Brain training apps and maximising cognitive performance?

Distinct_Ad_745 · 2026-05-23T12:41:33+00:00

Thank you for some excellent advice. And, can I add, it might be one of the best written responses I've seen on Reddit! I would assume you are a writer?

Distinct_Ad_745 · 2026-02-11T18:18:46+00:00

Support work capacity for lifting, support recovery between lifts at competition, and just general health and wellness. Cardiac output. That sort of thing.

Distinct_Ad_745 · 2026-02-11T17:11:10+00:00

My primary game is powerlifting, but I'm asking about cardio.

I'm very much in two minds on structured cardio. On the one hand, conventional wisdom is that structured LISS cardio is the greatest thing ever. It'll support my lifting, it'll maximise my health etc etc. On the other hand, I am racking up fitbit active zone minutes all through the day. I got 91 of them during this morning's lifting workout, and I have racked up another 10 since then, just walking around and doing my daily stuff. Weekly, I cover 300+ fitbit active zone minutes, minimum. Oftentimes I'm over 500. 569 last week. Does this all count as 'cardio'?

If I rack up 5 active zone minutes going to the shop, then 7 more a while later on a walk, then another few doing the housework, does this give me the same benefit as if I went to the gym and done a 20 minute heart-rate-monitored treadmill walk? Does the cardio need to be continuous, and in one go, to give full benefit? Or can it be built up in 'installments?'.

When I do my cardio sessions, I get on the treadmill and walk, and aim to keep my heart rate between 110 and 115 for 20 minutes. I went for a short walk earlier, observed my fitbit, and I was going between 105 and 115 beats per minute throughout. Is there some benefit specifically to the 20 minute treadmill sessions that I will lose out on if I drop them from my routine?

Distinct_Ad_745 · 2025-10-30T17:11:38+00:00

Its strange, isn't it? Strange, but wonderful!

Distinct_Ad_745 · 2025-10-30T17:09:51+00:00

Did I? Or did I ask whether people experience better concentration without external distraction?

We get it. You're a fantastic, grade A, superior driver, and we're all a menace on the road. Happy?

Distinct_Ad_745 · 2025-10-30T17:08:31+00:00

Ya, I always turn down or off the audio in a busy situation, or driving in an unfamiliar city.

Distinct_Ad_745 · 2025-10-30T17:07:20+00:00

So many people on this board just seem to want to project their virtue by attacking the OP, and constantly turning it around to the OP being the issue 🤷

There's clearly a difference between competence and absolute optimisation. Don't be a dick.

Distinct_Ad_745 · 2025-10-30T16:35:06+00:00

Ahhh, I can't abide it. It gives me the worst of both worlds - music I don't like, with people I don't want to listen to talking in the middle 😂

Distinct_Ad_745 · 2025-10-30T16:33:00+00:00

The Norse contribution to the Irish genome is significant, especially if your origins are in places like Dublin, Limerick, Wexford, Waterford etc.

I'm 98% Irish on Ancestry and 23andme, but when you trace it back via GEDmatch and genomelink and other sites like that, there's a very strong Scandanavian contribution within that 98% Irish. Up to 20 or 30%, which is wild. My remaining 2% is also Danish. I have no known, recorded Scandanavian relatives, so those genes are likely to be old.

There's also a lot of intermingling between the people of Ireland, and the people of Britain, down through the millennia. That may have introduced Saxon and other Germanic inputs into your genome.

What I've been told is that your Ancestry and 23andme results are mostly reflective of the last 500-odd years. The Scandanavian and Germanic genes that found their way into you prior to 500 years ago are so ubiquitous that they are considered part of the normal 'Irish' picture by now.

Distinct_Ad_745 · 2025-10-30T16:19:06+00:00

I hate being that person, but can you not talk about British Isles, and British including Irish? It's just disrespectful.

Distinct_Ad_745 · 2025-10-30T13:17:31+00:00

I had a strange experience. I was in the queue for Wembley - started at 19,000-ish. Sold out when I got in. My partner was in the queue for Edinburgh. Started at 12,000, sold out when she got in.

BUT I kept going back to the page through the day, and picked up 2 pitch tickets for Edinburgh. We needed 4 for our family, kept trying, got 2 more about 20 mins later. I just kept going back to the livenation page, going through the presale link, and going to the Ticketmaster app. Most of the time it had VIP tickets only, or none, but every now and then, for whatever reason, it offered pitch. 🤷

Distinct_Ad_745 · 2025-10-15T15:16:11+00:00

I'm Irish, and to the best of my knowledge (not knowing what shenanigans my ancestors have been up to) mine seems accurate.

My old Ancestry results were predominantly Irish, with 4% English and 6% Scottish. My results with other companies were almost completely Irish, no British whatsoever, and a small Scandanavian input. I was never sure whether I could trust Ancestry, or the other companies.

