Posts by placidranger

Alex Long8 said:I’m about to dive into something I swore I’d never even touch, let alone actually use.

Basically, I’m buying a damn mass gainer... spare me the lectures—I know the deal. It’s just sugar... whey mixed with glucose... I get it. But I want to pack on those extra 5kg as fast as humanly possible. It’s not some seasonal thing where people start grinding two months before summer hits; I just want an extra 5kg over the next couple of months so I have a decent foundation to work with later. I’ll grab a 3kg tub, knock it back, and then I am officially done with this stuff for good.

I'm getting:
Universal Real Gains

It isn't even that expensive for three kilos of whatever this mix is, and it's got flaxseed oil and all that junk included... seems alright enough.

Have you actually calculated how many calories you'll be running above your maintenance?

briskmarlin59 said:I’m thinking about ramping up the cardio to burn off whatever fat is left—then I'll pivot toward bulking. Weights, building some actual muscle. I was wondering if you could list a few whey brands you know that don't have added sugar?

Alex Long8 said:Which protein? Honestly, in my view, whey is whey—though obviously, I’m not talking about that cheap stuff you find at Walmart.

Take a look at the brands—Dymatize, Scitec, Universal, Waider, MVP, Optimum Nutrition... there's plenty to sift through.

Lord V hit the nail on the head.
Every manufacturer has their own way of doing things—different ratios of sugar to protein across the board. You really have to scrutinize the labels yourself. Don't just take their word for it.

Honestly, I’d pick up that 90% whey from Walmart in a heartbeat—if they could actually get it to mix without clumping, if it didn't taste like chalk, and if they cut down on all that soy filler. 😁

briskmarlin59 said:As a complete novice, I have a few questions. Are these whey proteins high in calories?

They have calories—obviously. Roughly 4 kcal per gram. It’s right there on the label.

Which whey brands should I get that balance price and quality (so I don't end up buying some garbage)?

A tub usually runs $67 or more. Just pick a flavor you actually like (chocolate, vanilla, or unflavored if you plan on mixing it with something else). As far as brands go, honestly, most of them are fine nowadays—it's hard to make a massive mistake.
The real "garbage"—stuff most people shouldn't touch—is anything loaded with sugar (usually glucose or fructose). Sugar is cheap, so they cram it in, slap a "protein" label on it, and jack up the price. When you're shopping, check the math: look for a high protein percentage (above 90%). You see a lot of that filler sugar in various mass gainers. For instance, at a place like Walmart, you might find some budget brand's "vanilla" or "chocolate" option for $12 per 750 grams that's mostly just sugar. There's also an unflavored version with 90% protein for $15 per 300g, but it uses a fair amount of soy protein alongside the Whey; I've heard mixed things about soy—nothing definitive, but I'm skeptical.

Essentially, grab the cheapest option that has the highest protein percentage, tastes decent, and dissolves well in water or milk.

Why do you even need supplemental protein in the first place?

fadedsailor17 said:I’ve never touched any of those supplements myself—too many rumors floating around—but I’ve heard stories about certain proteins that supposedly make you stronger and boost your endurance almost instantly. Like, within thirty minutes or an hour once they kick in. Obviously, it's not a permanent change, just a few hours of extra juice. Does anything actually exist like that, provided it won't kill me a week after taking it?

Proteins? No.

But coffee—meaning caffeine—and similar stimulants work exactly like that.

Tyler Wood4 said:So you're saying I should just grab one of those massive tubs of protein? 🙂

The weight gain comes from the calorie surplus. You can hit that surplus by eating more whole foods, or you can supplement with powder—think of Whey protein as basically skim milk powder, minus the fat and sugar. There are technical differences, sure, but it doesn't matter right now. It isn't some magic potion that makes muscles sprout out of thin air.
Bottom line: you need a significant calorie increase, mostly through protein. Most of that should come from meat, cheese, eggs, and the usual suspects. If you're too lazy to chew, go ahead and buy a tub of Whey.

electrichawk752 said:I'm 17. I’ve been playing water polo for four years—training about two to three hours a day, six days a week. I'm sitting at 80kg right now, but my goal is to pack on some serious mass. Since I have zero experience with bulking, what do you guys recommend? 😉

Eat more. 🤷

If you can't be bothered to chew—and let's face it, some days the effort just isn't there—just grab some Whey and knock back two or three scoops a day. Simple as that.

