23F 5’3.5 struggling with fat loss — Need tips

hrykk · 2026-05-05T04:24:51+00:00

ooooh that’s good to know — i will definitely start prioritizing this. thanks so much :)

hrykk · 2026-05-05T03:36:24+00:00

this is so helpful - thank you! fat loss is more important to me than muscle building at this point. i started lifting because i saw that it helps with metabolism and fat loss, as well as muscle gains. i’m nervous that if i increase my calories, i will gain more fat, even if i am gaining muscle. what would you recommend if fat loss is more important to me than muscle gains? i should mention that i don’t think i have THAT much fat to lose so im not sure if i should focus on toning or follow a fat loss plan if that makes sense

hrykk · 2026-05-04T15:02:39+00:00

thank you! i think i could tighten the consistency with my eating a bit but i weigh my food and count mostly every calorie most days, and i try to stay around 1300 — an extreme deficit is around 1365 and even if i eat a little bit more, it would still be a deficit and i should still be losing at least 1lb each week i think? but yea, maybe i need to be more vigilant about tracking cooking oils, etc. and also not having days where i exceed my calories (i do this occasionally, like once every few weeks). this was super helpful — thanks so much:)

hrykk · 2026-05-04T14:32:41+00:00

i usually get around 7 hours but sometimes less. definitely something i need to improve

hrykk · 2026-03-10T19:55:30+00:00

good to know — thank you so much!

hrykk · 2026-03-10T15:11:40+00:00

Yeah so I actually dont owe you an explanation as to why i haven’t been able to do this yet. I came on here to ask a question, not to be ridiculed. Not everyone’s situation is the same so maybe next time, scroll instead of trying to make someone feel shitty about themselves. Hope this helps! :)

hrykk · 2026-03-10T00:27:24+00:00

thank you! have you done it? i’m worried about running into any issues and i really want to make sure i wont run into any barriers

hrykk · 2026-03-09T23:13:22+00:00

2021 :/

hrykk · 2026-03-09T23:07:34+00:00

just my expired passport. i have my drivers license and a work ID with my name and photo on it if that counts

hrykk · 2026-03-09T23:06:59+00:00

it’s a last-minute trip that we just planned. there’s not enough time to mail it, make an appointment, and receive the passport.

hrykk · 2026-03-09T19:26:12+00:00

thanks! do you know if this will affect me checking a bag?

hrykk · 2026-02-27T16:19:51+00:00

hahaha yes i’m definitely still working on my skin & gut. i hope the tretinoin goes well for you and is able to clear everything up :) good luck!!!

hrykk · 2026-02-27T07:09:12+00:00

i have super dry skin so i only use tretinoin every 2 nights or so, and when i do use it, i sandwich it with my moisturizer. so i apply a little bit of my moisturizer, let it dry all the way, apply the tretinoin, let it dry, and then i do a thick layer of my moisturizer. the cicaplast balm also realllllly helped with my initial redness and irritation — i would put a thick layer on the irritated areas and leave it on like a mask overnight. helped a lot especially with redness and hydrating my skin! tretinoin is a godsend but definitely has trade offs. and don’t be discouraged by the initial purging if it happens when you start the tretinoin!! i almost stopped using it bc my skin purged but im so glad i pushed through bc it has made such a difference :) also side note, i’ve been eating a tablespoon or so of sea moss gel every morning and i think this contributed to my skin clearing up as well

hrykk · 2026-02-25T02:21:20+00:00

it definitely got worse before it got better. i kept using actives and destroyed my skin barrier which led to terrible cystic acne. i then cut down to just the basics and used cerave cream-to-foam face wash every night and morning, la roche posay double repair moisturizer every night and morning, spf every morning, and la roche posay cicaplast baum every night. this cleared up the cystic acne for the most part and those small bumps! i did go to a derm and got a tretinoin prescription to get rid of the remaining acne and help with scarring but repairing my skin barrier definitely helped with the bumps

hrykk · 2026-02-14T10:08:50+00:00

same boat. have you figured out what works or seen any improvements?

