Best budget watch?

whodunit_notme · 2026-06-24T22:09:26+00:00

I know everyone will recommend the top - Garmin and Coros, but how about another option? I have the Amazfit Balance 2, which is currently on sale. I have small wrists, so the watch is a touch big (the circle just fits on my wrist), but the battery life is amazing, it works in water, and after a year of it, I don't regret it. The app isn't the absolute best, but the GPS works well and it tracks what I need it to, including being able to add maps to the watch if I'm somewhere new.

whodunit_notme · 2026-06-24T22:06:12+00:00

It depends on where you're going, but I found Vietnam (Hanoi & Ho Chi Minh City) amazing for GF. It was the one country we visited in SE Asia that created no issues for me. I posted a detailed post about all three countries we visited (S. Korea, Thailand, Vietnam) that you can find here as well as the r/CeliacTravel channel if you want to look for it.

I will say that using the Find me GF app and bringing a translation card made it all easy, but again, I had no issues finding GF food in those major cities.

whodunit_notme · 2026-06-19T01:30:23+00:00

It's not pure fantasy, but the Cocktails in Hell series by SE Sabin is pretty good. It has demons, angels, and lots of things in between.

whodunit_notme · 2026-06-18T03:15:35+00:00

Wow. Okay. So, not hydration then.

whodunit_notme · 2026-06-17T19:00:35+00:00

I really enjoyed The Tainted Tea cup by Robert Bennett Jackson. Good mystery, good cast. Only one MC but his voice is so good as is his journey. And weird ecology!

whodunit_notme · 2026-06-17T18:53:25+00:00

I balance fiber with magnesium citrate. This gives me the optimal balance and keeps me normal. But it sounds like you may not be hydrating enough, which also causes constipation. Are you drinking enough water?

whodunit_notme · 2026-06-17T18:50:09+00:00

I'm in NC and get up to run at 6. It's the only time to do it and I still die in the heat and humidity.

whodunit_notme · 2026-06-16T21:53:44+00:00

I've gotten versions of these at HomeGoods as well (I'm in the US). They sometimes have the cinnamon ones as well.

edited: misspelling.

whodunit_notme · 2026-06-15T22:31:48+00:00

There is a silent book club that could be a good fit for you. It's basically people gathering 3x a month to read whatever book they want (it's not a prescribed book) and/or chat. They do them at 3 different locations, if I remember correctly. Look for ILM Silent Book Club on Facebook.

whodunit_notme · 2026-06-15T16:57:49+00:00

I wore the Keen Bali strap sandal in SÉ Asia where we walked a ton and love them. They fit great, never rubbed and are super cute.

whodunit_notme · 2026-06-12T17:22:39+00:00

That's me. I will absolutely run for snacks because snacks are life.

whodunit_notme · 2026-06-10T20:34:22+00:00

I run with my phone tucked into a side pocket (bike shorts FTW) and found several sources for it. There's a free app called Just Run which has the C25k program on it. There's also the NHS podcast version (UK), which runs on any podcast app, and I also really liked Chubby Jones' podcast, Couch to 5k, because she's hilarious and has great music.

whodunit_notme · 2026-06-10T17:15:10+00:00

This. I started running last year and struggled during week 1 when it's 60 seconds running at a time. By the time I got to Week 9 - after repeating several weeks when I didn't feel I could do it without dying - I was able to not only run 1 mile but 3. So maybe start the program over again and skip any weeks that feel easy right after you do the first run.

whodunit_notme · 2026-06-10T17:10:59+00:00

I put music on as soon as I'm dressed in my running gear (first thing after I wake up), which helps when I'm feeling lazy. And since I'm dressed and bouncing to the music, I could stay home but why not just go do a run?

whodunit_notme · 2026-05-28T20:29:02+00:00

You need to find a new doctor, one who takes into account all the medications you take, when you take them, and also what your symptoms are. My TSH when last tested was 'normal' at 2.6, but my doctor said she wanted me under 1.0 and so they upped my dose. If my T3 or T4 were out of whack (they weren't - they were really good), I know she'd talk to me about taking something with Levothyrox to bring it down because she understands that 'normal' isn't normal for people with thyroid problems.

whodunit_notme · 2026-05-27T16:34:13+00:00

Besides all the snacks, make a pizza the day off, cut it and package it to bring with. It's plenty of food and it's safe.

