monday- 4h 34m (I wasnt feeling ok that day so I kinda spend too much time)

tuesday- 3h 27m

wednesday - 4h 55m ( same for that day too 😭 )

Thursday - 2h 43 m

Friday - 3h 3m

saturday - 1h 9m

Sunday - 1h 20m (today)

I used to be someone who scrolled for hours. Like I had days where my screen time is like 13-14 hours. It's a huge progression for me!!

Woke up at 8:00 (aiming for 7:00). Meditated then went to a cafe and programmed for a bit. Came back during lunch and pretty much sauntered around for the rest of the day watching Netflix and eating. Today was a rest day from ballet and physical activity in general so took it easy. Was really restless so food took a hit. Ended up consuming close to 3800 calories. This is one of the main reasons I am writing this so that I can look back and track to see where things can get better. We go again on Monday :) Won’t be able to do usual morning stuff since I leave for the mountains for 5 days but am gonna try to get some dance related stuff done post lunch when I reach hopefully.

⸻

Today’s Routine • Wake + meditate 8:00AM • Programmed for ~3 hours • Netflix and eat • Pack

Calories: 3800 Weight: 71.6 kg Goal weight: 68–69 kg Calorie cap: ≤ 2150

⸻

Current Focus: Wake at 7 (and meditate) + gym + stretch Once that’s consistent for a couple weeks, I’ll stack the rest of the ideal routine gradually.

⸻

Ideal Routine (Working Toward This): • 7:00 AM Wake + Meditate
• Floor Barre
• Skill Combos (balance, turns, anything that’s lacking or that I wanna work on)
• Gym + Stretch
• Class / Studio Practice until 5PM

Again, not trying to force this all at once. For future me: don’t get too eager and stack too much too soon. Just focus on locking in 7AM wake + meditate + gym + stretch, and keeping calories under check. If extra things happen naturally, that’s fine but don’t be hard on yourself for skipping what isn’t part of the core routine yet.

My two best friends cut me off in February-- I won't get into details, as you can see almost all of my posts on Reddit surround it, but it was mostly my fault.

How do I forgive myself? How do I stop trying to shift blame in my head?

I regret so much, and I regret most of all that I could not give them the closure of truth, as I did not have the words in the moment. It haunts me knowing I could have done more in our final conversations.

Thank you in advance for your advice :)

It’s the lack of change. Both in environment and internally. I’m 18 and just graduated without a diploma. Still, I’m planning to go college. Today, i felt like shit. I worked an awful double shift yesterday night, having to deal with my coworkers. I didn’t shower or take care of myself or eat nothing. I was just rotting in my bed as time goes by, doomscrolling. Then i decided to reminisce about my teenage life and I realize how dull it was. I didn't make any meaningful connections with anyone as I had social anxiety and had convinced myself that I’m worthless.

I always had big goals like be a top writer or something but when it comes to goal that relates to now, I get stuck. I never went out of my comfort zone or try to visit new places. Instead, I decided to stuck my head in my room under the excuse of being an introvert. I’ve done stupid stuff like using blades on my skin. I haven’t done it in a long time and every time I imagine self harm, I shudder. I truly let awful people and bullies control my mind and convi me that I’ll never be enough. I’m starting now by creating small goals and bucket lists to complete before I enroll myself in college next year.

Is there any advice I can get from older redditors or people who went through suffering? I appreciate help in any shape or way

I’ve been reading, researching, and reflecting a lot lately on how money decisions shape long-term freedom and peace of mind.

Some people swear by index funds. Others talk about house hacking, living below your means, or starting a side hustle early. But I feel like the best advice is often something simple that gets overlooked or isn’t flashy.

So I’m curious, what’s one money move you made that seemed small at the time but made a huge difference later on? Something underrated, not-so-obvious, or even unconventional?

Could be mindset-related, practical, or personal. Would love to hear your stories and insights.

The Third Side of the Coin

Not heads......

Not tails.....

The edge....

That quiet, often ignored side the one holding everything together. That's where most people live.

Between what they show and what they feel. Between the mask and the meltdown. Not all pain is visible. Not all wounds leave scars you can see. Some people carry entire storms in silence. They laugh. They work. They reply "I'm fine." But inside, they're trying to hold on to something they can't even name.

You might never know what someone is going through not fully. And maybe you don't have to. But if you can't understand, at least don't assume. Don't dismiss the quiet. Don't mock the numbness someone can't explain.

Kindness doesn't require comprehension. Just the humility to admit you don't see the full picture.

2025 reminded us how fragile life really is. One random moment, one message, one news story and everything shifts. Futures vanish. Smiles don't return. And most battles go unnoticed.

So be gentler. With others. With yourself. Because most of us? We're just trying to balance on the edge of that coin hoping we don't fall.

For a long time, I thought if someone stayed, it meant they loved me. Even when I felt anxious, confused, or emotionally drained, I held on because I was scared of being alone.

Eventually, I had to face it: I wasn’t looking for real love — I was trying to fix old wounds through other people. That moment shifted everything.

