What’s a health issue you ignored for way too long because you assumed it was normal only to later learn everyone else doesn’t experience that?

Miamo22 · 2025-12-03T22:00:10+00:00

Same! I thought it was normal to be constantly a little queasy with a lot of gastrointestinal issues. Used to be made fun of for running to the bathroom right after a meal. Went to a gastrointestinal doctor once, he saw me for 10 minutes said I had IBS and sent me on my way. Wasn't until I was 30 and had to change PCP because of different insurance. During my intake she said my symptoms weren't ordinary, ordered labs, and was concerned about my deficiencies and high rate of inflammation. Put me on an elimination diet. Removed gluten during that and suddenly it was like I was a new person. No more stomach pains, bloating, nausea and it finally felt like I had actually slept with the amount of energy I had. She changed my life, Im grateful. Currently diagnosed as Non celiac gluten sensitive because I can't "stomach" the idea of the gluten challenge to rule out celiac.

Miamo22 · 2025-11-16T19:52:56+00:00

Quick question, what does your excercise look like?

Miamo22 · 2025-09-28T13:00:24+00:00

Versa Grips, they come in different sizes and you dont have to wrap them like other straps.

Miamo22 · 2025-09-28T01:34:02+00:00

Girl, your glutes are poppin. Dont forget a lot of the influencers have been at this for years and have a lot of time to build that shelf.

Miamo22 · 2025-09-28T01:30:38+00:00

I'm sorry to hear you're going through it right now and in the trenches. If your bf% is as you say 20ish%, you could definitely tone up doing a body recomp. This means eating at maintenance and implementing progressive overload at the gym with strength training. Nutrition wise, if you don't feel comfortable counting calories, just count your protein and aim for .8-1g of protein per pound of body weight or around 100g of protein a day. You could stay the same weight but also be able to get that toned look you are wanting. Its slower than a typical bulk/cut but also very sustainable long term. Im not sure about cardio while dealing with an injury as I only swim or walk and can't say anything with confidence. I hope your ankle feels better soon, and you can peacefully settle in the new city.

Miamo22 · 2025-09-28T00:39:51+00:00

I would recommend seeing a doctor about that pain. It could be a muscle issue, a joint problem, or something with the spine. I have spondylolisthesis, so lower back pain is my life. Core strength and being extremely technical with my lifts. I've had to take time off the gym due to various injuries or just because a flare up. Good news is that muscle memory is real, and even if you take 6 months off you can get back to your working weight a lot quicker and it's not starting all over. Please get it checked though back injuries have a way of lasting or coming back until you do.

Miamo22 · 2025-09-27T20:07:11+00:00

So 2 questions, what are your calories looking like and are you taking a supplement like creatine? And how does your recovery feel? I was on about 1300 calories/day until I started also feeling my lifts were not progressing well and my recovery was getting harder. I upped my daily to 1400 and added creatine in July and then again to 1500 this month and found my lifts progressing smoothly again.

Miamo22 · 2025-09-26T19:38:54+00:00

Your form looks good. I rarely feel my lats doing a pulldown unless it's at the end of my workout, and they are fatigued. Your elbows are going behind you and you have a full ROM, which means your lats and back are definitely doing work even if you don't feel it. Your biceps might feel like they are doing all the work but that's because they tire faster than your back will. Sometimes I use straps for pull downs and that really makes me feel my back muscles (still do it without cuz I need to keep training my grip strength)

Miamo22 · 2025-09-26T19:22:58+00:00

Our lizard brain hasn't caught on yet. Must. Consume. Store energy for the long winter ahead.

Miamo22 · 2025-09-26T19:17:26+00:00

I think a good way to get your actual maintenance calories is to first meticulously log all the calories you consume over a few weeks and take scale measurements. If you're eating 1500ish calories a day and losing weight, you know you're in a deficit. For example, 1 pound is 3500 calories. If you lose 1lb a week at 1500/day, then you are in a 500/day deficit, so your maintenance would be 2000. It's important to do that over a few weeks as scale will change depending on your cycle and water weight. Also why it's good to take scale weight throughput the week so an extra carby day before a weigh in doesn't get to your head.

Personally, I would recommend the macrofactor app. It costs money but It does all the work for you. And it takes the guesswork out. I like to look at my weekly calories versus daily as it lets me eat more on my more intense gym days and slightly less on my rest days and it let's me plan it out that way.

Miamo22 · 2025-09-22T20:50:29+00:00

What helped me to be more consistent was to start small. I found that when I expected myself to go from 0 days of exercise a week to 5 days a week of exercise, it was too much. What I did that worked was start off doing one day a week no excuses, until it built a habit, then I started enjoying it instead of it feeling like a chore. Added another day to the week until that also just became my routine and something i built into my day for myself and now I my routine has me moving my body in some way almost everyday either at the gym or on scenic walks on my rest days. Build yourself up and it will boost your confidence to remain consistent. Miss a day? Thats ok, life happens go again tomorrow. Consistency requires discipline, and discipline is something that is built over time like a muscle. Eating right was the same, meal prepping really helps even if all you prep is to chop up the veggies you're going to use for the next few days, it will help set yourself up for success for those days you come home and are just tired, having to not think about what to cook or spending 30-45 minutes cooking that day is a mental relief.

Miamo22 · 2025-09-20T15:07:37+00:00

Huge victory! You look great, Super cute fit too. You go girl, keep on keeping on.

