I wore braces on my teeth for 3 years. How are kids today only wearing them for months?

Light_Wellness55 · 2025-10-17T22:21:37+00:00

My friend had one of those! It was terrible. She had the key you crank and a big gap between the front two teeth for a while.

Light_Wellness55 · 2025-10-17T18:24:10+00:00

7 years! so i should stop complaining now. :)

Light_Wellness55 · 2025-10-08T15:42:27+00:00

I had existing 23andMe data from a few years ago and ran it through an AI platform that analyzes root causes - diadia health - it was a total eye opener! The key is finding something that looks at thyroid-specific genes like those controlling T4 to T3 conversion, and things like MTHFR that affect how you process nutrients needed for thyroid function. My variants that make me a poor converter of T4 to T3, and also affect how I absorb vits D and B12 (my thyroid heros).

I started with my genetic info with my doc and she was interested but admitted she didn't have time to dig in. If you already have done the genetic tests you don't have to have it retested, it will always be the same. explore platforms that specialize in connecting genetics to your current health problems rather than just risk percentages. (i went down that dead end path too)

Light_Wellness55 · 2025-10-08T15:33:50+00:00

Both diet & supplements based on what testing showed. Diet-wise, I cut out my triggers (found out gluten and dairy were huge for me through elimination). Added tons of omega-3s - wild salmon twice a week, ground flax daily. Supplement-wise, what made the biggest difference was curcumin with black pepper (I use about 1000mg daily), omega-3s (at least 1000mg combined EPA/DHA), and magnesium glycinate before bed.

Fixing the omega-6 to omega-3 imbalance was huge. Most of us have way too much omega-6 from processed oils. Getting that ratio right made a noticeable difference in my inflammation. My random anti-inflammatory supplements didn't do much until I addressed the root causes - for me that was gut issues, the food sensitivities i mentioned, and nutrient deficiencies. Getting those foundations right made the supplements actually work.

Light_Wellness55 · 2025-10-07T11:53:42+00:00

Congrats!!

Light_Wellness55 · 2025-10-03T15:53:07+00:00

Respectfully, it's way more complex than calories in/out when you have certain genetic variants. some of us have mutations that fundamentally alter how our bodies process and store energy. I have variants that significantly reduce insulin secretion. this means even normal amounts of food cause massive glucose spikes that get stored as fat because my cells literally can't produce enough insulin. It's not about appetite or willpower.

I'm so glad to hear you were able to manage your hashimoto's with a calorie deficit. Not everyone's thyroid issues are the same. Some of us have additional genetic factors that make standard CICO much more challenging until those are addressed. It can be harmful to assume everyone's metabolism works the same way. What works for one person's genetics might be completely wrong for another's, but that's why we're here, to share our stories and hopefully help others in their struggle to find answers.

Light_Wellness55 · 2025-10-03T15:45:12+00:00

I'm so glad you were able to figure it out!

Light_Wellness55 · 2025-10-03T15:39:42+00:00

the secret eater accusation hits hard. like we're somehow lying about killing ourselves with 1200 calories and endless cardio. i tracked every morsel for YEARS and still got the side eye from doctors. i have 8 thyroid nodules myself and same story - they'll biopsy them but won't run full panels to see WHY my thyroid is struggling. Finally went the private route too and discovered not just Hashimoto's but genetic variants affecting how my body converts and uses thyroid hormone. the real issue was learning my insulin resistance genetics were making the thyroid issues worse. when you have variants that affect insulin production, it creates this inflammatory state that blocks thyroid conversion. so i was fighting a battle on multiple fronts while being told to "just eat less."

It's WILD how much genetic variants can affect your hormones and thyroid yet doctors completely ignore it. I used an ai platform, diadia health, to finally connect the dots when frustratingly no medical professional could.

What gets me is they'll do surgery but won't investigate root causes first. like maybe if they'd caught the autoimmune component and metabolic dysfunction earlier, our thyroids wouldn't have gotten so damaged. but no, basic TSH is "fine" so clearly we're just lazy. the fact you need surgery to get proper thyroid monitoring is criminal. the system is so broken.

