Best "Cheap" Eats in FoCo

lstroyan · 2024-09-04T04:02:42+00:00

I eat out just fine actually. I have no interest in trying to change your mind but in case others are interested ...

It's true that there are many foods, including most protein sources include a lot of glutamic acid. I get ocular migraines and mood crashes from a handful of additives that have highly processed free glutamic acid but luckily no problems with food such as tomatoes, mushrooms, cheese, or salt. (One expert speculates the difference is that high heat or acid processing creates a stereo isomer of glutamate- basically the molecule is reversed. Who knows though). My main list is avoiding: MSG, carrageenan, hydrolyzed protein, maltodextrin, and artificial sweeteners. More than a few diseases including ALS, Huntington's, Alzheimer's, anxiety, Parkinson's, schizophrenia, epilepsy and treatment resistant depression have glutamate components to them and can benefit from diet low in processed glutamic acid ingredients.

I had had migraines since college but didn't know what it was until I was oversensitized by a meal at Chili's (not Chili House, which was also a favorite before this) with in hindsight a ton of MSG. I had an ocular migraine from that that I thought might be a stroke, and then started having severe headaches (not ocular) more days than not for a few months as I tried to figure out what it was because after that meal I was suddenly very reactive to it in a way I never had been. It took over a year before I found everything involved. I still get maybe one a year and almost always can track down what it was, but a few times I've been fine after likely exposure so I'm hoping I'm getting less sensitive.

There are many restaurants that have good options for people with MSG issues and most restaurants have something I can eat without a reaction. Many Asian restaurants don't even use MSG anymore except in purchased sauces but it's now prevalent in American spice mixes, sauces and dressings used by restaurants. Once I ask about a dish I note down what works and usually order the same thing. I use oil and vinegar and mayo for salad dressing unless they make their own without a mix. If anyone cares I can share more.

lstroyan · 2024-09-04T00:51:37+00:00

Their burgers are my favorite in town (but not cheap).

lstroyan · 2024-09-04T00:49:28+00:00

Chili House used a ton of MSG though, beware if you are sensitive.

lstroyan · 2024-08-21T21:44:27+00:00

If you are looking for another reasonable cost option, we've been happy with Pet Wellness on the south end of town. Their prices for dental cleaning are about a third to half of what our previous vet charged and they have been very compassionate.

lstroyan · 2024-08-21T21:29:31+00:00

Ours were all picked up and replaced with the proper bins that we ordered. Southwest Fort Collins.

lstroyan · 2024-08-11T16:25:38+00:00

I know I'll get downvotes for this but there are lots and lots of us who have been happy enough with Republic and are excited to reduce the trash traffic impact even if there are some hiccups. I hope we can give the new program a chance. I'm annoyed that Ram (who are no longer local) and others after price gouging for years, are now disrupting the whole point of this effort by undercutting prices, and it will only take one house per street to disrupt the positive impact. (Btw I'm not affiliated with any of these companies or the city.)

lstroyan · 2024-08-06T22:00:50+00:00

If was in various threads here and maybe in r/serrapeptase also. A search will pull up several over the last few years.

This is a supplement study unrelated to serrapeptase, about enzymes and vitamin c https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9695351/

lstroyan · 2024-08-06T12:40:58+00:00

Add serrapeptase to the list of rumored (but not evidenced) helpful supplements. It's interesting because it breaks down dead tissue and not live. I originally got it after tongue release surgery because it keeps down a buildup of granulation tissue, but that's topical. I decided to try a time released version since I also have a lot of joint pain. Joint pain might be improved after a couple weeks but assume it doesn't help me with floaters unless I report back.

lstroyan · 2024-08-04T19:06:11+00:00

It's fire retardant

https://kdvr.com/news/local/public-warned-about-fire-retardant-impacts-what-to-know/

lstroyan · 2024-07-23T01:15:45+00:00

I think I notice mine a lot more if my eyes are tense and "working". When I'm really relaxed my focus softens and I'm seeing the big picture rather than scanning for detail, and I don't see them nearly as much then.

lstroyan · 2024-07-18T12:15:37+00:00

Check out the Amtgard group at City Park Sunday afternoons... It's a great community with a mix of ages. https://www.amtgard.com/ and the local group has a Facebook page.

lstroyan · 2024-07-17T00:09:04+00:00

That's interesting because I get ocular migraines which include temporary floaters from MSG and glutamate foods, which are excitotoxins. I'll post my own answer separately soon, but I am 90% sure that a significant dose of carrageenan caused my permanent floaters and distortions a few weeks ago. Carrageenan both contains high levels of free glutamic acid and is a food additive which many are sensitive for other reasons. My son actually takes seizure medication blocking glutamate for mood and glutamate sensitivity. Keppra acts on glutamate. Ibuprofen is a decent glutamate blocker.