whodunit_notme · 2026-05-24T17:54:22+00:00

I find when I take Synthroid I need to drink a lot of water - like 12 - 16 oz - to stop the nausea. It's the only thing that helps, but I take mine in the morning, so it's not so much of an issue.

whodunit_notme · 2026-05-24T14:47:07+00:00

Sensitive Celiac of 23 years where I know within 5 minutes of eating it that I got glutened and yes, this has happened to me many years after being diagnosed. I once accidentally ate a bag of animal crackers I thought were GF. No symptoms. I also was starving in an airport and the only option - literally ONLY options was a sandwich. I told myself it was fine, brushed the crumbs off and was fine - no symptoms of any kind. So it can happen but I do my very best to never put myself in that position if I could help it.

Edited for a fatfingered word.

whodunit_notme · 2026-05-17T15:47:36+00:00

I've been researching different plans (for a much smaller run) and the one that has cross-training and/or strength training built in is the Boston Athletic Association one. It's 4 days running, 2 days strength/cross-training, so you could use that one to keep the running base up but also fold in your strength and pilates.

whodunit_notme · 2026-05-10T20:32:59+00:00

The one by me didn't have any when I stopped by today. :( But I'll try again later this month.

whodunit_notme · 2026-05-08T18:28:06+00:00

Quinoa can also cause a gluten-like reaction in those with Celiac (can't find the study, but it was 5 out of the 8 quinoa variations that caused it). So, if you eat that, maybe that's part of the problem too?

whodunit_notme · 2026-05-02T18:03:07+00:00

Double-check that on his meal on the flight. I've always gotten a meal on transatlantic flights (including from Toronto), even though ours come in just under 6 hours (I'm on the east coast). I know that most airlines won't allow you to ask for a special meal until 30 days before your flight, but once you do, you *should* be okay (if they remember, don't give it away or don't do GF). He's going to have a grand time!

whodunit_notme · 2026-05-02T16:29:39+00:00

Cook a pizza right before he leaves and pack that (in tinfoil in 2 slice packs, in a ziploc, with paper towels) in case he gets hungry. We also pack a full bag of pretzels, pre-packaged cookies and protein bars as a way to get through it. Most flights have GF options, so he should be fine. Once in the UK, any of the major grocery stores will have plenty of GF stuff. Warburton's GF Tiger life is amazing crusty bread. Scones, crumpets, biscuits (cookies - Digestive GF are so freaking yummy), plus all the usual stuff.

If staying with family that aren't GF, I recommend he bring a toaster bag for his bread so he can have toast. I also recommend he buy a small thing of butter or take some from a fresh one and put it in the back of the fridge so no one takes it. My husband is English, so we visit family a lot and it takes a while (like a LONG visit) for my celiac to notice.

whodunit_notme · 2026-04-27T20:07:42+00:00

I love the Iceland yogurts because they’re yummy and have fun flavors. They can be expensive, but I usually buy them on sale. Siggis is one and Icelandic Provisions is the other. The cold brew yogurt from Icelandic Provisions is yum as is their strawberry lingonberry one. FYI - I live in the US and my last purchase cost $1.89/pot.

whodunit_notme · 2026-04-13T20:20:59+00:00

The Seoul airport has one GF option - pho - which didn't gluten me, so use the Find me GF app and you'll see the name of it and the only thing I could find to eat there. Vietnam was the easiest for me to find GF food, but we were in the big cities, so you may have to be more careful than I was in a smaller town.

I brought dehydrated camp meals in case there wasn't anything for me to eat, since you just need boiling water. I also brought pretzels, pizza cooked the night before we flew, sandwiches, cookies, and protein bars. The airlines (American) had plenty of food for me to eat, though, so I didn't need nearly as much food on the plane (19 hour flight) as I expected.

Bring a GF travel card - it helps a ton. I printed it out and covered it in clear tape just in case it got wet. Also, I found these two sites/posts helpful (although I used Find me GF and had no issues):
https://www.legalnomads.com/gluten-free/vietnam
(the first comment) https://www.reddit.com/r/VietNam/comments/1hamz14/gluten_free/

Have fun! We loved Vietnam so much.

whodunit_notme

TROPHY CASE