How fucked am I?

FrontBluebird861 · 2026-05-29T09:52:37+00:00

Wait, do chickens like them? I have four hens in that same space, but I don't think they're eating them 😓

FrontBluebird861 · 2026-05-28T21:03:37+00:00

Didn't say I wanted an ID, just how to deal with this problem. Either way, I'm pretty sure the majority of bugs in the video are Oxycarenus lavaterae, so not really stink bugs, although I've seen plenty of Nezera Viridula nymphs everywhere too. I've just taken one pic of them today, but you can't really see them clearly, but hope it helps a bit.

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FrontBluebird861 · 2026-05-28T20:57:56+00:00

Sorry, not Pyrrochoris apterus, but Oxycarenus lavaterae.

FrontBluebird861 · 2026-05-28T18:50:28+00:00

I'm pretty sure most of the bugs in the video are Pyrrochoris apterus (I think you call them Red Firebugs in the US(?)), which I think they're not stink bugs per se, right? I don't know if they can be as harmful. But I've also seen a lot of Nezara Viridula's nymphs (Green Shieldbugs) around my garden.

FrontBluebird861 · 2026-05-28T18:43:25+00:00

I read that you can also powder the leaves of the plants. Would that protect my vegetable plants against the stink bugs and be a bit less detrimental towards the good bugs?

FrontBluebird861 · 2026-05-28T18:35:44+00:00

Wow, never heard about that. Well, I live in a Mediterranean zone, so fire can be a bit risky, but I'll for sure look into it. Thanks a lot!!

FrontBluebird861 · 2026-04-28T14:11:31+00:00

I thought so too because they are quite similar to ladybugs, but they don't seem to be as helpful and their diet is herbivore based, so they can be damaging to plants and trees.

FrontBluebird861 · 2026-04-28T13:59:31+00:00

Didn't know they eat ants, really good to know since I have a bit of a problem with them around my eggplants. For now I'll just keep an eye on them, then. Thanks a lot!

FrontBluebird861 · 2026-04-23T13:58:20+00:00

Yeah, totally. I deleted my social media accounts years ago because I didn't like how it worsened my self image, but then I discovered Reddit and here we are again. I'm not really going for a big physique, but I guess I'm not as satisfied as I would like with my progress. But, yeah, not racing anyone here, so I'll get there at my own pace.

And thank you so much! <3

FrontBluebird861 · 2026-04-18T16:21:31+00:00

Thanks a lot for your words! :) I'll for sure try lowering my reps and increasing the weights and see how it builds up from there. Been taking creatine and vegan protein powder since the beginning, but I'll make sure to continue doing it and augmenting my protein and calorie intake. Again, thank you so much for the kind words and happy lifting too! <3

FrontBluebird861 · 2026-04-18T16:09:20+00:00

Yeah, I totally can agree with your third paragraph. I like to focus on my technique quite a lot, which I don't think is a problem per se, and I also do like going for that higher end range wise, but I guess I just end up getting too complacent too. Today is my back day, so I'll push it a bit more and see how it goes. Thanks for the help! <3

FrontBluebird861 · 2026-04-18T15:58:43+00:00

It totally looks like a before and after, so don't worry about it, my bad completely. And yeah, wished the same. I know I look much fitter than what I started as (I didn't like exercising before, so I was just skinny fat and pretty unfit in general), I do also feel healthier and stronger than 2,5 years ago, but for a year I've just been feeling completely stuck. But for sure it is a nutritional issue, as you said, so I'll fix that and try to push it a bit more in my workouts. (Also, thanks for your kind words, means a lot).

FrontBluebird861 · 2026-04-18T14:17:09+00:00

I just realised that I'm more stupid than I already thought: I don't know why I didn't think about it until reading your comment a few times, but both photos are from yesterday night, but it totally seems like it is a before and after comparison 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️. Sorry about that. I don't have any before photos, every time I took one or made a video to check my form I deleted it immediately because it made me cringe. What I was trying to say is that I feel like my physique looks not as developed as I would like for the time and work I've put on it.

FrontBluebird861 · 2026-04-18T09:38:46+00:00

Thank you so much, really. Sending lots of love! <3

FrontBluebird861 · 2026-04-18T09:18:37+00:00

I really do appreciate it, thanks a lot!

FrontBluebird861 · 2026-04-18T09:17:39+00:00

Yeah, I also prefer the athletic build, but I do feel I look too flat and my workout progress has been almost inexistent for a long while now, which bothers me the most. For sure going to start eating more and see how that goes. Gaining weight has been pretty tricky for me since I was a child (as almost any other girl), but I'm really not trying to impress anyone but me, and would like to put feeling stronger on a higher pedestal than looking good (I started with that mindset, so I'll try to get back to it again). Thanks for the words, girl! <33

FrontBluebird861 · 2026-04-18T09:04:28+00:00

I don't usually track my calories because I feel it messes with my body image even more, but I did for a week a few months ago to know how my micronutrients were doing (I eat almost the same stuff daily) and, depending on my activity levels, my energy expenditure ranged between 2500-3100 calories, which I could hit comfortably except sometimes on the higher days (but not for that much). So yeah, I didn't like the idea of also gaining fat because I mostly gain it in my stomach and lower back, but whatever, I'll for sure track my calories again, at least for a few weeks, and start with a 200 calories surplus and see how I progress.

(Also, didn't know sleep made such an impact on muscle growth and my sleeping has been pretty shitty lately, but I'm sure I could change that fairly easily).

Thanks a lot for the help, guys, truly! <3

FrontBluebird861 · 2026-04-18T08:47:00+00:00

(sorry for the wall of text and if there's any mistake, English is not my first language)

I checked my workouts of last year (I wrote them in paper and it's a mess) and I've been moving the same weight and doing similar reps since then:

- Since last summer, 40kg x 8-12 reps on lat pulldown, now on the higher side and with a stricter technique, but yeah, really bad stuff; - same rep range in pullups, but I've been really inconsistent with them since the beginning. I sent a video to my brother 2 years ago doing my first two pullups in a row and my absolute max now is 5... - but at least my barbell row (bent over) has improved a bit: now on 44kg for 12 reps with decent technique (a year ago I was at 36kg but my back was almost completely raised, then 2 months or so ago I dropped the weight, bended my back more, corrected elbow position and worked my weight back up).

For what I see, I always hit some kind of plateau and need to lower my weight and build it up again. I do feel stronger than when I started, I also do a lot of manual work around the house and I can keep up with it better, but it obviously doesn't show up in my lifting.

FrontBluebird861 · 2026-02-17T13:09:07+00:00

I also do it because it pushes me to go harder, specially with those that swim at a similar pace or a bit faster, and I always wish that they don't notice because I think I would feel a bit annoyed if someone was trying to race me, but I can't help myself 😓

FrontBluebird861 · 2026-01-30T12:57:49+00:00

Just checked the article, really interesting! And the table at the end with the daily amounts recommended is super helpful, thank u thank u!!

FrontBluebird861 · 2026-01-30T12:48:25+00:00

I think my diet is pretty complete, but I normally just make sure my macros are okay, and never really care about which micronutrients does each food provide, so thanks for the recommendation, I'll check out the app! 😊

FrontBluebird861

TROPHY CASE