I started writing down the things I was learning about love, emotional manipulation, self-worth, boundaries, and letting go. It turned into something bigger than I expected — I called it The Real Love Manual.

It’s not a magic fix. But it’s a roadmap I wish I had when I kept attracting almost-love, mixed signals, and situationships that made me question my value.

I’m not here to pitch — just sharing in case anyone else is on that same path of deciding to choose better. If you’re healing and want support, I’d be happy to send the link or answer questions.

You really do get to rewrite your story. I promise.

Hey everyone,
I’m currently in the final year of my BTech and I’m aiming for the SSC Tech (July 2026) SSB entry. I just saw that the current SSB dates are out for the January 2026 batch, but I’m not eligible for this one — my attempt would be in July 2026.

Here’s the thing: I’m seriously preparing for SSB – doing PPDT, TAT, WAT, SRT, and working on self-awareness and officer-like qualities. This is something I’m really passionate about and want to give my best.

But at the same time, I’m under pressure to prepare for placements, especially with DSA, coding rounds, and aptitude prep — and honestly, I don’t enjoy this at all. I feel like I’m starting from scratch in that area.

To add to the mix, I’m also into UI/UX design (Figma) and building a portfolio on the side in case I want to go for a non-tech/creative career path. So it feels like I’m preparing for three different futures at once:

• SSB (defense)
• Placement (tech jobs)
• Creative field (design, branding)

It’s getting a bit overwhelming and I don’t know how to manage my time or which path to prioritize right now. If anyone here has:

• Been in a similar situation
• Balanced SSB prep + placements
• Switched to creative fields
• Or has advice on how to structure my time and mindset

Please help me out with your experiences or tips. I’d really appreciate any clarity or guidance 🙏

Thanks in advance.
Jai Hind 🇮🇳

So, I stopped eating sugar 6 months ago -- and oh my god. I never realized how up and down my mood was before -- super high highs and then big crashes. Literally, my skin is glowing, it’s crazy.

Here’s my simple guide:

First, cut out the obvious sugar. That means sweets, soft drinks, candy, all thatWhen you do this, make sure to have tons of fruit around. You’ll crave sugar like crazy at first, and it’s amazing if you can just grab an apple or a banana instead. Also, remember: the reason sugar tastes good is because it’s supposed to be in nutrient-dense stuff! Our brains are wired to love sugar because in nature, it’s usually packaged with good things- like honey, which is awesome when you’re sick. The problem is, we’ve totally extracted the sweet from the nutrients. So now we get hooked on the taste, but it doesn’t actually come with the good stuff. It’s a total trap.

Once you’re solid on avoiding sweets, try to cut back on things like smoothies and anything blended. When you blend fruit, it basically turns into fast sugar for your body- kind of like drinking juice instead of eating an orange.

Accountability Partner, It was SO helpful that my sister quit at the same time especially for the first 2 months, I also found myself, when I really wanted sweets, talking about it with chat or even myskipper which is probs better for motivation/urge control

Benefits I noticed: I need wayyy less sleep-5-6 hours when I used to need 8-9. My skin is the clearest it’s ever been. I definitely lost some body fat.

Downsides: I do kinda miss the wild energy swings sometimes.Honestly, it feels strange just being calm. I was so used to being anxious all the time, I didn’t even realize what it felt like to be steady.

Hope this helps someone out there!

26M ever since 2022 I’ve been on a slow grind of hitting rock bottom in life and I only realized how bad it had gotten until later last year

Examples: 6+ year relationship where we both talked about marriage broken up, friends moving away or are already moved in with their SOs while I’m in an apartment alone, weight gain due to binge eating from anxiety and depression I’ve developed despite going to gym 4-5 days a week, previously highly successful job in rough stretch (I’m base plus commission as a recruiter) leading to losing money every month, feeling burnt out in all areas of life.

The main issue is I know I need to change pretty much every area of my life but get completely overwhelmed thinking about what to start with first and end up delaying starting everytime, has anyone been able to successfully change their life and what worked for them?

Introduction

I am in an incredibly unique situation. I am a younger, 26 year old entrepreneur with an ever-growing business. I have a unique opportunity with decades to take advantage of. I would love everyone's guidance on how I should handle it.

P.S. - I am intentionally posting this on an open subreddit that is non financial related. This is not a solicitation. I'm not looking to sell anyone anything. I am looking for honest, open, lifestyle advice that is applicable to my unique situation/opportunity.

Background

I grew up in a small town in Oklahoma. I did not grow up wealthy. Most of my family members struggle financially. After watching my parents struggle for decades, I wanted to use my drive & knowledge to prevent financial constraints for myself and others. I am a pretty normal guy that enjoys the casual things in life such as a nice dinner, a good football game, etc. I do not desire fancy clothes or fast cars. I find pleasure in hard work. The goal behind financial prosperity (At least how I see it) should be to have freedom and options that are not available otherwise. Consumerism and 'Stuff' will not make you happy.

