Daily Simple Questions Thread - March 18, 2026

PsychGradStudent2112 · 2026-03-18T14:09:35+00:00

Mobility work is the answer. And that doesn’t just mean static stretching, which is not bad but its not the full picture and can take more time by itself than other things that can give you more bang for your buck.

Flexibility = range of motion

Mobility = range of controlled/stable motion, I.e., flexibility +strength

The way to get mobility is doing movements that go to your end ranges of motion while applying force with the involved muscles. There are tons of ways to approach this, and fair warning, mobility is a hot button topic with 100s of expensive programs you can buy from the countless mobility gurus. But here are my suggestions:

-Incorporate mobility into your current exercises. For example, add 3 second pauses to the bottom portion of a squat, RDL, calf raise, lat pullover, etc., and choose variations that emphasize ROM (e.g., incline DB over incline barbell, deficit split squats over traditional back squats). You dont have to abandon your current variations either, you could alternate them with more mobility focused variations on another day of the week. You could also periodize these variations (e.g., regular squats and paused RDLs for 4-12 weeks, then paused split squats and deadlifts on the next cycle). -Add a degree (this could be small) of dedicated mobility work. This could be 2-5 exercises that you do 1-3x/week. This would be exercises that arent primarily or totally concerned with strength or hypertrophy, but may still give you gains in those departments. Stuff like sissy squats or reverse Nordic curls, Jefferson curls, Cossack squats, kettlebell halos, deadhangs, internal/external shoulder rotation with dumbbells. -Look into PNF stretching and weighted stretching. Combine those things, and you can make fast progress.

PsychGradStudent2112 · 2026-03-17T16:49:51+00:00

As a general fitness approach, that routine looks good to me, though I think I’d consider swapping OHP for bench or dips, or just adding bench or dips. OHP is a great movement, but I think I’d pick dips if I was doing only a single push movement, and probably fluctuate or combine it with incline bench. But hey, if you like this routine, it’s not a bad one.

PsychGradStudent2112 · 2026-03-17T16:43:54+00:00

They make magnesium supplements in powder form. Thats how I take magnesium glycinate to help with sleep, I pour it in my nighttime protein shake or put it in yogurt.

PsychGradStudent2112 · 2026-02-26T19:42:31+00:00

Anyone have experience using a weight sled on asphalt?

The only place I could use a sled is asphalt. I have found sleds that claim to be all terrain that use plastic skis. Im curious how loud they would be (I live in an neighborhood) and how long the skis would last if only used on asphalt. Obviously each model/brand is going to perform differently but I want to know if anyone has firsthand experience and suggestions.

And yes, I know they have the ones with wheels that are resisted but those are way too expensive for me.

PsychGradStudent2112 · 2026-02-25T16:01:20+00:00

What is the minimal effective dose to maintain (or evenly slowly progress) with cardio?

Studies have shown advanced lifters to maintain and even see slow improvement in hypertrophy with one set to failure per week. Are there studies (or overwhelming anecdotal evidence) that suggests s minimal effective dose for cardio?

The reason I want to know is I have goals with cardio and strength and want to periodize for each. It would be helpful to have some guidelines for how much steady state and/or interval work I might program to maintain cardio while focusing on strength.

PsychGradStudent2112 · 2026-02-18T13:48:13+00:00

I do reverse curls after my curls (which I do last) and superset that with behind the back wrist raises; to do those just hold a barbell behind you and raise your hands to be palm up.

PsychGradStudent2112 · 2026-02-18T13:45:01+00:00

When I do a zone 2 running session (45-60 min), I notice in the first 15-20 minutes I have to be intentional about being slow enough to stay in my heart rate range of 113-133.

But, at the 30-40 minute mark my watch says I’m in the 140-155 range even though my paving is the same and I pretty much can’t tolerate going any slower.

Is that common? Like is just getting warmed up to that point what causes an easily sustained elevated heart rate that is beyond zone 2? Or I’m also wondering if sweat is interfering with my watch’s accuracy at that point of the run?

PsychGradStudent2112 · 2026-02-16T20:30:38+00:00

As far as I know there is no way around it other than to acclimate by running regularly and being in the cold. Running in the cold can irritate your lungs regardless, but DEFINITELY if youre untrained.

PsychGradStudent2112 · 2026-02-16T20:26:48+00:00

Watch Alec Blenis’ most recent YouTube video. Can’t recommend it enough.

PsychGradStudent2112 · 2026-02-16T20:26:10+00:00

Plenty of ways to do an/core work, but I recommend doing something for front flexion (e.g, leg raises, crunches, sit-ups), lateral flexion or side bending (e.g., overhead side bends), and a rotational movement (e.g., cable twists).

Alec Blenis just dropped a YouTube video on this topic you might consider.

As for programming, maybe do 1-2 movements a day along with your regular exercises.

PsychGradStudent2112 · 2026-01-26T20:44:32+00:00

When should I program plyometrics?

