg Glycinate with no other lesser forms included. Glycinate is the most bioavailable form of Magnesium and is the best for supplementation. This sort of logic rings true with a lot of other supplements. Many brands will happily sell you minerals with poor bioavailability (multivitamins have this flaw especially), so it's wise to do this check for all supplements you buy.

To answer your question though, no, 400mg isn't too much. Really you can take as much as you want and your body should just not absorb what it doesn't need. 400mg is a solid daily dose though. Take it before bed, as there is a small amount of evidence to suggest it can be a sedative and help sleep.

Don't take it at the same time you intake Calcium, as Calcium does inhibit absorption of Magnesium to some extent. Taking Vitamin D/K and Magnesium in addition to a diet with lots of Calcium is a pretty strong combo, as D/K/ Magnesium all have important roles in Calcium absorption and its integration in bones. Take the D/K/ and your Calcium food in one sitting, and the Magnesium later once the Calcium has already been digested.

For a good overview of Magnesium and its effects, check Examine.com.

I no longer travel without foam earplugs. They have got me to sleep in environments where I could not without them. Screaming weans....no problems. "Naaaaa naaa naaa naaa" hen party groups....blocked. Groups of wee dicks drinking buckfast....ignored.

I have them in every bag I am likely to travel with including my laptop bag and holdall.

I buy these fuckers in bulk...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Macks-Ultra-Ear-Plugs-Pair/dp/B0051U7W32/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=mack+earplugs&qid=1562693184&s=gateway&sr=8-4

>I need a lot of caffeine to function as a college student and I'm not a fan of pre-workout since it makes me jittery...

How is the caffeine in coffee any different that what's in PWO...aside from the amount?

Plus those drinks are an easy $3-4 per can...for 20g protein and 210cals? I can make a shake for >$1 with double those numbers.

[Usually less than $.10 per] (http://www.amazon.com/ProLab-Caffeine-Maximum-Potency-100-Count/dp/B0011865IQ/ref=pd_sim_121_5?ie=UTF8&dpID=41LcOhoUG3L&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR90%2C160_&refRID=17PA92K20FSQSF7GS2RS) ....split them in half if you need to.

Only prework out I need.

http://www.amazon.com/Head-Massager-colors-may-vary/dp/B001IHXFQK This.

We had this one for a long time and it's adjustable so you can adjust the pitch of the noise a little. However, I think it was a little lower-pitched than the video you posted at our regular setting (we don't have it any more though, so I'm not sure).

Yep. They're disposable ear plugs.

Similar ones, not sure if they're the same though.

https://www.amazon.ca/Howard-Leight-LiteUncorded-Earplugs-Yellow/dp/B0007XJOLG

EDIT: Just noticed the brand on the machine is the same as the ones I linked.

Massive electrolyte problem!

Heart palpitations are typically potassium, cramps are typically magnesium (although maybe potassium), and lack of sodium leads to deficiencies in both magnesium and potassium (and also causes low blood pressure).

Get some lite sale or no salt or nu salt (all contain potassium chloride and are salt substitutes). Get some high-quality magnesium like this (I would eat 2 pills 2x/day until symptoms are gone then cut back a bit):

http://www.amazon.com/Doctors-Best-Absorption-Magnesium-Elemental/dp/B000BD0RT0

And get plenty of sodium! 5g/day (I add sodium by drinking broth from a bouillon cube in addition to salting my food).

Please do re-read the section of the FAQ on electrolytes.

Are you really getting the numbers in the FAQ? I'm guessing you're not, but regardless up your intake as these are pretty clear symptoms. On the magnesium side in particular make sure it's not oxide (as it's useless).

1. A good, sharp chef's knife. Nothing fancy, I use a Dexter that I got for like $20 and have it resharpened. You can get a lot nicer, but you don't have to. The first kitchen I ever worked at (20 years ago) used knives almost exactly like this.
   
   
2. A good meat thermometer. I use this one which works similarly to a ThermaPen but without the ridiculous ~$90 cost.
   
   
3. A good cast iron skillet can be pretty versatile. Cast iron holds heat very well, which means that it's great for stuff like searing steaks.
   
   
4. Some cheap, non-stick frying pans. I recommend getting cheap ones because once the coating starts coming off (and it always does at some point, it seems) you're going to throw them away and get new ones. You can spend $300+ like I did once and get high-end stuff like All-Clad or whatever, but even if you're super careful and use only wood and silicone utensils to cook on it, it'll still start peeling its coating, and then All-Clad will say you used metal silverware on it and your warranty is invalid, blah blah blah, and that's more hassle than you need. Just get cheap ones.
   
   
5. Now THIS is where you can spend some legit money. A tri-ply, high quality frying pan without a non-stick coating. These are great for making pan sauces while you cook, etc. I made a chicken, garlic, and olive oil with a red wine vinegar based pan sauce with this pan (well, and some baking dishes) that was incredible. All-Clad is the industry standard but the Tramontina stuff is 1/2 the price or less and built to near the same level of quality.
   
   
6. A nice, enameled Dutch Oven, whether it be from Le Creuset or Tramontina, these are the best for stews, soups, chili...etc. Hold heat forever, well built, and easy to clean.
   
   
7. A good fish spatula, which I almost never use to cook fish. It's actually just the best shape for omelets, eggs, whatever. Flipping anything in a pan with a utensil like this is awesome.
   
   
8. A thick ceramic baking dish for making things like lasagna or casseroles or even just roasting meats/veggies.
   
   
9. Believe it or not, cookie sheets covered with heavy duty aluminum foil are how I do a lot of my oven roasting of small things, like diced veggies or potatoes. They work perfectly and being so large they're able to be spread out so they get roasted on all edges for a little extra flavor. Brussel sprouts & diced bacon in a cast iron skillet to start and then dump them onto this and blast them in the oven at 425 for 15-20 minutes and you'll have a great side dish.
   
   
10. No matter how careful you are, you're going to get something caked on or get a dish so dirty you think it's uncleanable. For that, I recommend Barkeeper's Friend which is an awesome powdered cleaner. Add a little water, use a paper towel and this stuff to make a paste, leave it in the pan for a few minutes, then rinse. I have yet to see this fail. Awesome stuff. Saved some pans.
    
    
    There are lots of other things I use daily:
    
    

• Good kitchen towels
  
• Heavy Duty Aluminum foil
  
• A good dish scrubber for cleanup
  
  etc.
  
  But the point I guess I'm making is that you can get lots of good, cheap stuff to start with.
  

I have really bad tinnitus. Get an old school white noise machine, it’s much better than music.

Marpac Dohm Classic White Noise Sound Machine, White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HD0ELFK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_KLz3BbZPJKD16

https://www.amazon.com/Macks-Ultra-Soft-Foam-Earplugs/dp/B0051U7W32/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1543229094&sr=1-4&keywords=ear%2Bplugs&th=1

Foam ear plugs

Amazon.

This powder is really cheap given that it tastes absolutely delicious and you can mix it with pretty much anything (oatmeal, milk, eggnog, cream, shakes) to add chocolate flavor without much sugar and with a boatload of protein.

a watch and a tub of protein powder, not a bad deal since I still use the watch to this day!

Yoo. My dude. Fuck Ajax. Get your hands on Barkeeper. That stuff had my bathroom looking like I first moved in. I'm never going back.

• S&W M&P Shield 9mm - $380
  
• Beltman quickship black belt - $80
  
• Black Arch proto holster - $75
  
• Federal HST/Hornady Critical Defense - $25
  
• Eyes - $10
  
• Ears - $65
  
• More ears - $21
  
• Range bag - $30
  
  That puts you at around $750 depending whether you have to pay tax on the handgun, transfer fees, etc.
  
  The remaining $250 should be enough for an introduction to handgun safety class at your local range plus a bunch of cheap ammo to practice with.
  
  Edit: I forgot, don't forget to account for the cost of your CCW permit. Depending on where you live and what required classes you have to take that could easily consume your remaining $250.

THIS THING is like better than orgasms. No joke. I will literally be put into such a trance after a few minutes of head massaging with that glorious artifact of the gods.

I just gave these a try, they are pretty cool:
miracle berries

As others have posted, tablet forms of these are available on Amazon

I've actually thrown "Miracle Berry" parties several times and it's a lot of fun! Just walk around a grocery store and try to think of everything that tastes sour and buy it! Some tips from my experiences... Each tablet will last you about 15-60 minutes (generally about 30 before effects diminish), not ALL the sourness goes away (lemons do not taste like pure sugar), thoroughly dissolve the tablet in your mouth (3-5 minutes) and then wait a couple more for the full effect, and lastly, bitterness is NOT the same as sourness. Eating the lemon peel will still be incredibly bitter.

Lemons/limes: Taste like the best lemonade/limeade ever

Pineapple: Incredibly delicious, but almost TOO sweet for some people

Oranges/orange juice: Really depends on the kind, but can substantially change the flavor

Hot Sauce: Vinegar almost tastes sugary, so it is both sweet and spicy

Pickled items: Again, vinegar becomes rather sweet

Cheese: Some cheeses taste like "dessert" cheese, especially sharp cheeses, cream cheese, cottage cheese, and goat cheese. Some people don't seem to be as effected by the cheeses as other though.

Beer/Wine: Not as profound as citrus, but definitely changes the flavor profile


Random note of caution: You'll end up wanting to eat a TON of citrus foods. This will give you an upset stomach if you don't moderate.

The only things that worked for me are a white noise generator or moving elsewhere.

Noisy people never stop being noisy.

And if you can still hear them, get a white noise machine to keep in your room, near the door.

I'm a REALLY light sleeper. Naturally I own one cat who wanders the halls at night, wailing (for no reason at all), and one who runs around like an idiot all night (at 13 years old!!).

Drowning them out is your best defense. The white noise machine is a good start (I like this one). Add ear plugs if necessary.

Have you ever tried one of theeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee?

http://www.amazon.com/Marpac-DOHM-DS-Natural-actual-Machine/dp/B000KUHFGM

Vitamin D enchances the absorption of calcium, so if someone eats a fair amount of dairy or spinach they should be fine. Magnesium should be the one people need to look out for. It's one of the most important minerals that we don't get enough of, PLUS it works in synergy with vitamin D! If you regularly eat almonds (or pumpkin seeds), avocados, dark green leafy vegetables and legumes then you're probably fine. If not then I'd definitely recommend you start including them in your diet if possible, and if not you can supplement.

Another critical micronutrient would be K2, which helps direct calcium to your bones and teeth and prevent calcification of your arteries (big no no!). If you're thinking of supplementing Vitamin D3, you can find those two vitamins together. They are fat soluble so make sure you eat them with your nuts/seeds and avocados! :)

I bounce between several, but can definitely recommend Doctor's Best. I have not noticed a difference between all of the top brands on amazon.

Lodge Cast Iron Skillets are great but you have to make sure you clean them immediately afterwards.

For something more practical (and cheap), take a look at these guys (depending on what size you are looking for. You can sautee something, throw it in the oven, and when they start to get ugly, take some Bar Keepers Friend and go at it. It will look good as new in no time. P.S., please don't pay $5 for BKF, it is at your grocery store for only a dollar or two.

Edit: Here is a test of this one vs. the expensive All Clad version.

Scrub with Barkeepers Friend http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000V72992/ref=redir_mdp_mobile

I have several friends that live in Finland, so I get to go and stay for free. I spent about 4 days in Rovaniemi for skiing last year. As an American looking over the side of the bridge and seeing a partially submerged speed limit sign, I thought, "Huh. The road has been flooded by the adjacent river and frozen over." Nope. They turned part of the river in a road. The river road speed limit is about 20 mph. :)

Useful information, VITAMIN D and a sun lamp are your friends. I used this sunlamp while living in Northern France. Seasonal Depression is a real thing and it blows.

Like the kind Finnish redditor mentioned, Finns don't generally do small talk. This is almost always true. Fight the urge to chit chat American style.

Also, learn sauna etiquette as saunas are very important in Finnish culture. Your board shorts in the pool and shower aren't going to fly. There is nothing better than beer and a sauna.

Speaking of beer, Finland has some great beer, but you may have to look around for it. I've some excellent beers in Finland which had complex flavors.

Remember that you are in Europe. Travel is relatively cheap once you get there, but living up north may make it a little more inconvenient and / or expensive.

Sign up for a VR account -national rail system. You can get some excellent deals.

Good luck and have fun!

There sorta is. Miracle Berries and by extension Miracle Berry Tablets.

It's not permanent and wears off anywhere from 30-90 minutes in my experiences, but it really does make things taste completely different. It's fun if you are a foodie. I could see it being a potential thing really picky eaters may need to get them to eat more foods and not stick with certain unhealthy options.

We had some of those flavor pills that changed acidic foods to tasting sweet (made lemons delicious). That's worth looking into

https://www.amazon.com/mberry-Miracle-Fruit-Tablets-10-Count/dp/B001LXYA5Q

I have only had the tablets (Amazon link) and they do what they say, it was quite interesting to eat a straight lemon that tasted sweet.

A word of caution, especially for older (and generally) louder planes. The QC35s do not have the same level of noise reduction as the A20s, and you're likely to experience some hearing loss. For the budget minded, you honestly are going to have trouble beating an old fashioned DC set with a pair of something like these under them: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A3Z44R2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_HimYAb98X5NTB

Also super useful for when you're sharing the ramp with jets :)

AMEN. I know a lot of people with tennitus and that shit's no joke.

I bought these on amazon and haven't looked back. They work great, don't look goofy in your ears, and the metal case they come in is perfect for stashing party favors...if that's your thing :)

Optimum Nutrition Micronized Creatine Monohydrate Powder, Unflavored, Keto Friendly, 600 grams (Packaging May Vary) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002DYIZEO/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_d0xHDbSF8PHQN

Good recommendation! I also recommend this pair of Downbeats as I own both and like how downbeats are a bit more subtle/less protruding from my ears.

Second the white noise. We got https://www.amazon.com/Marpac-Classic-White-Noise-Machine/dp/B000KUHFGM this model and it is incredible. Mechanical, super soothing, changed our kids sleeping habits almost instantly.

https://www.amazon.com/NatureBright-SunTouch-Light-Therapy-package/dp/B000W8Y7FY on mobile, so I’m not sure this will work but this is the one I have. It’s just one of the cheapest on amazon and it gets the job done.

I love my EC stack. I buy OTC bronkaid and take 25mg with a 200mg caffeine pill. Quality of caffeine seems to vary, so I get this brand

The full stack is ECA, including asprin. I don't have any heart conditions or problems with my blood work, so I don't take the asprin. Some people take fish oil instead of asprin, but most fish oil capsules are sold rancid due to how the oil is processed and can actually be bad for you. Just the ephedrine and caffeine work well for me. Boyfriend takes them too and loves it. You can take the stack long term without negative side effects, too.

I ramped up the dose slowly, taking half a pill once per day in the mid morning when I usually started feeling snackish, slowly increasing the dose over a week. If you start at the full 25/200 dose, you might feel funny. I had some shortness of breath when I did, so I cut to half dose.

It's honestly been really great. When I take it, I intermittent fast or eat very lightly during the day with a larger dinner. It doesn't completely kill my appetite, but I appreciate it because I need to be able to listen to my body.

One thing I haven't quite figured out is whether I should be supplementing more potassium. Apparently ephedrine can deplete potassium, so I have lite salt (half sodium, half potassium) and eat avocado everyday.

I think the potassium issue is discussed with EC stacks because of the danger of taking ephedrine when you have a heart condition. Potassium levels are critical in the management of some heart conditions. I'm not sure if ephedrine specifically warrants potassium supplementation, or if it's the underlying heart condition. Would love to hear more about this from someone knowledgable

Miracle Fruit!
Changes your sense of taste so that bitter and sour things taste sweet. Effect lasts for up to 2 hours.

That's called miracle fruit, it's pretty fun to try at least once.

I got these tablets from Amazon, if anyone wants to try them.
http://www.amazon.com/mberry-Miracle-Fruit-Tablets-10-Count/dp/B001LXYA5Q

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A3Z44R2/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_X-0CDbJZD3TZA

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0044DEESS/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_Ka1CDb3G6KW00

In the festival: Gold Bond powder for chafing/sunburns/itchiness, hi-fidelity earplugs (I use DownBeats bcecause they're more compact than others), Anker 10000mAh battery pack and a multi-USB charger cable so all your friends can get their charge on w/o having to stop at a charging station

Camping: Mio water enhancer for electrolytes + flavor, Anker 20,100 mAh battery pack

I bought an amazing white noise machine because my neighbor's dogs love to bark a lot at night. It's the best thing ever- you could just saw you need an extra white noise machine to help you sleep now that you don't have the noisy fan anymore.

This is the one I swear by. I even bought an extra one to travel with.

https://www.amazon.com/Marpac-Dohm-DS-Natural-Sound-Machine/dp/B00HD0ELFK/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1499181322&sr=1-4&keywords=white+noise+machine

I used a white noise machine with my first kid starting when she was a baby, and she still uses & loves it today. She's 10. I use one too! It's scientifically proven to help you sleep better, plus it just blocks out some noise. To be most effective, get a white noise machine that uses actual air to create the noise, rather than a digital recording. It really fills the room without sounding harsh or grating. I love this one. It's $50 but it completely gives us our money's worth.

You have my absolute sympathy, we lived in an apartment for our first baby and now we're in a house for our second, and it really is a whole different ball game.

Why would you hide one in someones campsite? And I didnt say anything about food or consumables.. Fill them with lego men or buttons or love notes or something. Edit: Someone above mentioned earplugs, great idea! If not for protecting your ears in the festival, then helping you sleep at night while your neighbors play Animals on repeat.

A couple of years ago we stayed at my wife's parents for a few days, in between a two week road trip of festivals and other family visits.

MIL offered to wash some of our clothes while we were at Festival #2 which we thankfully accepted and so left a load of stuff in our room.

When we returned, as we sat at the breakfast table, she quietly said, "I think there's something upstairs I shouldn't have seen".

My mind was racing... what the fuck could it be?

"I've left it on the side, next to the bed, would you mind going to get it, dear?"

Wifey went upstairs and we all sat in silence waiting for her to return.

"These?"

"Yes, darling..."

"They're my ear plugs mum, /u/globaldu snores..."

"Oh, thank goodness for that! We thought it was 'spliff' "

That's what you're up against, OP. You simply cannot explain drugs to some people. For them, prescription meds are totally fine but one toke on a joint and you're going straight to hell.

Ninja edit: It was the very same ear plugs... bright pink & yellow.

The TYPE of Magnesium you take is key. You want one that has TRAACS (The Real Amino Acid Chelate System), on the label since that's a proprietary way of binding it that does NOT give you diarrhea. (If you have to have a colonoscopy they literally give you magnesium to clean you out.) I use this one: https://smile.amazon.com/Doctors-Best-Absorption-Magnesium-Glycinate/dp/B000BD0RT0/

I've gone through something similar, it was during major depression. Honestly what helped was reducing inflammation within my body/brain.

I'd suggest trying lithium orotate as a first line of action along with fish oil, magnesium glycinate and maybe turmeric with a source of black pepper.

I don't know which supplements you've tried in the past but I don't think you've permanently damaged your body.
Depression can deplete and drain you completely especially any creative and positive thoughts. Start meditating even for a few minutes a day. Well-being is fostered not only with a good diet but a good mindset, there could be a lot of things draining you emotionally and physically you just need to figure out what those things are and try to correct them.

I hope you feel better soon, as someone who's been in your shoes it does get better.

I can't believe no one has mentioned Magnesium yet! Get you some Magnesium, if you haven't already.

Being keto flushes that shiz right out of your body, leading to fatigue, anxiety, depression, and major stress. Trust me, it sucks major to be Mg-deficient -- taking just 400mg extra per day drastically reduced my anxiety symptoms that I was on the verge of treating with serious medication. GET YOU SOME MAGNESIUM.

(This is good advice for everybody, but in my experience women struggle more with anxiety and depression. Magnesium is a cheap, easy fix.)

The Marpac Dohm-DS White Noise Sound Machine is great for people who need a fan to sleep. I've had one for years.

Optimum double rich chocolate protein powder!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000QSNYGI/ref=rcxsubs_mys2_product_title

Steal cut oats!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KNB0OW/ref=rcxsubs_mys2_product_title

best investment ive made in a long time

Good on you! I am a big fan of Eargasm. Etymotics are cheaper and are also good, but my personal preference is for the Eargasms.

Been using a few over the last few years:

Etymotics: good for shorter shows but after a while they start to bug me, YMMV

Eargasm: a little more comfortable than the Etymotics over longer stretches of time

EarPeace: the three different filter options are nice and easy to swap out, plus they include a third plug which definitely would've prevented that time I accidentally dropped an Etymotic onto the piss-covered floor of an Oakland bathroom and then spent most of the next band's set walking to the nearest Rite-Aid to get a pair of the shitty ones that make everything sound like you wrapped a blanket of mud around your head

People say https://www.amazon.com/RENPHO-Bluetooth-Body-Fat-Scale/dp/B01N1UX8RW/ plays nicely with the FitBit app, and it's a whole lot cheaper than the Aria.

It’s relatively easy. Many people think it’s super hard but it’s not. When you get hunger cramps you’re actually thirsty so drinking a lot of water is key. What helped me the first few weeks was sparkling water (La-Croix) with 0 calories and sugar. After about 3-4 weeks your body adjusts. Black coffee also helps.

My number one advice for all of you guys is buy a smart scale because it helps you keep track not just of weight but BMI, Body fat, etc. it really motivates you. Every 2-3 days measure yourself in the morning after taking a piss and you have to be fully naked no socks for accurate measurements. Maybe one day I’ll make a video on my experience with more tips as I see a lot of people struggle with this. Good luck!

We have this one from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N1UX8RW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Each of us use it and it tracks separately on our phones. Works great

CALM Magnesium powder is a good one.

magnesium powder

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HD0ELFK/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_2qhVDb9DKC3QF

Learn it, live it, love it

YOU GUYS ARE SPENDING TOO MUCH MONEY ON STUPID SHIT.

D. M. A. A. AND C. A. F. F. E. I. N. E.

IT'S ALL YOU NEED.

edit: http://www.amazon.com/CHEAPEST-Dimethylamylamine-Geranamine-MULTIPLE-QUANTITIES/dp/B00644A8XU/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1324958470&sr=8-4

http://www.amazon.com/Caffeine-Maximum-Potency-Tablets-tablets/dp/B0011865IQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1324958531&sr=1-1

for the fags that live in the Canada, UK, land down under, or Iran, you're on your own.

Highly recommend some of these. Hopefully none of your friends have lice so they don't mind sharing.

https://www.amazon.com/Scalp-Massager-Body-Back-Company/dp/B001IHXFQK

Miracle berry tablets. https://www.amazon.com/mberry-Miracle-Fruit-Tablets-10-Count/dp/B001LXYA5Q

Messes with your tastebuds so sour tastes sweet. Plain lemons taste like lemon candy. Fun with other sour or rart stuff. Pickles, sauerkraut, cranberries.

https://www.amazon.com/Macks-Ultra-Soft-Foam-Earplugs/dp/B0051U7W32/ref=sr_1_4?crid=H6NWM22KD4ES&keywords=macks+ear+plugs&qid=1563896341&s=gateway&sprefix=macks+ear+plugs%2Caps%2C396&sr=8-4

I use them, they're awesome. Unless your roommate is extremely loud, snoring should no longer be an issue.

Foam Earplugs

Sleep Sound Machine

One product helps prevent you from hearing so much noise when you sleep.
The other helps replace or mask unpleasant sounds with pleasant ones.

You WILL get used to it - I promise.

I use ON and I buy it on amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Optimum-Nutrition-Standard-Double-Chocolate/dp/B000QSNYGI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1301681631&sr=8-1

Since I have Amazon Prime, this is perfect for me. Way cheaper than most stores and the shipping is free. It's 70+ servings, and I usually just have it with water. Tastes bland, but I just drink it really fast.

http://www.amazon.com/Optimum-Nutrition-Standard-Double-Chocolate/dp/B000QSNYGI

A not disgusting, cocoa powder tasting powder. Use wisely.

Wheymen.

https://www.amazon.com/Bar-Keepers-Friend%C2%AE-Cleanser-Polish/dp/B000V72992

barkeepers friend is a handy stainless steel polish

Yea, I'd day say the noise is a given. I used to live in a downstairs apartment. The upstairs neighbors weren't loud people, but you'd occasionally still be able to hear their steps.

I prefer the top floor.

For now, I'd say get some ear plugs. I shared a room once with a heavy snorer. Had to get ear plugs. $20-$30 a box can last you around half a year.

They will, in the meantime be proactive with these https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007XJOLG?psc=1

I have no experience with either, but I just looked up the nutrition data for coconut water. The amount of electrolytes is pretty small. If you are concerned, I would just get some Lite Salt and add a tsp to a glass of water in the morning. Plus magnesium supplements. These are the ones I use.

As someone who is constantly on the road and also a full-blow fan-while-I-sleep addict I have to recommend the Marpac Dohm-DS.

It's "real" white noise caused by the movement of air, but can be packed extremely easily. Trust me, it saved my life and marriage.

http://www.amazon.com/Marpac-DOHM-DS-Natural-actual-Machine/dp/B000KUHFGM

This is the one I use, you can probably find it locally too.

http://amzn.com/B000BD0RT0

Read the second review, it has a good comparison of magnesium forms and brands. This brand/form doesn't have the pooping or sleeping all day effects.

Ok so I used to live in an apartment with thin walls, and as a light sleeper it drove me nuts.

Years ago, I got one of these. It sounds like a constant fan noise, but it blends in so well that you stop hearing it pretty much immediately, but it keeps outside noise from bothering you too much. I would sometimes fall asleep without it on, only to wake up repeatedly throughout the night, until I realized what the issue was.

I live in a much quieter place now, but I still find it helpful and comforting to sleep to.