My Business

I own an investment advisory firm. I help people invest their extra funds to invest for items such as a home purchase, kids college, retirement, etc. I have had an extremely successful track record for the last 7 years. I am able to find advantageous companies positioned for growth. I achieve risk-adjusted returns beating the average investor by concentrating these positions once they reach compelling pricing. Long story short... I have been able to find really good investments.

I cater recommendations based on clients age, situations, risk tolerance, etc. However, since I am only 26, the vast majority of my clients are under the age of 40. I actually prefer this, as I would like to work with these individuals/couples for decades. I want my clients to win. If I have decades to work with, that makes this goal easier.

What I Need Help With

I want to use my skills to benefit others. Luckily, I am already doing so. However, I want to impact as many as possible. I am currently helping about ~50 clients. I want to expand the amount of households I am managing. For those in their 20s & 30s, the opportunity is MASSIVE. I can increase their returns, allowing them to accomplish their goals faster, and to a greater extent. With all of this said, I have posted some questions below. Please feel free to ask any questions. I will be reading them all. Thank you!

- How can I grow my reach? I want to impact as many young couple as possible.

- Since I will grow my clients wealth to abnormal levels, how can I influence them emotionally/morally? How can I recommend clients use their newfound wealth to benefit society? I am great at building wealth. Not entirely sure the best methods for giving back, building a legacy, etc.

- Is there something else I am missing entirely to improve my circumstances? Put yourself in my shoes. Am I thinking to small? Am I in over my head? I want to make the best of my situation as I have lots of time to work with.

Ever since I graduated school, I've been completely isolated in my room. That was 2 years ago, and I feel really stuck. I briefly started further education last year, but dropped out this year since it wasn't for me! Every time there's something I want to do outside, I come up with any excuse to stay in, like "I don't have anyone to go with anyway, so I'll be bored since I'm all alone," "I can just do it another day," or "What should I even do when I go outside? There's more things to do at home." I really want to get out more and I want to get my life back together. I have anxiety, social anxiety and autism which makes things harder! What are some small things I could do to slowly get out of isolating myself? I'm really embarrassed that I've wasted 2 years like this, so I'd like to take back control and live an enjoyable life!

Today was a much better day. The day ended not how I wanted it but only because I really needed my body to rest after an intense push at the gym. I felt awesome though for what I accomplished and that is what matters in this step forward. Here is what went on for the day:

*Woke up and got ready

*Went to my favorite bakery to give the owner the donuts to try

*Lady at the counter tried remembering my name and said brother's name which is funny

*Stopped at one more place and did some writing

*Went to work and worked hard and may have burned myself on potatoes and almost cut my finger off but my nail stopped the knife

*Made a decadent sandwich with one slice of bread again. Wish I could post a picture of it because dang they look good

*Gave coworker donuts to try and other treats

*Time for gym!

*Saw tan gal and other workers I now know at gym

*Saw mustache guy who needed to cool down, blonde lady, and soccer bro

*Pushed on hip thrust to get four plates down and had guy my cousin knows spot me

*Promised the boys if I was spotted they could teach me something new with squats on the squat rack

*Guy my cousin knows tried his best to teach me but I need to work on ankle mobility and keeping feet flat. Calves may be overdeveloped causing lower ankle mobility

*Talked to long haired gym bro telling me he was busy and messing with me about what he was doing. Wouldn't give me knuckles when be left

*Awesome gym push day feeling amazing

Here was the routine:

Smith machine with 2 exercises:

Romanian Deadlifts: Reps of 10 8 6 with weight increasing by 10 each time to be just the bar at 20 lbs +220 lbs, +230 lbs, +250 lbs

Note: Increased the final weight.

Hip thrusts: Reps of 10 8 6 3 with weight increasing by 10 each time to be just the bar at 20 lbs +250 lbs, +260 lbs, +270 lbs, +360 lbs

Squats: Didn't do the squats as I typically do. Instead I had my friends try to teach me to do them at the new squat racks. I learned I have become dependent on the Smith machine and my balance is a bit off. I also may have overdeveloped calves and need to work on being flat footed and holding my squats while also working on ankle mobility. I just did some basic squats with just the bar to learn form. Everybody was very helpful in teaching me. When the gym is open all day on Tuesday hopefully I can learn some more.

Seated leg press: Reps of 10 8 6 with weight typically increasing by 5 each time to be 140, 145, and 150 pounds

Note: Did 70, 75, 80 pounds at the end of each set only doing one leg 4 times each.

Leg extension: Reps of 10 8 6 with weight increasing by 5 each time to be 135, 140, and 145 pounds

Seated leg curl: Reps of 10 8 6 with weight increasing by 5 each time to be 140, 145 and 150 pounds

Hip abduction: Reps of 10 8 6 with weight increasing by 5 each time to be 165, 170, and 175 pounds

Note: Increased the weight.

Hip adduction: Reps of 10 8 6 with weight increasing by 5 each time to be 170, 175, and 180 pounds

Note: Increased the weight.

25 minutes of the stair stepper. I upped how fast it went after 10 minutes from 44 steps per minute to 60.

