I asked over on the Law forum, so I figured I'd just copy my post here too:
Hi everyone! For a while now, the folks at Bank of America have been really pestering me for all sorts of private info (asking who lives in my apartment, telling me I'm required to report every single change in tenants, etc.). I have my paycheck deposited there and an active mortgage with them. Honestly, I feel like they already have everything they need (since they approved my loan and I've been paying it off on time for 10 years), and I'm really hesitant to hand over any more personal details unless the law actually forces my hand.
Then yesterday, this email lands in my inbox:
"In accordance with the legal regulations of the United States, all banks in the US, including Bank of America, are required to update the mandatory information for all existing clients.
We would like to remind you that the Bank collects mandatory data based on the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act and its associated regulations, international standards, and in compliance with obligations arising from the international agreement the United States has entered into with the US to implement the US law known as FATCA (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act). This data is kept confidential, and the Bank uses it solely for managing your business relationship and fulfilling obligations according to the aforementioned legal regulations."
Am I REALLY obligated to give them this stuff? If not, is there anything specific I can point to so they'll finally just leave me alone?
When it comes to H&M, I usually grab a size 12 or 14 in other shops, but at their place, I always have to go way up in sizing. Honestly, I can't even squeeze into their standard 12 or 14. 🤷 If I pick up a basic white button-down at C&A, a size 12 fits just fine, but at H&M? Even a size 16 wouldn't let me get the buttons closed.
So, I was looking over my latest monthly bill from the local water utility here in Washington, D.C., and I noticed something pretty strange. They actually charged me for a water meter that they went ahead and swapped out without even asking me first. 😠😠
My local water utility just swapped out my meter for absolutely no reason. As far as I can tell, everything was working perfectly—no leaks, and my monthly bills have stayed totally consistent. They even went ahead and charged me for the service. Is this actually okay? Do I have any legal ground to file a formal complaint? Back when I ran into issues with my electric meter, General Electric replaced it without charging me a dime.
Honestly, I’ve had a really solid experience with Euro 😁 Grandma ended up rear-ending me, so the police came out to file a report. The insurance adjuster gave me the choice between $300 or just getting it repaired, and I decided to go with the repair at one of their contracted shops. It turns out the final bill ended up being around $1000, mainly because they couldn't patch up the bumper like they originally thought and had to buy all new parts instead. The car was ready in just a single day, and Euro handled the entire payment without any drama. I'll admit, I was pretty nervous about how the whole thing would play out Oh, and get this—they didn't even wait for the official police report; they told me it wasn't even necessary.
Thomas Palmer7 said:hey 🙂 so i’ve got a quick question if anyone can help me out...
i've been taking Logest and before hitting the gym, i sometimes grab some L-carnitine... so i was just wondering if that has any kind of negative effect on birth control at all
might be a bit of a silly question, but i'm curious
thanks
I used to take liquid L-carnitine and the pills too when I was working out, all while being on Trinovum. The birth control did exactly what it was supposed to do, but unfortunately, the gym and the L-carnitine didn't do much for me. Even after 8 months of training, I haven't lost a single pound. My body shape hasn't even changed—like, the weight stays the same and I still can't fit into my old clothes. Anyway, fingers crossed it works better for you! 😉
I’ve been on Trinovum for about two and a half years straight now. Honestly, I feel fantastic and haven't noticed any side effects or anything weird at all. I KNOW, I really need to get myself checked out by my gynecologist 🙈 but I just wanted to pop in here and see what you guys think...