White noise machine. To mask what's going on behind that door.

https://www.amazon.com/Marpac-Classic-White-Noise-Machine/dp/B000KUHFGM

I use this Dohm sound conditioner. Expensive but awesome.

• Spa type stuff: Head massager, tweezers, lip balm sets, mini lotions, perfume oils (sooo many good suggestions on /r/indiemakeupandmore)
  
  
• Candy: Pretty chocolate bars suited to giftee's specific tastes
  
  
• Gift Cards: Sephora if they are into makeup, Whole Foods if they are at all into organic stuff, Trader Joes if they are a student (TJs has the best snacks and is the cheapest!), Starbucks is a good catch all

Get you one of these thingies.

They're the bee's knees.

They're called miracle berries, or miracle fruit.

All good, helpful advice. I'm going the easy route and going to suggest Miracle Fruit tablets.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001LXYA5Q/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_10?smid=A1HO96LT4QCG4P&psc=1

They change how things taste to your taste buds temporarily! I've had multiple friends try them and say they're definitely worth the few bucks for them. They're on my list as well, mwahaha.

I think most of us are light sleepers. White noise is the only way I can sleep, been using one on my nightstand, and one on my wife’s for over ten years. We take one with us on trips.

https://www.amazon.com/Marpac-Classic-White-Noise-Machine/dp/B00HD0ELFK/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=White%2Bnoise&qid=1565529113&s=gateway&sr=8-5&th=1

This is the right advice: what you need is good ear plugs and a white noise machine. Not all ear plugs are created equal, I highly recommend these:

https://smile.amazon.com/Flents-Quiet-Please-Plugs-Pair/dp/B001J4HB1C/ref=sr_1_7_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1523900711&sr=1-7&keywords=earplugs

I have this noise machine, and it works great at drowning out traffic/ambient noise. I find it works well in conjunction with the earplugs:

https://smile.amazon.com/Marpac-Classic-White-Noise-Machine/dp/B00HD0ELFK/ref=sr_1_6_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1523900773&sr=1-6&keywords=noise+machine

Grab a big box of the disposable foam ones. I like these ones because they're really soft and expand really well. A lot of the fancy flanged ones are irritating to me.

Dont use those.

Get this:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001T7QJ9O/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1463536705&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=howard+leight+impact+sport&dpPl=1&dpID=413LEFbzvIL&ref=plSrch

And these:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0007XJOLG/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1463536741&sr=8-1&pi=SX200_QL40&keywords=howard+leight+earplugs&dpPl=1&dpID=31ZxugkFgVL&ref=plSrch

Hearing ain't nothing to fuck around with. Don't do cheap or stupid when it comes to protecting your ears.

I use that setup, and i could shoot my AR all day in comfort with those together. Also, the plugs come in individually wrapped pairs, so you can always keep a few extra for friends/ strangers in your range bag.

My $.02

For your specific situation, 500mcg of melatonin and 400mg of magnesium glycinate should fix you right up. Melatonin is extremely safe and nontoxic. Same with magnesium (to a far lesser extant than melatonin, though).

A note on melatonin dosages: Less is more. It is frequently sold in 5-20mg pills. This is way way way too much for most people^[1].

As far as taking other things like St. John's Wort, kava, etc: Do not start out with these. You are a young person. There are many other things to try before these things. If the magnesium and melatonin don't work for you, feel free to PM me, and I'll do my best to give advice however I can.

Here are some links to brands of melatonin and magnesium that I would recommend:

Pure Encapsulations - Melatonin 0.5mg - 60 capsules for $9.30: this is the one I would most recommend in terms of quality, and the price happens to be pretty reasonable. If it's too much, let me know.

Pure Encapsulations - Magnesium (Glycinate) - 90 capsules (120mg each) for $19.50: Once again, this is ideal but if it's too much let me know. Here is a cheaper option that will work.

Best of luck to you my friend. I have had sleep problems before, and I know all too well that they will fuck your life up. This is an important issue to me, so I'm quite serious about offering my help. Feel free to PM me. Hope this helps.

In the meantime.. :D.

Art museum/fairmount area strikes me as quite quiet and very nice in general - I stayed around there for a week before my apartment was ready to move in to and it was really quite peaceful at night.

Looks nice.

Though I would have had a jar of theses to give to the complainers.

Indeed. For anyone interested, check out these or these or these.

Anyone got any suggestions for earplugs to wear during concerts? I was looking at some yesterday and through some amateur research (there was a thread on from r/LPT and head-fi.org), I came across these brands. Alpine, Hearos, DownBeats, and Etymotic. I had trouble figuring out which ones to get so I bought the Hearos because they seemed similar to the rest and they were the cheapest with Amazon Prime. But if anyone has any suggestions or comments, I'd like to read em.

Water + magnesium citrate is helpful. You may get diarrhea from changing gut flora. But if it's constipation, up your water intake and get electrolytes, including magnesium. Natural Calm magnesium citrate powder is a good one, you may find it at Walmart. Or a liquid magnesium citrate that you could find at Target or Walgreens - though it's not as tasty as the powder.

Try magnesium! Colace didn't do a thing for me, but I started taking a magnesium supplement before bed every night, and I am now the most regular and easy pooping girl you'd ever know. This is the stuff I got (https://www.amazon.com/Natural-Vitality-Magnesium-Organic-Raspberry/dp/B00BPUY3W0/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1473267595&sr=8-1&keywords=calm%2Bmagnesium) -- but I found it locally in the health section at my normal supermarket for like $15, I didn't pay $25!!
You stir it in water & drink it, it tastes like overly sweet lemonade, and works like a charm for me!

> I don't know where to start! What do I eat? How do I exercise?? What is a normal routine like? What do you guys do?

What? I do what's in the FAQ. You should too.

> I am very good at following instructions. I just need some damn instructions! Please and thank you.

Okay. Follow my instructions:

1. Read this section on diet from the r/Fitness FAQ.
   
   • You weigh 164 pounds, so aim for 164g of protein daily. You might want to buy a thing of this if you're having trouble getting all your protein from meat.
     
   • Your BMR is 1780 (I'm disregarding your activity rate). Start with that for one week. Week two and onwards, eat 1500 calories.
     
2. Find a low carb diet.
   
   • Keto is really easy to follow, the #1 rule is don't eat any carbs. It's not a magical weight loss solution, it just takes a lot of thinking out of weight loss.
     
3. Read the section on exercise and the section on weight loss.
   
4. You're going to be doing Starting Strength. Buy the book (hold out on your next video game purchase) and a gym membership (a legit gym, not planet fitness).
   
   • You follow the plan exactly as it is laid out. You do not modify the plan.
     
   • You workout three times a week -- Monday, Wednesday, Friday or Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday.
     
   • Check out the Starting Strength wiki.
     
   • If you have to start with the bar, you start with the bar.
     
   • Do not use a smith machine past the first week. You do squats in the squat rack. You bench like this.
     
   • Form is important.
     
   • Form is important.
     
5. Have a scoop of whey mixed in one glass of milk 0-30 minutes before you work out.
   
6. Keep track of calories. Find something to do it for you, like MyFitnessPal or DailyPlate. If something isn't on there, either you enter it or you find the closest match.
   
7. Read the FAQ (all of it) every weekend.
   
8. Come back in a month or two and ask if you're doing it right.

Ceramic you say? Get some barkeeper's friend and clean that nasty bowl.

Bar Keepers Friend Works awesome on porcelain and metals for removing rust and discoloration. I use it on any stubborn stains. Best way to clean burnt stainless steel pains and bring them back to new.

get one of these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000KUHFGM/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&th=1

I buy Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey, as well as their unflavored Creatine Monohydrate.

ON's gold standard whey is widely accepted to be high quality, as well as one of the less expensive brands. I personally use the milk chocolate and double rich chocolate flavors. And creatine monohydrate is just creatine monohydrate, no matter how you slice it.

Bar keeper's friend mate

Another endorsement for Barkeeper's Friend right here!

Edit: If you don't have some, get some.
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My mom got me this Nature Bright one as a gift (she knew I get bummed out in the fall/winter). I didn’t do any research to see how it compares to others, but I’ve had it for a few years and am very happy with it.

Highly recommend a light box to help offset the season change.

Note: I don’t use the ion therapy feature as I heard some questionable things about that.

Nature Bright Light

Chug?

That's kiddie shit. Where I come from we just eat caffeine pills.

Caffeine is a wonderful hunger suppressant that is readily available and quite cheap. Also has an added benefit of needing less sleep.

You should get one of these.

http://www.amazon.com/Scalp-Massager-Body-Back-Company/dp/B001IHXFQK

Ja uvek koristim, mozda sam zbog toga "ne kul", ali toliko je lepo kada izadjes napolje, skines cepove i nista ti ne zuji iako si bio u galami. Plus bolje cujes samu muziku sa njima, a i neku osobu koja ti u toj galami govori nesto.

Gledaj neke koje su bas za muzicare/zurke, one penaste koje su dobre za spavanje ce da ti sve zaguse, ove za muzicare ti samo "smanje ton" bez da uniste cistocu zvuka.

Ovako nesto vrv, ili ovako neke.

Ja licno imam ove i fenomenalne su.

No, I agree with the problem. I have tried a bunch of ambient apps and I can notice the loop edit right away and find myself waiting for it. It does not make falling asleep an easy feat when you are fully alert and waiting for the pattern to repeat.

This, in my opinion, is the only way to fly.

I have the marpac noise maker, it just stresses me out. I also use the ceiling fan as a noise distraction, but my problem is not being able to shut my brain down. I constantly think about this project, that meeting, did I remember to roll out the patch to that site. I need to get back into reading or some other distraction to help turn off my brain and stop being such a worry wart all the time.

It's this white noise maker so that you don't overhear people having therapy.

Marpac DOHM white noise machine

Red Gummy Bear Nighlight

• Use a real white noise machine. We used a battery operated one in a stuffed animal. Yeah, sure it's cute, but it didn't do crap. The Marpac got our daughter sleeping through the night.
  
  
• Use a red light when tending to your child in the night. It doesn't disturb their sleep cycle. We were using a dimmed lamp, but our daughter would wake and stay awake and want to play. We started using this, and she would go back down A LOT easier.

http://www.amazon.com/Optimum-Nutrition-Creatine-Powder-Unflavored/dp/B002DYIZEO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395778405&sr=8-1&keywords=ON+creatine

Get the 2000 grams. 400 servings

Downbeats are another good, inexpensive option. They come with an aluminum keychain case and don't stick out of your ears, which seems to be a love/hate feature. $13.95 on Amazon

Ears:

• 3M WorkTunes work well but make your ears hot after a while.
  
• IsoTunes Pro
  
• Almost any type of foam earplug
  
  Eyes:
  
  
• Mostly just use whatever is cheap. These are sometimes free after rebate at Menards.
  
  Lungs:
  
  
• I prefer the GVS Elipse, but finding the accessories can be difficult if you don't have a local woodworking store.
  
• I also have this respirator from 3M. It's not as comfortable as the Elipse but it is easy to find extra filters when needed.
  
  Face:
  
  
• When turning on the lathe or power carving, I use the Uvex Bionix face shield. This is used in addition to safety glasses, because face shields do not provide sufficient protection for the eyes.
  
  Hands:
  
  
• Cheap latex-dipped gloves for moving lumber around.
  
• NoCry gloves for carving
  
• No gloves at all for power tools. Ever. Wearing gloves with most power tools, particularly spinny ones, is dangerous.

You would probably be better off just continuing the water fast and forgoing the bone broth. It could certainly make you hungrier, and its primary benefit is usually that it helps some people get through the early days, which you've already bypassed (and those are generally considered to be the hardest where hunger pangs are concerned.)

Also speaking from personal experience, I tried adding 2 cups of bone broth to my 10 day water fast after experiencing a few days of very low energy, and I had a very bad reaction to it (intense nausea, belching, and dry retching / vomiting). I mentioned it here, and the suggestion from a few folks was that the sudden influx of sodium had probably triggered it.

If you'd like to supplement electrolytes, here are some recommendations:

For sodium, Celtic Sea Salt on dissolved on the tongue or small sips of Pickle Juice. For potassium, NoSalt has a good amount per serving and can be mixed with water and taken as a shot. Magnesium can be supplemented in pill form, a lotion/spray, or by soaking your feet in Epsom Salt. These will all be most beneficial on a longer fast, although I find that supplementing sodium starting on Day 2 of my own fasts has made me feel better (less brain fog and dizziness, improved mood). As for the most beneficial amount, a general recommendation - provided on the Fasting Talk podcast - was discussed here.

HTH!

Couple tips if you're having insomnia. Listen up cuz this is the real deal, this WILL help get you through these first few days (take it from someone who just got through it and is feeling great now).

1. Start taking magnesium. Like, as soon as humanly possible. Get this brand here, there are a million types of magnesium, and the most common ones won't do jack for you. I've done tons of brand research and this is the good stuff.
   
   Take two pills as soon as you wake up, and more importantly, take two 30-60 minutes before bed. When you take it at night it will make you sleepy. You can take it on an empty stomach, it's super easy on the stomach.
   
   Magnesium is the 2nd most common deficiency in the developed world, AND alcohol flushes magnesium out of your body. So chances are that your body is WAY low on it, and that will mess up your sleep AND it will make you depressed. Getting your magnesium levels back up is proven to lower symptoms of depression and improve your mood, something I've experienced first hand, so it should make your moods a little sunnier.
   
   
2. If the above doesn't work for getting you to sleep, and you want to bring in the big guns, take some melatonin at night about 30 minutes before you want to go to bed. I like this brand but there are lots online to choose from.
   
   BIG POINT FOR MELATONIN: Most melatonin pills are 5mg. I don't know why this is, because that's actually a massive dose. Break off about a quarter of a pill and that should be a good dose (.75-1.5mg). Also, if you go the melatonin route, try to limit your usage to 1-2 weeks of daily usage. If you take it too often, then when you stop you might have trouble getting to sleep again, cuz your body got used to it. So just take it for a 5-14 days while your body heals itself and naturally learns how to fall asleep without alcohol.
   
   In general, you may have to take it on faith that it gets better for now while you're hurting, but it's the OVERWHELMING experience of everyone that it does get better. Nobody, ever, in the history of the world, was having a shitty life, and then they started drinking more, and then things got better.
   
   But if you go to an AA meeting (which I highly recommend doing), you will meet people with 1, 5, 10, 20 years of sobriety, and every single one will tell you that their lives got insanely better when they stopped drinking. You'll hear a lot of people saying stuff like "back when I was drinking, I couldn't possibly imagine my life being as good as it is today". And I've had people close to me quit, and I've seen them go through a similar situation.
   
   Hang in there friend. What you're doing right now is worth every bit of effort.

Honestly, ear plugs are going to be your best (and cheapest) solution. You can get 200 pairs for $20.

These ones will block out practically all sound. For me the problem is that they are a bit uncomfortable and they also block out audible alarm clocks.

These are the ones that I settled on. They are perfect because they are low density, so I can't feel them at all when I am wearing them. They block out 90% of noises, but still let my audible alarm clock through.

When I use the first earplugs I linked, I use this alarm clock that vibrates the bed, that way I don't have to worry about hearing the alarm. It also works wonders.

(Note: If you think you can't sleep with earplugs in, please try the green ones. I need everything to be very specific/comfortable or I can't fall asleep, and I don't notice that I'm wearing the green ones at all.)

at first i could sleep with them for only a few hours before they would wake me up and i had to take them out but i eventually got used to them.

a search for "soft ear plugs" on amazon gets a number of hits. they might work for you or make it easier to get used to wearing them

i've used several of the Howard Leight brand. I bought a large box of these. i also like [these](
https://www.amazon.com/Howard-Leight-Visibility-Disposable-LL-1/dp/B0007XJOLG/ref=zg_bs_3779871_12?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=A07FGK8829D5M2BAZR0K)

Congratulations!

• Personally I would recommend either a Remington 700 over the 783. There's nothing wrong with the 783, but the 700's fit, finish as well as the overall quality is just superior and I'm a firm believer in the "buy once, cry once" philosophy, especially with firearms. If you buy the 783, my bet is that as you get a little more serious about shooting, you'll end up buying a 700.
  
  
• With all that said, if you're not hell bent on buying a Remington, I personally would go with a Tikka T3 (there are many, many models). Overall it's about the same as a Remington 700 in terms of quality, but the bolt action is just silky smooth and the trigger pull is wonderful. I'm biased because I'm a bit of a Tikka fan, so take my advice with a grain of salt.
  
  
• In regards to the .308 calibre, again I'm a bit biased because my rifle is in .308 but regardless, I think .308 is the way to go. It's easily found, and comes in a variety of weight from (approximately) 120gr to 200gr so you have a choice of choosing a lighter bullet for smaller game or a heavier bullet for larger game.
  
  
• To pass the time while your PAL/RPAL is being processed, I strongly suggest buying high quality safety equipment You don't have to break the bank, but don't skimp. Apart from that I'd say buy a good soft case, and later down the road you can buy a hard case (my personal favourite is the Pelican 1750). Here's a little list....
  
  
• Ear protection: Howard Leight Impact Sport and Howard Leight earplugs (Personally I use both-- you only get one pair of ears!)
  
  
• Eye protection: Smith Aegis Arc (DS Tactical is a great company to deal with)
  
  
• Hard case: Pelican 1750 (Production Case is a nice Canadian company with prices way better than anywhere else and great customer service)
  
  
• Bipod: Harris Engineering (widely considered the best bang for your buck product-- I use the 9-13 inch because I'm a bit taller, but most people like the 6-9)
  
  
• Soft case: Cabela's drag bag-- great product at a great price.
  
  
  
• Torque wrench: VERY important in my opinion, as I see way too many people over-torquing their gear (i.e. scope mount screws) and messing things up. Wheeler Torque Wrench-- this is what I use. It's reasonably priced and I use it all the time when I'm working on my rifle. I know plenty of people say they're not necessary, but they'll save you from major headaches in the future.
  
  
• Bonus: When you buy your scope, DO THIS to level it. I've tried all kinds of methods, but this by far the best (assuming your rifle is levelled first). It's so simple, but so effective.
  
  
  Anyway, I hope this helps. I'll check back in a little bit (studying for finals right now) if I think of anything else.
  

This has one of the best bioavailability, I take 2 daily: https://www.amazon.com/Doctors-Best-Absorption-Magnesium-Supplement/dp/B000BD0RT0

https://www.amazon.com/Doctors-Best-Absorption-Magnesium-Elemental/dp/B000BD0RT0

I also had sleeping problems and had the same issues with Magnesium until someone on r/xxketo recommended this one. No diarrhea at all. The only issue I’ve ever had is it makes my stomach hurt for a minute it or two if I take it in the morning on an empty stomach.

Edit: the recommended dosage for this one is 2 pills twice a day. Also, they are on the large size.

Me and my partner have been attending festivals longer than the age of many attendees. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of hearing protection that also preserves fidelity of music. I have had tinnitus that has taken 6 months to resolve. It is not fun. It can be permanent, which would be awful. I recommend Etymotic on price versus performance, but many other good ones also. Eargasm also recommended.

I also bring cheap blue foam plugs that I give to people that need them, but those degrade the music.

UMF is limited to 110 dB at a certain distance, which can certainly do hearing damage. There are louder festivals, but it is enough to cause damage. We are also almost always in first row against fencing so that is directly in front of speakers. Far enough back not as loud.

https://www.amazon.com/Etymotic-Fidelity-Earplugs-Universal-Protection/dp/B015IQ6HI4/ref=sr_1_5_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1550377010&sr=8-5&keywords=etymotic+earplugs

https://www.amazon.com/Eargasm-Musicians-Motorcycles-Sensitivity-Conditions/dp/B019M576XW/ref=pd_sbs_121_2/130-9421963-0405624?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B019M576XW&pd_rd_r=05335e96-326c-11e9-ade1-d126a5984129&pd_rd_w=zk1hZ&pd_rd_wg=rzAmh&pf_rd_p=588939de-d3f8-42f1-a3d8-d556eae5797d&pf_rd_r=APBHMZXYJG8EC3Q81X41&refRID=APBHMZXYJG8EC3Q81X41&th=1

yes wear earplugs. once your ears are damaged, the damage is irreversible. always wear ear plugs to concerts and festivals.

here are some i use

These are the best pair I own so far. Having tried HearOs and Entymotics (or whatever it's spelled) I've really liked the low profile of these Eargasm plugs and they do a great job of cutting the dB level without cutting the sound quality.

Try high fidelity earplugs. I have tinnitus too, and also photograph EDM shows for a living. I usually keep two pairs of Eargasms off Amazon in my tour bag at all times. I no longer have tinnitus post shows and the ringing has severely decreased.

Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019M576XW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Suggestion - get a scale like this. I have it, and love that while my weight has varied by less than a pound for 5 weeks, I’ve watched as my composition has changed in other ways.

RENPHO Bluetooth Scale

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N1UX8RW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_fs1VDbEH3FAJX

I'll do my "fighter's meal". It's what I eat before I go to my Muay Thai class.

Avocado with this stuff on it. 2 Roma tomatoes with lemon juice on them. Some slices of Havarti cheese. A banana. A protein shake (milk and this stuff). Multivitamin, fish oil, vitamin D. And a whole lot of water throughout.

That'll give me a high, constant energy level for the next 4 hours. If I start getting tired or hungry, I'll devour one of these.

The main goal is healthy fats, fiber, protein, and no processed foods. That'll give you a nice steady energy source with no crashes and no foggy brain.

• 42% off, Free shipping. 10lb. bag Double Rich Chocolate
  
  
• 35% off, Free shipping. 5lb. tub Double Rich Chocolate

just skip the filler and go straight for caffeine pills, no teeth stains either

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/caffeinated-drinks/faq-20057965

Its not a net dehydrator when consumed in fluid, pills aren't providing any fluid.

​

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0011865IQ?aaxitk=wwZvxo8ZdfuCbt4KvtDA1A&pd_rd_i=B0011865IQ&pf_rd_p=9420597b-7dad-4cbd-a28d-7d676ac67378&hsa_cr_id=5715315530001&sb-ci-n=asinImage&sb-ci-v=https%3A%2F%2Fimages-na.ssl-images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FI%2F71zBwCRojWL.jpg&sb-ci-a=B0011865IQ&th=1

Caffeine pills I have used before, 75mg Calcium each

http://www.amazon.com/ProLab-Caffeine-Maximum-Potency-100-Count/dp/B0011865IQ

This is seriously the best way you can spend $3.19, hands down.

Buy one next time you order from Amazon. If you can spend only $4 to significantly improve your happiness even for just one day...

No problemo, it's a Head / Scalp Massager @ Amazon for $3.

edit - ($2.03 / oz) that's a hell of a deal!!!

What type of sound is it?

If its slamming doors, heavy bass etc thats structural vibration and there is basically shit all you can do with that.

If you are looking at just deading sound (TV, non heavy bass) then a cheaper solution is just white noise machines. I have had similar to below where I slept in a room with basically closet doors in an apartment full of 5 people and didn't have a problem drowning out the noise.,

https://www.amazon.ca/Marpac-Dohm-DS-All-Natural-White-Machine/dp/B00HD0ELFK/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1523583354&sr=8-7&keywords=white+noise+machine

Edit - Copied the wrong link

This is the greatest $45 you will ever spend. You may even want to get two. It will seriously change your life. It's not particularly loud but a bomb could go off and my kids won't wake up.

Marpac Dohm-DS All Natural Sound Machine, White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HD0ELFK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_TibizbQWE50R2

My Fiance, my 3 year old (possibly ADHD) daughter, and I went on a 13 hour road trip to see family just a few weeks ago.

It went incredibly well, seriously.

My Plan:
Bring lots of dry snacks and things she normally has, and some things that are limited treats. We brought Lemon Zest Luna bars, lots of NutriGrain bars, fruit cups, pudding cups, single serving snacking crackers. We also brought a cooler for her to have her lactose-free milk and propel waters chilled.

I bought a few look and find books for her (Jake and the Neverland Pirates, Sofia the First, and Bubble Guppies), loaded her ipad with episodes of Wally Kazaam, Little Einsteins, and a couple of movies she hasn't seen in a long time (Finding Nemo and Monster's Inc). I also bought some Crayola Color Wonder coloring books and markers.

We started off the trip without any entertainment, no music/movies/books, just conversation. After about 3 hours, she fell asleep (it was around her usual nap time). After she woke up from her nap she was a little irritated that we were still on the road, so I broke out the ipad and snacks.

After she would settle down, we'd take a break from entertainment and just talk. We rationed entertainment for when she was getting uncomfortable.

Even though she's been potty trained for over a year, I dressed her in a Pull-Up in case we couldn't get to a bathroom in time, or if she had an accident while asleep (something that does happen at home).

For sleeping, we brought her own sheets, pillowcase, and mattress cover, oh and her special blanket. We brought along her white noise machine as well. This is her Dohm and it seriously saves my life on a regular basis. We did semi-normal bedtime routines in both hotels and my in-laws.

I was incredibly stressed out before the trip, just try to write a real plan down that fits with your kids. You know them best! I tried to research things to do on road-trips, but my daughter could really care less about license plates haha.

Good luck!

I've had the marpac below for 5+ years without any issues. I can't imagine sleeping in the city without it.

https://www.amazon.com/Marpac-Dohm-DS-All-Natural-White-Machine/dp/B000KUHFGM

Solution to your fan problem.

In my opinion, in order of supplement importance - protein, fish oil, and creatine.

https://www.amazon.com/Macks-Ultra-Soft-Foam-Earplugs/dp/B0051U7W32

​

if used correctly, these won't come out (roll them tightly, insert straight in, hold fingers over them as they re-expand)

There are hundreds of different earplugs. I've worn most of them since I've working in noisy environments most of my life.