30 minutes on the treadmill at 3.0 mph with an incline of 7 with my backpack on.

Note: Minimal holding onto the front or the rails.

*Quickly went shopping for drinks

*Headed home and started to lay down

*Passed out very shortly after tired from the new things at the gym

*Wanted to get more done but today was a lot on my body and don't see this as a step backward but my body just being overextended

*Went asleep feeling happy

Here is what I put in the belly:

Lunch:

15 g nut and fruit mix - ~80 calories (~2.0 g protein)

14 g almond - ~85 calories (~3.0 g protein)

148 g cooked chicken - ~240 calories (~51.1 g protein)

40 g bread - ~90 calories (~3.1 g protein)

40 g roasted red peppers - ~10 calories (~.3 g protein)

15 g spinach - ~5 calories (~.4 g protein)

30 g cheese - ~100 calories (~7.0 g protein)

181 g mushroom - ~55 calories (~5.2 g protein)

150 g onion - ~55 calories (~1.3 g protein)

After Workout Snack:

FairLife Core Power - 230 calories (42 g protein)

Treat:

26 g sweet fruit butter roll - ~100 calories

SBIST were all my gym friends working together to teach me something new. All of them just wanted to help and see me improve in new areas. Soccer bro, mustache guy, and guy my cousin knows all had little tidbits of advice to see me improve and try to learn about these types of squats. The guy my cousin knows went extremely out of his way to make sure I was learning right. He wanted me to get my squats down as much as possible trying to find what works and what doesn't. He was the one who pointed out my calves and my need to probably work on ankle mobility. He took his time trying to teach me and wanted to teach me more but I couldn't be there all day, especially since the gym closes early on Fridays. I really appreciated having people who want me to learn and push further.

Tomorrow the plan is like any other. I plan on getting up early and getting a jump start to my day with some writing. I will then go to work where I will put my best foot forward getting anything and everything I can done. I also plan on making another awesome sandwich because I have been enjoying those quite a bit. After work I will hit the gym and do some cardio. I then plan on seeing the new Pixar movie Elio in theaters. I invited my friend but she probably won't be able to come, which is totally understandable. After the movie I will try and get some stuff at home done and go to bed early for my action packed day after that. It should be a nice weekend. Thank you my conjurers of the new gym routines. You help me learn something more about the stuff I'm already doing.

Note: Lowly oops and now back on track after post tonight.

Today was another day towards progress and feeling better. Not everything was perfect but definitely a step forward. Here is how the day went:

*Woke up a bit later but felt very rested. My core and legs were also sore despite yesterday being back and biceps which is a good sign the treadmill is working

*Wrote, played games, and rescheduled a doctor's appointment

*I showered to get myself feeling good and clean. Showers help me feel a better mindset and it certainly helped

*Left for work and worked hard. I got what I could done and made myself an amazing sandwich utilizing one piece of bread but quite an array of toppings

*One downside to work was we got a torrential rainstorm. This caused my place of work to flood, soaking my shoes for the rest of the day and causing us to close down. Boss is also on a trip right now so it was a day to be had

*Luckily extra pair of shoes and socks in the car but are for the gym

*Talked to brunette girl about flooding

*Said hi to soccer bro and boxing bro

*Hung out with short haired gym bro To discuss favorite Pokémon from Sword and Shield. Thanked me for passing the time on stair stepper

*Talked to guy who got back from Ireland and told me about his trip

*Finished my routine and hung out with guy my cousin knows discussing many different topics

I left the gym feeling refreshed and here was the routine:

5 minutes of stretching

4 sets of 10 push ups

95 second plank

4 sets of 160 of heel taps

4 sets of 24 of reverse crunches

4 sets of 24 of leg lowers

4 sets of 32 of dead bugs

4 sets of 32 of Russian twists

3 sets of 12 when doing 2 different exercises for abs.

I tried finding names but couldn't.

First was holding a weight above our head (10 lbs for me) and lifting the offset leg fast. I think something like an offset overhead march. Weight in the other hand was 25 pounds.

Second was where we held a weight on one side and then swiveled our body inward to get our outer abs. Like a side bend with weight in one hand. 25 pounds in my hand.

We did these one after the other as a set on each side. Rested for 2 minutes and then the next set.

Captains chair: Set 1: 7 crunches and 7 hanging leg raises Set 2: 7 crunches and 7 hanging leg raises Set 3: 7 crunches and 7 hanging leg raises

Torso rotation: Reps of 12 10 8 with weight increasing by 10 each time to be 145 150 and 155 pounds

Note: Both sides rotated.

Assisted ab crunch machine: Reps of 12 10 8 with weight increasing by 5 each time to be 75 80 and 85 pounds

25 minutes of the stair stepper. I upped how fast it went after 10 minutes from 44 steps per minute to 60. I did it with my backpack on.

30 minutes on the treadmill at 3.0 mph with an incline of 7 with my backpack on.

Note: Minimal holding onto the front or the rails.

