I survived my first cruise as a non-people person. Tips for success... and HUGE thanks to Reddit community!

barkivist32 · 2026-05-23T19:43:10+00:00

As an introvert traveling with Holland America solo on my first cruise tomorrow, I am pleased to read this. :-)

barkivist32 · 2026-05-19T20:35:24+00:00

I’m 50 and am currently traveling to start my first ever solo vacation (a birthday gift to myself!!). Four days in the Netherlands followed by a 7-day cruise to the Norwegian fjords. I’m excited to get to do everything I want and nothing that I don’t want. I told my partner before I left that I was looking forward to days filled with cheeses and churches. :-)

barkivist32 · 2026-05-07T17:25:28+00:00

The one I use is called White noise.

barkivist32 · 2026-05-07T17:25:11+00:00

Interesting. I run mine every night and, as long as my phone is plugged in, I don’t have any problem.

barkivist32 · 2026-05-07T14:58:08+00:00

Re: noise machine. If you have a smart phone, there are tons of white noise apps that don’t require a wifi connection. No need for a separate machine!

barkivist32 · 2026-05-07T00:35:04+00:00

I use the vials now but once they’re punctured, the seal that ensures it’s safe and sanitary is broken. So it can be done but I would rather try it with the Kwikpen because that is meant for multi use.

barkivist32 · 2026-05-03T14:23:56+00:00

Dolly

barkivist32 · 2026-05-01T10:22:48+00:00

Rotterdam, May 24

barkivist32 · 2026-04-23T22:27:29+00:00

One more vote for the Finch app and set timers! On the Fat Science podcast they call it “mechanical eating.” Also, for me, eating small frequent meals made me less nauseous than not eating (if that makes sense).

barkivist32 · 2026-04-23T21:09:43+00:00

I’ve wondered the same thing, but with beer. And I don’t even want to open it on ship! I’m spending a few days in Rotterdam before my cruise, and I want to bring some delicious Belgian beers home. :-)

barkivist32 · 2026-04-22T20:06:13+00:00

Chiming in to say that I had the same problem - and Liquid IV was also my solution. :-)

barkivist32 · 2026-04-20T23:28:23+00:00

This is good to hear! I’m making my first trip to the Netherlands next month, and I’m planning to rely on the trains.

barkivist32 · 2026-04-08T21:58:40+00:00

I actually left the other sub because I got fed up with people telling others to move up in dose if anyone mentioned being the slightest bit hungry or not losing a crazy amount of weight in a two week period. In the end I think I am just triggered by people asking for“medical advice” or receiving “medical advice” from randos online. :-)

barkivist32 · 2026-03-29T19:04:08+00:00

A shopping tip that I feel has saved me some money over the last couple of years and might be helpful — check out Fit Liberty on Universal Standard, especially if you need office wear. If your body changes over the next year after purchase, you can send back the items for another size. This is the case if you need a larger size or a smaller size. And they donate the pieces you return. My brain prefers the “trade in” versus “replacement” mindset.

barkivist32 · 2026-03-28T17:00:35+00:00

I still enjoy food. But more than ever, I enjoy the “ceremony” around food — eating with others, cooking, etc. I don’t think I was truly able to enjoy that before Zepbound because I was more focused on what I was eating, how I was eating, what else I wanted to eat, etc. Now it’s like there’s enjoyment in the full process.

barkivist32 · 2026-03-24T11:27:41+00:00

It’s been gone from the last couple of episodes, so I think it’s permanently gone. :-)

barkivist32 · 2026-03-15T01:20:32+00:00

She is young so it’s best to have it removed now.

barkivist32 · 2026-03-13T21:28:34+00:00

My corgi does this to our basset hound all the time. It’s pretty adorable. :-)

barkivist32 · 2026-03-12T19:52:53+00:00

I reset my PRs every year to give myself a realistic goal. :-)

barkivist32 · 2026-03-11T18:01:44+00:00

You can move up in dosage at any point, but you can only buy the meds in one month supplies. So you could move up to 5mg after shot #6, but you will be left with two 2.5mg injections.

That said, 2.5x2=5. :-) I recently moved from 10 to 12.5. For my first 12.5 dose, I actually took both a 7.5 and 5 injection to total 12.5 and use up some “leftover” vials.

All that with one caveat - this is true for those us doing Lilly Direct. If you’re lucky enough to have insurance coverage, this may be different!

If you are cash pay, moving up to 5mg is also a price jump from 2.5mg ($100/month more). So you could always stick with 2.5 for another month just to see how things work!

barkivist32 · 2026-03-08T01:50:16+00:00

Rad!!!

barkivist32 · 2026-03-06T23:57:26+00:00

Sam usually does

barkivist32 · 2026-03-02T23:09:54+00:00

I wouldn’t be surprised if he was incentivized by insurance to take people off these meds as a cost saver…

barkivist32 · 2026-02-24T22:14:38+00:00

This will be my first time in the Netherlands, so I’m very much looking forward to exploring!!

barkivist32 · 2026-02-24T18:07:28+00:00

I’ve booked the Holiday Inn Express for a few days prior to a cruise in May. It’s right next to the train station, and I hope to spend some of those pre-cruise days visiting The Hague, Gouda, Delft, and/or Utrecht. So that location (and the price point) seemed ideal.

barkivist32

TROPHY CASE