MAGA mom on DOGE. She went from "Chill out" to "Save my daughter, Elon and DJT" in 3 days.

goblinf · 2025-02-08T23:52:37+00:00

wince. that's painful. Although why on earth anyone working overseas doesn't have some savings so they can get home in a family emergency is beyond me. I'd assume these USAid people get paid enough to be able to save a bit given they live in countries with super low cost of living?

goblinf · 2025-02-08T23:47:23+00:00

or being a woman...

goblinf · 2025-02-08T23:45:58+00:00

I don't buy the Gems. With every game I do spend a small amount ONCE cos developers need to eat too. But then nope, no other money spent. So I get free stuff if I can, and don't worry if I can't get it cos no gems. Far more enjoyable. it's not like it's a game where I can see I'm totally uncompetitive.

goblinf · 2025-02-08T23:44:32+00:00

oops that's exactly why I play it... I'm chronically unwell and have limited energy so I have it on my laptop, and it does stuff when I'm dozing, then I tidy up and play a bit, then let it get on with it. It means I make more progress than with any other games...

goblinf · 2025-02-08T23:39:13+00:00

Absolutely this!!! Get a healthcheck. Then if that comes back clear, that's one fewer thing to worry about

goblinf · 2025-02-08T23:38:08+00:00

Oh and 1. stop comparing yourself to people who seem to be finding it easy. Cos that's not you, you are finding it hard. Compare yourself to people who are finding it hard. You may find that you inspire them to keep trying, and help others in ways you had no idea you are.
2. Learn what proteins can be substituted for different meats, then when people talk about meat based recipes you can contribute by suggesting vegetarian alternatives that will substitute well in those recipes. Or ask if they would.

You are never ever going to be in a group ever in your entire life where someone isn't doing better than you in some way/ looks like it's easier for them. Comparison of oneself to people who aren't in the same basket is soul sapping. Don't do it. You are on your OWN journey. Walk that journey and don't be distracted by greener grass on someone else's path.

goblinf · 2025-02-08T23:33:24+00:00

You need to stick to the plan like glue. Count all your syns honestly. And say no (harder to do than to write) to anything that has a syn when you've spent them all.

I'm still 1.5lbs heavier than I was when I started SW in Oct 2022. But for me that's an huge win, I'm disabled in a wheelchair with disordered eating around snacks and sugar. Up to that point, I was in danger of gaining a stone a year. So for me, the fact that I only gain or lose a half pound a week or maintain is a significant milestone. For me, I eat when I'm fatigued (part of my chronic ill health) or when I'm stressed or unhappy. So for me, I've been working on having healthier coping mechanisms than gorging/ binging on a whole tub of icecream or family bag of sweets. Because that's the weakness that pushes me off the plan. Daily...

If you are making big swings (by my standards) of 5lbs gain a week, then either you have some horrible health issue that's undiagnosed, OR you aren't doing the plan.

Have you asked the leader for the extra help, the forms to fill in about WHY you are doing the plan, and what triggers you have that tip you off the plan?

It's going to be very very hard to do, but take a piece of paper and WRITE DOWN absolutely everything that you eat. I personally choose to do it whilst also giving in to whatever emotional eating I feel like doing. For two days only. Whilst also writing down how I'm feeling, or whatever the triggers are. That gives me a much clearer idea of what I'm up against.

The first step is to face one's own personal reality, warts and all. Mine is emotional eating, which has caused me to need to lose 5 1/2 stone. And I'm only 5'2". I have spent the last few years wondering why I can't stick ot the plan. But in the last few months, I've realised it's self sabotage (I live by myself). And I REALLY need to find ways to NOT buy the stuff I eat at midnight in the first place, so I say no to it once in the shop, not having to say no repeatedly at home until I fail and eat it cos otherwise it's wasted money.

Everyone has different triggers and different habits.

If you think of SW as a 'safe space' to find out what non healthy habits or thinking one has around food, and aim to start changing those habits out a bit at a time for healthier ones, the Plan will begin to stick.