Kimberly Stewart47 said:The fat content ranges from about 1% for the non-fatty stuff up to 10% for the whole grain variety.

There's even a version with 20% fat.🙂 😁
Even at a 200g serving, it’s not much different from the low-fat one—just a few grams of fat swinging either way. Not that I care too much about the specifics, though; I’m currently bulking, so fats aren't my main concern.

I find the low-fat version tastes better if I eat it plain or with a banana, but the whole grain one is much better paired with some bread. If I eat it without the bread, it’s just okay. It gets by.

I can't do it without bread.🤷

Ashley Perez50 said:I haven't really done my homework yet—I just showed up here without doing much Googling first. 🙂
The vegan options are getting old, which is why I'm hunting for a substitute.

Grain cheese👍
is basically identical to the vegan stuff in terms of ingredients—check the label to be sure—but it actually tastes good.

Matthew Vaughn4 said:I'm looking for some kind of software that logs every single keystroke—basically monitoring everything typed on a computer 24/7. I want to be able to come home from work, turn on my PC, and see exactly what my partner has been up to—Facebook messages, chats, whatever—just to be absolutely certain about things.😉 So, yeah, just making sure I have the full picture.👍
please help🙏

Just Google "keylogger."
Try something like http://www.refog.com/

Until I was about 10 or 12, I couldn't even distinguish basic consonants like S, Z, or those tricky SH and CH sounds 😬
I saw a speech therapist a few times—it worked. She’d put these massive headphones on me, hook up a microphone, and have me read stories while focusing entirely on my pronunciation.

The only one I actually mastered on my own was the R. For weeks, I spent every night before bed just trying to force the sound out. When it finally clicked, I was jumping around the house like a maniac, shouting "Mom! Dad! R! R! RRRRRR!"
That was my experience. I'm not sure if simple practice is enough for everyone—maybe it has something to do with how the brain processes language structure.

northernwolf3 said:

wiredmoose3 As if I haven't heard this one before!
I’m just at a point where I’ve had enough of the struggle, the constant mistakes, and all those wrong turns that seem to lead nowhere. I honestly don't have any desire to chase after more heartache or deal with the fallout of bad decisions anymore; I'm ready for some peace.
It honestly feels like you’re saying you don't even want to live life at all... but I know how this goes, you'll just end up changing your mind and saying "I do" eventually, I'm certain of it.🙂And that’s exactly where the catch lies—it all comes down to the fact that you just won't accept him.

I wouldn't exactly go so far as to say that copperfox22 is completely unwilling to embrace life, including all the inevitable suffering and the messy, difficult parts that come along with it.
She’s just done with taking the long way around anymore, you know? Honestly, she’s just reached her limit—it's exhausting to keep going in circles like that, and it's honestly wearing a person down.
Even when you’re fully aware that there isn’t any other way to look at it—that eventually, you’re inevitably going to mess things up again—there’s still this deep, nagging desire to just wish those screw-ups were kept to an absolute minimum.
And then you think about just taking a little break to clear your head... but honestly, even that doesn't quite hit the mark.🤷

It’s honestly such a heavy feeling when you hit that specific stage of life where you just start questioning everything, wondering if it’s even worth the effort to try something new or see where things might lead. You find yourself stuck in this exhausting loop of wanting to move forward, yet you're simultaneously completely dissatisfied with the way things are right now, which leaves you feeling totally paralyzed by the uncertainty of what's actually ahead.
Humans are fundamentally social creatures who thrive on connection, and while having a solid circle of friends and supportive family members is absolutely essential for a balanced life, there is still this subtle, missing piece to the puzzle that remains elusive in almost any other context. There is a very specific, unique kind of intimacy—that deep, singular closeness—that you just can't quite replicate through platonic bonds or kinship, and it’s something you can only truly experience within the framework of a romantic relationship.
The world isn't going to end just because you don't have that one specific thing, and honestly, you eventually learn how to make peace with whatever life hands you, but there’s always going to be that tiny little ache lingering deep inside, a persistent little sting that refuses to fully fade away—and you really shouldn't try to crush it out of existence.
You really have to let the whole thing cocoon itself first, just sitting back and waiting to see if a butterfly actually emerges from the shell—because, honestly, once that transformation starts, you aren't looking at a caterpillar anymore, you're looking at something entirely different.😁It’s just one of those things, you know... whether we're talking about those stunningly beautiful wings or that deep, heavy gloom that seems to settle in during the night, I can't help but wonder if anything actually gets better, or if some things just stay broken forever.
The real struggle is that you just don't have the stomach to sit around and wait anymore, especially when you're stuck staring into the void without any clue what's actually going to happen next.

