Posts by Lisa Doyle

Grace Anderson14 said:So I just left the doctor, and the diagnosis is alopecia areata. Now they’ve got me running around seeing a dentist, a dermatologist, and getting bloodwork done for my thyroid...

Look, there's already a massive thread on this forum specifically about alopecia, so if you haven't scrolled through it yet, I'd highly suggest you do...
As a dentist, my advice is to get a full digital panoramic X-ray done. Find a local practitioner who actually has the time and patience to sit down with you properly, so at least you can rule out dental issues as a potential cause once and for all.

Flu is caused by viruses... not by touching cold stones... there's absolutely no connection whatsoever...

David Martinez61 said:Hmm, I think I read somewhere, maybe on fitness.com, that if you maintain a 500-calorie deficit every day, you'll drop about two pounds a week. 🤷

As for protein, I’m not worried. I eat meat—not like an entire pizza, obviously, just maybe 100-200 grams of chicken or turkey. Instead of potatoes, I'll go with salad, tomatoes, or yogurt (nothing heavy like sour cream)... And for dessert, usually just some orange juice, grapes, or a couple glasses of water....
I eat four small meals a day, nothing larger than what fits in two handfuls.... That seems to be my sweet spot....
My main goal is to lose the gut and those side rolls. Since you can't really target fat loss, I guess I just need to lower my overall body fat percentage.... Is that right?

THANKS

That's exactly it.... there's just one more thing to consider...
if you're active or playing sports... your daily protein requirements go up... and if you're doing a really intense workout, say at a CrossFit gym, your needs might jump to something like 130 grams of protein a day....
You'll survive without that 130 grams... definitely, and you'll still lose the weight you want... but you're going to lose muscle mass too.
I don't assume you're trying to look like a Greek god... you don't have to... and I'm just saying this as friendly advice, not judging how you want to look, but thinking about your joints, ligaments, and cartilage...
Just check how much protein is in 100 grams of chicken or turkey, or how much is in milk and yogurt, and adjust your intake based on how much you're moving.
Doing 4-5 meals is great... it's a solid way to do it... and your body will respond to the change... not just because of the calorie deficit, but because your metabolism is getting a serious boost...
But since you've got the discipline to make this kind of change, start looking past just the weights and the bench press...
Nutrition is a science that prioritizes health and quality of life first... then comes the bench press. 🙂

All in all... kudos to you for taking these steps!

Losing fat shouldn't be the primary reason for changing your diet... losing subcutaneous fat should actually just be a welcome side effect of building healthy eating habits...

David Martinez61 said:Hey everyone,

I don't really know where else to turn for some expert—or even just experienced—advice, so I figured I'd ask here....

Back in December, about two months ago, I was weighing in at 211 pounds. I'm 5'11" and my BMI was sitting at 29. I'm 25 years old. I work a desk job, so my activity level has been basically zero for the last three or four years, even though I was super active when I was younger. I smoke, and honestly, my lazy lifestyle has started getting on my nerves.

I finally decided to change everything. I learned how to use calorie tracking apps and started cutting back significantly. I used to be averaging around 4,000 calories a day. Yeah, I know that's huge, but for comparison, I’d regularly crush eight eggs with ham for breakfast and wash it down with a quart of milk. 👎

Now, I've swapped out all that junk for massive amounts of fruits and veggies, which I've always loved anyway. I'm eating about 1,500 calories a day now, but I try to stay full by eating things like tomatoes, onions, and carrots—basically high-volume foods that fill you up without the heavy calories.

On top of that, I started swimming. I hit the pool three times a week for an hour and a half each session. If I can't make it to the pool, I try to make up for it with sit-ups, push-ups, and squats right there in my office whenever I can....

The thing is, I lost 13 pounds in just three weeks, and now I'm starting to get a little worried. I need advice—did I go too far, or am I just losing water weight???? Either way, it's obvious from my clothes and belt that I've actually shrunk quite a bit (dropped two sizes)....

PLS help... and THANKS!👍

Based on what you wrote, you are dangerously low on protein... especially if you're being this active...
Besides just learning those calorie charts, you need to figure out how many calories you're burning while swimming. Adjust your intake on those days and feel free to eat more than 1,500... that number is honestly pretty low.

Angela Wright said:Look, I get where you're coming from, but you clearly missed my point entirely 🤣

Have fun 🙂

hehe...I'll just go injure myself then🤣....where exactly did you dig up this owl?🤣

Look, I know an owl is weird...but a drunk owl with syphilis isn't🙂. You see stuff like that every single day!🙂

More people have died from being assaulted by an owl with late-stage syphilis than from kissing someone with HIV....don't worry about your daughter😉

Amanda Gray77 said:Hey everyone,

I really need some help and to hear about your experiences. It’s been seven months since my gallbladder surgery, and ever since then, I've been dealing with this intense acid reflux that hits my throat and tongue. My doctor prescribed Prilosec and told me that once I start feeling better, I should just take it for one more week and then stop. After six months on the medication, things actually started looking up, so I began tapering off—going from twice a day down to once a day, and eventually stopping altogether. Everything felt fine for a couple of weeks, but then the sensation came roaring back, seemingly even more acidic than before. So, I went out and bought more Prilosec to start the whole cycle all over again. The pharmacist told me it would take at least another week for the meds to kick back in.

