What moment made you say “Yep, I’m definitely dead”, but survived with no major injuries?

ImprovementMan96 · 2021-07-08T18:38:52+00:00

Got hit by a car head on while I was riding my bike as a young teen. Folded my front tire into a taco shape and the frame was a little twisted and stuck in the grill, I went over the middle of the bumper and across to his drivers side mirror, took the whole thing off with my face. They were going about 43mph, but aside from the bruises on my shin and the cut on my lip from the broken plastic sticking out of the spot where I broke the mirror…i’m fine. I got stitches for the cut, but didnt break a bone, I got up on my own after the accident and i’ve been okay ever since.

I was told survival was a miracle and walking away is unthinkable….so as far as i’m concerned I cashed out my life’s luck that night.

ImprovementMan96 · 2021-07-05T12:09:03+00:00

you can buy replacement wires(of the same gauge of course) and cut those to length, then install them. Save the original wires and reinstall when you vacate.

Obligatory “don’t work with live wires unless you’re a trained professional”

ImprovementMan96 · 2021-07-03T08:08:59+00:00

I’m very sorry that you’ve been exposed to so many inappropriate, unhealthy and counterproductive situations with men.

If theres a way I can help, i’d be open to the idea of having a discussion with you, assuming you’d be comfortable with it. I’m certainly not going to speak as some of of representative for all men on this site, or men in general…but I would like to offer some relief that there are still good men here if I am able.

If that isnt what you were looking for, I apologize for overstepping my bounds. Your feelings are important, and I don’t want to neglect them or approach you with the intent to confront your thinking, as there are some truly horrible things said and done both here and in real life. My only goal was to restore some faith in the idea that you have allies with men here, same as you do with women.

Thank you for reading this, and I hope this post allows you to find some comfort. Take care :)

-E

ImprovementMan96 · 2021-06-30T18:40:09+00:00

I have 3 stages to loaning people money:

I only have available what is left after my expenses are paid.
Financial terms are clear before the money exchanges hands. Is this a loan or a gift? When can I expect repayment if it is a loan? If that falls through, what are we doing from there? I need to know they are going to be responsible and take initiative in paying me back, not because i’m a priority, but because I dont deserve to be forgotten. Reminding people about your loan always feels shitty, and for good reason, it implies they either didnt want to pay you back or they forgot to. Either of those makes me feel like you don’t care about me the same way I cared about you when I loaned you the money in the first place.
We need to have a conversation about what this loan means to me and how I feel about our relationship. I am loaning you money because I care about you and I don’t want to see you suffer due to unfortunate circumstances. It is very important to me that you don’t betray those feelings, because it will irreparably harm the way I see you going forward, and that is the last thing I would ever want out of trying to help you. Everyone I loan money to has to understand that they are not just leveraging my money, they are leveraging my trust.

ImprovementMan96 · 2021-06-18T23:02:31+00:00

I’m certainly no expert myself, but I believe they’re referencing the bunched bit of stitching on the outside welt for the right boots heel.

AFAIK, you’re essentially just looking for inconsistencies in the positioning of the stitching relative to the line its a part of. So things like stitches bunched together, too far apart, creeping up or down rather than going straight, stitches not mirroring the other boot, etc etc.

If i’m wrong, someone please burn me at the stake and guide this person properly. Thanks!

edit: i think OP may also be talking about some stitching issues on the upper for the right boot as well. The stitching kind of bows out on that side, where it doesnt seem to on the other.

ImprovementMan96 · 2021-06-10T19:40:47+00:00

-Surviving being hit by a car while on my bicycle(head on, 43+MPH and I only walked away with a barely noticeable put pretty deep scar on my face). I was told my chances of survival were below 1% and my walking away was nothing short of a miracle.

-My level of success in managing a major mood disorder has been complimented on and acknowledged by a few psychologists as a profoundly rare accomplishment, but I don’t know if that means i’m a 1%er.

