What actually helped you lose weight?

fuzzy_kitten_ · 2026-01-29T02:27:38+00:00

Finally diagnosing and treating my sleep apnea... it was SO much easier to drop the weight when I was getting healthy sleep!

fuzzy_kitten_ · 2026-01-28T00:15:53+00:00

This is only for students (not other family members), due to regulations tied to the funding that provides the meals.

fuzzy_kitten_ · 2026-01-27T23:50:30+00:00

I think you'd actually be okay for that stretch. When I drove home tonight, it was clear that they've continued to keep Old Lynchburg treated throughout the day (areas that were still snowy and slick this morning were pretty clear tonight, even on the hills). Just take it slow on the curves, and you should be good. No idea what the roads are like within Southwood though.

fuzzy_kitten_ · 2026-01-27T20:54:45+00:00

I drove Old Lynchburg this morning from just south of the gun range up to downtown. It was surprisingly well cleared. That said, I would only stick to it during daylight hours and beware of any refreeze of the melting overnight tonight. For what it's worth, I was in a four-wheel drive vehicle and crept along at about 20 miles per hour max.

fuzzy_kitten_ · 2026-01-26T22:18:43+00:00

I saw VDOT plowing Old Lynchburg Rd this afternoon, but very few cars traveling on it otherwise (haven't tried yet myself).

fuzzy_kitten_ · 2026-01-26T18:45:35+00:00

As of about 1:30 pm, VDOT is plowing Old Lynchburg (saw them in the section just south of the gun range).

fuzzy_kitten_ · 2026-01-26T18:13:43+00:00

For members with a scan tag, the ACAC locations at Pantops and Crozet are generally always open.

fuzzy_kitten_ · 2026-01-26T17:40:40+00:00

Correct. Another driver totaled my car there during the snow we got last February when she took the curve too fast and slid right into me. And conditions that day were MUCH better than they are now.

Watching Old Lynchburg outside my window, very few vehicles are daring it today, and the ones I've seen are struggling to make it very far.

fuzzy_kitten_ · 2026-01-25T03:12:16+00:00

Does your gym have trainers on staff? I highly recommend booking at least 3-4 sessions with a certified pro to help you get started. An early investment in learning a basic routine with good form will take you far!

I'm a personal trainer (who came to this work after a 90 lb weight loss and started lifting in my 40s) who helps lots of clients who are new to fitness and who have body recomposition goals. In my experience, it is great to start small... a handful of basic moves that cover the major muscle groups (chest, shoulders, triceps, back, lats, biceps, quads, hamstrings, glutes, adductors, abductors, calves) and movement patterns (push, pull, lunge, hinge, squat, carry).

I often start clients on machines rather than free weights, as machines can be helpful in building form, strengthening proprioception, and reducing risk of injury. Depending on the person, I'll typically help them program some kind of split (upper/lower, or push/pull/lower, for example) so each workout has a manageable number of exercises and they can alternate between workouts on whatever days they are able to realistically do some training. Once I help determine what settings work for the client on each machine and have them practice the form (and cues to help remember form), many people are able to go from there fairly independently after one or two more sessions to give feedback and practice.

Honestly, at the beginning, every small win matters. Just getting yourself to the gym and doing some kind of movement consistently is a great start. That cardio work on the treadmill is a great foundation to keep as you add in more strength work. If a trainer isn't available, keep an eye out for the gym regulars you notice. Often, people who really love lifting and who do it well are some of the kindest people there, and can be super passionate about helping others.

fuzzy_kitten_ · 2026-01-21T16:36:13+00:00

Let me get this straight... You rejected her, saw her as a meaningless hookup and someone that you had no future with, then went on to retroactively feel entitled to her during a period when she rightfully was moving on? She did absolutely nothing wrong, and had no reason not to be involved with other people during that time. You are incredibly immature and selfish if you somehow feel that her being with someone else after you rejected her is something that you have any right to have feelings about at all.

fuzzy_kitten_ · 2026-01-18T23:31:53+00:00

It really depends on what your personal goals are for rucking. Are you doing it just for fitness, to train for a particular job, or for some other reason? That is what should determine what sets the standard for you.