Based on what you all have gone through, is it even possible to make actual progress with Prilosec? Because right now, it feels like I'm going to be stuck on this stuff forever.!!?! I know long-term use isn't great because of the side effects and how it messes with nutrient absorption. It's a total double-edged sword.

How do I shut up this insane acid that keeps creeping up into my throat and mouth? Has anyone else dealt with this? Did you actually manage to cure it, and if so, how long did it take? Just so you know, I am extremely careful about what I eat, but it doesn't matter—no matter what I consume, this damn acid is always there.
Is this just something tied to the gallbladder surgery? Please share anything you can!
Thanks.

when you aren't taking the pills....
What exactly are you eating and how many meals are we talking about per day? Come on, try to be a bit more thorough with the details.

Larry Foster said:I'm planning to drop 45 pounds in just a few months through intense training. My thought was to spend the first couple of months building up some stamina so I can handle the harder workouts later on.

How dangerous is this actually?

Thanks.

it’s not dangerous at all... honestly, it’s a great idea... but you aren't losing any weight if you don't fix your diet.

silentridge62 said:Hey there! 🙂

I heard this from a doctor recently:

When the body encounters an allergen for the very first time, it doesn't actually show an allergy—meaning there's no immediate danger of symptoms like swelling or breathing issues.

It's only when the body hits that same allergen a second time that the allergic reaction actually kicks in.

Is that actually true? It sounds incredibly weird to me. If something is bad for the body, shouldn't it matter whether it's the first time or the second? Shouldn't the body just react because it's being bothered?

Second thing—
Since I deal with food allergies myself (milk, eggs, walnuts... you name it)
I'm wondering, if I ever end up needing anesthesia, how can we make sure it doesn't trigger an allergic reaction? (Both local and general anesthesia)

Thanks a ton for any info! 🙂

To put it simply, that doctor gave you a pretty accurate breakdown of how an allergy develops.

But it doesn't necessarily mean you'll always have a reaction.

Where are all the dentists hiding?
Let me try to weigh in here...
Ivanicapeca... unfortunately, you're off base thinking stomach acidity causes this. In theory? Sure. But claiming it's due to pH changes is pure guesswork since we don't actually know the mechanism behind how they form. Gastritis might be part of the underlying issue, but it’s definitely not a rule. A shift in pH or certain bacterial colonies might trigger Candida, but it doesn't cause these kinds of erosions. Besides, oral pH shifts don't trigger immune responses—they just cause inflammation. So, basically, gastritis leads to stomatitis, simplex, or catarrhalis, and in chronic cases, enamel abrasion.

Canker sores are split into two types: minor and major.
Minor ones—small aphthous ulcers—last about 2 to 3 weeks. They're smaller and show up in multiple spots around the mouth, like on the cheeks or tongue, but never on the palate. They recur, too. They stay within the mucosal layer, so they aren't raised; they're just small, shallow, white erosions. Someone mentioned throat issues, swelling, or yellow coloring... those aren't canker sores! These heal completely without leaving a scar. Interestingly, there can be prodromal symptoms—you might feel a burning sensation 24 to 48 hours before they actually appear. They pop up a few times a year.

Then there are Major ones... big canker sores. These last 4 to 6 weeks, are over 1cm in diameter, and always leave a scar. They actually recur more frequently than the minor ones. Someone mentioned a sore lasting 42 days... well, now you see that isn't anything unusual; that's just a major aphthous ulcer. They're characterized by larger size, longer duration, and significantly more pain. You'll find them on the palatal arches, the tongue, the inner cheeks, and the lips.

The cause? Genetics. If both parents deal with canker sores, there's a 90% chance the kids will too. The exact trigger is still a mystery, but we know it's an immunopathological process. Deficiencies in Vitamin B12 and folic acid have been found, and there's likely a correlation with digestive tract issues, immune deficiencies, menstruation, stress, and even food allergies.

Treatment involves Vitamin B12, iron, and folic acid. If the discomfort is severe, topical corticosteroids might be used—in extreme cases, systemic ones, though that's rare.

feralridge3 said:So how exactly did you pack on those 20 pounds?

Just by eating.🙂 It definitely wasn't from hitting the gym.🙂 I’ve always struggled with my weight because, honestly, I had zero clue what I was supposed to be eating.

feralridge3 said:you can hire ten different nutritionists, but it won't do squat if you're bingeing because of mental health struggles. 😉
There was an episode of the Oprah Winfrey Show this year specifically about the topic "What are you hungry for?"
People who overeat are using food as a crutch for something else. I think they know there's an issue, but they just don't have the strength to face it head-on, so they find comfort in the pantry instead.
Seeing a psychologist or a psychiatrist isn't something to be ashamed of.

