Hello! I turned 30 yesterday and I’m interested in learning more about how my body will change as I age, how to understand hormones and perimenopause. Please give me recommendations for books, podcasts, videos, articles that talk about these things. I specifically do not won’t books focused on Dieting, nutrition is okay but nothing prompting weight loss plz.

So I’ve had my ups and downs with breastfeeding from initial latch issues, frenectomy (lip and tongue), having to see a chiropractor because my baby was so tense at the breast, multiple blebs and clogs, being hospitalized for mastitis. At 6 months pp, I was finally in a groove and getting the hang of it, still able to EBF through it all despite baby not following her growth curve super closely (she was still gaining). My daughter is now 7 months and we had a visit from our IBCLC, did the weigh in only to find out she has lost weight. 😔 I’m so emotional about it because I had a goal to EBF for at least 1 years and it seems we can’t catch a break and this journey has been so fucking difficult. However, I don’t want to allow my ego to get in the way of getting her what she needs because ultimately it’s about feeding the baby for her growth and development. We have a pediatrician visit next week for another weigh in and potentially bloodwork to determine if there are any underlying causes of the weight loss. For context, I WFH, nurse on demand and we started to incorporate a 4-6oz bottle of expressed milk before she goes to bed each night (she sleeps thru the night in her crib). IBCLC also suggested incorporating additional expressed bottles throughout the day to ensure she is getting a certain amount.
Pumping issues: I simply don’t make enough. And my freezer stash is quickly dwindling. The more frequently I pump, the less there is per pump if that makes sense. If I go a while without pumping, I can get a good 4-6 oz total. But if I pump around the clock for multiple days I’m only getting 1-2 per pump and it’s just not worth the sore, raw nipples for me. Plus I’m still nursing on demand so it’s like an all day irritation and pain for the same amount of milk.
I should also add that baby is meeting all her milestones like rolling, sitting, crawling, and she is even pulling up now at 7 months. She is just a tiny thing I guess.
Any suggestions from mamas who experienced dips in weight while EBF? It pains me to know she may be losing weight because my milk is not enough for her. Thanks so much.

asking here on behalf of my spouse, but some background here:
my spouse has been on remicade for a couple of years now. some increases in dosage, and time between infusions. there's a pesky spot of inflammation that increases and decreases in how severe it is, and a colonoscopy is coming up to determine if it warrants a resection. they also recently had a seton placed for a fistula that came back (my spouse has also inquired about switching to a different biologic because they feel as though the remicade isnt really doing its job, but to no avail).
this past week i came with them to their most recent GI appointment because they feel their doctor dismisses them, and frankly i agree with them. figured my being there would 1) make her less dismissive because now there's someone else there and 2) i could speak up for my spouse, as they struggle with asserting themselves in medical settings
we discussed weight loss, of which theyve lost about 20-30ish lbs or so since February - spouse is fat, so the GI kinda responded with "well it'll make surgery easier" which is kind of disheartening to hear considering weight loss is a pretty big red flag for CD patients (as far as ive been made aware, anyway). i kinda pushed the topic and she agreed to doing some bloodwork, at least. then onto pain management, my spouse has two spots on their stomach that often cause trouble. they have dicyclomine, but its not something they can take before work or anything since it makes them incredibly drowsy. they only take it if we're at home and there's no problem if they nod off. i had asked about some other options for pain management, expecting a better option for medication in particular. the GI suggested that their pain is either psychosomatic or entirely external, plus something about other Crohn's patients she see "having it worse" than them, and to ice the area. her only other suggestions were peppermint oil and IBGuard. the peppermint oil felt a bit of an odd suggestion considering my spouse has reflux issues she literally prescribes omeprazole for, and i'm not overly familiar with IBGuard other than its marketed for IBS....so not sure how well it would work for CD.
anyway, long winded post to ask about some pain management yall do that is probably more holistic since we can't seem to get their GI to do much for that. being told it's essentially in their head was a bit of a slap in the face considering she's supposed to be a crohn's specialist. i'm looking for a new GI for my spouse, but it will likely take some time before any in our area can take them and we unfortunately don't have a vehicle that can do longer distance driving at this time.
TL;DR spouse's GI sucks and makes my spouse feel unheard, and isn't really providing us with any real options to address pain. what do yall do that isn't prescribed but helps at least somewhat?
thanks in advance!

I’ve been meditating for about a year now, but I’m not very good at non-guided meditations. I need a little assistance to keep myself on track during a meditation session. My favorites have been the in person yoga nidra sessions that my yoga studio puts on.
I’m looking for any good resources for guided meditations to help train my brain with being more mindful with dietary intake. Ya girl has a sweet tooth, and really struggles with balancing meeting desire without over indulgence. I’m not overweight / not looking for weight loss meditations. It’s more about the mindset of telling myself it’s ok to have an Oreo, but the whole box is not a healthy middle ground. Poor tastebuds often win out over my logic though.
I struggled a bit with restrictive eating as a teen. When I try to moderate intake, I almost always end up cutting things out, tending to take it too far and end up in that all or nothing mindset again. I don’t want to live in a restrictive state, but I also don’t want my taste buds to think they get full control over my life.
I hoping I can find a meditation that will help me moderate that reward pathway so that I allow myself the freedom to eat what I want while also listening to what my body needs.
Thanks!

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Hey, fellow Redditors! Are you on a journey to shed some pounds and improve your health? If so, you're in the right place! Losing weight can be a challenging but rewarding process, and I'm here to share some tips that have helped me and countless others along the way. Without further ado, let's dive into these 10 effective weight loss tips:
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1. Stay Hydrated: Drinking plenty of water not only helps you stay hydrated but can also help curb hunger and prevent overeating. Aim for at least 8 glasses a day, and if you're feeling hungry between meals, try drinking a glass of water first.

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1. Eat Mindfully: Pay attention to what you're eating and savor each bite. Eating slowly can help you feel more satisfied and prevent overeating. Avoid distractions like phones or TVs while eating to focus on your food.

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1. Include Protein in Every Meal: Protein helps keep you feeling full and satisfied, making it easier to stick to your calorie goals. Include sources of lean protein such as chicken, fish, tofu, beans, and legumes in each meal.

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1. Fill Up on Fiber: Foods high in fiber, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes, can help keep you feeling full for longer periods and aid in digestion. Aim to include fiber-rich foods in every meal to support your weight loss efforts.

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1. Watch Portion Sizes: Be mindful of portion sizes, especially when eating out or snacking. Using smaller plates and bowls can help control portion sizes and prevent overeating.

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1. Incorporate Strength Training: While cardio is great for burning calories, don't underestimate the power of strength training. Building muscle can boost your metabolism and help you burn more calories even at rest.

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1. Get Enough Sleep: Lack of sleep can disrupt your hormones and increase cravings for unhealthy foods. Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night to support your weight loss goals.

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1. Plan and Prep Meals: Spend some time each week planning and prepping your meals. Having healthy options readily available can prevent impulse eating and help you stay on track with your nutrition goals.

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1. Stay Consistent: Consistency is key when it comes to weight loss. Stick to your plan even on days when you don't feel like it, and remember that progress takes time.

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1. Be Kind to Yourself: Lastly, be kind to yourself throughout your weight loss journey. Celebrate your successes, learn from setbacks, and remember that small changes add up over time.

