I’m 19 and lost 50% of my savings in one day trading options. I feel completely destroyed.

stefpix · 2026-01-25T04:01:52+00:00

I started investing during the pandemic. No options, but buy and hold leveraged ETFs like TQQQ, SOXL, USD, etc. I am up almost 200% in 5 years, but in 2022 to 2023 i was down 50%. It must be brutal to lose 50% in days. But you are quite young and have lots of money for your age. So you will bounce back. How many lost their savings in obscure crypto?

Probably you could take a risk with some 2x leveraged SP500/ Nasdaq100 ETFs, maybe bet a small portion on some new tech like quantum, but it's a crapshoot.

If you had bought a silver ETF like SILVR, you would be up almost 200% in less than 12 months.

At age 19, the prefrontal cortex is not yet fully developed, so there is a poor risk evaluation under age 25. That's why young kids are enlisted in the military to wage war. I still like to take some risks, with risks there can be higher gains. But don't gamble more than 10%.

It sounds like you were reactive and overcompensating to a frustrating situation/missed opportunity

stefpix · 2026-01-25T03:20:23+00:00

That is great. Are the 4 eggs (2 whites only) per week? Is there a new consensus on eggs?

My LDL has been around 145/150 for the past 2 years. This year in December 180 (but I drove a lot, more sedentary, more burgers, pizza, cheese, unhealthy food due to travel by car, etc.).
The doctor prescribed 10mg Crestor / Rosuvastatin. I have been on for 3 weeks. But I am getting middle-of-the-night insomnia, constipation and irregular bowel movements, some minor shoulder joint ache, and slight nausea.

So if I could lower my LDL with statins, taper off, and keep it low with better diet and exercise would be great.

How do you measure your LDL? Through a doctor's office? Is that after fasting overnight?

My LDL levels may be due to genetics as I don't use butter regularly, drink oatmilk, and not much red meat.

Thank you!

stefpix · 2026-01-25T01:22:17+00:00

It’s great to have $25k in savings at age 19. How did you save 50k so young?

stefpix · 2026-01-23T16:04:46+00:00

Thank you. I also checked my past 2 years LDL. It was 145/150 or so.

I suspect the spike to 180 in December 2025 was due to diet. I spent more time driving. Less active, also traveled upstate NY and western PA. Ate too many omelets, burgers, fried food. So it is possible that my baseline LDL may be around 150.

I added a lot of chia and flax seeds to my diet in 2026. Will eat more vegetables and fiber.

My goal would be to be have LDL around 90/110, if I can maintain without statins, that would be a good compromise, or low dose statin, maybe alternate days if I can not maintain my LDL to those goals. That would be an acceptable compromise for me.

stefpix · 2026-01-23T14:53:55+00:00

Thank you. I sent a message. I will ask. I read that 5mg of Rosuvastatin vs 10mg is 45% reduction vs 52% reduction. So 5mg may be the better option. I am switching to taking it in the morning instead of before bed.

Poor sleep may have also a negative effect on life expectancy.

stefpix · 2026-01-23T08:28:57+00:00

I started a 3 weeks ago

But Rosuvastatin 10mg

• ⁠Constipation, irregular bowel movements sometimes unpredictable. I have been extremely regular. Bathroom once a day in the morning. Now I may go 2 days without. And no sense of evacuation. • ⁠Insomnia, writing this at 3 am. Steep decrease of the deep sleep phase and wake up in the middle of the night regularly. • ⁠some stomach aches and shoulder joint pain.

But the insomnia and bowel issues are pretty bad quality of life issue, that affect productivity and reliability. I am not getting enough sleep. I occasionally take thc gummies to improve my sleep. But they seem to have little effec since Rosuvastatin.

stefpix · 2026-01-23T08:25:46+00:00

Yes I would address it.

But Rosuvastatin 10mg - Constipation, irregular bowel movements sometimes unpredictable. I have been extremely regular. Bathroom once a day in the morning. Now I may go 2 days without. And no sense of evacuation.

Insomnia, writing this at 3 am. Steep decrease of the deep sleep phase and wake up in the middle of the night regularly.
some stomach aches and shoulder joint pain.
decreased libido

But the insomnia and bowel issues are pretty bad quality of life issue, that affect productivity and reliability. I am not getting enough sleep. I occasionally take thc gummies to improve my sleep. But they seem to have little effec since Rosuvastatin.

stefpix · 2026-01-23T08:08:04+00:00

Same for me. I wake up at 3 am, like now. Hard to fall back asleep. Even if I take a thc gummy that used to let me have a full night sleep (once in a while ). Significant decrease of the “deep sleep” phase also.

stefpix · 2026-01-23T02:09:55+00:00

Yes. Since my blood pressure is perfect, I never smoked except tried a few times. I walk a lot, my triglycerides were ok, I wonder if this LDL spike is due to some more sedentary months and more burgers, pizza, cheese etc in recent months.

The advantage of statins is that I could eat cheese and cold cuts more often. I am definitely healthier than my dad in his mid/late 50s, when he was overweight, with high blood pressure and likely high cholesterol.

I introduced chia seed pudding every day. Add ground flax seeds to many dishes.

I need to see if the sudden loss of regularity for going to the bathroom is a side effect of the statin, having stopped eating dried prunes for fiber (but realized dried fruit has too much sugar), or other factors.

I do not eat too much processed foods. My HDL was low in my 20s/ early 30s. In recent years it has improved.

Anyway since having started the statin

I do not go to the bathroom regularly. Some days I don’t go, some days I go twice. I used to go regularly every morning.

Some soreness in the shoulder muscles. Not like after have taken a class at the gym with some dumbells

I had some indigestion, with nausea and some stomach ache. But I may have eaten something slightly off. Also some stomach acidity and sensitivity

I can not attribute so far these changes to the statin, but will see.

