Posts by quietpilot87

brightgardener8 said:quietpilot87, did things really go south that fast? 😢

Well, looks like it...

Blaise 🙂

We've hit that stage now. Even after some incredible results on her lungs—cancer is basically gone—and she handled the follow-up radiation on her head pretty well, my mom has decided to call it quits.
The doctors are saying it’s better if it happens at home.

We aren't going to tell her just yet—maybe we won't tell her at all. Though, honestly, I don't think we have much of a choice since she's so incredibly sharp and aware of everything.

Nothing else matters right now. We just want to be there, by her side, making sure her remaining time is as good as it can possibly be.

To be real, I’m struggling more because of my dad. This man has been working miracles for her since day one of the diagnosis—finding ways to make her smile even when happiness seemed impossible. It breaks my heart to see him; it kills me when he sits down, eyes welling up, saying, "maybe I should have done more..." I don't think I'll ever stop telling him that he did everything, and then some.

And like Blaise said— Death is easy, but we're the ones left carrying the heavy weight.
But we're holding it together, hanging in there. 🙂

I'm not going to spend my time mourning; the loved ones still here with me don't deserve that. Right now, I actually feel stronger than most people, and that’s the best thing I can offer.

Pills are fine—and necessary sometimes. As long as you’re the one calling the shots, not the other way around. That’s when they’re definitely 👍

Bottom line? Big Pharma is making a killing off this. Not great. Look, I’m not saying ditch meds entirely—that’d be reckless. But you gotta know what you’re swallowing and when 👍

Are people overmedicating? In my book, yeah. Too much.

Megan White4 said:It's fine... ☕

Regardless, it looks like I’ll need at least another year, maybe even longer. It's frustrating dealing with people who don't seem to grasp that you don't just finish college overnight. Exams aren't scheduled whenever you feel like taking them; you have to work around the university's actual exam periods.
-☕

Look, if that's the case, it’s not like you have forever. Just hit the books, keep in mind it’s a year-long grind, and that's it.
And she’s not stopping you from anything. You could always pick up a job without even telling her—even just a quick gig for a month or two during the breaks to grab some extra cash. You don't have to tell your parents everything.

Megan White4 said:I have the exact same experience... I barely finish up in the bathroom before I hear, "Did you put the seat down?" "Did you wash your hands?" "Did you flush?"...

Back when my old man was still around, he used to call my cell every few hours just to check in on where I was or what I was doing. If I was even slightly late getting home because of traffic, it was an immediate "Where are you? When will you be back?"—even if I was only a few blocks away. What really got under my skin, though, was whenever I'd text him something—like passing a college exam—he'd immediately call me to interrogate me about the details. He'd want to know how the test went, how many people were there, how many questions there were... the whole nine yards.🙄

"Helicopter parent" — you can't seem to do anything without your parents breathing down your neck "for your own good." In the end, it's counterproductive; they're just ensuring their kids never learn how to navigate basic life situations on their own.

Drop the internet psychology from Wikipedia; it’s a weak excuse. Using terms you found online doesn't justify what you're doing.😉
We can whine and complain until tomorrow, but if you want to actually DO something about it, you have to start with yourself. It doesn't matter who should change first—just be the one to make the move, and we'll see how it goes..

Trust me, a few years ago I was convinced my parents were my biggest rivals. Then a couple of things happened that you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy. But there's a silver lining, as always. For instance, yesterday I finally told my dad why I actually respect him, through a real adult, mature, man-to-man talk 🙂 And it totally turned his whole night around. He did the same for me.
But heads up, nothing changes overnight... 🙂

Your mom is probably just dying for you to grow up.👍

Megan White4 said:And what exactly do you think I'm doing right now with everything I've got going on? 🙄

Stop "trying" and just do it. 😉
Cut the cord—mentally, at least. You’re a grown man, not some kid running around causing trouble. And no, don't sit there waiting for her to give you the green light. Take the initiative.

You might argue I'm wrong—but look, your mother is basically just waiting for the day she realizes you're actually an adult. Why wait? Just be that guy now. Maybe that means taking one of her outbursts on the chin, or responding with actual logic instead of feeding the drama... whatever it takes. Show her you're your own person. When you finally walk in with those papers in hand, she'll shut up real quick.

Even if your mom is a bit out of her mind, confronting her isn't going to fix anything. Just grow up. 👍

When your conversations stop feeling like a middle school argument, you'll know you've actually made it.

