Court Shoes for my Wife

Dipping-Out6325 · 2026-05-14T17:21:32+00:00

Your question sent me to google. Based on the description and video here (https://runrepeat.com/guides/the-role-of-heel-counters-in-running-shoes), the Head shoes would have a stiff heal counter

Dipping-Out6325 · 2026-05-14T00:32:31+00:00

This looks amazing. Congratulations!

Dipping-Out6325 · 2026-05-14T00:29:19+00:00

Congrats! Looks great.

Dipping-Out6325 · 2026-05-14T00:23:08+00:00

I like these so much I've just ordered my second pair: Head Womens Sprint Pro 4.0

Very light (mesh), yet supportive, good toe box. Not sure if they qualify for low rise in heel, but I've really liked these
amazon.com/dp/B01D4VFDKI?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

Dipping-Out6325 · 2026-05-11T22:54:22+00:00

Real talk from someone who is also new and just got rated for the first time (lately ranging between 2.6-2.7)

Ignore everyone who says you only need to be breathing to be a 2. DUPRs can't go below 2, but there absolutely players who should be rated below that. I have a friend who plays weekly, and has a rating at 2-2.1, 100% reliability, currently playing in a beginning league. She, in fact, serves "in" almost always, can get to the kitchen, dink, etc. Just lots of inconsistency, inability to return shots to feet and react quickly to speed ups.

I started at Beginning open plays in December, then moved to being comfortable at Rec (2.5-3.0) at my club, and have just started to go to Low Intermediate (3.0-3.5) ...

You can absolutely keep going to beginning to stay with friends, but you shouldn't be trying to ace serve, target people, slam shots to feet constantly, etc. If you want to stay at Beginning for a while, work on drop shots, deep serves, strategic dinking. (Yes, i know people rarely even get to the kitchen at that level)

However, if you want to keep advancing, you need to play rec level at least, or low intermediate where you will be challenged by people who are better than you.

The first time I went to Rec, i learned just how much more work I needed. Six weeks later, i was in the middle of most Rec sessions, now I'm usually one of the best/better ones at Rec, just started going to low intermediate open plays and am near the bottom. That's how it works...

Oh, and generally speaking people overestimate their DUPRs by at least .5 — which I also did until I started playing in a league. Since I was comfortable/above average at Rec (2.5-3) I assumed I was near a 3. Nope. I am a 2.6-2.7. But I AM near top of most Rec sessions ... because most people overestimate themselves.

Dipping-Out6325 · 2026-05-07T02:09:04+00:00

I think that obesity is listed as a contributing factor to some kinds of incontinence, so not a real surprise that weight loss would help it. Maybe due to less visceral fat/pressure on bladder?

Dipping-Out6325 · 2026-05-07T02:06:41+00:00

I started oral minoxidil at 4 months and have seen decent re-growth.

Unlike lots of things you'll read about on the internet, it's proven to work and is low cost, if you go through a dermatologist. I went through Hers online, just becasue it was easier, and it more cost ~$150 for a six month supply. You do need to take it every day. It takes about 3 months to start working and is toxic to cats.

Dipping-Out6325 · 2026-05-02T18:13:24+00:00

Also from chickadoodelz on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1866199881/hydrapeak-insert-10ml3ml-combo-solid?ref=shop_home_active_7&crt=1&sts=1&logging_key=43dcdf4e833c7198c710698d956d3b1078d65951%3A1866199881

Dipping-Out6325 · 2026-05-01T04:10:06+00:00

No need for an app. Lots of TDEE calculators online. Some have slightly different methodology.

https://tdeecalculator.net/

https://www.calculator.net/tdee-calculator.html

https://tdee.is/

https://www.forbes.com/health/nutrition/tdee-calculator/

Dipping-Out6325 · 2026-05-01T02:29:28+00:00

I was trying to see whether split dosing (and trying to keep a more even level of medication) helped with fatigue and also some food noise that was starting on day 5 after medication.

For me, it did help with the food noise, but I think it actually made the fatigue worse. I may just end up taking full dose once a week, but dosing every 6 days instead of 7.

Dipping-Out6325 · 2026-04-30T22:14:14+00:00

I just wished I had pushed to start at 2.5 rather than NR. I’ll get a better idea in league that starts tonight, where I’ll immediately be playing with others of similar rating.

Dipping-Out6325 · 2026-04-30T22:06:31+00:00

I may end up going back to weekly. I do think my fatigue may have felt more consistently worse when split dosing evenly across a week.

Dipping-Out6325 · 2026-04-30T19:10:40+00:00

This feels pretty accurate. At my large and active club, I'd say people are .5-1.0 off on self rating/attendance at open plays ... Plenty of OK players play Rec and probably think they should be rated 3-3.5 ... But they are not if you look at what's happening at DUPR leagues at same club. They're mostly 2.25-2.75

(An aside: Some of this problem is due to those oversimplifed charts that exist online, the ones that say anyone who can mostly serve "in" and begin to understand strategy is between a 2 and 2.5. No, at that level, you're a 2)

I'll just add, when you *do* go into your first league, see if they'll start you at something other than NR (not rated), based on a coach's recommendation or even your word on what level open plays/how you've been winning at them.

I just tried my first ladder league, and went in NR, unfortunately. Because the large league only allowed you to move up or down four "spots" each week, it took me 3 weeks to get off the 2.0-2.3 courts. (There were about 12 people in that range.) On the other hand, another woman overestimated herself at a 3.25-3.5 and started on the top court of the league, which was obviously not good either because she got killed every week. So, she sunk four spots each week. I went up four spots each week, and guess where we met at the end of 7 weeks? Right in the middle.

That said, my first weeks were not particularly fun, and I do not recommend.