By the way, I was just checking my watch and realized that everything Peje had written down in the logbook didn't actually line up with the actual time.

It really just boils down to this: an A grade is usually the direct result of actual knowledge, whereas a failing grade is typically just the fallout of not knowing anything at all.
You know, you should probably drop by the old neighborhood spots every once in a while, even if you aren't exactly paying close attention to everything going on—just a quick visit to say hello, provided you don't overstay your welcome.😁

Is suffering actually a good thing? I honestly believe it is, and there’s a real necessity to it. Without going through those difficult, painful stretches, you simply don't see any genuine progress or meaningful personal growth, nor do you ever truly learn to appreciate the deeper beauty in life. Think about it—is a person who is constantly comfortable and perfectly content ever going to be pushed out of their comfort zone? It’s highly unlikely. Real movement only happens when things get tough.

It’s honestly such a blast to just embrace the struggle sometimes, you know? There is something incredibly liberating about pushing yourself to the absolute limit, like sprinting full tilt toward a finish line in a place like Boulder, Colorado, when you've still got that youthful energy and a bit of madness in your soul. When you're young and feeling reckless, those moments where you're gasping for air and testing your own boundaries are exactly what make life feel vivid and real.
When you finally reach a certain age, there’s this incredible sense of peace that settles in, where being genuinely happy and content becomes the ultimate goal, and honestly, there is nothing quite like the simple pleasure of taking a slow, steady stroll, even if you aren't exactly covering much ground.

It isn't just about getting older... there is so much more weighing on you... the disappointments, the heartache, all those awkward experiences... and honestly, that growing lack of energy to constantly be out and about searching for something.
Sometimes it’s just nice to sit down and relax, especially when your legs are aching from being on the move all day.😁

It all started with the simple idea of "as long as she's a woman." 🙂 Back then, I didn't have a clue what I actually wanted, and everything seemed perfect. But gradually, I started figuring out what truly fits my life, so my standards began to grow and shift across all sorts of different areas as I adapted.

I think everyone goes through this... once you realize there are fundamental differences between men and women... you start by looking at their temperament.. that's usually where the distinction first hits you.😁
Then you eventually realize there are other layers to it... and you find yourself trying to ensure those other differences stay as minimal as possible.
The technical term for it would be... maturity.😁

I don't really view my criteria as an extension of my identity, but rather as a mold that someone has to pass through before I decide to take things further. Sometimes people who are totally wrong for me slip through, so I tighten the mold in certain spots, and other times I loosen it up a bit just to see what happens if I let something unexpected and unpredictable in.

To me, it looks more like those criteria are part of who you are, you're just being flexible in how you apply them.
Everyone has their own threshold for tolerance... you aren't going to build a rigid mold to exact specifications and never change it, not even then.
But if your mold is three liters big... one person isn't going to fill it up.
And yet... if you try to force five liters into it... you might manage to fit four once you loosen things up, but that fifth liter is always going to be extra, no matter how you look at it.

Are you absolutely sure you know what you need? That *this* is exactly what will make you happy, rather than something else entirely?

