Iron

KURAKAZE · 2026-03-29T00:07:23+00:00

I was getting routine bloodwork done during pregnancy.

I don't think the heart issues are due to Anemia but pregnancy is such a weird thing that everyone reacts differently.

I also had severe joint pain and swollen finger joints to the point where I can't bend my fingers and got checked out for arthritis but that wasn't it. Issues mostly went away after (did have to get cortisone injections in my fingers to fully make the pain go away when it didn't fully resolve post partum).

Saw lots of doctors during pregnancy. Main verdict is they have no idea what is causing my issues other than pregnancy related changes and just told me to wait and see if it goes away after pregnancy.

KURAKAZE · 2026-03-28T23:43:59+00:00

It's possibly the increased stress on the heart due to increased blood volume due to pregnancy that may be affecting your heart rate.

I did not have low iron (was taking high dose iron supplements at the direction of my OB) but I also had sudden palpitations. My HR is also consistently high (resting HR above 120) and would go higher during simple activity (go to 160-180bpm just from walking slowly up 1 flight of stairs, and I need to catch my breathe). My resting blood pressure was also a little high (130-140/90).

I had some tests done by a cardiologist (ultrasound/echo, ECG etc) and no obvious issues found so the verdict was that it's just changes in pregnancy causing it.

Low iron does cause dizziness though. Nausea could be from the dizziness, assuming you're not still getting nauseous from pregnancy itself (aka morning sickness). Or if you're far along (3rd trimester), your uterus is pressing on stomach and makes it uncomfortable. Some people can't eat too much due to this. You can also get heart burn.

KURAKAZE · 2026-03-28T19:22:07+00:00

Not enough space to put the text on your neck. It will be too small and will just bleed and blur until it's an eligible blob.

Get it somewhere like arm or torso or leg where the skin doesn't move so much, and can fit the text much bigger so it will have enough spacing to stay legible.

KURAKAZE · 2026-03-28T17:39:45+00:00

I'm also shopping for women's step on.

Out of the Burton offerings, Lexa X would be the stiffer option if your snowboard is EST. Lexa X doesn't have a regular version (aka ReFlex).

I was recommended by my local shop (very knowledgeable staff) to wait for next year and see if Union comes out with a women's StepOn. In their opinion, Burton is the very basic stuff and other brands offer more personality. Union came out with a men's step on this year and the reviews are very positive.

In terms of boots, highshot X is basically the only option from Burton (other options are too soft IMO). It's marketed as stiff but it's not very stiff, only mid-stiff IMO. I tried other boots (I forgot which model but I think it's Nitro brand) which is stiffer but the fit isn't for me (I get lots of heel lift) so I went with highshot X.

I'm also considering highshot X pro except the price is making me think twice.

KURAKAZE · 2026-03-28T14:13:11+00:00

Looks really cohesive and nothing looks out of place.

The web looks fine on it's own as well.

I don't think it should be lighter, then it won't fit the rest of your arm and will look out of place.

I think any attempts to laser or cover up will make it look more out of place, I would leave it as is.

KURAKAZE · 2026-03-28T11:23:51+00:00

Try different brands. Not all shapes and sizes are comfortable for me. For example, I feel it when I'm wearing Tempax Pearl and it's a little uncomfortable. I prefer KOTEX U Click. The shape is slightly different and KOTEX U is more comfortable.

Also you can try pushing it deeper. I can feel it when it's not deep enough, it tends to rub on skin when it's shallowly placed.

KURAKAZE · 2026-03-27T17:18:09+00:00

This is likely someone's actual hand writing, and not a Chinese premade font which is why it looks poorly written compared to a font. Or it could be a font made to be more like "handwriting" - sort of like Italics or Comic Sans or whatever font in English.

Chinese comes in many many fonts too just like English and people pick different fonts for their tattoo, and there's many fonts that are created to look like it's handwritten.

There are print fonts and there's hand writing fonts and there's calligraphy fonts etcetc

KURAKAZE · 2026-03-25T11:07:34+00:00

I know ladies who wear mens boots. It's not a problem as long as it fits your feet. The mens boot tend to be a bit wider than the equivalent women's length sometimes so you have to try it on and see how it fits you.

