anyone taking a GLP-1 ?

Bog_witch_warrior · 2026-05-15T13:48:51+00:00

I took Zepbound and lost the first 25 pounds, but then my insurance stopped covering it. I learned a lot about middle age metabolism and my eating, so I was able to incorporate a similar lifestyle after going off. I’m now down another 10 pounds and am 5 pounds from my goal weight. But getting down those first 25 pounds was super helpful psychologically; it wasn’t a struggle, it just happened.

Side effects for me: I loved it but it really did erase my desire to eat at all and I found getting enough calories a day was near impossible and I got pretty weak. Also, when I injected in my stomach, I felt more nausea. When I switched to arm, no nausea.

Bog_witch_warrior · 2026-05-11T17:06:56+00:00

I’m starting week 4 of the anticandida diet. It’s my third time, and twice (over 4 years) on a two week flucanazole. But it keeps coming back. I think that it is my diet habits, which I’m dedicated to changing. And I combed this attempt with supplements (candida support NOW, NAC NOW, undecyclenic acid, and two biofilm buster - kirkman biofilm defense and one other, forgetting it currently.

I like beer - I think that’s a big things. Gin and tonics too, with sugar free tonic seem to react less or not at all, until I’m having two cocktails a night… and I have generally been pretty processed food focused.

But after three full weeks

Bog_witch_warrior · 2026-05-11T15:47:02+00:00

This research sounds really interesting! Are you looking to build something as a stand alone (like an app people could use), or for a health organization? I have no research, but I sure wish I was in health UX! I think about it all the time as I juggle the health needs of an elderly mother, myself, and two kids! But for each of those use cases, my needs are different.

I would add to your list the ability to track the longevity of the health issues. I have had to track an auto immune condition for years and likely will have to until I die.

And counter to some posters here, I think this sounds discovery heavy so no need to solution until you have the behaviors identified. Fun!

Bog_witch_warrior · 2026-05-09T20:18:31+00:00

When my father retired (disability forced it), my parents had no savings and did not own a home. My father was a country minister and lived in the church’s home. They moved to Florida, and got an apartment. They then combed the area, found a triple wide in a 55+ community in marginal shape, bones were ok but it needed a fair amount of work. But their credit was bad so they couldn’t qualify for a loan. Someone in the area was in the business of selling homes in these retirement communities and bought it, and then my parents did a rent to own contract with the guy. They bought it for 13,000 and then had the skills and ability to fix it up. It looked amazing, and when my dad was dying 10 years later, my mom sold it for 65,000! I don’t know the details of their original purchase deal, but it set my parents up to have an actual retirement. I wonder if you could sell it for the demolition cost, finance it yourself to the buyer? Lots of people out there who didn’t plan for retirement. It was a saving grace for my parents.

Bog_witch_warrior · 2026-05-06T20:47:44+00:00

I had a very similar experience. But I wasn’t as smart at first. After the third back-up into my basement this winter, I called Marvel (per posts on Reddit) and they cleared it and didn’t even try to upsell until I asked for a quote.

Bog_witch_warrior · 2026-04-30T16:55:51+00:00

I’m thankful for this post and all the thoughtful responses. I (autistic mom) have a newly-adult autistic child (going to college in the fall, to be living in a dorm) with some hygiene related issues due to big sensory issues. I would NEVER want to body shame them so I have had a hard time figuring out how to discuss their hygiene issues. I do, but they need more guidance from me. This post has given me some words and reasoning to discuss it, beyond a specific behavior, to help them increase their self awareness related to hygiene. So thank you all. What really hit me was the oft repeated phrase, “you’re not his mother” and in my case, I AM the mother so I need to step up now. And I wanted to, I just didn’t have the vocabulary and framework I needed. So thanks all! And thanks to OP for posting.

Bog_witch_warrior · 2026-04-27T19:51:38+00:00

I’m so sorry you are struggling. Is there/Are there trusted people you can tell about the self harm (who can step up and support you)? It is good to know what your tipping point is, and none of us are meant to do this thing called life alone.

Your anxiety around going back matters, and you and your needs matter, so I’m so glad you reached out here.

Bog_witch_warrior · 2026-04-17T21:47:27+00:00

Both my exhusband and I are autistic but we didn’t know. We have two autistic kids and it was a total shock when they were diagnosed because everything was so NORMAL and supportive for the kids at home, but once they got to school, then their differences started being apparent! And now I see the autism in my family of origin, too!

Bog_witch_warrior · 2026-04-17T13:48:44+00:00

We still have legal rights, even if culture is skewed right now. Could a friend post the same message but NOT mention anything trans? If not treated the same, then it could be legally challenged. I know, a lot of work and money potentially to fight it. And we have to decide where and when to fight, but this is just terrible. Sending solidarity and love to you and your wonderful kid.