Look... I honestly don't know if what I want is 100% what will actually make me happy.
Right now, I think it is... but thinking about it is a real headache.
But then again... how can I think about anything else when I've only got this one brain to work with?🤷
I'd much prefer if I didn't have to think at all—if I could either just naturally encounter exactly what I need, or if I could just stop caring about the things I haven't figured out yet.
But neither of those is going to happen... I'll still be overthinking, and it won't just magically appear.
So you just sit there thinking... and then what?😁

je 🙂
Dammit—there comes a point where you just have to make a call. You either sit there and let yourself spiral, or you actually get out there. Sign up for a yoga class, take some dance lessons, quit that dead-end job—whatever it takes to shake things up. Honestly, if I want to meet new people without it feeling like a full-time chore, I need to make a move.

To me, it looks like those criteria are baked right into who you are—you just happen to be incredibly flexible about how you apply them.
Everyone has their own threshold—their own breaking point. You can't exactly build a rigid mold for yourself and expect it to stay that way forever. Life doesn't work like that. Even if you try to set a standard today, things change. I’ve learned that the moment you think you've finally settled on a fixed set of rules, reality finds a way to shift the goalposts.
Look, if you're working with a three-liter mold—and let's be honest, that's a massive container—one batch isn't going to cut it. You won't fill it. Simple math.
Here we go again... if you’re forcing five gallons into it, you can expect four back once you let up—that fifth gallon is just wasted effort, no matter how you look at it.

I honestly don't know—is what I’m chasing actually going to make me happy? Or am I just running in circles.
I suppose I think so... though honestly, thinking is a damn chore.
But... how am I supposed to think any other way when this is the only brain I’ve got?🤷
I’d honestly prefer if I didn't have to think at all—either let exactly what I need just show up when it's time, or stop making the fact that I can't think a constant distraction.
None of that is actually going to happen... I’ll just sit here thinking about it while nothing ever moves. Typical.
So, you're sitting there thinking... what now?😁

So, what now? 😁 Sheet, poster, buy some cats, grab some yarn, and have my nephews knit some scarves—because those sweaters just aren't happening. 😁

I’ve come to realize that some of these dating criteria are purely irrational—they aren't even problematic on their own, they just seem tied to specific people who were once caught short or simply don't make sense. For the longest time, I wasn't into curvier women. Not at all. I wouldn't call myself a "chubby lover" now, either, but I don't rule it out immediately anymore. I used to think my preference was perfectly rational—look, you want good sex, and you can't get turned on by body fat—but then you see how much of a mess that logic actually creates.
You’ve gotta sample all walks of life—it’s worth the hassle. 🤷

copperfox22 said:🤣 This logic works fine when you're 16 versus 46... but man, wouldn't it be great if things actually worked out like this 🙏

I occasionally loosen my grip just a bit to see what happens if I let something unusual or unpredictable slip through.

What'll happen? A total mess, that's what. 🙄

Are you absolutely certain you know what you need? That THIS is truly what will make you happy, rather than something else entirely?

I think I am. I've had plenty of time behind me to figure out what might actually bring me happiness in that regard. If you think I have some perfectly etched blueprint or mental image in my head, you're wrong. A few deviations aren't really the issue... I suppose that’s where tolerance comes in. It's the big stuff, the foundations, that worry me more. I don't know, I just find myself spiraling into these thoughts from time to time when I'm feeling down, but it's becoming a frequent habit lately, which has forced me to reflect. Maybe there's an actual issue with me and my poor judgment. 🤷 Perhaps there's some psychological quirk at play here.

@northernwolf3—are you sewing? 😁

🤷
Or maybe not. Maybe you’re just genuinely meeting idiots. What happened with the last one? Or the one before that?

copperfox22 said:Personally, I’ve become a little skeptical and maybe a bit cynical. I guess that's just the effect of getting older...everything feels easier when you're young...okay, okay, I'm not ancient, but I'm definitely not in my early twenties anymore.😁

I have different criteria now—or rather, I actually *have* criteria, which is a good thing.

Wait, what? Did you change your standards or something? I don't see how changing my criteria solves anything, because at my core, I'm still pretty much the same person, so nothing really changes.

The fear comes from something I said earlier: whenever I actually like someone, I get this feeling—whether it's rational or not, it's there—that it won't work out because I won't be their type, or I'll pick up on something in them that I just can't stomach.
Am I being foolish for wanting what I need?