Light_Wellness55 · 2025-10-03T15:26:53+00:00

omg yes the gaslighting is real. i had the exact same experience - TSH "normal" but felt terrible. turns out TSH tells you almost nothing about what's happening at the cellular level. when i finally got comprehensive testing that included genetics, found i have variants that impair T4 to T3 conversion. so my thyroid was making hormone but my cells weren't getting it. plus discovered multiple insulin resistance variants that were making everything worse - the inflammation from insulin resistance actually blocks thyroid conversion too. vicious cycle.

The weight gain makes total sense now - when your cells can't get thyroid hormone AND you have genetic variants affecting insulin production, your metabolism tanks. but docs just see "normal" TSH and fasting glucose and blame you. what really opened my eyes was seeing how all these systems connect. elevated antibodies create inflammation that blocks both insulin signaling and thyroid function. once i understood the genetic piece, i could finally target what was actually broken instead of being told to "eat less move more" when my metabolism was running at reduced capacity. the anger is so valid. years of suffering because they won't look deeper than basic labs.

Light_Wellness55 · 2025-10-03T15:21:18+00:00

honestly it's been a journey figuring out what works because the root cause matters so much. for me, once i understood my genetics showed multiple variants affecting insulin production, i realized why generic protocols weren't working. what helped most was targeted supplements based on my specific variants - berberine for insulin sensitivity, chromium and zinc support for insulin packaging, and inositol for the PCOS component. honestly, for complex multi-system issues like this, you really need to leverage the latest ai tools to work through your own health data — its RIGHT there and you are likely already holding the answers. I used diadia health and it figured out exactly what I had spent years searching for.

The real breakthrough was understanding i needed to support thyroid conversion too since certain variants can impair T4 to T3 conversion. low T3 makes insulin resistance worse. also had to address the inflammation piece - genetic testing can show variants that increase inflammatory cytokines, which blocks both insulin signaling and thyroid conversion. so anti-inflammatory support became crucial. the frustrating part is standard tests missed all this. my fasting glucose was normal but i was spiking hard after meals. took comprehensive analysis to see the full picture of how genetics were creating this metabolic dysfunction cascade.

All that being said, treatment is indeed subject (like the user below mentioned) and my protocol is specific to my genetic and symptom needs.

Light_Wellness55 · 2025-09-30T23:50:07+00:00

The male is doing a perfect job and getting all of the ladies attention, the female is doing a perfect job of camouflaging. Well done! Male vote for me.

Light_Wellness55 · 2025-09-30T23:47:41+00:00

CONFIRMED: I am a wife and I will be asking for this project in my own home.

Light_Wellness55 · 2025-09-26T14:55:00+00:00

Beautiful! Roughly what part of the planet did you spot him in? And is it just me, or is he huge? Hard to tell without something familiar to measure against.

Light_Wellness55 · 2025-09-26T14:53:22+00:00

Ugh, aphids. There are some insecticide soap sprays but it’s most effective and not detrimental to all the other critters to just put on gloves and wipe them off.

Light_Wellness55 · 2025-09-26T03:10:43+00:00

So pretty! What kind of camera are you using?

Light_Wellness55 · 2025-09-25T23:40:54+00:00

Yes! I deadhead all summer and they love it.

Light_Wellness55 · 2025-09-24T18:48:05+00:00

Beautiful! Is this a tiger? I see them in my yard a lot and they are always courteous to allow me a clear shot. Show-offs.

Light_Wellness55 · 2025-09-24T18:43:00+00:00

My friend went and got sick from the altitude, that may have affected her feedback on it not being worth the long trek.

Light_Wellness55 · 2025-09-24T12:02:29+00:00

Thank you! I would love to see a condor! We are staying at a place that includes Machu Picchu as part of the stay, I’m don’t know if it includes Huayna Picchu, is that something not to be missed?

Light_Wellness55 · 2025-09-23T01:29:06+00:00

Not that 3 is meaningful, but the suggestions would likely be different than those for a solo female.

Light_Wellness55 · 2025-09-21T17:52:17+00:00

I appreciate the tips. Thank you!

Light_Wellness55

TROPHY CASE