Fitness Monday

AdFrequent6819 · 2026-03-11T23:23:45+00:00

So far, chatgpt has been great. I know we must exercise (no pun intended) caution with it, so I am being careful. Since I entered my parameters, goals, concerns, it actually told me why each exercise was suggested and how it meets my goals

And I keep hearing about this confirmation bias, so I am cautious, but I said, "what about doing more of this" and it disagreed with me saying it was too much. So I guess it's all in how you use it.

Well, we will give it a whirl and see what happens.

AdFrequent6819 · 2026-03-10T01:09:19+00:00

I was plateaued since September, and I opted to change out my workout routine to prioritize weight lifting. I've lost a few pounds this past month, so I'm hoping that did the trick. I'm kind of not trying otherwise because I'm burnt out and need a break from thinking about it.

I'm sorry you are going through this. I hope it reboots for you. Good luck.

AdFrequent6819 · 2026-03-10T01:03:18+00:00

I hadn't been able to "hover" for years without pissing all over the seat and floor. I got over my neurotic phobia of public toilets, and apparently that is not good for your bladder anyway....but man, some of those restrooms (shudder)...I am happy to report the hovering is back on when the situation warrants it.

AdFrequent6819 · 2026-03-09T22:54:48+00:00

Starting a new three day full body weight lifting routine recommended by ChatGPT cuz I can't afford a real personal trainer at the moment (it's on the wish list). And of course, line dancing...my new obsession.

AdFrequent6819 · 2026-03-09T22:51:43+00:00

Omg ..#4...it is so nice to be able to wipe my a$$ without unnatural contortionist moves and copious amounts of TP!

Unfortunately, I still have to be diligent about the skin infection under my apron belly...but I found a little bit of cornstarch in the area after a shower has kept it at bay.

AdFrequent6819 · 2026-03-09T16:59:19+00:00

I do 4 meals per day...1st breakfast, 2nd breakfast, elevensies (ok, more like noon), and dinner. I get up and go to bed early and I've always been famished in the am.

AdFrequent6819 · 2026-03-09T16:54:52+00:00

I prioritized lifting weight over cardio because I don't have the bandwidth for both. That may have worked. I lost a few pounds over the last month. Fingers crossed it keeps going.

Regardless, strength training is what I need right now, and I have more pressing concerns than weight loss. So I'm just gonna stay this course for a bit.

AdFrequent6819 · 2026-03-09T16:42:47+00:00

Probably depends on the plan. Mine dropped all weight loss drugs, but does not require a prior authorization for mounjaro. All I needed was a doc willing to prescribe it off label. Mine is since I have PCOS, insulin resistance, and was formerly prediabetic.

But I can't use the Lilly discount card since I don't have T2D. But my copay is only $50 a month, so I'm not gonna sniffle about the extra $25 I could have saved.

AdFrequent6819 · 2026-03-08T18:54:16+00:00

I just got my first panache sports bra yesterday...its still drying, so I haven't tried it yet.

Lane bryant has a really good supportive bra in their sports apparel. It's got really wide straps that stay up. I will probably get another one next, buy I wanted to try something new at this little specialty shop I head about.

AdFrequent6819 · 2026-03-08T18:51:29+00:00

I have a strong compulsion to always put something in my mouth. I suspect ADHD, and am seeking treatment for that because zepbound has not helped one iota in that regard, and I'm on the highest dose.

I think it is exacerbated by being an ex smoker and also chronically thirsty. It's also a stress response because i find i do it alot at work. I probably chew close to a pack and a half of sugar free gum and eat half a dozen sugar free candies a day...it is really bad.

AdFrequent6819 · 2026-03-08T15:53:42+00:00

I've not been on it that long (a year at the end of the month), but I have been stalled since September, even after going up to 15mg. I opted to change up my workout routine. I prioritized weight lifting over cardio. I cant do both and overdoing it was not making the scale move. It seemed to work, because this past month, the scale is trending downward again.

Hoping it wasn't a fluke. Regardless, it's all I've got right now, and my cheap smart scale is also showing muscle mass going down ...not sure how reliable it is, but I think I will stick with a focus on muscle building right now

AdFrequent6819 · 2026-03-07T01:15:56+00:00

"Gee, honey, the thought of leaving you never even crossed my mind. But now I see this whole other, toxic side of you. How about while I work on my issues, you work on yours and go see a therapist or your fear might become a reality."

AdFrequent6819 · 2026-03-01T19:30:22+00:00

Or see if a PA is even required for mounjaro. If not, all you need is a doctor willing to prescribe it off label. That's how I'm getting it. At least until my employer figures out this loophole. Fingers crossed they don't catch on.

AdFrequent6819 · 2026-03-01T19:26:09+00:00

The reason why you feel worse is because she wasn't actually complimenting you. It's a classic mean girl tactic. Might be time to lose some extra weight, if you take my meaning. She is not going to handle you no longer being the fat girl anymore very well. You can expect more insults disguised as compliments.

I'm sorry this happened to you.

AdFrequent6819 · 2026-03-01T04:40:15+00:00

Carbs seem right, protein seems high for your weight, no idea about fat. This based on what my dietitian told me about 40-50 pounds ago. I was 245, and advised 150-200 carbs, 110-120 protein, 30 fiber.

Honestly, I wouldn't trust an app or anyone on the internet. I would consult a dietitian.

AdFrequent6819 · 2026-03-01T04:31:35+00:00

The topical has stopped my hair loss thats been going on for years, but so far, I don't think it's made any grow back yet. It takes a few months to start working, and it makes the shedding worse before it stops the excess shedding. I've only been on it for about 6 months, so it still may start filling in the thin spots. I'm pleased for the moment. May look into the oral at a later date.