Example:
https://www.amazon.com/Macks-Ultra-Soft-Foam-Earplugs/dp/B0051U7W32

Soundproofing the room itself is going to be expensive, a lot of work, and probably look bad. You're going to have trouble with finding the materials too, if you can't even find earplugs.

Ear plugs - the little foamy disposable ones - from Amazon

Also a good eye mask, I found one at Bed, Bath, and Beyond years ago. Something like this should do the trick.


Good luck!

downbeats (i wear the short stems but i bought both) - https://www.amazon.com/DownBeats-Reusable-Fidelity-Hearing-Protection/dp/B00A3Z44R2

Bring earplugs. Rock concerts are very very loud and can damage your hearing. I know people debate this and often see temporary hearing loss as a 'rite of passage' for going to shows; but talk to anyone in their 50s and 60s who went to rock concerts when they were younger and they wish they would have used hearing protection. I always wear earplugs and they actually improve sound for many shows, but I did buy a pair specifically for concerts.


Be prepared to stand the entire time depending on where your seats are. The set lists that are available online are going to be the same songs they will most likely play when you see them, at least that's what JP has led us to believe in recent interviews.

Here are the ones I bought if you're interested.


http://www.amazon.com/DownBeats-Reusable-Fidelity-Hearing-Protection/dp/B00A3Z44R2/ref=pd_sim_hpc_6?ie=UTF8&refRID=00KS3R3FRM8FRJA162VF

Saying you're a college student implies you're looking to save money? Any creatine monohydrate will do. I like to get Creapure. I use ON creatine, which is about the same price as the bulk options. You don't need BCAAs as long as you get enough protein.

Personally I don't really care for beta alanine. I do like citrulline malate, but it isn't necessary. You can buy caffeine pills for really cheap or drink a cup of coffee or something as a pre-workout.

Optimum Nutrition Creatine Monohydrate is a little under 16 US dollars for 120 servings on Amazon. It's not stupidly cheap but it's a reputable company and it's not expensive by any means.

You're really overpaying. Right now you're paying 20 dollars per pound for protein from GNC. ON Whey protein is $11.60 per pound of protein. You can also get 30% more creatine for the same price from Amazon. Their shipping is also very fast, and you can always just order around a week before your supply runs out and it will get there in time.

Invest in these fam https://www.amazon.com/Macks-Ultra-Soft-Foam-Earplugs/dp/B0051U7W32

I use this a lot in the last 4 years with room mates at uni. Sleep like a baby through basketball ceiling neighbors and next door neighbor rough sex. No problems.

Trust me, I know about irritating neighbor noise, I use to think headphones or earbuds were adequate to block noise. They are not, ear plugs is the way.

Here you go:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0051U7W32/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_77RQBbJ6ZD8QH

Honestly, it's going to take some trial and error to find the right ones for you.

There's plenty cheap but decent options so that if you lose yours on a somewhat consistent basis, it won't cost too much. It might happen as you get used to carrying them with you. A lot of people do Keys, I do my wallet but YMMV.

Three Popular options: Etymotic 20 DownBeats & Earasers I used US Amazon to show examples.

The Earasers are the Pricey option, but from my understanding, they offer the best Clarity. No case either, so you'll need to look for one. There's a fully "licensed" (meaning they'll fit) case for an extra 10$.

Etymotic 20's are what I use. Again, no case but I use a cheap key-chain pill case. Sounds good to my ears.

DownBeats are the most popular option I've seen around. They're too small for my ear canals, but they work for most. Come with a case, which is nice. Nice silicon and a friend who owns a pair usually forgets they're in.

All of these might work, or none of them. You just kind of have to try them out and see what works for you. Best of luck!

I use Lyte Balance. It's an electrolyte concentrate, you add a capful to a glass of liquid. 281mg Sodium, 350mg Potassium, 50 mg Magnesium. Taste is fine, I usually say it tastes like tears. The bottle describes how to use it.

For more Magnesium, Natural CALM has 325 mg. I like the Raspberry-Lemon flavor but you can buy sample boxes of 5 flavors. I can't find the assorted box on Amazon without buying a whole display, but I've found it at health food/co-ops before.

I'm about 6 months on keto (lost 30lbs, no migraines from 2-3/monthly, lots of energy/stamina). At first I documented my electrolytes everyday now I usually just add the electrolytes when I feel like I need it. Usually I'll get a mild headache or not feel as energetic.

http://www.amazon.com/Optimum-Nutrition-Standard-Double-Chocolate/dp/B000QSNYGI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1408430356&sr=8-1&keywords=golden+standard+whey+protein

This one on amazon is $58.

Based off of what you linked, I found one on amazon that is about $22 with 24 servings. The one I linked has 74 servings for $58. 74/24 = ~2.84. I then multiplied 2.84 by $22 to see where an equal price would be for 74 servings and that came out to be $63. So the one I linked is not only more cost-effective, but also cheaper in general since you'd only need to buy one and that would last you a longer time than one of the 2 pounders thus saving you shippings cost :).

I think Optimum Nutrition offers the best quality/price ratio out there (it also scored the highest in /u/heyf00L 's link). It also tastes okay (although if you drink it with water and not milk you might gag a little).

http://www.amazon.com/health-personal-care/dp/B000QSNYGI

What I do is take a shaker bottle, fill it with heavy cream and then dump a heaping scoop of the ON whey in. It's about 2,500 calories and a fuckload of protein. It tastes repulsive and I chug it in 3 seconds and I feel a bit sick/wonky for the next 30 minutes but man does it help with gains.

Optimum Nutrition Whey Protein seems to dissolve very easily for me. I've never used a blender, and don't own a shaker bottle - just use a spoon. They label it as "instantized."

• in water: dissolves completely in ~10 seconds (seems to be no clumps)
  
• in 2% milk: dissolves about 95% in ~20 seconds (a few tiny clumps float back to the top, but definitely no "cement mixer" - swirling a bit makes it easy to drink)
  
  As a side note, it's the first and only protein powder I've ever used, and I think it tastes pretty good. I've heard several people recommend it as one of the best tasting. I assume their other products, such as the casein protein, are good too.
  
  

Sorry, but I feel the need to correct some things here.

1. Eggs are cheaper than whey. At your local grocery store you might be able to get a dozen eggs for $2. Each egg contains 6.3g of egg protein, which comes out to 2.6 cents per gram. You can get 5lbs. of Optimum Nutrition Whey for $40. It contains 77 servings, each with 24g of whey protein. That comes out to 2.1 cents per gram. In addition, whey isolate/concentrate are vastly superior to egg protein because they absorb much more quickly. Whey protein has anywhere from 150% to 200% the bioavailability (ease of absorption into muscles) as egg.
   
   
2. Concentrate vs. isolate. Whey isolate is the purest form of whey protein, containing (I believe) >98% whey. This means it has the most actual protein per gram of stuff. Whey concentrate is diluted with other fillers, so you get less actual protein per serving. The flip side is that isolate, being very rapidly absorbed, may go to waste unless your body needs it immediately. This is why whey is recommended for post-workout, when your muscles are desperately in need of protein. Casein protein, on the other hand, is a slow-absorbing protein. Casein is recommended right before bedtime, so your body can slowly absorb it through the night.
   
   The rest, I agree with. You should not be getting 100% of your protein intake from powders. Eat protein-rich foods like eggs, meat, beans, and dairy. Balance your protein intake with complex carbs such as whole-grain breads, pastas, and rice. Get a solid vitamin/mineral intake by taking a multi and eating lots of different vegetables and fruits. Aim for naturally sweetened supplements whenever possible. It may taste a little bland, but it's better than throwing all those chemical sweeteners into your system.

Optimum Nutrition: 100% Whey Gold Standard is a good, standard protein at a decent price (that tub is huge!)

Shakes are all up to you. I tend to just mix however much protein I'm taking in a shaker with water. It's a lot less messy than making actual shakes. However, good things to put in shakes include: milk, almond milk, bananas, berries, (frozen) yogurt.

As far as too much/not enough. Anything less than a scoop is not enough. Too much is probably anything more than 2 scoops as some studies suggest that your body can only absorb so many grams of protein at one time. Also, I'd suggest taking another scoop before you go to bed.

Just get whatever protein's cheap and you actually like the taste of. No need to spend $ on expensive shit that's essentially the same thing.

I second Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey Gold Standard. Cheap and good.

If you've never really weightlifted before, do something like Stronglifts 5x5 and just focus on increasing your numbers on the big lifts.

No reason to get into complex intermediate/advanced workouts with 30+ exercises when you're not even squatting at least 1.5x your body weight.

Use those noob gains and progressive overload to your advantage.

Cue cum-gobbling joke

But seriously, I buy ten pound bags of this.

A quick google search found me what recipe you're probably thinking of using... 130 cals for 8g of protein? Meanwhile this guy has 120 cals and 3x the amount of protein (24g)... and 1 gram of sugar (that 1 gram won't kill you). It also prices out to about $0.78 per serving.... the protein/calorie ratio for the homemade stuff just doesn't sit well with me...

I don't need to further justify buying powder, but assuming you're working out 3x a week that's $2.34 you'd be spending on protein a week. Don't buy 1 cup of coffee a week and you've already paid for it.

The warped bottom you can't really fix. If you have a gas stove, it probably won't matter much, but it's annoying for sure. The other stuff... you can try some bar keeper's friend, or you can try the boiled salt water again... assuming you actually pay attention to it. What you're doing is basically deglazing the pan. I typically do that every time I cook, makes cleanup a breeze and sometimes is great for an awesome pan sauce.

Use bar keeper's friend. It will clean it up quick and easily with just a bit of scrubbing.

I used a Dremel rotary tool with one of these buffing wheel attachments and some Barkeeper's Friend mixed with a little water to form a paste. I just used a low speed and tried to be patient. The crystal is pretty tough but I did manage to get one really fine scratch (barely noticeable) so be careful.

I use these if I'm riding for more than 15 minutes.

This is why it's a good idea.

I do occasionally use GPS directions or music through bluetooth helmet speakers but at motorway speeds I normally don't bother since it can be hard to hear over wind noise anyway.

Let's face it, none of us do 45MPH on the motorway, so I'd highly recommend everyone protecting their hearing if they like it the way it is.

I use those moldable foam ones like they use on construction sites. I steal them from work. :) They're kinda like these on amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Howard-Leight-Visibility-Disposable-LL-1/dp/B0007XJOLG/ref=sr_1_9_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1479239868&sr=1-9&keywords=ear+plugs

eargasm (normal size)

eargasm (small size)

Once you get these, you’ll know why they’re called that. The best ones that I’ve ever used. :)

your comment reminded me of a kind of earplugs I had seen on Amazon, but never had the chance to buy/try yet:

https://www.amazon.com/Eargasm-Musicians-Motorcycles-Sensitivity-Conditions/dp/B019M576XW/ .

apparently they lower sound levels, but maintain clear sound. maybe those could help? (this is 100% not an ad, just trying to help :P)

I use this one that is half the price and has the same features. Work great for syncing with health app on iOS.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N1UX8RW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_iCU.BbK1TYYRP

RENPHO Bluetooth Body Fat Scale... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N1UX8RW?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

hmmm, well this is the one I have: https://www.amazon.com/RENPHO-Bluetooth-Body-Fat-Scale/dp/B01N1UX8RW/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=renpho&qid=1556646875&s=gateway&sr=8-1 it was recommended to me once, I've since converted my coach and I've suggested it to other competitors and it's always been very accurate for us!

I own this scale from Amazon. It's less than $30 and I've had it for two months now. Beyond its body fat readings, which I'm not sure of the accuracy of most scales, the Bluetooth feature is really helpful for recording results to your phone in apps like Apple Health or My Fitness Pal. The scale also has a phone app that is pretty decent by itself; again, like any piece of technology, it will not be 100% accurate but if you're measuring yourself as well as weighing yourself consistently it can certainly help with organizing your data trends wirelessly.

Doctor’s Best

At breakfast, lunch and dinner I take 1/4 TEAspoon lite salt (290mg sodium & 350mg potassium), 1 bullion cube (900mg sodium) and 1 magnesium pill (100mg magnesium). Of course when I am fasting I don't take these with meals, just water. The magnesium pill I had to switch out for topical magnesium because oral magnesium was giving me daily diarrhea while fasting.

My Supplemented Electrolytes

• 4,760 Sodium
  
• 1,400 Potassium
  
• 400 Magnesium
  
  Recommended Supplemented Electrolytes Plus Food Sources
  
  
• 5000 - 7000 mg sodium
  
• 1000 - 3,500 mg potassium
  
• 300 - 500 mg magnesium
  
  https://www.reddit.com/r/keto/wiki/faq#wiki_what_is_.201Cketo_flu.201D_and_how_long_will_i_have_it.3F
  
  https://www.reddit.com/r/ketogains/wiki/index#wiki_electrolytes.3A_sodium.2C_potassium.2C_magnesium_intake_for_ketogenic_diets_.2B_sports_.28and_all_about_the_.22keto_flu.22.2C_heart_palpitations_and_cramps.29
  
  Magnesium Pills: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BD0RT0
  
  Magnesium Powder: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YQGLW38
  
  I followed the instruction on the back of the bag of magnesium powder to create the magnesium oil/spray. I am applying it morning and night to my feet and calves. The bottom of your feet are the most absorbent for this.
  
  https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81ACXIBCpGL._SL1500_.jpg

The type matters. Oxide causes the digestive effects more. But they are also cheaper. So I get my first 350 from citrate powder dissolved in water then add in the more expensive horse pills of the good stuff later in the day. This seems to work okay for me. I found this on the internet "Forms of magnesium most commonly reported to cause diarrhea include magnesium carbonate, chloride, gluconate, and oxide". The pills I take are some chelated thing--> http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BD0RT0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Not meat-head but I've had the same results. I take 100 mg of Magnesium chelated and 300 mcg (0.3 mg) of melatonin each night and it makes a big difference. This is what I use:

• https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GG2I9O/
  
• https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BD0RT0/
  
  I also add a scoop of powdered Mangesium Citrate to my breakfast shakes which also seems to make a big difference.
  
  Magensium is a very important enzyme cofactor in more than 300 biochemical processes. Most people don't get nearly enough. I supplement since magnesium rich foods don't seem to have nearly enough for me of an effect for me.
  
  You can read more about magnesium deficiency and human health here: http://openheart.bmj.com/content/5/1/e000668
  

You're pretty muscular and in good shape. I don't think you need to lose any weight.

Also, since you have higher testosterone and are more muscular than an average woman, you can't evaluate yourself based on only BMI. BMI is based on height and weight for average women, who don't have high testosterone levels. So, if I were you, I wouldn't pay attention to only BMI.

DEXA and Bod Pod are good methods for measuring body fat, but they can be expensive, as you mentioned.

If you go to a gym, you can ask them if they have a body impedance analyzer or calipers. Those aren't as accurate as DEXA or Bod Pod, but they are usually cheaper.

You can even buy a body impedance analyzer for about $33. If you use a body impedance analyzer, just be sure to follow all of the directions regarding when you use the analyzer. I think it's supposed to be used exactly 2 hours after you eat a meal. (I haven't used one in a while). They are fairly accurate. I think the accuracy is about +/- 5%.

The best purchase my wife and I made was a dohm sound machine. It’s way better than any electronic white noise generator and helped my girls sleep through many nights of fireworks and lightning storms. Link for anyone interested: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KUHFGM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_wrShDbDXQK18Q

Have you tried an actual white noise machine? And I don't mean the electronic kind but this kind. There's a small fan in the box, and you can adjust the tone and noise level by swiveling the outside casing to adjust the size of the holes. It works very well.

You need a mechanical one like this.

White noise machine will drown out most/all of the noise. It'll take a night or two to get used to it but then you'll never sleep without it on ever again.
http://www.amazon.com/Marpac-DOHM-DS-Natural-actual-Machine/dp/B000KUHFGM

You'll never hear the dog again if you buy this

I had the same problem. I used a fan on high for white noise and it worked great.

I've also read that these little devices are amazing:

http://www.amazon.com/Marpac-Dohm-DS-Speed-Sound-Conditioner/dp/B000KUHFGM

I've had success using light therapy in combination with supplementation to fix my circadian rhythm disorder and SAD. I used this light therapy in the mornings, supplemented with vit B12 and vit D3 in the mornings, and melatonin at night. I also use St. John's Wort 300mg 2x/day in the winter for my SAD.

link to buy one

here's another

i don't know which is better

Scalp massagers are magical!

This awesome thingamajig

Scalp Massager. I'd consider it more of a mini gift/ stocking stuffer. It was part of the gift I got for my conservative Catholic father's birthday. The man tells his children to just get him golf balls for every gifting occasion, which gets old after awhile and does his other passions a disservice (like his love for novelty items/gadgets). This item was the jumping off point for my new golf ball supplementing gift strategy and he enjoyed it so much that he even gave it as a gift for a few of his coworkers.

Miracle Berries

They do work. Let them dissolve on your tongue for a minute or two and try stuff. Generally sour foods will give you the most effect turning them somewhat sweet. A cup of white vinegar tastes like Apple juice. Straight lemons taste like lemonade. Though there is a distinct "artificial" sweetener taste.

Note that you probably will get sick the first time - not from the tablet, but from the ridiculous stuff you will eat and think tastes good. And be careful with alcohol. Tequila tastes good, but it doesn't mean you should drink it like juice.

Magnesium! This seems to be a common problem with IF. Start adding way more leafy greens, pumpkin seeds and avocados, and/or supplement with magnesium.
I like Natural Calm: https://www.amazon.com/Natural-Vitality-Magnesium-Organic-Raspberry/dp/B00BPUY3W0?th=1
It works immediately, so I keep some around for when I get that restless feeling.

As far as the closest to a BIFL product, this is the sound machine I love.
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00HD0ELFK/ref=twister_B00I0BRAOK?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

I like Natural Calm for mag.
You can also get mag from adding Epsom salt to a bath and soaking for a bit(great for sore muscles).

Hi there! I don't have insurance either at the moment and have had periods over they years with no insurance. I would start looking into a low carb diet like keto, this can help with your blood sugar and loose weight. I just started taking DCI for about 4 weeks, and got my first period in 10 months. I take two a day in the morning, along with coconut oil pills, vitamin D3 and magnesium. I recently purchased Ovasitol to try the mixture of both myo and d-chiro inositol. I've seen a lot of girls on here who use this brand. I've now been researching berberine which is supposed to have equivalent effects as metformin. Hope this helps!

We have a Dohm white noise machine; it's the sound of air rather than digital sound and I love it. We got it for our twins but I sleep with it on for me at this point. Perhaps white noise would help you.

Here's what we have:

https://www.amazon.com/Marpac-Dohm-DS-Natural-Sound-Machine/dp/B00HD0ELFK/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1494710656&sr=8-1&keywords=dohm%2Bbaby&th=1

Yes, it gets better. It might take awhile, but it gets better.

Our twins didn't fully sleep through the night for 11 months. It was not a fun experience; honestly I was a zombie for basically a year and I really don't remember much of it. We were woken up 3-6x per night that entire time. Not fun.

BUT, now, our girls are a month shy of being 2 and they sleep like champs. I honestly can't remember the last time I had to get up in the middle of the night to do something for them. They go down in their cribs between 7:30-8pm, we close the door, they might whine for 5 minutes or less, and then they're asleep until we wake them up in the morning.

Do you have some sort of white noise machine? We have one of these in their room and it works great (in fact we have one in our bedroom too).

Yes, do it. Even if it turns out you don't have ADHD, you'll at least have ruled that out and can focus on getting treated for whatever else you may have.

Also: talk to the department that runs student disability services at your school. It's slightly different everywhere, sometimes they're connected with the tutoring center, sometimes they're part of the general administrative services, it varies from school to school. They can help you out with getting testing and filing paperwork with the school so you can get accommodations. Especially for exams, since going by how you describe how your ADHD affects you, taking your exams in an alternative environment would probably do you a world of good.

Another thing, consider picking up a white noise machine from Amazon. The sound they make doesn't sound all that different from when the air conditioning is blowing through the vents, and they're effective at blocking out annoying noises all around you.

I got one of these. It's not electronic and just like a fan type thing. I just wanted a white noise machine... Not waves or crickets or jungle sounds, etc. This works wonders...I live along a busy road near an airport and this lets me sleep so much better. No looping sounds

Marpac Dohm Classic White Noise Sound Machine, White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HD0ELFK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_cNxyCbYXNY5M2

Get a white noise maker. Not a white noise app on your phone or computer - it's not the same as a real white noise maker with a fan. I use this one.

I get triggered by car and motorcycle engines revving. I live near a military base with tons of idiots revving their idiotmobiles down the street - the sounds aren't loud, but if I can hear them (usually when I'm trying to sleep at night), I'm very uncomfortable. The white noise maker has made a huge difference in my quality of life.

For the sweet tooth (like my dad, these are all things he likes):

• A candy jar or bowl filled with her favorite candy.
  
  
• An artisan ice cream scoop.
  
  
• An ice cream maker. You could get an ice cream recipe book as well.
  
  
• One of my dad's favorite gifts was a sugar dispenser... I think that shows his level of sugar commitment.
  
  
• Some artisan marshmallows.
  
  
• A milk frother that doubles as a hot chocolate maker.
  
  For the executive (like my mom, these are all things she likes):
  
  
• A high quality thermos for coffee on the way to work.
  
  
• A smart home setup, maybe an echo and some smart outlets or the google home. Really good for turning lights on/off, asking for the weather and news, listening to music, etc.
  
  
• A FitBit to help her keep healthy even working long hours.
  
  
• A popcorn maker that allows you to make non-microwaved popcorn in the microwave.
  
  
• A white noise machine. If she has any trouble sleeping this thing is AMAZING.
  
  
• A Roku or Chromecast that makes it easier to watch Netflix on the TV.
  
  
• Wine tasting or cooking class that you can do together. Really my mom loves doing stuff with her family.

If it is for convenience get a headband and have it hold your earbuds in place.

Or buy such a product with it built in.

But I would rather recommend a white noise machine to leave in your room for tinnitus. Though such a machine can't play for you ASMR videos.

This is what I use for the same problem - total game changer. Therapists use it to block voices from being heard and it works to block road noise just the same: https://www.amazon.com/Marpac-Classic-White-Noise-Machine/dp/B00HD0ELFK

What about one of those white noise sound generator things like they have in some offices? Might help mask some of the sound.

Edit: These things

Edit 2: There's also the Thundershirt for the doggo.

Just basic ones for concerts will be fine. The foam plugs are more for deadening sound without regard for any distortion (like who cares about the subtleties of chainsaw noise). The sound quality won't be ideal. Concert or musician's earplugs will just bring everything down a bit with little distortion.

These are what I have: link.

Well worth it. These bands will ruin your ears. When I saw Sleep I almost wanted them to.

A lot of ear plugs are designed to let in sound, but reduce noise. Depends on what kind you have.

See things like this. If you're just using basic foam, then it's a different story.

Years ago I bought a box of 200 sets of Howard Leight Laser Lite NRR32 disposable plugs. I use them on the motorcycle, at the track, for sleeping, and hand them out to friends and family members any time we need protection. Everyone loves them. They are by far the most comfortable I have ever used and a single set will last at LEAST 2-4 weeks for sleep use (used nightly). I still have the box and have maybe gone through 1/2 to 2/3 of it. It was < $20.

Here is a link on Amazon (I bought them elsewhere at the time): http://www.amazon.com/Howard-Leight-Laser-Earplugs-Cords/dp/B0007XJOLG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1406299348&sr=8-1&keywords=howard+leight+laser+lite

Tell him you’re concerned for his health and suggest he do a sleep study. He likely has sleep anea. If he doesn’t have a cpap next time, pack earplugs.


I like this ones. They’ve become a necessity for me on trips.

These are the comfiest earplugs I've used, and that they're individually wrapped can come in handy. May I suggest cutting them (or any earplug) in half for sleeping purposes so they don't pull out as easily when you're moving your head around on your pillow. I cut mine approximately in half, but cut at an angle so there's still a little tip to pull them out by conveniently.

https://www.amazon.com/Howard-Leight-Visibility-Disposable-LL-1/dp/B0007XJOLG/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1505510399&sr=8-5

If the earbuds aren't blocking enough noise, try ear plugs coupled with actual headphones. You will be able to turn the music down less because the earplugs are dampening the outside noise. On REALLY bad days I do this. Any over the ear headphone will work... I use these ear plugs.

Just FYI, Asporotate is a proprietary blend that includes magnesium oxide, which is commonly used as a laxative. You may have better results with regular taurate, orotate, or glycinate versions of magnesium, taken by themselves. I use the Doctor's Best stuff which is chelated glycinate. Chelation increases absorption.

Magnesium Glycinate works great.

https://www.amazon.com/Doctors-Best-Absorption-Magnesium-Elemental/dp/B000BD0RT0/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1467322024&sr=1-1&keywords=magnesium+glycinate

$15 and it would last you a few months easily.

This: http://www.amazon.com/Optimum-Nutrition-Creatine-Powder-Unflavored/dp/B002DYIZEO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345579867&sr=8-1&keywords=creatine

Also: http://examine.com/supplements/Creatine/ (Thanks SilverHydra and Solox.)

A few key facts:
1.)Creatine has been proven to work. Source:http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/873.html

2.) 5 Grams a day is usually advised on the SIDE of your creatine container. 5 Grams is around a teaspoon. Source:http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=Mass+of+one+teaspoon+of+Creatine+monohydrate

3.) Cycling creatine is key. Source: http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/phano85.htm

4.) Creatine is cheap. 14$ a serving. Source: http://www.amazon.com/Optimum-Nutrition-Creatine-Powder-600g/dp/B002DYIZEO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1292895221&sr=8-1

A few comments on what ever people have posted. You should already be drinking a gallon of water a day. If you are don't worry about that. Creatine is usually grainy. It tastes like nothing. Throw it in a Protein shake. Do not expect to become god after taking it. Your mileage may vary. Penultimately, qho cares if you gain water weight? Odds are, you're not Arnold yet or anywhere close. Five extra pounds of water isn't going to break you. Finally, watch out for Grade A Bro science and stick to the good sources. Trust the NIH.

edit: minor spelling.