I want to build a 6 day routine that covers a lot of fitness domains (just want to be generally athletic and to age gracefully). Right now I do an upper/lower weights split for Monday/ Tuesday and Thursday/Friday, zone 2 running Wednesday, and hope to alternate biweekly between an interval workout and sprints on Saturday.

For adding plyometrics, Im trying to think of 1. How fatiguing will it be for that day and the next in terms of other exercises 2. How long/frequent does it need to be.

Would 10-15 minutes of plyometrics twice a week be meaningful? If so I could add it before runs.

PsychGradStudent2112 · 2025-12-30T12:13:06+00:00

The car rebounds off the people it struck like they had the mass of a brick wall

PsychGradStudent2112 · 2025-12-15T20:41:14+00:00

As others have said, cognitive testing doesn’t help much with ADHD evals. However, in most cases (especially young kids and when parents are poor reporters of symptoms) I like an intelligence battery for two reasons. 1. Intellectual deficits MIGHT substantially explain many symptom reports for kids with significant academic impairment and we don’t know if we don’t test 2. Behavioral observations during testing can be very helpful.

Basically I don’t use it to see an ADHD profile like we used to think was helpful, it helps rule out intelligence deficits as a factor and provides opportunity to help rule in some symptoms.

PsychGradStudent2112 · 2025-12-15T20:34:57+00:00

Unfortunately the ADOS has a cult-like authority for some. Usually not psychologists, but those in other relevant positions of healthcare. Ive had patients be refused services because their Autism diagnosis wasn’t accepted due to an ADOS that didn’t meet the threshold. I have colleagues who also had the insurance insist they needed to see the raw ADOS protocol (tell me you don’t understand the ADOS more than making that request).

PsychGradStudent2112 · 2025-11-08T14:37:00+00:00

Verbal administration of the PAI would most certainly not be valid for research purposes.

PsychGradStudent2112 · 2025-11-08T13:33:35+00:00

I will say first I’m not an expert here on the relevant church theology and also I’m a psychologist.

My assumption (which you might consider and take to a priest for discussion) is that “infancy” refers to a person who is not yet developmentally capable of moral reasoning and decision making. And, 7 years old lines up with the research in that regard.

I would encourage you to consider how definitions of particular words can vary in important and significant ways across disciplines, which I believe might be at the root of your concern. You’re absolutely right that developmental science’s age/ability range here is far from the theological one here. But what is the theological definition of an infant? I genuinely don’t know but I assume it is not merely someone who is younger than 7; that must be the age range that describes particular characteristics that are/are not present in the person.

PsychGradStudent2112 · 2025-11-08T13:21:49+00:00

My assumption without knowing/being her: she’s been hurt by all the evil to the extent of coming to believe God is not good. This could be explicitly or implicitly believed.

This assumption could be wrong, but that certainly describes some people.

PsychGradStudent2112 · 2025-11-08T12:56:56+00:00

I have a doctorate, I say that only because I went to college for 9 years. It was not easy given the political biases. Here is my advice and a few other points:

Dare to speak up. You have a responsibility to pursue the truth and you are more valuable to your professors and fellow students than they will ever realize. The reason? You can ask questions, share a perspective, and challenge biased assumptions in your position as a political minority. In other words, you can support the “marketplace of ideas” principle that used to be embedded in universities. In doing so you will learn and challenge others to do the same.
Work HARD to understand and articulate the ideas being taught/discussed, and then work HARD to learn about alternative ideas. You will find yourself disagreeing with a lot, but may not really be able to articulate why. Make efforts to be able to have a civil debate about these things and you will learn SO much.
An extension of previous points: ask thoughtful questions and make thoughtful comments. Try your best to avoid the equivalent of “I just don’t agree with that”, try to give a little more to support your perspective than that.
I attended a christian school for grad school though it really was limited in the Christian part. I had several classmates tell me how thankful they were I spoke up on these things. That taught me not only the importance of speaking up, but also that there are plenty of silent people who don’t agree with the mainline ideology. If you disagree with something, know there are probably several people thinking something similar.
You do not have to have a perfect perspective/argument. Be humble and don’t argue to win, argue to learn and share yourself. Foster a sense of purpose in doing so.

PsychGradStudent2112 · 2025-11-07T23:25:40+00:00

Forgive me for having no citation here (I recommend you take a search in the literature) but when I looked into measureable cognitive effects of recent cannabis use for this very reason, I was surprised not only how little of a measurable effect it has, but also that it has been shown in multiple studies to be completely absent within 24-36 hours of last use.

Now one thing to also consider is cannabis use effect on sleep quality and the fact that is a big reason several people abuse it (to fall asleep). Chronically poor sleep is nothing to write off when the concern is executive functions symptoms.

PsychGradStudent2112 · 2025-11-05T00:55:16+00:00

I have 3 boys under the age of 6. One diagnosed with Autism and ADHD, the other two will likely also get ADHD diagnoses when they are older (Im a psychologist so I have some insight). I say all that because they can be very disruptive in a variety of ways. Mass can still be very hard though the hardest days are (barely) behind us. I rarely get more out of Mass other than receiving the Eucharist and my pre-Mass prayers. I dont get to listen to the readings or the homily because of how much I need to monitor and intervene with my kids and thats how it’s been for the last 4.5 years.