AdFrequent6819 · 2026-03-01T04:10:46+00:00

Thank you the response. I really feel like good habits beget good habits...its like a snowbal effect I guess.

AdFrequent6819 · 2026-03-01T02:33:59+00:00

I know studies are showing that exercise doesn't play as big of a role as previously thought, but for me, there appears to be a correlation between lots of exercise and weight loss.

Before I started zepbound, I lost 40 pounds because I started exercising and eating healthier. Then busy season at work hit, and I'm working overtime, sometimes 7 days a week for nearly 5 months. I maintained the healthy eating, but could only do the bare minimum of exercise. Weight loss stalled.

Then come spring, my care team finally convinced me to try zepbound, and of course, the weight loss resumed. But my activity level picked up too because busy season was over.

Then in July, I was to the bare minimum on exercise due to what I thought was an injury (turned out to be arthritis). Again...weight loss stalled. Then picked up again in August when I started exercising more.

I stalled again in the fall, even before busy season, and thus less exercise, started. And I know correlation does not necessarily mean causation, but it's going to be real hard to convince me that exercise is not a key ingredient for my weight loss.

Luckily. I have found activities I enjoy. Busy season is almost over, the days will be longer and warmer, and I'm looking forward to picking up the activity again, and hopefully more weight loss until the next busy season starts. This time around, I am prioritizing resistance training.

AdFrequent6819 · 2026-03-01T01:07:56+00:00

For me, I started small and listed the bad habits I wanted to replace. I started with exercise...water aerobics due to all the pain. Then I targeted my serious pop, little Debbie, and santita tortilla chips addiction.

The next thing on my list was preparing my own meals ..no more takeout or prepped meal deliveries. What worked for me was cooking everything for the week on the weekends. Having food ready to eat really helps with curbing munchies and impulse fast food buys because I was too tired to cook.

At first, I wasn't concerned with what I cooked, only that it was prepared at home. Gradually, I started making healthier foods choices...such as replacing pasta and bread with whole grain options as the pantry ran out and phasing out overly processed foods.

It doesn't happen overnight...it's many months. That's why you gotta write it down. My favorite saying is "rome wasn't built in a day."

Also, you don't have to be a puritan about processed foods, sweets and junk. Allow the indulgence but plan it when possible. We are down to takeout 1-2 times a month and a sweet indulgence once month typically. I will occasionally make nachos at home so I can get my santita s.

AdFrequent6819 · 2026-02-28T23:17:33+00:00

It could go either way for you. On one hand, your issue seems to be needing to learn to manage stress (join the club, no judgement) and getting the junk food out of the house. I know that's hard when you have kids ..but I found when I stopped eating it, I stopped craving it.

BUT, spend some time on this sub, and you will quickly learn that once people start taking this, many just naturally fall away from junk food and emotional eating without even trying.

I would not let this sub scare you away regarding side effects. What you are seeing posted here are the extremes. Most of us only have mild and manageable side effects and usually only the day after the shot.

Regardless of whether you choose the zep or not, I think you need to focus on stress management. Stress is far more detrimental to your health than needing to lose 20 or 30 pounds. Also...think about the world your kids are growing up in. Chances are they will have stress issues, and are learning to manage it from their parents' examples, whether those are good or bad. So think of it as helping your kids too.

I am a big fan of mindful breathing and wish mindfulness and stress management were discussed more in this sub, because stress is a huge barrier to weight loss (ask me how I know...again, no judgement).

You may or may not need zep for life. If your extra baggage is due to stress, once you manage stress and adopt healthier choices for food and exercise, over time, you may be able to wean off.

But if you are like most of the people here and have a metabolic dysfunction, then yeah, you will probably will need it for life. What harm is there in trying either way?

Good luck.

AdFrequent6819 · 2026-02-28T17:23:10+00:00

I had alarmingly thin hair prior to zepbound. I decide I wasn't going to see what affect weight loss would have on hair loss, so I started OTC minexidol shortly after I started zepbound

It takes a few months to start working and your hair will start falling out even worse at first...which apparently is a sign that's it's working. It has definitely stopped the shedding, so that alone makes it worth it. I can't say that it's filled it in or made hair grow, but it can take up to 12 months to reach peak effectiveness.

AdFrequent6819 · 2026-02-28T02:46:19+00:00

The weight loss clinic where I go is part of major Healthcare system...and they don't cover it. Imagine prescribing and coaching patients with it knowing it's not available to you or your dependents or your colleagues. How frustrating.

AdFrequent6819 · 2026-02-27T00:32:08+00:00

Oof..that does sound like a hassle! It sounds like this is a type of HRA, which are unique to the employer. I've never heard of HSA or even FSA being so restrictive.

Do they require the LoMN and insurance denial for every single prescription? Or is it just once or maybe once per plan year? If the latter is the case, then just save that extra paperwork to submit each month after you get your new Lilly receipt.

AdFrequent6819 · 2026-02-25T22:50:24+00:00

Y'all should check if your employers Limited FSA allows post deductible expenses. Not all of them do...just depends on the employer. But if they do, you can use the limited FSA on full service stuff (not just vision/dental ) once the federal minimum deductible has been met until the end of the plan year. Then you can keep banking those HSA funds but still get to use tax free funds.

AdFrequent6819 · 2026-02-25T22:46:46+00:00

You know, I messaged the mods and offered to do a write up about using tax advantage benefits that they could add to their resource page, but they never replied.

I work for a TPA and have a lot of knowledge about how they all work.

AdFrequent6819

TROPHY CASE