She might have trouble sleeping the night before the exam. Maybe get her a sleeping mask, a lavender reed diffuser to help her relax at night, some ear plugs in case the hotel is noisy at night, and snacks. Go to Whole Foods and pick up some of the healthy and tasty snacks they have. Something light and easy to eat.

I've used ER20s for years and highly recommend them, I've never had an issue with them, but then again I don't really get in the pit anymore.

Looking around I found these, which also have good reviews and don't have much of a protruding stem if you are worried about that:

http://www.amazon.com/DownBeats-Reusable-Fidelity-Hearing-Protection/dp/B00A3Z44R2/ref=sr_1_17_a_it?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1457671890&sr=8-17&keywords=etyplugs

Go find some actual reusable earplugs. I have been using the same pair for like two or three years that I won free in a RSD giveaway. I know it might be a bit late, but something like these will change your life.

I bought these because they seemed a good combo of well rated and affordable, but I’m sure fancier ones are better: DownBeats Reusable High Fidelity Hearing Protection: Ear Plugs for Concerts, Music, and Musicians (Clear Ear Plugs, Black Case) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A3Z44R2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_f6C4Bb0R1207E *edit for typo

Finally a topic I'm passionate about!

I don't have a specific answer for you, but that's because I have a lot of experience with ear plugs, and I know taste and fit will vary immensely from person to person.

Unfortunately, that means the best advice I can give you is try a whole bunch of different ear plugs, and see which ones fit best and work best for your purposes.

Judging from my experience, I'm certain you're going to need more than one type of earplug.

A bunch of tips:

1. This place: http://www.earplugstore.com/
   
   
2. Check out their assortment packs.
   
   
3. They make smaller women's and slim fit earplugs. I'm a fairly large man, and they don't fit me perfectly, but if I just want to take the edge off of the ambient sound, I use them. They muffle everything, but not to the same degree as my regular sized earplugs. That may not be an option for you depending on the size of your ears, but it's an option for some.
   
   
4. For music and movies, I've tried Downbeats, but they don't fit me very well. You may have more luck, and there are other brands worth considering. Search for earplugs for musicians. They preserve the full range of audio frequencies, but just lower the volume. (Regular earplugs will tend to block out some frequencies more than others.)
   
   
5. My favorite.
   
   
6. Buy disposable earplugs in bulk on the internet.
   
   
7. Those single use disposable earplugs -- you can use them more than once, but they do lose some of their blocking power. (Depending on the situation, this might be an advantage.) But once they get a little too soft and squishy, they're done.
   
   
8. I often wear earplugs almost all day like you're planning. And I sleep with them every night too. That's doable, but do take them out for a decent amount of time each day. If they are in too long, even your favorite earplugs can become irritating. (And I know some people do have allergies to certain earplug materials.)
   
   
9. Noise dampening earmuffs are also great.
   
   
10. Keep a pair of earplugs with you in a little case at all times. You never know when you're going to want them.
    
    If you have any questions or just want to talk earplugs, let me know. Like I said, I'm an earplug aficionado!
    
    As for the rest of you, I can't recommend the earplug lifestyle to people on this subreddit strongly enough.
    
    Earplugs are like a warm, cozy blanket for your mind.
    
    Once you start using them regularly, you'll wonder how you ever managed to live without them.

I have DownBeats and I know they're pretty-well regarded, and perform similarly to several ETY models.

Any worth/sense in switching it up?

https://www.amazon.com/DownBeats-Reusable-Fidelity-Hearing-Protection/dp/B00A3Z44R2?th=1

Don't know any place that sells them locally. Maybe call a few guitar centers/music stores that carry amps. They might have something similar.

https://www.amazon.com/DownBeats-Reusable-Fidelity-Hearing-Protection/dp/B00A3Z44R2

Down beats!!! Meant to lower the level of the noise you hear evenly across the sound spectrum, so the bass and treble all still sound good, just a bit quieter.

Amazing for music

Bring ear plugs, people! These are pretty good, and not obvious to anybody hanging around you: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A3Z44R2

I'm a big fan of Optimum Nutrition. There's 24g of protein per scoop with only 120 calories, so it's a pretty good ratio for the price, which is about $58 for a 5lb tub. The flavors are also really good for what I've tried (which is only two, extreme milk chocolate and mint chocolate) but I definitely recommend it!

here's a link to amazon

I'm particularly fond of Optimum Nutrition's Gold Standard Whey in Double Rich Chocolate flavor. I've tried a few others, but this is the best tasting (mix with milk, not water ick) and the easiest to stick with using. You can get it from Amazon with free Prime shipping here

link

Protein shake with soy/fat free milk. Maybe mix a banana in there. With this brand in the extreme milk chocolate flavor, it literally tastes like a delicious milk shake (as Amazon reviews will confirm). The shake itself is low in calories/carbs and high in protein. Drinking one for breakfast is part fo why I can run a -500 calorie deficit each day.

I see. You can always just eat a chicken breast, or some eggs, cottage cheese, spaghetti with ground turkey, whatever. Tons of options.

IMO, there are tons of protein powders that taste just fine. Plus, who really cares how it tastes? Throw in a scoop in 8oz of water or milk and chug it down in 5 seconds.

https://www.amazon.com/Optimum-Nutrition-Standard-Double-Chocolate/dp/B000QSNYGI?th=1

Tastes like a chocolate milkshake, mixes fine with a spoon with no lumps. Costs $55 for a 5lb tub of it that has 74 scoops/servings, each being 24g protein.

$55/74 servings = 75 cents a serving, if you mix it with water.

Good luck getting that cost efficiency and health balance somewhere else. Will last you over two months if you just take one scoop per day.

What protein powders have you tried?

I'm pretty lactose intolerant myself but I rarely experience significant issues like this. I make the same shakes as well, sometimes using 2-3 scoops. I use this whey protein if you are interested in switching to a different brand.

Here's what I use. 5 pounds for that amount of $ is a goddamn steal. I do 2 scoops (6 carbs) and some chocolate syrup (another 6 carbs) after I workout and it never leads to any bad spikes or anything. Recommended!

This is the best stuff IMO. Works on almost any set-in-stain.
https://www.amazon.com/Bar-Keepers-Friend%C2%AE-Cleanser-Polish/dp/B000V72992

Bar Keepers Friend.

I've heard really good things about Bar Keeper's Friend for cleaning stainless steel.

You can pour a layer of vinegar in the bottom of a pan and heat it up. Once it gets hot, turn it off and let it sit for 15 minutes, then scrub like crazy. It removes most spots.

Try this stuff....Barkeeper's Friend. It will get rid of a lot of that deposit stuff. It's an acid/cleaner...you make a paste out of it with a little water, rub it in for a minute or two and then...well let's just say that I've seen it work miracles. Better than any other normal cleaner I've used (and I've tried them all). It's fine for tiles too. Try it before you try anything else.

$0-$5

Bar Keepers Friend - This stuff is magic for cleaning. It gets rid of all kinds of stains on tile or porcelain and makes sinks look awesome.

$5-$10

Magic Erasers - These are obviously sorcery

$10-$20

Power Squid - Helps deal with the situation around my computer and tv.

$20-$50

14-Piece Knife Set - Not a great knife set, but better than a drawer of miscellaneous knives, which is what I have now! Decent reviews, too.

One of these: https://www.amazon.com/NatureBright-SunTouch-Light-Therapy-package/dp/B000W8Y7FY

It really does help me. This is the one my doctor recommended.

Hello! Have you looked into getting some sort of sunlamp to help you out? I live in SoCal, so this sort of thing is not an issue, but I hear these can be useful, along with full-spectrum lights.

>I know it's not as good as medicine.

There haven't been as many studies as with many drugs, but so far the research is at least suggesting they're as good or better than most antidepressants. So good, in fact, that you have to watch out for mania. Using them in the middle of the day seems to reduce this risk, but again, not a lot of research.

>I am having financial issues and it's kind of expensive

This one seems pretty reasonable: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000W8Y7FY

Here ya go, bud. My condolences to your REM sleep.

• Caffeine pill
  
• Citrulline malate
  
• Beta alanine
  
• Creatine monohydrate
  
• Theanine if you want to "smooth out" the caffeine
  
• For flavoring, citric acid and stevia
  
• Choline bitartrate

Pointless waste of money.

Get some caffeine

Maybe some Ephedrine (I use Synephrine, ephedrine's little brother)

And for me personally I find I function better when I add in some L-tyrosine

Finally I like to add in some L-theanine which helps prevent any kind of jittery feeling.

I usually use:

• 100-200mg of Caffeine
  
• 100mg of Synephrine (Start lower at 25mg and work your way up to a dose that works for you).
  
• .5-1g of L-Tyrosine
  
• 100-200mg of L-Theanine
  
  Everything I use would cost you $40 and it will last quite a while.

I use this caffeine and this l-theanine. Couldn't say if they're the best on Amazon, but they work well for me and are well-priced.

https://www.amazon.com/Body-Back-Companys-Scalp-Massager/dp/B001IHXFQK?th=1

tl;dr is they make things taste different. One of the biggest changes is sour stuff tastes sweet (citrus, vinegar, etc.)

Wiki, you can get them on Amazon

Unrelated but the one time I took acid I found miracle berry pills I had stashed away.

I spent the next 10min drinking lemon juice and the 10min afterwards vomiting. It was an experience.

Indeed, everyone should try to see what fan get togethers are going down. Either check the organizational mega thread on Reddit, or #meetups on discord.

I purchased these earplugs for the shows. I used them for Judas Priest and they worked great. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019M576XW/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_U_x_rt93AbYER385N

I unfortunately have no advice for the drinking. But if you're gonna go to loud environments like concerts and such you can buy high-fidelity earplugs that allow you to hear everything clearly but protect your ears. I have them for concerts and they are amazing.

https://www.amazon.com/Eargasm-Musicians-Motorcycles-Sensitivity-Conditions/dp/B019M576XW/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1550079963&sr=8-3&keywords=high%2Bfidelity%2Bear%2Bplugs&th=1

Jesus christ they come with cases put it in your car/house key ring

https://www.amazon.com/EarPeace-Ear-Plugs-Protection-Professionals/dp/B076VVP6CX/ref=sr_1_6_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1539535938&sr=8-6&keywords=concert%2Bearplugs&dpID=410T75bKAgL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/Eargasm-Musicians-Motorcycles-Sensitivity-Conditions/dp/B019M576XW/ref=sr_1_4_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1539535938&sr=8-4&keywords=concert%2Bearplugs&dpID=51ztL6Xe-WL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch&th=1

Hearing protection is massive. I recommend these, been using them for a couple years now and they've never fallen out. Best way/most affordable way to protect your hearing, and still hear the music with clarity.

Someone on this sub recommended Eargasm ear plugs. I have been using them for a couple weeks, and I like them. I can hear the coaches, but I can’t hear if the person next to me is talking to me. They dampen the sound more than block it out.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019M576XW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_4T3JDb3XXCP0N

I wish I started wearing ear plugs years ago in loud classes (OTF, spin, etc.) - I think have permanent ringing/static in my ears.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019M576XW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1


I have these. Seriously, don't go to another show without some kind of earplugs. You do not want tinnitus, I cannot stress this enough.

It comes with the scale I bought from Amazon.

RENPHO Bluetooth Body Fat Scale - FDA Approved - Smart BMI Scale Digital Bathroom Wireless Weight Scale, Body Composition Analyzer with Smartphone App, 396 lbs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N1UX8RW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_kiJTBbGXCT77S

There's the link to the one I got.

I have a ton of muscle spasms - it's honestly what causes me the most issue of all my symptoms.

Honestly - the two things that helped me most were PT (Muldowney Protocol) and CHOWING on Magnesium (which helps with muscle relaxation - and pooping!).

I took Gabapentin, Diclofenac, and occasional Tramadol - they all help, but once I layered this stuff on top of it - I had a lot of success. I took 4 a day. For the record - it is elemental magnesium (a little different than what you typically get in a grocery store, but not sure how, exactly) - it was recommended by my doctor who is a huge EDS advocate/ally.

I also struggled to pee - so in addition to all of this, I do a lot of kegels on top of ab work outs. Check out this app - it has really helped!


Can't say if it's just EDS you are dealing with - but I can most certainly relate to a lot of what you experienced.

Let me know if you have any questions - I usually type out a much longer response, but short on time today!

Edit: I noticed someone else mentioned muscle relaxers here - I just had to chime in and say these were not good and made my spasms worse. I relaxed INTO my injuries and it only causes my S-Curve scoliosis to get worse. I had to maintain some of the spasms and work to strengthen my muscles before I could take the muscle relaxers without further injuring myself.

After trying multiple kinds to minimize anxiety and help with sleep, this is one of my favorite magnesium supplements thus far

Amazon's always really bad about this. They'll invent MSRPs that never existed just to bring it down to normal prices so "you can save" 30% on basically everything always.

Also, consider installing a browser plugin to integrate CamelCamelCamel or something similar. They track Amazon prices across time. Example for the magnesium: https://camelcamelcamel.com/Doctors-Best-Absorption-Magnesium-Glycinate/product/B000BD0RT0

1300 calories is way to low, IMO. I'm muscle building and losing some fat and I eat 1600-1800 calories a day. 22-23% body fat for a woman is healthy.

Uping your protein intake is important for muscle building and helps burn fat, too.

Carbs is what really makes it hard to lose body fat. There have been a lot of research on it.

My intake is:

Protein: 150-250grams

Carbs: 50-100 grams

Fat: <65grams


Personally, this is just my diet, I'm not saying that everyone should follow it, just a general idea. (I'm 5' 6'5" and I weigh 138-140lbs but I look about 120 because of muscle)

I hate cardio, I really do, aside from swimming, but cardio helps burn fat quicker and tightens your muscles. While weightlifting builds your muscles and body tone.

How often do you weightlift?

I suggest getting a BFP Hand Scale or something similar to this:
http://www.amazon.com/Omron-HBF-306C-Loss-Monitor-Black/dp/B000FYZMYK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341949478&sr=8-1&keywords=body+fat+percentage

And maybe reading up on If It Fits Your Macros (IIFYM)

http://www.thespartanwarrior.com/post/9041775488/understandcalories

http://www.thespartanwarrior.com/post/6114152789/iifym



Oh and I went from 136lbs at my lowest weight up to 140lbs and lost a pant size, too. So, I definitely gained muscle and lost fat. :)

Well also note that I have zero muscle tone. (If I had muscles they would probably show through at this BF%). I used my trusty Omron Monitor to measure the BF%.

I've used it on my boyfriend and he's about 6% with visible abs so that seemed about right. (We plan on getting calipers soon) My BMI right now is about 16 (normally 17.9). Many companies are starting to not allow models with a BMI under 18 to work for them.

I think that people tend to overestimate the body fat of models. And forget that appearance is dependent on amount of muscle (along with amount of body fat).

I use [this](Marpac Dohm-DS All-Natural White Noise Sound Machine, Tan https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KUHFGM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_UXlnzb8RG76JB) white noise machine. I was previously using fans, but they always developed ticks or squeaks that annoyed me and they were not as effective. If the iPhone apps don't work, this could be worth a try!

https://www.amazon.com/Marpac-Dohm-DS-All-Natural-White-Machine/dp/B000KUHFGM

It's mechanical as opposed to being something playing a recording on a loop, so it definitionally can't result in that issue you're describing of noticing when the loop restarts.

Chihuahua - VERY vocal dog

Pitbull - another quite vocal dog

Pit/Chihuahua mix = VERY vocal dog.

My girlfriends Pomeranian barks when I fart. Just something we accept. You can try something like a white noise maker for when you're sleeping. It might help drown out the sound. It can also help you sleep.

http://www.amazon.com/Marpac-Dohm-DS-Speed-Sound-Conditioner/dp/B000KUHFGM

swear to God it works.

My shrink uses it too outside their offices when seeing patients so others can't hear therapy sessions outside the door.

You do realize it costs way more to pay a lawyer for one hour than it does to move dorms once even twice then? Try buying a white noise machine. This is a popular white noise machine.

Anecdote: A few weeks after taking these magnesium supplements I became depressed. A few days after stopping I felt normal.

Apparently such a reaction isn't totally out of the question, as I've seen similar reports.

I've brought this experience up before on this sub because I feel it's important that people are aware there can be serious side effects when messing with one's body chemistry.

I usually chew gum satisfy my urge of clinching. I also take Magnesium Chelated ( must be chelated) to get of the clenching and the headaches. I was about to give up on VYvanse until I fond those two things and haven't had a problem yet/


Here is the brand I chose: amazon.com/gp/product/B000BD0RT0

It's true that weight doesn't matter on its own. It's just a tool that we use to track fat loss. But depending on how quickly you're losing weight, it would be very difficult to put on muscle at the same rate, especially from cardio, as opposed to weight training. Muscle growth caps out around a couple pounds per month for most people. The world's strongest man may be around 400 lbs, but he can also deadlift over 1,000 pounds. It's just important to keep some perspective on that, because none of us are on his level.

It sounds like the psoriasis could play a role in the fat percent reading. You could try to use one of the impedance testers that goes through your hands (like this one). But I think the bigger factor is that the impedance fat percent testing just isn't that accurate to begin with. It can be influenced by all kinds of thing. When I test mine at night versus the following morning, it can easily differ by 4 or 5%. So I don't really trust it. The calipers are a good alternative, as long as you're careful to use them correctly, and the same each time.

I've been lifting heavily for some time now (while eating on a deficit), and muscle growth has certainly happened, but not quickly enough to stop weight loss. I find it's a lot harder to track getting healthy without being able to put some numbers to it. To each his own, though.

The BMI ratio supposedly shows how overweight someone it, it's not like there's a good test that's easy to administer to show body fat % instead of this.

...oh wait and another

Side note, I just got a full workup the other day complete with blood test, everything except BMI was healthy. Doctor looked at it, mentioned that it is an outdated method because it doesn't take into account muscle and said nothing else. So I guess I am a special snowflake.

Something like this I think will serve your purpose, along with a simple digital scale.

http://www.amazon.com/Marpac-Dohm-DS-Speed-Sound-Conditioner/dp/B000KUHFGM

I know, it's meant ot be a humorous FWP post, but we have 2 of these noise machines (one for us, one for our toddler) and they are really great.

Failing that, (if we're traveling and don't feel like packing it, etc.), we use the whitenoise app for the iPhone in concert with some little portable speakers.

If you are this concerned with the looks of a fan In a dorm room, specifically when it's only being used for ambient noise.. I'd suggest a sound conditioner instead. Like this one https://www.amazon.com/Marpac-Dohm-DS-All-Natural-Machine-Actual/dp/B000KUHFGM

Tell him to get one of these: http://www.amazon.com/Marpac-Natural-actual-inside-Machine/dp/B000KUHFGM

1. get white noise machine or something like fan.
   
2. put in babies room.
   
3. turn on.
   
4. enjoy sleep again. :)
   
   these are expensive as fuck but it works wonders. Also kid is less likely to wake up due to loud noises.
   http://www.amazon.com/Marpac-SleepMate-980A-Electro-Mechanical-Conditioner/dp/B000KUHFGM
   
   if you know all this than ignore me. just trying to be helpful.

> I plan to do my own research on this. But I'm assuming these supplements were manufactured/synthesized ethically?

Well, they are usually vegan. The top taurine and creatine supplements on amazon are vegan.

> This is controversial. Some sources say the iron found in plants is inferior to heme iron.

It's absorbed differently. All you need is enough iron at the end of the day, and plants provide plenty as long as you eat a well balanced diet.

I would not use a protein powder with creatine in it. Depending on how much protein I get in a day from normal food, I'll adjust how much whey powder I'm taking in (to meet my ~1g/lb body weight/day level). If creatine is mixed in the protein, that means my creatine dose would differ between days. This may be bad because 1) I may not get the 5g dose that is suggested or 2) I may get more than suggested and I'll piss it out which is a waste.

I use this whey: http://www.amazon.com/Optimum-Nutrition-Standard-Vanilla-Cream/dp/B000GISU1M/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1377492870&sr=8-5&keywords=on+protein+vanilla+ice+cream

I use this creatine: http://www.amazon.com/Optimum-Nutrition-Creatine-Powder-Unflavored/dp/B002DYIZEO

As a note, PWO are generally really expensive for what you get. You can generally get the raw ingredients for much cheaper, tailor it to your preferred proportions, and throw it into your protein shake or make your own PWO without getting as many random add-on ingredients that don't really do much that PWO love to throw in.

The main ingredients, caffeine, beta-alanine and creatine are dirt cheap and you can mix them to your own proportions. E.g. C4 $35 for 60 servings comes out to ~$0.58/serving for 1.5g beta-alanine, 135mg caffeine, and 1g creatine.

Doing it yourself with 1.5g beta-alanine =~$0.08, 200mg caffeine =~$0.08, and 5g creatine =~$0.13 or $0.29/serving to get more caffeine and the recommended amount of creatine. You can get it even cheaper ordering in bulk powders.

You'll probably also want to get a cheap food scale ~$10 to get the correct amounts since scoop measurements can be unreliable. Definitely get a scale if you mess with powdered caffeine.

edit: mathed wrong on cost/serving of C4

I really like the Mack's 32 db plugs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0051U7W32/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_cwLjDb76EN21F

Use those under the highest rated over ear muffs you can find.

Foam plugs work very well. They reduce overall sound while still allowing you to hear high pitches horns and sirens.

Preachers hate him for this one simple trick.

Have you tried any kind of mindfulness practice? Meditation, deep breathing, autogenic training, guided imagery, that sort of stuff? Doing these things regularly can sort of bring down your baseline level of anxiety, and then doing something like deep breathing in the moment can help calm you down when you're having anxiety.

That time when you're alone for a while would be an excellent time to do some meditating. If you'd like some resources for how to meditate, let me know and I'll dig some up. :)

A good deep breathing technique is to just close your eyes, breathe in through your nose for 4 seconds, then breathe out through your mouth for 8 seconds, focusing your attention on the sensation of your breath entering and leaving your body. Some people find it helpful to have words they think of while breathing, like I say "here" while breathing in and "now" while breathing out.

You can find videos on YouTube for guided meditations, autogenic training, or guided imagery.

Also, how about ear plugs, like these?

Depends how far away you are from any speakers.

85dB is more than sufficiently loud.

110dB-130dB is what you can expect.

These are popular (pick correct size, most people are medium, but I almost always use the smallest buds with my headphones, so small would likely fit me best). Comes with a case.

These aren’t as high-fidelity, but do the best at reduction

These are too cheap and easy to pass up

Here are the ones I brought, was not disappointed.

Mine didn't have a cord connecting them, but the carrying case helped at least.

There are three kinds of people who don't wear earplugs to live music events:

1. People who are unaware how loud it can be (especially near the front or a speaker stack)
   
2. People who are unaware that hearing damage is permanent and cumulative
   
3. People who know 1 and 2 but don't value being able to hear well as they get older
   
   The choice is yours: earplugs now, or hearing aids later.

Someone else said it, but get earplugs. I can't stress this enough.

Swing by CVS or something on your way and you can get some crappy foam ones for tonight (ABR is LOUD). Then, for other shows, I would suggest buying a pair of these Downbeats for $14. They have lasted me years, and let in all the good sound and dull the roar that destroys your ears.

I am in my 20s and have the hearing of someone in their 50s or 60s, my doctor said. I destroyed my ears at shows. Don't be like me.

Have fun, don't worry about people judging you, and you'll get the vibe in no time.

I use these. I have gone to about 50 concerts with them and have never experienced any comments about my appearance or hearing damage. The plus for these compared to the foam ones you can get at CVS or something is they don't block sound nearly as much, but offer you the same protection.

I use DownBeats

They're comfortable and allow a safe amount of sound to come through. I started using them because the ringing in my ears for a few days after a show started driving me crazy, hasn't happened since. Plus I feel like I can hear the instruments and vocals even better, they drown out a lot of the speaker feedback and crowd noise.

Can anyone recommend a good pair of earplugs? I'm planning on attending my first concert (Madeon) and I'd like a some input. My two current options are the Etymotic Er20 and the Downbeats Ear Plugs. Anyone have any experience with either/both? Id like to keep it less than $15. Thanks!

Try magnesium supplements instead of laxatives. THIS ONE is my favorite.

Also helps improve calmness.

I use the app Flo in order to track my PMDD and take HTP-5 and ashwagandha root capsules during those two weeks. I feel like they help my cravings, anxiety, and depression. I have been prescribed Prozac for depression and anxiety since I was 13, and I make sure not to forget taking it (my dosage remains the same).

At night I have trouble falling asleep, so I take these magnesium supplements a few hours before bedtime. I also try to meditate for at least 5 minutes every night using the app Insight Timer. It helps me with impulse control and not overreacting to things. All of this took many years to figure out. I hope you find something that brings relief!

EDIT: I didn't know there were any possible reactions of HTP-5 and antidepressants, but apparently the main warning for supplements containing 5HTP is “do not consume if you’re taking antidepressant drugs.” It can lead to serotonin syndrome.

I'm going to stop taking HTP-5 for now and just take the ashwagandha root supplements, which don't seem to have negative interactions with antidepressants. Let me know if I'm wrong.

1. I took New Ultima Hydrating Electrolyte Powder, Orange, 90 Servings https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IIGUTEY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_xC3dBb14Z5AXH And Natural Vitality Natural Calm Diet Supplement, Raspberry Lemon, 16 Ounce https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BPUY3W0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_iD3dBbNJA2BBC
   
2. haha not at all. I have bulimia and was bingeing and purging like crazy for almost 2 months prior. Just went cold turkey
   

I bought the white noise machine off Amazon. Love it. Just plugs in. Marpac Dohm Classic White Noise Sound Machine, White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HD0ELFK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_aVERBb1N8WK2J

1. A Dohm sound machine - seriously, this thing is amazing. My toddler still uses hers and my husband and I actually bought one for our room and we use it every night. It goes with us when we travel and it's essential to good sleep for us.
   