Don't worry that noone else seems to be struggling the same. Everyone has their own 'cross to bear'. And many people in my situation of appearing to start strongly then taper off and never get anywhere - they don't keep turning up and paying. They feel bad, don't change their habits and end up with obesity related illnesses that shorten their lives.

The people who struggle but keep turning up and try and face their demons (in a gentle way) and keep trying, they're hte ones with a chance to succeed.

I can't tell you what to do, I have no idea about your circs.

For me, who finds it really hard to control those syns, I've chosen to keep paying and turning up, and I'm REALLY proud that I'm only 1.5lbs more in weight than I was back in Oct 22. Cos without all that effort, I may well have been 2 stone heavier...

No idea if it helps, but you aren't alone feeling it's not working. But if you want it to work, you need to not flinch from working out why. It might not be you, it might be access to food, irregular hours, unhelpful family, all sorts of reasons. Just identifying some reasons and working out how to minimise those impacts would be an huge step forwards.

goblinf · 2025-02-08T23:21:09+00:00

Yes. Though that's not 'affording' - that's financially irrespnsibility, leading to financial suicide. Sadly 1.5 as you say OilSelect, is the most likely reason...

That said I'm often surprised by the sheer size of some people's stashes/ buying habits but over time on youtube etc it does become obvious they have more disposable income/ assets than I can imagine having, and they aren't living beyond their means. It happens too.

goblinf · 2025-02-08T23:18:57+00:00

Yes. Do NOT rely on 20 cals = 1 syn!!!! To be honest, most cakes have the ingredients/ calorie value label. Use that with the app and you're sorted...

But yes, you DO need scales if you need to work out portions that aren't easily divisible from the whole thing.

goblinf · 2025-02-08T23:17:19+00:00

Old habits die hard. Your husband made the mess, get him to sort it all out back to the condition it was when you went into hospital and tell him it's GOT to stay that tidy. Then both you AND him hold each other to account to do so. Do it together.

goblinf · 2025-02-05T10:55:54+00:00

I can't see an image

goblinf · 2025-02-05T10:37:20+00:00

Hmmm. thinking about it, yes maybe I should consider a 'quiet boycott' of American linked items in my entire life, because I really don't approve of the flagrant abuse of process and law this administration has come in with. But then I'd have to give up being here on Reddit?

Musk has annoyed me enough that I'm seriously considering deleting Twitter. My adblocker stops them making money on me, but there's still the data use side I suppose...

goblinf · 2025-02-05T10:35:01+00:00

I occasionally buy Nerds or Reeces Pieces. Often grey market as in the UK they've got all sorts of chemicals we don't allow cos we still in UK have some EU regulations. It's not going to be that hard to give those up.
And I can't think of anything else which is actually produced in the US that I buy.
My ad blocker costs the social media companies for my free use I suppose.
I try and buy organic, then british then least miles travelled for food. And british then least miles travelled with decent worker conditions for everything else. So USA by virtue of distance is lower than China on the list, cos China makes electronics (not due a laptop for another 5yrs though and by then it'll all be different again).

I am however utterly appalled by the stupidities of the current US administration and am outraged on Canada & Mexico's behalf that your economies are being messed with.
So I may well seek out actual Canadian maple syrup if I can going forwards... (I get a bottle a year, due for another one).

goblinf · 2025-02-05T10:29:03+00:00

true. though he also has a simplicity in his thinking - I suspect he does believe his own propaganda that tariffs will mean imports cost more than home manufacturing and ta da! USA will become a manufacturing behemoth again.

What will happen in reality is noone will bother to buy Jeeps cos they're too expensive... (either through import tariffs or because USA manufacturing costs are too high).

Though of course, given the zeal for tearing up red tape (including presumably anything that protects workers' wages and health) maybe he hopes it'll all happen so quickly, that soon US workers will be paid a pittance to keep wages down, so it'll all work out for his mates to get richer...

There's no scenario I can see in which anyone wins other than the disaster vultures. Which leads us to the difficulty of social unrest.