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Remember, weight loss is a marathon, not a sprint. Focus on making sustainable lifestyle changes rather than quick fixes, and you'll be well on your way to reaching your goals. What are some weight loss tips that have worked for you? Share them in the comments below! Let's support each other on this journey to a healthier, happier life. 💪🥗🏃‍♂️

I teach trapeze. I am, and have always been overweight (and classified as obese by science). I started teaching trapeze because of the weight shaming I received in the beginning. Now, I am losing weight (already lost 60 with contrave) and feel more comfortable with my body. But, I still teach larger bodies trapeze and still trying to be relatable in their trapeze journey. They are beginning to notice my weight loss. I have played it off to some extent by explaining I recently got certified as a personal trainer and the work that entailed (which was actually all book studies) but my newer students are starting to react to me like they do to skinnier, standard trapeze teachers.
I want to stress I am no way the size of a straight trapeze teacheperformer. I am still 200lbs and, due to age/meds/illness will probably only ever get to 180s. But how do I remain a role model to these people who need to see representation in the art and learn from people like them while also actively trying to lose weight (in part because my weight is slowing my trapeze journey down)?
Yesterday I had a girl crying on my shoulder that she would never be able to do this and me trying to explain to her that I would get her there with hard work and practice . You could tell she didn't believe me.
Maybe there are no answers. I just feel like I am betraying people by losing weight but I also feel happier at this lower weight. Thanks for listening.

Hi ladies, I’m looking for advice on my fitness/weight loss journey. Back in college I lost weight by the classic CICO method, and since then I’ve gained weight back and would like to work on getting to my goal weight again (5’0”, 126 lbs currently). During college, CICO evolved into disordered eating, I was so obsessed with everything I put in my body to where it became very unhealthy and I was borderline starving myself. My therapist is discouraging me from using that method again since I’m susceptible to ED’s which I completely understand, but I’m at a loss for where to begin now. I’ve been really unhappy with how I look and feel lately but I keep pushing back progress because I’m worried for it evolving into unhealthy behaviors again. If anyone has been in a similar situation, I’d love to hear advice- also apologies if this doesn’t fit in this sub, but I do feel this community is more welcoming and uplifting than other ones on reddit hence posting here. Thanks!<3

How did you ask your doctor about starting a weight loss injection?
I have an appointment tomorrow with my doctor and I want to ask about starting weight loss medications but I don't know how to bring it up or if she will say no we've discussed weight loss surgery before but she wanted me to try to lose weight on my own first but I haven't been as successful as I wanted to be so how did you go about it

Time flies by and I mentally feel like I am 18 😭. I have done alot of self-reflecting about my life. I’ve started making changes with my health/weight loss journey and hoping to be at my goal weight next year when I turn 25. I am also hoping that this year I can actually meet a man who’s loyal, funny and always going to be there for me. It feels weird being 24 and never experienced a relationship but I am hoping 24 is a good year for me and I am able to meet someone and reach my personal goals🥹

Hello everyone! First a few detail about me, 37, M, 6'-1", SW: 366lbs (May 2022), CW: 265lbs. I've been obese most of my life until 2 years ago I said "enough is enough". I tried working out and was able to lower my weight to about 339lbs by May 2023 (a year later). By that time I started doing a bit more to drop more weight. Within the last year I've dropped almost 70lbs. My routine has been 30 minute walking cardio every day and I also do intermittent fasting 16:8. Usually I workout in the morning right before I break the fast and then have 2 eggs or yogurt with granola. During my lunch hour I'll take the kids to the park and walk for about 45 minutes while they play. When we get back home the wife is usually already there and I have a regular meal before starting the fast again. I feel good and I've never been in the 265lbs for as long as I can remember. The only thing that bothers me is that I weight myself every morning and I notice that I will drop a pound or two each day but then I'll regain 5-7lbs over the weekend. I've seen that a healthy weight loss is about 1-2 per week. As an example, last Monday I weighted 274lbs and during the week I dropped to about 267lbs and gained a few lbs over the weekend so my starting weight for this week's Monday was 271lbs and now I'm at 265lbs. Is anyone having a similar weight pattern? Am I doing something wrong or unhealthy?

I am currently on 1 (occasionally 1.5 doses) a day of 15mg Adderall instant release, and would like to try switching over to Vyvanse or Xelstrym. Adderall tends to make me anxious when it’s working and irritable/depressive after the crash. I took Vyvanse in high school and early college and switched to Adderall because it was impacting my ability to fall asleep towards the end. But I had such a chaotic sleep schedule in college and am much more regular now so I would like to give it another try.
However, whenever I’m off Adderall, my appetite spikes tremendously and it can be insatiable, like I have the munchies, so I am concerned about potential weight gain if I switch. When I was on Vyvanse, I was also coincidentally the heaviest I had ever been in my life, so I am a bit apprehensive to get back on it, but I do think it was just a coincidence because there were so many other factors going on. And I hear that if anything, all ADHD meds are more inclined to cause weight loss as opposed to gain.

Anyone else run into this? I usually do keto throughout the winter, as it is very easy for me to do with my job and I quite enjoy the diet. I started at 274 lbs, and am currently at 246. Goal is 200. That being said, I am now switching to a non keto routine (lots of reasons, but the jist of it is it's just too difficult in the summer), but I want to continue my weight loss journey. Problem is, I don't know what to eat. I'm so used to Atkins shakes for breakfast, red meat/fish and veggies for main meals, and nuts and whatnot for snacks. All of this has proven to be quite effective when combined with daily exercise. But not on keto, what am I supposed to do? Bacon and sausage for breakfast is off the table since now all that fat and calories won't do me any good. I feel like simply eating some peanut butter toast and a banana has too many carbs and sugar, which I know isn't always a bad thing when not on Keto, but like....how do you transition into a normal diet and maintain the weight loss? I feel like all the foods I am used to, like cheeses and all that fatty food, will be counterproductive. I am looking forward to watermelon as a snack, being able to use a little BBQ sauce with my chicken now, but it just seems like I've been on Keto for so long that I don't know any other way of eating. Am I going crazy?

22yo guy here
Let me start by saying this first, 7 month ago I went cold turkey, it was the same time where I was at my worst, I lost hope in all my doctors. (I also had doctors in my family which I stopped taking advice from)
Well as you can guess that time was the worst time of my life. I was feeling so low I can’t even describe it. On top of my skin flair ups I experienced stomach ulcers with diagnosed IBD, weight loss, depression, fatigue, migraines, intense stomach pain and nerve ending pains like stinging. And yes I did go crazy during that time.
It was hard for me to explain but even though everyone was saying I should continue using steroids to “get my life back” and continue using immunosuppressants there was a voice inside of me that was telling me not to do it. So I didn’t. And that voice helped me all throughout the coming pain and fights reassuring me that I did the right choice.
I was lucky and got into a medical trial of some form of immunosuppressants but I declined it.
I closed myself of to the world (not to my close friends and family of course) and faced MY reality. Because this was my life now! Every day was a fight with inflammation. But with time I got better and better. My approach was and what gave me strength was telling myself that I am connecting with nature again.
I started to take long walks in the forest, I sunbathed a lot ( and am still doing so) I started to only use natural products, I developed a intolerance to any kind of soap or shampoo and am only using natural soaps/conditioners/ ingredients now.
I started using aloe gel which helped me insanely with my skin and moisture, I also developed intolerance to Vaseline my skin was very itchy when I applied it.
I only take showers once a week or a bath with epson salt.
That being said, 7 months ago I decided to risk it all and I am so happy to say it payed of.
My skin is healthy, I have no inflammation. For the first time in my whole life. I can sleep. I’m not in pain. I don’t have stomache ulcers or stomach pains. ( I have been on high potent probiotics for the 7 months) My migraines are gone. I stopped losing weight. For the first time in my life my lymph nodes are not swollen. There also used to be small pumps on my veins which are also gone now for the first time in my life ( this is just my own observation, doctors always ignored this)
1 month ago I started micro immunotherapy and am taking 2LALERG from Labolife, since it’s supposed to help your immune system regulate itself to its natural state and that aligned with my goal. It’s not a medication and has barely if any side effects.( I have no idea if this has helped me in any way just putting this out there) I have always had high IgE which also resulted in the inflammatory states in my body.
Yeah all in all I’m feeling really good. I though I was doomed for life. That things would never get better. But it’s not true. It can get better!
PS: I have been trying very hard to avoid stress in these months as I noticed how big of a impact it has on me and my body

So yesterday I finished a little over 36 hour fast and it had me thinking about some of your suggestions on my last post. I did some research but I figured the best place to go to is here. Which type of fasting is better for quick weight loss? I only have limited time to lose 10-15 pounds. They had very similar descriptions so I wanted to come here and see. Thanks!

