Honorable Judge Charlotte, please hand down your judgement. Buckle up because it’s a lil long!
So I (24f) bought a house with my fiancée (also 24f) just a few months ago. The biggest reason I love the house is its front garden, which is full of my all time favorite flowers, and it was so breathtaking in the summer photos that I was determined to have it.
We moved in with a few friends, B (24f), Alice (26f), and C (21m), because we had the room for them and wanted them to have a lease-less place to live until they find their own places, whenever that would be.
(Payment context: Alice, B, and C pay us to essentially rent their bedrooms, paying only $400 a month while my fiancée and i each pay about $1200 in bills. They did not sign any lease or rent agreement. No one besides my fiancée and I are on the title of the house, and just the two of us made the down payment. Everyone could move out tomorrow and my fiancée and I would be fine.)
We had all lived with each other in the past, and had great communication and became very close friends. Like, make dinner together, watch shows together, smoke and talk for hours every other night kind of close friends.
For context, Alice has 2 pets, with specific diets and meal times. Other people in the house also have pets, but it’s unimportant to this. We have a group chat for stuff related to our house or pets (having people over, working late so someone needs to feed their pet, etc) that we were really good at using to update each other and send pet pics.
But not long after we moved into the house, Alice started dating someone new, who we’ll call Gf. Alice starts spending every day with Gf, not responding to messages from me or other roommates when we ask whether her pets have been fed, and bringing Gf over all the time to hang out, but just the two of them.
All the time she spent with us went away, which was shocking, considering several of us are in relationships, but can still find time for friends. I wouldn’t have had a problem with this, if I didn’t also notice her pets getting sick more frequently, behaving abnormally, and acting yknow, abandoned.
I tried texting her about it, because i had no clue when I’d see her next. She responded defensively when I brought up her caring for her pets, and not want to discuss it further, but the behavior never changed.
Because of this, me and the others picked up the slack to take care of her pets, but it’s so exhausting because it is obvious that the pets still just really miss her. It basically feels like she moved out, but uses our house as a pit stop.
She doesn’t buy food or communal supplies like toilet paper, but will randomly come home a few times a week, shower, eat someone else’s food, and either go to pick up Gf or to hang out at Gf’s place. We will only know that’s she’s stopped by recently by seeing her clothes thrown around the dining room, extra clutter of her mail and purses in the living room, and extra dishes in the sink, never the dishwasher right fucking next to it.
My fiancee, B, and C brought up their frustrations to me about this, but I brushed them off, saying it’s fine and we’re all learning how to be adults in our weird setup. I wanted to give her grace. But the thing that made me freak out happened today.
I enter the living room to see Alice with one of our mutual friends. I say hi and walk past, and Alice continues talking to the friend. She starts telling them about the pumpkins she planted in the front garden.
I kinda freeze when she says it. The front garden is full of gorgeous perennials, regrowing each year, meticulously planted by the previous owners (who were extremely gracious to us during the purchase process- we respect them a lot) and she Planted. Pumpkins?
Literally the biggest fucking things you can grow, that sprouts from long, creeping vines that can choke out other plants? Pumpkins. Without telling me or my fiancée.
I turn back and reenter the conversation, and ask her where she planted them, smiling for an honest answer. She says she scattered them across the garden, and labeled none of them. I say ok, and leave them to their talk. I draft a text to my fiancee about the situation, but decide that maybe it’s not that big a deal.
Later I’m in the same living room catching up with an old friend who was in town, talking about the house and garden as it was their first visit, and Alice walks past the window we’re sitting by, with a potted tree. My friend quietly asks me what the fuck she’s doing with a tree, when a huge reason why we moved here was the landscaping already being sufficient.
I didn’t even know what to say, I just started to cry. The combo of her planting the pumpkin seeds without even Mentioning it to any of us, ESPECIALLY my fiancée and I, and bringing a tree to plant in OUR YARD just felt so disrespectful when she can’t even come home to take care of her pets.
I altered and sent the drafted text to my fiancée to get her opinion on it. I also told B and C about it after my friend left, and they’re on my side, but they think this will be fixed with just “a talk.”
My fiancée is also on my side, but is beyond furious and wants to just kick her out. So I lay in bed crying, feeling like I’ve been deeply wronged over unsent text messages and unasked for pumpkin seeds, like a dumbass.
I’m scared that the pumpkin vines will choke out the beautiful garden the previous owners worked so hard on, and that i adore so much. Honestly, I am equally, if not more scared that I am soon going to watch her pets die of a broken heart.
Everything feels like the wrong choice and I’m so overwhelmed. Am I the asshole for wanting to kick my friend out of my house over pumpkin seeds?
TL;DR: A roommate started neglecting their pets, then planted pumpkins in a flower bed without asking (Fiancee & I own the house).

Navigating the fizzy landscape of carbonated beverages can often feel like a daunting task, especially when you're trying to distinguish between soda water and sparkling water. With a plethora of options available on the market, it's crucial to understand what sets these two popular choices apart. At the heart of the debate lies a simple yet significant difference: the presence of added ingredients. While both may tickle your taste buds with their effervescence, knowing what's in your bottle could enhance your hydration experience.
In South Africa, where the appreciation for quality and natural ingredients is ever-growing, the distinction becomes even more pertinent. Whether you're reaching for a refreshing drink on a hot day or seeking the perfect mixer for your sundowner, the choice between soda and sparkling water is not just about taste but also about health and lifestyle preferences. Let's dive into the bubbles and uncover what truly differentiates these carbonated contenders.