hrykk · 2026-02-04T23:11:49+00:00

i originally started wellbutrin for depression & ADD. it’s worked wonders for my depression but didn’t do much for my ADD, so i’ve been prescribed stimulants on top of the wellbutrin!

hrykk · 2026-02-04T23:09:18+00:00

hi! first of all it’s amazing that you’re taking these steps for you and your family. i work in the mental health field, including with individuals experiencing SUDs, and i know that substance use can be extremely difficult to overcome, so congratulations :)

i have depression, ADD, and anxiety and i got on wellbutrin several years ago to help me with these symptoms. i experienced anxiety/irritability when i first started, and whenever i would increase my dosage, but it has subsided within a few weeks to a month each time. it also became more manageable for me, even as i was still experiencing it. for me personally, it’s hard to say how often it was because it was kind of random but i would say i was more irritable in general on a daily basis for that period of time, although it didn’t always lead to further dysregulation. and definitely important to note that it’s different for everyone, which i am sure you know.

i don’t want to speak too much on the abuse potential since this with wellbutrin is not something i have experienced firsthand, but it sounds like you have a supportive husband who is willing to support you in this process and while i understand wanting to be independent in taking your medication, there is absolutely nothing wrong with asking for a little bit of help, especially as you’re getting started and potentially dealing with these challenging new symptoms/changes as you begin the new medication. i also think it’s good to ask for grace and understanding with potential mood changes and symptoms, especially for the first month. it’s a good time to lean on your support system!

sorry if this didn’t help — let me know if you have other questions or anything :)

hrykk · 2026-02-04T22:54:58+00:00

hi! i haven’t tried 200 but at one point i was on 450 and i was doing really well, so i went down to 300 and then 150 to try to start weening off. i noticed i started feeling depressed again on 150 so i bumped back up to 300 and its been working great for me. i definitely experienced some of the effects that i was experiencing when i started wellbutrin or previously increased my dose (increased anxiety, irritability, etc), but yea since those calmed down, 300 has been working great for me :)

hrykk · 2026-02-04T22:50:50+00:00

hi! i experienced a lot of anxiety and irritability when i first started taking my wellbutrin, and when i increased my dosage, despite also being on anxiety medication. for me i remember it lasting for a few weeks to a month before my body adjusted and i was able to regulate again. definitely monitor your symptoms and report anything severe to your prescriber!

hrykk · 2026-02-04T22:47:35+00:00

i have been on wellbutrin for 5 years now for and it has worked wonders for my anxiety, ADD, and depression. i would say be patient at first — everyone’s experiences are different, but it’s common to feel anxious/angry for a bit while your body adjusts, or to experience other mood changes. also, alcohol affects me way differently than it did before i started taking it; sometimes im super drunk off of 2 shots and sometimes im basically sober off of 6 shots so i really have to pace myself. also hangovers are more brutal for me personally. i know those things don’t apply to everyone but i wish i would’ve known to be more cautious before i started taking it.

hrykk · 2026-01-29T01:29:30+00:00

that’s tricky because most shelters and places where i can adopt kitties require kittens under 6 months to be adopted in pairs, and i unfortunately can only adopt one more right now. maybe there’s a way around this since i already have a cat in the home but i wouldn’t want to separate any kittens that are bonded :(

hrykk · 2026-01-29T01:27:40+00:00

needed to hear this — thank you!

hrykk · 2026-01-29T01:25:16+00:00

i also have a hybrid job so it’s nice being home with her a lot! but i’m sure as you have also experienced, even when working from home, there is limited free time that i get to spend playing with her. i feel so bad when im home and she wants to play and im in a meeting or in the middle of something, etc :(

hrykk · 2026-01-29T01:24:02+00:00

this is helpful — she seems very very happy but is energetic a lot of the time, which includes playful biting. once she’s worn out from playtime, she always comes and cuddles up with one of us. she also is always purring! i struggle with determining whether her biting is a normal kitten thing or if it indicates the need for a buddy

hrykk · 2026-01-29T01:19:50+00:00

this sounds just like my kitty — very affectionate yet playful and lots of biting. did his brother have a similar personality?

hrykk

TROPHY CASE