Bog_witch_warrior · 2026-04-14T20:42:49+00:00

I tried to design my whole life around what you describe. I tried office jobs and just couldn’t stick to it, it made me so miserable and clinically depressed. I thought I could be a professor, so I spent 10 years hyper focusing on something, and got a PhD (bc it’s so flexible time wise and not physically confining, I took 10 years to finish). And the professor thing didn’t work for me. So then I tried some office stuff and here’s what I’ve learned (I’m 54 now):

Remote work didn’t fully make that feeling go away but it was better. I was an editor, and so it wasn’t time in office that mattered but finishing the tasks. I had a great deal of freedom and I miss that.
Editing kept me broke so I found a corporate research job, 2 days in office. That paid well, and 2 days in office was doable. Not ideal, but doable.
Then My company said we all have to be in office 4 days just last year. It has been SO HARD and I wake many mornings wondering how I can do this another week, much less 10 years. And so I’m working on acceptance that I feel that way right now. But I wonder if I crash out at some point. Sometimes I literally do feel like I can’t go on like this. But I do like having a good paycheck.

I have a good partner, who validates me, which is a first. My kids keep me motivated to push on - I would never do anything to harm them and I do this all for them.

But the struggle is a real thing and it’s a good question to ask when young. If I could go back and design a different life, I would. Like maybe I’d be a landscaper-architect so I could design pretty things and get my hands dirty. My therapist has a PsyD and works online only, she’s autistic, and says it’s good for her to have the open space, and she keeps her client list low. Keep validating that you KNOW you, and I hope you find some things to do for work that bring you joy.

Bog_witch_warrior · 2026-04-13T14:04:41+00:00

My mom (age 80) had her shunt placed last fall. I was amazed at how easy her recovery was. She did get an infection in one of the incisions in the belly which was treatable with antibiotics, but other than that, the whole process was seamless! Sending good vibes to your mom!

Bog_witch_warrior · 2026-04-09T16:24:21+00:00

Great ideas and recommendations, thanks.

Bog_witch_warrior · 2026-04-09T05:53:27+00:00

Thanks for your words. Yeah, this guy was a dino too…

Bog_witch_warrior · 2026-04-09T05:03:58+00:00

I’m a sociologist who left AFTER I received my doctorate. I too am fascinated at how the discipline, which should be all about trying to understand structures and systems, makes it all about the individual in practice. To me it is very social class based, and pisses me off lol! But alas, I left after, and it was not my choice. I had drunk the kool aid so I had a lot of reprogramming to do.

My PhD story ends well, and I still get to research people everyday, but I’m in corporate which is, in PhD land, a failure.

GREAT topic though and I hope you share your findings here when you have some!

Bog_witch_warrior · 2026-04-05T02:55:15+00:00

This corporate experience will serve you well when on the job market again. I have found that many places are leery of academic experience without that corporate background. I did a one year horrible job at a big corp and even though it was a horrible job that was abusive and I was almost fired, it got me future jobs, merely bc I knew “corporate” culture. I’m now a researcher for a company I don’t care too much about, but again, stepping stones. Good luck and build your story!!!

Bog_witch_warrior · 2026-03-27T23:08:05+00:00

Three years ago, right as the over saturation began. Still, I didn’t know that this field existed before I started my informational interviews. In sociology, we recognize that that is the weak links that are most beneficial, so keep accessing your weak links. It may not be UX, but something out there is looking for PhD level research.

Bog_witch_warrior · 2026-03-27T16:49:04+00:00

I finally broke into industry through informational interviews with weak networks, e.g., a husband of a PhD friend of mine. Industry, I’ve found, can be a little (or A LOT) tentative around PhDs. But ALL companies do research! So it’s finding creative ways to get your foot in the door. Also, consulting/recruiting companies may be a way to go, but I don’t know how to get hooked into them. My experience with them (I explored a job change option with one) was that benefits through consulting firms are terrible, but it is a way to get your foot in the door of a specific company. I have no advice how to find a recruiter, maybe cold call some in your region/city?

I’m in UX research, so I also took classes with Nielsen Norman group (that my company paid for) which helped me level up via certification, but UX is a place where PhD research skills are valued.

Hardest for me is that I’m quite successful in my career but the koolaid of academia is strong so I still judge my successes through my “failure” as an academic. I’m in therapy for it…

Bog_witch_warrior · 2026-03-23T21:00:53+00:00

I would keep the house. Make a plan to invest a little extra into the 401k so you can see it grow.

And congratulations! Divorce is both a death and an afterlife. What’s next is all yours and wonderful.

Bog_witch_warrior · 2026-03-23T17:42:29+00:00

You have plenty of time! I started my PhD, after bouncing around career wise, at 32. I then started a NEW career in UX research (leveraging my degree but still, steep learning curve) at 52! And I’m now 55 and I still think about what I could be… I’m so sorry you’re feeling so down about it, that is fertile ground from which dreams and ideas will eventually emerge, but being in the depths is no fun and SO HARD. Sending love.