Key Takeaways

• Soda Water vs Sparkling Water: The primary distinction lies in their content and production; soda water often has added minerals and is artificially carbonated, while sparkling water, especially types like sparkling mineral water, is naturally carbonated and contains minerals absorbed as it passes through underground rocks.
• Health Benefits: Opting for naturally sourced sparkling water can offer higher concentrations of beneficial minerals like calcium and magnesium, which support bone health and regulate muscle function, over soda water which may not provide the same level of natural health benefits.
• Environmental Impact: Choosing sparkling water, particularly brands that source water naturally and use recyclable packaging, can significantly reduce carbon footprints and promote environmental sustainability compared to the more industrially produced soda water.
• Culinary Practices: In South Africa's culinary scene, soda water is utilised as a leavening agent and to add lightness to batters, while sparkling water is preferred for its natural purity and enhancing qualities in drinks and as a palate cleanser, reflecting the country’s health-conscious trends and rich biodiversity in food preparation.
• Personal Preference and Lifestyle: The choice between soda water and sparkling water ultimately boils down to personal preference, driven by taste, health considerations, and environmental awareness, encouraging consumers to make informed decisions that align with their lifestyle goals.

Understanding Soda Water

In the context of the ongoing debate on soda water vs sparkling water, especially within South Africa, it's essential to clarify what sets soda water apart. Commonly known as soda water or carbonated water, this beverage sees its origins in a straightforward manufacturing process where carbon dioxide gas is dissolved under pressure in plain water. This procedure introduces the fizz and bubbles characteristic of soda water, offering a refreshing sensation that distinguishes it from its still counterparts.
Soda water sometimes contains added minerals, such as sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride, or potassium sulfate, to enhance its flavor profile. In South Africa, a region acclaimed for its appreciation of natural and quality ingredients, this aspect of soda water manufacturing garners particular attention. Consumers are becoming increasingly discerning, opting for soda water brands that prioritize not just the effervescence but also the mineral content that can contribute to the overall taste and potential health benefits of the water.
When comparing soda water vs sparkling water, it's crucial to note that while both are carbonated, they differ mainly in their source and treatment. Sparkling water, often derived from natural springs or wells, inherently contains minerals and is carbonated either naturally from the source or artificially. In contrast, soda water is more of a creation, designed to mimic the effervescent quality of naturally carbonated waters but with a more controlled and consistent mineral content.
In South Africa's evolving beverage market, where there's a growing trend towards health-conscious consumption, the choice between soda and sparkling water isn't just about quenching thirst. It's about choosing a drink that aligns with lifestyle preferences, whether it's for hydration, cocktail mixing, or simply enjoying a refreshing, bubbly beverage without added sugars or artificial flavors.
Understanding the difference between soda water and sparkling water, including their formulation processes and the inclusion of minerals, can significantly enhance your beverage experience. It allows you to make informed choices based on your personal health goals and taste preferences, fostering a deeper appreciation for the variety and quality of carbonated waters available in the market.

Exploring Sparkling Mineral Water

In your journey to differentiate between soda water and sparkling water, understanding sparkling mineral water is crucial. Unlike soda water, which often involves the addition of carbon dioxide and minerals in a manufacturing setting, sparkling mineral water comes from natural springs or wells, boasting a unique set of minerals that it acquires as it passes through underground rocks.
Sparkling mineral water, particularly in the South African market, is cherished not only for its refreshing effervescence but also for the natural minerals it contains. These minerals, such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium, can contribute to your daily nutritional intake. The appeal of sparkling mineral water in South Africa lies in its blend of natural purity with the invigorating experience of carbonation, a trait that sets it apart from soda water.
When examining what's the difference between soda water and sparkling water, one notices that the latter's carbonation can be naturally occurring or added during bottling to match the naturally carbonated level found in the source. This distinction is significant for those who appreciate the subtleties in taste that come from the water's origin. South African brands like Mountain Falls embody this by offering sparkling water directly sourced from mountain springs, allowing you to enjoy the crisp taste of nature with every sip.
As you navigate the soda water vs sparkling water debate, remember that the choice often boils down to personal preference. If you lean towards natural products, sparkling mineral water might align more closely with your lifestyle preferences and health goals. Its naturally derived minerals and carbonation offer a unique taste experience that manufactured soda water might not replicate.
In essence, whether you're hosting a dinner party or simply seeking hydration, sparkling mineral water provides an elegant and health-conscious option. With its roots in nature and a taste that's both refined and refreshing, it's a staple in the South African beverage landscape that caters to a discerning palate.

Health Benefits

When comparing soda water vs sparkling water, particularly in a South African context, it's essential to delve into the health benefits that each offers, helping you make an informed choice for your well-being. Sparkling water, especially when sourced naturally from springs, stands out for its health advantages. Products like those from Mountain Falls exemplify the benefits of choosing natural sparkling water, drawing directly from mountain springs in South Africa, which imbues the water with unique minerals.
Minerals such as calcium and magnesium are found in higher concentrations in naturally sourced sparkling water. Calcium supports bone health, while magnesium aids in regulating muscle and nerve function, blood sugar levels, and blood pressure. These naturally occurring minerals make sparkling water a beneficial choice for hydration and overall health.
In contrast, soda water, despite being artificially carbonated and sometimes enhanced with added minerals, may not always offer the same health benefits. It's important to note that while both soda water and sparkling water aid in hydration, the latter's natural mineral content can contribute more significantly to your daily nutritional intake.
It’s crucial to consider the source of your sparkling water. Brands that provide naturally sourced sparkling water, such as Mountain Falls, ensure that you're not only enjoying the effervescent taste but also gaining the health benefits of the minerals that are naturally filtered and imbued within the water during its journey through underground aquifers.
While hydration is key to maintaining health, the choice between soda water and natural sparkling water can impact your overall nutrient intake. Opting for sparkling water, originating from natural springs, enriches your diet with essential minerals, making it a preferred option for those mindful of health benefits without compromising on taste.
Incorporating naturally sourced sparkling water into your daily routine offers a refreshing way to stay hydrated and supports a lifestyle focused on health and wellness. Make an informed choice, understanding the difference between soda water and sparkling water, to enhance your hydration practices with the added benefit of natural minerals.