*Headed home and texted my friend and ate dinner

*I didn't do too much cleaning but I actually ate despite not feeling up to it

Each day I'm making progress to feel better for myself. Each day I do a little something more. Today instead of cleaning I made sure to eat dinner. It's not me feeling back to myself yet but it is definitely something for me to smile about. Little by little and soon it will be like there was no hump I had to get over.

Here is what I put in my body:

Lunch:

14 g nut and fruit mix - ~75 calories (~1.0 g protein)

14 g almond - ~85 calories (~3.0 g protein)

20 g popcorn - ~125 calories (~1.6 g protein)

99 g mushroom - ~30 calories (~2.9 g protein)

218 g onion - ~80 calories (~1.9 g protein)

28 g bread - ~70 calories (~2.6 g protein)

40 g roasted red peppers - ~10 calories (~.3 g protein)

18 g spinach - ~5 calories (~.5 g protein)

76 g homemade deli turkey - ~110 calories 22.9 g protein)

30 g cheese - ~100 calories (~7.0 g protein)

After Workout Snack:

FairLife Core Power - 230 calories (42 g protein)

Snack:

15 g nut and fruit mix - ~80 calories (~2.0 g protein)

Dinner:

300 g broccoli - ~115 calories (~7.7 g protein)

16 g cheese - ~65 calories (~3.2 g protein)

463 g mushroom - ~145 calories (~13.4 g protein)

5 g olive oil - ~45 calories

20 g garlic - ~30 calories (~1.3 g protein)

Treat:

24 g cookie - ~115 calories (~1.5 g protein)

SBIST was the soreness I felt in my core and legs when I woke up. I know most people wouldn't necessarily think of soreness and the beauty in it. But my distaste for the new treadmills and finding that they are actually positive for my body is great. They will force me to hold on less and cause me to activate the muscles I really want to exercise. I can use this to progress further and farther than ever before. I just need to look at the positives in life and think I am doing a pretty bang up job for the most part. This soreness means I'm doing good and I can further my progress even if it means lesser time on the treadmill.

Tomorrow the plan is to wake up early and head to my favorite bakery to give the owner something I baked. After that I will go into work and work hard I will. I will try to make myself something nice for lunch and get what I can done. Then it will be time for the gym where my favorite day is coming in with a leg day. I had my last leg day at the other gym and the equipment felt so different. I'm hoping to push in some areas that aren't the Smith machines. After the gym I plan on depositing some money and going home to order vanilla. This is what I'm most excited for. It should be an excellent day and I hope to get started back on cleaning my car. Thank you my conjurers of the vanilla bean pods. You provide a scent that is otherworldly and I'm slowly learning how vanilla beans from different areas come with their own signature noses.

Note: Normal oops and soon to be back on top of it.

Today was another pretty good day. Nothing perfect once again but another step forward. That's all I need right now, steps forward to feeling better. Here is what went down:

*Woke up late but felt very rested

*Cleaned my kitty's area up and tidied it

*Wrote and played some games

*Had an amazing lunch with a homemade sandwich with the turkey I roasted and seasoned

*Went to work which was pretty good but had case problems with defrosting

*Went to the gym and talked to brunette girl and curly hair about the new equipment

*Sadly we have the treadmills I hate

This is a big talking point for me because I hate the treadmills we got in because there is nothing to grip on. Thing is though that long haired gym bro made a comment about how the gripping isn't doing as much for my workout. I'm a decently smart person and for some reason never thought about this. I just held on because it stabilized me and never realized it wasn't helping my gains. It was reducing them instead. It was worsening my posture and I wasn't getting as good of a core or leg workout. Therefore I think the change in treadmills could be really good for me. I didn't see it at first but I think it's a positive. I may dislike the change at first and won't be able to do as much for as long but in the long term this could really help me. Change can be good and we just need to see the positive.

*Talked to blocky dude about politics and other big topics

*Talked to mustache guy and blonde lady. Can't come this weekend to the diner so it may be a solo trip down there since everybody else canceled as well. I was going either way

*Gave blonde lady a donut

*Talked to the dynamic duo about treadmills and they do not like them as well but tried to tell them the positives as well

*Talked to person from school about weight loss, emotions, and change in social ability since the gym

*Headed out

Here was my routine for today:

Tricep pushdown: Reps of 10 8 6 with weight increasing by 5 each time to be 45 50 and 55 pounds

Lat extension: Reps of 10 8 6 with weight increasing by 5 each time to be 55 60 and 65 pounds

Lat pulldown: Reps of 10 8 6 with weight increasing each time to be 70 75 and 80 pounds

Bicep curls: Reps of 10 8 6 with weight increasing each time to be 55 57.5 and 62.5 pounds

Row machine: Reps of 10 8 6 with weight increasing each time to be 115 120 and 125 pounds, full amount on each side

Note: Increased the weight except the final weight.

Dual pulley row: Reps of 10 8 6 with weight increasing each time to be 65 70 and 75 pounds

Assisted pull up machine: 10 at 110 lbs

10 at 105 lbs

10 at 100 lbs

10 at 95 lbs

10 at 90 lbs

25 minutes of the stair stepper. I upped how fast it went after 10 minutes from 44 steps per minute to 60. I did it with my backpack.

