u/Dull_Lock_4480

Please help, I’m desperate!

My scalp has been normal my whole life and a couple months ago it randomly started getting super dry. Thought maybe it was because I ran out of my Nizoral (was using for hair growth not dandruff), and switched to another older bottle of shampoo (Olaplex) I had. Once I started noticing flakes, I ordered Nizoral again and have been using that for the last month with no symptom relief. Another potential cause could be I started using a new dry shampoo (Monday brand) around that time frame, but have stopped using it since.

I’ve tried T-Sal, another scalp exfoliator, Nioxin, the Amika cleansing/moisturizing scalp oil treatment, chelating shampoo, overnight coconut oil, castor oil, washing more, washing less, Ordinary Hyaluronic acid scalp serum. I am out of ideas and it’s driving me crazy.

For reference, it is more consistent with pictures of dry scalp than dandruff, plus I’ve been using Nizoral which is a dandruff shampoo so you’d assume that would clear it up if it was. My scalp is so scabby and flaky and I can’t help but pick at it to try to get rid of any visible flaking, but it just makes it worse.

This could be unrelated but I noticed last week my nails were starting to grow in paler and my PA friend said it was maybe an iron deficiency so I started a supplement last week. I’ve taken a regular multivitamin and fish oil as well so I don’t think it would be any other nutrient deficiency.

I thought maybe my water was the issue because my fiancé also has very flaky scalp (he has always had this because he was on Accutane). However, I would think all my skin would be dry at that point, not just the scalp. I moisturize at night, but other than that I don’t do much to my face and I haven’t noticed any dryness.

Any thoughts or suggestions? Thank you in advance.

For those of you with a micro, do you use a balance pole? Is it worth it?

Sub-ins would also be helpful

Can you wear a hoodie on test day?

I saw they have jewelry restrictions like do I need to leave my engagement ring at home? Can I have a hair tie?

Taking the test next week — any last minute study advice? For those who have taken this exam, is there anything you wish you would’ve reviewed or studied more?

I have been practicing Lagree for over a year now very regularly and I love it. I even have a Microformer at home. The studio I attend posted that they were looking for instructors so I messaged them. I am not certified yet, but given the opportunity to start teaching, I absolutely would get certified. I just don’t want to invest thousands into training if there aren’t many studio openings in my area.

When my studio responded, they said they’re not offering any in-house trainings at the moment, but gave me the number of a master training to contact about training. However, they didn’t say much about the actual position opening and if they’d consider hiring me after getting certified. I feel slighted a bit because I know there are instructors at this studio who are not certified and had the opportunity to start before pursuing their certification.

I am not interested in becoming an instructor for money, I genuinely just want to become more immersed in the lagree world and help others benefit from the practice the same way I did. That being said, I am not rich and can’t afford to drop thousands on training just to not get a teaching job after.

Thoughts?

I have struggled with difficulty to lose “fluff” weight despite caloric restriction, high protein diets, increasing step count, and regular full body strength training. Despite this fluff, I am still considered thin, but just not lean. I have muscle but also this impossible layer of skinny fat.

I also suffer from hypoglycemic episodes where I just become very lethargic, hangry, and sometimes even shaky after just a few hours of not eating. I know you’re thinking this would be a crash after a high carb meal. Nope — very balanced meal of ground beef, black beans, rice, and Greek yogurt. I also don’t starve myself in a deficit. I am usually very strategic with my calories and macros. I feel like I’m in a constant state of trying to diet to achieve nothing and just feel like crap all the time.

I did a CGM for a couple weeks and noticed extreme spikes. I would eat a few raisins and get a big spike, but it would drop down quickly. At night, I’d get glucose drops into the below 40 range where the CGM couldn’t even detect it. It would also drop into the 40s during the day between meal times.

I know the first instinct is to think I must not be doing one of these protocols right, but I am very proactive about tracking all of these things. I’ve tried weighing literally all of my food and I track all my steps and work outs. I also optimize my sleep, have a solid supplement stack, and maintain a pretty clean diet. I also don’t drink aside from occasions.

I am just learning about hyperinsulinemia and think I could potentially have a case of lean PCOS. Anyone have any idea what could be going on or what I could do to fix it? Or things I should get tested?

Any advice for burnout? It feels like I need to basically treat this exam as a part time job, but I’m exhausted and honestly ready to give up. I work full time (as I know most people taking this exam do), and I’ve been on the studying grind for about 4 months now. I have a month still left till my test. I am taking the EET course for Construction PE and am completely through all the lectures and quizzes and now just have practice tests and review left. However, I am beginning to become resentful that I have zero time for anything. My life is work, study, eat, sleep, repeat. I don’t even have time to work out and feel guilty for sleeping. I need to get through these practice exams to feel prepared, but I am burnt out and angry, making it impossible to focus when I do sit down to study. I was thinking maybe doing 5-10 questions a day and no more so that I don’t burn myself out, but I’m not sure if that will be enough and I feel like I’m not utilizing my weekends to the full extent that way. Any suggestions or advice?