Nancy Hernandez43 said:I hear you—we went through the exact same thing when my dad was driving my mom 311 miles down south, then 311 miles back up north... honestly, I just respect them for pulling it all off. You’ll get there too. Just stay strong and keep pushing for her to get better. Hang in there. 👍

They arrived. Don't have the full story yet, but I just had to vent—some doctors really don't deserve those fancy titles.
Props to the decent ones in the bunch, but man, it’s a mixed bag out there. 👎

You gotta see this 🙏
Hands down my favorite game on the NES 😍

Betty Thompson26 said:Calories matter, sure—but more activity usually just triggers a massive hunger spike, which puts a ceiling on how much you can actually burn. Take me, for example. I pulled 8 to 12-hour shifts doing brutal manual labor for nearly three months straight without a break, and I didn't lose a single pound. I wasn't overweight to begin with, but even that huge lifestyle shift didn't touch my gut—I still had that little beer belly. Probably because the sheer exhaustion made me ravenous; I’d polish off half a loaf of bread in one sitting back then. Then there's this buddy of mine who played water polo—once he quit the team, he packed on about 65 pounds in 18 months. He just kept eating the same way he always did, just without the workout. He was heavy before he started training, too, so I guess it’s all down to individual biology. For me, pure physical activity has never really moved the needle on my weight, regardless of whether I'm being super active or a total couch potato during different phases of my life.

Ida, you hit the nail on the head 👍
Some trainer (probably some guy on 🤔 ) said on a show once: if you move a lot but eat garbage, you're still gonna look like garbage. If you don't move at all but eat clean, you'll look good. 👍
Makes sense, right? At the end of the day, you are what you eat. 🤔

Nancy Hernandez43 said:Tried to reply to this yesterday—but nope, my comment didn't even make the cut. Not published. Typical.🤷

How are you supposed to be happy when you're in total shock? You can't exactly avoid feeling pretty damn depressed when you're stuck in that state of disbelief. But look—I'm sure you'll find the strength. You’ll face it all head-on again, take a deep breath, and do whatever it takes to be your mom's biggest supporter and her fighter—her absolute warrior. Hang in there. Kisses.

Thanks. 🙂
Man, it sucks that she’s out of town right now when she’s feeling this crappy—getting her back to Washington, D.C. is going to be a total nightmare. It’s also weighing on me because of my dad; the poor guy is absolutely stressed out over all this.
I just hope she makes it to Washington, D.C. in one piece.
Thanks for the support. 🙂

Nicholas Chavez70 said:Spot on... Physical activity matters, sure, but it’s all a wash if people come home starving like wolves and just start "going to town" on everything in sight—stuffing themselves way past the limit. Honestly, just managing what you eat can change the whole game. For me, I’m eating like a bird after 7:00 PM, plus I just chug water to feel full. The worst part is training your body to gorge itself at night like some kind of animal; that's where people really wreck themselves.

👍 Exactly.
It doesn't matter how many calories you burn if you just undo all that work by pigging out at night.

Susan Hernandez51 said:People are still starving out there—just like they’re dying from obesity (actually, probably faster).
To me, being overweight is just embarrassing since it usually screams laziness.

Not true at all 🙂
I was never physically lazy—been active since high school. But I always carried some extra weight, mostly because after working up a sweat, I’d go home and eat a massive meal. I didn't track calories or anything; it was a mix of everything from sandwiches to junk food.

Casey Palmer5 said:I’ll take tomatoes over some messy peach any day—hands get sticky and gross after.

Look, if you're eating peaches, just keep a massive roll of paper towels handy. 🤣

Anyway, working out is fine, but it's not some magic bullet for losing fat. It's all about what you put in your mouth. Pro tip: pack a small knife and a little plate for work—you can always wash them in the breakroom sink. Makes grabbing stuff like tomatoes or peppers way easier.

Susan Hernandez51 said:The obesity epidemic isn't about people being too lazy—it's about poverty getting worse.
People are just eating cheap, filling junk.

I'm with this one. 👍
I personally packed on the pounds a few years back when I was still in college and totally broke—my boyfriend was unemployed too, so we spent 90% of our time living off pasta, potatoes, and sugar. Everything was fried in cheap vegetable oil... just the usual stuff.

On the flip side, healthy food isn't actually as pricey as everyone claims. You can grab a decent block of cheese at Walmart for a couple of bucks, and that’ll keep you full for two meals easily. Plus, spending $1.75 on a couple of pieces of fruit per meal isn't breaking the bank either. Some types of fish aren't even expensive yet—like tilapia, you just toss it in the oven with some olive oil for 15 minutes and boom, dinner is served.