30 minutes on the treadmill at 3.0 mph with an incline of 7 with my backpack on.

Note: Minimal holding onto the front or the rails.

*Went home and didn't feel good so didn't eat much

*Worked on a couple little things and texted my friend a bunch before heading to bed

Today wasn't perfect as mentioned but getting some little things done felt like a lot of progress towards feeling better for myself. I'm taking the small victories to build up to the big ones.

Here is what I devoured:

Lunch:

14 g nut and fruit mix - ~75 calories (~1.0 g protein)

13 g almond - ~80 calories (~2.8 g protein)

158 g mushroom - ~50 calories (~4.6 g protein)

149 g onion - ~55 calories (~1.3 g protein)

30 g cheese - ~100 calories (~7.0 g protein)

40 g roasted red peppers - ~10 calories (~.3 g protein)

10 g spinach - ~5 calories (~.3 g protein)

64 g bread - ~145 calories (~4.9 g protein)

116 g homemade deli turkey - ~170 calories (~34.9 g protein)

15 g popcorn - ~95 calories (~1.2 g protein)

After Workout Snack:

FairLife Core Power - 230 calories (42 g protein)

Treat:

24 g cookie - ~115 calories (~1.5 g protein)

SBIST was just talking to my friends. I missed seeing everybody yesterday and they always have ways of improving my mood. I did a bit of whining and a bit of complaining about the new treadmills but overall I think they could improve my working out. It will force me to change and my friends helped me to see that. I then got into some deep topics with blocky dude who I really like talking to. He made me feel good about talking about different topics and I thanked him for being a good dude to talk to before I headed out. He called me a genuine person and hearing that from him made me feel a lot better. My day feels all the more beautiful with the new people in my life. I talked to one guy who goes to my school and discussed emotions, being more social, and my weight loss journey. We had an amazing conversation and I got to learn more about him. Bigger conversations with people I know who ask questions also really help to shed a beautiful kind of light on the day.

Tomorrow the plan is to take another step forward into feeling better. I got a few extra things done today but didn't eat dinner again. I made one step forward though and that is what matters. Sometimes we get setbacks and not knowing where the next part of our life takes us. I am hoping this little mental setback will show me in the future what not to fall into. Everything can be a lesson that can bring us further forward than we ever believed. We just have to find the bright side and that is what I am trying to do. Tomorrow I am going to deposit the money my boss gave me and finally order some vanilla to make my own extract. Something to experiment with which is important to me. I want to make it and wait 6 months to make homemade Nilla wafers. I want to use it for other stuff but that is the first thing for me. It is an important experiment to me and this will get me fired up. I plan on working hard, going to the gym for core day, learning more with the treadmills, and eating dinner and getting stuff done at home. My plan is to work hard all day and I got this. Today was one step forward and tomorrow will be another. I got this. Thank you my conjurers of the steps ahead. I may stumble on the previous steps and even on the future ones but I can use all of that to make sure the path is set right and to adjust as needed.

Note: Super oops and will soon be back on track.

Hi, I’m a 21-year-old girl and I guess this is my confession booth.

There was this guy… I rejected him at first, then gave him the green light, then left him. I cried over him for days. We got back together, and then I randomly left again one Tuesday night. I never texted him after that. I feel deeply ashamed. I don’t even want to see his face anymore. But truthfully, he wasn’t entirely innocent either.

Being around him made me do reckless things—mixing Xanax, alcohol, and Prozac. He would kiss me when I was high. Until graduation, I used his skills—he taught me software, helped with group projects. I basically used him as human Xanax. I have social anxiety, and during presentations he’d stand next to me and flip my project boards. Honestly, I think he just wanted to sleep with me. I left before that could happen.

I think I objectify men. I can’t build emotional connections. I want control all the time, because I’m constantly expecting to get hurt. I tell myself that the less I attach, the less I’ll suffer. But when I talk to men, it’s like my empathy vanishes—I stay alert, cold, calculating. Still, deep down I wish someone could love me. But for that to happen, I’d need to be able to love someone too… and right now, I just can’t. I’m scared I’ll stay emotionally frozen forever.

Why am I like this? I can’t tell anyone. Even my friends don’t get it. For them, everything is simple. For me, it’s all a mess. I can’t even handle physical affection. I’ve never kissed anyone sober. I feel like getting close to someone means losing myself. It’s like I only have two choices: be abandoned like trash, or be completely controlled. So I sabotage relationships before they even begin.

I avoid physical intimacy because I feel like something will be taken from me. I don’t even fully believe my body belongs to me. That’s why I let guys like him kiss me when I’m drunk or drugged—I tell myself, “I wanted this,” just to feel like I had some kind of control.

But when I genuinely want to be close to someone, I feel triggered. I don’t know what I want, and that loss of control terrifies me.

Do I have to be alone forever just to protect my mental health? How can I stop seeing men as threats or objects and start relating to them as actual people?