I figured it was time for me to join the club too 😁 I’m honestly terrified of the idea of having a baby or becoming a mother, and at this point, I think I just won't do it. My biggest fear is protecting them from the world. I can't stop thinking about predators, addicts, and all the bullying that happens in preschool or through high school—it's a lot. Even if they manage to dodge all that, what's the guarantee they won't end up falling into those same traps? It would absolutely break me. We haven't been married long (though we lived together for ages), and we have just enough to get by comfortably. Honestly, part of me feels selfish, but I'm scared to change our lifestyle. We can afford a nice road trip here and there, some weekend getaways, or dining out, and we have the freedom to wander or go out whenever we feel like it. I really don't want to give up that autonomy. Having a kid changes everything at its core. Plus, that responsibility is for life—there's no "undo" button once you're a parent 🤣 My husband wants kids, and he wants them badly. Back when we were just dating, I laid my cards on the table regarding my stance on children. He accepted it then, even though I can see him still hoping for it. That’s what weighs on me; I feel bad because he entered this marriage knowing exactly where I stood. And don't even get me started on the friends and acquaintances who constantly pester me with things like, "So, when are you having kids?" or "What are you waiting for?" Like, where do they get the nerve to ask that? 😠 The absolute worst is when they wrap it up with a condescending, "Well, you're already 35!!"
coastalbison12 said:So where do you work out? I might actually know the guy—the owner and trainer...😁
Don't be stingy! Just pay the guy, the owner and coach, to build a program specifically for YOU. Something precise, super detailed, with full explanations of the how and why behind everything.
What you're doing right now just isn't cutting it. It’s not exactly a waste of time, but it’s getting pretty close.
Hmm, well, that’s actually exactly what he does. Everyone at the gym has their own unique routine. Some people wander around the gym clutching a massive stack of papers with lists of exercises for every single machine. 😁 But me? I just show up, sit down in his office, tell him what's going on, and he puts me through my paces on the stepper, checks my heart rate, and writes everything down. He updates my plan roughly every two weeks.
What a joke. Honestly, he’s just picking and choosing whatever bits from my post fit his little narrative. He seems pretty wound up too—maybe all that stress is finally getting to him. I guess you can't teach old dogs new tricks when it comes to basic manners. 😁
@quietpilot87/">@@quietpilot87 - It feels like there’s always one person losing their mind on every single thread. Looks like we found our local resident weirdo.
James Rogers53 said:And you aren't just picking at a single donut for eight hours straight, right?
You have to realize that progress is basically 10% working out and 90% what you eat. And from what I can tell, your diet isn't doing much for you. Starving your body for eight hours on just one donut? Your metabolism is probably moving about as fast as a pregnant turtle.
Try eating at least five meals a day, stop obsessing over every single calorie, and quit slacking off at the gym. If you're on the treadmill or the stepper, you need to get your heart rate up to 70-80 percent, or aim for 130-140 on the monitor. Of course, once you see how hard it actually is to hold that heart rate for thirty minutes, you'll probably just give up. And then, naturally, there's the complaining about having bad genes, claiming you barely eat, and wondering why the weight won't budge. It might make you feel better, but honestly, you still don't have much of a shot at getting men to notice you—just like you wouldn't go for someone weighing 260 pounds if they used those same excuses!
Take care,
What exactly am I supposed to get from the male gender? Haha, if we're talking about the same thing, I have plenty of that already, thanks though. And I don't weigh 260 pounds. Also, yes, I would date someone who weighs 260 pounds because looks aren't everything. As for bad genes, I don't recall ever complaining about them. And honestly, please don't bother posting here anymore. I really have no interest in arguing with rude or unpleasant people. You can take all your "wisdom" somewhere else. 👋
Susan Clark10 said:Oh, absolutely, patience is key... I totally get that. I just wanted to mention that if you can swing it, doing your cardio outside feels so much better than being stuck inside a gym. 😉
So, I’ve been chewing on this one lately: what if I just ditched the weight room and focused entirely on running instead? Is that actually a viable move, or am I just dreaming? Hehe, looks like those cold, rainy days are finally creeping in. Better make sure I've got somewhere warm to sit! 😛 Maybe I'll give it a shot in the spring, once I've actually built up some decent cardio.
silentpanther15 said:oh yeah... after six weeks of training, you should be able to knock out 30 minutes intense stepper work straight through without breaking a sweat!
