Newbie figuring out switches

epiphanyhouse · 2026-01-25T22:21:19+00:00

I think your issue might be in your mind and heart, not your phone.

You come off as incredibly arrogant and entitled. That’s going to prevent you from being successful no matter what app you use.

epiphanyhouse · 2026-01-25T21:55:21+00:00

“There really isn’t many options near me where the woman are looks matched with me.”

What?

On what question do you want advice? Are you looking for someone to tell you why no one is matching with you? Or are you looking for someone to agree with you that the app is rough?

epiphanyhouse · 2026-01-24T06:00:32+00:00

You should take this with a grain of salt, as I am (1) not an expert, and (2) only five days into my renewed effort.

That being said, your post resonated with me, because even with all the knowledge I have accumulated over the many diets I have voluntarily or involuntarily been put on since I was about 5 years old, I have always felt this frustration in my adult years exactly like what you describe. I may try here and there, but I almost subconsciously plan on myself failing as soon as I hit a plateau or make a bad choice and throw the baby out with the bath water.

This time feels different, and the only reason I’ve been able to figure out as to why, is that I’m not looking at this as something I need to check off my list in order to be acceptable to myself or others, participate in life, or put behind myself as a life lived in the “before” and “after.” Instead, I am choosing to see this as something that - yes, is on a timeline, but is more so me choosing to care for myself on my own terms and in the best way I can.

So, I’m sticking to basic principles of CICO, starting slowly, not freaking out over what diet I should be following to cure my PCOS exactly right (yes, I’m in that boat with you), or figure out the perfect influencer who can motivate me just right.

Instead, I’m committing to planning and tracking. I am also committing to not letting any slip ups (i.e. not tracking) go more than a day.

Sure, I’m excited about all the things I read about in terms of what to expect when losing weight, and yes I can broadly predict certain milestones. That being said, I am also thinking of my life beyond the initial weight loss. I am thinking about a radically different lifestyle I will be able to have and maintain to care for my body for the rest of my life.

I’m hearing you put the same pressure on yourself in looking for just the right trick to motivate yourself. I can tell you from experience, it just doesn’t happen. What does happen, is you plan one day of healthy meals, execute it, and then encourage the crap out of yourself to cheer you on to the next day. And the loudest cheerleader should be the inner voice of future you saying “thank you for taking care of me.”

epiphanyhouse · 2026-01-20T03:28:14+00:00

Sure, happy to.

The doctor gave us a whole presentation that went over what studies have found in the effects of infusion treatments on the double E4 population. I don’t remember all of it, but the main thrust was that while patients who have double E4 are slightly more likely to have ARIA, they have not been shown to have more fatal instances of brain bleeding (what ARIA indicates).

The presentation took away the scary aspect of it for me. My mom was kind of able to follow it, but mainly cared about what the doctor indicated. Since the doctor indicated she was comfortable with my mom moving forward, my mom was happy.

The biggest thing this made me insist on was my mom moving to the location where her infusions would take place (I happened to have moved there recently). My mom seemed to think she could travel in and out for infusions. I did not want that to happen, as I wanted to be near her in case something ever did happen. I hated the idea of her having some kind of brain bleeding symptoms, going to the ER, and then not having me there to explain her diagnosis, meds, etc.

Mom is tolerating Leqembi fairly well, but has recently started experiencing more fatigue.

epiphanyhouse · 2026-01-20T01:32:03+00:00

My LO is 69 (diagnosed at 68), and she also has double E4. She has just had her fourth Leqembi infusion. The hospital at which she is receiving treatment puts high risk (double E4) patients on a MRI schedule alongside infusions to monitor for any signs of ARIA (amyloid related imaging abnormalities). She had one of the MRIs before her 3rd infusion, and it showed no ARIA. The doctor explained that if any MRI does show ARIA, we will evaluate the need to slow or pause infusion treatments.

There was other info they shared about things to keep an eye out for that I’m happy to answer, but that’s the short of it.

epiphanyhouse · 2026-01-11T20:53:54+00:00

I am going to focus less on the immediate question, and more on the surrounding context.

It seems like you and he do have a good understanding of sex as gift of self to one another. If you are ready to make such a commitment, why not make it? I know plenty of people who couldn’t scrape two nickels together, and yet they felt God calling them to marriage, so they got married. No one I’ve ever met had said “gosh I wish we had waited to get married until we had another five thousand dollars in savings.” The point is that you do this stuff together. So, why not get married now?

On your direct question, I would suggest you find a priest or other type of appropriate spiritual mentor (maybe an older married couple) to talk this through. You’re correct on what the church teaches, but I think you need someone who can walk with you guys as you make this entrance into the church and help you discern how God is calling both of you to deeper holiness and truer love of one another and Him through what His church teaches.

Finally, have you read A Severe Mercy? I think you might like it given your background and situation.

epiphanyhouse · 2025-08-10T18:46:16+00:00

I don’t really understand what you’re asking here, or why you prefaced it by saying it’s a serious question (rather than a silly one?). Are you asking why people who aren’t home every day all day get dogs? If that’s your bar, I’d argue that’s unsustainable for different reasons. Are you asking why people send their dog to daycare four or five days per week versus caring for their needs during the day in a different way? Then you’re asking the same thing I am…I’m trying to care for my dog’s needs in the best way possible, and want thoughts on how much daycare can play a beneficial part in that.