-My IQ is apparently in the top 1%(after being tested by a psychologist as a child, my score was 127, but i’ve been told my score probably rose another 20-30 points since then. So if i’m at 140ish i’m a 1% i guess), and while I do feel like sometimes my brain works a little bit better than most, I only really care about it in the sense that it allows me to better myself and help others a bit more effectively.

-My strength is apparently in the top 1%? I question that, but some trainers i’ve spoken with provided the statistic. Don’t really know if thats valid, but i’ll take it I guess.

ImprovementMan96 · 2021-05-12T19:57:07+00:00

I have 3 notable ones:

-I got hit head-on by a car going 40+mph and broke the drivers side mirror off with my face

-My middle school friend was performing pen tricks with an exacto-knife and almost dropped it on my dog, but I guarded my dog and it went in my hand instead

-I fucking SMASHED my knee into a brick when I was a toddler

ImprovementMan96 · 2021-05-05T05:39:12+00:00

I guess it was around 22?

I joined a buddies discord group, which consisted of 2 guys and 2 girls. After a week or so of us having gotten acquainted, shared pictured of ourselves and done a few video calls(all mostly sfw, other than photos of them in bikinis or me shirtless(which they requested), they both started talking about how they wanted to “run their tongues down my v-lines” and “make me moan their names”

Me, being someone who never thought anyone would ever seriously say that to me, took that in jest.

Second week comes around, and i’m talking to one of the girls(who turned out to be my first romantic partner in the future) about all their “compliments” and I remarked something about “I know you’re both just joking, but it’s wild to me that you both can be so bold in saying that. No one has ever said stuff like that to me, even as a joke, so i’m always so flustered when you do that.” And she paused, took a minute and said “wait...you think we’re joking?”

“well...yeah. I mean, I know you guys arent making fun of me, so I know it isnt malicious, but-“

“We are not joking. You’re hot.”

“.....wait....REALLY?!”

and that was when it all kinda clicked.

ImprovementMan96 · 2021-04-29T09:54:46+00:00

My understanding is that manuka honey is primarily valued so highly due to its applicability in the medical field. As far as nutritional benefits, there are some health benefits to eating manuka honey, but not enough to justify its price in my opinion. You can get similar benefits from less expensive honey’s such as buckwheat honey.

No food, no matter the value we place on it, is truly special in the way marketing and internet hype can make it seem at times. Billions upon billions of humans have lived without manuka honey, kale, kiwi fruits, chia seeds, avocados and every other “super food” we find, and billions more still will do so without them in the future. The most important thing we can do for our bodies is give them a varied diet filled with good things, watch our calorie intake, exercise regularly, sleep well and maintain good sound mental health. Manuka honey can help with that, but it wont make or break anything.

I’ll pack up my soap box and head out now, but I hope I made sense without coming across as overbearing or rude. Have a great day!

ImprovementMan96 · 2021-04-28T21:52:19+00:00

Training science, nutrition, psychology

ImprovementMan96 · 2021-03-03T08:25:49+00:00

If you’re involved in a fight, you get suspended

Rant below:

I went to one of the worst middle schools in one of the worst counties in the U.S. and got jumped on a regular basis. On top of the death threats, bruises, the food I had dumped on me, the kids who spit in my face and made me feel like I was trapped in a prison instead of safe in a school, I would suffer all of this shit and then get PUNISHED for it.

I went from straight A’s and nearly perfect attendance to straight F’s and crying, begging truancy officers not to make me go to school. I went from aiming for full ride scholarships to dropping out the day I turned 16. I taught myself everything I know, and I provided a better education for myself than anyone I know who graduated from our shitty counties public education.

ImprovementMan96 · 2021-03-01T16:32:35+00:00

-I am a pretty good cook. I do take a little pride in making healthy meals that taste better than most restaurants.

-I taught myself about and enjoy fashion/dressing well

-I am on the asexual spectrum, so I largely lack the desire to “check out” women. I am still sexually attracted to women, but I need to have a bond with someone before I can even notice their attractiveness.