2. Gummy bear night light - it must be red! This was recommended to me from a sleep class we took before our toddler was born and it's amazing for middle of the night feedings. You squeeze the belly and it turns on and there's a separate adapter I recommend buying so you don't run out of batteries so quickly. The red light helps your baby (and you!) fall asleep quickly so you don't have sleep that's even more disrupted.
   
3. Seamless underwear - I wasn't expecting a c-section and ended up having an emergency one and I had to have my mother-in-law run to Macy's to find some seamless underwear for me because regular underwear hit exactly at my c-section scar and was extremely uncomfortable. She picked up some Calvin Klein ones and I've since purchased several pairs and I really love them, even when not pregnant, but it was something that I wasn't expecting to need. (I would find the link for them but I'm currently at work so I'll edit it later with the link, haha)
   
   Splurge item: a baby monitor with a camera and app on your phone. We originally used a motorola one because I was convinced I needed a separate little screen and I could still see it on my phone through an app, but we recently bought a Nest camera and I love it. I love being able to see what time she goes to bed if we have a sitter, I can tell when she's gotten up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom - even if she doesn't wake us up and its several hours later... overall, I just really love it.

If you guys like white noise, you should check these out.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HD0ELFK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

A white noise machine helps. This one is awesome http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00HD0ELFK/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_a_it?qid=1462070849&sr=8-1&keywords=white+noise+machine

I got Eargasm plugs from Amazon which are pretty good. I also got a pair of Vibes after seeing them on Shark Tank. I prefer the Eargasms slightly but both are pretty good performance especially considering the value.

But now I'm probably going to invest in a custom pair due to hearing loss and tinnitus. They actually take a mold of your ear canal and make them just for you but they're damn expensive!

fyi i really recommend this magnesium. only Mg that's worked for me without stomach issues and i've tried all the types.

i also recommend not trying any carby replacements or substitutes. i'd fall off the wagon with bread-like things or fake sugar substitutes. however i've been doing great thus far cutting all that out. natural whole foods only. just none of that mess. full on pure keto.

and making a chart, 30 days or 100 days, where you cross off each box for each day, makes it REALLY helpful. esp if you use a big fat red marker. :)

edit: if you use sweet stuff, do NOT use maltodextrin or malitol. it's the devil's ass crack when it comes to weight loss. use liquid stevia (Sweet Leaf or Trader Joe's brand) or Swerve / erythitol.

I picked up a pair of Eargasm earplugs before Hangtown Halloween Festival... I can't recommend them enough. Silenced all the chompers, protected my ears, and made me hear the music a lot more clearly.

https://www.amazon.com/Eargasm-Musicians-Motorcycles-Sensitivity-Conditions/dp/B019M576XW

I bought some for Sunn O))) last month. It was my first time seeing them and the ear plugs were so effective I had to take them out a few times to get a taste of what I was missing. Zero lingering ringing or regrets the next day.

Eargasm High Fidelity Earplugs for Concerts Musicians Motorcycles Noise Sensitivity Conditions and More (Ear Plugs Come in Premium Gift Box Packaging) - Blue https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019M576XW/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_8l4MDbTY8ZJW6

I use two types of earplugs.

Vibes High Fidelity Concert Earplugs - Hearing Protection Ear Plugs Noise Reduction for Concerts, Fitness Classes, Motorcycle, Sensory Disorders (Tinnitus Relief & Autism) - As Seen on Shark Tank https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018WPOQSG/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_rWqODbPD5326E

These for when I need things toned down but don't need to be aware enough to, say, notice someone coming up behind me. So, places I feel safe. Theyre fairly comfortable. Designed similarly to earbuds. Easy to take with you and keep clean.

Eargasm High Fidelity Earplugs for Concerts Musicians Motorcycles Noise Sensitivity Conditions and More (Ear Plugs Come in Premium Gift Box Packaging) - Blue https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019M576XW/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_i_OXqODb425E193

These for when I have to be aware of my surroundings but can't deal with all of the sound because it's overwhelming. It makes things manageable on a good day, but they wouldn't do much on a bad day. They're really, really comfortable. Easy to take with you. Require a bit more care than most earplugs.

Both will let you hear conversation/tv/etc without issue.

I've been using Eargasm for a few months. Happy with them so far. https://www.amazon.com/Eargasm-Musicians-Motorcycles-Sensitivity-Conditions/dp/B019M576XW/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1521648975&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=eargasm&th=1

These are the best I've ever used https://www.amazon.com/Eargasm-Musicians-Motorcycles-Sensitivity-Conditions/dp/B019M576XW/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=eargasm&qid=1574179452&sr=8-4


Far more comfortable and better than the Hearos

I had never used earplugs before the Vegas show but I got these and they were amazing, sounded so much better, no headache after. I highly recommend these. I bought the connector cord also so I dont have to worry about them falling out.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019M576XW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Correct me if I’m wrong, OP, but I believe it’s the Renpho Body Fat scale. It’s super cool, I use it too!

I found caliper to be the more precise of all way of measuring, I have a couple of model, but they are kind of hard to use in a consistent way.

Like you, I want to monitor my progress, especially monitoring that I am not loosing muscle or a minimum amount while cutting fat. In the past, I did loose a lot of muscle while loosing the last 20 pounds, so this time I just want to be sure this is in check.

Unfortunately, using caliper is kinda a pain in the ass to use and the slight variation in pitching the fat, or the emplacement and the measurement is off and hard to compare.

Personally, I am using this body fat scale:

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01N1UX8RW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

​

It measure your weight and you body fat, your lean body mass, etc and it sync with your phone automatically. Bio Impedance is not reliable if you want to know your true bodyfat percentage (can be off by +- 4%), but to track your progress it is awesome if you use it in the same circumstance. I weight in the morning at the same time every morning after I wake up and pee. On the other hand, in my case, the bodyfat this scale is estimating me is the same as what I measured using my calipers. So for me, it is pretty accurate while being very cheap and very very convenient.

we have a 2 year old and an 8 month old. For naps we close the door in what ever room they're sleeping in and turn on the white noise maker . They are worth every penny.

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard. I was looking for a new one last month and found some that were cheaper but when you figured out the cost per gram of protein, Optimum Nutrition was nearly the cheapest and they have a better reputation than the ones that were slightly cheaper. Surprisingly, Vitamin Shoppe has it for the same price as Amazon, so you can pick it up in person if you want.

Most of the protein powders have very little carbs. They generally use artificial sweetners for taste. This (http://www.amazon.com/Optimum-Nutrition-Standard-Double-Chocolate/dp/B000QSNYGI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1317780937&sr=8-1) is one of the best, and decently cheap if you can't find any local brands. Walmart/Sam's have a few varieties that are cheaper, but usually don't taste quite as good.

As for bars...Quest Bars are pretty decent. They're all natural proteins and fats (no sugar alcohols or other crap) and stevia (I think). Again, pricy, but not out of line. I avoid bars like the plague because I find them kinda gross, but they are nice in a pinch. The brownie one is good (free samples http://www.questproteinbar.com/freesample1)

I like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Optimum-Nutrition-Standard-Double-Chocolate/dp/B000QSNYGI

I blindly trust Gold Standard whey protein because it has good reviews on Amazon. I haven't read any of the reviews, but it has an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars, so I trust it.

Optimum Gold, tasty and full of good stuff.

The science of the optimum metabolic window (which prompts the recommendation to eat w/in 30-45 minutes of working out) is pretty shaky. It may or may not be necessary to consume some protein and carbs to fuel optimum muscle repair during that time, but it certainly won't hurt! For me, eating right after a workout helps stave off the "oh my goodness I'm so hungry I could eat eight hippos" impulse and headaches, too.

I also think of a post-workout protein shake or protein bar as my source of extra workout-day calories, so I don't have to mess with my meal planning for the rest of the day. I like Optimum Nutrition's whey protein to mix with milk or coffee and the Think Thin protein bars. (Hate the branding, love the macros.)

Protein shakes? Get a big ol' tub of whey. From what I understand, whey is probably the lowest calorie dense form of getting your protein.

They are completely unnecessary, unless you are choosing to do fasted training. That is, your Stronglifts session would begin not until at least the 10-12th hour of your fast, and your first meal of the day would be your post workout meal. Since you are basically working out with nothing at all in the tank, the BCAAs are there to prevent possible muscle catabolism during your workout. BCAA specifically are recommended only because they are 'pure protein', so 10grams of BCAA are 10 grams of protein (40cals). If you were to use the-next-best-thing, which is probably whey protein isolate (which contain BCAA, other amino acids, and some carbs) you'd need over 100cals of the whey to get the same amount of protein, which could break the fast.

Anyway, I only take them on Saturdays before a fasted workout. During the week I have a small meal, usually chicken breast, at around noon, followed by a workout around 3. In this case the BCAA are completely unnecessary because of the previous small meal. I do prefer and feel I have a better workout doing the fast training but because of scheduling I can't really do it that way during the week.

Other than that, food is always the preferred source of protein. Chicken breast on sale for 2$/lb. is about as cheap as it gets. If you find it difficult to hit your protein macros for a day, whey protein is a solid option to get about 24g protein, 3g carbs, 1g fat in a scoop. This stuff is pretty highly regarded and if you get the 5lb tub its nearly 80 servings, at about 68cents per serving. So actually quite cheap for the protein. For reference, a 2lb tub of purple wraath (EEAs) is about the same price.

Supplements and a bunch of pills is not necessary. I read this guy's book and he pretty much lays it out for ya. He recommends only Gainers and Protein Shakes. Pills and such are just a way to empty your wallet fast!

A lot of people on this sub really like this Gainer and this "Gold Standard Whey" ... Fish Oil is a De-inflamatory and helps to reduce muscle soreness. Those are the three I use.

Search this subreddit if in doubt, and do some research. Unfortunately a lot of the crap online is catered toward helping fat people loose weight. Find communities (like this one) and get advice straight from the skinny guys who have gotten bigger.

And if you're diet doesn't include every vitamin, start taking multi vitamins. You must be healthy, not just mad. Initially since you weigh 100Lbs you may want to do the Seefood diet: You see food, you eat food.

DO NOT GIVE UP! I let work get me down last year (working 150+hours a week) and stopped lifting. All I had time for was running. I finally got back into lifting this month. I could be pretty set right now if I kept at it.

Bar Keepers Friend

I've done the same thing and no long term damaged. Clean with Bar Keepers Friend and it will be good to go for many more years.

http://www.amazon.com/Bar-Keepers-Friend%C2%AE-Cleanser-Polish/dp/B000V72992

A few ways to get rid of this, a melamine sponge (the same thing that Magic erasers are made of), Bar Keepers friend, vinegar, baking soda, or anything that will scrub the hard water deposits from the ceramic.

Oxalic acid to the rescue.

HAHA, I have also self diagnosed myself with this. Good old Google. A constant resource for the hypochondriacs!

I use a therapy light in the mornings to mid afternoon to help combat this (especially in the winter when I'm totally thrown off schedule) - these are the two I recommend:

http://www.amazon.com/NatureBright-SunTouch-Plus-Light-Therapy/dp/B000W8Y7FY

http://www.amazon.com/Lightphoria-000LUX-Energy-Light-Lamp/dp/B004JF3G08

Both well worth the money in my opinion. I use the little one at work and when I travel, and I use the larger one at home.

Finland gets very little sunlight in the winter, so bright therapy lamps are popular here. You could try those.

Here's a quick example of such a lamp: https://www.amazon.com/NatureBright-SunTouch-Light-Therapy-package/dp/B000W8Y7FY

There are also alarm clock models if you want it to turn on as you're waking up, here's an example: https://www.amazon.com/Philips-Wake-up-Simulation-HF3500-60/dp/B00F0W1RIW/

Well, I don't know exactly how helpful this is, but I purchased this light on Amazon two years ago. I use it every day for 45 minutes, and it is still going strong. It is not particularly handsome, but I do think it looks better than many other models out there and it is small enough to put away in a cabinet when you are done with it.

This is the one I use. Light therapy has been around forever but there aren't a lot of studies. Probably because there isn't a way to monetize it.

Some doctors will tell you that you have to wait till fall to start but that's never proven true for me. When I start feeling depressed (no mixed states, make sure you know the difference! It can make mixed states worse) I spend 10 minutes with the light 12 inches or less from my face around noon. I can increase to 12 minutes after a week and to 15 after another. Not more than that as it can cause mania.

I went to doctor after doctor who prescribed extremely expensive newly minted drugs, later I looked up the amount each of them took from pharmacutical companies and they all had taken something, one took $118,000 in 12 months! When I went to a local Depression Center that had a policy against taking pharma gifts is when someone finally suggested the light and fantastically it worked. I still take drugs but I take far fewer and older drugs that are much cheaper now. When I think of all the years and money I wasted . . .

I'll never go to a doctor who accepts free samples or gifts or speaking fees from pharma companies. They say it doesn't affect what they prescribe but I call bullshit.

http://www.amazon.com/NatureBright-SunTouch-Light-Therapy-package/dp/B000W8Y7FY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1453933937&sr=8-2&keywords=10000+lux+light+therapy

Hello, sorry you have had such a tough time here, and that people are not social to you. As a fourth generation Vermonter, I just want to say welcome to Vermont. I wish you had it better here. Also, it is what you make of it. Taxes, and stuff are undoubtedly high, everything here is except peoples pay. It is getting worse as time goes on too. Also, you may be suffering from a lack of sunlight, a buddy of mine has one of these:

https://smile.amazon.com/NatureBright-SunTouch-Light-Therapy-package/dp/B000W8Y7FY/ref=sr_1_10?keywords=sun+light&qid=1554918077&s=gateway&sr=8-10

and it helps him with getting through the winter, you should give it a try.

​

I mean no ill feelings, and wish you the best of luck. We are not all unfriendly here.

I'm in the same place right now, so I figured if I can look outside myself for a minute and and focus on something to help you, I might feel better.

• Search "positive affirmations" in YouTube ( I like Honest Guys and Jason Stephenson)
  
• Use an essential oils diffuser or candle for aromatherapy
  
• I use light therapy every morning with natural sunlight or
  Nature Light Therapy Box
  
• Pet your dog (or get one to pet)
  
• Read about alternative methods such as Kratom or CBD oil. (Tell your pdoc about any supplements or herbal treatments you use.)
  
• Color or doodle/ bullet journal (Search Pinterest for ideas)
  
• Get outside of your head for a minute and see if you can help someone else.
  
  [There now...I do feel better]

Adding some additional items to help out:

Shopping Cart 1
Shopping Cart 2

You will be overspending tremendously on pills. Just buy 00 size gelatin caps and fill in with the amount of caffeine you want. The caffeine pills cost $350 for the same amount compared to a $35 1000g bag.

For those who are wondering what this is: http://www.amazon.com/Scalp-Massager-Colors-May-Vary/dp/B001IHXFQK/

I seriously just bought one on Amazon because of this. $3.42 shipped.

Amazon link

Amazon!

Agreed. Spend this time dry to plan out an awesome night to get to know her. Maybe invite a few of your close frients, smoke quite a bit and then flavor trip. Always leads to a memorable night. :)

Is there a spending limit or how much are you willing to spend?

Get her some miracle berry tablets and some sour or spicy foods like lemons, peppers, and pickles. It's supposed to make everything taste sweet.

This kind of thing:
http://www.amazon.com/NatureBright-SunTouch-Plus-Light-Therapy/dp/B000W8Y7FY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395815457&sr=8-1&keywords=artificial+light+box

Truth, works great for me. This is the one I have, it's great. Use it in the morning right when you wake up. I felt a difference in about a week.

I have been using this one for about a month and have seen significant improvement! It helps if I wake up early and use it first thing in the morning while I drink my coffee. At the end of a half-hour session, I feel ready to face the day!

NatureBright SunTouch Plus Light and Ion Therapy Lamp (package may vary) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000W8Y7FY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_D7-AybSFSZ9RP

It's not a space heater. It is a special lamp that puts off UV rays.

https://www.amazon.com/NatureBright-SunTouch-Light-Therapy-package/dp/B000W8Y7FY

Anecdotal, yes.

A friend & colleague of mine struggled with SAD for years. He, by his own testimony, tried everything, including various kinds of light therapy, before it had been more widely talked about. His self-experimentation started with different wavelengths, at different intensities, even exposing different areas of the body, at different times of day, from different angles, for different lengths of time. The guy's a scientist, who takes the function of his mind pretty seriously, so while his experimentation was definitely abnormal, I appreciated his scientific rigor. Ultimately, he found that blue light (I forget the specific wavelength he uses), especially in the upper-half of his vision (ie: shining from above center), for as little as 15 minutes, works spectacularly for bringing him back from the SADness.

Personally, I had never really felt afflicted by SAD, but I figured, what the hell, with all this light equipment around, and given the remarkable success my friend had had with it, why not see what kind of effect it would have on me? I'm prone to getting gloomy, stir-crazy, irritable on gloomy days, so when the next opportunity presented itself, I switched on one of these bad boys for 30 minutes (note: didn't use the ionizer; wasn't sure what it did; only used the light) and proceeded to feel my mood lift substantially. Maybe placebo, but at that point, and on the numerous instances of mood-lifting success, I did not argue with the results.

I have this one!

For me, it also helps to have nice cozy slippers to wear right when I get out of bed, and coffee ready. (I have a programmable coffee maker.)

I used this one. I moved to an area with lake effect precipitation, and it honestly feels like it's cloudy for months. I started using it in the late fall, and I feel like I'm a bit in love with the bright light. Last week I looked up if it was bad to use it for more than 45 minutes.

I have a [sad lamp]( NatureBright SunTouch Plus Light and Ion Therapy Lamp https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000W8Y7FY/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_liNUub1T5TKS0). Its pretty awesome. If you ask your doctor, most will write a "Prescription" for it, so you can use FSA to pay for it, or even some insurances cover it as a medical device, in the category as a cpap machine. I had it at my old office where there were no windows, now I have it at home, next to the sofa.

I know this sounds weird, but this really works …it’s a light box used in several studies. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000W8Y7FY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have this mood light that I've used for the past few years. I can't say it cures the SAD completely, but I think it's made it less severe.

I recently bought one of these and have been using it every morning. I have noticed some minor improvement, particularly in the mornings, with my energy level and ability to concentrate, but it may simply be placebo effect - I've had it less than a week so probably too early to tell. My advice: drink more milk than you normally would (vitamin D), and try to get a little bit of exercise every day, even if you don't have the energy for it.

Depends, do you think 1$ per serving is worth the extra stimulants? 8 cents per serving seems a lot more reasonable for just caffeine pills

Happy cake day to youuuuuuu!
CAFFEINE
You already mentioned my favorite dessert CHEESECAKE!

cheesecake all day everyday

here is a link for amazon, http://www.amazon.com/ProLab-Caffeine-Maximum-Potency-100-Count/dp/B0011865IQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1404311093&sr=1-1&keywords=cafeen+pills

I don't go home for a pre-workout either. I just dump a scoop of whey, 2 scoops of PWO, and some Lo-Salt in a shaker bottle and head off to work, and fill it with water from the cooler at the end of the day.

Even easier, just get some caffeine pills. Much cheaper.

http://www.amazon.com/ProLab-Caffeine-Maximum-Potency-100-Count/dp/B0011865IQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1426007100&sr=8-1&keywords=caffeine

They probably steered you away from it because of the price.

Good old fashioned Caffeine tablets are cheap as hell and help me focus pretty well.

Mocha

Caffeine

THIS

A head scratcher. Just $3.99. Will be the best $3.99 ever spent.

http://www.amazon.com/Body-Back-Company-12400000050-Massager/dp/B001IHXFQK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1324885044&sr=8-1

Have someone use a head massager on your head. It feels good using it yourself too, but when someone else is controlling it, the pleasure is almost unbearable.

for those who are wondering: http://www.amazon.com/Scalp-Massager-Colors-May-Vary/dp/B001IHXFQK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1299891771&sr=8-1

Do you know those head massage things? Get one of those and use it on on them. It works for most people even if they don't experience ASMR.

"Yeah, it's like that, only without the massage thingy."

This.

This fuckin thing.

THIS: http://www.amazon.com/Head-Massager-colors-may-vary/dp/B001IHXFQK

You want one of these: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001IHXFQK

(Honestly. Not a referral link. Best $3 you'll ever spend).

Just need to use a Miracle Berry tablet first.

Miracle Berries!

Happy cake-day to you sir and I wish you the very best!

Btw, /u/Rathkeaux is awesome!

These will blow your tastebuds with awsome

http://www.amazon.com/mberry-Miracle-Fruit-Tablets/dp/B001LXYA5Q

There are evolutionary reasons why children are averse to bitter foods, the most important of which is avoiding poisonous plants. sauce

As a person becomes an adult, they are supposed to lose this sensitivity. He might have retained the sensitivity due to biological or psychological phenomenae.

Whether this is biological or psychological is irrelevant, he must eat plants.

He can use miracle fruit tablets to counteract the effect that bitter flavors have on him.

He should also search out ketogenic recipes, such as those found in /r/keto, as these are healthy foods which are light on vegetables.

Miracle berries, haven't had it before, but it sounds amazing, apparently it's a fruit that if you eat it, for the next hour or so, anything sour you eat will taste sweet, and anything sweet will taste sweeter.

http://www.amazon.com/mberry-Miracle-Fruit-Tablets-10-Count/dp/B001LXYA5Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409079577&sr=8-1&keywords=miracle+berry

Try taking a Miracle Berry tablet before eating strawberries. It makes every strawberry taste sweet.

Heck, they make lemon juice taste like sweet lemonade. And you don't need a whole tablet, you can split one in half and share.

Get them from Amazon.

I found they worked really well with sour and sweet things like lemons, but not so well with savory foods. I was able to eat a whole lemon and it tasted like sweet lemonade.

They don't last very long. I'd say maybe 30 minutes.

Edit: Here's the link on Amazon

Amazon has them

or mBerry that does the exact opposite!

https://www.amazon.com/mberry-Miracle-Fruit-Tablets-10-Count/dp/B001LXYA5Q

Not surprisingly, I got a bunch of pictures of pies, desserts, and berries. I also got this, which made me google the product (maybe it is just a graphic design student's project) and found it is totally real: mberry.

I've heard of these and feel like this is a sign. I need to have a Miracle Berry potluck party!

have you tried these?

I do not even want to know.

That being said, something like Miracle Fruit tablets may help. Never tried them, so I do not know. Here is one such item on Amazon.

They're from another thread I saw. They're called miracle berries and they make sour things like lemons taste sweet after you eat them.

They already exist!

This changes sour and spicy tastes to sweet


https://www.amazon.com/mberry-Miracle-Fruit-Tablets-10-Count/dp/B001LXYA5Q

You NEED totry these:

http://www.amazon.com/mberry-MFT10-Miracle-Fruit-Tablets/dp/B001LXYA5Q/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1347296825&sr=8-3&keywords=miracle+fruit


DO NOT WAIT. Do it. Do it now. Thank me later.

My friend suggested these: http://amzn.com/B001LXYA5Q

I say it's more of a workaround than a solution.

I was getting horrendous daily headaches at the start of my second trimester (26 weeks now) and am not Pre-e. My midwife and doula both suggested taking Magnesium. So I ordered some off of Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Natural-Vitality-Magnesium-Organic-Raspberry/dp/B00BPUY3W0?th=1)

No idea if its placebo or not, but it seems to have done WONDERS. I rarely if ever wake up with a headache anymore (unless I forget to take some). Might be worth looking into?

try to get some really good fats. make sure you're eating healthy saturated fats like cold pressed coconut oil and then also cold pressed hemp oil (and hemp seeds) and olive oil.

It's easy to miss getting good fats if you're just cooking with a refined oil or light vegetable oil. Fat is one thing that depletes a lot after switching to not eating animal sources, but the health and tissue of your brain rely heavily on good fat consumption through your diet.

Also check your magnesium intake. I'll always recommend hemp seeds because they have a lot of magnesium. But supplements work well too. I like this https://www.amazon.com/Natural-Vitality-Magnesium-Organic-Raspberry/dp/B00BPUY3W0/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1495277823&sr=8-1&keywords=magnesium+drink

Hi there, I've only been a lurker up until now, but I work night shift so I know a thing or two about sleep aids! Melatonin works really well and then there is this Magnesium drink called "calm" that I have also found to be helpful. Fair warning... it is magnesium so it can make you just a little more than regular!

https://www.amazon.com/Natural-Vitality-Magnesium-Organic-Raspberry/dp/B00BPUY3W0

I got mine at Whole Foods and I had the raspberry lemonade flavor and it's not bad!

Things that have helped me:

• [SAMe (dietary supplement)] (http://nccam.nih.gov/health/supplements/SAMe) It can be a bit expensive though.
  
• [Floradix (iron supplement)] (http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/p/flora-floradix-iron-herbs-8-5-fl-oz/fl-1007#.VG2cxL5GjzI) This has helped me with fatigue, I don't take it everyday though.
  
• [Natural Calm (magnesium supplement)] (http://www.amazon.com/Natural-Vitality-Calm-Raspberry-Lemon/dp/B00BPUY3W0) I love this product and I've been using it for the past two years. I take it at night before bed. It helps with various stomach issues and it helps you sleep! It tastes pretty good too. Be careful with dosing, it has a hell of a laxative effect.
  
• No alcohol. Even in small amounts I will hurt all over the next day.
  
• I swear by baths. I don't do bubble baths often because of the UTI risk, instead I use essential oils. I really like Geranium oil, it's supposed to help your circulatory and nervous systems.
  