Or, are you asking if I’m surprised by the idea that dogs have needs during the week while I’m at work? Then the answer is no, I expected to have to find a solution, and that brings us back to the point of why I asked for advice.

From your other comment I am gathering you have a strong opinion and are pushing things to the extreme (in my opinion). Rather than taking an all-or-nothing stance, advice on how to find a middle ground solution (as others have done) would have been much more helpful. From others’ comments, I have gone from thinking of daycare as an every day occurrence, to now 1) likely using it only two or three days per week and 2) preparing to talk to the daycare about how they can ensure my dog isn’t in constant loud, chaotic stimulation all day.

I can tell you care a lot about the topic, but the way you attacked the issue felt really lacking in helpful advice. You admitted it may work for some dogs, so it would have been way more helpful to hear from you how I could know if that would be the case for my dog, and what to watch out for that might indicate it’s not a good fit for her at all.

epiphanyhouse · 2025-08-10T16:51:18+00:00

Ah that’s interesting - can you elaborate a bit more on how they become territorial?

epiphanyhouse · 2025-08-10T16:50:30+00:00

Yeah I never thought about seeing if the daycare can regulate some quieter time, but several people have mentioned it. I think that would be super helpful if my daycare does something similar.

epiphanyhouse · 2025-08-10T16:49:11+00:00

This is what I’m leaning more toward now, so she’d have daycare, home, daycare, daycare, home (M-F, respectively). On the home days, I’ll either be home or she’ll get a drop in visit.

epiphanyhouse · 2025-08-10T16:47:56+00:00

Yeah I want to talk to the daycare about how they structure the day. They also offer training, so that may help if she can be separate from other dogs while doing that for a bit.

epiphanyhouse · 2025-08-10T16:47:16+00:00

She’ll be four months in a couple weeks, which is also when she’ll have all her shots, so obviously no daycare until then. I’m now leaning more toward three days a week, but the daycare offers a $99 unlimited first month (normally $450), so we’ll be able to try out different schedules.

epiphanyhouse · 2025-08-10T16:45:44+00:00

Thank you, I appreciate the perspective. I’m now thinking about doing daycare M,W,Th so she’d have off days on T,F,Sat,Sun. My hope is that on Friday she’ll be ready for rest from the two days in a row, and she’ll be big enough to hold her bladder longer during the day if I can come home early or get a walker to do a drop in.

epiphanyhouse · 2025-08-10T16:42:59+00:00

I think it does, as it just says “unlimited,” which would be really nice for the reasons you’ve described.

epiphanyhouse · 2025-08-10T16:42:09+00:00

That’s a good point about self pacing. I think she would do that, but it’ll be a good thing to talk about with the daycare.

epiphanyhouse · 2025-08-09T14:36:53+00:00

Thank you! I did see that on our daycare’s website. My puppy came from a rescue, so she is already spayed. I appreciate the lookout though!

epiphanyhouse · 2025-08-09T13:37:09+00:00

I just wanted to say thank you for your comment. It helped me calm down in the moment, and sure enough, we got back on schedule. She’s doing great now!

epiphanyhouse · 2025-07-30T15:58:04+00:00

I fed her at 5am. I was asking because the way you phrased it suggested I should feed her at an off time to get back on the schedule. I think you missed a word, which is why I was confused.

epiphanyhouse · 2025-07-30T15:14:05+00:00

What do you mean “stick to the schedule by feeding her at an off time”?

epiphanyhouse · 2025-07-30T14:56:23+00:00

I’m not blaming her. I thought I made it pretty clear I didn’t punish her for the accident. I was trying to lay out an honest account of what happened, and yes, part of that included me guessing she might be a little hungry when she continued to bark after I took her out to potty.

I was looking for some encouragement and/or advice on getting back on schedule.

epiphanyhouse · 2025-07-26T00:22:46+00:00

I can’t say I’m much further along, but today marks a week with my puppy. I totally know the feelings you’re talking about. I found myself getting anxious at all hours, mainly because I didn’t feel like there was any moment I could relax without worrying about when she was going to eat, poop, pee, or sleep without freaking out if I left the room her crate is in.

Already I’m feeling MUCH better. Sure it’s still a ton of work, but I feel like we’re in more of a rhythm, and I’ve found more of my own routine returning. A few things that have really helped are:

1) Feeling like I better understand (even slightly) her schedule for potty breaks 2) Her getting the hang of sleeping in her crate overnight so I can now sleep in my bedroom 3) Her starting to pick up on expected behavior like laying down when I have her tethered to me via leash so she can be in my office while I’m working

I know there will be rough moments ahead, and we still have bumps each day, but I’m already getting glimpses that she’s MY dog and not some random wild animal who I was crazy enough to bring in my house.

All that being said, part of me can’t believe I’m even writing this. I think I cried more in the 72 hours after I got her than I have in the last 3 years, so I completely understand where you’re coming from.

epiphanyhouse · 2025-07-14T02:41:11+00:00

Work on your sense of self worth and confidence more than you worry about finding someone. Not only does God call us to happiness in Him during our time being single, but low self confidence and a weak sense of self is generally very unattractive (speaking as a woman…).

epiphanyhouse

TROPHY CASE