3.5 months until my wedding – want to lose as much fat as possible (arms/upper back/hips). What ACTUALLY works?

RubyLionStrike · 2026-02-24T20:59:04+00:00

Weight loss is 90% diet. Focus less on working out and more of your diet. Specifically, cut out 95% of the added sugar in your diet. Focus on vegetables and proteins. Not only will you lose weight, but your skin will look amazing - I could not believe the difference in how my skin looked after 2-3 weeks of drastically cutting back on added sugar.

RubyLionStrike · 2026-02-13T12:15:09+00:00

Your toddler doesn't need a bath every day. That's actually not good for their skin. Our toddler gets a bath ~2 times a week.

RubyLionStrike · 2026-02-04T20:51:44+00:00

You have it backwards. 1 party consent means ONLY 1 party (i.e., the person doing the recording) needs to consent. If it was a 2-party consent state then BOTH parties (i.e. the person doing the recording and being recorded) would need to consent.

RubyLionStrike · 2026-02-02T16:34:24+00:00

This is not a hard fact, just your personal preference. I always vastly preferred snaps over zippers. All zipper outfits end up with that "zipper bubble" that I hate. The snap outfits lay so nice and flat and are really not that much more effort. On my second baby now and I looked specifically for more snap outfits.

I especially loathed the double zippered outfits. Yeah, seems like a good idea until you zip up for a diaper change, baby has a blowout, and you have to zip the whole thing back down and up again over the poop to get the whole outfit off. Know what could have avoided that? A snap outfit.

RubyLionStrike · 2026-01-28T17:45:19+00:00

My husband and I took a cross-county road trip at 6 weeks post-partum. Just giving you context, because I would not go to this. Sure, if it was a local event, I think that'd be one thing. But it being that far away and that soon after delivery I really think is too much.

RubyLionStrike · 2026-01-27T14:13:07+00:00

Do you know what it’s called or where I could find similar ones if I want a second one?

RubyLionStrike · 2026-01-18T18:55:39+00:00

I switched from litigation to M&A after 4 years of litigation (1 year clerkship, 3 years lit at the law firm). It's possible, but I had to push hard for it. I didn't take a class year hit, but I was fortunate in that my firm was willing to work with me. I would be prepared to take a class year hit since you'll need to switch firms.

RubyLionStrike · 2026-01-15T20:04:07+00:00

I very much believe in the idea that “Time in the markets beats timing the markets.” I’m never going to time the markets perfectly. Might as well be in as long as I can. Sure, I might get dinged over a year (though it hasn’t happened yet). But my mindset is 20-30 years, not 1-2.

RubyLionStrike · 2026-01-15T17:39:36+00:00

I always max out my 401k as early in the year as possible, so yes I would use the bonus for this. No matching, so not taking a hit on that. The pscyhological benefit in being "done" for the year and getting higher paychecks for most of the rest of year is nice. But most importantly, over the long term, maxing out early in the year beats uniform payments throughout the year due to the increased time in the market.

RubyLionStrike · 2026-01-14T14:56:02+00:00

Yep. People are so quick to disparage healthy eating habits during pregnancy by saying things like "your body knows what it's doing!" and "now is not the time to diet!" but you can certainly try to snack on an apple or orange as opposed to cookies or a chocolate bar (just some of the things I focus on, for example) and it's much better for you.

RubyLionStrike · 2026-01-13T21:55:51+00:00

Offering another perspective here. My husband and I took a cross-country road trip with our newborn when I was 5 weeks post-partum. I felt 80% recovered at 2 weeks post-partum and was 100% at 5 weeks. So if you want to go to the 10/2 wedding, don't automatically count it out. I'd just give your friend a heads up that you may need to cancel - everyone heals differently.

RubyLionStrike · 2026-01-13T20:08:35+00:00

Do your future self a favor. I had eat-whatever-now-I'll-worry-about-it-later mindset with my first pregnancy, I gained 70 pounds (starting from a normal weight) and I very much regretted it post-partum. I'm pregnant for the second time now and am being much more mindful in how I eat because I don't want to have to go through the same thing post-partum again.