Environmental Impact

When considering the environmental impact of soda water vs sparkling water, it's crucial to acknowledge your role in promoting sustainability. Opting for sparkling water, especially those sourced from natural springs in South Africa, like Mountain Falls, heavily influences the reduction of carbon footprints associated with artificial carbonation processes. The process of naturally sourcing sparkling water does not require the artificial injection of CO2, unlike soda water, thereby decreasing energy usage and emissions.
Moreover, the packaging plays a significant role in environmental consequences. Sparkling water companies that focus on sustainability, often use recyclable packaging, reducing waste and further encouraging environmental stewardship. On the other hand, soda water, frequently marketed for mass consumption, might not always prioritise eco-friendly packaging, leading to higher plastic and waste output.
Transportation is another aspect where sparkling water distinctly benefits the environment, particularly when choosing local brands like Mountain Falls. Sourcing sparkling water from local springs limits the need for long-distance transportation, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions compared to soda water, which may be shipped from far-off manufacturing plants.
Additionally, supporting local businesses that source sparkling water naturally can also contribute to the conservation of natural habitats. These businesses often have a vested interest in maintaining the pristine condition of their water sources, which can include efforts to preserve surrounding environments. In contrast, the industrial production of soda water typically lacks this element of natural preservation.
By choosing sparkling water over soda water, you're not only opting for a healthier hydration option but also contributing positively to environmental sustainability. Your choices can help foster a market that values eco-friendly practices, leading to a greater impact on the preservation of natural resources and reduction of pollution.

Usage in Culinary Practices

In South Africa's vibrant culinary scene, the nuanced differences between soda water and sparkling water come to the fore, particularly in how these beverages are incorporated into culinary practices. Soda water, with its addition of sodium bicarbonate, finds its place in both traditional and modern South African kitchens, not just as a thirst quencher but as a versatile culinary ingredient.
When it comes to baking, soda water serves as a leavening agent, making doughs and batters lighter and more digestible. In contrast, sparkling water, often preferred for its natural sourcing and mineral content, like the varieties provided by Mountain Falls, enhances the dining experience when used as a base for mocktails or as a palate cleanser between dishes. The effervescence of sparkling water adds a refreshing dimension to beverages without the added sodium, aligning with the health-conscious trends prevalent in the country.
Restaurants and home cooks alike utilise soda water to add lightness to tempura or pancake batters, taking advantage of its carbonation to create a crispier texture. Meanwhile, sparkling water, with its fine bubbles and balanced mineral content, elevates the sensory qualities of cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks, integrating seamlessly with the natural flavours of fruits and herbs indigenous to South Africa's rich biodiversity.
The choice between soda water and sparkling water extends into the realm of mixology, where the former's slight alkalinity can neutralize the acidity in certain cocktails, while the latter's subtle mineral notes can complement and enhance the overall flavour profile of a drink. From a whiskey and soda to a refreshing mocktail garnished with Cape gooseberries or spekboom, the decision between soda water and sparkling water impacts the taste, texture, and aroma of each concoction.
Both soda water and sparkling water play integral roles in South African culinary practices, each offering unique benefits that cater to the diverse preference of the country's gastronomy aficionados. Whether one is crafting a delicate batter or curating a sophisticated beverage menu, the selection between soda water and sparkling water is crucial, highlighting the evolving dynamics of culinary excellence within the South African context.

Conclusion

Choosing between soda water and sparkling water boils down to your preferences and needs. If you're leaning towards enhancing your culinary creations with a versatile ingredient, soda water's your go-to. However, if you're aiming for a natural touch with added health benefits, sparkling water, especially brands like Mountain Falls, will not disappoint. Both options offer unique advantages, from improving hydration with essential minerals to elevating the taste and texture of your dishes. As South Africa's culinary scene continues to evolve, incorporating these waters into your kitchen can reflect a commitment to quality and innovation. Remember, the right choice can significantly impact your dining experience, making every sip and bite a testament to your culinary prowess.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is soda water and sparkling water the same?

No, soda water and sparkling water are not the same. The key difference is that soda water usually contains bicarbonate soda in addition to being carbonated, whereas sparkling water is simply carbonated without added bicarbonates.

Why do people drink soda water?

People often drink soda water for its refreshing carbonated texture, which offers a similar sensation to soft drinks without the unhealthy ingredients. It can also help satisfy soda cravings in a healthier way.

What is healthier, soda water or sparkling water?

Generally, sparkling water is healthier, particularly if it is unflavored and unsweetened. Sweetened sparkling waters can add unnecessary sugars to your diet, potentially leading to tooth decay. However, plain sparkling water has minimal effects on dental health, unlike sugary sodas.

Is it okay to drink soda water every day?

Yes, it's okay for most people to drink seltzer water daily as a fun hydration method. However, those with gastrointestinal conditions, sensitive teeth, or a low appetite should monitor their intake and adjust if necessary.

Is it good to replace soda with sparkling water?

Replacing soda with sparkling water is a healthier choice as it provides hydration without the adverse effects of regular or diet sodas. Hydrating adequately is crucial, and sparkling water can help meet those needs while reducing hunger often mistaken for thirst.

Around 6 months ago, I started experiencing episodes where I'd be shaking, sweating, completely out of it, unable to speak clearly, etc. I had gastric bypass 2 years ago, so I just assumed this was normal. I happened to mention it to my bariatric nurse, along with my unexplained 15 lb weight gain during that same time. She was immediately concerned, had the doc put in for blood work and made me an appt the following week with both my surgeon and the dietician. Their diagnosis: hypoglycemia, both reactive and non-reactive. They sent me to an endocrinologist the very next week, and in the meantime prescribed a finger stick monitor and the supplies. I checked my glucose 3x a day plus whenever I felt "off". I had highs over 200 and lows in the high20s-low30s, numerous times. At one point I landed in the ER with a reading of 25, and their own glucose check confirmed it and I was treated with glucagon. Though I have paperwork from it I remember little to nothing of that episode. My A1C is 4.1.
The endocrinologist immediately prescribed a cgm, the Libre 3, and informed me that my insurance would deny it as I'm not diabetic. She's a hypo specialist, and has been having to write appeal after appeal for her patients as a majority in insurances will not cover glucose monitors or supplies for non-diabetic patients, even though it could literally kill us at any time. She didn't have any Libre samples on hand so instead installed a Dexcom G7 and sent me home with a second while we fight with insurance.
I'm on the second G7 now, and I regularly spike over 150 immediately after eating, and seeing 190-220 isn't unusual. This is always followed by a super fast crash, and daily I'm in the low 40s. She has me taking acarbose before meals, but even with that it's still happening mulriple times. Almost every day I end up on what I call "the glucose roller coaster," where I'm consistently spiking then crashing over and over and over. Yesterday I had 5 lows under 55 and 3 in the low 40s. The hardest part is that according to science, high protein low carb food should not cause problems, but I've genuinely crashed after eating only meat, or a zero sugar protein shake, or vegetables. It doesn't seem to matter what I eat, as it happens every.single.time, regardless of carbs/sugar intake. I could eat a plain chicken breast and nothing else and I'll still crash.
So I'm here to ask: is anyone living like this? From what I've read here and online, my lows are pretty extreme , and happen way more than average. I've done all the diet modification requested, and I'm still having multiple urgent lows multiple times a day. Is there anything else I can do? Is anyone else dealing with these same issues and have advice?

