u/laptopgardens

(I'm not sure where to post this question - feel free to direct me elsewhere!)

The only way I've been able to lose weight is with tirz. I had a serious negative side effect on semaglutide that made me switch to tirz some time later. Then, I had a derm appointment today, where my derm said tirz was the cause of my hair loss. I'm tired of the side effect circus, but I am so bad at calorie counting. I have never calorie counted successfully, ever.

Even when I was much thinner (had a brief modeling career thin), I never calorie counted, and when I gained weight, I really struggled to do it (never did it properly). I know this is the #1 tip recommended for weight loss, but it feels like I can't. Before the GLP-1, I spent years deleting and reinstalling calorie tracking apps.

Sometimes, I look back to the time when I was so thin I was scouted by a modeling agency as the "glory days" and try to replicate the habits of my younger self, but I'm just so hungry in my older years. Even when I eat veggies, protein, and potatoes for lunch, I'm eating 3 sheet pans of it. I just did that and the feeling sucks. I eat an obscene amount of "whole foods" and have been gaining weight on them.

I am so, so bad at the use-willpower-to-calorie-count thing. Only tirz has helped me lose weight. I'm trying to sign up for workout classes, buy cute workout clothes, and buy fiber/protein-rich groceries in bulk, but I've already gained 10 lbs since I stopped tirz.

Has anyone else been in this position - trying to use willpower again? What worked for you, if you're someone who struggles to calorie count but needs to lose weight?

lifestyle

• Red light comb with bristles designed for kinky/coily hair (like the maysama red light comb, but with comb bristles designed for a tighter curl pattern)

• Beautiful, creative and trendy backpacks large/sturdy enough to carry a laptop (I have genuinely considered making this happen myself, I hate the backpacks on the market)

tech (digital)

• gamified pomodoro timer (genre: Flocus, LifeAt, Make10000hours) that has an offline-first/offline-friendly Linux desktop app (no AI slop)

• gamified no-camera needed online study rooms (genre: FocusTown, lofi.town) that work and don't have any AI slop (Linux desktop app would be a cool plus)

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If you implement these ideas, I will take a look! I won't invest in your company or anything, but if these products come into existence I will be interested.

I thought I just had math anxiety or impostor syndrome, but I am genuinely behind my peers. I have an undergraduate degree in math, am beginning a graduate degree in math next semester, and have presented at multiple math conferences. I am part of multiple math meetups, and so on and so forth...but I always feel off. Behind.

I always feel like the people around me are smarter than me, and I have finally figured out why.

I decided to prepare for my next semester of grad school by reviewing math topics I learned as an undergraduate, but it was so difficult that I ended up decreasing the difficulty of the topic being studied until I reached high school level math. I am studying from an Art of Problem Solving book right now and it's kicking my butt.

I'm scared that I even got this far while being so bad at math. I think it's possible because my problem solving skills are poor but I have an above average memory, which can compensate sometimes.

Is it possible for me to catch up before the semester starts? I have 16 weeks (including this one) and plan to read 13 books, but this AoPS book is taking me so long to get through...

What would be the best way to spend this time preparing for the next semester, knowing how behind I am?

Here's my current study routine:

6 math pomodoros per day

2 formal logic pomodoros per day

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I've only done this for two days, but I feel like I'm progressing too slowly.

(Anxiety-impostor-blah aside, I really just want to be able to finish these books in time for the semester to start so I'm prepared. I'm not sure how to do that.)

I pretty much hate my neighbor at this point but hey, we all have needs. His issue is being way too loud.

My neighbor jerks off every morning between 6:30 and 7:30 AM. I have no idea why it is so loud that it wakes me up. I can't sleep.

As a bonus, sometimes I hear him doing it right before I am trying to go to bed (around 9:30 PM). He loves to ruin my sleep schedule.

I got out of bed this morning because I couldn't sleep, and I could still hear the guy. Wow. I usually force myself to lie in bed and sleep longer but it makes me feel so violated. I'm not sure what to do. I feel disgusted.

I have tried going to sleep listening to something (with headphones on), but by the morning, my headphones always die. It's a shame, because I specifically bought headphones (with very good reviews!) that are designed to be slept with.

What should I do in this situation? It feels impossible to resolve.

Edit: Thank you for your suggestions! I will work on asking the building manager to talk to him, getting a white noise machine, getting Mack's silicone plugs, and remodeling the room in which I have the issue.

I have HS and a nurse I was seeing long-term (offline/in person) told me that taking a probiotic might help my condition. The issue is that there are so many scammy/cash grab probiotics being sold on TikTok Shop and the like.

I asked the nurse which probiotics are actually helpful and not a cash grab. The nurse recommended that I purchase probiotics from the grocery store which are stored in a fridge.

I think I definitely felt/looked more healthy when I was keeping up the routine of consuming refrigerated probiotics on the daily for a month or so. I just hate the taste of them. Seriously, I hate the taste. I couldn't keep up the habit.