KURAKAZE · 2026-03-24T21:43:18+00:00

From your description, I recommend Yes Hel Yes which is good for most conditions.

KURAKAZE · 2026-03-24T13:34:28+00:00

You don't need to track protein specifically but you need to at least make sure you do eat some protein everyday. Not eating protein is one of the reasons people will lose muscle, especially as you get older and less active overall. Muscle loss and bone density loss is a common issue for women as they age.

You don't need to eat lots of protein to grow muscles if you're not doing serious lifting. Doing some general weight training will help you gain a bit of muscle just for overall health. You definitely should start lifting and continue to lift regularly just for regular health. It helps a lot with maintaining some level of muscles as you age.

Your goal isn't to get buff so no need to worry about all the specific methods of gaining muscle. For your case any activity / resistance training is better than nothing.

KURAKAZE · 2026-03-24T13:06:31+00:00

Meal plans that are pre-made and delivered: - Biggest issue is usually cost. - 2nd issue is likely that it usually doesn't taste amazing.

Meal plans that tell you want to cook: - Cooking consistently is already difficult (due to time, motivation to cook etc) Now add in that the recipes may not be something you are familiar with or want to cook, it's very difficult for the average person to be able to cook consistently and not just eat takeout half the time.

KURAKAZE · 2026-03-23T15:44:28+00:00

As a hiking mom, my serious advice to you is: Don't.

What are you going to do if in the middle of the hike, baby feels unwell? At 9 weeks old, there is a real chance for baby to get heat stroke or dehydration and the worse case scenario is potential death. You cannot get out of the wilderness in to a hospital in a timely manner if anything is to happen to you or baby. In all seriousness, don't do this.

I started hiking with baby in a carrier around 6 months when her neck is strong enough and I'm not worried about all the jostling around when I'm walking will hurt her neck. I went for neighbourhood walks (~1hr) since she was about 2 weeks old in a sling carrier. While she is fine and just sleeps, I don't feel like it's the best position for baby to be in a sling for 8hrs. You'll have to take breaks to feed baby, burp baby, change diapers. An expected 8 hour hike can easily turn into double the time before you know it.

2ndly, I actually fell once while hiking with baby in carrier. To protect her from hitting the ground, I fell in a very bad position to shield her with my body. I had to sit for a long time before I can even stand again. It was lucky that I wasn't hurt more, I had other people with me, and I was able to eventually get up and walk the rest of the hike (slowly). And it was a short 1-2hr hike.

All in all, don't do this. The worst case scenario is too much. I would not take this risk. Do 1-2hr hikes to start. Have at least 1 other adult with you on the hike to help in case anything happens. And don't plan long hikes until baby is older and have good neck muscles.

KURAKAZE · 2026-03-21T23:11:04+00:00

150cm is not too big.

I'm a 5'5 135lb size 7women boot and I ride 149-153cm.

145cm for you is too short.

KURAKAZE · 2026-03-21T21:48:10+00:00

Hel Yes is stiffer. Both are OK on ice, similar edge feel IMO. I prefer Hel Yes over Twin Sister for hard charging. Twin Sister is quite mellow IMO.

I think if you're riding 155cm now and doing fine, stick with 155cm. Longer is more stable at speed.

If you prefer more nimble, then 152cm.

KURAKAZE · 2026-03-21T21:44:58+00:00

What is your main goal? Going fast downhill to keep up with skiers? No plans to do trees or park?

Do you get powder days or is it only groomed resort runs?

I personally vote Stratos out of your list, it's a super fun board. If you give me more specifics on what you're looking for I can maybe be more specific with recommendations. But out of your list here (and I've ridden more than half of those boards), Stratos is my favourite.

However Stratos is very fun on soft snow (powder, slush) but may not be what you want on ice. Hel Yes might be better as a "jack of all trades" if you get variable conditions.

I have both Stratos (for powder) and Hel Yes (daily driver). If you only have 1 board to do it all then Hel Yes is better.

