BrewBit's recent activity
-
Comment on Thinking of getting Proton and using it as my day-to-day email, but I have concerns in ~tech
-
Comment on Fitness Weekly Discussion in ~health
BrewBit Link ParentYes, definitely. First, you are right that it is tedious to log calories. But it does get easier if you commit to a system. Most people tend to eat the same things, so if you have an app that lets...Yes, definitely. First, you are right that it is tedious to log calories. But it does get easier if you commit to a system. Most people tend to eat the same things, so if you have an app that lets you create custom foods, you can log those quickly when you repeat that same meal. You also get pretty good at knowing what's worth logging and what isn't, if that makes sense. For instance, I rarely log vegetables because it is hard to eat enough lettuce to impact my calorie targets. But I do log dressing. Same with homemade soup- log the chicken, beans, broth and pasta but don't worry about the carrots and peas.
Logging your calories consistently gives you good insight into not only how your diet is impacting your goals, but it is a skill that you get better at. When I first started logging, it felt like a pretty big effort but now it's almost an afterthought. Some apps also have good shortcut tools you can use, like AI image analysis, to help you log quickly.
I like MacroFactor a lot because it adapts to my logging habits. It works best if you give it perfect data, but it works well if you don't. As long as I log in a consistent way, the app will work for me.
And yeah, it is pretty ironic that the easiest things to log are prepackaged foods with barcodes. As you use your app of choice though, if it is a good one, it will surface the foods you eat regularly so logging an apple or a grilled chicken breast becomes just as easy.
Logging calories adds just enough friction to eating in order to help me avoid some pretty bad habits. Like when someone brings homemade cookies into work, I'm thinking "This looks good, but I already ate my lunch, plus how am I even going to log this? Just forget it then." Or the super easy snacking- I was portioning some crackers into a bag to bring on a hike the other day and was going to just eat a few as I did it, but knowing I would have to log like 5 crackers was just enough for me to avoid that.
So I guess my main tips are: pick a good app that isn't a pain to use (again I plug MacroFactor), suffer through the initial pain of logging with the knowledge that you are honing a skill, and commit to yourself to log as accurately as you can as consistently as you can.
-
Comment on Fitness Weekly Discussion in ~health
BrewBit Link ParentSure, these things helped me: Treat medical issues as medical issues. For me, my obesity (a medical issue) required more than just grit to beat. I spoke to my doctor and got a prescription for...Sure, these things helped me:
-
Treat medical issues as medical issues. For me, my obesity (a medical issue) required more than just grit to beat. I spoke to my doctor and got a prescription for tirzepatide (Zepbound). It's a miracle drug. If you've ever tried just diet and exercise to lose weight, you will understand just how difficult that is.
-
Calorie tracking with my preferred app Macrofactor. I have a 473 day streak of logging everything I eat. Also weigh in every day. You lose weight in the kitchen, not the gym.
-
Strength training is great for you but don't try to change everything all at once. I did not start working out in earnest until about 6 months after starting to lose weight with medication and calorie tracking. I would recommend making your diet and lifestyle changes incrementally to avoid flaming out.
-
Find a goal that isn't just the number on a scale. That is hiking for me. I love to hike and backpack and my ability to perform those hobbies is directly tied to my health. It is amazing how different my experiences on the trail are after losing so much weight and gaining strength. Very motivating.
-
Find ways to motivate yourself that aren't food-related. Turning off the food=reward system is very difficult especially since that is so deeply ingrained in our culture (celebratory drinks, birthday cake, holiday feasts, etc.). For me, that means I give myself permission to have those "special" foods any time I want them instead of only tying them to an event. But I log those calories and they need to fit in with my budget. The other side of that coin is rewarding myself for achieving things- I got myself an Apple Watch Ultra when I hit my initial weight goal. I got new fancy lightweight trekking poles when I hit 100 lbs. down (Durston Icelines for the curious). I planned a solo backpacking trip with some other new gear for when I had lost a significant amount.
