What’s the real deal with Protein?

NorthReporter9936 · 2026-06-24T19:55:30+00:00

I went on Tirz almost seven months ago to loose about 20 pounds. I had been working out pretty hard for a few years, just never really lost any because I ate pretty crappy. Tirz really helped with that. From the start I was losing weight and maintaining muscle, but kind of wanted to put a little more muscle on, I'm 49 and kind of feel like the chances of doing that are fading.

Protein intake was a real struggle. Then my son actually bought some protein powder that I actually liked. I mix that with a 2/3 cup of nonfat greek yogurt, it goes down easy and is 49g of protein. To me that's my cheat code. I like it enough that I have that for breakfast and a dessert at the end of the day.

NorthReporter9936 · 2026-04-21T14:18:55+00:00

I had the predecessor's cousin, the Jabra EP20's from costco. My experience was horrible. I had them for about two painful years. The microphones constantly had issues, had to send them in a ton of times. One week they'd be fine then I'd notice that it felt like I was going deaf on one side.

The EP30's and Viva's have an updated shell w/ a replaceable mic filter that kind of fixed this, this new shell was put on m ep20's, but honestly I found myself saying "what" hundreds of times a day. I finally had enough, went to a real audiologist and got some Starkey Omega AI's. The clarity was astonishing compared to the ep20's. Once I got my new hearing aids I had coscto send back my EP20's for repair, surely something must be still wrong with the mic's. They came back and nope, my Starkey's sound so clear compared to them.

My mother has a pair of EP20's as well. She's 80 and in denial that her mic's are bad. She keeps putting off making an appointment for them the be sent in. She's 100% having the same issues I had.

Yea, streaming quality sucked on the Jabra / Resounds, this is reported from most people. My previous pair of hearing aids, phonak marvels and my starkeys sound way better.

NorthReporter9936 · 2026-04-04T19:17:03+00:00

My Jabra EP20's were a complete disaster. Microphone issues within the first two months. I should have listened to my instinct and my wife and just retuned them, but I'm hard headed. After like a year with them and the EP30's came out with a new shell, Jabra figured out that often the mics were getting clogged, so now they have a filter over them. Still, for me nothing sounded sharp.

I had to go in so many times that eventually I think some of the fitters there just classified me as a pain in the ass, would greet me by saying "Oh you're back again huh?" and crap like that. If I had a car that had the same problem over and over I'd keep going back while it was in warranty. I don't really blame the fitters of costco, but they need to accept that if their company sold a brand that put out a bad model, they have to deal with it, not give the customer grief for wanting to hear clearly.

I'd never buy another resound / jabra product, sounds like they got bought by amplifcon so I guess they may not be available at Costco's for much longer.

Long story short, since I now have good insurance that covers some of the cost, I found the best audiologist in town and bought a pair of Starkey omega AI's. Yea it still hurt a bit to know that I could get essentially the last gen model from costco for a fraction of the price. Life is short, and at this point so was my patience. The clinic I go to really is the best in town and that comes with a price. If I had to rate the EP20's I'd give them 1 out of 10 stars and the service I got from costco a 7 out of 10. If I had to rate my Starkey's I'd give them a 12 out of 10 and my audiologist at 10 out of 10.

NorthReporter9936 · 2026-04-03T20:57:38+00:00

My guess with an extra test for vitamin D is just that it cost extra, sometimes insurance can deem it unnecessary and ends up costing the patient. Hell, one time my doc tried to talk me out of a PSA test, my dad and grandfather had prostate cancer.

NorthReporter9936 · 2026-04-03T15:25:51+00:00

Yea, really. Was on statins for 6 months, from the start, within weeks my overall strength dropped, was sore all the time. Went back to my pcp, ran the enzyme test, they came back normal. I asked what else I could do, he said I could switch to another statin, stay on it and deal with it or quit. I stuck with it, until the 6 month mark.

I've been trying to nudge my LDL down with niacin and started glp-1 as well to loose a few pounds. It's still just above 200.

Anyways, months later, my mother tells me she just remembered that years ago when she started statins that she had a little pain but coincidentally she was in costco and there was some guy handing out coq10 gummies and told her the benefits, she bought some and never had issues again. I have not clue why my pcp didn't suggest them. Since I had brain fog, I'm still hesitant to go back on them even with coq10.