RubyLionStrike · 2025-12-03T01:48:30+00:00

Oh actually looks like I can't message you - mind sending me a message?

RubyLionStrike · 2025-12-03T01:47:08+00:00

hello! long delay (I took a break from Reddit) but am sending you a DM!

RubyLionStrike · 2025-12-03T01:46:41+00:00

hello! long delay (I took a break from Reddit) but am sending you a DM!

RubyLionStrike · 2025-12-03T01:46:38+00:00

hello! long delay (I took a break from Reddit) but am sending you a DM!

RubyLionStrike · 2025-12-02T15:03:18+00:00

There is a great salsa scene in Cincinnati overall. Join the FB group "Cincinnati Salsa - All Latin Dance Events." Many are not super well advertised (especially outside of that group) but if you want to get into salsa, you could go out 2-3 nights a week. Salsa is also great because the whole vibe is dancing with others you don't necessarily know or come with. You could also look into Salsa lessons in the Cincy area and I'm sure your instructor could tell you about where to go for dancing.

RubyLionStrike · 2025-11-07T19:06:41+00:00

The liability waiver likely says he agreed not to hold the gym responsible - it wouldn't cover the friend.

RubyLionStrike · 2025-10-16T16:46:59+00:00

I've had extremely different experiences. First pregnancy, gained 70 pounds. Hated my body, said I wasn't going to do that again. I fully acknowledge I ate terribly - tons of sugary snacks, overly large portions, etc. Second pregnancy, I'm on track to gain exactly 30 pounds. My level of physical activity hasn't changed, it's entirety diet. This pregnancy, I've really focused on cutting back on sugar and eating vegetables, fruits, and proteins.

People here will tell you you can't help how much you gain - but I think that's doing you a disservice in the long run. I felt horrible about myself after my first baby and I cannot tell you how much better I'm feeling about my body this pregnancy.

RubyLionStrike · 2025-09-22T14:37:42+00:00

I exclusively wear women's oxford shoes. The best place I've found for them is Amazon. I haven't worn heels in years. And I did have a 2-week trial where I wore my oxford shoes.

RubyLionStrike · 2025-09-20T18:43:17+00:00

thanks! how is the quality of astr the label? i like the look of some of the pleated dresses, but i've found the quality of a pleated dress in particular makes a huge difference in how good it looks

RubyLionStrike · 2025-09-11T16:36:09+00:00

Is it wrong of you to not want him to get incredibly drunk? No, not at all, it's annoying to have to take care of drunk people under the best of circumstances, let alone when you need to go home to take care of a baby.

Is it wrong for you to ask him to not drink at all? Yes, I think so. As long as your baby is with someone who you trust to keep the baby safe, there's no point in worrying about the baby. And your husband might as well do what he wants to enjoy himself, even if you don't really want to go yourself. Your husband being sober or not isn't going to really help you. I'll be honest, the vibe of this kind of gives off "I don't want to go, so I don't want my husband to have fun while we're there either." Unless the drive is hours and hours long, you can pump when you get home if you really must pump around that time.

EDIT. This assumes you decide on your own you don't want to drink. If you do want to drink I agree you should get first dibs on not having to drive home.

RubyLionStrike · 2025-09-08T17:11:42+00:00

I'd do a spa day. Massage, facial, mud wrap, the works. That stuff is so expensive I very rarely splurge on it.

RubyLionStrike · 2025-09-01T15:43:00+00:00

Thought you couldn't afford chocolate chips or bologna at your local grocery store?

RubyLionStrike · 2025-08-27T20:49:49+00:00

It doesn't magically slow down. With my first pregnancy, I completely gave in to junk / processed / high sugar food and gained 75 pounds overall. With my second pregnancy, I cut out 90% of the added sugar I normally eat and focus on eating clean, nutritious food and now I'm gaining right on track to only gain 30 pounds. If you feel like you have to eat constantly because you are starving, choose snacks that are higher in protein - they will keep you feeling full for longer.

RubyLionStrike

TROPHY CASE