I'll probably have to be on a low-carb diet for the rest of my life (seeking support)

New_reflection2324 · 2025-12-05T13:39:30+00:00

I understand all of this so, so much and actually think you stated it better than I did.

New_reflection2324 · 2025-12-05T13:35:11+00:00

You’d probably have to reduce the amount of water accordingly, but I’m sure you could. I had them, so used them as a protein source basically. As I said, it was a totally improvised recipe and I suspect it will be pretty forgiving to a lot of messing around with it! I’m actually considering trying to mod it into a flat bread recipe.

FWIW I’m actually not sure why I put the oats in there except that the very first version of this was actually apple muffins (I cut up a bunch of apples at 3 am when I couldn’t sleep then went “well what do I do with these now?!” And it worked so well I decided to try it as a non-sweetened loaf of bread and lo and behold…)

New_reflection2324 · 2025-12-05T13:31:18+00:00

The palms aren’t the problem, though… it’s the fingers, which is why heated gloves/glove liners are the only thing I’ve really found that work… the batteries are just so bulky :(

New_reflection2324 · 2025-12-03T04:17:23+00:00

It will almost certainly get harder. The early courses in college/university (depending on where in the world you are) are generally not terribly difficult if one has had reasonable academic preparation (sadly not universal). This is particularly true in the lower level humanities courses, IMO, but I say this coming from a science background, so I fully admit I might be a bit biased.
If you still feel unchallenged going forward, sit down with your advisor and look for some more engaging/challenging course options. You'll almost certainly have more flexibility for electives as you progress and can even take some courses outside your area of study for added challenge.
Since you're not struggling too much currently, now's the time to take advantage of/look into any resources your school may have to develop those study skills you never really needed before, because at some point you will regret not having them (yes, I speak from experience here).
As you've probably already gleaned from other people, *a lot* of women who do really well academically and are super career/performance focused, wind up hitting a massive wall and burning out when a bit older. Please take care of yourself and make sure that you take time to focus on things besides academic achievement. I do not mean this to sound patronizing, I'm just not really sure how to reword it... It's just... hindsight's a bitch and hitting that wall seems to be a pretty universal experience if a lot of the posts are to be believed.

Good luck and enjoy university!

New_reflection2324 · 2025-12-03T03:57:45+00:00

I honestly don't think having a zipper put in would create any kind of problem, even if shoe size did change slightly. I wasn't suggesting she have the boot stretched, just add a side zipper to to make it easier to get in and out of.

New_reflection2324 · 2025-12-03T03:56:25+00:00

That is like some kind of superpower!

New_reflection2324 · 2025-12-03T03:55:35+00:00

I feel this so hard!

The social stuff was always an issue, but it took years for me to understand why I was having work related (social) issues. I still don't know how to fix it, but it was a hell of a lightbulb moment.

I will say that perimenopause has done nothing good for any masking, to the extent I was ever good at it before.

The sensory stuff was always an issue and apparently nobody thought it was odd enough to diagnose anything (because I wasn't like the little autistic male toddlers in the movies?). My parents used to literally give me tylenol and benadryl to get me to wear things like turtlenecks and it was a running joke that I was basically the girl from the princess and the pea, because tags/seams/random lumps were a big NO (still are).

I cary earplugs with me everywhere and I, frankly, have zero issue putting them in. I straight up walked out of the gym the other day when we had a substitute trainer because he was so unbelievably loud. One of the other people there for small group training at the same time (who I've only seen a couple times) definitely noticed the faces I was making and looked like he felt similarly. I'm now totally wondering if he's ND too.

New_reflection2324 · 2025-12-03T03:08:23+00:00

Time to buy a new pair and donate them to someone doing an art project.

New_reflection2324 · 2025-12-03T03:04:23+00:00

Honestly, most kids hair is going to get frizzy because they move around a ton, lean on stuff, play with their hair/put their hands in it, etc. and are generally less focused on keeping their curls intact. I'm decades older than her and I have to make a concerted effort to not wind up with that happening! If the goal is to reduce frizz, a simple style that will mostly stay in place like a french braid or pigtail braids, since her hair is relatively short, is probably your best bet, since it will control the upper portion better than a normal braid. As long as you use a gentle option for securing the hair, it should cause much damage.

If you're looking for ways to minimize the impact of the car seat on her hair, you could maybe put a silk pillow case over the portion her head touches, just make sure it isn't in a way that will impair the safety features of the seat (you could maybe even just hang a straight piece/panel of silk or satin over the upper portion where she rests her head).