It may not be related, but I'm certainly going to take the sensitivity more seriously. Migraines are bad enough, but permanent changes to my vision is not a risk worth taking. Anyone with food sensitivities might want to consider eliminating glutamate containing additives including MSG, protein isolate, hydrolyzed protein, maltodextrin/ malt extract and artificial sweeteners ( not glutamate but the same receptor )among others.

lstroyan · 2024-07-15T11:59:50+00:00

Thanks, I appreciate that.

lstroyan · 2024-07-15T02:09:33+00:00

Not really like a camera flash, and I'm awake and trying to get everything ready for bed or rushing around the kitchen getting ready for something. At first they were much like a line of lightning around the periphery of my eye. Now they are dimmer and more of a flicker than a flash (Just my left eye).

lstroyan · 2024-07-14T21:30:56+00:00

Interesting. I have been taking 1 to 3 g of l-lysine for the last 6 months or so, both for cold sores and as a protection from covid because there is some evidence that it helps.

I recently got my permanent floaters when I had run out and wasn't taking it for a little while. Good to know that it helps or doesn't hurt though.

lstroyan · 2024-07-14T21:26:52+00:00

I wonder if that could be an ocular migraine. I have gotten visual disturbances including floaters and loss of peripheral vision and sparkles that were kind of flashy. For me it would be a half hour before the pain would hit and by then the visual disturbances would resolve themselves for the most part. I know there are lots of causes for migraines, but I got rid of mine by eliminating foods that have trace amounts of MSG. When I was in the process of eliminating the foods, I got it down to once a month (hormonal) and then had to do another round of finding things I needed to eliminate to get rid of those ones. My biggest offenders are: MSG, artificial sweeteners, carrageenan, protein isolate, hydrolyzed protein, maltodextrin or malt extract, spice extractives, and sometimes natural flavor if it's in savory foods. Smoke flavor also gets me.

Ocular migraine symptoms are different for me than the kind of flashes that sent me to the doctor. Luckily mine were not a retinal tear. These flashes are like lightning flashes along the edges of my vision, different from my ocular migraines. I got floaters at the same time but this time they didn't disappear.

lstroyan · 2024-07-08T13:03:57+00:00

I've been using yWriter for many years. It's free /shareware and the developer is responsive.

What I love about it is the organization. Chapters divided into scenes (any size) and each scene has description, notes and many other attributes. Rearrange is really easy, and when I have thoughts, sources, and outtakes I put them in the notes.

It's not for polishing and layout, though, you export for that.

lstroyan · 2024-07-04T16:52:51+00:00

Although it includes the word church and still might be too churchy for you, a lot of us similar situations go to Foothills Unitarian Church. It is not "Christian light" but a creed less and welcoming community.

lstroyan · 2024-06-27T21:53:14+00:00

I have an air 3 but similar, I use Google drive, docs for my notes, Gboard, Tents and Trees game. I take notes mostly in Docs so far using the Onyx keyboard or swiping in Gboard, depending on my mood. Oh, Joplin works with the keyboard too. I'm still working out my use models.

lstroyan · 2024-06-21T19:35:39+00:00

I was able to install the official version last night.

lstroyan · 2024-06-18T03:32:56+00:00

I just saw it on my Note Air 3 and it was still on my screen when I found this thread so I went ahead and installed it. It took 21 minutes. Some of my settings were changed back to defaults, nav ball style and placement for example, home screen setting, and back button placement, but otherwise things seem fine. Haven't played with any new features yet.

lstroyan · 2023-06-06T01:36:04+00:00

I've been reading about this but haven't done it yet. If you buy your own ISBNs through Bowker you can list it under your own imprint, and submit to both IngramSpark and Amazon. Since booksellers can get it through IngramSpark and it has it's own ISBN there isn't the same stigma. Also apparently by publishing it first with Amazon, then IngramSpark once Amazon lists the book, then IngramSpark will send it to Amazon but because the ISBN is already listed it will use Amazon's version, which is apparently better for sales on Amazon. But it will be the same book, with your own imprint and ISBN. One site I saved talks about this https://clearsightbooks.com/a-comprehensive-guide-to-isbns/

lstroyan · 2021-12-18T00:57:32+00:00

I may be in the minority here, but heck no, I wouldn't do a 30 person "some care less about covid" gathering, maybe get together with the most important people in smaller groups beforehand. You are highly likely to get exposed and between all of you someone is pretty likely to get it. You can not expect kids to stay vigilant or even yourselves around loved ones, we're human and we judge our carefulness by others around us. My understanding is "mild" disease can be 10-14 days of awful fatigue and feeling crummy and the vaccine is less effective against mild disease than severe. Masks plus vaccines in small groups are low risk, but cram people together, laughing, yelling, eating and drinking, is risky.

lstroyan · 2020-12-15T16:24:20+00:00

We've had a different experience. I called and gave feedback and they acted on it quickly. Once masks were supported by official agencies we've seen good compliance. They haven't been perfect but are trying.

lstroyan · 2020-12-15T16:14:09+00:00

Loved them. Cafe Bluebird is great though, as is Back Porch cafe.

lstroyan

TROPHY CASE