I’m very new to Keto, I started a strict, clean Keto diet 5/7 at 181lbs. Today 5/16 I weighed in at 171. I have mixed in some fasting, nothing extreme though. My question is for people who have started keto is this typical weight loss? How long do you sustain at this rate. I’ll add that I did gain all my extra weight between September and the new year due to having to go on a Beta Blocker for POTS, I stopped taking that in April so I know that should help too. If all your weight comes on quickly does it fall off quickly too? I’ve never really dieted before to lose weight and this is all so confusing. Thanks for all the info!

F73 H5'5" SW220 CW153 GW145
Been on this journey for about 18 months. CICO for the weight loss and Pilates and walking for the body change. I have been on a plateau for about 5 months, which means I can maintain if I work at it. Since beginning the plateau, I have gone from a 12 to a 10 to an 8 in some clothes which pleases me.
But here's the thing, I have been holding on to my old stuff...Fear of regaining? IDK. I bought all new underwear because they were falling down and making my life miserable, but some how I never got new bras.
At my peak, I was a 38C pushing a D. New bras are 38B. Its pretty exciting to have bras that fit, and I must admit that clothes are so much better looking on me with the proper undergarments.
What's your favorite thing about weight loss and dressing?

Hello fellow potatoes! And to the potato queen herself, girl, you're amazing!!! I just found your channel a few months ago, but I'm a huge fan. I don't have a lot of time for videos, but when I do get to watch, I watch yours.
Have I got a boomemil story for you! Let's go on an adventure...warning...I tell stories with rabbit holes and tangents. This is probably gonna be too long. I'm sorry!!!
So, the characters are me (40f), boomer MIL (64f BM for short, like bowel movement bc she's caca), my oldest son, (17m), and my church "mom" (65f CM for short).
A little background: BM thinks she's an awesome mom and grandma even though she's not. She uses my kids as facebook props to show off how "wonderful" she is. The only reason she was around my kids so often was because we went to the same church. She lived 10 minutes down the road from us, but could never be bothered to come over or have anything to do with any of us is if we didn't initiate. She has always said that if we ever try to threaten to keep our kids away from her, like if we were having a disagreement, that she would not fight to see them. We've never threatened to keep our kids from her, she just wanted us to know that she didn't give a sh!t to see her gandkids. So, that tells you right there, that she's a grandma when it's convenient for her.
She's of the boomer mentality that mental health issues are made up and aren't real. "You have nothing to be depressed about." "Just snap out if it." "Just be happy." You get the point. I struggle with depression, I always have. She doesn't understand or even try to understand and is the least empathetic person I've ever met.
When I get overwhelmed, I get depressed, and I start shutting down. My plate is overflowing right now. Between the end of the school year and the possibility of us moving states, I've been overwhelmed. My oldest is a senior and the last month of senior year is crazy busy. I have another child (11m) in public school and this is his last year of elementary school, so this has been an extremely busy month for him. I have 3 more kids that do online public school/homeschool. So, they're home all day with online classes, but since they're a public school, they have mandatory state testing just like regular public school. I have had to take them to do state testing on 4 different days overyhe last few weeks and the meeting place was 45 minutes from home, at a conference room in a mall. I also babysit 3 kids (1m, 4m, 4f), so hanging out for 4 to 5 hours a day on 4 different days with a shitload of kids at the f#cking mall was not easy. Not to mention the positions and "jobs" that I hold at church. To say I'm busy is an understatement.
We've been planning on moving for the last few months because a position at my husband's work is coming open near where he grew up, which is in another state. His parents recently moved back to their hometown after my FIL retired, so one reason for the move would be to be closer to them. They are getting older, so I would be taking care of them once they needed it, so moving closer seemed like a great option. Also, it's a lower COL area than we live in now. Currently we live in the metro area of a capital city and we would be moving to a middle of nowhere po'dunk town.
Told you, rabbit holes, thanks for still being with me!!!
And this is just the straw that broke the camel's back, this is not the only reason for my decision.
So, to the actual story...
Last week, I got a mother's day card in the mail from BM. She's a dollar tree card fanatic. It was a very typical card that she sends me. Nothing handwritten except for "love, grandma and grandpa." This is what she writes in all my cards. (Another tangent...last year my mom passed a month before mother's day and that actual mother's day was her and my dad's anniversary. And I had a super complicated relationship with my momster. So, it was an exceptionally hard day for me. The card she got me said "Daughter" in huge letters on the front. I thought it was so incredibly passive aggressive and completely inappropriate for that year. If it would've been any other year, it would've been fine. Also, she never gets me cards that just say "daughter" so, to me, it was a low blow.) (Yet another tangent...she does passive aggressive crap all the time, for instance when she used to do fb birthday posts, she would always ask me to send her a pic to post. I'm picky about what pics are used and she knows that. Last year, I sent her a great pic of me and her son to use. So, she used one from about 12 years ago that looked like absolute poop. It was a surprise pic, so like not even posed, stupid look on my face. No matter what pic I send, and usually send like 3, she uses a completely different one that doesn't even look good.) I got the card last Tuesday. Hubby happened to be talking to her while driving home from work that day, so when he got home, I thanked her for the card and just wanted to give her a heads up that I hadn't gotten a chance to mail hers yet because of everything I had going on. I kinda broke down and was sharing how I felt and she basically just said, "suck it up, it'll be fine." She's always been dismissive of my feelings, always.
So, my CM is the sweetest lady you'll ever meet. She listens to me, lets me share my feelings without being dismissive, and actually shows she cares. I see her twice weekly at church, and text with her during the week. Since BM has moved 8 moths ago, she has called or texted "just to talk or check in on us" less than a handful of times. She only calls/texts when she needs something or on a special occasion. She called my husband to ask about something, not just to talk. I understand now why the oldest grandson, my nephew, didn't even bother to invite her to his and his girlfriend's baby shower where he proposed. She thinks she's an amazing grandma bc she sends birthday money in a card and posts their pics on Facebook. And, she even stopped posting the kids birthday messages on fb bc she said it was "too much trouble." So, she just sticks to her 30 daily inspirational Bible quotes posts. She's the type that was so pissed off that both of her kids went with courthouse marriages instead of going into debt for a wedding because she didn't get to walk down the aisle at her kids' weddings and post pics on fb. She's mentioned this several times, but definitely wasn't even willing to spend a dime towards a wedding that no one wanted except her. She was also unwilling to take a day off work to go to the courthouse with us. With both of her kids' marriages, the kids and partners were together for a while and had kids before getting married, so spending tons of money on a huge wedding for either of us couples wouldn't have been the best way to spend money.
On mother's day, I gave my CM a card with a few lines written in it about how amazing she is and how I'm so grateful for her. I'm way closer to her than BM. CM is my chosen family and to me, your chosen family is the one that means more because you chose them, you didn't just get stuck with them. My blood family is incredibly toxic, so I stick with my chosen family. CM made a fb post with all that she got for mother's day. It was gifts and cards from her own children, and of course my card as well. CM & BM are fb friends, so of course BM saw it. Also, BM has everyone convinced she's this sweet, little old church lady, but she is far from it.
So, this Tuesday she got her cards in the mail. I always give her one from hubby and myself, and a separate one from our boys. I wrote a nice little note in it. Not long, a line or 2, but it was more effort than she put into my card. She sent me and hubby the following in a group text...
Copy and pasted, only edited out names.
"Got my cards in the mail today. 😭. They were post marked Saturday. You could of kept them til I got there or next year. It's like yall bought them Saturday, wrote a few words and rushed to get them to post office. My heart 💔broken. I thought I deserved better. I wish I could send pictures of my card verses [CM] 😩 card. I couldnt tell which gift was yours. But least I have a year to try do better and be worthy of such wonderful words of love and praise that was written to her.
I don't mean to complain or seem ungrateful but I wished you hadn't mailed them.😭😭. I can't explain how crushed I am.😔 Anyway hopefully I will see yall on the 20th."
Note: my oldest son is graduating on the 20th. She was supposed to drive down and spend the night with us to attend the graduation. I honestly believe she picked this fight because she doesn't want to drive the 6 hours down here.
If you "don't mean to complain or seem ungrateful" then why tf did you send it? I asked my husband what was his initial reaction and he said, "Really?!? All she had to do was say thanks."
So, after I talked to my husband and oldest son (I wanted to make sure everyone was on board with what I was saying before I sent it) , I sent her this response:
"I mailed them on Friday, I bought them several weeks ago. I told you I hadn't mailed them yet because I've been in a deep depression and you dismissed my feelings like always. I have real, valid feelings and you always dismissed them as silly. And come after me because now you're feelings are hurt. Wow, ok. The absolute audacity. And it's not just with your cards that I'm slacking. It's with everything. Because I have depression. I'm overwhelmed on top of that and literally the only thing you care about is a card. I tried to express my feelings the other day on the phone and you dismissed them like you always do. I know things will be fine, but in this moment they are not and you don't get that. Because you don't understand how or why I feel the way I do, then my feelings are silly or invalid to you.
And I never gave [CM] a present. Don't know why you thought that.
Don't worry about coming down on the 20th."
She replies by trying to blackmail me;
"Well my am so sorry I said anything. I never realized you thought that about me. I never dismissed your depression but yes i never knew what to do for you. I am not going to go back and forth about this. I will text [son] and let him know you told me not to come."
She's not sorry to me for being dismissive, she's sorry because now she doesn't get her "Proud MeMe moment" and can't post pictures of her at his graduation on fb. And even if she didn't "know what to do" for me, all she had to do was ask. Or listen. Or give a damn hug. But, no, she just dismissed me bc to her depression isn't real. And she's not going back and forth bc she knows shes wrong! Little did she know that I had already cleared it with hubby and son before sending the text, so I think she thought it would make me look bad to my oldest son that I told her no to come. Oldest son said, "I'm neutral, I don't care if she comes or not. It's not like she's had anything to do with us since she moved, and barely had anything to do with us when she was here."
So, my last text to her said, "He knows. I asked him before I texted you, and he's good with it."
All she had to do was say thanks or not even say anything at all. But, no, she had to say something stupid. Even her own son said that she's lucky she even got a card bc if it was up to him, her actual son, she wouldn't have gotten anything. So, not only is she not invited to the graduation, she's never welcome in my home again. The great part is I don't have to share my holidays with her ever again!!! And please know that I'd never keep her grandchildren from her, but if she wants a relationship with them, she'll have to put some effort in. And we all know boomers hate effort.
If you made it this far, thanks for reading my rant. I appreciate you my friends!