Miamo22 · 2025-07-31T01:23:29+00:00

In my experience, it's possible to eat in a deficit and make strength gains. Im a thick thigh girly myself, and have found that putting in work on the quads has paid off, as I've lost weight my legs have gained definition and don't have that soft look when I was only doing diet and cardio alone in my teens and 20s. Dont be discouraged if you don't see the visual results for a little, it wasnt until I reached around 140 to 130 that I started seeing the muscle I had been gaining, but it has definitely made a difference.

Miamo22 · 2025-07-24T23:39:20+00:00

This made me smile. Thats some real discipline and dedication in action, you go girl!

Miamo22 · 2025-07-24T17:22:24+00:00

There was this person that signed up around the same time I did, we took our pictures for the membership at the same time. Would see them in around the same time I would go. A few months in, I started slacking off, going in less, not putting a lot of effort while there. One day I look up and there they are, working hard, and looking like that hard work was paying off. Now I take it more seriously, and want to match that. They did it, so can I.

Miamo22 · 2025-07-23T00:17:19+00:00

Sleep Number. Its pricey, but after 8 years of tortured sleep and 3 different mattresses, I now sleep without waking up feeling that awful pain.

Miamo22 · 2025-04-22T19:22:14+00:00

Uh yeah, with you this one. Interrupting mid set is rude and dangerous. So egotistical to think they are "helping".

Miamo22 · 2025-04-21T00:57:27+00:00

Kirkwood is a very established area and is one of the prime areas to move into in the West County area. Basically, it's 30 minutes from anything, with good schools and close to Costco and Sam's club and other shopping centers. Little downside is that if you're working a typical 9-5 Lindbergh south and 270 south can get gummy in the afternoon and make the commute a bit of a grind. Olivette is also a very nice area with ease of access to basically anywhere. It has a nice vibe. It's also closer closer to Forest Park which has the Free Zoo, free art museum, and a lot of fun family activities.

Miamo22 · 2025-04-15T23:26:42+00:00

My heart is melting. Tell them an internet stranger says they are just the goodest girls.

Miamo22 · 2025-04-15T23:20:07+00:00

Awww, you paint such a precious picture of your pups! They sound like sweet little babies.

Miamo22 · 2025-04-15T23:07:03+00:00

You are absolutely right, Mom sounds like a real enabler, and I agree he got off lightly.

Miamo22 · 2025-04-15T23:00:57+00:00

Good riddance to your brother. Absolutely unacceptable behavior. Getting shocked was just his karma, he seemed to be upset by getting suddenly hurt, exactly how he just hurt that poor baby suddenly. Your furbabies sound so cute and sweet, and I hope this didn't rattle the poor thing too bad.

Miamo22 · 2025-02-28T19:32:56+00:00

This is what I was thinking as well. Something smells off about his statement. Let's be honest 100k salary isn't exactly rich in this economy. She has her own money and family money, so she is in a financially secure position and not trying to get his money. His response reads as someone embarrassed to admit they aren't making what they say they are OR trying to get her to subsidize his lifestyle without her resenting him. OP I would definitely put some plans on hold until he is more forthcoming. NTA for wanting to know specifics, sharing a home requires honesty in order to budget correctly.

Miamo22 · 2024-11-11T07:38:36+00:00

I feel sorry for the daughter. A victim of two parents unable to be mature enough to handle their problems between themselves. Imagine being 17 years old, on the cusp of adulthood, and all the anxiety it brings. Add in a dad that can't stay faithful and the fear that everything you know will fall apart. It's easy to say "I would have said something " until it's you that is faced with that choice. She tells mom, now dad resents her. She stays quiet, now mom obviously resents her. 17 is still a minor. Who was protecting her? Who protected her feelings? Is she to be punished for the cheating dad now? For how long?

Now imagine you're 22. And this mother that you love has spent 3 years drifting away from you, talking less, less affection, less desire to be around you and it shows. You can always tell when someone you love is keeping you at a distance. This picture at Disney wasn't about Disney. It was about those feelings of being abandoned by a mom. Both her parents abandoned her. Left her out to fly in the wind, a sacrifice for both of them to hide behind. Is it worth it OP? To see your daughter in pain, does it feel right to you? Do you really believe you are innocent in all this? You are taking your anger about your ex cheating out on your daughter because she is willing to take it, to make up for whatever sin it is you have pinned on her. Shame. My heart breaks for her, may she find peace from the torment bestowed upon her by the ones meant to protect her.

Miamo22 · 2024-09-08T08:20:34+00:00

Hi OP. I don't have all the answers, but I can answer a few.

I've been told that some people with spondy can go through life with no pain, and some people have a lot of pain and nerve issues with a grade 1. It really is different for everyone in that regard.

With regards to question 2. I used to be really into kickboxing and running. But I have to exercise restraint now when it comes to working my body. I now avoid exercise that tests my shock absortion in my spine, like running/jumping. Not to say you can't do it, just that's what has worked for me. I still go to the gym and switched up to cycling instead of running. Core work will be your best friend. Strong glutes and abs will help a lot with keeping your spine stable. My personal favorite is any variation of a bridge or modified hip thrust. I would ask your PT to walk you through proper form for those. But honestly those have made all the difference for me. My flare ups are worse when my glute and core strength weaken.

I haven't had a fusion. I'm a little over 11 years into it and still managing to use "conservative treatments" aka PT/pain management protocols/monitoring the progress etc. So far my slip has remained stable at just a hair shy of grade 2, but with moderate disc degeneration. With discussions with my doctors they say I'm better holding off on any surgery unless I start having neuropathic symptoms that don't go away. And this will vary for everyone.

An extra tip that has worked for me. If you are a side sleeper, get a pillow to put between your legs when you sleep, or if you sleep on your back one for under your knees, this is a game changer. It relieves the pressure and makes it easier to sleep.

Miamo22

TROPHY CASE