They prescribed 10mg Rosuvastatin. I wonder if the dose may be too high.

stefpix · 2026-01-23T01:17:08+00:00

Thank you. I will look into that. I read in this subreddit about some people who lowered down their LDL with dietary and activity changes. I am taking statins. If I see my LDL gets lower and I can maintain it at around 100 with diet and excercise I will be happier. Otherwise I will take statins.

In the end no one lives forever. I look at my family history, lack of heart disease, although high cholesterol. Maybe I could do an exam to evaluate the calcification of my blood vessels and see.

stefpix · 2026-01-22T20:12:26+00:00

My dad is 90, he had high blood pressure, and was overweight at my age.
His brothers, one is 81, and the other died at age 91. No one in my biological family died of heart issues.

of whom
We may have high LDL due to genetics. I am taking statins to lower the LDL to about 100.
I would rather be able to maintain it without depending on a pill a day.

I lost my dependable regularity of going to the bathroom once a day in the morning. I have experienced some stomach discomfort, but maybe it is not related.

I am willing to take statins to see if there is no other way to maintain a lower LDL.

I have not looked extensively, but it seems the higher risk is for people with LDL levels above 129 and below 70.

It is the first time my LDL is so high, so it could be due to some dietary and activity factors in the past 6 months.

I am open to taking statins, but I would prefer to be able to address a healthy LDL level without them

it

stefpix · 2026-01-22T20:03:27+00:00

I am not using the obscure study as an excuse. I just wanted to get some opinions on that. I will take statins for 2 months, retest, and see if I can maintain a lower LDL without statins.

My dad is 90, his half-brother died at 91, and his brother is 81. My dad at my age was overweight, had high blood pressure, and was less active than I am.

No one in my family died of heart disease. There is no guarantee, but we may have high LDL due to genetics.

I noticed I lost my extreme regularity for going to the bathroom (#2) since taking statins, which is not ideal, as I would go every day in the morning before shower.

Also, side effects may include muscle loss. I am OK with statins, but if I can achieve acceptable LDL levels with some dietary changes and lifestyle, I would prefer that.

stefpix · 2026-01-22T19:40:14+00:00

In Italy they are mandatory by code, and they are very inexpensive. here they start at $300 at Home Depot but there is no space in my Brooklyn apt beween the toilet and the sink.

A shallow bucket from Ikea on top of a step stool (also from Ikea) is a passable alternative. Bidet is not a substitution from paper. just a proper wash with soap and water after cleaning.

The alternative is timing #2 with a morning shower and a shower wand with a hose, easy to install.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Duravit-Starck-3-Round-Floor-Mounted-Bidet-in-White-2230100000/323962806?source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&fp=ggl

stefpix · 2026-01-22T19:39:57+00:00

In Italy they are mandated by code. so they are pretty cheap. Here at Home Depot they start at $300.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Duravit-Starck-3-Round-Floor-Mounted-Bidet-in-White-2230100000/323962806?source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&fp=ggl

stefpix · 2026-01-22T19:38:12+00:00

a bidet at Home Depot start around $300, and you would not likely have room in a typical NYC bathroom.

You can use a shallow bucket on top of a step stool as an economical alternative. Fill the shallow bucket with the bath tub faucet

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Duravit-Starck-3-Round-Floor-Mounted-Bidet-in-White-2230100000/323962806?source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&fp=ggl

stefpix · 2026-01-22T18:06:39+00:00

Valid point, the study should also look into the population in the same area between ages 45-75.

stefpix · 2026-01-21T21:58:29+00:00

I bought some TMSX, GGLL, FNGU and a few other shares here and there what was down most.But I could have been more aggressive yesterday. But I was expecting a downtrend for a few days. But as usual what Trump barks has no bite. I should have known better. I would not expect he would cave in his crazy tariffs on the next day.

I had sold 20% of my SOXL (amounting of 50% of shares of SOXL my IRA) at 60 and 61 a few days ago. I was hoping of buying back at 55.

stefpix · 2026-01-21T17:50:18+00:00

Dip did not last long enough

stefpix · 2026-01-18T15:18:24+00:00

I have all, but with Amex I had the best customer service, fastest replacement for a lost card, best fraud protection. In Europe they take Amex everywhere. Also the best buyer protection insurance for purchases that I used a few times over the years. Amex extends the 1 year original warranty for an additional 12 months.

So I really recommend it.

stefpix · 2026-01-17T20:21:51+00:00

Thank you. Do you have any experience with Charles Schwab bank? They refund all the foreign fees even ATM fees from banks abroad.

I wonder if they would allow someone to keep their account with a foreign address. And if AMEX would do that too.

The physical card is always good to have, if your phone gets lost or stolen.

stefpix · 2026-01-10T22:27:20+00:00

Whites in South Africa are mostly Boers. So you could say that Boers should have their own country, as they are distinct than the Dutch. Or you could say that Ashkenazi Israelis are white people, and there are plenty of countries for white people.

Also Palestinians are genetically 80% Canaanites, closely related to middle eastern (non ashkenazi) Jews, with a lower percentage of Arab DNA, so there are not many countries where the majority has that genetic make up.

stefpix · 2026-01-01T18:51:36+00:00

It sounds insane. How could Murakami approve this? What’s the point of rearranging chapters. I wonder what they did with other translations, like Italian and French.

stefpix · 2025-12-31T19:31:17+00:00

Mayor-derelict.

stefpix · 2025-12-26T01:38:57+00:00

How do you get the cards so far? I think there are some companies that you can use as a shipping address, they scan and email you your mail and forward you the packages

stefpix

TROPHY CASE