• Heating pads. I always have one in bed and take one with me when I travel.
  
• Drinking coffee has helped me.
  
• Swapping some of the grains in my diet for leafy greens. I don't know why, but I saw my energy level improve.
  
• Replacing my snacks with apples and peanut butter or baby carrots and hummus
  
• Sauerkraut. Maybe because of the probiotics in it?
  
  
  
  
  

I know grapefruit juice is supposed to help with swelling, although I didn't try it myself during/after my pregnancy (I had swelling everywhere but especially my feet for the last couple months of being pregnant as well as a week or so post partum).

What really helped me was magnesium, specifically this stuff. It helps with sleep and constipation too, which is also nice! :)

Magnesium Threonate theoretically crosses the blood-brain barrier easier. I personally find it to be less sedating or calming than the Magnesium Citrate I take at night. It is pricier, but the research so far shows promising results. Also, my doc recommended it!

According to this study from the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease: "In an intact rodent, treatment with conventional magnesium salts is ineffective at elevating brain magnesium and improving memory function. This is because active transport systems tightly control the amount of magnesium that crosses first from digestive tract into blood, and then from blood to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). In human, increasing blood magnesium by up to 300% only changes CSF magnesium by less than 19%. To overcome this problem, we developed L-Threonic acid Magnesium salt (L-TAMS, formerly MgT), a compound that can effectively enhance CSF magnesium concentration via oral intake."

Also from the same study: "Supplementation with magnesium threonate may improve cognitive function in older individuals with memory and concentration issues, say results of a randomized, controlled, double-blind study."

So thanks for the explanation. Someone recently suggested I get this one. Was it a good suggestion? And in case I'm missing anything, is the powder good as far as absorption is concerned?

if eliminations is the issue - I would start with getting your magnesium in check.

https://www.amazon.com/Natural-Vitality-Supplement-Raspberry-Lemon/dp/B00BPUY3W0 or similar

So I know a lot about this. I've been dealing with acid reflux at night for 10+ years and I have a pretty good handle on it. So first of all, if you can sleep on your back, it's the best position for acid reflux and noticing palpitations. What works for me also is to create a wedge incline with several pillows so that my head is elevated above my stomach. I also drink Calm mixed with Benefiber and that helps to aid with digestion, especially heavy meals (I sometimes drink Kefir as well). What I've noticed over the years is that once my stomach empties, maybe 3-5 hours after eating, I can usually sleep however I want, but sometimes you just eat really late and it can't be helped (maybe eat a lighter meal is this instance). So basically, try not to lay down or at least sit upright until it's time for bed. The last advice is to try and avoid foods that you know bother your stomach, for instance, I know that I can eat Whole Wheat Bread, because I get horrible heartburn and reflux. Good luck.

I used to have trouble sleeping but then I discovered this stuff. I do a teaspoon ~30 mins before I want to go to sleep, put on an audiobook with a 15 minute sleep timer, usually out like a light five minutes in.

I had this happeneing and did two things - not sure if only one helped or if I needed both. First I started taking a magnesium supplement ( http://www.amazon.com/Natural-Vitality-Calm-Raspberry-Lemon/dp/B00BPUY3W0/ref=pd_bxgy_hpc_img_y ).

I also started massaging my feet with a tennis ball while watching TV, and then I'll massage other tight muscles in my calves with the ball. So I guess pretty much "foam rolling" with a tennis ball.

I have this one and I like it. Popular and gets good rating. The second one is also popular and has a good rating,
https://www.amazon.com/Marpac-Dohm-DS-Natural-Sound-Machine/dp/B00HD0ELFK/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1484716947&sr=8-2&keywords=white%2Bnoise%2Bfan&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/LectroFan-White-Noise-Machine-Sounds/dp/B00JU8P8VY?th=1


All the best!

Uh I'm so sorry to hear this. You definitely have a nuisance neighbor and that's so anxiety inducing on top of a chronic illness. I also have a chronic illness and work incall from home.

Have you thought about ways you can limit or muffle the noise? Do you have a carpet or can you put down an area rug? If you don't want a rug, maybe you can wear flip flops or slippers at home to help dull the noise? Do you ask clients to take their shoes off at the door?

I have a white noise sound machine that I use for sleep but a lot of psychologists use them to muffle noise in their office so people can't hear their patients. I have the professional one they use: https://www.amazon.com/Marpac-Classic-White-Noise-Machine/dp/B00HD0ELFK/ref=sr_1_7?crid=2IN38LJZ07OLK&keywords=white%2Bnoise%2Bmachine&qid=1566443701&s=gateway&sprefix=white%2Bnoise%2Caps%2C206&sr=8-7&th=1

It's pricer then the others but it's worth the $$.

I had a problem with my headboard & bed frame after 6 months of working. It was banging on the wall and creaking loudly during activity, it's a freakin miracle my neighbor next to me didn't' complain! It was a single guy so maybe he was happy to listen 😂. I ended up investing in a new bed frame when their was a memorial day sale and I'm pretty happy with my purchase. It's pretty and super quiet now.

Faced a similar situation in a new place - bought a Marpac White Noise Machine and sounds are now muted enough that it is no longer an issue.

I used to have two chihuahua-mixes. One was high-anxiety.

When we also had two cats, the dogs couldn't relax unless they were in a room with the door closed where the cats could not go. The dogs would stay vigilant the entire time the cats were around. The high-anxiety dog would follow the cats around and try to herd them. We had to re-home the cats (due to allergies we weren't aware of before) and the dogs were so much calmer after that. I know you said you tried closing the door, but, maybe he won't feel relaxed unless the cats no longer live there.

Exercise also really helps with their anxiety. I understand this isn't your dog and you are doing your best. Maybe someone else will have a great idea to help in this area.

You could try a thundershirt? It didn't work for my anxious dog but there are lots of success stories.

If noises set him off, you could try a white noise machine. You can even download a white noise machine app on your phone to test it out. The dog could go in a room without cats, and have the white noise turned on.

To me it seems like you may have done everything you can. It sounds as though the dog would need a lot of training and effort to get him to be happier and more well-adjusted, and your roommate isn't willing to do that :(

You have all ready gotten some excellent security suggestions in the thread. My tip is that instead of the big fan for your tinnitus you can try a white sound machine. If it works for you, then you might be able wake up if someone breaks a window.

If you search for “tinnitus” in the customer reviews you will get an idea of how it works for others. I don’t know if this is the best white noise machine but it had over 11,000 reviews so its a good start.

https://www.amazon.com/Marpac-Dohm-DS-Natural-Sound-Machine/dp/B00HD0ELFK/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top

This white noise machine has been life saving for me. It will at least help drown out the noise at night so you can sleep.

Buy a few white noise machines and put them in your roommates rooms https://www.amazon.com/Marpac-Dohm-DS-Natural-Sound-Machine/dp/B00HD0ELFK/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1499527510&sr=1-4&keywords=white%2Bnoise%2Bmachine&th=1

Gorgeous room!! If you haven't gotten one already, might I recommend a sound machine? I mention it because of the doors leading to possibly lively general living spaces. We have one right inside the bedroom door and it deadens most noise so we don't have to creep around the house like shitty ninjas. We also have a second, portable one which might be overkill but whatever gets us sleep gets a 👍 from me!!

In case anyone is interested we have Marpac Dohm and Marpac Hushh which also is great for clipping to her carseat!

We use this one in the office: https://www.amazon.com/Marpac-Classic-White-Noise-Machine/dp/B00HD0ELFK/ref=sr_1_6_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1536091504&sr=8-6&keywords=white+noise+machine

I also have one at home for my kiddo. It can get loud enough that you can't hear the shower running from the bathroom adjacent to his room.

Re: white noise — I bought one of these about 10 years ago and I swear by it:

Marpac Dohm Classic (White) | The Original White Noise Machine | Soothing Natural Sound from a Real Fan | Noise Cancelling | Sleep Therapy, Office Privacy, Travel | For Adults & Baby | 101 Night Trial https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HD0ELFK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_TD2YDb1CP6MVQ

These are the best mechanical white Noise machines imo, I have had this model running nightly on a smart outlet for 6 years. It runs for at least 8 hours every day.

Marpac Dohm Classic (White) | The Original White Noise Machine
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HD0ELFK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_sCy2Db9X3PD72

White nose machines are awesome. I prefer an analogue mechanical one vs digital, the digital ones I've tried bother me.

I've had this one for about 6 years now, it's fantastic. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00HD0ELFK/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1495969154&sr=8-1&keywords=white+noise

If you can spring for the extra cash, I recommend these instead: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B019M576XW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_9igtDbG9N7496

Having tried both, the ones I linked sounded better, were softer, and are shorter, so they're unlikely to get shoved painfully deep into your ear by someone's elbow or a crowdsurfer's foot.

The ones you linked are still miles ahead of typical foam earplugs though.

> Also, put your phone and screens away 30-40 minutes beforehand. If you need sound, put on an audiobook or sounds.

Try blue blocking glasses. I've been using these for over a year. 1 hour before I want to sleep, I take 1 melatonin, 2 magnesium, and browse reddit on my tablet for an hour wearing my glasses.

This routine works pretty well for me. Half the time I don't even last the hour before I roll over to sleep.

200-400mg is a standard dose

this is the kind that I buy - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BD0RT0/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&th=1

It didn't even occur to me you could get it as a powder. I guess that's fine, pills are just powder compressed, and what's important is that the magnesium molecules are bound to something that keeps them from getting destroyed in your stomach, not whether it's a pill/capsule/powder. I'm not sure what you linked is a good choice (it doesn't mention that it's chelated or any amino acids it might be Chelated to), the magnesium I take is this one. Based on what I know that's gonna have about as good absorbtion as you're gonna get and it's much cheaper. Those 240 pills last me a long time. It's 100% chelated with glycine and lycine.

I make my own magnesium lotion from magnesium chloride flakes, but previous to this I bought Life Flo Magnesium lotion:
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=life+flo+magnesium+lotion&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Alife+flo+magnesium+lotion

 

For oral magnesium I take Dr.'s Best Magnesium (magnesium glycinate) : https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BD0RT0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

 

I take 600 mg of the oral mag per day and put the lotion on all over my body each night. I do this whether I'm fasting or not. I take boron, taurine and selenium to boost absorption of the mag. So far, it's working WONDERFULLY! Boron, btw, really helps w/vitamin D absorption too, which everyone these days seem to be low on.

I pulled it up on amazon to get more information, and here is what I see:

• 100mg of magnesium, 55mg of sodium, 250mg of potassium. Kind of low on a per serving basis, I would need to take 4+ servings per day and still have to supplement sodium on top of it to get where I would need to be.
  
• it's magnesium citrate which is a good thing. Most of these kind of things skimp out and use other forms of magnesium that aren't absorbed as well. Mag citrate has laxative effects that something like a chelated magnesium supplement doesn't have if that is relevant to the individual.
  
• it is quite expensive, making the first point even more pertinent. Salt plus a salt substitute with a water enhancer and a separate magnesium supplement works out to be a lot cheaper on a per day cost.
  
  
  As for the OP, muscle cramping is most commonly tied to magnesium deficiency. A supplement like this:
  
  
  https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000BD0RT0/ref=sxts_bia_sr1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1494339371&sr=1
  
  Is a pretty cheap way to get a high quality magnesium supplement.

I bought one of these electronic scales.

From my understanding, they are pretty inaccurate. This might be something you could look into if you were interested.

BF is what percentage of your body (as an estimate) is made of as fat as opposed to muscle, etc. Muscle is more dense, so for people that lift weight BMI doesn't work (for example, probably ALL NFL athletes are "overweight" to "obese" including wide receivers, quarterbacks, etc according to BMI scale because they "weigh" a lot, however most of that is muscle).

160 is probably the "proper" weight (according to BMI) for someone 5'11" that may not have as much muscle on their body, but is in no way even close to overweight.

There are a couple ways to get the most accurate measurement for BF%: Link

It's kind of an inexact science to detect body fat composition because SO MANY factors change it (your hydration level, heart rate [I think], food in your stomach, and so on) that quick and easy ways don't always work well (calipers test I'm told is pretty inaccurate).

I got my estimate from this thing from Amazon, which got favorable reviews: Link

It is however an estimate, so you can't just use something like that and go "well, there you go, that's for sure my BF%"

I guess I can try asking a question here rather than starting a new thread for something related.

I bought this machine for checking body fat and I'm not so sure on some things. If I set it to athletic mode (I'm just starting SL but I was running and doing 1.5 hours on cable machines previously) it tells me my body fat is somewhere around 15.5%, if I set it on normal it tells me about 17.5%

Last Body Fat Friday I was estimated at 20%, and I'm pretty damned sure I'm not close to 15, 20% from all comparative pictures seems about right. Anyone know anything about this machine to know what setting to use?

Everyone stores fat in different places, that's why skin fold calipers assess and take the average from a few different places. If you want another reading, I suggest also using another means of measuring your body fat %, such as a Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis device, or BIA for short. I personally use this one. Just make sure you use this first thing in the morning so any water intake doesn't mess with the measurement. I use both BIA and skin folds to check the validity of the other.

Anyway, you look to be at about 8-10% body fat, unless you carry a lot of fat in your thighs.

> I would assume so, but to not lose a single pound overall seems a little weird.

Don't get hung up on the scale. In 3 years of crossfit (still dipping my toe into the paleo waters) I've gone from maybe 245->230. But I've gone from XXL shirts to L, and have replaced a whole ton of fat with muscle.

If you need to track something, track body fat percentage. Get one of these or these. I have no idea how accurate they are, but if they're consistent they might do something for you.

Distraction is key - if you guys don't have a sound machine, get one immediately. Best 50 dollars I've ever spent - worth every penny.


(If interested, here is link to the one I have and love and it's on sale!)


Listen to lots of "nice" music, quietly. You can take the initiative here. When I say "nice" I mean quiet-ish, acoustic.

And most importantly --- talk about it. Ask him about it. He's going to have to learn to live with this (or it will go away!)

Good luck!

> Next time, try throwing a load of laundry in or start the dishwasher. If possible, consider getting a place together with more separation between the rooms or at least rearrange the furniture for maximum sound insulation.

We have one of these on a nightstand. Very handy for good sleep and for masking sounds.

I have a white noise machine:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KUHFGM/

What you could do is go to this white noise website and turn up the volume really loud (or with headphones):

http://simplynoise.com/

You have to determine what is different about your sleep routine when she stays over vs when she doesn't. Then try to adjust it accordingly. If it's just her presence, you will get used to it.

Also, buy a good sound machine. They have always helped me sleep. And every person who has had it in their lives for a while ends up buying one.

> white noise machine

http://www.amazon.com/Marpac-DOHM-DS-Natural-actual-Machine/dp/B000KUHFGM

The white noise machines that play noise through a speaker are supposedly not as good as those that produce noise mechanically. This mechanical white noise machine is very well-regarded, however I own one and it still doesn't beat a box fan. With light there's a concept of getting a full spectrum light. It's similar with noise. You want a rich, wide spectrum of noise.

Barring that, there are phone apps you might try such as White Noise Lite, Relax Melodies, and Chroma Doze. Relax Melodies is pretty neat, as it lets you create custom noise by layering in different sounds. These apps are on Google Play, dunno about iTunes.

We use this one for our room, it's really neutral. We have a baby one that does ocean waves in the nursery. Part of our "sleep routine" with the baby includes turning on his white noise machine.

Oh yes! We still play ours all night long!

Here's a link to ours. I've never embedded a king in Reddit Mobile so I hope this works.

https://www.amazon.com/Marpac-Dohm-DS-All-Natural-White-Machine/dp/B000KUHFGM

Another white noise fan. This is what I use. I like the sound of air moving better electronic white noise.

Melatonin helps me drift off. It doesn't make me sleepy, but if I'm already a little tired, my thoughts become more like dreams than thoughts, and I stop reacting to sounds or ideas. Isn't enough if I'm wired or wound up.

I also take mitrazipine now, which is similar to trazadone. They are antidepressants that are also commonly used to treat anxiety and insomnia, among other things. I take a tiny dose, specifically to help me sleep. Taking it doesn't change the rest of my medication plan, it's just a little bump. Docs commonly give trazadone to old folks who can't sleep due to evening anxiety - it's that harmless (compared to other sleep and anxiety drugs). My 93 year old grandmother who was medically frail was taking it!

I don't do this, but I diaphragmatic breathing is very helpful for bringing down the anxiety and can help get you out of your head. So peaceful. Plenty of tutorials online.

We have two of THESE and they both have been used every night for the past 6 years, plus travelling, with no failures. This unit actually has a small fan that blows through the holes in the case and that is what makes the noise. You can adjust the number of holes for the desired sound volume, and the fan motor has a low and high speed.

Lived in FHK the first two years it was coed (96-98).

• Bring flip flops to wear in the shared shower.
  
• The desks and cabinets do uninstall from the walls if you want to do a creative loft.
  
• Train noise reverberates through the quad, but you'll adjust quickly. A white noise machine like this will help immensely.
  
• Unless things have changed (I'm sure they have) your closest laundry not in the dorm will be in the study room behind Keathley adjoining Davis-Gary.
  
• Heldenfels is a short walk (10 mins), and that's where the majority of life sciences (for fish) should be.
  
• If you're in a room at the end, you can install a hammock on the corner of the railing pretty easily.
  
• Most important of all, leave your door open when you're there! Jam your music loud enough for passers-by. It's a great way to meet folks.
  

Assuming you're not interested in sites like Simply Noise (which I use a lot), I would recommend the Marpac Sleepmate. I bought one for my mom and she loves it. She let me test it when I went home to visit, and it was pretty awesome.

Yeah, ya done goofed.

Just get some of this. At 5g/day, that jug will last about four months.

Creatine Monohydrate is pretty ubiquitous, I would make sure of a couple things:

• Unsweetened (Creatine is flavorless normally anyway)
  
• Powdered, not capsules
  
• Monohydrate
  
  
  Other than that just avoid any gimmicky products, here's a good one for instance:
  
  http://www.amazon.com/Optimum-Nutrition-Creatine-Powder-Unflavored/dp/B002DYIZEO/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1370555029&sr=1-1&keywords=creatine

It's fine to just stick to creatine monohydrate; it's cheap and readily available anywhere. Brand is irrelevant, although I personally get mine from Optimum Nutrition (600g for $20 on Amazon, which is about 4 month's worth). There are other forms of creatine, but they haven't been shown to be as reliable or effective for everyone, last time that I checked.

If you feel like throwing money away, it's fine.

That's 54cents a dose or ~$16.25/mo with the sale price.

https://www.amazon.com/Optimum-Nutrition-Creatine-Powder-Unflavored/dp/B002DYIZEO is 12cents a dose or ~$3.80/mo

I bought this and just take a small spooful in the morning with water. It should be a 2 or 3 year supply. You can get it either flavored or unflavored.

I am about 6 weeks into BJJ after 7 years of wrestling. I have also done a bit of Muay Thai, but don't have the energy/time to do both right now, since I ride my bike to work and am training for a half marathon.

At 6'2 145, you aren't, and likely have never, been eating enough. Download MyFitnessPal, and track your calories. Don't estimate stuff, put it in a measuring cup or on a food scale. If I were you I would aim for 3000 calories a day to get started at least. It'll probably be tough for you to get there. If you're not gaining weight over the next couple weeks doing that every day, you're counting the calories wrong (fast and slow metabolisms are a lie).

A lot of people are saying there's no need for protein or creatine when you're just starting lifting. The first and most important thing is to eat more. If you don't eat more you won't get bigger. Once you start eating enough though, I would add protein and creatine on top of that. When you couple them with the newbie gains, in my experience, it's pretty noticeable.

You didn't mention lifting in your post, but my response is assuming that you are going to lift. If you don't, you'll only gain fat. Pick a good routine from the r/Fitness wiki, I really enjoy the PPL on there.

To sum things up:

1. most importantly, eat way more every day and lift consistently.
   
2. once #1 is happening, start taking one scoop of whey protein after workouts, and one teaspoon of micronized creatine monohydrate once a day every day (even on days you aren't working out)
   
   The protein I use is MyProtein Impact whey
   https://m.us.myprotein.com/sports-nutrition/impact-whey-protein/10852500.html?_ga=2.11746045.855534342.1496496945-717054701.1457580580
   
   The creatine i use:
   Optimum Nutrition Creatine Powder, Unflavored, 600g https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002DYIZEO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_pURmzbBXDWFRS
   
   Feel free to ask if you have any questions

> BCAA

Creatine yes, BCAAs are really only valuable if you're taking them immediately before a workout after fasting for a significant length of time (great for IF dieters).

Amazon. Get Creatine Monohydrate. I buy this.

5g/daily; timing is irrelevant. a cheap, reliable brand tends to be ON. here is their product. any brand that sells 100% creatine monohydrate is fine, really.

Optimum Nutrition Creatine Monohydrate. Extremely cheap and reputiable. Here is a link.

O.o OK first off, I thought I was thin when I was younger. Freshman Year of High-School I was 5'3-4, weighing in at 90 lbs appx. 4 years later and I am 5'11, weighing in at 165 (also due to the help eating properly/pushing myself during workouts/bodybuilding.

Unfortunately if you want to put on some bulk, you will need to eat more now then ever. And if you think you are eating enough at this moment, you are wrong.

Food that you will need to incorporate are:

• Chicken, Pork, Beef, Turkey
  
• Eggs/Egg Whites
  
• Steel Cut Oats (Not Oatmeal as that has no nutritional value in it)
  
• Veggies...
  
• Some fruits, not all since most contain a decent amount of sugar, but with your frame/weight I doubt a little bit of sugar would hurt
  
• If you can afford it, protein shakes (Optimal is ON or Cytosport 100% Whey Protein Powder at Costco if nearby)
  
• Creatine Monohydrate
  
• Pre-workout (Not neccesary but can be provided useful)
  
  Edit:
  
  
• Recommended Creatine: Optimum Nutrition Micronized Creatine Powder (2000g) from Amazon.
  
  
• Recommended Pre-Workout: C4 60 Serving of Pineapple and Pink Lemonade (My favorite flavors) from Amazon.
  
  
  You will need a routine, but you should workout Mon-Fri. My order starting from Mon is Back, then Chest, Legs, Bi/Tris and end with shoulders/traps. Starting Monday and cycling on and off, you should do Abs, Calves, Abs, Calves, Abs. Weekends are rest days.
  
  Repeat
  
  Last and just as important, proper sleep. I do not know if you are a early bird or a night owl, but if you are a night owl, BOOM, stop what you are doing and start going to bed early. If you don't rest at a proper time, and for a proper amount, it will severely restrict any kinda of Gains you get in the gym, as known hopefully by most, you don't gain muscle in the gym, you gain muscle when you rest.
  
  Hope this helps.
  
  Unfortunately, this is going to cost a decent amount of money/and/or communication with your parents about purchasing said meals and having a gym membership, as I doubt you have anyone nearby that has an at home gym like I do. It's not uber common.
  
  Always remember, Gains are consistent of Rest, Food, and Working Out. If one is out of balance, it screws with the entire order of how quickly you make progress in the gym.
  

Mono powder has the most research backing it's effectiveness--not to mention it's super cheap and tasteless.

This is what I've been taking:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002DYIZEO/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=1278548962&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000M4CFT8&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=01RS5S8PHMSKX23N314H

Earplugs, like these https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0051U7W32/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_WT-BDbK8D3KBM

My dad worked night shift for twenty years, along with another full time job, in the middle of the city while sharing a one bedroom apartment with two kids, and he was able sleep through the evenings.

Like another person said, get Flux. Also use Nightshift if you have an iphone. There is an app for androids that does the same thing. You can also get blue light filtering glasses.

Another thing to do is meditate for 5 mins or so before you sleep. You can just lie down and concentrate on your breath, try practicing with the mindful app. This is optional but meditation really has improved my quality of life.

Also, make sure that your room is as dark as possible and that you aren't being bothered by sounds. If I am in a noisy area I always wear earplugs that can be found cheaply on amazon. I use these and they are perfect.

You want your room to be a cave. Think cool, dark, and quiet. Distraction is the enemy and if you have insomnia I'm guessing that your mind wanders a lot. Get more exercise during the day and be more active if you aren't tired by sleepytime.

Also, don't drink caffeine less than 6 hours before you sleep.

Hope this helps you man.

Earplugs

http://www.amazon.com/Macks-Ear-Care-Ultra-Earplugs/dp/B0051U7W32/ref=sr_1_1_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1457018246&sr=1-1&keywords=earplugs

For everyone that doesn't use ear plugs: Buy a set of these. Put a pair in each pocket of your riding pants, put a pair in each pocket of your riding jackets, put a couple pairs in different pockets of the backpack you use most. You'll wonder how you ever paid attention or focused while riding on the freeway without them.

I love these. Almost can't sleep without them anymore: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0051U7W32

And these are my favorite headphones. I even got a Bluetooth transmitter for my TV so I could use them watching TV. Obviously other people have different ones they prefer but this is my personal favorite: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H2DBFQZ

Howard Leight Impact Sports + whatever cheap foam ear plugs I can find. I'm currently working through a jar of Mack's which come out to less than 10 cents per pair. I also take them backpacking to drown out my backpacking buddy's snoring.

These are the ones I use: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0051U7W32/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

I like foam ones more than the silicone ones and I've had a good experience with these ones.

yes, pretty much. NRR = what the government-mandated test says, "noise reduction" = what the manufacturer says. Typically audiophilia is filled with bullshit claims, but I do trust the numbers that Shure puts out.

Keep in mind that the amount of isolation of a universal IEM is very dependent on how good a seal you can get. Thats why IEM manufacturers use words like "up to" instead of just specifying a number. The SE215 does come with foam olive tips, which IMO are very decent.

Why not try out a pair of foam earplugs first? They will cost you just a few dollars, and you will get a great sense of whether you want to spring $100 on the 215s or not.