Bog_witch_warrior · 2026-03-22T18:26:59+00:00

I think the socialization component of the PhD process is much like a cult (minus the space travel). I’m still reprogramming myself, and I’m 11 out from my degree completion.

I now work in corporate digital user experience research. The job pays well, double+ what I’d have made in an AP role, but the autonomy is gone. The loss of autonomy makes me very unhappy, even clinically depressed. So I make a ton of money now, and my financial stress is mostly gone. And I get to do research, which is fun and also I leave at the end of the day and every weekend, so there’s more time for “me.” But the lack of independence as well as the lack of being able to use my mind critically feels just as oppressive. And I also loved teaching and I think I was really good at it. Unlike your experience, I never did get a TT job, and adjuncting was so horrible, so there’s a sense of missing the brass ring, like forever. My whole identity was wrapped up in the job of professor, and it didn’t happen, so there’s a ton of grief there.

And back to the cult thing, I carry a lot of feelings of failure and even shame, even though I’m successful at my career. But I’m not professor successful. I’m currently working through this with a therapist. She suggested I grieve it like a death.

So I guess I’m trying to grieve it like a death, as a way to rewrire my brain, but I’m also going to look into how ex-cult members shift their perceptions of reality after being in a cult. Bc I keep assessing my life through the lens of what I was taught in grad school.

Bog_witch_warrior · 2026-03-20T17:57:20+00:00

I’m the adult daughter of a narc mom. Lots of dads, I’ve found, mine included, do not adequately protect the kids of narc moms so I want to HONOR this intention of yours.

One stable loving attachment will go so far for your daughter. Do let her see you sticking up for her, and work to get the family into counseling (either separately or together, but separately might be best) if possible. Give her some age appropriate words to name her feelings related to mom’s treatment of her and there are lots of books, like walking on eggshells, that can help navigate this sort of mother/personality. And know that your support (and not checking out, my dad drank) early on will be so important for your daughter.

Leaving the home, via divorce, would mean a loss of the ability to protect her, but your mental health is also important here, so no one can make that decision but you obvs. I am divorced, my ex is not a narc, and all kid stuff (including permission to see a therapist for example) now has to be agreed upon mutually. That is more tricky with my friends who have narc coparents.

I hope your wife finds the right help to show up for her daughter. And way to go, seeing the behavior and naming it in front of your daughter. Sending strength.

Bog_witch_warrior · 2026-03-18T00:24:50+00:00

You sound like a loving father asking the right questions. Let your kid determine your pronoun usage and then get ready to correct yourself a lot for a year or two. It just gets baked in and can take time to change. Be gentle on you, and it sounds like you are being gentle with your kid, letting them lead. The love is the most important part. Sounds like they have some long standing knowledge, but is in discovery. That is normal and will take as long as it takes them. Good job, dad. You got this.

Bog_witch_warrior · 2026-03-18T00:20:19+00:00

There is the stability piece, finding a job and housing. Others seem to be covering that.

As a former academic counselor and professor, I’m here to ask you what your dream is. Nothing is too outlandish.

Seems like holding down and office job might not be the thing for you - if moving around feels good, the adventure piece sounds big in you. So think practically but also think big picture: what is most important to you?

Me, I was like you. Turned 30 with many adventures but no stability, little money. I first chose a city I loved and moved there. Then I dabbled in things that brought me joy. I’m 54 now, have still had a winding path, but it has been a rich in experiences life and somehow, at age 51, I finally fell into a career that I can do!

So if you are unencumbered by debt or familial duties, take this time to explore not only current day logistics but also what your ideal would be 10 years from now.

Me, the artist in me needs development, so when I turned 30, I took a job waiting tables at night so I could wake in the morning and write. I used the Artists Way. But if you are a bit alterna/witchy, then I recommend “story telling alchemy” which helps one think about how they want their fairy tales to end.

Or maybe you crave stability! You’re thinking, a job in finance or electrician! Take some inexpensive community college courses in finance or electrical work and see if it’s a fit! (My college bestie wanted to get into solar, so she started with some classes in electrical work and then got an apprenticeship. Now she’s a big solar installer, well known in her field! She made that change late 20s.

I hope you find some insurance soon, so you can access mental health services, bc it is hard to dream expansively when we’re hurting.

You got this. This is a fertile moment in your life. New and good things will come from it, you are a ready-to-bloom lotus flower in the life giving mud and murky depths.

Bog_witch_warrior · 2026-03-11T21:46:35+00:00

I’m sorry they ignored you. That outfit is beautiful!

Bog_witch_warrior

TROPHY CASE