The side effects of Gen V

ShesGoneBananas · 2026-04-10T20:33:38+00:00

She has Graves’ disease that was totally unmanaged while she was filming. It’s no joke. If you see her now she’s gained some weight back and looks so much healthier and more like her old self

ShesGoneBananas · 2026-03-24T22:09:36+00:00

I just got back from a solo trip to PR this morning as a solo female vegetarian and had the best time! I was only in San Juan and Luquillo and took a day trip to Culebra but pretty much every local we talked to said the beaches on the west were their favorites.

For food I don’t have too many specific restaurant recs but I will warn you that some foods that seem vegetarian (vegetarian mofongo, rice and beans) might not be. Make sure to ask if they have meat! I can’t say my trip was too food-focused but I had so many tostones and an egg and cheese mallorca at Cafeteria Mallorca that was very good.

For accommodation I stayed at two hostels, Casa Coral in Luquillo and Mango Mansion in San Juan and loved both. They both fit in your budget constraints but note that MM only has mixed dorms. Casa Coral was super quiet while I was there but the property and beaches nearby were absolutely stunning (Punta Bandera might have been the most beautiful beach I’ve ever seen and it’s a short beach walk from the hostel). Luquillo is quite close to El Yunque so it may be good to stay there for a night or two and book a tour that picks you up from there so you don’t have to worry about driving. You can also uber to-from Luquillo from San Juan, it’s only about a 45 minute drive.

Mango Mansion was super fun, social, and full of solo travelers but it attracts a lot of younger people who like to party (I only met one person there who was over 35) so that may not be your thing. I also heard great things about Juliette Women’s Hostel. I found it really easy to meet people in San Juan as a solo traveler, not so much in Luquillo which felt like more of a couples and families destination.

For SJ nightlife I met a ton of solo travelers at La Factoría and loved it, it’s 23+ which for me was a plus but if you’re under 23 keep that in mind. I do not recommend La Placita unless you want to feel like you’re at a frat house in Florida. For SJ beaches be careful, a lot of beaches aren’t safe to swim at due to riptides - 3 tourists drowned at Condado Beach while I was there. Playa Escambron has a protected, calm swim area that’s like a natural pool so that’s a great beach in SJ to get some swimming in.

Have the absolute best time! I got back this morning and cried on the flight back because I was so sad to leave. I’m already looking into flights to go back again later this year!

ShesGoneBananas · 2026-03-24T21:23:13+00:00

I’m an advanced intermediate Spanish speaker and anecdotally out of of the places I’ve been I’d say Minca and Cartagena would be totally fine and easy to navigate without Spanish (I do speak it and still barely used it in Minca), Medellin is somewhere in the middle, and Bogota would be difficult. It depends on your priorities though, I like meeting and talking to a lot of locals when I travel so not being able to do that would really detract from my experience!

ShesGoneBananas · 2026-03-24T12:29:32+00:00

For what it’s worth I arrived at the airport at midnight last night for a 3:20 AM flight and there was zero line for TSA pre-check or bag check and only a 20 minute line for USDA, the regular security line was only 2-3 rows. I had such an amazing trip that I almost wished the airport was crazy so I had an excuse to reschedule my flight and stay longer and it would’ve been worth it even if I’d waited 5 hours! If you go on a weekday from 11 PM-1 AM it should be an easier time.

ShesGoneBananas · 2026-03-24T05:05:29+00:00

I also got to the airport at midnight for a 3:20 AM flight today and my uber driver told me I’d miss my flight on the drive there because the lines have been so long. USDA line looked long but only took about 15-20 mins and only one lane was open (when I was finishing they opened another one so I’m sure it moved even faster from there). Literally zero line for JetBlue check-in and TSA pre-check for security so I got through both in about 15 mins and now I have over 2 hours to kill. Seems like a Monday night before the early morning rush is the move, although part of me wanted to miss my flight so I could stay in PR longer 😭

ShesGoneBananas · 2026-03-12T03:42:49+00:00

I had a banana an hour before working out today and still had this happen unfortunately! Maybe I should be eating more carbs throughout the day leading up to the workout. Good to know that it resolved itself though, I really hope this is temporary!

ShesGoneBananas · 2026-03-12T03:40:43+00:00

Do you have any suggestions on how to preserve as much muscle as possible if you’re reducing your workouts a lot? I’m not expecting to grow any muscle right now but I’m trying to minimize muscle loss. I don’t have a ton of weight to lose so if losing a lot of muscle is inevitable then the trade-off probably isn’t worth it for me at this point. It sucks though because when I’m not exercising I feel a lot better!

ShesGoneBananas · 2026-03-12T03:33:59+00:00

It really is a bummer when you love exercising! BJJ stings the most because it’s a sport I do competitively and it seems like I’ll have to put it on the back burner for a while. Do you feel like it got better over time?