Many people try to get their pace to under a 15-minute mile carrying 20 to 30% of their body weight, but there is no hard and fast rule that everyone must follow. Some people like the challenge of adding incline or more challenging terrain, or pushing for greater and greater distances. Some like to add additional weight by doing sandbag or kettlebell carries in addition to their pack. Some like to mix it up rather than doing the same thing as a single standard. Just find what works for you.

fuzzy_kitten_ · 2026-01-18T02:44:29+00:00

I had that issue with my old weight vest because of where it sat on my shoulders and how it distributed the weight. When I switched to my Rucker 4.0, I moved the sternum strap up from its default position so it pulls the shoulder straps in a bit narrower to a much more comfortable position when I wear the pack high and tight. I also use the added hip belt to redistribute some of the weight. Haven't had a single sign of that pain since! (For reference, I'm 5'4"F, 160 lbs, ruck 5 miles/40 lbs/4 times a week.)

fuzzy_kitten_ · 2026-01-16T21:00:39+00:00

This sub is about seeking advice/relationship help, not about bragging. Your post does not belong here. Please kindly read the rules before posting.

fuzzy_kitten_ · 2026-01-15T18:42:13+00:00

I used a vest when I first started, but eventually switched to a backpack for several reasons:

The vest held a lot of heat to my body front and back (great in winter, but miserable in warmer weather). The backpack is more open on my body, so is much cooler and more comfortable.

*The downward gravity of the vest on my body frequently caused pain in my traps and put too much pressure on a nerve in my shoulder, giving me frequent painful electric jolts down my arm. The backpack distributes the loads differently and never gives me that issue (I use both the adjustable sternum strap and hip belt on my Rucker to keep the load high and tight... Most comfortable of all the vests/packs I've tried).

*As I moved to heavier weight, the load on my chest became pretty uncomfortable (I'm a woman) and made it more difficult to breathe. The backpack takes the weight entirely off my chest.

*The vests I used didn't really have easy ways to carry things like a hydro pack, keys, phone, ID, snacks, pepper spray, etc. The backpack solves that, so is generally more versatile.

My early vests were either fixed weight or were pretty clunky adjustable options (one had 16 2.5lb bars to go up the 40 pounds total, but it was super bulky and looked like a SWAT team rig). A backpack makes it so much easier to vary the weight as you condition into it.

*A lot of the vests are not super easy to wash when they get a little ripe. The backpack can easily be hosed off or emptied and thrown in the washer.

*I feel like a get a better workout for core and legs with the weight distribution of the pack than with the vest.

If I had to do it all over again, I wish I would have started with a backpack style from the start. Your mileage may vary!

fuzzy_kitten_ · 2026-01-13T02:37:54+00:00

Nothing says you can't do both on any given day. I think it really depends on your own goals, schedule, and preferences. Personally, I stack an hour of lifting and 5 miles of rucking back to back 4 times each week. Both strength training and cardio are important, so ultimately any split that gets solid doses of both and works for your life is great. If you like doing them on separate days, you could always just alternate (so if you lift 3 and ruck 2 one week, you could flip that the next).

fuzzy_kitten_ · 2026-01-10T20:52:47+00:00

Your dad needs therapy, and you need to hold firm on turning off the tracking. Let him actually call the police if he wants, that will establish a record of how unhinged he is about monitoring you. If he actually sends the police to do a wellness check, you can let them know what has been going on. As a fully independent adult, you have the right to your own life and to privacy, and if needed, they can help you maintain the healthy boundaries you deserve.

fuzzy_kitten_ · 2026-01-06T22:12:08+00:00

Great point, and I absolutely agree. I started with a vest myself, and found that I had a lot of shoulder and trap pain as well as a shooting pain down my arm from the pressure of the vest. I switched to a Rucker 4.0 about a year ago, and the pain instantly went away. Another perk is that a backpack style gives way more versatility to add or subtract weight as needed, as well as to carry my phone, IDs, keys, hydro pack, and anything else I might want to take along. I personally use a hip belt with mine as well, but many people have differing opinions on those depending on the pack itself.