-
For fitness stuff, finding and removing friction is the number one thing to ensure you stick with it. For me, that means working out at home. I would never go to a gym- it would feel like such a chore to have to change, get in the car and go somewhere, etc. I'm lucky enough to have a spare bedroom that I can exercise in but I started with bodyweight-only stuff, then added resistance bands and now am using mostly freeweights and dumbells. Also a doorframe pull-up bar. For finding time to do this stuff, habit stacking is key. Find something you always do and then work out right after that. That's dinner time for me. I have about an hour and a half between dinner and my kiddo's bedtime- I use that time.
-
I found it fairly motivating to buy new clothes as I got smaller. Being able to fit in the next size down is pretty amazing and the total opposite of my general life experience of clothes shopping. It also makes you look smaller as you lose the weight which is pretty motivating. I bought every size of cheapo Levi's jeans on my way down from 46 to 32. It is a physical reminder of your hard work. I shopped cheap Gap/Old Navy stuff until I hit a stable size. Some people swear by thrift stores for this phase of weight loss as well.
-
The scale can be motivating if you let it. It's just data and not a judgement. Especially when you are just starting out, you will see the weight practically fall off as you lose water weight. This is helpful as well due to the so-called "paper towel effect". It's hard to see your weight loss at first, but like taking a sheet of paper towels off the roll, the roll gets smaller quicker as you near the core. Same for weight. So seeing that number drop even though you look the same in the mirror is motivational.
-
Other apps I used: Happy Scale, Withings with my Body+ wifi scale, Shotsy for weekly injection tracking.
Well that is a lot more than I meant to type. Hopefully some of this is helpful. I'm also happy to talk privately if you want. Good luck!
-
-
Comment on Fitness Weekly Discussion in ~health
BrewBit LinkI've been on a long journey of weight loss, strength training and endurance training (cycling & hiking). Long boring story short, I've lost over 150 lbs, gained some strength and last night was...I've been on a long journey of weight loss, strength training and endurance training (cycling & hiking). Long boring story short, I've lost over 150 lbs, gained some strength and last night was able to do a pull-up for the first time ever at 42 years old.
-
Comment on How do you remember? in ~tech
BrewBit Link ParentGood question. I think I'm a serial "tryer-outerer" and have some kind of fear of committing to a single solution. Notion is the closest thing I have right now to what I think I'm looking for and...Good question. I think I'm a serial "tryer-outerer" and have some kind of fear of committing to a single solution. Notion is the closest thing I have right now to what I think I'm looking for and I do use it for work stuff fairly successfully (plus about 45 open Chrome tabs). I probably don't really need a different tool but I thought it would be interesting to see how others have solved similar problems.
-
How do you remember?
Kind of a simple question but I can't find a good answer for myself. How do you keep track of all those little (and big) things that you want to remember? I've tried Notion, Google Keep, Evernote...
Kind of a simple question but I can't find a good answer for myself. How do you keep track of all those little (and big) things that you want to remember? I've tried Notion, Google Keep, Evernote and I'm sure other things that I can't remember but nothing seems to stick. I end up reverting back to the "just keep a shitload of browser tabs open on all my devices" approach. Have you found a solution you like to keep track of (and find later!) your notes, links, lists & other digital tidbits?
30 votes -
Comment on Recommend me some deep dive YouTube videos / Portland trip recs! in ~travel
BrewBit LinkJust a heads up- the Trail of Ten Falls at Silver Falls State Park is partially closed due to storm damage. You can still see several of the falls but you won't be able to do the whole thing....Just a heads up- the Trail of Ten Falls at Silver Falls State Park is partially closed due to storm damage. You can still see several of the falls but you won't be able to do the whole thing. Still worth it, in my opinion. Wahkeena -Multnomah Falls loop is another excellent hike in the Gorge for waterfalls that should be doable this time of year.