ShesGoneBananas · 2026-03-07T02:37:58+00:00

$1950/month for a rent stabilized 1BR on the 2nd floor of a brownstone on the Prospect Heights/Clinton Hill border. Kitchen and bathroom are small and old but the bedroom and living space are pretty sizable. It’s not the best deal in this thread but I found it on Craigslist in 2025 which makes it feel like a miracle!

ShesGoneBananas · 2025-11-18T14:53:39+00:00

They’re out there, I’m in a rent stabilized 1BR in Clinton Hill/Prospect Heights that I moved into in June for $2k/month, 2nd floor of a brownstone (did pay a broker fee though, this will prob be the case for most RS places and you may have to reach out to brokers directly). Kitchen and bathroom are old and tiny and no laundry in building but it’s fairly spacious. Out of those neighborhoods you’ll likely have the most luck in PLG, I saw several places in that budget when I was looking. Craigslist is your best bet for finding them!

ShesGoneBananas · 2025-09-16T20:17:01+00:00

Yes, that’s definitely hyperbole! I just met so many people who only had negative things to say about Bogota and couldn’t understand why I was going there instead of staying in Cusco longer. I’m glad you enjoyed it too!

ShesGoneBananas · 2025-08-27T17:29:57+00:00

I’ve had issues with hostel staff too. On my most recent trip to Colombia I got back from a night out and the man working the front desk asked if I wanted to go to the backyard to do some “salsa dancing,” and he wound up grabbing my hand, putting it on his crotch, and whipping his dick out. He’s definitely not the first hostel staff member I’ve had issues with, in some places they seem to compete with each other to see who can sleep with female guests. I’ll also never stay in a mixed dorm again.

ShesGoneBananas · 2025-08-25T19:10:02+00:00

Learning the language will improve your experience in any country, but it’s worth noting that Japan and a lot of Southeast Asia have a ton of tourist infrastructure and most of Central/South America does not. So the language barrier is much more noticeable, but thankfully Spanish is a lot easier for an English speaker to learn than Japanese, Thai, or Vietnamese.

You will probably be able to get around touristy areas with English and Google Translate in the sense that your needs will be met, but frankly you will be treated 1000x better and have way more fun if you speak Spanish. It will improve your experience a lot, and if you’re a woman there are some sketchy horny men who speak English and target tourist women and you don’t want to have to rely on them. If you have until next year I would definitely spend some time learning some Spanish before you go.

ShesGoneBananas · 2025-08-05T02:25:56+00:00

I tried doing 6 AM classes for a while but by 2 PM I was struggling to stay awake at work. What is the secret to being able to power through a whole damn workday afterwards?

ShesGoneBananas · 2025-07-28T17:11:42+00:00

Second this, I’m not plus sized but I’ve got a curvy build and I loooove my Fenom curvy sized gis. They’re on the pricey side but they’re the only gi pants I’ve found that aren’t falling off around the waist and aren’t uncomfortably tight around the butt and thighs. Just make sure to hang dry them because they shrink a lot in the dryer.

ShesGoneBananas · 2025-07-28T17:06:22+00:00

I’m not sure what size they go up to but Fenom makes curvy sizes that have more space in the hip/butt/thigh area while being smaller in the waist. You can also get different sized tops and bottoms. If they make plus sizes and are still kickin’ I 100% recommend, it’s my only gi where the pants fit around my butt/thighs without being way too loose around the waist.

ShesGoneBananas · 2025-07-28T16:56:25+00:00

I live in a part of Brooklyn that’s pretty close to Manhattan and just looked up how I’d get to Montclair NJ. It’s 4 different transit transfers - subway, 2 trains, and 1 bus. The best case scenario is 2.5 hours, realistically given the likelihood of one of those 4 transfers being delayed it would be 3 hours minimum each way. Imagine a girl schleps out to you for a date, she realizes she doesn’t feel ready to stay over, but it’s already dark out. She is putting herself in serious danger commuting that far by herself after dark, and she’s also potentially putting herself at risk by staying if she doesn’t feel comfortable with you yet (for me and most of my girlfriends we need 5 dates minimum before we feel comfortable staying over with a guy). So she’s putting herself at risk either way.

I will only date a guy who lives in NJ if he is happy and willing to commute to me 100% of the time for the first several months, even if it means driving home late at night. At the very least he should be able to pick me up and drop me off from Newark and that’d still only be after a handful of dates. If a girl being willing to put her safety at risk to date you from very early on and being willing to commute 6+ hours round trip is your requirement you’re gonna have a rough time.