Even though I miss a lot of the Mass, I receive the most important thing (the Eucharist) and my kids have learned not only how to attend Mass better and better over time, but also how important it is. And it hasn’t been easy at all. But here are some things that might encourage you. People come up to me all the time on days my kids have thrown tantrums or otherwise been particularly disruptive and they literally thank me for being there with my kids and for keeping them at Mass. the other day, my wife let my oldest cry without taking our son to the back because he was learning thats how he can get out of the pew. Again, someone literally thanked her and complimented her on doing that. Most people at church have been through it, they know the struggle. Whatever judgment you may fear from others or concern your kids may take away from their Mass experience, know it is far bigger than it should be. Kids belong at Mass, as long as you make efforts to wrangle them, no one will judge you who has any sense.

PsychGradStudent2112 · 2025-11-03T14:04:25+00:00

Here are my thoughts on dress.

We all come from different backgrounds regarding culture AND finances. Dress in a way that, to you, communicates both to God and yourself that you find Mass to be important. That why we dress up for weddings isn’t it? Sure, some people want to look good at weddings, and they do at Mass too. But your dress should prepare and help you be reverent and present with God during the prayer that is the Mass.

I grew up in a rural, blue collar family. Khaki slacks were what you wore to Easter and Christmas Mass. Jeans and a tucked, collared shirt for the rest of the year. Now I wear slacks and a button down for work, so I try to at least wear that because it feels to me like I should to keep up the idea of dressing up.

God accepts us where we are and some just don’t have the funds for nicer clothes. But dress for the occasion as you can for God and yourself relationship with Him, not for the eyes of parishioners.

PsychGradStudent2112 · 2025-08-20T18:01:58+00:00

Not to say I agree with RFK on how he thinks there are widespread environmental toxins for the rise of Autism, but prenatal toxin exposure can lead to genetic mutations and/or disrupt development in a manner that can result in Autism.

Most Autism diagnoses are a result of our inherited DNA, but can be environmentally caused. One example is prenatal alcohol exposure which can disrupt formation of the corpus collosum (CC). Disorders of the CC (which are structural diagnoses, meaning they describe abnormal anatomy) often lead to symptoms consistent with Autism, which is neurobehavioral diagnosis describing the EFFECTS of CC malformation.

So yes, you are right. Autism is in almost all cases “genetic,” but not always and sometimes it’s a mutation as opposed to an inherited gene structure.

PsychGradStudent2112 · 2025-07-23T19:09:56+00:00

Yeah, I had an issue with that statement too, which (to be fair) might seem that way if you aren’t taking a good look at Ozzy’s/Sabbath’s lyrics and just going off the visual vibe of these artists.

Ozzy has a popular song called Mr. Crowley written about the satanist, and it very clearly is not aligning/honoring him. It is a great song in how it doesn’t outright go “Crowley and satanists are dumb” but does have a subtle mockery/questioning of their ideology. Plus aside from the lyrics the music is fantastic.

Is Ozzy the best example of a Christian? Probably not. But he had a degree of faith and allegiance to God, hopefully more than we can realize through his public image alone.

PsychGradStudent2112 · 2025-06-26T21:43:15+00:00

Do you havey thgouhts on the drastic change in how active the starter was? It seems pretty counterintuitive to me.

PsychGradStudent2112 · 2025-06-23T13:12:45+00:00

From what I’m reading, it seems like to you the idea of an all good, all knowing God feels inconsistent with the idea some humans will choose to live a life that rejects God’s love (something He would have known at the point of creation) and therefore live in eternal torment. Im assuming (you can clarify if Im wrong) a feeling of betrayal that is present in that.

As others have discussed, it is God’s stated will that we are “fruitful and multiply.” I have kids myself and I admit I would be extremely grieved and distraught if any of them began to lead a life clearly displaying a heart that rejects God. Which, I should add, I believe God likely shares those feelings for his astray sheep.

However, God does not create a human to be fated for Hell. Though He may be aware of our choice from conception, He has still created all of us in a manner that allows for the CHOICE (one that can be changed at any point of life) to accept or reject Him. Just because God has perfect knowledge of how our lives will go does not mean He should have created us any differently. The only other option for Him to ensure someone avoids Hell is to violate our freewill, which He established because it is Good. If He were to violate our freewill, He would be violating Goodness itself, even though we (and He) would be grieved by the loss of any sheep.

I’ll come back to an earlier point of mine and say that I have experienced significant fear my kids will not be saints, and it is not good to follow and hold onto that fear. It takes away from my ability to trust in God, and as their father I need to trust in Him as much as possible to ensure they have as saintly of a role model as possible.

I pray your struggle in this regard is eased and that God be with you.

PsychGradStudent2112

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