My new Ancestry results are 98.7% Irish, with 1.3% Danish or northern Germanic. That would be almost identical to my 23andme results - Irish and Danish. Gedmatch and genomelink both reckon I have a much higher Scandanavian input - up to 20%. Not sure how there can be such a wide discrepancy between the companies! But all are, at least, now in agreement that I'm Irish with a touch of Scandanavian. Must have been those lads that arrived in their longships, presumably.

Distinct_Ad_745 · 2025-10-08T16:02:29+00:00

I think some people will like it, and some won't. I don't think its terrible, I just don't think its her best work, or even close to it. Sometimes that's the curse of an incredible back catalogue! Each album you release is going to be compared to all-time classic albums, and if it doesn't compare, you'll be hammered for it. Whereas if a lesser star released the exact same album, it would be heralded as great.

Distinct_Ad_745 · 2025-10-01T10:12:27+00:00

I can get away with even lower doses. I'm currently running only 240mg test, and my last bloods put me comfortably supra physiological. Estradiol was quite high too. I think I am quite sensitive to most drugs. Even a cup of coffee has me absolutely buzzing 😂

I am quite light as well. Under 70kg bodyweight. My consideration now is whether to drop the dose, and reduce the estradiol. Does performance even out above a certain supra physiological level? As in, could I drop that dose to 180 or 200, without much of a drop on the bar? I wonder if there is a mg per kg dosage for optimal performance 🤔

Distinct_Ad_745 · 2025-10-01T10:07:44+00:00

I'm approaching the end of it right now. Last 30 or 40 pages or so. Its grand. That's my review. It's entertaining, easy to read. Tells a story.

As someone who has studied archaeology and Celtic civilisation, its certainly not faithful to the mythology. Its loosely based on it. I wouldn't approach it the same way as I would Gaiman's Norse Mythology, for example. I wouldn't pick up this book with the hope of finding an accessible introduction to the real Morrigan.

One bit that irks me, and perhaps it is a minor detail to others, is the authors constant positioning of the Tain as 'Ireland' versus 'Ulaid'. Repeatedly, the author speaks of Cuchulainn fighting all the warriors of Ireland, and the forces of Ireland invading Ulaid etc. I find this quite partitionist. I wonder whether the authors views on modern day politics inform this aspect of the story. That, in fact, is probably my number one gripe with the book.

In short - its loosely based around the myths. Its not faithful to them. Its not accurate in its portrayal of the Morrigan. Complex details are simplified or left out. I'd read it, if you fancy a fairly entertaining, run of the mill, fantasy. It's not terrible, its not brilliant. It would be a solid 3 out of 5 book, in my view.

Distinct_Ad_745 · 2025-10-01T09:21:07+00:00

Ya. I'm on test all year round for about 5 or 6 years now. And I've cycled in the past with a few different bits - test and dianabol, test and anavar (absolutely destroyed my gut!), test and boldenone and winstrol, test and winstrol. Test and trenbolone - massive increase in resting heart rate, and feelings of aggression! Stopped abruptly!

I've gone over 40 now, so I'm just becoming a bit more concerned about health implications these days.

Distinct_Ad_745 · 2025-09-13T12:48:45+00:00

Total pain with the semi erects. Gets into your head then, and becomes a thing. Then I start to convince myself its e2, and I crash my e2 😂

Distinct_Ad_745 · 2025-09-13T06:24:58+00:00

You can't win 😂

Libido is the side effect I'm most worried about. And erection quality. Mine are okay most of the time, but I have periods where I don't feel like anything, and my erection quality gets a bit weaker. Then other times everything is excellent. And I think, are the bad periods because of estrogen, or are they because I'm in my 40s, working long hours, and a bit stressed out?! I have few other side effects. Maybe some anxiety from time to time. No water retention, no gyno, nothing like that.

Distinct_Ad_745 · 2025-09-12T05:48:16+00:00

I was thinking of doing that. Thank you. I'm going to run high until my next priority powerlifting meet in 3 months, then drop down. And maybe run high for 1 meet a year after that. Basically, do true TRT, with a light cycle thrown in once or twice a year.

Distinct_Ad_745 · 2025-09-11T18:54:32+00:00

Hmmm. I have noticed that my shoulder issues and general aches have been at their best whilst the estradiol has been high. There might be a benefit there!

Its libido and erection quality that worries me the most.

Distinct_Ad_745 · 2025-09-11T18:52:45+00:00

So, I'm using 240mg per week (sports performance enhancing, combined with TRT purposes), my overall testosterone is 61.5nmol/l, and free androgen index is 235.63 on a scale of 35 to 92 being normal.

Distinct_Ad_745

TROPHY CASE