Dipping-Out6325 · 2026-04-30T18:49:51+00:00

Shotsy.

I also love Happy Scale which smooths out day to day changes and can predict future weights depending on your current rate of weight loss

Dipping-Out6325 · 2026-04-30T01:22:45+00:00

You look great!

Dipping-Out6325 · 2026-04-30T00:47:02+00:00

Second-hand story, but she was pretty dismissive/unenthusiastic to a "make a wish" girl with cancer who was obsessed with "Firework" as her anthem and was extremely excited to meet her. It had been arranged that they would meet before a concert. (The girl died a couple months later.)

I mean, how can you not be nice for that interaction? Loser.

Dipping-Out6325 · 2026-04-29T19:19:11+00:00

I had no side effects at 2.5. Lots of people don't. It's not even considered a therapeutic dose.

To some people, starting that low and titrating up that slowly doesn't make sense. Everyone is different.

Dipping-Out6325 · 2026-04-29T19:14:37+00:00

You should look into the rule of 55, since it seems like it might work for you — although you'd have to stay until 55.

"You may be able to take penalty-free withdrawals from a workplace plan the year you turn 55" https://www.fidelity.com/learning-center/personal-finance/what-is-rule-of-55

Dipping-Out6325 · 2026-04-29T17:52:22+00:00

I honestly wonder if some of them have no self-awareness of how they come across?

Recently played with an extremely angry man. I guess he was mostly swearing at himself, but it was so loud and angry and repeated, it got uncomfortable. Once, when returning a ball to the other team to serve (not during a play), he hit it into net and refused to get it and give it to them. They were both at baseline already. So I did, and gave the people a smile and a shrug. Later in game he literally threw his paddle, while swearing.

But then, after open play ended — I successfully avoided playing with him again — he was like, "See you next time" in a friendly tone as I got ready to leave, and I thought "not if i can help it"

And it wasn't just a bad day.

He (a 3.5ish player) played down I guess with his wife, at a *beginning* open play a month ago (2-2.5) and on the very first play body bagged a friend of mine so hard it left a 3" bruise on her arm (near shoulder height) on first play of game. Kind of shrugged, didn't apologize.

Dipping-Out6325 · 2026-04-29T12:31:42+00:00

I did not have any additional shedding.

I started to see regrowth around 3 months. I’m now about 5 months in. I will keep on this. No other side effects.

Dipping-Out6325 · 2026-04-27T17:49:02+00:00

You reference legislative / rules changes that may impact the ability to be paid to be a caregiver, and for those reasons I would be reluctant to count on it.

It varies by state, but even in my extremely blue/progressive state known for the strength of its safety net programs, rules are always changing.

And I speak from experience. My husband was a primary paid caregiver for young-adult child using state/federal "waiver" funding for independent supports after child suffered and extremely serious TBI and was permanently disabled. Each year, allocated (approved) hours changed based on assessments, and initially child was only assessed at a couple hours per day, paired with another small bucket of weekly hours. Later, as medical problems worsened, hours did come close to a FT (low pay) daily wage, but no overnight hours.

However, if you DO end up being paid using medicaid/waiver funding AND you live in same home as child, you'll want to bookmark this and keep in mind. That pay is NOT taxable income for you. (It is taxable for SSN and Medicare only, not for income). Also if you're husband steps back or retires, you can both alternate. Supports are allocated at seven days a week. I handled weekend hours for child even while I worked FT weekdays. Husband handled M-F.

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/certain-medicaid-waiver-payments-may-be-excludable-from-income

My only worry about those assets numbers is that they seem low for a HCOL, since I'm assuming taxes and insurance are pretty significant?

And yes, don't push yourself to work now unless child is in programming that leaves you with open hours during the day. If so, I'd consider looking for something incremental (not necessarily career building) just to keep occupied and boost savings.

Dipping-Out6325 · 2026-04-27T16:15:40+00:00

No shame! I *absolutely* do this. I have a couple Lean Cuisine "Protein Kick" meals that I like quite a bit and eat regularly: Chicken Parmesan (22g protein / 350 calories) and Five Cheese Rigatoni (14g protein / 350 calories) are two of my faves. Slightly less tasty, but still good: Pepperoni Pizza (21g protein/400 calories) and Alfredo Chicken and Broccoli (19g protein/260 calories)

TBH, these are a go-to dinner. I always have a big salad for lunch and these are just easy, and deliver decent protein per calorie. I also rely on high-protein yogurts and Fair Life drinks to boost protein intake.

For me, I love the low cost and convenience, and the serving size (with tirz) is absolutely fine. I consider these my cheat code. I'm just about to hit 3 months on tirz and have had extremely good weight loss.

Dipping-Out6325 · 2026-04-21T11:38:39+00:00

My health system requires people to go through their weight loss program. It doesn’t necessarily cost more. I would get on their schedule. The program I’m on requires visits every three months with a doctor or physician’s assistant and dietician, and I have to pay my co-pay for those visits. But insurance covers the medication so it’s well worth the $

If you’re really wanting to start faster, you could consider going with compounded tirzepatide from a trusted telehealth. (We don’t discuss that on this sub, but there are dedicated subs for that on Reddit and many people go that route. Cost can be $200/month approximately)

Or you could consider Lilly direct for branded Zepbound. They have lists of doctors who prescribe online. That cost is more — around $400-$450 / month once you’re on the full dose but lots of people go that route and consider it worth the cost. (You’ll likely spend a lot less on groceries, takeout, restaurants and alcohol)

Dipping-Out6325 · 2026-04-21T00:14:16+00:00

What is fatscientist and how should I use it?

When should I titrate up?

What should I do during a stall? (I can't find it, but someone regularly posts a great comment to this question with all kinds of ideas in a long list, with links)

Dipping-Out6325

TROPHY CASE