-
Comment on Can Ozempic cure addiction? in ~health
BrewBit LinkI've been on a tirzepatide (Zepbound), a different "GLP-1" medication since October 2024. I can definitely report a loss of interest in alcohol. I used to have a beer or two daily and now drink...I've been on a tirzepatide (Zepbound), a different "GLP-1" medication since October 2024. I can definitely report a loss of interest in alcohol. I used to have a beer or two daily and now drink once a week, if that. I attribute that to three aspects of being on this medication: 1) On a GLP-1 med, there is a massive reduction in what obese people call "food noise", which includes the desire to drink. It's more like a reduction in being obsessed with intake. It isn't exciting to me, like it used to be, to get new beers and drink them. 2) Drinking alcohol of any kind actively hinders what I was/am trying to do by taking a GLP-1: lose weight and get healthy. The medication makes it easier to recognize this and act, like a normal person. 3) Now that I am at a healthy weight (thanks to tirzepatide), I can no longer drink like I used to. I just can't handle my alcohol at all. I'm tipsy after a single drink and done after 2. I also feel way worse after drinking than I used to. Drinking doesn't feel worth it at all.
I can also report having the anhedonia that the article mentions. This has tapered off a lot though. I experienced anhedonia around 3 months in to taking this med and it slowly tapered as time went on. I definitely felt that listless, bored feeling. It's like my brain was rewiring itself and didn't know what to do for fun. Now that I am on a reduced dose and am in weight maintenance mode, the anhedonia is nearly gone. What that looked like for me was a reduced desire for some things that I used to really like. Video games was one. Reading was another thing I don't do a lot of any more. What's replaced those things though is an increased focus on fitness. I'm lifting weights 3x weekly and riding my Peloton 2x weekly. I go on long (12+ mile, 3000'+ elevation gain), strenuous hikes on the weekends and get real enjoyment out of that. I take my family backpacking in the summer time.
So it feels like this anhedonia, for me, is really just a shift in priorities. It's like certain aspects of myself were dulled and others sharpened. Over all, I am glad to have found this medication. It's enabled me to lose over 150 lbs and keep it off (so far). I no longer obsess about food and drink. I'm reveling in seeing what my body can do now that it isn't weighed down by all that excess fat. In my experience,
-
Comment on Youtube channel recommendations 2026 in ~tech
BrewBit LinkSome of my favorites that I don't think I saw mentioned: Miranda Goes Outside!! Hiking and backpacking content from an ex-REI employee. Miranda goes backpacking a lot in the PNW (where I am) and...Some of my favorites that I don't think I saw mentioned:
Miranda Goes Outside!! Hiking and backpacking content from an ex-REI employee. Miranda goes backpacking a lot in the PNW (where I am) and further afield. She and her producer Rainer have an infectious enthusiasm that makes me want to get outside more often.
Eric Hanson Some overlap with Miranda. Eric is based out of Arizona and does a lot of solo backpacking there.
Hiking Hansen Mr. Hansen is based in Lillehammer, Norway and shows what backpacking there is like (hot tenting, skiing, pulling a sled, etc.). This is a small channel but his videos are very well made.
Pepper Steps Pepper goes backpacking and shares knowledge of her surroundings. She can be a little fakey/inauthentic-feeling at times but generally solid content.
Softroading The West Donald started his channel showing how he could get just about anywhere he wanted to go off road with his Subaru Forrester. That car was totaled so he got a Nissan Frontier and built it into a camper. He does "softroading", sticking to forest service and logging roads to go camping. He's based out of Eugene, OR and drives around my general area. His channel is the polar opposite of the majority of "overlanding" channels hosted by Instagram models in vehicles that cost more than a house shooting sponsored content in exotic locations.
Matt's Off Road Recovery Matt is an insanely knowledgeable guy who rescues vehicles that get stuck on off road trails in Utah and beyond. Very funny and generally wholesome content that features his employees and family as they build vehicles (he's a Corvair nut) and recover all manner of things that get stuck in the desert. I'm probably underselling this one.
LGR Clint loves retro technology, especially from the late 80s through the early 2000s. He thrifts a lot and shows off the weird stuff he finds. This is a nostalgia-bomb for nerds of a certain age (mine).
der8auer Roman owns Thermal Grizzly, a German company that produces cooling products for PC enthusiasts. His channel covers tech products and offers insights into his company.