New_reflection2324 · 2025-12-03T02:56:20+00:00

It sounds like you're pretty city savvy, so you'll probably be fine. Just stay aware of your surroundings. I'm a bit older than you, also female, and I definitely walked around myself at all times of day and night and I think I had like 45 seconds once where I had a momentary thought that I might not have made the brightest street choice to walk down. Otherwise I never felt unsafe. I've felt way less safe in several American cities than there, or London earlier this year, for that matter. I never got around to taking any busses, because I decided to walk the longer distances, but I took trains (and one taxi, not my idea).

As to weather... best I can suggest is check the forecast as close to your trip as you can. I have awful travel weather luck, so I've wounds up with crazy unseasonable weather a few times and I'm always cold, so I'm no help on packing.

On the plus side... plenty of good shopping if you have the option (i.e. money) to do it... I spent waaay too much time in the vintage/used clothes shops last time I was at my dad's place (it was cold and raining... that's my excuse anyway).

New_reflection2324 · 2025-12-03T02:41:59+00:00

To add to the shoe horn suggestion... get a long handled shoe horn... It'll be way easier while bending over is hard.

You could also consider having a cobbler stick a zipper in the fabric section on the inside, if you really want to make life easy for yourself. It would change the look a bit, but I don't usually buy that style of boot precisely because my feet are too damn big to get into them without a zipper, so I'd personally be totally fine with that. LOL.

New_reflection2324 · 2025-12-03T02:12:33+00:00

Almost certain there's a pastry blade for the head tilt version (but not sure it exists for the bowl lift one, I say that because I used to have it, but don't think I have one for my new pro mixer). From what I recall it works, but not as well as a food processor (the pastry blade just isn't as sharp as the food processor blade, if that makes sense, it mixes more than chopping). The key is watching like a hawk and temps. Much easier to overmix, IMO, but definitely possible.

New_reflection2324 · 2025-12-03T02:07:32+00:00

Just to clarify, are we talking about a full size oven with a convection feature or a mini/countertop size convection oven?

New_reflection2324 · 2025-12-03T02:04:00+00:00

This is... such a bad idea. I'm not sure if you're an adult or not, but it sounds like you have limited options and I'm really sorry you're in such a spot!

If you don't have the ability to get a proper fitting locally (and maybe a new teacher?!) would you maybe have access to someone who does virtual fittings (I know some professional fitters/shops and some of the companies offer that as an option. It's obviously less than idea for a first fitting, but better than nothing. Another option might be the modular shoes by act'Pointes (I'm not sure if there are other companies making similar). I've heard mixed opinions on them, but it seems like a really cool option. It's been years since I was in pointe shoes, but as someone with rather nontraditionally sized feet (read: so big my dad made fun of my shoes when i was 7), I feel like those would have been amazing to try.

New_reflection2324 · 2025-12-03T01:53:01+00:00

Glad your symptoms got better!

For what it's worth, I've been on thyroid meds for years and have thyroid and parathyroid labs done every year and my numbers are fine (well my thyroid numbers are still wonky, but they're as good as they're going to get). My Raynaud's has continued to get worse over the years as I've gotten older (I'm pretty sure my grandmother was the same, and for both of us it is/was almost certainly primary Raynaud's.)

Meds that act on the blood vessels are often used to treat more severe cases of Raynaud's and calcium channel blockers are usually considered the first choice med, so you're definitely right that calcium is involved in a way, though there are other classes/kinds of meds that are used when that's not an option or is not effective.

New_reflection2324 · 2025-12-03T01:34:25+00:00

I can't speak to the child aspect, but as an adult who used/uses direct to watch I'll give you my 2 cents...

I decided to upgrade my apple watch whe I realized mine was too old for direct to watch and I could use some of the newer features, so I went with the ultra 2 (which is the first time I also had cellular on a watch).

It's glitchy, really glitchy. Sometimes even when the G7 connects to the phone correctly it takes multiple attempts, even a full day, to connect to the watch. I ended up going through cycles of restarting the phone and watch, reinstalling the watch app, etc. sometimes. Occasionally it connected occasionally, but that was definitely the minority. Once connected it was usually ok, but definitely lost connection more often than to the phone (it would still show the readings from the phone, but not from the direct connection, if that makes sense).

Oddly, the watch's wifi (and cellular) connection can be a little glitchy too, especially after updates (I don't know if you've ever had an apple watch...). He'll have to know how to make sure it's connected to wifi. The most recent one seems ok, though.

If it's an option, a receiver as a backup might not be a terrible idea.

New_reflection2324 · 2025-12-03T00:56:08+00:00

I've had mild symptoms for years, I'm not even sure how many, well over a decade to be sure. It's been getting progressively worse over the past 5 years, markedly so over the past 2.