Certain things are absolute non-negotiables for me, damn it 🤷...some more than others, but I can't do things halfway. I've been through that already and I refused to settle for it. That's why I walked away from everything after years of effort, investment, compromise, and total exhaustion.

Years aren't exactly consistent—not that anyone expected them to be. 🙂 Look, being skeptical is fine—it’s actually healthy. There are far too many idiots running around in expensive suits pretending they know what they're doing.

What, did you just move the goalposts? I don't see how changing the criteria actually solves anything—I’m still essentially the same person at my core, so we're right back where we started. It won't change the outcome.

It all started with that classic line—"as long as she's a woman." 🙂 I didn't have a clue what I actually wanted—everything seemed fine enough at first. Then, bit by bit, I started figuring out what actually worked for me. My standards just kept climbing across the board—constantly shifting, constantly evolving.
I don't view my standards as part of who I am—they're more like a mold. It’s a filter that someone has to pass through before I decide they're worth anything more. Sometimes, people slip right through despite being completely wrong for me. In those cases, I tighten the requirements. Other times, I loosen them up just to see what happens when I let something unpredictable into the mix.

The fear comes from a realization I’ve had before—I'm basically just quoting myself here. If I actually start liking someone, this nagging feeling kicks in. It doesn't matter if it's irrational or not; it's there. I get this sense that things won't work out because I simply won't fit their mold—or worse, I'll end up being cast in some role in their life that I just can't stomach.
Am I crazy for wanting exactly what I need?

Some things are just non-negotiable essentials—dammit. 🤷I can't do "halfway." I’ve already lived through that dream once—it was a nightmare—and there was just no way I could settle for a lopsided relationship. That’s exactly why I walked away from it all after years of endless attempts, constant investing, and nothing but compromises that left me empty-handed.

Are you actually certain about what you need? Are you positive that *that* specific thing is what’s going to make you happy—and not just some other distraction?

copperfox22 said:Well, it isn’t huge, though there’s still some variety, even if everything is pretty much centered around the West Coast. 😁 I don't really meet a ton of new people, but honestly, I'm also starting to feel less interested in doing so. At the same time, I still want that special connection to happen—even if it doesn't last forever, I just want to feel some kind of meaningful spark.🙂

There's definitely a lot of that going on. I'm just done with the heartache, the mistakes, and all the wrong turns.

That fear didn't just appear out of thin air—it’s there because certain types of people simply don't fit your life.
At the end of the day, you just have to figure out which of those red flags are grounded in reality and which ones are just irrational anxieties. 🤷

copperfox22 said:I’m not sure if we’ve covered a topic like this before. If we have, mods, feel free to lock this thread.

After reading through some of the discussions here and doing a bit of my own reflecting, I’ve been thinking about those "ghosts from the past" and how much weight they actually carry for us. Obviously, everyone is different—some of us are tougher, some more sensitive, some more confident—but I think there’s a common thread we can pull on. So, here’s my question: how much are your past romantic failures and poor choices subconsciously (or even consciously) holding you back when you try to move forward?

To kick things off, I’ll be honest about myself. I’ve started wondering if I’m just making excuses under the guise of "life getting in the way," essentially sabotaging my chances at finding a real connection. It’s not that I’m shy or confused about what I want, and I don't really deal with massive complexes (at least nothing that feels like a major issue)... I tend to march to the beat of my own drum and don't always follow social norms, though I wouldn't say I'm a rebel, since I generally fit in just fine with society.

To cut to the chase, as much as I try to convince myself otherwise, I think I still carry some baggage from my past that’s starting to cause friction. Instead of throwing myself into meeting new people or experiencing new things with an open heart right from the jump, I find myself internally telling myself, "Don't bother, it’ll just be another bust... stay guarded, keep your distance."

