u/pixyhedd — reddlx

▲ 9 r/Bulk+1 crossposts

Eating more. Feeling bloated. Help me get past this and stick with it.

I have been cycling up my calories to get to maintenance after having been in a long fat loss phase. I have zero fat/weight to lose and want to build more muscle. I am very petite and I burn far more than my RMR/BMR because I’m so active. I’ve been adding 100 calories every month to my my baseline (I eat way more on big activity days) to get to a true maintenance and get out of a muscle building plateau.

It’s hard! I feel so big and puffy. I know it’s water/glycogen/my cycle. Previously I would panic and cut calories. I know I need to stick with this. I’m still not even at a true maintenance I’m still 100-200 cals shy. For those of you who have increased calories to build muscle, help me work through this.

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u/pixyhedd — 11 days ago

▲ 33 r/LoseitApp

What low calorie foods have become favorite staples in your diet?

For me, Quaker rice cakes (35 cals per piece) with PB powder mixed with water and a little honey and sliced banana is one of my favorite treats. I eat it before I work out, or as a midday snack.

I started eating them because the combo was a good source of carbs and low-calorie protein and now it’s one of my favorite treats. I look forward to it every morning before I work out. Regardless of the calorie content, I would happily eat it.

What other low-calorie foods/hacks did you adopted during a fat loss phase that have now become favorite staples in your diet?

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u/pixyhedd — 22 days ago

▲ 73 r/LoseitApp+1 crossposts

Weight loss not linear

I’m posting this in response to a post about weight not trending down despite being in a calorie deficit.

Four years ago I lost ~25 lbs (29 fat and gained 5 muscle according to Dexa scans) and over the year I lost that weight it was never a linear process.

Posting screenshots of a month of daily weigh ins where you can clearly see a jagged line with weight bouncing around before a drop. This was the ongoing pattern and when you zoom out to a year view you can see the overall trend is a downward trajectory.

The “whoosh effect” of weight loss is real.

u/pixyhedd — 1 month ago

▲ 35 r/40PlusSkinCare

Tazarotene 4 week update

This is an update to my previous post on starting tazarotene.

I’m now 4 weeks in and amazingly no irritation yet! To recap, I’ve been on tret for years and was on .1% tret the last couple of years. I upgraded to .1% tazarotene and haven’t had any irritation from switching and I think I see more skin evenness in the texture.

Photo on the left was when I started, post shower selfie to show skin as clearly as possible. No filter no skincare. Photo on right is today, same conditions. I have some irritation from wearing my glasses and a little upper lip irritation but not related to my tazarotene.

I think what’s been so beneficial is that I layer with oil after I apply the tazarotene. Currently using the Ordinary rosehip oil and very happy with it.

u/pixyhedd — 1 month ago

▲ 472 r/40PlusSkinCare

48 years old, just started .1% tazarotene after years of tretinoin.

I am 48 years old and was finally able to stick to a regimen of tret after numerous failed attempts. The secret was starting very light with .025% and layering with hydration after applying tret. For me, that’s an oil. Currently using The Ordinary rosehip oil but any facial oil will work (I’ve used the range of oils from Vitner’s Daughter on the high end to The Ordinary on the low end. Doesn’t make much difference IMO as the tret is the real workhorse)

I cycled up over the years to .1% tret which is the strongest formulation and held there for a year. Learned about tazarotene, got a script from an online derm and started two weeks ago and amazingly no irritation. I also use the Coleman Compound which is one product I recommend to everyone. Somehow my face isn’t irritated layering those two products every night.

Bare faced post shower pic to show true skin texture and tone with no makeup. For those of you wanting to start tret but worried about irritation, start slow, start light and use the sandwich method with hydration. Layer hydration after tret or before or both. It’s 💯worth it. I’ve stopped wearing foundation and just dab a little concealer in spots and my natural skin shines through. I know we all hear how tret is the holy grail and after several failed attempts to get on a regimen that were derailed due to irritation I am finally on the other side after years of patience. I cannot believe I was able to start .1% tazarotene with no irritation and now after two weeks also layering in my Coleman compound.

u/pixyhedd — 2 months ago

▲ 0 r/AdvancedRunning

Stress fracture experiences. How long to heal? Does it become a nagging reoccurrence?

I have been increasing my mileage the last few months and have been running between 16-20 miles on my long Sunday runs. I noticed pain in my left foot that felt achy and like my toebox was too small. I chalked it up to a hammer toe I have on that foot acting up.

After my most recent long run I was unable to put pressure on that foot without pain and the area below my toes on top of my foot was swollen and bruised. A visit to the podiatrist confirmed it’s the beginnings of a stress fracture. She ordered me to not run for 4-6 weeks at least. I’m disappointed but luckily have been cleared to cycle and weight lift. She explained this is not uncommon for long distance runners when I asked her the cause of it.

For anyone who has recovered from this type of an injury, how long did it take and does it return?

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u/pixyhedd — 3 months ago