u/Aggressive_Slide_976

My boyfriend and I are in a long-distance relationship, and I’ve been struggling with overthinking something that happened in the past. I want honest advice on how to move forward mentally and emotionally.

About a year ago, we went through a really rough patch. He was entering a completely new chapter in his life and felt overwhelmed, and I was supposed to visit him, but my parents didn’t feel it was safe for me to travel at the time, so I couldn’t go. Around that time, I started noticing changes in him emotionally. We stopped talking as much, he stopped doing the little things, and he eventually admitted that he had started struggling to see a future with me anymore. That’s basically what led to the break in the first place.

During the break, we both agreed that we could talk to other people. Deep down, though, I didn’t actually want him talking to anyone else, but I listened to advice from coworkers who told me I should just let him and not try to control what he did during the break. So I agreed to it even though emotionally I wasn’t fully okay with it.

The thing is, even though we technically agreed we could talk to other people, I personally didn’t talk to anyone because I still only wanted him. Part of my thinking at the time was that maybe if he did talk to or go out with other girls, it would help him realize whether he truly saw a future with me or not. Like maybe he’d compare the connection and realize he still wanted me. But looking back, I think that mindset hurt me emotionally more than I expected.

The day after the break started, he asked out a girl I had always worried about. They never actually dated because she rejected him, but it still hurt me deeply. Now that we’ve been back together for almost a year, he explained that part of the reason he liked her was because she reminded him of me. He said we had similar personalities and that she was kind of the closest thing to me while he was struggling emotionally. He also said she was more of a distraction during a time where he felt emotionally lost, and one of his classmates heavily encouraged him to ask her out because he was depressed.

Since getting back together, he’s genuinely been reassuring and understanding whenever I overthink. He puts effort into making me feel loved and secure. But sometimes when I spiral about the past or about him “wanting” to be with other girls he gets frustrated because he feels like nothing he does is enough to help me feel secure again.

I really do love him, and I know he loves me too, but I still struggle with fears that one day he’ll lose feelings, want someone else, or find someone “better.” I don’t want to keep living in the past or letting anxiety ruin our relationship, but I don’t know how to fully let go of what happened.

Has anyone else gone through something similar after getting back together with someone? How do you stop overthinking and rebuild trust in your mind after a painful situation like this?

I need some honest advice about glute growth/workouts because I feel stuck and it’s starting to affect my motivation.

I’ve been working out for years, but I wasn’t always able to stay super consistent because of school and life stuff. I’d say I’ve been genuinely consistent for almost a year now though, and I still feel like I’m not seeing the results I expected.

I do progressive overload, and during workouts I definitely feel the burn on some exercises. But most of the time I’m not super sore the next day like other people talk about, so sometimes I wonder if I’m not training hard enough or doing something wrong.

I only do cardio on my arm days because I don’t want it affecting my leg/glute days. Lately I’ve also been trying to work out during the whole week except weekends, but that’ll probably change once school starts again.

For legs/glutes, I’ve kind of been doing one heavier day and one lighter day, but I honestly don’t know if that’s the best way to do it or if both days should be heavy. I also recently switched from BSS (Bulgarian split squats) to step-ups, just to change things up, but I’m not sure if that was a good move or if I should stick to one main
movement longer.

Another thing that’s been messing with me is I hear so many different opinions about lifting (go heavy vs light, high reps vs low reps, etc.) that it honestly gets confusing and sometimes makes me feel like I’m doing my whole workout wrong.

I also sometimes see other people’s workouts online and end up changing exercises instead of sticking to the same program consistently, so maybe that’s affecting my progress too.

I know eating enough is something I struggle with too, so I’m sure that could also be part of it.

I just honestly don’t know what I’m doing wrong. Has anyone else dealt with this and still eventually seen results? Any advice on training split, consistency, exercise selection (step-ups vs BSS), or whether soreness actually matters would really help.

here is my split:
🟫 **Monday – Lower Body 1: Glutes + Hamstrings (Heav**y)
Hip Thrust (warm up) – 4×8–10 (200lbs max)
Romanian Deadlifts b stance (warm up) – 4×8–10 (32.5lbs max)
step ups - 15 reps
Hip Abduction – 3×10–15 (165–190 lbs)
Hamstring Curls – 3×10–12 (35lbs-45lbs)

*Focus:* Heavy glute/hamstring lifts to start the week fresh.