I have used these in the past and they are consistently good - easy to fit into your ears and rated for 32 dB. IMO if this helps, either stick with earplugs or go for some 215s. If you still have issues focusing after trying out the earplugs, maybe take the medical route.

Good luck with your attempts to study, dude!

These are the ones I use. I've tried many and I find these to be the most comfortable.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0051U7W32/

I got these off Amazon http://www.amazon.com/DownBeats-Reusable-Fidelity-Hearing-Protection/dp/B00A3Z44R2 and I love them. Super comfortable and doesn't screw up the sound. Highly recommend them.

They will have earplugs to give out in the chill down zone by Kinetic but they are the foam kind and they suck for being at a show and listening to music.

I have these and they are wonderful. Any type of "high fidelity" ear plugs will be good for EDC.

Downbeats are great! My daughter and I both use them.

https://www.amazon.com/DownBeats-Reusable-Fidelity-Hearing-Protection/dp/B00A3Z44R2

I know I'm late to the party but these Downbeats earplugs were the best investment I've made. There was a show in Atlantic City in some nightclub that RL performed at, being in the would have been unbearable if I didn't have the earplugs. Front and center for most of the show and I heard absolutely fine. Ear protection is serious

I've been rocking downbeats to every show I can remember to take them to. Would def recommend and I think they are usually 10-15 a set.

https://smile.amazon.com/DownBeats-Reusable-Fidelity-Hearing-Protection/dp/B00A3Z44R2/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1497541725&sr=8-1&keywords=downbeats&th=1

I bring these to every show

Hello, I use these two Etymotic https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0044DEESS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_hmtxzbRYEFZZA and DownBeats https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A3Z44R2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_1ntxzbJ6GA996

Really recommend these

I do too! I sleep with earplugs so I always have a pair, but I started packing it with me when going to the movies because I really, really can't stand the sound of people chewing, bags wrinkling, and them shuffling the popcorn around before grabbing some. But seeing as how eating is a part of the movie going experience for many, it's unavoidable. So I just put the earplugs in and bam! those little noises that distract me and get me irrationally annoyed are no longer audible.

edit: to add more options to the linked earplugs, this is the one I use. You can clip the case onto your keychain to make sure you always have it with you. And since I sleep with it -- and I'm a side sleeper -- I can attest to it being comfortable.

I recommend these ear plugs from amazon.

Since I got them I’ve taken them to every concert and they’ve saved my ears from a lot of damage.

Hey bud! I've been to my fair share of shows, and I saw Animal Collective back in 2013 in Madison, WI. Some tips about concerts and how to enhance your experience:

Earplugs are a must. These are the pair I own, and they work super well; I go to a wide variety of shows in different sized venues (ty Minneapolis) and I've worn those every time. I used to go earplugless, but when I went to see TOBACCO last year, some shoegaze band opened for them and they were literally the loudest fucking thing I've ever heard, ran to get some earplugs, and it was still painfully loud. Some bands like to crank it, generally AnCo keeps it on the lower end but it's never a bad idea to invest in saving your hearing. That's the end goal, isn't it?

When I saw AnCo, I went solo. Senior year of high school, travelled 50 miles on a Wednesday night to see em. Met some really cool guys at the show, shot the shit. Chances are, there's gonna be a fair amount of weed in the crowd. Toke if you want, but some venues are super vigilant while others really don't give a shit.

My general rule of thumb is to get there a bit before doors for a band I either really really love or a show that's gonna attract a big crowd so I can get up front. I'd follow this if you want to be right up against the stage, or at least be there around doors if you want the authentic 9th-row-in-the-pit experience. Being pushed far back kinda sucks, especially if there's an NBA player-sized person standing right in front of you.

Pretty much just go there, scream the lyrics, dance your ass off and vibe. There's gonna be quite a few pretentious hipsters who stand off to the side and just stoically watch them while sneering at anyone who dances. Fuck em, dancing to the boys was one of my best memories. Don't think drunk assholery will be an issue, but pretty much every single show I've been to has involved me being stuck next to someone who can't handle their liquor, be it tiny women at Beach House forcing their way to the front of the stage halfway through the set (and literally standing sideways, wedged between me and my friend) or some large, leather-coat-wearing fuckwad at Com Truise who has been sexually harassing as many women as possible. If you spot one nearby, don't let them harsh your mellow. If they're bumpin into you a lot and you want them to stop, just tell them to give you some space while being as smiley and polite as possible and they'll usually wander off. If they get aggressive, just push towards another spot in the crowd. I doubt there'll be many bad drunks in the crowd, but it never hurts to be a lil mentally prepared.

Anyway, pm me if you have any other questions, and I hope you have as good of a time as I did!

EDIT: Oh yeah, download a Mad Libs app on your phone. Play it with the people standing near you when you're waiting in line/between bands, it's a perfect icebreaker and it's pretty fun.

Any suggestions on affordable but decent quality earplugs? Does anyone recommend going to an audiologist and getting custom ones, or will cheap store bought ones do the trick?

Edit: Looks like the cheap solid foam ones muffle the sound. Anyone tried these:
http://www.amazon.com/DownBeats-Reusable-Fidelity-Hearing-Protection/dp/B00A3Z44R2

Hah! Should've checked my Amazon orders - downbeats was indeed where I too landed:

DownBeats Reusable High Fidelity Hearing Protection: Ear Plugs for Concerts, Music, and Musicians (Clear Ear Plugs, Black Case) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A3Z44R2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_GHU9AbJR1FEGE

I really like Downbeats: https://www.amazon.com/DownBeats-Reusable-Fidelity-Hearing-Protection/dp/B00A3Z44R2?th=1

They stay in, still make the music sound good, and offer good protection. They even worked well when I was photographing a festival from the security pit, a foot away from the giant speakers.

I have a pair of etymotic (as linked by /u/buboy3) which are great, but it bothered me that they always stuck out so much. Now I use downbeats:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A3Z44R2
Which are the same price and similar fit and (to me, since this is obviously subjective) also preserve good sound quality.

I've tried Dubs and Downbeats. I like the fit and sound of Downbeats much better, plus they don't stick out of your ears, and really aren't even visible. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00A3Z44R2/

I got a pair of downbeats high fidelity plugs. They are pretty awesome. They don't dull out any of the high or low end sound so it sounds like what you normally hear only quieter. Plus they are not even easily noticeable when they are in your ears.

Not an herb, but Natural Calm magnesium citrate works wonders for me.

I found that Time Released Melatonin 1mg is very powerful. Too powerful for me but maybe an option for you?

Also Natural Calm Magnesium Is a particularly sedating form of magnesium in my experience.

The least practical form of magnesiumon a regular basis is a hot epsom salt bath. For me it’s about as sedating as a double dose of benzos.

[edit: Apology: reread your question and realized you’re looking for alternatives to melatonin. Will leave up that first sentence though, since I haven’t seen much discussion about time release melatonin and I was really surprised at how different it felt than 0.5mg quick dissolve melatonin.]

It's never given me a straight up laxative effect, but I definitely notice a smoother move! I use this brand and I think they even make gummies now. Hopefully you get some relief soon!

get a white noise machine. this one is baller. then tell them you're sleep deprived and could they put on some music or try to be quieter in the middle of the night. be congenial. this is not some sort of bullshit alpha magic situation. it's common courtesy. i would try to talk to the guy instead.

EDIT: stop posting in TRP right now. lurk moar. lerk moore. lrk. read/lrk more. read some books. books. read them. lurk more. no posting. you seem like a troll because you have not grasped the concepts.

i want to help you, so here is advice: lurk. read. models by mark manson is a good book that covers most of what you ask about on an ongoing basis.

Oh, my bad. Guess I just assumed you were coming from the other direction. I was way underweight for most of my life until my early 20's, so I feel your pain.

I don't know enough to give diet advice, but here's my normal schedule (working 7p-7a):

8p: Chipotle bowl, double chicken and all the rice and pinto beans they'll give me. Sour cream, guac, and cheese.

3a: 1lb cottage cheese. It's not my favorite, but it's hard to argue with the nutrition facts and it keeps me full so I'm not snacking on break room cookies, cake, pizza, all that crap. I also usually have a couple of sugar free snack pack jello cups (10 calories and not much else) to stave off boredom eating.

7a: Pre-workout and lift. I use ANS Ritual, but there are plenty of other options.

~9:30a: 1-1.5 scoops protein powder immediately after workout. I used Optimum Nutrition Gold for most of this, but recently switched to Dymatize ISO 100. Though a weight gainer might be a better option for you (and taste like you're drinking a cake.)

Then rinse and repeat. First 4 days of my week are pretty much that. I relax a bit on the other days and eat more, but that basically keeps me where I am now. There's also /r/gainit, if you haven't checked them out already.

Go to Amazon instead

Change the size of the tub you get, it tells you how much you're paying per pound. Compare there and BB.

I did that one that I linked (double rich chocolate) delicious stuff. My buddy did cookies and cream, and he LOVES it haha.

But in case you can't get a Credit card or some other issue, walking into a GNC is no big deal. We all start somewhere man :)

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein Powder, Banana, 2.27kg £25.99 UK store

I recommend Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey Isolate, its definitely good for the price. On Amazon a 5lb tub is around 55 dollars. Extreme Milk Chocolate is by far the best flavor. You can usually never go wrong with chocolate flavors. Isolate is the way to go, its usually plentiful in protein, while being low on carbs. You'll want to get your carbs from a whole source.

Meal replacements need your macros: Protein, Carbs and Fats. So, some Whey, Oats, and Whole milk, blend. Done. If your calorie conscious, Whey, half oats (or skip the oats for low-carb), fat free milk (or half whole milk, half water), done.

Casual meal replacement use one scoop whey. Post workout, use two scoops. Be prepared though, Whey Protein can add up over time and get pretty expensive. You may go through the whole 5lb tub in a month.

Widely used, tastes pretty good: http://www.amazon.com/Optimum-Nutrition-Standard-Double-Chocolate/dp/B000QSNYGI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1398812111&sr=8-2&keywords=on+double+chocolate

Also, creatine isn't a substitute to protein - creatine is creatine, I generally buy the cheapest I can and take 5g of it a day. Something like this is fine: http://www.amazon.com/NOW-Foods-Creatine-Powder-Pounds/dp/B0013OXD38/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1398812354&sr=8-1&keywords=now+foods+creatine

The easiest thing you can do to start putting on some weight is eat just like you do now, then add in a shake at the end of the day for more calories. Mix up a couple scoops of a reputable whey in 3 servings of whole milk and bask in your new found gains.

http://www.amazon.com/Optimum-Nutrition-Standard-Double-Chocolate/dp/B000QSNYGI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314617260&sr=8-1

Just get some ON whey and mix it with milk.

100% whey by optimum nutrition is great, esp. chocolate. I like to add a bit of cocoa powder, and combine with milk. Pretty cheap too.

http://www.amazon.com/Optimum-Nutrition-Standard-Chocolate-5-15-Pound/dp/B000QSNYGI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1254081423&sr=1-1

Why did no one point out the fact that a protein shake is used to supplement dietary protein? You don't need any particular shake, they're just a convenient way to get additional protein into your diet (especially immediately following training).

That being said... I drink Optimum Nutrition as well; Chocolate Mint is delicious.

Sounds like you need some weight-training, and honestly it wouldn't take much to get where he was in Fight Club. His body fat % is pretty low, which is mostly thanks to diet, not the track or weight room.

Make sure you're getting enough protein. Also, would recommended a daily multi-vitamin. HIIT in the morning is great for reducing body-fat, but I'd limit it to 3 times a week max.

You don't need to drink a gallon of milk a day, you need to eat above your daily caloric maintenance. That can be achieved with a gallon of milk, or it can be achieved with a bunch of other stuff.

A protein shake is recommended if you feel that you're having trouble getting 1g/lb of protein (that is, X lbs of lean weight = X grams of protein a day).

The type of protein powder doesn't really matter, as long as it's some decent tasting whey protein. A good brand is Optimum Nutrition: http://www.amazon.com/Optimum-Nutrition-Standard-Double-Chocolate/dp/B000QSNYGI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1331509088&sr=8-1

If you drink just one cup of milk a day, you might not be getting as many calories you need.

It is possible to get strong without bulking, but it helps if you're bulking. If you're starting SS, you can make some good gains without bulking, but down the road you might stall.

Hope this helps (:

Servings: 1

Prep Time: 1 min Cook Time: 1 min

Ingredients

1. Chia Seeds - 2 tbsp
   
2. Unsweetened Almond Milk - 240 ml or 1 cup
   
3. Chocolate Protein Powder - 1 scoop
   
4. Sweetener of choice (Optional)
   
   Method of preparation
   
   
5. In a glass jar combine all ingredients and mix well to ensure there are no lumps
   
6. Refrigerate overnight

r/Fitness has spoken
Results Here

My pick is Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey

I do a protein shake after climbing (I use this one) mixed with almond milk and occasionally have another one with lunch as well.

I just started taking Creatine HCL yesterday after researching a lot about it. I mix it with BCAA's since HCL form is very sour, but the popular mono- creatine I've heard a lot of people mix with a protein shake after working out. No calories between the two - I use Scivation Xtend Pink Lemonade for the BCAA and Beyond Raw for the creatine.

I am trying out a caffienated BCAA from Gnarly Nutrition for my pre-workout drink. I've used other true preworkouts, and I hate the jitters and sweat that comes with it. I've always taken BCAA's before and do notice less muscle soreness and better recovery, so my hope is the caffeine combined with it will give me the little boost I need.

Black coffee is another good preworkout with no calories to give the energy boost you might be looking for, but if you're not very sensitive to caffeine one of the others that has other stimulants might be a better fit I suppose.

What do you dislike about using 2 scoops? Is it the additional calories, or value for money? Because I just compared it with 4 other random protein powders on Amazon (on the first page of results), and at current prices, you get considerably more protein per dollar than the others.

protein per serving * servings per container / price

EAS: 49.8
BSN: 26.4
MusclePharm: 32.5
MyProtein: 22.7
ON: 30.6

Edit: For the record, the place I've been buying EAS from sells it for $40/5lb bag, so I've been getting about 37.7g/$

20% sale on ON whey protein, seems like a good deal to me so I wanted to buy a few extras. What flavors have you guys tried other than the chocolate that taste good mixed with water?

sorry forgot to link deal for other people. There's a 20% off coupon you can use on Amazon atm: https://www.amazon.com/Optimum-Nutrition-100-Whey-Gold-Standard-Double-Rich-Chocolate-5-Pound/dp/B000QSNYGI

I always feel the need to mention that protein powders are cheaper than people think. They see the $50 price tag on the tub you just mentioned but neglect to do the math. Protein is generally the most expensive of the macronutrients (carbs and fats are cheap). Even considering that, you're getting 74 servings of 120 calories worth of protein for ~$50 (I just bought two tubs at $43 each earlier today from Vitamin Shoppe). That's $0.56 per 100 calories of mostly protein. That per calorie cost compares favorably to anything, even fast food prices (and again, protein is generally the most expensive macro to get).

https://www.amazon.com/Optimum-Nutrition-Standard-Double-Chocolate/dp/B000QSNYGI

A classic. I've been using it since I started and it hasn't let me down. I blend it with milk and it tastes great.

this

This is what I use to use.

This particular flavor (Double Rich Chocolate) doesn't have any alcohol in flavoring (those others do). I can cite the email I sent them if you need.

If you want an "affordable" but well-regarded protein shake, I really like Optimum Nutrition. On Amazon it's $55 for 5 lbs.

The reality is protein shakes aren't very sustaining, filling, or cheap, but whey protein absorbs quickly after a workout, which some studies suggest helps to prevent delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS: the achy soreness after a hard workout). If you really need protein, hard-boiled eggs are incredibly convenient, filling, and cheap. Canned tuna is a cheap way to get your protein as well.

Simple and easy way to get more protein into your diet. When looking at the nutrition label, if it says "Nutrition facts" the contents have been verified by a relatively strict process. if it says "Supplement facts" the actual content is allowed to vary a lot from what's listed on the label.

If you're looking for a meal replacement, I've found that Muscle Milk brand powder works well. If you're just wanting a protein supplement, I really like the flavours of Optimum Nutrition and they're relatively low carb. If you're trying to lean more towards the vegetarian side of things, Garden of Life is an excellent option as well. Although I personally think the texture is pretty "gritty" the flavours aren't bad.

Regardless of what you choose, if you do some price comparison among top brands, you'll find it to be a fairly good deal in price/calorie compared to pre-packaged foods. Almost all of the powders are going to be a healthy option for adding to your diet. For myself, I've found protein shakes to be the best small meal replacement for when I'm trying to cut weight, and a great source for extra calories to add between each meal if I'm trying to bulk up.

Oh, well if it's all you can get then no biggie. I was just pointing out that dairy fats aren't the type you need to worry about avoiding.

I've never used ON, but if you want the cheapest/leanist whey, go with optimal nutrition. They don't put anything extra in there.

From this forum post, I decided to try Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey. Note that some flavors have gluten (like cookies and cream), and some don't. I went with Double Rich Chocolate, and have had no issues with it. It's also the best tasting protein powder I've ever had.

Where the fuck do you buy protein from? Here is ON whey protein for $53/5 lbs

Just looked it up on amazon. Optimum Nutrition 100% Whey Gold Standard, Double Rich Chocolate, 5 Pound, 80 Ounce https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000QSNYGI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_MsyGwbK0T1PG5

If you are buying from GNC, you are getting robbed

And an edit. This is also without "subscribe and save" feature. Which drops it down another 3-4 dollars I think.

Use ON it mixes so easily.

Buy whey powder from amazon or any nutrition store in bulk. Mix with milk. I used it after workouts but you could drink it with meals to get more protein.

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard. A 5lbs jar will run you about $55 right now on Amazon.

Start off with the r/fitness FAQ - it helps a lot. Additionally take a look at Examine's article on 'how much protein do I need a day' to see how much you need.

For purchasing? [Go for Amazon, ON Gold, it's the best selling protein powder out there.](http://www.amazon.com/Optimum-Nutrition-Standard-Double-Chocolate/dp/B000QSNYGI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369449551&sr=8-1&keywords=optimum+nutrition] - The price beats any local store.

Let me know if you have any more questions!

Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Whey Protein Powder, Double Rich Chocolate, 5 Pound https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000QSNYGI

Amazon has ON 5lbs on sale for $57.99 right now which is pretty sweet (~75 cents a scoop):

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000QSNYGI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

There is a drop box on this page with a lot of different options

Whatever you do, don't do steroids. One of my friends knew a guy on a snare line that wanted to keep his bulk throughout the season so he took anabolic steroids. They were on a water break and the guy laid down for a short rest. Next thing they knew, he had gone through cardiac arrest and slipped into unconsciousness. I know you probably would never consider this but just know that it'll fuck you up.

I recommend just eating a ton. Even when you feel full during a meal, stuff down one serving more of chicken or vegetables. Oats, cottage cheese, and yogurt are god-tier protein snacks. Peanut butter will give you a lot of gas and so will beef jerky but both are good as far as broteins.

Also, this is the best deal on whey protein I've ever found http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000QSNYGI/

Bar Keeper's Friend--sprinkle some on, and then scrub with a damp sponge. It's magic, I tell you. Magic.

I'm not sure since I haven't compared them in so long. I would play it safe and assume about 1/3 or 1/4th as much to start if you're worried about damaging things. Another awesome one I found that gets rid of hard water stains and caramelized oil on pans is this. (It's about half that price in the store) and no added fragrances or other garbage.

I soak them in hot water and use some powdered Bar Keeper's Friend surface cleaner, it really seems to work better for me than Goo Gone and doesn't carry that cirtusy smell. It also does wonders for dirty stoves, sinks, and counter tops.

As nice as cast iron is, if you ever want to make any kind of pan sauce after you've cooked your protein that might involve wine or vinegar or lemon juice, you'd be out of luck. I'd go with a good, heavy traditional-finish skillet with some sort of clad construction for optimal even heating across the surface. As far as that sticking issue goes, you don't have to use as much oil as long as your skillet is already heated before you put any food in it. In some cases (not all), meat in a traditional finish skillet will stick at first but release from the surface right around the time it's supposed to be flipped or turned, which is perfectly normal anyway.

One of the other perks of a traditional finish skillet is fond -- a.k.a., the stuck-on brown bits left in the pan after you've cooked your food. All those brown (not blackened, that's too far) bits = flavorful awesomeness, and are key in making a good pan sauce to go with whatever you're making. Deglaze the pan with a bit of broth or wine or whatever and scrape up the brown bits with a wooden spoon, throw some butter and herbs in there, baby, you got a sauce goin'. (Plus, this makes cleaning the pan later a lot easier, since you're using what would otherwise be "mess" to your advantage.")

Problem is, good-quality stainless steel skillets are expensive, and the drop-off in price represents a really steep drop-off in quality, which would of course give you worse results in cooking and make you less likely to want to use one anyway. One thing to watch out for is skillets with disk bottoms, where the only place the manufacturers put the highly conductive aluminum core which appears in most stainless steel cookware in a disk on the bottom of the skillet. These are the cheapest options, but the problem is the sides of the pan don't heat up as evenly or as well as the bottom, which results in uneven cooking if you're using the entire surface of the pan. Better to go with a "clad" pan -- one in which the entire skillet is made out of a layer of aluminum sandwiched between stainless steel. Better conduction, more even heating, better performance, better food. Yes, clad skillets are more expensive (~$110 versus ~$50 for a disk bottom), but 1) Cooking.com, etc. run sales on these things all the time, and 2) as long as you take good care care of them (Bar Keeper's Friend works wonders for me), there's no reason why they shouldn't last a lifetime -- definitely worth the investment.

Looks like it could be some hard water staining. I agree with the barkeepers friend. it will bring it back to life. it won't even take much scrubbing to clear that up. You can get it at Walmart or most grocery stores.

You want the powder cleanser. the liquid cleaner is shite! this is what it looks like. it's really cheap like a dollar something per canister.

https://www.amazon.com/Bar-Keepers-Friend-Powdered-12-Ounces/dp/B000V72992/

Bar-keeper's friend and elbow grease.That is sure to clean this up real nice.

https://www.amazon.com/Bar-Keepers-Friend-Powdered-12-Ounces/dp/B000V72992

I came here to say this. All of my pots look brand new! Barkeeper's Friend is a staple in my kitchen.

I have All-Clad. Pick up some Barkeeper's Friend it'll clean up the pans fast!

Also, medium heat for steak is a little low. I have an electric range and end up setting 7 out of 10. Basically, let the pan heat up. Then toss a few drops of water into the pan. If the water dances around on the surface, then it's ready for your oil and within a few seconds of heating up the oil, the steak.

For stainless you need bar keepers friend, takes off anything on stainless steel cookware with minimal elbow grease (burnt egg, milk, w/e just a minute of scrubbing). A magic eraser works wonders as well.

Buy a box of 200 pair of 32 NRR disposable foam earplugs for $20.

Even the quietest helmets expose you to permanently damaging levels of noise after a few hours. Don't risk your hearing. Tinnitus is no fun, don't ask how I know.

Get some earplugs?

I use those for going to the range, and occasionally sleeping with.

If you used a fresh set each week, that box would last you years. You could probably use them quite a bit longer than that though.

but how much protection are from over-the-ear foams and electronic muffs?

they're also around 30-32dB protection so it's equivalent or better...

I use these and haven't had any problems with ringing in the ears...

I prefer foams because over-the-ear muffs get in the way of rifle shooting...

https://www.amazon.com/Howard-Leight-Visibility-Disposable-LL-1/dp/B0007XJOLG


I recommend these.

These earplugs are very comfortable in my ears. I bought a box to help me study and sleep when I lived on campus. Best decision yet!

Yeah I wear them correctly. I wear them at night too, though a different brand. The ones I have worn while riding are Howard Leight LaserLite earplugs. I like them a lot.

At night I wear these, which I would not wear while riding because they block out practically all noise.

I bought these. They work well and now I'll never have to buy earplugs again.

I also wake up by the slightest noise. The only thing that works for me is earplugs. But not just any earplugs. The ones workers in factories etc. use.

I'll try to find a picture or link for you, hold on.

Edit: i dont know if exactly these are available outside of germany but they are called bilsom laser lite.

http://www.amazon.de/gp/aw/d/B0007XJOLG/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1420567335&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX200_QL40

They look like this. They are stronger than normal ear plugs because they are supposed to be used when working with heavy and loud machinery.

I hope you find something like that and it helps you.

It's the type of magnesium! Comes in a few forms, ones a laxative and one isn't - IIRC! My mom researches vitamins ALL the time, so I just listened to her advice but I remember a few Google searches backed up what she said. I ended up getting this one from Amazon two weeks ago to try and help get better sleep. No issues so far!

https://www.amazon.com/Doctors-Best-Absorption-Magnesium-Elemental/dp/B000BD0RT0.

I chose that because it was cheap and on subscribe and save.

I take two of these as I’m getting ready for bed so prob 10-15 mins before.

Doctor's Best High Absorption Magnesium Glycinate Lysinate, 100% Chelated, Non-GMO, Vegan, Gluten Free, Soy Free, 200 mg, 240 Tablets https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BD0RT0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_aPvaAb8YB8QBN

I also have Mag Calm Plus but I don’t think it is as good as the above tbh.

Threonate is a total scam. Just get Glycinate from Doctor's Best and save $50 on a year's supply.

http://www.amazon.com/Doctors-Best-Absorption-Magnesium-Elemental/dp/B000BD0RT0/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1462655322&sr=8-1&keywords=doctors+best+magnesium

6 month+ supply for $15.

Maybe change the Magnesium citrate to Magnesium glycinate (chelated). Not only is Magnesium glycinate better absorbed than citrate, it is easier on your stomach (won't give you stomach pain) and won't give you diarrhea which magnesium citrate often does.