I (22M) started taking the hims topical fin/min spray on March 11 so it’s been 2 months now, the last week and a half I noticed that I no longer have morning woods, my erections aren’t as rock hard strong and I’m the past few days my orgasms aren’t as strong. I’m a very healthy and active person and am on a high protein and fat diet my libido was always high and never experienced not having morning wood. I don’t have the other side effects like brain fog or watery semen. So could this be the effects kicking?, is it like this as long as I’m taking it or could it be a just a short phase for a while? I’m noticing results and don’t want the worst outcome to be possible. Thank you

I am a 34 year old master's swimmer and training for the 50 m sprint event. I started swimming about 3 years back. For the first 2 years I was only swimming and learning the technique I relied for protein intake on a balanced diet of fish chicken and eggs along with peanuts, pulses and cereals. I took about 70-75 g protein and my weight was 68 kg. In the third year I started a dryland programme to assist the swimming which consisted of pull-ups pushups sit ups core workout etc. after which I started falling sick from cold very often and I realized I need to up my diet. I increased my egg white and chicken and fish intake and I became much healthier and started gaining weight upto 72 kg but my stomach was always upset with lot of bloating. I had never tried protein shakes before but I decided to give it a try. So recently I took a protein shake (Optimum Nutrition gold standard whey) after much research. I checked the authenticity with their code verification and hologram. I am using it for half a week now just 1 scoop per day post workout to replace my eggs and chicken while keeping the rest of plant and dairy diet as is. I plan to keep meat restricted to weekends only and take protein shake 5 times a week. Since I started it my stomach has wonderfully gone back to normal and I get the healing effect I need. Infact I feel this can take my training to the next level. But when I check my weight at the exact standard time (every morning after using the bathroom and loo) I just went from 72 kg to 74 kg in 4 days. So I believe this is just water weight. I don't see any bloating but my muscles also feel a tad bit bigger. My urine colour is mild yellow as usual or completely colourless. So has anyone else observed this? Is this what is called water retention and is this normal or expected? Does this mean that I have somehow got a steroid or bad chemical in the powder or got cheated ?