I’m 21F and 5’0” and 105 lbs, and I’m really wondering what’s going on with me. I have a plethora of mental and physical symptoms. My parents never had health insurance (we still don’t) so I never really went to the doctor growing up. I know this isn’t great news, but I have an interview today and am getting insurance ASAP if all goes well.
I’m including mental illnesses in the diagnosis because I’ve heard that sometimes they manifest physically, so I’m just covering my bases.
“Symptoms”:

• constant diarrhea. has been happening for over a year now, and is daily. but i’m not bloated or gassy, i just get some pain and sudden urges to go. no weight gain/loss either.
• blood sugar problems. (we assume.) if i don’t eat every few hours, I start to shut down. I get weak, my head is extra foggy, I start sweating and shivering, and I get super nauseous. This can be anywhere from 2-5 hours after a meal. It usually happens in the day, but it happened in the middle of the night this week and I collapsed on my bedroom floor with my poor husband pressing cold objects to my skin to cool me because i was burning up.
• extreme temperature sensitivity. It goes both ways. If it’s above 75°, my vision blurs and sometimes goes black. I don’t sweat, I just start getting weak and dizzy and disoriented (and angry.) If it’s below 70° inside or below 50° outside, my toes and half of my foot goes completely numb and turns white. (Raynauds). I also just shiver the entire time, even indoors.
• constant fatigue and brain fog.
• no appetite or libido at all. i actually get nauseous at the idea of food, no matter how much i love it.
• air hunger. i’m always yawning and feel out of breath. my friends for years have noticed how fast my breaths are, and my heart.
• coat hanger pain. this one is VERY SPECIFIC, and probably my earliest symptom besides raynauds. sitting or standing, most days i have such severe pain between my shoulders and neck on the left side that i just walk around holding it, massaging it, trying to ease it.

Diagnoses (and suspected/mentioned ones by other people i’ve talked with and researched with, which i’ll label):

• Raynauds
• POTS (suspected)
• IBS-D (suspected)
• Hyperthyroidism (mentioned)
• Hypoglycemia (mentioned)
• Anxiety
• Bipolar Disorder
• Autism (suspected)
• ADHD (suspected)
• OCD (mentioned)

I had blood work done for EVERYTHING in January and all of my levels were somewhere in the middle of the normal range.
I talked to a doctor online 4 times before I left my job and she prescribed me Lexapro and Wellbutrin to try and ease my anxiety (because it may be the cause of my diarrhea). The medications did not work for me at all, they had absolutely no affect on anything.

(continuation of part 5)
Post-OG Cloud ruminates on what he could have done to save Aerith. Had he not been so lost in his own mind —distracted by Sephiroth and Jenova, consumed by his need to fulfill the emptiness at the core of his identity—, would he have paid more attention to Aerith’s sadness and anticipated her plan to go to the Forgotten Capital alone? Could she have survived if not for his obsession with what tormented him at the time? Could he have figured it out and kept her by his side? He’s angry with himself in retrospect, drowning in guilt, just like in Advent Children.
Here are the choruses, which usually contain the thesis main message of a song:

“Shine bright once more
Guide me to you
Smile bright once more
This time I will never let you go”

&

“Hear me once more
Show me your smile
This time for sure
I'll see the truth hidden inside your tears
But I, I know
That you're long gone
But I, I will
Go on, howling and hollow”

In these choruses, Cloud asserts that he will get it right this time (“this time” referring to the second chance that is the Remake trilogy). He will make sure he saves Aerith and never lets her go. He knows she’s gone, but he will fight against time to get her back. He longs for her smile and her light again, and he cannot bear the guilt: so he doesn’t. Post-OG Cloud embarks on a new adventure: ”I want to go to a place where everything is new,” said Cloud to Wol and Echo in Eclipse Contact before facing his past and being launched into Remake. “Hollow” makes far more sense now, doesn’t it? It’s a song not only about Cloud’s loss, but also about his determination to save Aerith this time. Given that it’s the theme song of Remake, the fact that “Hollow” fits with our theory perfectly is a very good sign: a theme song is meant to reflect the main plot of a story, indicating as our theory states that Remake is principally, albeit secretly, about Cloud saving Aerith. Because of this hope being set up, I’m confident that they will be together in the end, reunited for good. My dear Clerith friends, this is the hidden purpose of the Remake trilogy. Cloud and Aerith will be reunited.
VI. e) ii. “No Promises to Keep” Lyrics
This is quite obvious. Aerith is resigned to her fate, but still harbors hope that she will meet Cloud again in a permanent reunion:

“Till the day that we meet again
Where or when?
I wish I could say
But believe, know that you'll find me
[…]
Till the day that we meet again
On our street, I want to believe
[…]
Till the day that we meet again
At our place, just let me believe
In the chance that you'll come
Take my hand and never let me go
Take my hand
And believe
We can be
Together evermore
[…]
Still I hope someday you'll come and find me
Still I know someday you'll come and find me”.