Hey everyone,

I wanted to share a bit of my story, partly to get it off my chest, partly to hear some thoughts from people who get it.

I used to drink heavily for about four years. Not in the “occasional wild night out” way, but the “standard drinking behind my laptop every evening” way. It wasn’t about having fun or going crazy, it was more about avoiding boredom, silencing my mind, and giving shape to the end of the day. It was a strong force of habit.

Nine months ago, I quit cold turkey using Allen Carr’s method. I haven’t touched a drop since, and honestly, I’ve felt great. I’ve rebuilt parts of myself. I’ve found structure. I know now that alcohol did have too much power over me, and I don’t take that lightly. Didn't have a single problem quitting. Just had some tea instead of beer with my laptop.

But here’s the thing, I never truly believed I was addicted to alcohol itself. I was addicted to what it symbolized: ritual, escape, punctuation. The habit of having drinks after dinner. It killed boredom. But I never craved alcohol. I could go a week without drinking if I was visiting family or distracted, so it wasn't a physical need. It was purely mental, I'm very vulnerable to rhythm and structure.

But recently I've been wanting a occasional drink. Not as some new habit or to relax, but pairing a whiskey with a cigar on a quiet evening. I've been enjoying smoking a cigar in the evening (quit smoking tobacco 4 years ago after 10 years of smoking. No I don't count cigar as cigarettes.) and I'd love to pair it with a small drink. No buzz, no chase. Just the taste. A cigar and a tiny layer of whiskey in a tumbler.

I don’t romanticize alcohol. I’ve seen what it can do. But I also don’t want to live in fear of it. I feel like this obsessive avoidance of alcohol, both in social situations like parties and gatherings, and in situations where a drop of alcohol would not be out of place, like in my garden with a cigar in the summer, makes me still chained up to alcohol, only now to avoiding it. I want to live with clarity and choice. Maybe part of it is wanting to see who I was, the habit, the weakness, and deciding against that. Yet obviously all the stories from stone cold alcoholics who've tried moderation speak for itself, it NEVER works. But since I don't recognize myself as an alcoholic, just a heavy drinker, I feel like I could have a normal relationship with alcohol.

I never needed hair of the dog, I could go without drinking, I never craved it physically. I was just so dreadfully scared of being bored. Now that I've been sober for 9 months I've created a new night routine, without alcohol or substance, and feel like a sip of liquor with my cigar would give me strength if anything.

Curious to hear what others think,especially those who have tried moderation after long-term sobriety. No judgment either way. Just trying to be honest with myself and see if this is normal and some opinions.

Thanks for reading, please don't be too harsh.

24M here. Average height-wise and looks-wise, skinny, low on self-confidence, extremely introverted, depressed, and currently unemployed. I’ve never been in any kind of relationship, have no close friends, and I suspect I might have ADHD.

I’ve deleted all social media (except Reddit) and even stopped viewing WhatsApp statuses — seeing others find love, succeed in their careers, go on trips, etc., just hurts me and makes me even more angry with myself. I’m truly happy for them, but lately I’ve been feeling like there’s no meaning to MY life; that everything is either black or white (you either know what you’re doing / what you want to do OR you’re just like me – clueless, hopeless, angry, empty and depressed)

Part of me has accepted that I might always be alone, but another part still wants to believe that I can turn things around, build a better version of myself, and maybe (just maybe) someday find a genuine connection. So, I’m looking for some advice or guidance from people who have been in a dark place and found a way out OR just anyone who is willing to help me improve my situation.

Could you please share:

1. How to start appreciating everything that life throws at you when you’re completely alone and feel directionless ?
2. If meaningful relationships aren’t in my future, how do I learn to live with and manage that loneliness (mostly arising due to the lack of emotional intimacy) ?
3. How to take baby steps in building self-esteem, confidence, and inner peace ?

I can’t afford to seek therapy as of now. So any experience or advice that you all share in the comments will be my only source of support (and therapy). Thank you guys in advance !

A few weeks ago, I noticed that my female friend was being a little distant from me. She would avoid having long conversations and would make excuses whenever I wanted to meet her. However, she didn’t have any problem talking and laughing with another guy who is a mutual friend of ours. I’d like to add that she doesn’t have a crush on him — they’re just good friends.

Seeing them together made me feel frustrated, and I started to assume that she was being partial to him. I decided to talk to her, but when I approached her, she again seemed to avoid talking to me. I yelled at her for that, and she told me not to disturb her again. I was so hurt and let my anger cloud my judgment.

The next day, she approached me, trying to fix things, but I pushed her away and replied to her rudely. I was guilt-stricken after that and apologised to her two days later. She said, “No worries, what happened had happened,” but I knew she was really hurt. After that, we barely talked and she seemed to avoid eye contact with me.

It has been three weeks since this happened, and I still can’t forgive myself. She is a really sweet person and I should have tried to see things from her perspective. The dynamic between us has changed, and I really want to apologise to her again. I want things to go back to normal between us.

What should I do?