Dr's Best do a fairly cheap one; http://www.amazon.com/Doctors-Best-Absorption-Magnesium-Elemental/dp/B000BD0RT0/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1411834938&sr=1-1&keywords=magnesium+glycinate

I should have been more clear in the original post.

I didn't take any additional potassium supplements as the 150mg from the electrolyte concentrate was enough. I did however take an additional magnesium supplement.

So I took the concentrate first thing in the morning (electrolytes, potassium, and some magnesium), salt between 8am and 2pm, and then 200mg additional magnesium before bed.

Here's the link for the magnesium I took:

https://www.amazon.com/Doctors-Best-Absorption-Magnesium-Glycinate/dp/B000BD0RT0/ref=sr_1_3?crid=VUS1ASLZIDPV&keywords=magnesium&qid=1562090917&s=gateway&sprefix=Magnes%2Caps%2C325&sr=8-3

Just a heads up that labdoor.com tested that and it came up high in some heavy metals, so I stopped using it. Over at r/nootropics, we love Doctor's Best Mag Glycinate as the best for relaxation and sleep. Any glycinate form really, though I know the citrate and malate are good, too.

be CAREFUL about taking any magnesium oxide, its the cheapest form of magnesium and the least absorbable - meaning it's basically a laxative and will give you liquid diarrhea REALLY easy

you really want the stuff that ends with -ATE , doesnt have the side effects



as far as multivitamin, you may want to switch to something with join suporrt like this stuff which is praised highly in the body building community. I take half the daily dose since i'm not an athlete.

on the same note i've heard nothing but good things about Cissus for join pain.

Another thing people say helps is circumin/tumeric, available in caps but you can just get a bunch of the indian spice at a grocery story if they have it

I would recommend taking magnesium glycinate daily, I use this kind.

In addition to food, I was taking at least 5,000mg of sodium, at least 2,600mg of potassium in the form of "No Salt", and at least 200mg of magnesium which can be found: https://www.amazon.com/Doctors-Best-Absorption-Magnesium-Supplement/dp/B000BD0RT0?th=1

I recommend this brand of magnesium.

Some types just pass through you and just give you diarrhea but this one gets absorbed real good.

Magnesium - 5 cents a pill. I find taking three a day before bed works for me. You may find you need only two. Maybe your body will be happiest with four.

Potassium - NoSalt. I don't like the taste of salt in my water, just the potassium, so I make sure to generously salt my food otherwise.

yeah being so young doesnt help. benzos are sort of seen as a last resort. they dont just throw them around, well good doctors dont at least.

when you say different pdoc everytime, are you going to the same building/network, or are you actually switching to an entire new office every time? the latter is called drug seeking. even the way you talk to your doctor may come across as drug seeking. you have to realize how many people they deal with everyday that are trying to finesse them for benzos. especially your age

ssris are not just "antidepressants" they are also used for anxiety, as are other classes of meds. there are several classes used for anxiety (like ssris), as well as other classes of meds used "off label" for anxiety. things like trazodone, vistiril, gabapentin, these are commonly used "off-label" for anxiety and sleep.


so what meds have you been prescribed so far? and how long have you been seeing your pdoc for this actual anxiety problem? it sounds like youre seeing both your primary care doctor as well as a pdoc for this. do they communicate to each other? you should be seeing a specialist (pdoc) not primary care

edit - i see on your thread on /r/drugs that youre on probation. what are you on probation for? do your doctors know youre on probation? im not trying to jump to conclusions here but just reading your posts, and how you talk about being jealous of your friends who got benzos thrown at them, it sounds like you just want benzos and nothing else. youre already convinced that "antidepressants" or anything else wont help you and your mind is made up.

the other guy recommending magnesium is actually a decent idea as well. i take 200-300mg of magnesium glycinate every night (and 100mg in the morning). it actually helps a lot to relax and fall asleep. without a doubt the best/most noticeable supplement ive ever taken, honestly. its certainly not a cure all, but it definitely helps. im in my early 30s and have tried almost everything.

i suggest you get some either way: https://www.amazon.com/Doctors-Best-Absorption-Magnesium-Glycinate/dp/B000BD0RT0/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1521492163&sr=1-4&keywords=magnesium+glycinate&dpID=413m9XIoQtL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

a bonus is that magnesium helps with constipation BIG TIME. i have several digestive "diseases" and constipation is one of the biggest side effects. magnesium fixes that. just dont take too much or you get diarrhea, takes a little trial and error to find the right dose.

Have you tried magnesium?

Read these reviews and see if it's interesting to you: https://www.amazon.com/Doctors-Best-Absorption-Magnesium-Supplement/dp/B000BD0RT0?th=1

If it's muscle-based pain (like a cramp), then yes, magnesium may help. I take it daily for spasticity/chronic pain, and a big dose when I get a migraine.

Many people find magnesium calming (hence products like Natural Calm) and can help make you sleepier at bedtime. It's also helpful for treating constipation, as it relaxes the muscles of your digestive tract (along with all your other ones).

I've taken this one for about a year.

I'm not a big believer in most supplements, but magnesium has good evidence of effectiveness, relatively low cost, and few (if any) unwanted side effects. If you want to try it, you'll know within a day or two if it's helping. Heck, if nothing else, it may help ease the tension of living in pain.

Also came here to post a link for musicians earplugs. I have these ones by Eargasm and they're great. I've been going to shows since the nineties and only recently started wearing these, but wish I always had. I even wear them at sporting events and loud bars - they actually make conversations easier. Don't have permanent tinnitus and would like to keep it that way.

Give Eargasm a shot. I used them for Avenged Sevenfold, Bullet For My Valentine and Breaking Benjamin. They really do take out all the harmful bass and my ears felt great afterward. Any kind of high fidelity earplugs should be good. They don't make the sound as muddy as foam earplugs. Sound quality is much better. I have heard Dubz is a good brand as well.

Amazon

I keep these on my Keychain and just bring them everywhere in case I forget my normal pair or just need some

But if I'm going to a festival I use westones. So if you're really about it and as anti-tinnitus as I am, You can go to an audiologist and get custom molds & a hearing analysis that they'll send off to westone to make a pair of custom earplugs for you.

I really like the Eargasm earplugs.

https://www.amazon.com/Eargasm-Musicians-Motorcycles-Sensitivity-Conditions/dp/B019M576XW/ref=pd_aw_sbs_121_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B019M576XW&pd_rd_r=d0f66d40-27e7-11e9-a6ca-87394bc783d5&pd_rd_w=jk6pm&pd_rd_wg=D2lEF&pf_rd_p=aae79475-6dc9-4a12-80e8-27b63108fa72&pf_rd_r=RZ3ZZSFXER05C5G666MV&psc=1&refRID=RZ3ZZSFXER05C5G666MV

I linked you the better ones, but there also cheaper model of the same factory that still are fucking gold.

They're a little expensive but really worth the price

Great thinking! I'll give you my experience with the ones I've used.

First I bought this set from Etymotic for myself and my Croo years ago. For the price they're great and served me quite well at local shows and Roo alike until I lost them at Roo in 2016 (luckily I always carry disposable ones too in case anyone around me in the crowd wants a pair so I wasn't deaf by the end of that Roo). I liked them for the price and the carrying case however they did have some issues like their odd fit for some folks.

After losing the Etymotic's at Roo in 2016 I bought this set from Eargasm pretty much as soon as I got home. They're a bit pricier than the Etymotic's but well worth the price in my opinion. They come with a large and small in ear insert in order to ensure a good fit for most and instead of using a tube and dampening materials like the Etymotic's the Eargasm's actually have a tiny filter that makes for much more even tones/sounds. They also come with a much better carrying case and have yet to have an issue with them in the ~2.5 years I've had them.

Side note about the Eargasm's, their carrying case is a tiny metal canister that comes equipped with a keychain and I take them to every show I go to, I mention this because the canister does look like something you'd house party favors in so the security may have you open the canister up so they can inspect it. I've also found the canister sets off metal detectors so if you do attempt to get through using it as a party favor holder it may come back to bite you. Just figured I'd give you a heads up there since I've gotten many strange looks from security and fellow show goers alike until I open them up and pop the plugs in.


Hopefully this helps! If you've got any questions about either set let me know!

Not just for marching bands! A very important issue for all musicians. Noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus are no joke.

There are now multiple, affordable options for reusable "musician's earplugs," which block all frequency ranges equally (normal earplugs can leave the music sounding muffled and dull because they block more treble than bass sound).

use earplugs with a 3kHz resonant filter like these

I don't have that particular set. I have Rooth C&P 25dB, but I don't recommend them because of fit.

Yes. Here's a list of some of them.

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=concert+earplugs

I use these:

https://www.amazon.com/Eargasm-Musicians-Motorcycles-Sensitivity-Conditions/dp/B019M576XW/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1506384428&sr=8-4&keywords=concert+earplugs

They muffle noise without killing the noise. I wear them when in traffic, when going to sleep, and when I want to focus.

You should consider Frequency reduction values table. Here are the tables for ~$20-30 earplugs for gigs:

Vendor \ Average reduction Value | 125 HZ | 250 HZ | 500 HZ | 1000HZ | 2000HZ | 4000HZ | 8000HZ
---------|----------|----------|---------|--------|--------|---------|---------
Crioxen Earplugs | 15.1 | 15.4 | 17.1 | 19.9 | 26.9 | 17.7 | 29.9
ER20XS Earplugs | 14.5 | 14.2 | 17.1 | 21.1 | 25.3 | 20.5 | 23.3
Eargasm Earplugs | 14.7 | 14.8 | 16.8 | 20.3 | 24.3 | 21.4| 25.7


It can help to prevent negative impact to the quality of the show.
You can find some other comparison for earplugs for gigs.

I always thought I was above this, that "yea, ok, but I've never felt the effects of a concert before, so I'm fine."

Until LCD Soundsystem at Bill Graham last year. Ho. Ly. Shit. I was in pain at how loud that concert got. Ears were plugged for a week. Now, I'm buying some plugs and keeping them in my pocket at shows just in case that ever happens again.

Also, just as a heads up, these Eargasms are going on an Amazon Lightning Deal at 12:50 PST today (3/30). Would be a good time to buy.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N1UX8RW?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

I have this scale

I haven't tested the accuracy of the body fat part, but I have a DEXA scan next month and was planning to compare then.

>If I was you I'd just buy some Withings scales

Just looked up the one I have - yup it's a Withings. Works great, syncs with my Garmin and Strava apps (compatible with lots of different health apps), can do multiple people, and it's $60. If OP just likes DIY, knock yourself out, but considering there's a product on the market likely as cheap as you could DIY, why not put your time into other projects.

Edit: here's one for $25 that has over 11k ratings.

It came with the scale I use.

RENPHO Bluetooth Body Fat Scale - FDA Approved - Smart BMI Scale

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N1UX8RW/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awdb_t1_sElXBbWSDCNF1

RENPHO digital scale

https://www.amazon.com/Etekcity-Digital-Bathroom-Technology-Included/dp/B00F3J9G1W/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=scale&qid=1554146914&s=gateway&sr=8-3

https://www.amazon.com/RENPHO-Bluetooth-Body-Fat-Scale/dp/B01N1UX8RW/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=scale&qid=1554146914&s=gateway&sr=8-4&th=1

​

These two scales are really good for the price. I own the second one myself and its useful to track your progress with an app. Doesn't cost too much also.

Got this for $37 canadian ($30 US) https://www.amazon.com/RENPHO-Bluetooth-Body-Fat-Scale/dp/B01N1UX8RW

The scale only shows your weight, but everything else sends to an app. Cool af

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N1UX8RW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

​

To save you some time :) and thank you

Another brand that you should possibly consider are the ones I personally use, eargasm. They're relatively affordable(20$ I think) they are really comfortable, and they are pretty discreet-looking. They also come with a cheap little case for holding them that you can throw on your keys. :)

Eargasm High Fidelity Earplugs for Concerts Musicians Motorcycles and More! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019M576XW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_.-nkxbC8Q5HF2

Here you go

Hi I have sensory issues too. I use these really great invisible ear plugs. You can barely see them when they're in so no one will notice, and they don't just muffle sound, it's more like the volume gets turned down so you can still talk to people. https://www.amazon.com/Eargasm-Musicians-Motorcycles-Sensitivity-Conditions/dp/B019M576XW/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=ear+plugs+eargasm&qid=1566312844&s=gateway&sprefix=ear+plugs+ea&sr=8-3

They're kind of pricey, but worth it. My friend who has autism too uses the same kind as well

I don’t know about comfort but all of my friends used acoustic earplugs in high school for drum line and said good things.

http://www.amazon.com/Eargasm-Fidelity-Earplugs-Concerts-Musicians/dp/B019M576XW/ref=pd_bxgy_121_img_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=1PJXKDT61Q570Y4FBX1X

Wear ear plugs. I recommend the Eargasm ones. They're great at blocking out wind noise and manage overall sound quite nicely so you can still hear your music and traffic noise. Waaaaaay better than foamies.

Eargasm High Fidelity Earplugs for Concerts Musicians Motorcycles Noise Sensitivity Conditions and More (Ear Plugs Come in Premium Gift Box Packaging) - Blue https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019M576XW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_vTBOBb1AP8H1C



Bought these before center and they absolutely saved my life for good stayed in and everything sounded so good still!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RM6Q3BA/

these are the ones i got.

they do their job very well, but i find the silicon fins to be a little stiff after extended wear.

i should mention i'm a fire tech, so i sometimes wear these for 8 hours at a time during extensive testing.

there's others with better ratings, but back when i got these there were fewer choices and i was unsure if they would really be any different than regular baffled earplugs, so i went for a cheap set.

https://www.amazon.com/Eargasm-Musicians-Motorcycles-Sensitivity-Conditions/dp/B019M576XW/

i should probably upgrade :)

I've worn Eargasm plugs to several weddings (with live bands, indoors, may as well have been a concert) and each time the event has had no impact on my tinnitus. 10/10 I recommend.

https://www.amazon.com/Eargasm-Musicians-Motorcycles-Sensitivity-Conditions/dp/B019M576XW/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1N6pis-O5gIVRCCtBh3MgwbyEAAYAiAAEgJDNvD_BwE&hvadid=318447792189&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9031044&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t2&hvqmt=e&hvrand=15055772257892368760&hvtargid=kwd-589893867737&hydadcr=26656_10229822&keywords=eargasm+high-fidelity+earplugs&qid=1575002918&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExTFNNSVdOUzk0QUxQJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMzU4MzMwMVdMMU1JNzlHVkg5WSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNzc0MjU3MUExVjkwS1U0T0w2WSZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

I've used these for years and I've never left a concert with ringing ears. These lower the volume without muting all the sounds like traditional foam ear plugs. For a child you my want to go foam earplugs or over the ear ones.

Edit: just saw he was 19 so yeah I really recommend these for both of y’all. There clear discreet and still allow you to enjoy the music without the side affects

Not so much for white noise, but I bought these for concerts and motorcycle riding and loved them:


https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B000V9PKZA/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1


My partner then upgraded me to these, and I love them as well, but TBH I don't see how they are better than the $10 ones I bought myself first:


https://smile.amazon.com/Eargasm-Musicians-Motorcycles-Sensitivity-Conditions/dp/B019M576XW/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=eargasm&qid=1554298633&s=musical-instruments&sr=1-1-catcorr


I've since given her my Hearos to use at concerts. If I were you I think the Hearos would do you just fine; I haven't looked at the specs of either, like I said, they both appear to work pretty much the same.


Hope this helps.

I use the Eargasm High Fidelity Concert Earplugs. I’ve worn them through three Love Yourself concerts (two GAs, right by main stage near the speakers) last year and various rock, hip-hop, EDM, and pop concerts.

Eargasm High Fidelity Earplugs for Concerts Musicians Motorcycles Noise Sensitivity Conditions and More (Ear Plugs Come in Premium Gift Box Packaging) - Blue https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019M576XW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_XAI9AbFD8PVP8

Would these type of plugs be good for a regular concert attendee?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B019M576XW/ref=ya_aw_od_pi?ie=UTF8&psc=1&th=1

I bought [these] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019M576XW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) and they stayed in even during moshing with Pusha T!

I own both the Etymotic plugs and these ones from Eargasm

They both work well but the Eargasm ones are way more comfortable and go on my keychain.

I'll wear either these: :https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019M576XW/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Or my headphones:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00S59GJKI/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Amazon carries Eargasm brand earplugs for $35. I use these for work (since I teach rock music for six hours a day lol) and these are consistently comfortable to wear and easy to clean. They also come with a little metal case to help keep them clean and safe while not in your eyes. Maybe these could help?

[https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B019M576XW/ref=mp_s_a_1_3_a_it/135-8584992-8082115?ie=UTF8&qid=1542252712&sr=8-3&keywords=eargasm+ear+plugs&dpPl=1&dpID=51ztL6Xe-WL&ref=plSrch](Amazon link)

If I may-- this ones quality https://www.amazon.com/RENPHO-Bluetooth-Body-Fat-Scale/dp/B01N1UX8RW/ref=sr_1_3?crid=13UZAE48P8TXF&keywords=scale+body+fat&qid=1563375222&s=gateway&sprefix=scale+body+%2Caps%2C162&sr=8-3

'Smart' weighing scales if you're bothered about tracking your weight. They've been great as my missus and I tracked our weightloss. £24.99

Or.. save it until the next time Amazon Echo dot's go on sale.. they normally drop to £25-30ish.

RENPHO Bluetooth Body Fat Scale Smart BMI Scale Digital Bathroom Wireless Weight Scale, Body Composition Analyzer with Smartphone App 396lbs - Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N1UX8RW

Here

I strongly suggest using a scale. Ignorance may be blissful, but awareness is successful.

The scale has a cool app, synchs with Google Fit, which can then synch with Cronometer. I'm sure there are other apps it works with, but that's just how I use it.

Haven't been disappointed and can only blame any inconsistencies on my own behavior. ;)

I use the RENPHO digital scale and have been really impressed. I went through a couple different ones and this is the only one that I have found to be accurate with my doctor’s scale. You can find it here:

RENPHO Bluetooth Body Fat Scale - FDA Approved - Smart BMI Scale Digital Bathroom Wireless Weight Scale, Body Composition Analyzer with Smartphone App, 396 lbs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N1UX8RW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_MUEZAb775CYWK

I was looking for a scale that worked with Apple Health and this does the trick. It’s much cheaper than a lot of others out there so maybe it’s worth a shot.

RENPHO Bluetooth Body Fat Scale - FDA Approved - Smart BMI Scale Digital Bathroom Wireless Weight Scale, Body Composition Analyzer with Smartphone App, 396 lbs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N1UX8RW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_GrALAbKJ1DJBA

Do you mean something like this?

​

https://www.amazon.com/RENPHO-Bluetooth-Bathroom-Composition-Smartphone/dp/B01N1UX8RW/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=3BVA10XSV61EX&keywords=bluetooth+scale&qid=1568808792&sprefix=bluetooth+sc%2Caps%2C161&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExSzFCNTJGV0hNQTAxJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMDA1NzgzSUpHOUsxVDcxR0NLJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTEwMzYyODQxUDJJVUcwSFdMSEdYJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

Hi all
24 5'8 M 215 lbs
Body fat according to the device at LA fitness: 30.2%
Body fat according to this new scale I got: 29.2%

Majority of my fat is around my stomach and my butt/thighs.
My immediate goal is to have a flat stomach (and wider upper body?) And slimmer butt/thighs.

I play soccer twice a week and go to the gym twice/thrice.

At the gym my workout is at follows:
Bench press 40lbs x 5 x 6
Assisted pull ups 60 lbsx 5 x 6
Lateral raises 20 lbs x 10 x 3
Mountain climbers 30 x 3
Squats 20 x 4
Cross body Crunches 10 x 3
20-30 mins cardio.

My tdee at the current numbers is 2700-2800 calories.
I eat about 2000 calories as follows:
Carbs 123.4
Protein 123.6
Fat 52.9
Sugar 74
The macros are going to be a little higher for each category as I have Indian lunch that is not prepared by me but is homemade and on the healthy side so I assume it to be 400 calories which is included in the numbers above.

Given my current targets : to loose fat around my core, should I maintain the current nutrition and exercise or change it and how?
One of my gymbros tells me that I should replace some meals with just protein shake but I need to physically eat something to feel satisfied.

Beginning of this year I was 222 and am 215 now.

Thank you so much! (:

I use this: RENPHO Bluetooth Body Fat Scale Smart BMI Scale Digital Bathroom Wireless Weight Scale, Body Composition Analyzer with Smartphone App 396 lbs - Black, 11 x 11 Inch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N1UX8RW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_s7u2CbQ5CR29D

It has consistently said 12%, do you not think it's reliable?

I've had this for over a year now and it's pretty consistent, just make sure you let it calibrate for a sec
RENPHO Bluetooth Body Fat Scale https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N1UX8RW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_qYZ5CbTBKF11P

Noodles! Happy birthday to your little one!! Here's a picture of my dog that cheers me up! I recently got a little rat from ikea for my dog and she immediately loved it!

https://imgur.com/gallery/e7wsR4F


RENPHO Bluetooth Body Fat Scale Smart BMI Scale Digital Bathroom Wireless Weight Scale, Body Composition Analyzer with Smartphone App 396 lbs - Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N1UX8RW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_NkgDCbAGY4E46

I'd really like to keep up with my weight better now that I'm working out and eating better. I've never had a digital scale and heard they're more accurate. The scale now I have was my grandmothers scale.

This is the one that I have.

Gives pretty decent readings, bluetooth and has some other bells and whistles. For $25, you really can't go wrong.

The brand is RENPHO and they have a few different models. I have this one and I’ve been using it since December. I like it a lot!

I like this guy, especially for its price. I also considered Eufy's smart scale; Eufy/Anker is a pretty solid brand for its price point.

It technically sends it to Fitbit and then Fitbit sends it to MFP. I still manually log my weight into the libra app but I usually wait until my lunch break to log it.


This is the scale I have if anyone is interested. Warning: it rounds to the nearest even decimal on the app but, Fitbit records the actual decimal.

I haven't used it very long so I can't really say if it's a good long-term solution but I recently bought this scale: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N1UX8RW/

It's blue tooth enabled and, though I've not tried it yet, their app claims to sync with the Fitbit app (along with a couple of other apps). I've not used that functionality yet. If it did work, though, it's a much cheaper alternative for automatically syncing with Fitbit, as it's $32 instead of $100.

I also like that it uses AAA batteries. My last scale used those small, round disk-like batteries, and they're a lot more expensive. Plus you can get rechargeable AAA batteries but I've never seen rechargeables for those disc-like batteries.

That screenshot is from google spreadsheets. I export from my app to that spreadsheet and it updates the charts.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N1UX8RW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

Thats the scale I have, but there are lots like it. I paid $31 for it, so $22 is a good deal on prime.

I got this one:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N1UX8RW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

Super cheap and works great! It has its own app to keep all the data but I also synced it with my fitbit app.

This is the one I use. Cheap and works great: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N1UX8RW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

Do you NEED wifi and tie in with automation?

If not, no bullshit, https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01N1UX8RW/

Renpho. It's as accurate as our old scale. Forget the name but I did a shit ton of research to find one of the most accurate around. This one tracks a ton of data points. Syncs with fitbit and Apple Health. And it's only $25 but also only Bluetooth. Supports multiple devices just fine. Just make sure both people create their own account in the app and whoever is weighing just opens the app before they get on.

Hey! Congrats on deciding to make a lifestyle change. I just did, too! About to finish week 2 of keto. I’ve lost weight already and feel really great about it! I haven’t followed a specific meal plan, but I have mapped out my grocery lists and stopped eating out at restaurants and strictly cooking my own food, with the exception of 1-2 meals at my restaurant job that I work several shifts a week at. This really helps me count my carbs and calories in the really helpful app Carb Manager.

I feel less bloated without gluten! It’s awesome. I made my first fathead pizza last night with my coworker and friend who went keto too! Having someone else who is willing to undergo the change with me has been more than helpful, especially since my spouse is still eating carbs and sugar in the same apartment as me!

Things that have helped me so far:
-buying a great food scale

-buying an awesome body weight and body fat scale ...this scale comes with an app that shows me statistics like bone density, water weight, body fat %, and weight. It also tracks my progress, shows me healthy/normal levels and percentiles, and more. I really like it. Almost as much as I like watching my weight decrease every few days from keto.

-having a friend or two who are new to keto as well. They have recommended different products to me like:

1. Skinny girl sweetner
   
2. Fiber supplements for when the cheese hits you hard
   
3. Tape measurers (simple and common item that won’t deceive you like the scale often can!)
   
   Personal mantras I remind myself to continue keto in a healthy way:
   -don’t obsess over the scale. NSV pop up daily and they’re sometimes even better than watching the number on the scale drop. It’s not healthy to let your mood rely on scale results. Once a week is enough moderation in terms of weighing yourself. (I’m struggling hard with following this direction myself)
   
   -make sure you hit your protein quotas! They’re important. You need protein for muscles, and so much more.
   
   -try not to eat sweets at all for the first few weeks. You need to give your body time to stop craving sugar (and it will happen!)
   
   -drink a fuck ton of water. It will help you feel less full at first, and you need it especially to keep healthy while your body transitions from eating carbs to eating fat. Water is your new bff.
   
   -listen to your body. Eat when you’re hungry. If you’re hungry, eat. Don’t starve yourself, you will begin to feel less hungry as you continue on tho. If your eat something that’s keto friendly, but it makes you feel funky, try to feel out different options. You want to feel your best in order to keep up the inspiration to continue!
   
   -last but not least: TAKE PROGRESS PICS!!! I lurk this sub/weight loss subs constantly and I always see ppl talk about regretting not taking more before pics! Once they reach the time to take after shots, they really wish they had a lot more to compare them to!
   
   Hope this helps :)