VI. f) The Theme of Reunion Explained?
The last point I want to hit on is the concept of reunion. In OG, this theme was pretty much dominated by the Jenova Reunion. To an OG fan back in 1997, “reunion” meant “Sephiroth and Jenova’s evil plan”. However, in the Remake trilogy, the theme is expanded into something more. The first time Cloud meets Aerith in Remake, she gives him a flower and tells him something she didn’t in OG:

“Lovers used to give these when they were reunited...”

In addition, we’ve already talked about how part 5 of “Aerith’s Theme - The Cetra” from the Remake OST tells the story of Cloud and Aerith’s reunion (see section “V. b) ii. 2)”).
Many moments exclusive to the Remake trilogy serve the same purpose: linking the theme of reunion to Aerith. This expansion of the theme is highly significant. Our theory is that the Remake trilogy exists to reunite Cloud and Aerith, so the fact that the trilogy would implement so many Clerith-centric references to reunion is great support for our theory.
VI. g) i. The Leslie-Cloud Parallel
Let’s consider another instance involving the reunion flower in Remake, more precisely, the chapter 14 subplot surrounding Leslie’s lost lover. In case you need a refresher, Leslie is one of Corneo’s lackeys, although he secretly plans to betray him. He once had a fiancée and things were looking up until she was selected as one of Corneo’s brides. The day before she disappeared (presumably taken by Corneo), his fiancée broke up with him with no explanation. It was confusing and left Leslie perplex. As she broke up with him, she returned a necklace to him, one with a flower pendant. Of course, that flower is the very same reunion flower Aerith gives Cloud in chapter 2.
Evidently, Leslie and Cloud are going through parallel situations. At this point in time, Aerith was just kidnapped by Shinra, and Cloud is on his way to get her back. Both their loved ones have been taken by tyrant rulers, one being slumlord Corneo and the other being the Shinra government. In fact, even Leslie and Cloud’s attitudes share similar disillusioned, cold and stoic qualities. Leslie’s fiancée would evidently be paralleled by Aerith.
The most obvious proof of the Leslie-Cloud parallel is written plainly on the list of Remake’s chapter 14 main scenario objectives. Objective 7, called “For the Reunion”, consists of receiving the grappling guns needed to reach topside and save Aerith. The description of the objective reads as follows:

“Leslie gives them grappling guns, and they wish each other luck in reuniting with their respective loved ones. Leslie walks off, and the three prepare to climb the wall.”

The grappling guns are “For the Reunion”, because evidently, the loved one Cloud wants to reunite with is Aerith.
All this is simple and apparent enough. Just the fact that the theme of reunion is linked to Clerith in this way is proof enough, but there’s another layer to the Leslie-Cloud parallel. Not only does Leslie’s situation reinforce the concept of a Clerith reunion, it also mirrors the specifics of our theory: namely that Cloud will save Aerith from specifically Sephiroth (represented in Leslie’s scenario by Corneo) and that Cloud will take the initiative to accomplish this reunion. These two specific aspects of our theory are reflected by Leslie’s circumstances, meaning the Leslie-Cloud parallel not only pushes the theme of reunion, but also supports our specific theory.
VI. g) i. 1) The Separators: Corneo and Sephiroth
I’ll first prove that Leslie’s scenario is not meant to echo Cloud’s separation from Aerith at the hands of Shinra —or at least not exclusively—, but rather Cloud’s separation from Aerith at the hands of Sephiroth. Corneo would therefore be paralleled by Sephiroth rather than the tyrannical Shinra government.
The first piece of proof for the Corneo-Seohiroth parallel lies within the way in which Leslie’s fiancée broke things off: by lying. Aerith also lies to Cloud to create distance between them, but not pertaining to her kidnapping— rather, pertaining to her fated death. Since Sephiroth is Aerith’s killer and not Shinra, Corneo’s role in the Leslie-Cloud parallel is analogous to Sephiroth’s rather than Shinra’s.
There are two pieces of evidence that the Corneo-Sephiroth comparison makes more sense than the Corneo-Shinra one. The first lies in the fact that Leslie’s breakup resembles Cloud’s resolution scene: the topic of Cloud’s resolution scene is Aerith’s fate at the hands of Sephiroth rather than her kidnapping by Shinra, meaning Corneo and Sephiroth are the antagonists of both heartbreaks.
Let’s examine Leslie’s breakup. Here is how his fiancée broke things off, taken from the English script of Remake’s chapter 14, with tone indicators added by me in bold:

“Fiancée: It was all just a dream, wasn't it[?]
Fiancée: (Hopefully) But one day…
(She trails off, then shakes her head and stops herself.)
Fiancée: (Sadly, hopelessly) — no. Time to wake up. And forget.
(She walks away.)”

Now, here is a more literal translation of this quote from the original Japanese (verified by me via DeepL), with tone indicators added by me in bold:

“Fiancée: It was only just a dream we had / We were only dreaming...
Fiancée: (Hopefully, as though as a hail Mary) In the language of the flowers...
(She trails off, then shakes her head and stops herself.)
Fiancée: (Sadly, hopelessly) — no. You should forget about me.
(She walks away.)”

Leslie’s fiancée is clearly breaking up with him to spare him the pain of blaming himself for not being able to protect her from Corneo, as she knows it’s too late for her to escape from the slumlord’s clutches. We know this because we understand that the pendant she gave back to him symbolizes a reunion (especially between lovers, as Aerith told Cloud in chapter 2). In fact, the Japanese version of the script reveals that the fiancée was about to reveal the meaning of the flower, perhaps in the hopes that they would find each other once more, but she lost her nerve at the last second. Notice that she tells Leslie two specific things. One: their love or their future together was only a dream, meaning that it wasn’t real. Two: he should forget about her, because the dream is over now and it’s time to wake up from it.
If you’re finding this familiar, then you might be ahead of me. Let’s take a look at what Aerith says to Cloud in his resolution scene, also in the English script of Remake’s chapter 14, with tone indicators added by me in bold:

“Aerith: […] you can’t fall in love with me. [It]’s not real […]. (With a sigh, as though from sadness or difficulty, but resolutely) It’s almost morning. Time to go.”

Now, here is a more literal translation of this quote from the original Japanese (verified by me via DeepL), with tone indicators added by me in bold:

“Aerith: You can’t let yourself fall in love with me. [It]’s only your imagination […]. (With a sigh, as though from sadness or difficulty, but resolutely) Looks like it’s already morning. Time for me to go.”