I can't tell if my brain is doing this because it genuinely believes I have a knack for picking the wrong people, or if it’s just a defense mechanism—a fear that if I actually dare to trust someone, I’ll just end up disappointed all over again.
Sometimes I catch myself wondering if there's a reason I'm perpetually drawn to the wrong crowd. Why does that happen? Because, honestly, the "perfectly stable" types usually don't interest me at all 😕... they're always these eccentric characters, slightly off in one way or another. Now, combined with everything else, it’s creating a total mental block. It’s like the moment I find someone attractive, there's always some glaring, dangerous flaw 😬

Anyway, bottom line: how much are your failed relationships and past mistakes actually messing with your head? 😁

I don't look at them as "fuck-ups"—as if my exes left me with some lingering trauma. They don't affect me one bit. 🤷
I learned what I needed to learn, and that's that. I didn't turn hyper-vigilant, and I didn't become bitter. Everything is fine.

My standards are just different now—or more accurately, I actually have standards, which is a net positive.

Karen Morgan79 said:I've held this stubborn conviction for quite some time now—that men simply can't be good gynecologists because they lack the lived experience of what we go through.
(...)
My take? They might actually end up being better doctors than the women.

🤔

Nancy Garcia29 said:Yeah—guys specialize in OB-GYN because basically every patient walking through the door is young, attractive, and demanding. 🤦

Some definitely fall for it, sure.

I guess for some, it’s worth putting up with the older patients just to get a shot at those few younger ones who might be a bit more... hands-on.
(Sorry, Kimberly Flores56—I get that it wasn't exactly a pleasant experience, but 🤣 )

hiddenhound3 said:Children need to be allowed to play, socialize, and learn spontaneously for as long as possible, developing the creativity and sensitivity that will eventually serve as both their toolkit and their weapon in the real world. I fear, however, that our American mindset tends to instill the exact opposite within our educational system. Children are practically being stripped away from their childhood, when we should truly be striving to let them remain children for as long as we can.

👍
There are actually programs out there—take Montessori, for example. I believe there's a Montessori preschool somewhere in Chicago, but since all kids are basically funneled into the public school system by law (if I recall correctly), there isn't much in the way of alternative education once they move past the preschool years here in America.

loneowl39 said:It’s likely just that you aren't quite the pretentious social climber they want you to be. They probably view themselves as being out of your league, and since you don't play along with their little act, you're essentially ruining their carefully curated image.
In other words, you just don't have that same "cool" factor they do.🙄

signature, just minus the Rolls-Royce👍
Maybe you aren't cool. Do you get anxious every time you step out the front door? That isn't cool.

Donna Wood52 said:because I’ve heard from plenty of seasoned pros that some guys choose it just because they find it a thrill—especially when some young, attractive woman walks into their clinic.

🤣 🤣 🤣
Please. Give me a break. Men don't actually care about breasts or clitorises. Those "experienced" people you're talking to? They're lying to you.

Donna Campbell6 said:Every kind of school out there basically works the same way—they just hand students these pre-packaged bundles of info, like it's some finished product from a factory. It’s all based on what we think we know right now in a specific field, which is usually already a little bit outdated, let's be real.
But honestly? It feels like schools are actually working against what knowledge is supposed to be. Real knowledge isn't something you can just "freeze" in place like that. Its whole vibe is to constantly question everything... and even to doubt itself. Or, well... more like seeing itself as just a temporary stepping stone toward something better and deeper down the road.
Instead, schools treat knowledge like it's set in stone, serving it up to students as this absolute truth you're just supposed to swallow whole without question. So where does that leave critical thinking? Nowhere, really.
I mean, it's hard to imagine a school functioning any other way. But doesn't that make them almost anti-scientific? They take something inherently dynamic and turn it into something totally static. And by teaching like that... aren't they just making people less sharp? What do you guys think?

I’d argue there’s a distinction between science as a dynamic process and "knowledge," which is static—the accumulated facts we've settled on so far. Science relies on that established knowledge as a foundation; otherwise, every new generation of researchers would be starting from zero. In that sense—building the groundwork required to actually *do* science—the current American schooling system is necessary. It just needs a heavier emphasis on actual comprehension over rote memorization.

The problem is that schools treat knowledge as something "fossilized"—presenting it to students as an absolute truth that must simply be swallowed whole. Where does the critical intellect fit into that equation?

There’s no room for critical thinking in that model, nor is it required for simple absorption. You need that for life outside the classroom.
I'm not saying schools shouldn't encourage critical thought, but that would require its own dedicated subject—and instructors who are specifically trained to teach people how to think critically.