-
Comment on What mattress would you recommend? in ~life.home_improvement
BrewBit LinkMy wife and I just went through this and ended up with a mattress we both love. The best advice I saw on the internet was to find a local mattress store that sells mattresses made near you. I had...My wife and I just went through this and ended up with a mattress we both love. The best advice I saw on the internet was to find a local mattress store that sells mattresses made near you. I had no idea that there were such things as locally-made mattresses but I found that there is in fact a company that makes mattresses like 4 miles from our house. So if you are in the Portland, OR area, I can recommend The Mattress Lot in NE. We tried everything they had in the store and got a great mattress for a great price. They also have tons of pillows you can try and we did that as well. We both ended up with different pillows and trying them out beforehand is the best.
-
Comment on The American physicians are healing themselves with Ozempic in ~health
BrewBit Link ParentSure. I'm going to speak in generalities here. Doctors can write prescriptions for compound medication which will be filled by compound pharmacies. Lots of people access this by using telehealth...Sure. I'm going to speak in generalities here. Doctors can write prescriptions for compound medication which will be filled by compound pharmacies. Lots of people access this by using telehealth doctors who work with specific pharmacies, which in turn ship medication to the patient.
The medication typically arrives in vials and the patient will need to draw their dose into a syringe themselves. Most commonly for GLP1 meds, these are insulin syringes. This has many benefits compared to using prefilled single-use pens, which is how the name-brand medicine generally comes. The patient is in control of their dose and not beholden to the one-size-fits-all dosing schedule that the brands use. Also way less waste.
Controlling the dose allows the patient to use only the amount of medication they need to get the appetite suppression they need while minimizing side effects. It also means that their medication lasts longer, which is cheaper.
There are some legal issues right now, notable with the FDA taking tirzepatide (Zepbound) off of their shortage list even though there is still a national shortage still going on. Groups are suing the FDA to get that changed. Also compounding pharmacies are trying to use custom dosing as a way around the shortage issue. This uncertainty has led many people to stockpile medication. Some others are turning to ordering grey market medication directly from China, bypassing the whole thing. This has some attractive qualities: grey market medication is a fraction (1/10th) of the price of even compounded medication. It is also packaged in a powder (freeze dried) form, which can be stored in the freezer for an even longer shelf life, leading to the ability to stockpile multiple years of medicine.
Of course, ordering unlabeled powder from China is risky. It is not actually illegal, but customs could seize the shipments nonetheless. And how do you know what you're getting? There's a level of trust involved. There are whole communities set up to try to coordinate testing by analytical labs.
So there's a range of options besides having a primary care doctor prescribe Zepbound and insurance paying for it. I've personally explored many of these myself and settled in a place where my personal risk tolerance lets me get the medication I need and not go broke doing it. If you have more questions, I would be happy to discuss privately.
-
Comment on The American physicians are healing themselves with Ozempic in ~health
BrewBit Link ParentYou're thinking about it backwards. GLP1 medications correct an existing short-circuit in people with obesity. Obese people have an out of control hunger signal that is always firing & demanding...You're thinking about it backwards. GLP1 medications correct an existing short-circuit in people with obesity. Obese people have an out of control hunger signal that is always firing & demanding food. These medications dial that signal back down to normal levels. It's no less natural than arthritis medication, insulin, thyroid medication or birth control.
-
Comment on The American physicians are healing themselves with Ozempic in ~health
BrewBit Link ParentFat guy on GLP1 meds here. This comment tracks exactly with how I've been treated my whole life. I'm fat because I must not know what healthy eating looks like or worse, I just choose to eat...- Exemplary
Fat guy on GLP1 meds here. This comment tracks exactly with how I've been treated my whole life. I'm fat because I must not know what healthy eating looks like or worse, I just choose to eat poorly. I eat nothing but cookies and mozzarella sticks. I'm either stupid or don't have the willpower to eat a vegetable. And now that I'm on medication that is helping me lose weight, I am cheating and I don't deserve to lose weight.