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Memory Transcription Subject: Elias Meier, Former UN Secretary-General
Date [standardized human time]: July 13, 2160
The irritability coursing through my psyche was palpable. Every sound was dialed up to eleven, stabbing at the core of my sensory processing. Constant awareness grated on me after days without sleep, never having any break from the stream of information I needed to digest. There was no way to shut the world off and reset, and no reprieve from the unsettling reality of my physical experience. I was curled up in a ball on the floor, rocking back and forth; I wasn’t sure how much longer I could go on like this.
Virnt scuttled over to me in the spaceship, jostling my shoulder. “Elias? Would you like to turn back from this mission?”
I remembered how I’d spent most of the trip, standing under the water in the shower. There was a special shampoo they’d provided for synthetic hair, like a wig. I held out my phony hand and emptied most of the bottle’s worth of goop, zoning out; I was trying to soak in the distant sensation of liquid running down my spine. Once upon a time, this had been the most relaxing time of my day—letting muscle tension fade away and cleansing grimy skin oils. Now, I knew neither of those two still existed in my day-to-day life to assuage.
Did it even matter to slap soap on some metal frame? There were no consequences of letting hygiene go by the wayside. I didn’t sweat in order to start to reek, and I couldn’t get skin conditions or be affected by bacteria. It could be that I was bathing out of habit, clinging to my old lifestyle, that I kept going to wash up. Perhaps the shower had become my favorite haunt because I felt disgusting in this body. Everything was a reminder that I was an inhuman scrap pile, and it was wearing on my sanity. It wasn’t like anyone related to what I was going through.
I used to spend so much time fussing over making my suits look crisp and perfect—immaculate ties, UN pins adjusted just right. The heavy jackets would trap my body heat in the summer; now, it no longer had that effect. I could bundle up as much as I wanted in 40 degree Celsius heat, unless there was some limit that would fry my circuits. Shit, I might not need a spacesuit in the vacuum of space—I couldn’t freeze or suffocate, after all. Being left out in the void for all eternity didn’t sound that much different from my present experience.
I hate what I’ve become. I hate what they’ve done to me; all I do is think, and every part of my new self lives in the uncanny valley. There’s nothing positive. Maybe it’s time to call it…death was better than this. I can’t bear another day of this hell.
“Hey, stay with me! Distractibility, depression, being unable to maintain concentration—these are natural consequences of sleep deprivation. I’m surprised it carries over without a physical mechanism to grow tired…but I’m working on a sleep suite, I promise,” Virnt said, glossy eyes staring at me.
I groaned. “I’m not tired, but it’s just nonstop. I…I’m having trouble remembering what I read.”
“Here, I’m going to try a temporary fix. You look like you need it. I don’t want you to suffer; just turning you off and on isn’t the same. I’m going to emulate GABA, uh, shut off your optic sensors, decrease the activity in your prefrontal cortex, and simulate delta waves for an hour. We can see if it somewhat fills the need for deep sleep, okay? Relaxation, no processing: worth a shot, right?”
I nodded mutely, staying in the fetal position. I didn’t have the will to move, and I didn’t want to get my hopes up that Virnt’s plan would be any mercy. The sensation of the Tilfish tinkering with my settings was strange, as if my brain was being overridden in the moment. There was no process of falling asleep to give it the air of naturalness. Suddenly, I was blind, trapped in darkness—and a modicum of drowsiness kicked in, limiting my movement. Thoughts died down, offering much-need relief; I faintly wished I could remain in this state.
When I came to, there was a sudden influx of information as the rest mode was switched off; it was hardly a seamless waking, but I’d take it. Peace in my own head was something I’d never take for granted again. I hadn’t thought myself to be a weak-minded individual, but I hadn’t realized how much it wore on you: feeling out of place in your own body every waking second, and not trusting your senses. Brain function had been restored enough that I could get a grip on myself, and rise in my disheveled state. A peek out the window revealed we’d completed our intra-atmosphere transit to the Duerten embassy.
I rubbed my eyes on reflex, but there were no gifts from the Sandman there. “Why couldn’t you have just added everything to start with, Virnt?”
“The humans I talked to said they wouldn’t want to sleep, unless they had to! I put the most focus on your emotional matrix and your facial expressiveness, since I thought that has the highest importance of what makes you human,” the Tilfish replied.
“You could’ve made it at least optional.”
“I sent the option to your holopad for the future, to trigger this program for as long as you’d like. This is a learning process, so I’m sorry for anything that’s off. All trial and error here, but it’s only going to get better! That’s the positive.”
“There are a lot of patches needed. For starters, you’re missing two of the senses: taste and smell. In spite of that, ever since I walked past the Terra Technologies staff eating tater tots, I’ve been craving them at random intervals. I’m not hungry—I can’t consume food!”
“Predator instincts,” Virnt teased. “The Federation was right.”
“I’m serious! Why on Earth would that be a thing? I literally can’t satisfy it, so it’s almost cruel.”
“It’s psychological, Elias. I looked into it after I saw it in your transcript. When humans are under a lot of stress or otherwise feeling down, you seek dopamine from food. It’s something familiar that activated your memories, and promised emotional comfort. That’s why you have the phrase ‘comfort food.’”
“I can already see how the Federation remnants would spin that. A predator’s so-called emotions are tied to food, and stimulate appetite to fulfill their whims.”
“You seem in better spirits. To add to your improved mood, we announced the success of your memory transplant to the world. The response was overwhelmingly positive—history looked back fondly on you. You got a lot of well-wishes, and I was able to get almost all of your social media re-activated. At least, the platforms that are still active.”
“I’m…allowed to share my honest experiences?”
Virnt eased me out of the shuttle, into the sunlight; cameras were waiting, causing me to stiffen. “Of course you can. I’m not here to muzzle you, my friend. Quite the opposite, in fact: I want your experiment documented as thoroughly as possible! You’re the spokesperson for—”
I shielded my face from the reporters, who were lobbing questions. “What is this? I don’t have a prepared statement. This is an ambush.”
“Terra Technologies has a mission of transparency, and improving sapients’ quality of life through digital means. We had to announce such a monumental breakthrough, but you’re under no obligation to speak with them.”
“Good,” a warm voice chimed in from next to me, making me jump. “The poor guy’s come back from the dead, Virnt. Give him a break. He’s here to speak with the Duerten Forum and their ambassador, for some semblance of his old life.”