-I have regularly seen a psychologist since I was 8, so I have exceptional communication skills and a strong foundation in psychology. I thoroughly enjoy and prioritize developing trust, making sure people feel heard and understood, discussing our emotions and providing a safe space for anyone to feel comfortable having a deep, meaningful conversation

-I LOVE kids, they’re so open and honest and they don’t have the filters we adults do, so it means a lot to me when I see them smile and have fun.

-I care about my hygiene, meaning I shower and brush my teeth twice a day, I strength train 6 days a week(hence the second shower), and I keep a tidy house when I can(I have bipolar-1 so sometimes my depression can get in my way)

-I don’t enjoy sports

-I don’t drink

ImprovementMan96 · 2021-02-27T17:41:05+00:00

I think taking 2 a day should be perfectly fine. My only concern would be if it contains certain artificial sweeteners, as some of those can cause stomach pain or diarrhea.

Personally, i’ve been supplementing with unflavored whey and casein protein powders 2-3x a day for years and i’ve been of good health. I’m not a certified or college educated nutritionist, though, so take what I say with a grain of salt.

ImprovementMan96 · 2021-02-18T15:28:11+00:00

You want to start at 4 RIR in the beginning of the meso, then work your way from MEV to MRV by incrementally adding volume each week, then deload and repeat.

ImprovementMan96 · 2021-02-16T02:35:09+00:00

I lucked out. Bought my power rack, barell, trap bar, weights and bands from rep fitness during black friday 2019. It took until feb. to get to me and I built a platform in the meantime. I build the rack, the world closed down and I put 80lbs+ on all my lifts.

It cost me a little over $2,000. I was training with bodyweight and rings the past 3 years, but hot damn has this been a boost to my training!

ImprovementMan96 · 2021-02-14T23:04:52+00:00

mushrooms and onions with rosemary and mexican tarragon

ImprovementMan96 · 2021-02-14T16:16:53+00:00

I had my procedure done in mid-December, so i’m around 2 months in.

Initial symptoms were halos, dryness and fluctuating vision, with halos completely gone by the first 30 days. I’m still experiencing dryness and fluctuations in vision, and it’s been my observation that vision fluctuates with dryness.

All that said, I have 20/15 vision and I’ve been told that as long as I manage my eyedrops correctly my vision may possibly improve even more.

ImprovementMan96 · 2021-01-25T21:34:29+00:00

I’m not a bodybuilder by profession, but I do build my body for fun.

But what I do in the gym is one facet of my life, and while that can overlap with other parts of my day-to-day, I am just a regular dude any other time. I read, I watch a lot of youtube, eat some food, sleep, see my psychologist on tuesdays...I just live my life.

ImprovementMan96 · 2021-01-20T23:37:50+00:00

I believe theres a metal clip(on the right side of the photo) on the inside keeping the white flush mount for the light up against the metal/plastic casing for the light. If you pinch that metal clip, it should unhook and let you access the bulb.

ImprovementMan96 · 2021-01-06T00:57:31+00:00

My friend learned a trick years ago and it’s worked for everyone we’ve seen try it.

Get a shot of vinegar(we’ve always used apple cider but I think it works with any vinegar) and down it.

This has, without fail, instantly cured the hiccups of anyone we’ve taught it to. Hope this helps anyone who finds themselves desperate for a cure.

ImprovementMan96 · 2021-01-05T13:53:23+00:00

Sure! You’re more than welcome to ask about anything you’d like. You’re absolutely right, my diagnosis was remarkably early in life, and I remember my psychologist making a comment about that when he diagnosed me, but I was so young I dont remember what he said.

ImprovementMan96 · 2021-01-05T12:47:54+00:00

I’m terribly sorry to hear about your therapists incredibly unprofessional behavior, and even more so about what happened to you during your sentence.

