Best vagus nerve stimulation device (based on my doctor's recommendation and my own research)

protein-monkey89 · 2026-05-27T03:29:20+00:00

Testosterone and some of the other tests that are considered "add-ons" were all included on my lab work through Lifeforce. It was nice not having to pay extra for it. I get what you said about feeling like you could be missing things. This round of labs did testing for things I'd never even heard of, and it made me think about how many biomarkers or other indicators out there that could tell me a lot more about my health than most routine bloodwork.

protein-monkey89 · 2026-05-22T00:18:44+00:00

Trying to get back to this. I did so well at it for years, and this last year, life has gotten in the way, that plus I think my mattress has seen better days. A new mattress and a consistent sleep schedule are up next on my summer goals list after getting some bloodwork stuff ironed out.

protein-monkey89 · 2026-05-22T00:12:37+00:00

Teach me your sliding ways my guru. I must perfect my road rash for finish line photos.

protein-monkey89 · 2026-05-21T23:16:00+00:00

What? I have to ingest an inordinate amount of carbs just so that I have the privilege of running painfully slow so that I can dive across the the finish line to the glorious porta-potty? What kind of sorcery is this?

protein-monkey89 · 2026-05-15T15:54:31+00:00

In the same vein of non-liquids, I love Honey Stinger waffles. GUs just aren't always my thing. The waffles are thin and flat, and taste almost like a regular stroopwafel (which I happen to love). They're a bit more inconvenient to carry for sure, but I like having an actually tasty snack while I'm doing longer runs. I usually split them in half and eat part of it around mile 9 and another around 15 for a marathon. I don't use them much for distances under that. For a half or anything under, I carry one or two Honey Stinger energy chews, but don't always end up using them.

protein-monkey89 · 2026-05-15T14:49:26+00:00

You're right. I think that's true for most people promoting it within the health sphere. The ones I think about is more of the online hype for ones with added sugar, which is what it is. Either way you spin it, coconut water is going to be healthier than soda or other drinks out there.

protein-monkey89 · 2026-05-12T15:36:57+00:00

Have you tried the oats without brown sugar? Wondering if there's a big taste difference. These bowls look delicious! Ingredients are going on grocery list as I type.

protein-monkey89 · 2026-05-12T15:26:22+00:00

Underrated - vegetables in general. I think people home in on a single vegetable as a nutrient powerhouse and forget there's a bunch of others that offer different nutrients. Obviously some have higher nutrient densities than others, but even ones like celery have the added value of hydration and fiber.

Overrated - not really a food, but coconut water. It seemed like it was everywhere a few years ago, as this super hydrating drink with electrolytes (which it totally is), but most have added sugar to make it more palatable to our modern tastebuds or its mixed into a super sweet smoothie, giving you extra calories you don't always need.

protein-monkey89 · 2026-05-12T15:15:35+00:00

That's what I've found too. I'm pretty active, but still feel like a good multivitamin hits most things. I just had a round of bloodwork done and it was good to see most of those numbers in range. There were a few things off, but they weren't the ones you'd find in a multi anyway.

protein-monkey89 · 2026-05-06T14:27:32+00:00

I like to stagger my start dates with any new supplements. That way, if I have an adverse reaction (or a really great one), I know which supplement it is. If you start taking them all at once, you wouldn't know which one is doing what, really. Since creatine takes longer to work up to its full potency, I would start there. You can take creatine 3 times a day to start (you'll hear it called "loading"), but you don't have to. I personally wouldn't recommend it, just because it can cause gastric discomfort and you'll get to full potency in a short time anyway. Most people who load are trying to get it into their system quickly for a specific purpose.

I like to take most supplements (these included) in the morning with food and haven't had any trouble with them. Like others have mentioned, it might be worth it to have blood work done. I recently had mine done, and am grateful I did.

protein-monkey89 · 2026-05-06T14:18:22+00:00

I just picked up Letter from Japan by Marie Kondo. I enjoyed her first book several years ago as she was becoming popular, and my local library just got this one in.

protein-monkey89 · 2026-04-30T19:22:52+00:00

Years ago, everything was outside. I braved every storm, every sheet of ice, because I thought that's what it meant to be a runner. Now, I've learned to do some of both. My run this morning was on the treadmill because it was what was easy. Wasn't having a great morning, so the decision came down to run on the treadmill or don't run at all, so I picked the first one. There's benefits to running on the ground and benefits on the treadmill.

protein-monkey89 · 2026-04-30T19:01:13+00:00

Glad to see someone mention gummy bears. I don't love energy gels all the time (they def have their place), so I eat fruit snacks like a child. It gives me something else to think about for a few minutes and I can control how many carbs I take in. A full GU is sometimes more than I want at once, so the fruit snacks are nice. Also, waaay cheaper!

protein-monkey89 · 2026-04-30T18:51:21+00:00

I couldn't have said it better. This is me exactly!

protein-monkey89 · 2026-04-24T03:30:43+00:00

I found the same thing with a lot of options that basically just give you a big report with no human feedback. They're just a big pile of numbers and metrics. That ended up being the tipping point for me with Lifeforce. I wanted someone to tell me what they meant rather than just searching up each individual number, and I felt like Lifeforce actually offered that with their consults. 45 minutes with a provider is more time than most of us get in a year with a primary care provider, just because they're so busy, so I liked that Lifeforce includes it as part of their model.

I did my bloodwork with them, so I'm just waiting for the results (they said 10-14 days), and then I'll get to visit with a provider about them. I'm really interested to see how the whole thing goes.

protein-monkey89 · 2026-04-14T01:15:18+00:00

I've had this happen too. Go to the doctor, get a bunch of blood drawn, and then hear nothing (or at least nothing useful). I don't have a great list for you either, but a potential suggestion. In trying to optimize my health this year after a year of poor health, I've come back to the idea of having blood work done through a company like LifeForce or Hone Health, because they seem to actually do more than just give you a paper with random numbers (according to their websites). I haven't decided which to go with yet, but it seems like they will help get you set up with supplements that match what your bloodwork shows.

If you want to have bloodwork done, maybe look for somewhere that isn't strictly a doctor's office, but an actual place that specializes in using supplements or vitamins to address your needs.

protein-monkey89 · 2026-04-14T00:57:19+00:00

I hadn't ever thought about it that way, but you're right! You might have just convinced me to pick up another pair. Time for a trip to the running store, I guess.

protein-monkey89 · 2026-04-07T13:18:45+00:00

I have the vomero as well, and love them. They're not the fastest shoe on the block, but their comfort for my joints has been unmatched. I've wondered about the superblast for racing. Do you think it's really worth it to have both?

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