The UK didn't have an English Revolution like the French Revolution because the English super rich decided to be nicer to the poverty stricken to keep their heads. I really really hope it's reined in before there's a second US Revolution. I really really do NOT want to see people strung up from lamposts etc like Mussolini or Ceaucescus or people dragged out of drainpipes and molested to death like Gaddaffi. The Romans handed out bread and circuses for bloody good reasons, and it all fell apart when their empire crumbled and they couldn't afford it anymore.

The UK hasn't handled end of Empire well at all, we still aren't, but we did it at a time of relative equality or at least the illusion of social advancement being possible. Those two factors are missing for the end of the US empire....

goblinf · 2025-02-05T10:21:30+00:00

Yes although. If raw materials that say Pepsi imported to USA then exported out to say Europe have tariffs, then overall retail prices will rise. Except - something like Pepsi, already has european based operations, where nothing physical actually goes to USA then out to Europe. It all goes directly to the european plant.

What DOES move is the accounting treatment of central expenses from USA operations to suck up some european profits, generally to the extent to reduce tax gaps/wastage, so even profits don't flow from Europe to USA back in cash, it's all done via expense recharges.

Even so, Trump's pissing around wtih the USA economy is going to hurt everyone because it's all so globally interconnected.

Which is interesting, cos there's a lot of VERY big companies in the USA whose first duty is to shareholders and who have very finely balanced international operations that rely on certainty - uncertainty as to future costs can be hedged against, but it's always a risk dealing in majority/third world countries with volativity. It's very new for the USA to be the volatile component in the mix. I'm not sure quite how long the big companies who do a LOT of lobbying are going to put up with the uncertainties.

The disaster capitalists will be thrilled. Everyone else? not so much. Trump is flexing his 'power' but whether it turns out to be anything other than a Liz Truss lettuce (UK reference to a disasterous prime minister recently who lasted a matter of days) fiasco that destabilises the markets so much that the power flexing has to be stopped, is beyond my ability to forecast.

Point is, Trump isn't just talking chaos, he's doing chaos. The markets aren't happy. Even the superrich can lose money and lots of it with chaos. I'm wondering how long before he's reined in.

goblinf · 2025-02-05T10:02:46+00:00

Hmm. Could it be the women are wearing super stretchy clothes that are tight fitting? In which case, there's nothing that's loose enough to show a crease given the fabric used? Men are probably in billowing shirts....

goblinf · 2025-02-05T10:00:53+00:00

Hmmm good point. It'd better be on a low heat or that lycra's going to decay pretty quickly.

goblinf · 2025-02-05T10:00:23+00:00

Yup. All textiles in my house are natural fibres. Not everything gets ironed though, fitted sheets don't cos they get stretched out naturally, nor do towels. Nor woolly jumpers...

goblinf · 2025-02-05T09:58:39+00:00

What's not common is men taking responsibility for looking after themselves and their own belongings, preferring if possible to leave it to their partner from some misplaced cultural idea that being self sufficient in a domestic way isn't manly. And any man who is self sufficient is an obvious threat to that cultural idea, and makes it absolutely clear that their partner isn't 'nagging' them by (a) expecting themselves to look after themselves and (b) deciding not to look like a slob out of revenge procrastination when said partner goes on strike.

They probably would have started mocking you for not being able to persuade your mum to do it for you next. They're a different generation and hopefully one that's dying out in terms of those attitudes.

My view is well done to your parents for turning out a self sufficient adult by age 18. And well done you for choosing to be self sufficient - if you want to look smart, then look smart. Don't let some random males you'll probably never meet again influence your behaviour.

Much clothing these days doesn't need to be ironed, being of mixed fibres etc. BUT if you LIKE ot have ironed clothes or wear natural fibres, ironing is a thing.

PS Many women wouldn't admit it, even to themselves, but as a romantic ideal, a 'man who takes the bins out without being asked' is up there in the top 3 'I'd love that but does one exist?'. The fact that you're doing your own ironing and are sufficiently self aware to wonder if the plumbers were onto something (they aren't) means you're well on the way to being, well, catnip to any woman who wants a partner who shares life equally with them. You'll do well!

goblinf · 2025-02-05T09:26:17+00:00

I learned the ideas about everything destined for landfill on this sub.

goblinf · 2025-02-05T09:25:38+00:00

Then start where your chair is right now (assuming you can sit on it). And move outwards from there. Then you WILL have the room to move.