I turned my head, beaming as I recognized her. “Erin? Oh, sorry: that’s Secretary-General Kuemper, isn’t it? You’ve moved up in the world. The United Nations is in good hands.”
“It’s good to see you, Elias. I bawled my eyes out at your funeral. You cared so much for peace and taking the high road; there isn’t a person out there who could’ve handled first contact with more grace. You inspired me, and an entire generation of future diplomats.”
I embraced Erin, who’d once been a passionate SETI researcher giving me all of the bad news about aliens. As we flailed about in the dark to save humanity and adjust to the galaxy, finally acquiring a few friends, she’d become my Secretary of Alien Affairs. I’d trusted her to do whatever it took to stabilize our extraterrestrial relations. It was a bit of a relief to see a positive reaction from someone I knew; I wasn’t sure how my friends would take my return, but I hadn’t been expecting a welcome with open arms. It brought me solace and comfort to know about the legacy I’d left behind, and the ripple effects my tenure had on the United Nations.
It is strange to see how much she’s aged. That’ll be the reality of anyone that used to be an acquaintance of mine.
The alarm bells pinging in my head faded into the backdrop, and I forgot that the wind gusting against my face only felt like a dull push. My mind slipped away from food cravings that failed to get my mouth to water, how there was no feeling of tightness from my dress shoes, and the stillness of my non-existent diaphragm. I was simply happy to see someone I cared about and enjoyed working with, in my old life. There was safety in having a person I trusted to be on my side. My brain snapped back into diplomat mode, falling into a familiar flow of conversation. If I had nothing else, I still had my social skills—an ability to navigate various cultures.
“So the Duerten Forum agreed to meet with the two of us. They know about the Sivkit attack, but not the full threat,” I spoke aloud, after breaking away from the rather soul-affirming embrace. “I read the strategy meetings for briefing them, and I’m on-board to appeal to nostalgia; humanity saving their homeworld was after my time, but close enough to it that I could serve as a reminder. A blast from the past.”
Erin nodded, her security forming a wall between us and the cameras as we walked toward the embassy. “I always wondered what you’d think of modern Vienna, Elias. All of the aliens willing to be here on our world, and to treat us like people. Friendship used to seem like a pipe dream; we were happy if they’d allow us to exist, tolerate us to that extent. Look at us now.”
“I almost gave up hoping that they could care about us, or stand beside us at all. We couldn’t do it alone then. It’s time we remember to stand together—to rise to the occasion once more. I can’t bear the thought of anything threatening our home, or our friends. I saw enough needless death twenty-four years ago.”
“That pain is a lot more recent to you. It’s completely okay to be wrestling with grief. A billion of ours died.”
“We didn’t become the monsters they thought we were, and we pulled through. We revealed their hatred and treachery, and have chosen a future set on rectifying every right they trampled. I’ll always mourn what we lost, but I’ve never been more proud of humanity in my life.”
Kuemper patted my shoulder. “You sound like yourself, my dear old friend. It’s very good to have you back; you were much better at smiling while they spit in your face than I ever was. Let’s do what’s necessary to get the ball rolling with the Shield.”
“I’m right behind you.”
The exterior of the Duerten embassy had a distinct construction style, with metal and concrete forming the bulk of the outside structure; on Kalqua, sturdiness was at the foremost of their priorities. Winds on a normal day could ratchet up to what we’d consider a tropical storm, according to my brief review of their culture. The door was evidently heightened to facilitate foot traffic from humans, despite the exit hatches on the upper floor which seemed frequented by the avian staff. Their personnel could literally fly away during an emergent situation. I tailed Kuemper into the lobby, and noted how much of the inside’s floor was concrete as well. It was resilient and easy to clean, a perfect surface to avoid being marred by talons.
Most of the gray avians used perches instead of chairs, with several staffers working on paperwork at their desks; in private areas, some met with any humans who had business with the Duerten Forum. The lack of reaction to a predator’s approach was new to me, but a welcome change. Kuemper confidently led the way to an elevator, which had the English and German words for “Welcome to the Duerten embassy!” written above the opening. The generic Shield logo was painted on both sides of the door, and emblazoned with a representation of Kalqua. There were no buttons inside, apart from an emergency exit; a camera surveyed us, before a watching staffer summoned the car upward. I felt a jolt as we reached the top floor.
“To be visited by two Secretary-Generals: one of whom is a ghost! Let me express the Duerten Forum’s honor and delight. Not, of course, that I don’t cherish Ambassador Hannah Marston’s visits.” A silver-feathered head poked out of a door at the end of the hallway, past a spacious lounge; his beak was the precise yellow of corn. “Please, come in. Make yourselves at home. Can I get you anything to drink?”
Kuemper shuffled forward, giving me a knowing look. “Water would be lovely for me. Thank you for the warm welcome, Ambassador Korajan.”
“I second that gratitude. Enchanted to meet you. I’m sure you know, but I’m Elias Meier.” Taking a gamble that the ambassador was more than acquainted with our customs, I extended a hand. Korajan strode forward with confidence, ensnaring my palm in his wingtip. “We appreciate you taking the time to sit with us, Ambassador.”
“Just Korajan,” the avian said, feeling my artificial hand with undeniable curiosity. He finally released my grip, and waited for us to get seated. “There’s no need for formalities, especially when I’m in such esteemed company. What can I do for you?”
“We’ve come to seek your assistance in the fight against the Sivkits’ assailants. The Sapient Coalition needs allies to back us against these menaces,” Kuemper stated. “Any help we can get would make a difference.”
“I see. I heard about your unfortunate defeat in your prior engagement, but I don’t see how it involves or concerns us. The Duerten, as you well know, aren’t in the position we used to be. We’ve turned our focus inward for years, shoring up our defenses to watch out for our beloved planet. The potential benefit it might offer you is so negligible that it’s hardly worth increasing our vulnerability. The risk far outweighs the rewards for any party.”
I studied the avian, careful to avoid a direct stare. “I understand that it’s a lot to ask. However, small bits of help from across the Shield can accumulate to be a massive difference maker. We want to stop this genocidal force from getting anywhere near Kalqua; if we play our cards right, you won’t need defenses.”
“Elias—sorry, may I call you Elias?” Korajan asked, continuing after I nodded. “We’re, of course, concerned to have a predatory species with such power and intentions, outside our known terrain. They bear a striking resemblance to the Arxur, and my government does appreciate the advance warning from the SC so we can make preparations. Yet the Forum is concerned by several of your recent initiatives, which would make us doubly unwilling to back your cause.”