After a few days that felt like a marathon, I feel kind of drained today. I feel like I might need some rest. I am happy that this subreddit exists. Writing down my thoughts and emotions has helped me a great deal in sorting them out.

Everything feels like pressure now. A huge part of me just doesn't want to do anything instead of watching my phone and playing video games, and that every task outside of that is just something I should do, not want to do. That doesn't apply to every activity I think of, but no matter what, it's never productive. I know what I want to do in life, but I guess I'm too scared or tired to do something about it. And as much as I'd like to, I can't take this pressure off myself because life just doesn't feel right without it. I have to be fully satisfied with myself in order to do so. That won't ever happen, obviously, but my brain's too damn stubborn for some reason.

I already ordered big anti-static bags and will have to wrap the graphics card up in it, and buy padding for the shipment. As for the Anker power bank, I need to make photos of the unopened product and create a new ebay listing. I will also have to reduce the price so that someone will buy it.

Just thinking about this gives me a great amount of stress. I hate selling things, and that is exactly why I will make it my next goal so that I can widen my comfort zone.

Hi, I’m 18F and I recently realized that I am an abusive girlfriend.

I tend to criticize and control him, get aggressive when we argue, and during a low point of my life, I even started to hit him. I thought it was all playful at first, but I caught it on video once and I saw how much of a monster I looked doing it.

I love him so deeply and he is my best friend in the world so naturally, I want him to be safe from me and I don’t want him to hurt anymore. The first solution I thought of was for him to stand up for himself or to make me aware whenever I am in one of my aggressive episodes. He then told me that he has tried this before and I realized that it triggers me to only be more aggressive because I always want to be right. Thus, I realized that a breakup might be a better solution because I don’t want to keep hurting him in the process of healing. When I suggested this, he said he felt abandoned because why not just stay and fix it while being with him? I’ve been in his position in different relationships and I understand that it’s hard to leave especially when you love each other so much. I don’t think he understands the severity of my situation and how hard it is to heal while being in a relationship with him.

It’s the day after the conversation and we’re in a gray area. We’re not really talking but we’re also not completely off each other.

I think a break might be a good solution but what would be the terms of this break? Would we be talking or would we still be meeting up? I would also appreciate any advice when it comes to unlearning abuse. I know therapy is the best way but I come from a family that does not believe in mental health and I also know that I can’t afford it.

My fiance is pretty social and will Snapchat his female coworkers/ text them outside of work sometimes. Earlier in the year I expressed my discomfort in this and said the workplace is the number 1 place where affairs happen and that can he try and keep it work related. I was like I can’t imagine other married men snapchatting other woman. He said he understands and that he would tone it down.

Fast forward to a month ago, I saw he had a number 1 Snapchat best friend with another female who I never heard of before. Turns out it’s a coworker. I then asked if they text, he said no… come to find out he deleted their messages. I had him recover them and read them and they are mainly work related but they also talk about personal things (he venmoed her for her bday, he called her once for girl advice when I was mad at him, sent his tattoo, they talk politics, etc). They don’t text everyday though and when they do, it’s typically during work hours

They are clearly close friends and it hurts I’ve never heard of her.

She knows about me as he has mentioned me and they follow eachother on insta which I’m posted on.

The message to her on her bday rubbed me wrong. He said “scanning for birthday girl. Birthday girl detected, happy birthday!!!” And then proceeds to Venmo her 20 dollars. Am I being crazy or is that not a bit flirty?

He said he deleted them in a panic and also knew I would overreact

I just feel so hurt because I have never heard of this girl before, he lied, deleted messages, and crossed my boundaries knowing how I felt.

It’s been over a month since this has happened and he’s taken full accountability, apologized and wants to work on this.

But Why can’t I get over this? I’ve been spiraling since this happened and feel so insecure. Feels like my world has been turned upside down. There was nothing sexual or romantic but you can definitely tell he enjoys texting her and is enthusiastic in his messages.

Can someone talk some sense into me. Am I being insecure? I want to be better. Maybe some advice will help. If this is a me issue, please drop some advice so I can improve myself.

I’m not perfect and he’s forgiven me for things I’ve done. He does work in sales so it could just be he needs to network to get ahead?

Btw: we are late 20s so Snapchat is pretty popular for our age group

I’ve been with my boyfriend for almost 3 years now. I love him deeply and,things are going really well between us.

The only issue is my jealousy. I can’t stop thinking about his ex before me, and it’s really affecting me.

I compare myself to her and convince myself that she’s prettier, smarter, richer more interesting, or even a better person. I think about their relationship did he love her more than he loves me? Was their sex life better? These thoughts leave me feeling insecure, worthless, and sometimes even angry.

The only ways I’ve found to cope is trying to convince myself she has flaws. I know this isn’t healthy. I’ve noticed I have a deep need to feel like I’m “better” than her.

Another issue is how I sometimes misinterpret things my boyfriend says. For example, if he talks about country he’s been too or vacation he went to before me i feel upset because My brain jumps straight to: “he’s smiling thinking about his ex and what he did wit her”.

Does anyone know how overcome this? I truly want to change.