Just like Leslie’s fiancée, Aerith is rejecting or denying Cloud’s love for her in order to spare him from the pain of not having been able to be with her before her death, as she believes it is inevitable. Just like the fiancée, Aerith also tells Cloud two things. One: their love is imaginary or isn’t real. Two: it’s morning, and she has to go (she says this right before Cloud wakes from the pseudo-dream).
In both cases, the women know something about their fate that the men don’t and are hiding this impending tragedy from them. Just like Leslie’s fiancée, Aerith uses well-intentioned deception to protect her loved one from the pain that will come from her fate— the lie, of course, is that their love isn’t real. Both women are hopeless, and both men are initially clueless. Aerith’s resolution can’t be about her kidnapping, because Aerith thinks her rescue is anything but hopeless— she’s sure Cloud will come save her from Shinra. She says so herself in OG’s disk 1, chapter 8:

“Cloud: Aeris!? You safe?
Aeris: Yeah, I'm all right. I knew that [you] would come for me.”

What Aerith is so resigned about in Cloud’s resolution scene isn’t her kidnapping, but instead her fated death at the hands of Sephiroth. Nojima hints at this in FFVII Remake Ultimania:

“If you know Aerith’s fate, then this line would really pull at your heart strings […]” (section 08 “Secrets”, “Development Staff Interviews, Part 2: Tetsuya Nomura, Yoshinori Kitase, Yoshinori Kitase, Kazushige Nojima”, page 744).

Here is what codirector Toriyama had to say on Aerith’s words:

“[While] these words are intended for Cloud, I think Aerith is partly speaking them to herself. The contents of her request may be at odds with how she truly feels inside” (FFVII Remake Material Ultimania Plus, VA Script Notes, “A Dream Shown by Aerith”, “Scenario Staff Q&A - Answered by Motomu Toriyama”).

These two quotes by the devs show that Aerith is trying to protect Cloud from her death. Therefore, the Corneo-Sephiroth parallel is far more apt than the Corneo-Shinra parallel.
The second piece of evidence supporting my belief that Corneo mirrors Sephiroth and not Shinra in the Leslie-Cloud parallel is the inclusion of the theme of revenge that crops up in the following piece of dialogue:

“Tifa: Why did you wanna come down here?
Leslie: Revenge. I know I need to let go, but I can't. I need closure, 'cause without it... I'll never be able to move on” (Remake, chapter 14).

Leslie’s sentiment toward Corneo resembles Cloud’s feelings toward Sephiroth after Aerith’s death. Revenge links Cloud to Sephiroth, not to Shinra. Corneo and Sephiroth reflect each other in that, as a consequence of their actions toward a woman, the man who loves her desires revenge.
Additionally, it looks like Leslie’s obsession with revenge as a means to closure is the reason he didn’t bother trying to understand the message his fiancée left him with: he’s focused on his hate rather than his love, and it’s hindering him. He doesn’t succeed in killing Corneo either: his focus and energy are misplaced. Cloud’s desire for vengeance against Sephiroth is also depicted as an obstacle to accomplishing his goals (see how in section “III. c)” of my previous literary analysis). Once more, the Corneo-Sephiroth parallel fits far better than a Corneo-Shinra perspective.
VI. g) i. 2) The Reunion Seekers: Leslie and Cloud
The other aspect of the Leslie-Cloud parallel that supports our theory is that in both scenarios, they both take charge of the situation and decide to actively seek reunion with their respective lovers. The following dialogue excerpt, supplemented by the VA script notes, shows Leslie’s initiative:

“Tifa: [Your fiancée] could still be out there.
Barret: Can never be sure how much someone means to ya till they're gone. Don't give up on her yet.
Leslie: (Looks at the flower pendant, [recalling his lover’s words) A message in the language of flowers… I wonder what she meant by it.
[…]
Tifa: Reunion.
Leslie: Huh?
Tifa: In the language of flowers, it means ‘reunion.’
(Leslie shifts his gaze from Tifa to the pendant and stares at it for some time. At last he understands the words his lover left him. With that, as if his mind has been made up, he clutches the pendant and hangs it around his neck.)
Leslie: Then I guess I’ll just have to find her first” (FFVII Remake Material Ultimania Plus, VA Script Notes, “Other Notable Stage Directions - Chapters 14-16”).

Take note of Leslie’s final response and the determination with which he speaks: “Then I guess I’ll just have to find her first”. Remember that we’re searching for evidence that Cloud is going to be the one reaching out to Aerith in the Remake trilogy, and that it’s his turn to take his future into his hands. He must be more attentive, more active this time. And Leslie’s words of determination reflect this perfectly. Leslie must find his fiancée first, just like Cloud has to be the one to offer his hand to Aerith in the Remake trilogy and fight for her. This is exactly what our theory is all about.
VI. g) i. 3) Delayed Realizations
Interestingly, not only does Leslie’s determination mirror Cloud’s, but both men are depicted as realizing the truth too late. Just like Leslie only began searching for his fiancée six months after her disappearance, Cloud only realizes he loves Aerith in OG once she’s died. It took him this long to actually get somewhere in his mission to reunite with her— “somewhere” being the Remake trilogy.
Even Barret’s words highlight the lovers’ delay: “Can never be sure how much someone means to ya till they're gone”. Barret would know: he lost his wife Myrna, whom he loved dearly. The devs have Barret comment on the situation as a man whose lover died, mirroring Cloud’s situation in OG. Just as Barret says, Cloud only truly realized the strength of how he felt for Aerith in OG once she was gone. The gunman’s words apply to both Leslie and Cloud’s tardy initiatives. Regardless of this delay, both men are now determined to see their respective reunions through.
The degree to which the Leslie-Cloud parallel fits our theory is a great sign of its validity: even the details are lining up!
VI. g) ii. Reunion in the Theme Songs
Too easy: in our analysis of the lyrics of the theme songs, we covered how both texts include the theme of reunion. “No Promises to Keep” is especially relevant (see section “VI. e) ii.”), as the entire song is Aerith hoping against fate for a reunion with Cloud (even if you believe the song is about all her companions, that still includes Cloud).
On top of these reunion-themed lyrics, during Aerith’s in-game performance of “No Promises to Keep” at the Gold Saucer production of Loveless, her yellow blossoms signifying reunion bloom all around her as Cloud watches her, captivated.
Another great sign for our theory: the highly significant theme songs are on our side!
VI. g) iii. Waking Up Reunited
The thing I want to juxtapose to our theory is a small yet special moment in chapter 2 of Rebirth that stuck out to me like a sore thumb and got me really excited about sharing it with you. This moment occurs after the battle against the Midgardsormr. We’ll be comparing it to two other clips, describing all three in chronological order, and making deductions based on their similarities.
The first clip I want to address occurs in chapter 8 of Remake (1:32-2:12). There are a couple of things I want to point out in this scene. First, Aerith wakes Cloud from unconsciousness with a cute call of “Hello~?”. Second, despite pretending that he doesn’t, he immediately recognizes her. The VA script notes prove it:

“Aerith: Nice to meet you again.
Cloud actually remembers Aerith, but he pretends not to, perhaps wishing to make himself look cool.
Cloud: Again, huh?
Aerith: What? You don’t remember? How about…the flowers?
Cloud looks at the flowers at his feet and pretends as if he’s only just remembered.
Cloud: Oh, the flower seller” (FFVII Remake Material Ultimania Plus, VA script notes, “Reuniting with Aerith”).