“Go on. What initiatives have unsettled you?” I hope he doesn’t mean me, with resurrecting dead humans; that’d hit close to home, and I don’t know how to defend it. “Perhaps we can clear up our rationale and intentions, ensuring that there are no misunderstandings.”
“I hope I’m not impolite to point it out, but my government is beginning to see a pattern in your recent connections to carnivores. The Sapient Coalition is attempting an uplift on one race, despite what we all know happened on Wriss, and has brought them into your mix while they are at war with each other. We’re also aware of these Osirs—a race you are resurrecting to live among you, despite having no idea what they’re capable of. Present company excluded, species that need meat are not trustworthy types. These Osirs are weapons: look at the fangs.”
“Anything is a weapon in the wrong hands. Respectfully, we don’t feel that it’s right to judge a species for their diet. If I’m not mistaken, your own kind were once omnivores, Korajan.”
The Duerten fluttered his wings in acknowledgement. “The Federation changed us greatly—some things for the better, others to erase our intellect. We’re an individualist species, and they tried to make us…what do you humans call it? A ‘hive mind.’ Hive minds, of course, are fiction, yet they tried to make it real. Still, sometimes when you’re changed enough, it makes it impossible to go back to how things were.”
“I of all people grasp that sentiment,” I sighed, without moving an abdominal muscle, reflecting how my life would never be the same in this state. “We believe all sapients deserve a chance at life and happiness. Equality isn’t a principle we withhold based on any factor, and we don’t change species to fit our own whims.”
“This is why we’re content with our relations as is: separate, so we’re not connected to your disputes or obligated to get involved. The Duerten will always have differences between what are considered acceptable behaviors, and our guiding principles and overarching goals.”
Kuemper tapped her fingers on her knee. “Regardless, our choices with the Bissems and Osirs will have no impact or tangible effects on the Duerten. Nor is it a reason to shy away from protecting herbivores, the mandate that led you to stand up to the Federation in the past.”
“That cost us everything. Kalqua took a beating worse than Earth did. We don’t set out to attract the ire of powerful enemies these days.”
“We saved Kalqua. We were there when you needed our help to keep your innocents safe,” I reminded him, knitting my eyebrows with earnestness. “We answer when others call for our help to stay alive; the Duerten know what drives us to answer the bell. Isn’t that worth a smidge of reciprocation?”
“If Earth, or for that matter, Leirn were under siege, we would come. However, it appears to us that you entered their territory, not the other way around.”
“Think of the type of species…no, the kind of governments that would glass worlds. The old-school Arxur Dominion. The Kolshian shadow caste when they were defied. The Krakotl extermination fleet because they hated us. That’s what we see in the Osirs, and the gluttonous killing of Sivkit civilians while refusing to speak. We can’t turn a blind eye.”
“I’m sorry, Elias. Even if I wanted to help you, I don’t have the authority. I’m expressing my government’s position, and I’ve been told the Duerten Forum isn't going to war under any circumstances. I apologize that I can’t be of more use, and regret if you might feel your time has been squandered, leaving empty-handed.”
I shared a look with Kuemper, recognizing that we had been stonewalled; there was an implication in Korajan’s last statement that the discussion on this matter was over. The Forum hadn’t given him any negotiating room, so I didn’t get the sense I could do better than asking for him to take a message. If this was the most friendly party we’d be interacting with, I wasn’t off to a good start wrangling support for an alliance. There were a few other Shield races we could try, but an endorsement from the founders might’ve gotten the whole union on board. We had to find another angle—negotiating with the Fed remnants would be impossible without the Shield as an intermediary.
“Of course we don’t feel that way. The back-and-forth was enlightening, productive communication, as much as humanity would love to stand side-by-side in this endeavor,” I offered. “We appreciate you hearing us out, and do hope you’ll pass along our rationale to the Forum, for clarity.”
“I will,” the Duerten responded. “Your words, as always, deserve to be heard and treated with respect.”
Kuemper followed my lead, rising as I stood. “Korajan, I want you to know I deeply appreciate what you said about coming to Earth’s aid should we ever fall on hard times. That stood out to me, as a reason why our cooperation is so precious and beautiful.”
“I agree wholeheartedly. I do wish you the best of luck in your future engagements; my people hope you emerge victorious.”
“Thank you. Our door will always be open if you have a change of heart.”
In my mind, I had already vacated the Duerten embassy, but it was necessary to retrace my steps to depart the ambassador’s office. Aliens were much more diplomatic in rebuffing us now than in my era, which was the proper way to express disagreements between nations. It wasn’t lost on me that the differences in “behaviors” and “principles” Korajan meant were things such as hunting, omnivory, accepting carnivores, exterminators, and predator disease facilities. The Forum still clung to much of their old lifestyle; the gray avian had stated that some Federation changes were “for the better.” That was telling about how much of their ideology they’d yet to shed.
“Forgive my impertinence, but before you go, Elias…may I ask a personal inquiry? It’s not on my behalf of my government,” Korajan called, as our shoes cleared the threshold of his office.
I turned around, giving him an encouraging smile. “Of course. Go ahead.”
“What…what was it like? To die…to be dead?”
“It wasn’t like anything. It was a singularity of all outcomes: all I ever was, and all I ever could be, condensed to nothing. There are no words to describe emptiness and infinite rest. It’s a peace that knows no equal.”
The Duerten dipped his head. “Thank you. It gives me some…personal solace, to know…to know my daughter is resting peacefully. She died in so much pain after only a short period of remission. Ahem…if you’ll excuse me, I…”
“We’ll leave you in peace,” Kuemper replied, softness in her voice.
I folded my hands behind my back, mulling over the choked-up ambassador’s words. How could I let a few days of mental suffering defeat me, when kids suffered through such terrible diseases—never getting to reach adulthood? This program could give children like Korajan’s daughter a chance to grow up, and be a kid, free from pain. As soon as I was alone, I knew I’d be cast back into a maddening state of consciousness, with my brain struggling to stay tethered to this reality. Where I’d been ready to give up before Virnt’s quick fix, the avian’s story made me want to remain in the fight.
The Tilfish had been right: there was the potential for the technology that had brought me back to do a lot of good, and save others a great deal of heartbreak and suffering. No personal sacrifice was too great to ensure that one day, no parent would ever have to bury their child.
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Star Crossed [Multiple Free Sample Chapters] Patreon Subreddit Discord Paperback NOP2 Species Lore