(I'm vegan.) I know pickled veggies, vegan yogurt, and kombucha have some good properties, but I kind of prefer a one and done supplement that is consistent even if my diet changes.

Has anyone had this issue and overcome it? I already take prebiotic supplement (Benefiber) but don't actually have any probiotics in my daily routine at the moment.

I tend to get obsessed with people for years at a time, yes. My longest "crush" was for 10 years.

However, the "crush" doesn't go away once I'm rejected. I find this annoying/weird about myself, but even when I've been rejected, I just...keep going with the crush. What would that be called? Is this limerence?

I thought that, in limerence, the uncertainty of whether your interest is reciprocated is what keeps the limerence going.

I already read a couple papers on facial aging but didn't find what I'm looking for.

I want to find a resource that explains:

• facial aging changes by the decade

• which layer of the face is affected by specific age related changes in each decade

• every single possible intervention for each age related change along with pros and cons for each intervention (not only the intervention/s preferred by the person writing the resource)

For example, I've been trying to research how to prevent bone resorption in the face but saw an article suggest microneedling and retinoid usage...which can increase collagen. But how would that prevent bone resorption? Is the idea that bone density increases with an increase in collagen? I don't know.

As far as I can tell, most of what we discuss on Reddit can only improve the state of the dermis and the epidermis, but facial aging also results from structural changes (bone resorption).

Does this resource exist? If I need to do this research myself, how should I proceed? Honestly, I would rather read this than write it myself (I feel like making this resource on my own would require me to get a biology degree).

I studied math as an undergrad, got my first Master's in something STEM related, and am beginning my second Master's soon. I am going to be studying math for my second Master's. (I know a math Master's is seen as a waste of money by some, but I don't feel ready for a PhD.)

I study math because I enjoy the concepts - however, I don't feel very good at it. I read a book about how to study mathematics by Lara Alcock earlier this year (and took notes!) but still struggled when I took math classes during my first Master's (I took math courses as electives).

I feel that I'm only able to learn when talking to someone more experienced than me, but have never learned how to effectively self-study. I want to be able to learn effectively without having someone walk me through what I don't understand.

I also don't know how to choose what to self-study. I do not lack access to learning resources - I have hundreds of math textbooks and papers on my computer that I try to decipher when bored and/or particularly motivated. This can be overwhelming, and when I don't understand a passage in one text, I just flit to a different text, going on like this until I get tired. I'm almost certain this is an ineffective way to learn, if it even permits learning at all.

I am currently on summer break.

One of my ultimate goals is to be a mathematics professor. They seem all-knowing, impenetrable. I'm not sure how to get from here to there.

Essentially, I want to act and think like an academic who will one day be a professor. I don't know how to do this, but I want to structure my days in a way that helps me achieve my goals. I want to act and behave like someone who will one day be a professor.

How do I improve my self-studying habits? How should I structure my remaining summer break?

I want to get into red light therapy, but I'm trying to do so in a way that I know I'll be able to keep up with. I wish I could just place Hooga panels in various places around my home as replacements for lamps, but from my (brief) research that sounds unwise.

I researched RLT yoga mats and RLT sleeping bags/blankets, but the former is supposedly not durable enough for exercise (feel free to correct me!) and the latter is not meant to be slept in all night (it would be too warm, I read?). I was on the fence about buying a red light comb (from Maysama, for example) but the comb teeth are too wide for my hair type, so I wouldn't use it.

I respect the people who are able to form this habit more intentionally, but I want to come up with a RLT routine that doesn't require constant willpower. Knowing myself, I am unlikely to be one of those people who form RLT habits that require willpower.

Are there passive/low-willpower RLT setups I haven't thought of, or that I unfairly dismissed? Do you think passive RLT is possible?

I studied math as an undergrad, got my first Master's in something STEM related, and am beginning my second Master's soon. I am going to be studying math for my second Master's. (I know a math Master's is seen as a waste of money by some, but I don't feel ready for a PhD.)

I study math because I enjoy the concepts - however, I don't feel very good at it. I read a book about how to study mathematics by Lara Alcock earlier this year (and took notes!) but still struggled when I took math classes during my first Master's (I took math courses as electives).

I feel like I'm only able to learn when talking to someone more experienced than me, but have never learned how to effectively self-study. I want to be able to learn effectively without having someone walk me through what I don't understand.

I also don't know how to choose what to self-study. I do not lack access to learning resources - I have hundreds of math textbooks and papers on my computer that I try to decipher when bored and/or particularly motivated. This can be overwhelming, and when I don't understand a passage in one text, I just flit to a different text, going on like this until I get tired. I'm almost certain this is an ineffective way to learn, if it even permits learning at all.

I am currently on summer break, so I have a lot of time to spend flitting between math textbooks/papers. I am in a mentorship program, but the math mentorship program meets every two weeks. It feels like, in order to make progress, I need to be able to accomplish more between the mentorship meetings.