I don't know, I haven't tried that yet.😁 I'm just sticking to what my trainer told me. But I will tell you this: those 10 minutes on the stepper, treadmill, or bike isn't really that exhausting—it’s just incredibly boring. 😁 I don't sit there scrolling through TV or reading stuff; I actually try to focus on what I'm doing.
As for the actual workout, he has me pairing up two machines for supersets. So, I'll do 15 reps at 20 lbs for legs, then immediately jump to 15 reps at 20 lbs for arms, and repeat that whole thing once more. The only exception is the back exercises, where I bump it up to about 45 lbs.
My trainer laid out my routine like this: I start with 10 minutes on the stepper. For the first 2 minutes, I just find my rhythm at a steady pace. Then, for the next 6 minutes, I alternate every 30 seconds between a normal pace and a fast sprint. To wrap up those 10 minutes, I spend the last 2 minutes back at a regular tempo. After that, I hit the treadmill for 10 minutes of power walking on an incline. Then it’s onto the weight machines—keeping the weights light but going for high reps. And core work, obviously. To finish things off, I head back to the stepper and the treadmill for another round of what I did at the start, plus 10 minutes on the stationary bike. So, between the treadmill, stepper, and bike, I’m doing about 50 minutes of cardio total per session.
@Kate Doyle45/">@@Kate Doyle45 - you nailed it, I just want to see some actual results!! because if you overindulge for even a couple of days, the scale picks it up instantly. but when you spend six weeks being miserable and starving yourself, nothing 😁😁 happens. who wouldn't be frustrated, right?
but hey, even if the scale and my clothes aren't showing much progress yet, there are signs. honestly, my digestion is doing great now (regular bathroom trips, instead of how it used to be once every few days), and I don't get that massive post-lunch slump anymore—now I actually feel like getting up and moving it's at least something 🙄😁
plus, my trainer switched things up on the stepper and the treadmill. now on the stepper, I have to do two 10-minute blocks where I alternate between fast and steady paces every 30 seconds or so. and he put the treadmill on an incline, so I'm sweating even more than usual
I'm definitely not giving up, despite everything. I really want to see what I'll look like by the sixth month of next year
but what truly drives me crazy is seeing friends and acquaintances who are skinny, never work out, eat tons of junk food, totally ignore nutrition, and yet they stay thin😠😠😠 someone please explain that logic to me🙂🙂🙂
Hey everyone! I joined a gym about six weeks ago because I’m sitting at 175 pounds at 5'6". My routine usually involves hitting the stairmaster, bike, or treadmill for about 50 minutes, then spending another 20 minutes on the machines doing high-rep, light-weight stuff—basically just following whatever my trainer tells me to do. Diet-wise, I’m aiming for around 1,500 calories a day. If I have a craving, I try to satisfy it, but I’m not exactly face-planting into a bag of chips or a whole chocolate bar; maybe one little square once a week, and that's it. So, what's the deal? Honestly, I have no clue why I'm seeing absolutely ZERO visible results!! The scale hasn't budged an inch, and nothing feels any looser in my clothes either—my measurements are exactly the same. I know six weeks isn't a lifetime, but surely I should be seeing at least a tiny bit of progress by now? I originally planned to stick with this three times a week through next summer, but now I’m dragging myself there feeling like it’s all for nothing. I really don't eat much. Sometimes I feel like crying when I see my coworkers scarfing down pizzas for lunch, while I'm over here trying to make a single small whole-wheat roll (maybe 50 grams!), a banana, and an apple last me through an eight-hour shift. And you guessed it—all those people who eat like crazy seem to be thinner than I am. I don't overeat at home either; if anything, I struggle to even feel full. I have the willpower and I truly want to get healthy, but man... sometimes I just feel totally discouraged. I’d love to hear your stories. Did you all hit a wall like this when you started? Does anyone have any advice? Thanks!