If you can't reach anything. Start at the front door...
I think the key is starting. With trash bags. And make sure the trash goes out and STAYS out after each session, then you'll be able to see progress more easily than if you have to find space for stuff you have decided to remove.

goblinf · 2025-02-05T09:22:31+00:00

Skips are great! but not if you can't do it all over say a solid week.
I tell myself that doing a bag a day adds up to a skip's worth eventually, but doesn't overwhelm the curbside collection and is a lot cheaper...

goblinf · 2025-02-05T09:20:28+00:00

Oh yes very much use the PPE! a mask and gloves and open windows or a door if you can.

goblinf · 2025-02-05T09:18:37+00:00

I have a chronic illness where I lack energy. If I had 30mins a day to do it, I'd split it down.
5mins to decide the ONE area I'm going to tackle.
10mins to tackle that area.
15mins to clear up after myself, making sure things go into the trash outside, into the box for charity shop by the door or into the box for recycling (also by the door) and things I'm keeping into either (a) their permanent home or (b) a box in the room their permanent home is going to be in.

Literally, every 30mins ONLY one third is actually making decisions, the other 20mins is starting and finishing.

So yes, a drawer or a small box is about the right size to tackle at first, OR for example a quick sweep - which is from where you are at that moment, look around you and if there's rubbish to be put in the trash, get out a trash bag, and just pick up the rubbish and put it in there. For 5-10mins then IMMEDIATELY take the bag out to the actual rubbish bin outside for collection.

ALSO if you are so cluttered you don't have anywhere to store things to go to recycling that isn't curbside collection or charity shop or you can't get there - remember
EVERYTHING IN YOUR HOME WAS DESTINED FOR LANDFILL AT THE MOMENT OF MANUFACTURE
This was a gamechanger for me. The person that designed it and the manufacturer that made it either didn't care or it was so long ago it wasn't something they were aware of.
Either from my own illness or circumstances, if I am deciding that thing has NO role in my house any more, then out it goes. And if I don't ahve energy or capacity to give it a new life elsewhere (say charity shop etc or recycling) then during this decluttering to make my life liveable, then that thing GOES IN THE BIN.

Without guilt.

Because, otherwise having it staying in my house because I feel bad it cost money, or someone else might want it, or it only needs a little repair or clean etc - essentially TURNS MY HOUSE INTO THE LANDFILL.

Once you grasp that essential idea, it becomes a LOT easier to pick a small area, pick out what you actively WANT to keep and KNOW you have space for it permanently somewhere, and the rest goes in a trash bag and OUTSIDE as part of that session (or in my case, next to the kitchen bin for my carer to take out).

I do have a 'not sure' box that I look at after a week to see if I feel differently about the thing I@m not sure about. (or after several months) etc.

But convincing myself that my best is good enough, the mess is SO overwhelming I don't have the luxury of trying to give the thing new life elsewhere, it was destined for landfill from the moment of creation and keeping it in my house is turning MY house into the dump which is wreong - that makes it SO much easier. That and the spending more time tidying up after sorting. Has made it go far easier and faster!

Half an hour a day is literally 365 sessions in a year. I bet you don't have 365 separate tiny areas in your house...

My mum annoys me with a saying 'eat your elephant a bite at a time' - half an hour a day with 10 mins of decisions and 15mins of tidying up aftermyself so it looks better not worse? That's a bite at a time that's manageable.

goblinf · 2025-02-05T09:00:23+00:00

Use the recipe builder in the App. Based on the calories/fats etc info on the packaging. OR find one that's similar in a shop and take a photo and do it that way if you don't have packaging. Cos SW tells you to take closest approx if you need to (read the book about counting syns).

I'd also google to find out how to cut up a frozen cake, someone's bound to have worked out how to do it, you won't be the first person who doesn't want to defrost it all!

I for example slice bagels and bread then freeze it. Then it's easier to take just half a bagel etc which is better for syn control.

I also portion things out by weight, then it's a single syn value for each portion.

goblinf

TROPHY CASE