All I can say is that you are way, way off the mark about the causes of obesity. Most obese people are extremely aware of "healthy eating habits". They know why they are fat- they eat too much. People who have never dealt with obesity cannot begin to understand what it is like to have their bodies DEMAND more food all while they know that they have had plenty already. This is the underlying issue of obesity: it is a negative feedback loop caused by hormonal imbalances that signal hunger.
Buddy, my mental health is fine. I don't need a therapist to tell me to eat less, I've known that since I was 12. My body has defective hunger signaling that I am taking medication to correct. It's causing me to lose weight. It's giving my my life back.
-
Comment on The American physicians are healing themselves with Ozempic in ~health
BrewBit (edited )Link ParentFrom what I've seen, people who discontinue their medicine report gaining weight and being hungry "like before". Many people need to stop their GLP medication if they need surgery. These meds...From what I've seen, people who discontinue their medicine report gaining weight and being hungry "like before". Many people need to stop their GLP medication if they need surgery. These meds interfere with anesthesia and need to be discontinued 1-4 weeks before surgery during which time they feel hungrier and even gain weight. Also the long-term SURMOUNT-1 and SURMOUNT-2 studies showed weight gain following the end of the medication.
Ideally (and this is my plan), folks stay on a therapeutic dose until they reach their goal weight and then titrate down to a maintenance dose. That would be a dose or dosing schedule that allows a person to eat at their maintenance calories. For instance, I am currently eating about 1200 calories a day, which puts me in a large deficit. But once I get to my goal weight, I will need to eat about 1800-2000 calories to maintain it (not gain or lose weight). I plan to reduce the amount of tirzepatide I take at roughly the rate I increased it until I find a level that balances my intake and output. That could also mean spacing out doses further than my current weekly schedule, or possible "microdosing" and taking doses closer together. Solving that puzzle for myself will be a good problem to have- I look forward to it.
-
Comment on The American physicians are healing themselves with Ozempic in ~health
BrewBit LinkI've been on compound tirzepatide (Zepbound) for 4 months and have lost 55 lbs. with 50-ish more to go. It's a miracle, life-saving drug. I've heard all the questions, many of which are in this...I've been on compound tirzepatide (Zepbound) for 4 months and have lost 55 lbs. with 50-ish more to go. It's a miracle, life-saving drug. I've heard all the questions, many of which are in this very thread:
"What happens when you stop the medication?"
You gain weight. What happens when you stop your blood pressure medication? It goes up. Don't stop the meds. Some people need medication. Some need it forever."What about side effects? What about more studies?"
Tirzepatide is extremely well studied. I'm not worried about side effects or potential side effects. I'm worried about the actual effects of obesity. Pancreatitis, gastroparesis, etc. are all worth knowing about but many people take many drugs that have a small risk of serious side effects and yet the weight-loss medications are the ones that bring out the armchair pharmacists ready to scold folks (see the next point)."Random noises about cheating, morality, etc."
My body is defective and signals that it needs way more food than it actually does. This medication corrects that defect. It's actually crazy that besides maybe alcoholism, obesity is the only disease that people get looked down on for having, and if fat people don't suffer enough to lose weight, they get even more shit from those around them."What about the cost?"
This is the real concern. In the US, our system of paying for drugs is so messed up and relying on insurance to cover these medications is far from ideal. I am lucky to be able to get my medication. But until our system completely changes or, until some kind of federal action requires insurers to cover weight-loss medications, it will not improve. I fully believe that making semaglutide & tirzepatide available to people who need it would drastically decrease overall healthcare costs. I also hope that the widespread use of these drugs will start to cause a shift in the way people with obesity are treated and judged by others. It's now a treatable medical condition but until our insurance policies catch up with that fact, these drugs will remain out of reach of a lot of people who need them. -
Comment on Starlink, T-Mobile open their satellite texting test to all. Here’s how it works. in ~tech
BrewBit Link Parenthttps://support.apple.com/en-us/120930Starting in iOS 18, Messages via satellite can help you connect with your friends and family*, even when you’re somewhere with no cellular and Wi-Fi coverage. You can send and receive texts, emojis, and Tapbacks over iMessage and SMS.
