Posts by Joseph Hayes80

silentowl74 said:I am hardly an expert on the intricacies of human psychology, nor could I offer a clinical breakdown of behavioral patterns, but from what I have observed, it seems that broken people tend to gravitate toward one another. I don't view excessive egocentrism as a positive trait; rather, it often manifests as a way to subjugate a partner simply to validate one's own sense of importance and necessity.

Regarding my own observations, we were discussing the nature of an egocentric individual rather than someone who simply felt indifferent and detached while seeking out those of a similar disposition.

There is some truth to this as well. I call it pathology squared.

People with a healthy sense of self and actual self-awareness don't waste their time chasing after toxic individuals who treat them poorly. Stable people seek out stable relationships. Those who obsess over rejection are really just struggling with their own self-esteem. I've been there, and I can tell you that healing from that mindset is 🙂 possible. Nowadays, if someone tries to belittle me or explain why I’m not "good enough" for them, I immediately remind them why they should be lucky to have me 🙂. I am done being too polite to tolerate other people's baggage. If they feel the need to list my flaws, I’ll gladly return the favor just to level the playing field. It works 🙂
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I’ll never forget this one guy—he was married, by the way—who told me after a fling that he’d be embarrassed to walk down the street with me. In the past, that would have crushed me. This time, I just looked him in the eye and said that since I wasn't embarrassed to be seen with him, I couldn't see why he felt the same about me. He tried to use me as his therapist, but it didn't work out :-) He just shut 🙂 up
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Eric Gray2 said:Wait, so you aren't even looking for anything—you're just here to brag?

😁😁😁😁😁

There is an old saying for this: "The wise man feels shame, while the fool takes pride." :-)

Everything you're feeling is valid, but it's time to face reality: this isn't your domain. You're a guest in your parents' home, and frankly, it’s about time you looked into moving out. Forgive my bluntness, but that's the truth. If your parents don't mind and they allow it—since they own the house and hold the authority—then you don't really have a leg to stand on. You either need to bite the bullet or find your own place. You're an adult, aren't you?

Now, having delivered that little lesson, I will say that I do understand where you're coming from. I'll never forget when my cousin's girlfriend was over at my place while I was visiting; she asked if I wanted her to make me some coffee. It was that classic hostess move, asking guests, "Would you care for some coffee?" I'll admit, there was a split second where I wanted to snap, "Look, you're the guest in this house, not me," but I realized that wasn't how it worked anymore. She had rights in that space too, whether I liked it or not.

If I were in your shoes, I’d keep doing exactly what I want—cooking at 3:00 AM (I honestly don't get why you do that, by the way?), watching TV, showering, and living life on my own terms. I also find it odd that you guys only hang out in the living room when your parents aren't around, but that says more about you—it suggests a certain level of social awkwardness. So, if this guy is bothering you, the issue might be just as much about your own social habits as it is about him. You have some self-reflection to do.

From what I understand about Mirena, it exclusively releases progesterone, whereas most birth control pills are "combined," meaning they pack both estrogen and progesterone. That makes Mirena a solid choice for women dealing with PCOS and a progesterone deficiency relative to their estrogen levels—which essentially applies to any woman carrying extra weight, since fat tissue actively boosts estrogen production. I’ve read that there are pills containing nothing but progesterone, but I only came across brand names that don't seem available here in the States. That’s exactly what I’m looking for, so if anyone knows of an option—please let me know!

Thanks for the advice. So, a bowl of salad, LOL

Post-workout hunger hits me like a freight train. If I don't eat enough, I start questioning why I even bother hitting the gym in the first place. What’s the move here if I want to keep it moderate? Carbs or protein? Honestly, I could probably inhale an entire Hershey's bar in ten seconds flat—it's becoming a bit of a problem.

It sounds like you might be dealing with a hernia. Essentially, your internal organs are pushing through a weak spot in the abdominal wall. It’s basically a tear in the lining where things start poking through. Usually, the fix involves surgery to install some mesh to reinforce the area and tuck everything back where it belongs. If it gets stuck, though, you're looking at an emergency situation.

Not much movement on this thread, but I’ll share my thoughts anyway. Maybe it helps someone, or maybe someone else will actually chime in.

I had my first treatment today, and even by the second one, my appetite started to dip. My sense of taste and smell felt dulled, which naturally makes food less appealing. Still, I ended up snacking outside the plan because I was poorly organized 🙂 and had an incredibly stressful weekend 🙂

I refused to let that derail me. Instead of spiraling—drinking detox teas, trying to starve myself tomorrow, or just skipping my appointment—I decided to show up and push through. This is a lifelong commitment now; there is no quitting, regardless of how slow the progress feels.

Since Gatorade and coffee shops aren't really an option right now, I've decided to just ignore it. I'll settle for mixing some electrolytes with sparkling water; it keeps the bloating down and fills me up. I'll try not to overdo it, but honestly, what the hell. I might even treat myself to a double latte from a local cafe. I know it's technically off-limits and could dampen the effects of the injections or trigger nausea, but you only live once. During this initial phase, I'm allowing myself these small comforts, otherwise, what's the point? I'll aim for discipline, but let's be real, I'm only human.

If anyone else is struggling, speak up. We can suffer together. 😁

I attended my first treatment session at the new clinic this morning; the facility is quite impressive. One notable change, however, is that cheating on the scale is no longer an option.
It turns out they’ve assigned a nurse to handle the weigh-ins now, whereas previously we were left to our own devices.

Furthermore, caffeinated drinks, sugar-free sports drinks, and even sparkling water have been banned. We are strictly limited to plain water, herbal broths, and non-blended teas. They are currently handing out the autumn diet plans—which I find rather unappealing—but apparently, the winter regimen begins in ten days.

Is anyone actually heading over to Carr? It looks like his business isn't quite what it used to be...🙂

Hello, everyone.
I’m starting acupuncture sessions with Dr. Carr tomorrow. If anyone else is currently navigating this struggle, feel free to join the conversation here for tips and support.

I saw him years ago and found his methods effective, though I always managed to derail my own progress—either through sheer lack of discipline or by getting distracted by family birthdays, weddings, or my mother, who seems convinced her daughter should weigh 300 pounds.

This time, I’ve decided to eliminate all those distractions (including avoiding my mother until I actually lose the weight), so I'm hoping for more lasting results.

I heard he moved to a new office, though I assume the diet plans and procedures remain unchanged. Has anyone visited him recently? How is the experience? Also, what are your personal weight loss goals and motivations?