Also, portion control matters—most of us need way less food than we think. Honestly, if you eat a big plate of pasta, that's usually enough to carry you through the whole day, especially in this heat.

Casey Palmer5 said:I’m pulling about 12-hour shifts, and half the job is pure manual labor. By the time I’m done, I’m completely wiped—zero energy left for anything. And yeah, the physical toll shows—I’m just stacking on fat and my lower back is killing me. My hours are usually 10 AM to 8 PM, sometimes later... so when am I supposed to hit the gym? I basically just live for the weekend, and even then, I usually head out diving because I desperately need to decompress.

Lucky for me, there are plenty more people like this, so they’re forced to pay for my services just to get themselves fit enough to actually stay on the job. 😁

Bike to work?
Eating on the go, kind of like what I mentioned before?

Those were the only two changes that helped me drop 10 kg over the last two years. Slow progress, but hey, it happened.

Look, I'm with you—most grab-and-go food is absolute garbage.

But honestly? It’s zero hassle to just grab some fruit while you're out downtown. Even if you're hitting up a Walmart, it beats a greasy pastry any day. That’s been my go-to since the heatwave hit. And don't give me that "it's too expensive" excuse 👍

2 bananas = $0.75
2 peaches = $1.75
100g cashews = less than $2.25
100g peanuts = $0.50

Plus, everyone at the office has a little kitchenette or at least a drawer with a plate, a mug, and a basic fork. It's not hard to pick up two tomatoes and some cheddar and actually eat something real.
Personally, I can't wrap my head around ordering pizza in this sweltering weather (like half my coworkers do)—not to mention fresh food is just better for you.

As for actual meals, I had an awesome lunch at my cousin's yesterday. Roasted turkey drumsticks, a bit of potatoes (just enough for a spoonful each), sautéed fresh veggies, and tons of salad. All drizzled in olive oil. No bread. Fruit for dessert. It wasn't even complicated—just simple, healthy fuel. There's no magic trick to it. Just stop drowning everything in heavy sauces and cream. Roasting, sautéing, grilling—keep it light with olive oil and a pinch of salt, and you're golden. 👍

Lisa Martin50 said:So, I’ve noticed this weird side effect with Yasmin—they're actually my first time ever being on birth control, and I’ve been taking them for a little over a year now. My period has definitely gotten longer. It lasts exactly seven days, and if I happen to have sex on that last day, I’ll still be spotting a little bit on day eight. 😢

I had the exact same thing happen on Dianama. Seven days, sometimes eight—it’s enough to drive you insane. And it wasn't even a heavy flow, just that annoying, constant trickle. Honestly, I’d much rather deal with a total blowout for three days and be done with it. 😁 Look, it’s just like this...

My mom’s lung cancer is gone, just like I said.
But now, they found metastases in her brain. 😢

It was too good to be true—just too damn good... and now we're facing this.
I’m not happy, and I’m definitely not "cool" about it. I know exactly what’s happening. But I’m not happy. Honestly, I’m pretty fucking devastated. Dammit. 😢
Sorry, but dammit...

Kimberly Davis52 said:only after my hundredth birthday, from old age. I'm not emo. 😁

Look, it’s not 😁 unknown 🙂 to be aware that you're mortal
Sure, maybe wanting to kick the bucket at 15—or acting like you do—is one thing 😁
But let's get real: any of us could drop dead at any moment, right now for all we know 🤷

So, I was thinking about this the other day. Honestly? It’d be fine if death just caught me totally off guard. Like, imagine some disaster hits a small town in the Midwest and we all just get wiped out by a nuclear shockwave 😁—ideally from behind, in a split second.
I don't want to spend even a single moment feeling that pre-death panic, I guess. That's why.
The same goes for dying in your sleep.

Got a quick question—hope I'm asking this in the right spot.
As some of you might know, my mom just finished a year of brutal chemo. The good news? The lung cancer is gone. The bad news? Her body is completely wrecked and super sensitive now.
On top of beating the cancer, she opened up to me today about how much she's struggling mentally. She’s more fragile than ever and honestly, still terrified.😢I guess that's normal, but it doesn't make it any easier to deal with.

She mentioned feeling pain and tingling in her arm twice today, plus some tingling in her jaw—kind of like that sensation you get when a dentist gives you an injection. It could totally be her nerves reacting, but she's spiraling, thinking it might be a pre-heart attack situation. It's true that chemo can mess with your heart, but I'm wondering—could that actually have been a pre-infarction?🤷 Or is it just as likely to have been some kind of panic attack?🤷