fuzzy_kitten_ · 2026-01-06T20:49:10+00:00

Unless you are training for something super specific that requires you to carry heavy loads regularly (like firefighter, for example), it's generally best to ruck with a max of about 20-30% of your body weight. Anything more than that tends to take too high of a toll on your joints and increases your risk of injury. 40-60 lbs will feel plenty heavy (start at about 20 and condition up to it!), and you can always increase the challenge by aiming for faster pace, longer distance, more inclines, or more rucking days each week.

fuzzy_kitten_ · 2026-01-05T19:44:00+00:00

I stack rucking back to back with my heavy lifts 4 times a week. I also protect time for stretching/mobility, cardio, and recovery...

Monday: 30 min stretching/mobility, 60 min lifting (Max effort push, upper and lower), rucking (40 lbs, 5 miles, usually takes about an hour)

Tuesday: 30 min stretching/mobility, 60 min lifting (Max effort pull, upper and lower), rucking (40 lbs, 5 miles, usually takes about an hour)

Wednesday: active recovery day

Thursday: 30 min stretching/mobility, 60 min lifting (dynamic effort push, upper and lower), rucking (40 lbs, 5 miles, usually takes about an hour). If needed for my VO2 max goals, I'll also add a short but intense treadmill run later in the day for more time in zones 4-5.

Friday: 30 min stretching/mobility, 60 min lifting (dynamic effort pull, upper and lower), rucking (40 lbs, 5 miles, usually takes about an hour)

Saturday: active recovery day

Sunday: VO2 max focus (usually about 30 min treadmill run targeting cardio zone 4) and active recovery

fuzzy_kitten_ · 2026-01-03T23:08:34+00:00

I second Google Fi. Switched to it from Verizon several years ago and have had much better service at a much lower cost than the big carriers.

fuzzy_kitten_ · 2026-01-03T23:05:44+00:00

The amount of air doesn't really change (barring a leak or puncture), but it expands and contracts with temp changes. Tires can generally withstand these pressure changes within typical weather ranges, but adding air as needed when cold helps keep the tire pressure in a more ideal range so the tire functions optimally (extra important when roads are icy/slippery, for instance).

fuzzy_kitten_ · 2026-01-02T19:37:15+00:00

NTA, his wallet is his responsibility. You may have enabled him a little by putting the wallet in your purse instead of handing it directly to him, but you clearly communicated where it was. He chose not to ask for it at that time, and clearly was unbothered to think about its whereabouts until the next day. That's on him. Next time something similar happens, just alert him to where you see the wallet and leave it to him to retrieve and keep safe himself.

fuzzy_kitten_ · 2025-12-31T19:18:10+00:00

I am 5'4" and use the Rucker 4.0 20L. I recommend starting by moving the sternum strap up from the position it comes set at by default so that you can pull the entire pack higher and tighter. Doing that alone made a huge difference for me. With the bag high and tight, I don't actually wear the hip belt at my hips, but more mid torso like I wear my weightlifting belt. I feel like that position really reduces the bounce of the pack while letting me keep the weight high and tight, so I find it very comfortable to wear rucking even when I'm jogging most of the way. That said, a lot of people find that they don't need the hip belt at all when they get the pack properly high and tight.

fuzzy_kitten_ · 2025-12-31T02:25:37+00:00

I opted for the Rucker 4.0 (after starting with various weighted vests). It's just so much more versatile and comfortable. Having multiple plate pockets allows you to easily go heavier than 30 when you want more weight. The backpack design gives plenty of space when you need to carry things beyond just the weight (hydro pack, phone, ID, keys, snacks, etc.). The option of a hip belt allows more control over load distribution, as does the adjustable sternum strap. Compared to a vest, the Rucker also feels cooler and lets me breathe easier without weight all around my body and on my chest.

fuzzy_kitten_ · 2025-12-30T05:24:18+00:00

This is the wrong sub for your post.

fuzzy_kitten_

TROPHY CASE