⸻

🟦 **Tuesday – Upper Body 1: Pull + Biceps (Full Back Coverag**e)
Pull-Ups – 3x10
Barbell shrug 80lbs max 3x8-10
seated row (warm up) – 3x8-10 80lbs max

Lat Pulldown – 3×8-10 70-90lbs max
Barbell Bicep Curls – 3×8–12 27lbs max
Cross body Curls – 3×8–10
20lbs max
7.) forearm 15-20 reps 42.5lbs max
cardio
⸻

🟨 **Wednesday – Lower Body 2: Quads + Calves (Heav**y)
Squats (Quad-biased warm up) – 4×8-10 80lbs max
Leg Press (warm up) – 4×10–8 (327lbs max)
Leg Extensions – 3×8–10 (70–100 lbs)
Calf Raises – 3×15-12 150lbs max
hip adductions 50lbs mac
⸻

🟩 **Thursday – Upper Body 2: Push + Pu**ll

**Chest Press** – 3–4×8–10 35lbs max
**Incline Press** – 3×8–10 35lbs max
3. High to low cable or dips - fly 3x8-10 12lbs max
**Dumbbell Shoulder Press** – 3×8–10 30lbs max
**Lateral Raises** – 3×10-12 17.5lbs max
**Rear Delt Flys** – 2–3×10-12 17.5lbs max
**Tricep Pushdowns** – 3×10–12 34.5lbs max
Cable **Overhead Tricep Extension** – 3×12–15 7.5lbs max

🟧 \*\*Saturday – Glute Growth + Pump (15–18 rep focu\*\*s)

**1. Hip Thrust**

3 × 15–18
**110–135 lbs**
controlled reps, 2–3 sec squeeze at top

**2. Leg Press (glute bias)**

3 × 15–18
**220–270 lbs**
feet higher on platform, slow tempo

**3. Bulgarian Split Squat**

2–3 × 15–18 each leg
**20–30 lb dumbbells**
controlled, glute-driven (lean slightly forward)

**4. Hip Abduction**

3 × 15–20
**120–150 lbs**
slow reps + hold at peak squeeze

**5. Cable Kickbacks**

2–3 × 15–20 each leg
**\~7.5–17.5 lbs (controlled range for clean form)**
full squeeze, no swinging

**6. Calf Raises (optional)**

2–3 × 12–20
**\~100–130 lbs (based on your current strength)**

Hi everyone, I wanted some advice because I’m trying to figure out the best path toward becoming a PA.
Right now, I work as a PT aide and by the end of this year I’ll already have over 1,000 patient care hours. I’m planning to continue into PTA, and while doing that, I also want to finish my bachelor’s degree and complete my PA prerequisites at the same time.
My thought process is:
I genuinely have interest in PTA, not just PA
I want to work sooner and feel financially stable earlier
PTA would let me make money, gain even more direct patient care/clinical hours on top of the hours I’m already getting as a PT aide, and give me a backup career no matter what happens with PA school
Even if I don’t get into PA school right away, I’d still have a stable healthcare profession I enjoy
I’m trying to complete PA prereqs during my bachelor’s so I don’t have to do a huge catch-up later
A lot of the classes I’m already taking now will count toward both my bachelor’s and requirements for PTA/PA, so I’m not really “behind” in school progression
Ideally, I’d apply to PA school as soon as I’m competitive instead of taking a long gap year just to get hours
The main thing I’m worried about is whether doing PTA first would unnecessarily delay PA school or make the process harder academically. My biggest focus is protecting my GPA while balancing work and prereqs.
For people who did PTA → PA (or considered it), do you think it was worth it? Would you recommend going straight toward PA instead, or does my plan sound realistic?