One of my ultimate goals is to be a mathematics professor. They seem all-knowing, impenetrable. I'm not sure how to get from here to there.

Essentially, I want to act and think like an academic who will one day be a professor. I don't know how to do this, but I want to structure my days in a way that helps me achieve my goals. I want to act and behave like someone who will one day be a professor.

How do I improve my self-studying habits? How should I structure my remaining summer break?

I have executive dysfunction (and other issues) that make me feel overwhelmed by the prospect of shipping things to my home and then assembling them - I'm not handy in the slightest. Several months ago I tried to research hiring people to do the assembly for me, but it's still too much, so I'm not interested in that option.

Is there a way to research no-assembly home decorating? If there's a phrase or word that better describes this concept, please let me know.

If it helps, I'm generally interested in making my home feel as spa-like as possible, so that's the theme I'm going for (no idea how to achieve that!). I want to feel relaxed.

I wish I had purchased the solution but...I have the foam. I'm trying to figure out how to use the foam because I don't have any bald spots or any parts of my scalp visible (thick, coarse hair).

I'm not sure if this means I should just use it to grow my eyebrows, or if it is still possible to use on my head. How should I use my Minoxidil foam, given this context? Suggestions are appreciated!

This is preventative. I want to make my older self proud by taking care of this early! (I am in my late 20s.)

I do think my skin is sagging, however, because I noticed that I look better when I take pictures of myself lying down compared to when I take pictures of myself standing up.

1. I want to prevent skin laxity/sagging (DIY). Could [RF, microcurrent, HIFU] be seen as preventative - if so, how?

2. I'm not sure why my face looks better in pictures lying down than in pictures standing up. Could I fix that with [RF, microcurrent, HIFU] - if so, how?

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I searched through posts containing the words "skin laxity" already. I didn't really find a compelling DIY solution whose pros clearly outweighed its cons.

I'm in a STEM field where people that have power/authority over me want me to use AI. Should I be brutally honest or is there some polite way to say no, I don't want to use AI tools?

I already apply azelaic acid 20% daily. I'm interested in Naturium's Alpha Arbutin serum. (I don't buy from Platinum Skincare.)

I am genderless, and have known this about myself for around a decade. My gender identity has never been so confusing to me.

However - my sexuality confuses me. I don't know what it is.

I know, for sure, that I am 100% attracted to women in all the ways, but I don't know whether I'm attracted to men or only to the idea of them. I feel like I need to describe the particular reasons why I'm so confused.

I am not sexually active but I do masturbate daily. Whenever I orgasm, I masturbate to women. I do that around once a week. Daily, I masturbate without orgasm to men. TMI, I know, but I honestly feel like this is relevant to the question I am asking (it is relevant data).

When I masturbate to men, it's like I'm imagining that I am a man having sex with another man. I am pretty grossed out by the idea of a man penetrating me.

Sometimes I have celebrity crushes who are men, but then I get confused by my own behavior, because without these celebrity crushes I would identify as someone who is only into women.

I have tried to cut out having male celebrity crushes without luck, as getting rid of these crushes would simplify my life and make my mind easier to understand.

I could just say I am bisexual, but I feel like that's not accurate because I would not enjoy sex with a man. I don't like the idea of giving a man a blowjob or being penetrated by him at all. The idea of dating a man scares me. When I used to use dating apps, I would always start by telling the app I am interested in men and women, get disappointed, and then filter my matches to women only.

So why do I waste my time keeping up with attractive male celebrities on social media? I don't understand myself.

Based on this post - which isn't a lot, I know - what would you say my sexuality is...if you had to guess?

The last two times I shaved, I had nasty HS flareups...possibly three times? I lost count.

I think there's something about the process of shaving that makes me flare up. I'm concerned that waxing will produce the same issue. Ideally, I want to remove body hair in a way that does not take the form of shaving, or resemble shaving.

I hate the feeling of hair on my body. I'm okay with arm and leg hair, but everywhere else, the texture of hair rubbing against my skin bothers me to no end.

I've looked into at home-laser hair removal, but my skin tone is incompatible with all the devices I've found. If you have any ideas for hair removal I haven't thought of, I would love to know!

Recently, my iPad died. This is significant, because I haven't had a phone for a couple years now. I'm typing this on my laptop, but as you know, laptop usage is different from phone or tablet (mobile device) usage.

I don't really know how to spend my time. I've been making endless YouTube playlists and checking Reddit more than usual. I've been staying indoors because I dislike going out without having music streaming to my headphones from a mobile device.

I know that, eventually, I will need to shut my laptop and just read a book and/or journal, or go outside without music and headphones. I even made a playlist of music to listen to while reading/journaling at home, but actually making the leap - looking away from my laptop to read a physical book or write in a physical journal - has been hard for some reason.

People think I'm impressive for not having a phone, but I relied on my iPad for everything that phones do. How do I live offline, in the analog world? I think I'm subconsciously scared of boredom.