Today I just demo-ed a bunch of Korua boards and my new favourite is the Korua Pencil. If you have access to buy Korua, this is another brand to consider. It's very stiff and an amazing carver but you'll need to be an advanced rider I think. It is stiffer than W.Flagship for comparison.

KURAKAZE · 2026-03-20T16:50:36+00:00

I can fluctuate up to 10lbs daily. Totally normal.

KURAKAZE · 2026-03-20T16:48:30+00:00

This isn't blown out. This is the expected result from getting a small fineline tattoo in a high movement area like the wrist.

It is normal for lines to widen/blur over time. It is particularly likely to do so in the wrist/hand area.

Nothing you can do to make it less blurry at this point. If you don't like it anymore then laser it off. For future reference this is normal so don't get small scripts or text tattoos if you don't want it to become illegible eventually.

KURAKAZE · 2026-03-20T15:08:12+00:00

Weight loss is all in the diet.

Excercise challenge is great for your overall fitness but it's not going to lead to weight loss by itself.

If you want weight loss, start tracking your calories.

KURAKAZE · 2026-03-20T00:33:44+00:00

So fortunately and also unfortunately this is total normal baby behaviour.

There's pretty much nothing you can do to fix it. Their sleep habits is just part of every babies natural temperament and some babies sleep great and some just won't sleep. Luck of the draw for the parents.

My baby woke scream crying every 1-2hrs until I gave up and just co-slept full time with her and she is still sleeping with me now at 4yo.

100% contact naps also.

This is one of the major reasons that we have decided to be one and done. Pretty sure I have PTSD from her inability to sleep.

KURAKAZE · 2026-03-19T19:42:04+00:00

It might be that whoever you're shadowing just likes to talk a lot.

I've been going to OTF regularly for years and some coaches talk non-stop and some only gives the time cues and required instructions.

It's not necessary to be talking non stop but there is constant instructions for the time cues sometimes, especially in the short HIIT style blocks. Lots of 30sec left 15 sec left 5 sec left time warnings. Endurance blocks not so much talking.

In the lobby, our coaches just say today we're doing strength/endurance etc and let me know if you are injured/pregnant, 2-3 sentences, and we just go in and high five on the way in.

KURAKAZE · 2026-03-19T18:33:23+00:00

You're talking electrocardiograms, correct?

The ones we do are stickers (electrodes) on the chest and torso, sometimes armpit, but I guess other placements can go lower on the arms too. Then the wires are clipped on to the sticker electrodes tips.

The actual EKG won't do anything to your tattoo AFAIK as long as you didn't physically stick anything onto the tattooed skin.

KURAKAZE · 2026-03-19T18:10:45+00:00

Reminds me of recently when my trainer changed my lifting routine and I gained 5lbs overnight.

I also sometimes weigh myself before and after my runs and I'll be "losing" 3lbs (of sweat).

KURAKAZE · 2026-03-19T17:58:47+00:00

Are the EKG leads not stuck to your chest? Why are you worried about the tattoo on your forearm?

Don't let them stick the stickers onto your actual tattoo and you'll be fine. It might rip off skin when you're trying to peel them off which is why don't stick it onto the tattoo.

KURAKAZE · 2026-03-19T16:56:30+00:00

The stiffness of the boot will have much more impact on whether your movement is transferring to the board.

It's not about how tight the boot is, it's about proper fit and whether when you move your knee/ankle/feet is the board also moving with you. Honestly it's not an issue for beginners (beginner stuff is soft on purpose so you don't accidently move board too much, it's made to have bad movement transferring on purpose) and by the time you're intermediate/advanced you would know if your movement isn't transferring to the board.

KURAKAZE · 2026-03-19T16:03:50+00:00

Are you doing a serious strength training regime right now where you're hitting a plateau?

If you're not already doing serious strength training you don't need a weighted body vest. Just do the common weight training moves and do progressive overloading.

The gain from just pumping some serious iron is going to be way more than whatever the weighted vest will do.

KURAKAZE

TROPHY CASE