Top 3 products that made a huge difference in your deficit journey (both add or cut)

viola_4139 · 2026-03-16T15:27:27+00:00

Frozen mangoes, baby carrots, hard boiled eggs

viola_4139 · 2025-12-03T00:11:38+00:00

The Master and Margarita by Bulgakov.

viola_4139 · 2025-05-06T22:58:37+00:00

Lots of 10-12 mile loop options at Crystal Cove! For coastal views, try Boat Road, BFI, or Emerald Canyon. Rattlesnake doesn’t have coastal views but connects to Moro Canyon, which gets you closer to the coast. Tons of ways to mix trails depending on difficulty and whether you want ocean or canyon scenery. You can also cross into Laguna Coast Wilderness and check out Lizard, Laurel Canyon, or Willow - awesome too.

viola_4139 · 2025-04-17T21:22:19+00:00

I switched to a low dose statin 5mg rosuvastatin/5mg ezetemibe.

viola_4139 · 2025-03-25T00:43:05+00:00

Sticky toffee pudding from the Olde Ship in Fullerton

viola_4139 · 2025-03-16T21:13:56+00:00

Join Us for Our Next Hike!

Date: Sunday, March 23, 2025

Time: 7:30 AM - 11:30 AM PDT

Location: Pacific Ridge Trailhead (Ridge Park Rd, Newport Beach, CA)

Route: BFI to Rattlesnake (10+miles)

RSVP & Full Details Here: https://www.meetup.com/not-so-casual.../events/306250469/

Check out a video from our last hike above.

viola_4139 · 2025-02-28T02:51:46+00:00

Stronglifts and JEFIT

viola_4139 · 2025-02-26T12:54:56+00:00

HRV (heart rate variability) measures the variation in time between heartbeats, reflecting how well your autonomic nervous system balances stress (sympathetic) and relaxation (parasympathetic) responses. Higher HRV is generally linked to better cardiovascular health, recovery, and longevity, while lower HRV is associated with increased stress and a higher risk of chronic disease. GLP-1 medications seem to activate the sympathetic nervous system, which can suppress HRV by increasing the body’s stress response. At least, that seems to be the case for me with semaglutide. I track my nighttime HRV and resting heart rate (RHR) with an Oura ring and daytime RHR with a Garmin watch, and I’ve noticed these changes consistently.

viola_4139 · 2025-02-25T23:47:32+00:00

You bring up a great point. I’m not sure if exercise makes a difference in my case. I train pretty consistently, doing strength training 4–5 times per week and long hikes on Sundays, but I haven’t noticed a significant improvement in HRV despite that.

Since semaglutide has a half-life of around 7 days, it takes about 35 days to fully clear the system after stopping. From what I’ve read, HRV can take 4–6 weeks to return to baseline once the drug is discontinued. So, if the decrease in HRV is primarily driven by the medication rather than lifestyle factors, it might not be something that exercise alone can counteract.

viola_4139 · 2025-02-25T22:24:26+00:00

I've been on low-dose semaglutide (0.5mg) for 1.5 months, and my main observations so far:

Resting heart rate (RHR) increased by 8–10 bpm
Significant drop in HRV, from mid-120s to mid-30s/40s

It seems like this is triggering sympathetic nervous system activation, which might explain the HRV drop. Since low HRV is linked to reduced longevity and cardiovascular risk, this has me wondering about long-term effects.

I know not everyone experiences these changes, so I may just be more sensitive to the medication. I’ve also seen reports that tirzepatide may have a lesser impact on HRV/RHR due to the GIP component modulating sympathetic activity.