Look... I don't get too deep into these things... but I'm certain not everyone struggling with their weight is dealing with psychological issues or trauma. Some people actually are... while others are just looking for any excuse to raid the fridge.
I dropped 20 pounds myself, so I know how the process goes. I don't recall bingeing because of some mental breakdown... for me, it was mostly just having way too much free time and food being too easy to grab.
But I do agree that seeing a psychiatrist or a psychologist shouldn't be treated like a taboo or something shameful.

feralharbor89 said:Edward Sanchez72, you totally left out the part where those "nutrition consultants" might try to push their own supplements on you after giving you advice—just so they can charge you an arm and a leg for the whole package!

Nah... I don't think they'll push supplements, but who knows how much they're actually charging just to sit there and design a meal plan?

Who actually needs a psychiatrist? I’ve got friends who work professionally in this exact field... they act as nutrition consultants. They've helped me through a massive amount of stuff... including issues pretty similar to what you're facing. So, if you're looking for some actual expert help, I can send you their info via DM.

stormyheron4 said:I think I read somewhere that you can go weeks without food or water, but if you go without sleep, you’re basically dead after a week.

Can you let me know how everything went once you wrap up that experiment?

Weeks without water? 🙂 🙂
C-c-come on
Without water? You get maybe a few days max... it depends on a ton of different factors, but we're talking four or five days tops.

Look, there's no point in begging him to stop snoring. He’d probably love to quit if he actually had any decent options available to him. I remember reading some studies suggesting that snorers don't get high-quality sleep at all... I think I even read somewhere that you don't even dream while you're snoring. Who knows how accurate that is? But regardless, it definitely wrecks the sleep quality for the person doing it.

First off... snoring happens if you're carrying extra weight... but if you aren't... then the problem could easily be down to your anatomy...

See... when you lie down on your back, your tongue tends to slide back toward the throat... and here's the thing...
The soft palate comes into play... but it’s way in the back... For some people, that bone structure sits pretty low. Let's say it's just thicker—just how they were built genetically. When the tongue drops back, if that bone is positioned low, it ends up blocking the airway... and if that's what's happening, surgery might be the only real fix.
I caught this whole thing during an ENT lecture, but I'm not actually sure if the specialists handle the surgery or if someone else takes over.

Mark Brown72 said:Hey everyone. I’m 43 and I’ve been dealing with L4/L5 disc herniation for ten years now. Because of this mess, I ended up with dropped foot left leg. Lately, the actual spine pain and issues have calmed down, but now I’m getting hit with constant pain in my left foot instead. It isn’t constant, but it happens all the time and the intensity varies wildly—anything from a weird tingling sensation to these sharp, stabbing pains on the outer edge of my foot. I go to physical therapy regularly, but honestly? The pain just won't quit. Has anyone else dealt with something like this and actually found a solution? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

I mean, if you’re already out here looking for help on the internet... why not just try Googling the term? So, we're talking about herniated discs now? Great. Just what anyone needs. Honestly, who actually lives a normal life without dealing with some kind of spinal nonsense? It feels like everyone I know is constantly popping something out of place or dealing with nerve pain. Is it just me, or does it feel like our backs are just designed to fail us eventually? What's the move here—surgery, endless physical therapy, or just praying you don't sneeze wrong and end up stuck on the floor? It’s frustrating. Truly....not even a discussion.

Scott Garcia10 said:Look, I wouldn't pick either one (as long as nobody's spitting in my face, I'm good) 🙂 I know there’s going to be months of drilling and training before I even touch a weapon, and maybe it won't be great right away. That's why I'm asking—I don't want to wander into some school only to be told after several months of work that they don't actually deal with BJJ. I'm interested in everything else too (if I learn something new, I'm happy), but BJJ specifically draws me in, and I don't want to waste all that time just to end up learning something that doesn't suit me.

Then there's ninjutsu...

Scott Garcia10 said:First off, hey everyone. Thanks in advance for all the help and advice!

I’m a total beginner here, but I’m really interested in learning staff techniques. I’ve heard about Bojutsu, though I doubt you can find much of that around here. My question is: does any other martial art actually use the Bo, and how much does it feature? I want to start training some kind of martial art to learn the basics anyway, but eventually, I’d love to pick up the Bo.

A few logistical things: I’m a college student, so I’d prefer training with an older group rather than being stuck babysitting kids. I’m originally from a smaller town but I’m studying in Chicago now, so both areas work for me.

Anyway, thanks again, everyone!

So, you're basically deciding who you'll train with and what you'll actually be doing. 🙂
I think you'd be pretty surprised during your very first session...
As for the Bo, you'd be looking at months upon months of drilling and conditioning before anyone even lets you touch a weapon... and nobody is promising you'll start with the Bo.
And if you just try to teach yourself the Bo... you aren't going anywhere.

Also, mods... can we get a megathread or something? Like "My First Sport/Martial Art"... somewhere people can dump all their basic questions so we don't have the same exact topics popping up every single day.