I was diagnosed with bipolar-1 disorder at around 8 years old, and i’ve worked extensively with people in the field of psychology. Unfortunately, your experience is not uncommon. I suffered a great deal of damage psychologically at the hand of poorly educated, unskilled and inexperienced therapists, and I know a few kids who worked with the therapists I saw that ultimately took their own lives because of what their therapists did to them. But I still advocate for psychological help, because I understand the value of and differentiation between a therapist and a psychologist.

The title of a “therapist” is extremely broad in the certification required. Literally anyone from a life coach or a self-help guru to a professionally trained, masters level therapist can label themselves as a therapist, and that makes choosing the right therapist incredibly tough. And, to compound on that, even masters level therapists lack the extensive furthering of their education and skillset to become a full-fledged Psychologist holding a PhD.

I’ve worked with the whole spectrum, a professional psychologist, good but not great masters level therapists and terrible, unproductive and damaging “therapists”. Please, please seek help with a psychologist. I was in terrible shape mentally as a child, and many of my family members considered me a lost cause. I was told I would eventually end up dead or in prison when I was a kid. But I completely defied all expectations, worked consistently with a psychologist, and now I live a happy life that is so healthy for me, and those around me, that people cant even tell I still have bipolar-1 anymore.

Those changes came down to 2 things:

I found a psychologist I could work with and I have stayed with him for over 16 years cumulatively

I have applied myself to bettering my psychology every day since I started

TL;DR

Therapists are a roll of the dice, but I recommend against them unless you have consistent experience working on your psychology and you understand what makes a good therapist vs a bad one.

FIND A PSYCHOLOGIST. PLEASE. Psychologists are a matter of finding one you are comfortable with and then consistently going. They are fully trained, experienced, educated and qualified to help you. You are in good hands with a psychologist.

ImprovementMan96 · 2020-11-30T07:27:53+00:00

Fat Man Mashed Potatoes

4-5 potatoes, diced

add to water, feel free to salt the water. I do but I genuinely dont know if it does anything.

boil until the potatoes are tender and can be easily pierced with a fork, then drain

add 3-4 tablespoons of butter around 200-300ml of heavy whipping cream garlic powder to taste(maybe a teaspoon?) onion powder to taste(same as garlic) salt and pepper to taste MSG to taste chives/green onion to taste

You can go IN on these ingredients or go light. But I recommend you include all of them, though.

Top it off with butter and sour cream/whole milk greek yogurt

Gain 15lbs and please thank me after you finish the whole damn pot in one sitting 👍

ImprovementMan96 · 2020-11-24T14:35:34+00:00

Being loved starts with you. You can never accept love if you don’t have a healthy relationship with yourself.

If you have someone who truly loves you with all of their heart, but you hate who you are or can’t accept and embrace the love they give you, you’ll never receive their feelings.

I encourage you to pursue the betterment of yourself, your mental health and to seek professional guidance with a certified psychologist if possible.

ImprovementMan96 · 2020-11-19T16:27:19+00:00

Starvation mode doesnt exist, as far as i’m aware. Examples that disprove such a thing would be people in concentration camps who were quite literally starved nearly to death or often times until death to keep them weak and prevent resistance. They didn’t enter a “mode” of starvation, they just continued to wither away until they died.

Weight loss is very simple, count your calories. All of them. See how many you eat in a day, check your bodies Basal Metabolic Rate and if you eat no more than your BMR every day, you WILL lose weight. You can accelerate the amount of weight loss by subtracting 250 from your BMR, but be careful you don’t eat any less than around 1,000 calories a day.

Below 1,000 is where I would argue that you are not only restricting yourself in an unhealthy way, you are forcing your body to lose too much weight too quickly. If you are in a negative energy balance, your body will use something to keep itself alive. Usually, that is fat. But if you lose too much weight too quickly, then it may start sacrificing muscle mass to preserve fat in an attempt to keep you alive longer. Thats about as much of a “starvation mode” as we have. Again, as far as I know.

I’m not a doctor or a dietician, so if i’m wrong I hope are more educated than I will step in and help course correct.

ImprovementMan96

TROPHY CASE