So: she wakes him with a cute call, and he recognizes her. Also note that these two elements also apply to the OG church reunion scene.
Now onto the Rebirth chapter 2 scene that stuck out to me. After Cloud is saved from the Midgardsormr by Sephiroth, Cloud wakes from an unconsciousness spell with Aerith calling for him (7:20-7:34).
Once more, Aerith wakes him with a cute call (this time, it’s “Wakey, wakey!”), and Cloud recognizes her. In this Midgardsormr clip, unlike their reunion in the church, Cloud verbalizes that he remembers her. This time, there’s more: next, Aerith tells Cloud “おかえり, クラウド”, or “okaeri, Cloud”, which translates to “welcome back, Cloud”. “Okaeri” is what you say in Japanese when someone has returned home. In the third clip we will analyze, Aerith says “okaeri” to Cloud once more. But first, let’s break down this second clip.
I don’t know about you, but this cutscene felt extremely weird to me when I first encountered it. That is, it would have been, if not for the theory I’d begun formulating at that time.
You see, the devs could have chosen for Aerith to ask Cloud if he remembers his own name or where they are, if he’s okay, or check if he responds to his own name. In fact, asking someone who’s been hit on the head to say their own name is a much more common reaction to them finally waking up than asking them if they remember you. Even stranger is Cloud’s reaction: he could have answered “Yeah, you’re Aerith,” or “I remember everything, I’m fine”. Instead, he says her name with this airy and wonderstruck tone. He sounds like he’s opening his eyes to something mystic rather than his comrade leaning over him, like he’s seeing someone unexpectedly for the first time in a while… or rather like he’s waking from a trance of some kind— a trance in which he did not remember Aerith, and now he does. You may see where I’m going with this.
Let’s examine the third clip, wherein Aerith tells Cloud “okaeri” again. More specifically, in chapter 14, Aerith welcomes Cloud back when he snaps out of his zombified, Sephiroth-controlled state and runs toward her. Of course, it’s the sight of her and his memories of meeting her in chapter 2 of Remake that shake him awake (2:17:43-2:18:02).
For a third time, Aerith wakes Cloud. This time, she’s pulling him out of a trance and back to himself. And for a third time, Cloud remembers her. In fact, it’s remembering her that wakes him up. Cloud calls her name and Aerith says “okaeri” in both the post-Midgardsormr cutscene and this third clip. And in both scenes, not only does Cloud return to himself the way someone returns home (recall that “okaeri” is used to welcome someone back home), but he’s also returning to her, recognizing her as his home.
Now we’ve got three scenes lined up: the church reunion scene (both in OG and Remake), the Midgardsormr scene and the hand-reach scene. All three of these recognition scenes feature Cloud being woken up by Aerith and remembering who she is. The main difference is that, in the scenes among these three that are exclusive to Rebirth, Cloud’s return to Aerith is far more meaningful, as he already knows her name, and knows more about who she is to him. Evidently, in the OG church reunion scene, Cloud only remembers being sold a flower by this girl. In the Remake version, he remembers the same thing, plus the attack of the whispers. So there’s something much more weighty about the Rebirth recognition scenes: he remembers more, and he remembers deeper. These aren’t just recognition scenes, they’re also mini-reunions. Of course, as we’ve already analyzed pertaining to the hand-reaching scene, Cloud remembering Aerith is followed by him being the one to take action and run toward her, eager to save her, because she means the world to him. When you place the Midgardsormr scene between the church reunion scene and the hand-reach scene, an evolution of Cloud waking up and remembering Aerith is formed. Each mini-reunion scene adds a piece to the story: the church scene informs us that Cloud and Aerith are meeting again, the Midgardsormr scene tips us off that something mystic is going on from Cloud’s tone when he says Aerith’s name, and the hand reach scene tells us that as a consequence of remembering who Aerith is, Cloud saves her from falling to her death and saving her. “Meeting again”, “mystic”, and “saving Aerith”: these are the keywords of the mini-reunion scenes. They are also the keywords of our theory on Cloud’s mission to save Aerith. This time around Cloud knows more and is more conscious about how he feels for Aerith, just like he feels more when in the hand-reach scene in Rebirth compared to the church reunion scene in Remake. From the latter scene to the former, Cloud gradually wakes up and remembers his love for and loss of Aerith in the OG more and more. Each mini-reunion brings him closer to saving her when he blocks the masamune. This is why I am certain that in part 3, whether Cloud comes to his full senses or not, whether he remembers the events of OG or not, he will save Aerith this time. The Remake trilogy is centered around Aerith, after all. In fact, don’t take it from me, take it from Nojima:

“Aerith's the most important character in the remake so we paid special attention to her lines” (FFVII Remake Ultimania, section 08 “Secrets”, “Development Staff Interviews, Part 2: Tetsuya Nomura, Yoshinori Kitase, Kazushige Nojima”, page 744).

I have full confidence in this fact: one way or another, these two will have a happy ending. This is Cloud’s second chance, and as he swore in “Hollow”, he is not losing her again. That is why I don’t think you should fret, and that our Clerith hearts will be very happy to see these two together again for good in part 3.
VI. h) Zooming In
In fact, this zooming-in method of directing players’ attention to important narrative beats is far from new.
VI. h) i. Changing Fate
Let’s divert our attention to Nanaki’s Skywheel date (2:28-3:30). The dialogue goes like this: Nanaki brings us the Whispers and suggests the party might eventually forget about their existence, and Cloud says that frankly, if it’s impossible for them to change fate either way, then it would be better for them to forget to Whispers altogether.
This is a very clear message from the devs: “There would be no point in including the Whispers in the Remaketrilogy if we did not make use of their defeat”. They’re telling us through Cloud’s dialogue that they know it would be foul play and bad writing to introduce the theme of defying fate if it didn’t eventually pay off.
As if it weren’t clear enough what the devs are referring to, Nanaki brings up Aerith’s death directly after Cloud delivers the devs’ message to us. He actually makes Cloud promise to save her. This is pretty on the nose. By promising Nanaki he will protect Aerith, the devs are promising us the same. I’m certain that part 3 will deliver on this promise.
If you still aren’t sold, I’d like to direct your attention to the framing of the shot where Cloud says “If we can’t change [fate]” (2:49-2:51). There’s a zoom-in on his mouth, which is a visual cue that translates to “what this character is saying right now is important to the plot”. It’s very indiscreet in theory: the camera literally hones in on the invisible words as though the script has them highlighted, italicized triple-underlined and in bold.
VI. h) ii. Aerith’s Knowledge
We’ve seen the Remake trilogy use this camera framing at least twice so far. The first time occurs in Remake’s chapter 8, before it becomes clear that Aerith knows things from the OG game that she wouldn’t normally know if this were just a remastered version of the same 1997 plot. I’ll let Remake Ultimania‘s description of this moment speak for itself:

“When Cloud and Aerith return the rescued children to Oates, the man in the tattered black cloak shows up again at the hideout. The moment the man grasps Cloud’s arm, he’s overcome by another violent headache and sees a vision of Sephiroth. Cloud wonders if this man who supposedly died five years ago could possibly still be alive. When he says as much to Aerith, she gives him a vague reply” (FFVII Remake Ultimania, section 04: “Scenario”, “Chapter 8 Main Story Digest”, page 256).

Aerith’s “vague reply” is accentuated by a very deliberate zoom-in on her mouth (1:18:05-1:18:09), and therefore her words.
The framing of this shot indicates to us that what Aerith says provides an important hint as to the plot’s direction. Sure enough, with hindsight, it’s easy to see that’s true.
VI. h) iii. Tifa’s Question
Another time this framing is used is in chapter 1 of Rebirth, after Cloud recounts the Nibelheim incident. Tifa asks the group why Sephiroth is choosing to come back now, after five years (37:55-37:58).
Once more, we are being signaled that the reason Sephiroth chose to return at the moment he did is significant to the plot, but cannot be revealed explicitly yet. The reason why Sephiroth took five years to return is because that’s how long it took for Cloud to get back on his feet after the Nibelheim incident: Sephiroth wants and/or needs to manipulate Cloud in particular rather than all the other people with Jenova cells in them. It took five years for Cloud to not only go through Hojo’s experiments but also escape Shinra and make his way to Seventh Heaven, where Tifa nursed him back to health— therefore, it took five years until Sephiroth’s favorite pawn was available to be used. There are a few reasons why Cloud is the one Sephiroth wants to use, and all of them would be spoilers at this point in Rebirth to players who don’t know the OG plot. The devs can’t reveal any of them yet, but they do indicate via a close-up shot of Tifa’s mouth that her question is important.
VI. h) iv. The Takeaway
As you can see, this framing of characters’ mouths when they speak signals a plot-significant piece of dialogue. This means Cloud’s words on his gondola date with Nanaki can’t be brushed off as a red herring or an unimportant or throwaway line: it has narrative weight.