-
Comment on What’s a book about your area that you think would be interesting to people outside of it? in ~books
BrewBit LinkAstoria: Astor and Jefferson's Lost Pacific Empire by Peter Stark: Astoria is local-ish to me and the story is very interesting. The town of Astoria is very close to Fort Clatsop, the end of Lewis...Astoria: Astor and Jefferson's Lost Pacific Empire by Peter Stark:
Astoria is Peter Stark’s epic telling of the establishment of what was intended to be the base of John Jacob Astor’s Pacific fur trading empire. The harrowing journeys that led the settlers — by sail, canoe, or overland — to the mouth of the Columbia River are almost beyond belief. The obstacles they faced included not just the many natural barriers of an unmapped continent — sand bars, river canyons, and mountains — but also the self-defeating vices they brought with them: greed, paranoia, murder, and war. Stark doesn’t shy away from the fact that the bravery of the explorers was all in service of the desire to exploit the sea otters and Native peoples that already inhabited the area, and while Astor’s empire ultimately wasn’t built off the Pacific, that exploitation came nevertheless.
Astoria is local-ish to me and the story is very interesting. The town of Astoria is very close to Fort Clatsop, the end of Lewis & Clark's expedition to the Pacific. Stark's Astoria follows the members of Astor's expeditions and switches perspective occasionally back to New York to look at Astor's dealings there. The book is an engaging read and an interesting look into early 1800s America.
-
Comment on Tips for increasing online privacy (without going insane)? in ~tech
BrewBit Link ParentI can personally vouch for easyoptouts.com for removing personal data from public websites. They charge $20 a year and the service seems to be very effective.I can personally vouch for easyoptouts.com for removing personal data from public websites. They charge $20 a year and the service seems to be very effective.
-
Comment on First time homebuyer who just closed on a house, does anyone have any general advice? in ~life.home_improvement
-
Comment on Things to consider when viewing a house, not in regards to inspection concerns? in ~life
BrewBit LinkThe biggest thing you cannot change is the neighborhood the house is in. Is the house close to a busy street? Are there lots of cars parked everywhere, or do people use their garages & driveways?...The biggest thing you cannot change is the neighborhood the house is in. Is the house close to a busy street? Are there lots of cars parked everywhere, or do people use their garages & driveways? Does it look like other homeowners are keeping up the outside of their properties or are there lots of overgrown plants & junk in the yards? Can you hear things like dogs barking, chickens, etc. that you would find objectionable? Has the city (or whoever) been keeping the street maintained, or is this neighborhood being ignored by the powers-that-be?
A red flag for me personally would be a neighbor who appears to run a business out of their house that involves a lot of trucks like hvac, plumbing, etc. They would likely be producing a lot of annoying noise early in the morning and late at night.
You can change a lot about the house itself (for a price), but I'd be looking for good storage- not just a closet in every bedroom, but things like a linen closet in the hallway, a laundry room with cupboards, a pantry, that kind of thing. Those are hard to add in later but so handy to have, and they help you keep the house tidier.
About the yard, you can change just about anything there too. But take a look at things like trees. If you value tall old trees and don't have any, you can't really add them yourself. Also if those trees exist in your neighbors' yards, they could cut them down later, dramatically changing the feel of your own property (this happened to me at my last house). If you want to grow a garden, be sure the lot gets enough light to do that.
I think the best advice I have is to try to see as many houses as you can and not to "fall in love" with a house. A good realtor should have no problems showing you lots of houses, and it is a great way to refine your must-haves and must-nots lists. You may not know you want something until you see it in person, so exposing yourself to variety is important in house hunting. Its worth your time to look at houses above and below your price range (within reason), or places that don't necessarily check all the boxes to give you a better handle on what you want.
+1 for Fastmail. I have been using them for a few years now very happily. They also integrate with 1Password for 1-click email alias creation. Their support is amazing as well if you run in to any issues.