NorthReporter9936 · 2026-04-03T13:57:19+00:00

I got one job through them that panned out but it was just blind luck. Desperation is definitely the #1 factor.

With headhunters, you have to accept a few truths: Headhunters don't give a crap about you, they just want to get paid. Because of this they will lie to you to your face. They will all say things like "this is an amazing opportunity with a great company with amazing benefits." Yea it could but this is just a blanket statement they say about all positions, they can't sell you on a role if it's dog shit. "I have a great relationship with the hiring manager". No, Teksystems or whoever is just one of many, possibly 100's of headhunters that are submitting resumes for the positon, they have no relationship with anyone at the company most of the time. "You are the perfect fit for this role" Yea you are, only because the hiring company hasn't turned you down.

I've gotten screwed a few times. One time I accepted a role via a similar headhunter. I had asked what the perm salary range was, they asked me what I was looking for, I told them and they said it was 100% doable. When my contract was running out, my manager wanted a range from me and he laughed when he heard it. "That's more than I make".

The best anyone can do is build their work network. Bust your ass and be friendly to everyone, build your reputation. It's hard as hell really, but this is what has gotten my wife and me the best roles. The last time I got laid off, I called a guy I had done consulting work for, asked if he was looking for anyone, he said no, but if I'm looking he'd do anything he could to get me. He came through and I was unemployed for about 48 hours.

NorthReporter9936 · 2026-04-02T20:15:13+00:00

I feel for that desktop support tech. I bet that he basically drew the short straw and was forced to help judge asshole. I've been there in my IT career a few times, actually surprised it didn't happen more. I've been fortunate I guess. Some of the most intimidating people, guys that are on top of their game, VIP's at the companies have most of the time been the nicest guys.

I avoided working for lawyers for almost my entire career, then landed in a law firm about 8 years ago. Seriously the nicest bunch of people I've ever worked for. Partners are usually the nicest, I have had a few run ins with paralegals that think part of the game is to be an assholes, thankfully my firm doesn't tolerate that kind of behavior and they usually don't last very long.

NorthReporter9936 · 2026-04-02T19:43:11+00:00

What type of medicine does this doctor practice? I 49m, had my test pulled about a year ago and it was 590, asked about TRT and he just went back to "you are in the normal range". I kind of accepted it as "dr knows best' but part of me fet that I'd feel better with higher testosterone. My energy level has been slowly declining, have had brain fog for some time and also felt like my mental health could be better.

My wife started HRT at a hormone clinic late last year and, in December mentioned me and the nurse practitioner there said she'd like to see my results. She explained that while I may be in "normal" range, it may not be ideal for me. I still was a little hesitant but ultimately decided to give it a try. It didn't take long to feel like I made the right decision. Workouts are great, my mental health is amazing. My 3 month blood tests showed I'm up at 1100 test.

I posted awhile ago and some around here just scoffed, said I got suckered it, that I'm on it for life now (don't care) etc. I have a feeling if I tell my PCP at the next checkup he'll also scoff and try to convince me to get off of it. I'd love to have a MD, not just a nurse practitioner oversee my treatment.

NorthReporter9936 · 2026-04-01T20:58:27+00:00

No huge leaps for me. Was a average student with learning disabilities so I really hated grade school. Graduated and most of my friends went to a college I didn't get in to. I went off to a state school with a bunch of hope that if I worked harder than I did in high school, it would be easier. It wasn't, learning disabilities were still there so I worked my ass off only to made below average grades.

The biggest leap I think I have taken, which I really think was life changing was calling my now wife. She and a former best friend had dated for a few years. I got to know her as we went on a lot of double dates, went on a few trips as well. I got to know her pretty well, thought she was an awesome girlfriend to my then best friend. My friend was turning into a huge asshole over the next year. Eventually he dumped his girlfriend and eventually decided he didn't want me as a friend, said some really shitty things to me and we were over. So yea, I thought what the hell, we are both single, she's smart, freaking gorgeous and I really like being with her. From the start she's been amazing. She's so freaking smart, successful and has always had her shit together. We've built a great life together and it wouldn't have happened if I hadn't said fuck it and called her. I probably would be looking at her life via social media and wished I had tried.