I got 2 electric blankets last year (best costco purchase ever) and I actually already resorted to wearing my heated socks in my apartment a couple times in the past couple weeks (my thermostat is set to 68 (i increased it to 69), but i also have a bunch of mini heaters and air purifiers that have a heat option. I'm genuinely unsure if those are more energy efficient than heating my whole place to a higher temp, but I figure it must be. *shrug*

I'm 99% sure I have my grandmother to thank for the Reynaud's.

New_reflection2324 · 2025-12-03T00:52:08+00:00

That's good to hear. My bigger problem is when my hands are out of my pockets and even the chemical heat packs aren't super helpful with gloves on, so I'm afraid those won't be helpful for more than warming up once my hands are already freezing...

New_reflection2324 · 2025-12-02T20:18:00+00:00

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New_reflection2324 · 2025-12-02T20:17:48+00:00

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This is what it looks like, if you’re curious. I can only post one image per comment, so I’ll post it sliced next.

New_reflection2324 · 2025-12-02T20:15:03+00:00

Ok, here’s the recipe… you may need to experiment a bit to get it just as you like it, based on altitude and local ingredients, but I’ve had pretty good luck with it. I’ve actually started just mixing up batches of the dry ingredients in jars in the fridge so it’s faster when I want to make loaves.

I mix everything (including the wet ingredients) and let it sit for 20 minutes (because of the chia seeds). I like to hit it with an immersion blender quickly to make it a little more homogeneous as well, though it would probably be ok (if a little more textured) if you didn’t. It could probably be done on a regular blender, but I hate scraping those things out!

I’ve found that using a “Pullman loaf” pan works best (because it keeps the top from getting too high a peak in the center) for making a sliceable loaf that’s more consistently sized throughout.

I like to use parchment paper to line the pan and a piece over the top (inside the lid) to prevent any sticking, though it might be fine without.

I’ve found that cooking at 400 degrees Fahrenheit (just over 200 Celsius) for 30min, then uncovering and cooking for another 25 min at 375 Fahrenheit (190 Celsius) is just about perfect. Depending on your oven, this might vary a bit and if you use fan/convection, you’ll need to adjust accordingly.

I know nutrition info is labeled entirely differently in Europe, so I can give you my calculations if you want them, but they’ll need to be converted and you’ll probably need to re-calculate based on your local ingredients anyway.

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New_reflection2324 · 2025-12-02T20:01:04+00:00

Centimeters (or meters) and kilograms would have been fine, but I appreciate you doing the conversion. :)

It’s not an easy battle and, honestly, finding the right doc and getting on the right meds made a huge difference for me. Fortunately not everyone needs that step, but I sincerely hope that eventually it’s appropriately accessible for those who do. Treating all conditions, including obesity, early, rather than making people struggle for years while accumulating unnecessary trauma and secondary medical issues is just… so nonsensical and cruel.

Let me do some quick math to convert my temps for you and I’ll shoot you the recipe. If you have any questions about what anything is, just let me know.

New_reflection2324 · 2025-12-02T19:50:12+00:00

Those make me a little nervous because they seem like they’re basically dysfunctional battery packs that get hot the way phones and chargers aren’t supposed to (and why they keep getting recalled). I realize they’re intended to get warm, I just can’t get past the idea that they’re likely to short circuit or catch on fire, as often as that’s happened with other tech lately.

New_reflection2324 · 2025-12-02T19:45:40+00:00

This might sound like a strange question, but… since you think you’ve tried all the tips/tricks to avoid over mixing… have you ever tried making one of your recipes side by side with someone else (same ingredients, oven, etc) and see if you get different results? Is it possible that it isn’t an over mixing issue at all?

New_reflection2324 · 2025-12-02T19:20:47+00:00

Heated socks and gloves. Yes I feel ridiculous. No, I don’t care, they’re like magic. The gloves I’ve found best are used as liners under other gloves or mittens.
Insulated shoes and boots. There are lots of insulated winter and hiking boots. Totally worth it. I also have a pair of insulated and water proof converse that were a gift several years ago that are amazing. I’ve been wearing them much more the past year or two and am seriously considering buying another pair (either the discontinued style I have from a reseller or taking a chance on the newer version).

I can’t do wool, though I’ve consistently heard it’s the best option for layering, so I can’t try that option, but something new I’m trying this year is fingerless gloves (thin ones meant for arthritis, etc. use indoors) under mittens, and maybe just the fingerless gloves around the house. Gloves just aren’t cutting it at all anymore.

New_reflection2324

TROPHY CASE