VII. The Devs

I think it’s important to remember the devs and their commitment to the world of FFVII. They know best for this story, and they’ve proven it to be true many times over. There are many things about the devs’ intentions that the fandom don’t seem to know that I think would give you confidence to find out.
VII. a) Shifting Themes
Good storytellers don’t introduce themes as a way to pull the rug from under audiences’ feet by later rendering them completely irrelevant to the plot.
In other words, the devs would not have introduced the notion of fate as an antagonistic force in Remake, nor allowed the players to defeat it in chapter 18, had they planned for these themes not to pay off at all. Think of how good FFVII OG and FF stories in general are, how strong the writing is from a narrative point of view. Nothing is included for no reason or for a cheap reaction— especially not a central theme of a story. Fate and defeating it is a huge point of Remake, and not for no reason.
I mean, think about a storyline all about defying fate ending with a shrug and a “Oh well, we tried.” It would be ridiculous! The devs are better than that.
VII. b) What the Devs Want
The devs are well aware that fans of FFVII have been begging for Aerith’s resurrection since 1997. All those petitions, all those myths of a revival hack… SE knows about them all too well. They were even referenced by FF’s 30th anniversary expo, which partly promoted Remake:

“No one expected [Aerith’s death] in the middle of the story. Rumors of a secret way to revive Aerith spread, and it was clear players were having a hard time saying goodbye to her too. Even now, twenty years later, it still feels like a shocking turn of events” (Final Fantasy 30th Anniversary Exposition Pamphlet, page 36).

Hamaguchi, codirector of the Remake project, commented on these rumors:

“Interviewer: Do you have a favorite fake rumor about the original FFVII?

Hamaguchi: I hear a lot about Aerith coming back to life and that's something that's very interesting to hear” (Hamaguchi interview: “129 Rapid-Fire Questions Answered About Final Fantasy VII Rebirth”, by Game Informer).

The devs are also aware of how beloved Clerith is to the FFVII fandom, especially in Japan— in fact, the only FFVII ship name that is an official iOS search term on the Japanese Apple Store is Clerith’s (“クラエア” or “kuraea” in Japanese). Aerith herself is a widely beloved character, particularly, once more, in Japan. For instance, Famitsu and NHK’s recent polls on the best FF heroine and on the best FF character in general both resulted in Aerith ranking number 3, beaten only in the latter poll by Cloud at number 1 and FFX’s Yuna at number 2.
The devs know how well-loved both Clerith and Aerith are. And in fact, they love Aerith at least as much as we do:

“Cloud's feelings [of guilt] cannot be resolved by anyone other than Aerith. I tried to convey [that Aerith is saying to Cloud] ‘I'm still here for you’” (FFVII Reunion Files, Nojima’s note on Aerith’s character file, page 58).

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“When I saw the finished product of [Aerith’s face in] CG, I thought, "Oh, isn’t she so cute?” (FFVII Reunion Files, Nomura’s note on Aerith’s character file, page 58).

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"The idea of having Aeris die during the story had a great impact on all the dev staff," Toriyama explained, "and personally I decided to dedicate my efforts to depicting Aeris in as appealing a way as possible, so that she would become an irreplaceable character to the player in preparation for that moment" (Toriyama interview “Final Fantasy anniversary interview: Toriyama speaks” by VG247).

The devs care about Aerith, and they’re fully aware we do too.
I think a lot of people have it in their heads that the devs don’t want anything to change from the OG story, but there’s a lot of evidence that says otherwise. Codirector Toriyama spoke on this, stating the following about the production process of Remake:

“[…] there were times the original version became a hindrance. Specifically, staff members with a strong attachment to Final Fantasy VII would often hold themselves back for fear of deviating too much from the original. When we created the original game, we obviously didn’t feel bound in that way. We were passionate about creating a brand new Final Fantasy title, and so we dove in and embraced whatever seemed most interesting to us. We wanted to take that approach this time as well, so we made a special effort to liberate ourselves whenever we held back, remembering that it was okay to do the things we wanted to do” (FFVII Remake Ultimania, section 08 “Secrets”, “Development Staff Interviews, Part 1: Motomu Toriyama, Naoki Hamaguchi, Teruki Endo”, page 737).

Codirector Nomura said the following:

“When I asked Nojima if he’d write the scenario, I was clear about my demands up front. I said, ‘If we're going to remake Final Fantasy VII, I want it to be done like this.’ At that point, I was intent on making something more than just a remake. [Similarly to how] the battle system this time incorporates elements of the original game’s ATB mechanics [while] also been reborn using a real-time approach […], I wanted to make a story that players would feel is fundamentally Final Fantasy VII but also something new” (FFVII Remake Ultimania, section 08 “Secrets”, “Development Staff Interviews, Part 2: Tetsuya Nomura, Yoshinori Kitase, Kazushige Nojima”, page 745).

Clearly, the devs don’t want to be bogged down by the OG, and are making efforts to do things the way they want to rather than the way they were previously done. The newer generation of developers such as codirector Hamaguchi is also involved in these story changes:

“Interviewer: There are also drastically more scenes with Sephiroth than there were in the original game.
Nojima: We weren't planning on having him appear so much at first— the idea was only to hint at his presence. But we changed our approach partway through and became more proactive with having him appear, after which the number of scenes he features in rapidly increased.
Nomura: Hamaguchi [codirector Naoki Hamaguchi] came up to me one day and said in a mysterious tone, ‘I'd like to talk to you about something.’ He asked me about having there be a battle with Sephiroth in Midgar. In the original game, Sephiroth’s true body is located elsewhere, so he didn’t think I'd give in to the idea so easily. I think he even prepared materials to persuade me. But in the end I agreed readily [laughs]” (FFVII Remake Ultimania, section 08 “Secrets”, “Development Staff Interviews, Part 2: Tetsuya Nomura, Yoshinori Kitase, Kazushige Nojima”, page 746).

Kitase, the producer of the Remake trilogy, even says that after working on this project for so long, and after spending almost 30 years on the FFVII project and getting to know the characters, he has realized that:

“The more [he works] on it, the more [he wants] to make all these characters happy. [He wants] to give them a happy ending. The rest of the team’s opinions [obviously] also have to be taken into consideration, so it won't be all happiness and rainbows. But [he] just [wants] to make [the characters of FFVII] happy” (Kitase and Hamaguchi’s interview “Final Fantasy VII Rebirth’s Producer Just Wants 'the Characters to End Up Happy'”, by Vandal, translated by me).

Kitase is indeed only one developer, but he’s the producer of this project: that’s the very top position. He oversees everything and nothing goes without his approval. That counts for something. Of course, Kitase is fair and values the input of all the devs, so of course it won’t be “all happiness and rainbows”— but I sincerely believe there’s a big chance that Cloud and Aerith are heading toward their happy ending. Even if this theory is completely bogus, I want to have faith that the devs would not sacrifice good storytelling for nostalgia and a conservative attitude toward preserving the OG story, as that would be cheap of them, and we have not known them to be cheap. This game truly matters to them, so I think they deserve our faith.
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