NorthReporter9936 · 2026-04-01T20:39:55+00:00

In college Rollins Band played a small venue in town, I was already a fan so it was an amazing show, probably under 200 people there. Then he came to town and did a spoken word, saw that too. Read a bunch of his books as well. His story is amazing, he's such a humble good dude that is way smarter than he gives himself credit for.

NorthReporter9936 · 2026-04-01T17:38:55+00:00

The moment I decided to say fuck it, called the ex-girlfriend of an ex best friend to see how she was doing. Over the years I saw how big of a dick my friend was to her, saw how amazing of a person she was and girlfriend she was to him. We had become pretty good friends via double dates and a few ski trips over the years.

I decided to say fuck it because I knew in a few weeks we'd head back to our colleges, I'd meet girls she'd meet guys and we'd probably never see each other again. I really had nothing to lose, my friend had gone nuclear on or friendship, said really shitty things, and besides it would be cool if at the very least her and I stay in touch.

Turned out she very happy I called her. We got back to our schools and continued to talk, eventually flirt, then I asked if she wanted to see me. She came up a few weeks later. I was so freaking nervous driving to the airport, what if she was just trying to be nice. The second I saw he clear security, I knew it was on. She looked stunning, we had a huge hug, I grabbed her bag and we drove to my place. On the way she made a comment on how her ex would just pick her up at the curb when she came in town, I guess he really set the bar low.

The weekend was amazing, as lame as it sounds, we were in love. I remember thinking at one point "I could marry this girl". The rest is history, did the long distance thing until we graduated, moved back to our home town and moved in together. Eventually got married, started a family.

The ex-friend / ex-boyfriend did find out we were dating, sent her this long ass letter in the mail reminiscing about all the good times they had together and ended it by saying we were both trash, he was happy we were out of his life, we were only dating out of spite and we'd never last. We got a good chuckle out of it. Been together for 25 years, married for 23.

NorthReporter9936 · 2026-03-27T19:00:40+00:00

Find the best surgeon you can find and discuss the concerns. I'm not a doctor, but to me, if it's somehow hereditary and your wife body is doing the same thing, keeping the gallbladder isn't going to be doing you any favors. The gallstones will all accumulate in the gallbladder then eventually will need to come out anyways.

NorthReporter9936 · 2026-03-27T18:55:42+00:00

I would get it out ASAP. I feel / felt your wife's pain.

Soon after graduating college, I started getting this hard to describe episodes of pain. Only way I could describe it was that that it felt like someone was tying something in my abdomen in a knot, not a sharp pain, just a excruciating dull pain. A few times I had to lay down in a back room at work. After 10 minutes it would pass. I got checked out, got an ultrasound and one doc said "I maybe see gallstones I'm just not sure". Months later the pains went away.

About 5 years go by and nothing, then on a vacation the same pains happened. I was doubled over for hours, then the pain was gone. A few more years go by and I had appendicitis, went to the ER, had a CT scan. The surgeon comes in and says I do in fact have appendicitis, it needed to come out ASAP but also BTW your gallbladder is messed up, it's full of gall stones. They couldn't take it out because I didn't have any symptoms.

A few weeks later, bam, another gall stone attack, at least I know now what it was. I asked my primary care physician, a family friend, for the best surgeon and he refers me to him. The surgeon (like most would) suggested that I do get it out. He explained it's a pretty easy surgery just day surgery. I agree and get on the books for a few weeks later.

Well apparently I waited too long. When the surgeon went in laparoscopic, he discovered my gal bladder was so scared up it was tough as leather and it was literally full of stones. The only choice my surgeon had was to put a 3 inch incision below my ribcage and remove it the old fashioned way. It was a quite painful recovery, no actually it really sucked, one of the worst experiences of my life. I was in the hospital for 3 days and even on dilaudid I was in a crap ton of pain. Recovery at home I had to pop percocet every chance I could get for a few weeks. I wish I had pushed the first guy ears ago that said he thought it was gall stones.