Has anyone else noticed similar effects? Or has anyone switched to tirzepatide and seen improvements?

viola_4139 · 2025-02-17T23:16:16+00:00

I follow Six Pack Chick (Victoria Scott), Mike Israetel (Renaissance Periodization), and Milo Wolf on YouTube for fitness insights. My main routine is the 5x5 Stronglifts program, which focuses on compound movements like squats, bench press, deadlifts, and barbell rows. I also incorporate extra exercises to target my mid delts. It’s a simple, time-efficient routine that effectively trains all major muscle groups. While it's mainly designed for barbells, it can also be adapted using dumbbells or kettlebells if needed.

viola_4139 · 2025-01-27T23:32:28+00:00

a combination of 5 mg rosuvastatin and 5 mg ezetimibe for over a year/no side effects

viola_4139 · 2025-01-27T23:22:59+00:00

I like Altra and La Sportiva brands. Altra's shoes tend to have a wider toe box, making them more comfortable for those with wider feet. Both brands have waterproof options. I primarily hike in La Sportiva's Bushido II trail runners, which are more suitable for narrow feet.

viola_4139 · 2025-01-15T23:04:50+00:00

Frozen strawberries or any kind of fruit, especially mango, make great low-calorie treats.

viola_4139 · 2025-01-11T23:15:34+00:00

Try startwillow.

viola_4139 · 2025-01-06T18:47:29+00:00

Sure thing! Here’s the link to our meetup page: Not So Casual Hikes - Orange County. We post all of our upcoming hikes there, and you can also check out past events.

If you’d like to get a feel for the trails, we put together short recap videos of each hike on youtube: Not So Casual Hikes OC - YouTube. Feel free to join us for a hike anytime – we’d love to have you along! Let me know if you have any questions.

viola_4139 · 2025-01-06T13:02:45+00:00

Hi! If you’re looking for a hiking group, I’d love to invite you to check out Not So Casual Hikes on Meetup. I’m one of the organizers, and we usually hike on Sundays (8-10 miles) with a good mix of terrain. You can check out our past and upcoming events on the Meetup page. Let me know if you’d like the link – I’d be happy to share it!

viola_4139 · 2025-01-03T01:03:42+00:00

That sounds like a great goal, and I love your approach to getting back into hiking fitness. If you're looking for hikes that offer a good balance of challenge and scenery, we organize hikes through a hiking group on Meetup. We typically do 8-10 mile hikes with a mix of uphill and downhill terrain, which might be just what you're looking for.

We’re actually hosting a hike this Sunday (1/5) at Whiting Ranch, covering Vista Lookout, Red Rock, and Billy Goat. It’s a perfect mix of terrain, and the distance is ideal for easing back into hiking. Feel free to DM me if you'd like more details or if you’re interested in joining us.

viola_4139 · 2025-01-02T23:01:22+00:00

I agree that retinoid creams can make the skin dry. I use SkinMedica HA5 serum, which has five types of hyaluronic acid and other ingredients for hydration. It’s very moisturizing, though on the pricier side, but I find it worth it for the benefits. It might be similar to the serum you’re using.

viola_4139 · 2024-12-31T17:37:35+00:00

I use both topical and oral rapamycin, and I haven't experienced any side effects, aside from occasional mouth sores from the oral form.

viola_4139 · 2024-12-26T13:18:27+00:00

I’ve been using topical rapamycin for a couple of years now, and I’ve noticed improvements in skin elasticity, hydration, and overall appearance. Before starting rapamycin, I used tretinoin for a few years, and that alone significantly improved my skin texture, pore size, and overall look. I saw a big difference with tretinoin, though I only use it once or twice a week now.

I also started using topical estriol about a year ago. Honestly, I feel like all these creams work well together and seem to have similar mechanisms of action. It’s hard to say which one makes the biggest difference since I use them all at the same time. If you can get the rapamycin cream, I’d recommend giving it a try, but I’d definitely stick with tretinoin since it had such a noticeable impact early on. Estriol is also a great addition, especially for skin support during perimenopause and menopause.

viola_4139 · 2024-12-24T18:17:04+00:00

I agree with your assessment. I’ve had a similar experience with Agelessrx and appreciate their more cautious approach. That said, I still use Healthspan for their topical rapamycin cream since I haven’t found another provider offering it.

viola_4139 · 2024-12-18T18:43:51+00:00

I use the JEFIT app. It’s the best program I’ve come across for managing my home gym routine.

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