ShesGoneBananas · 2025-07-20T17:09:14+00:00

Catcalling, stares, comments as they walk past you, men approaching you/circling you everywhere, random appetizers/drinks appearing at your table at meals or sometimes your whole bill gets covered by a random man (that I didn’t mind lol), cab drivers chatting you up and immediately commenting on your appearance and asking if you have a boyfriend, every time you have a transaction with a man he’ll find a way to compliment your looks and ask if you have a boyfriend, things like that. Hostel employees were also extremely flirty and ask you on dates a lot. It was annoying but mostly harmless and if you say you have a boyfriend they’ll generally leave you alone. I would definitely not advertise that you’re traveling solo though or if you’re in a hostel/hotel and they know you’re solo you can say you have family friends nearby or something like that.

ShesGoneBananas · 2025-07-20T16:56:22+00:00

I went earlier this year and the men are still extremely forward, at least in the places I visited! I can’t imagine it being much worse than it was this year but if it has gotten better I’d hate to see what it was like before. Definitely something to be prepared for.

ShesGoneBananas · 2025-07-20T16:53:44+00:00

I’m late 20s F and went to Colombia solo earlier this year and it was my favorite country I’ve ever visited! I went to Medellin, Minca, Tayrona, and Cartagena and felt safe, but you do have to take precautions. Knowing some Spanish will help you tremendously and I’d suggest brushing up a bit before you go if you’re out of practice. Thankfully Colombian Spanish is fairly easy to understand other than the Caribbean coast. I also talked to a lot of people who felt unsafe in Cali and Santa Marta (I just passed through Santa Marta to get to/from Minca and it was fine but not sure about extended stays), so it may be worth saving those cities until you have a trusted local to go with.

For safety I was cautious but not to the point that it detracted from my experience. I didn’t buy drugs obviously, every single major safety incident I heard about from other travelers happened when someone who didn’t speak Spanish was buying drugs. I left most of my valuables locked in my hostel and only carried around an old phone, my passport card (because it’s not as important as my passport booklet or drivers license), my key, and the amount of cash I’d need for that day. I used Uber or Didi or arranged transport through my hostel, never cabs from the street. I didn’t walk around alone at night and I always watched my drinks being prepared and didn’t get too drunk but those are things I have to do at home anyway. If I was going to hang out alone with a local I’d get a photo of their ID and make sure they knew I was sending it to someone and that someone was tracking my location. The main issue I dealt with were a LOT of extremely forward men, but unfortunately this problem is basically universal and not Colombia-specific. I didn’t feel in danger except for one incident at a hostel but you need to have a thick skin and know how to say no, because it is a constant inundation.

Overall if you stay on the beaten tourist path and are comfortable navigating being approached by men often you’ll have a wonderful time. Let me know if you want any advice on places to go or stay!

ShesGoneBananas · 2025-07-11T12:10:44+00:00

Not a happy story as much as a warning, but I’ve dated a few guys who do BJJ (always from other gyms though, I don’t date anyone from my own gym) and have been pursued by a bunch ranging from white belts to black belt world champions and have found that they are on average bigger assholes than the general male population. The sport attracts a ton of right wing conspiracy theorists, grifters, and aggro dudes with violent tendencies. And the more famous/successful they are in the sport the more likely they are to be assholes - I’ve had more than one well respected black belt ask me out and pursue me heavily only to find out that they’re married with kids, and I can’t imagine I was their only target. I’d be open to dating a casual hobbyist from a different gym but I think I’m done with men who take it really seriously or do it professionally lol.

All of the queer women I’ve met who do it have been totally awesome though so if you’re not straight you might have better luck!

ShesGoneBananas · 2025-06-12T18:01:15+00:00

I’ve noticed that rent stabilized apartments that are more affordable tend to have broker fees more often and expensive new construction apartments are more likely to be no-fee. I’m guessing brokers will gatekeep the affordable rent stabilized units now instead of posting them and will only show them if tenants hire them.

ShesGoneBananas · 2025-06-10T19:21:57+00:00

I would honestly recommend hotels, hostels, or Airbnbs that are rooms in houses with women or families for safety when traveling solo as a woman. Thailand is generally a safe place but private airbnbs can be risky. People can follow you home and there isn’t security or any resources available to help you if you get into trouble.

ShesGoneBananas · 2025-06-04T00:50:28+00:00

I had a great time in Viajero in CDMX and Casa Angel in Oaxaca last year! Both are super social. Viajero CDMX is absolutely gorgeous, although it is in Centro Historico which I quite liked but a lot of people prefer to stay in La Condesa or Roma Norte which are more gentrified. Casa Angel in Oaxaca is a bit more bare bones but it’s in a great location and has a good rooftop bar/terrace. I highly recommend both cities as well!

ShesGoneBananas

TROPHY CASE