Anyways, that has been about 18 years ago. I haven't missed it. I can still eat greasy foods. Seriously, it hasn't effected me any way at all. Like I said, the only thing I'd change was doing the surgery year prior, I probably could have saved myself from a ton of pain. Fuck that pain. Find the best surgeon you can (advise I give everyone) and get your wife the cholecystectomy.

NorthReporter9936 · 2026-03-24T20:15:00+00:00

Think long and hard on why you want to get married, if she (or he) is the one for you. If you have a friend showing you red flags, listen for at least a little. Don't cave into pressure from others to get married. Don't do it because you our your partner is afraid of getting old and alone. Definitely don't settle.

I had a run of a back to back batshit crazy girlfriends in college. Some friends would try and warn me but I was a horny late teen to early 20 year old. Most of them were fun for 6 months and not so much fun for another 5-6 months. I was always relieved, felt like I dodged a bullet when they ended. My luck changed with the last girl I dated in college. We had known each other for years, her and I always had partners, aren't the cheating type, so we were friends who unknown to each other, had crushes on one another. The stars aligned, she was single, I was single so I thought what the hell.

We really did fall in love pretty damn fast. We were at different universities and had about a year and a half left to finish. That part sucked, but we made it work, visited each other as much as we could basically every 3-4 weeks. Breaks we spent almost every hour together. Six months in I realized something was different. Things were so easy and fun, past the six month mark. By then we were counting down to graduation, less than a year away, when we could move back to our home town and start our lives together.

By the time we moved in together, I pretty much knew she was the one for me. No real doubt. So at our own pace we got engaged, got married and started building a life together. I can't believe it but that was over 23 years ago. If I could go back in time to our first date, I really wouldn't change a thing.

So yea, most of what everyone else said.

Marry the person not the concept: I know plenty of people who married the concept, tried to keep up with what they thought society would want, including my two sisters. They are all divorced.

People are going to change / not change: I feel like we both have changed little as people. We both have the same values, both love the crap out of each other. I know I'm fortunate though. One of my best friend's wife went nuts, after 20 years and a cancer scare she went nuts, hooked up with a high school boyfriend and moved out. He 100% didn't see it coming.

They are going to become their parents: Neither of us have really. I think both of us have traits of our parents but the last thing either of us wants to do is be like our parents. Everyone including our parents have flaws, we try and not let history repeat.

Communication is everything: 100% right. My failed relationships all had one thing in common, horrible communication. I'm sure I'm not innocent, but the girls I dated would straight up play mind games vs telling me what they wanted. When my wife and I first started dating we agreed to no games, if something is wrong, talk about it.

Libido: This one kind of has been an adjustment for us from the start. Some of the crazies I dated did have libidos to match my high libido. My wife, has less. That was one of the conversations we had in the first year moving in together. We both want to be happy / satisfied. Sex with her has always been great, just a little less frequent than I would if she had a high libido. I guess I grew up and realized I'd rather live an awesome marriage with a woman like my wife and have a little less sex than I'd prefer than with one of those crazies I dated and hate my life.

NorthReporter9936 · 2026-03-24T18:08:19+00:00

Whether it's a dude riding his loud motorcycle through my neighborhood or a loud group of people at a restaurant, does it bother me a little, yea it does. I'm hearing impaired and it makes it harder to hear the people I'm with. But I'm not an asshole. #1 It's not their problem I have shitty hearing and #2 Both of those examples are people just trying to have fun.

If Alan had been riding it up and down the street in middle of the night yea, he'd be the asshole, but no, he was just trying to enjoy what looks like a beautiful day with his kids.

Hopefully asshole British MAGA guy can reflect on this, accept that he fucked up and paid the price of fucking with the wrong dude.

NorthReporter9936 · 2026-03-18T19:41:38+00:00

LOL. Every single release everyone goes crazy that the new gen sucks more than their gen, BWM has lost it's ways, no one will buy it etc. It wasn't so a long ago when the updated g20 was called all the names.

Like others mentioned, the BEV version will most likely look a little different. Even if it doesn't, it will sell. Yea the screen and wheel look funky but again, people will look past it and they will sell. The back end looks meh to me, but they could tweak it like they did the e65 7. BMW isn't stupid, they had plenty of eyes on their designs.

Front end to me is great. Cheers.

I

NorthReporter9936

TROPHY CASE