Hello, I've been taking vyvanse for 3 months now, and while it's helped a lot with task avoidance, mood, and my appetite, it wasn't having the effect on focus I need.
I talked to my prescriber about it, and she's starting me on 5mg of Ritalin to take in the afternoons on days when I feel like I need it.
I kind of had to rush through the meeting so I didn't get a good chance to talk about what side effects I should be looking out for. How does Ritalin affect you/make you feel, and are there any other side effects different than Vyvanse that I should be prepared to encounter?
Thank you!

My boyfriend and I have been together since highschool and survived being long distance during college. After college I got a high paying engineering job and had to move to a specific city for it. He struggled to find a job after college and continued to work in his school's library part time. He didn't have much financial freedom because of that, but still wanted to stay in an expensive, east coast city rather than moved back to the midwest. I think he expected that I would eventually move to his new city instead, despite me telling him that I can't really compromise this job.
He moved into a place with some roommates in his college town. After a while of putting up with some abuse from these roommates (others have agreed that he was subject to some abuse from them; those aren't just his words) he finally agreed to quit his job at the library and move in with me across country. Almost immediately the problems began. Up until that point I had been living alone for a year, working full time, and keeping a very strict diet and work out regimen. I don't want to get too much into it, but I've struggled with disordered eating in the past and while tracking calories and macros aren't the best practice, it's what I need to do to avoid bingeing and starving cycles. It was a lot of work but I managed to keep myself healthy and my apartment mostly clean by myself.
When I say clean I don't mean a deep clean every weekend type of deal, but things like putting groceries away, making sure the dishes aren't piling up, hanging up laundry, etc. Apparently that is wanting to live in a "show home," to my boyfriend. Upon arrival he unloaded a cargo van's worth of things into my apartment, which fair enough that's how moving works. After the first week of things going unpacked and making it impossible to use the living room, however, I expressed how much it was stressing me out to not be able to use my own spaces anymore and he guilt tripped me about how he just away from two roommates that would scream at him over slight messes while not cleaning up their own messes, saying I was triggering him. I decided to give him more time to unpack and get organized. I even bought more shelves for him to store all his things on so they're off the floor. It's been months and there are still boxes of things just shoved in the corner and apparently there are more things on the way because when he went to college he left some boxes with a friend of his from highschool.
Since he was unemployed when he got here and was already struggling financially before that, and I make more than enough money to support my own life style, I was covering all the rent, groceries, transportation, etc. I was also doing pretty much all the cooking because I wanted to keep up with my meal prepping and whenever he uses the kitchen he leaves behind a huge mess. One time I made the mistake of telling him how much his mess was stressing me out and I got hit with the same "you're triggering me because you know roommates X and Y would keep me from using the kitchen." I had even prefaced my statement by saying "I know this is a rough subject, but..." So now I'm buying all the food, and cooking all the food, but he's apparently so stressed from the last few years that his "threshold of tolerance," is so low that the only thing he can eat is bland, simple food, usually soup. If I spend time cooking my own food he assumes it's to share and will complain that I added spices or made a curry or chili that's thick instead of soupy how he likes it, but then if I make him the bland food his stomach can handle he'll forget it in the fridge and it gets thrown away. And I am ALWAYS the one dealing with rotten food that needs to be thrown away. He just leaves the containers of food on the counter until I deal with them.
On top of that he leaves half eaten food out for days at a time, leaves empty food container like chip bags or apple cores sitting out, leaves napkins and tissues all over the place, misses the trashcan when throwing stuff away and just leaves it. And there's just constant clutter of his art supplies. Art is the one thing he can handle focusing on, an I try to support him to put his things online and try to make some money off of it. A lot of his art work circles around repurposing literal trash though and he uses maybe 1/10 of the "supplies" he gathers. There's a container of onion skins on the counter that he tells me to save because he wants to make ink with it, he makes me save the bags from frozen fruit and veggies so he can make "plarn" and weave it into a picknick blanket, he gathers random bits of literal garbage that he sees on walks to basically piles in up in the spare bedroom which I cannot even enter anymore because of the mess.
There's been a little progress with getting his digital artwork on a website, but I had to hold his hand and walk him through the process of putting together a shop because the task was too much to deal with on his own. That's really the biggest issue: he cannot handle any tasks if I'm not holding his hand all the way through it. Doing the laundry is basically the only thing he can do without prompting or input. There are big things I understand wanting moral support for like putting in job apps and going to interviews, but even little things like making sure he goes for a bike ride or eats enough is offloaded onto me. Everyday I have to spend like a half hour going, "hey are you going to go for that ride you said you wanted to? You should get going before it's dark, you'll feel better afterwards, etc" in order to get him out because I KNOW if I didn't get him to do it then he would make it my problem that his back hurts from not working out. Every day it's "have you eaten yet? What would you like? Can I make you something?" Because I KNOW if his blood sugar gets low and he gets cranky it'll be my problem. I have to spend an additional half hour every night making sure he eats the food I bought and I cooked.
And all this time I spend making sure he's comfortable and taken care of and being productive on his own tasks takes away from time I used to spend doing enjoyable things. I used to enjoy reading and writing and was working on a novel, but I just don't have time anymore. I'm missing days at the gym and needing to take shorter runs. I have to cut down on time I spend playing D&D with my friends. I can't find time to go to the local maker space and blacksmith, which is my favorite hobby. I can't even get my own chores done because every time I try to get locked in on a task I'm interrupted every minute by him calling me to come give him input on something or rub his back or just sit with him while he does something. It's actually making me worse about keeping up with cooking and cleaning. Silly me for thinking having an unemployed person living with me for free would make it easier to keep the apartment in order.
Before I go on, I need to emphasize that I understand why he's acting this way, and I know it isn't malicious, which is what makes this so hard. I know the hording comes from his abusive mother who would get drunk and throw away or break all his things randomly when he was a kid. I know the hype stress responses to doing anything work/money related is because his aunt forced him to go to school for a degree he didn't want, he was rejected from so many STEM jobs, and he's been living in poverty his whole life. I know the cleaning is because he just lives with the clutter his whole life and I don't think he even recognizes it. I know why he's doing all the things he does and needs all the support he does, and I know he isn't doing it to intentionally hurt me. That said I was already practicing a lot of discipline and exerting a lot of energy to keep my life on track before he moved in and now it feels like I have double the responsibility and half the progress.
A few weeks ago he finally got a job as a shipment manager in a grocery store, which I thought would be good for him: he could meet some new friends, earn some money, get out of the apartment more than once a week. He hates it, says there's work drama, and has needed to come home early multiple times because the stress was causing him to dissociate. We need to move again soon because I'm being relocated for work and he says he's glad he won't be working there for very much longer. We move at the end of June and he's supposed to go live on a farm for a few months in September. For context there's a self-sufficient farm community that takes volunteers in exchange for a stipend and room+board that he's been talking to for years. It didn't work out during college, but he's supposed to go this year for a few months.
Obviously I have mixed feelings on that. 1) that means he'll probably be unemployed for two months again after we move. 2) I'll be glad to be living alone again. 3) I'm afraid he's going to find out how much work a farm is and come back in even worse shape than he's already in. All around I don't know how to handle this. I know I don't want to live with him, which really should mean we break up, but we've been together for almost a decade and I know exactly why he is behaving the way he is. I don't know if he can recover and get back to being self sufficient like he was before college, but I know it is hurting me to try and help him in his healing. I still love him and I don't want anything bad to happen to him, which is why I can't just kick him out. He doesn't have the money to live alone and he doesn't know anyone else he could live with without moving across country again. I don't want him to be homeless because he needs support that I can't keep giving, but I can't keep living like this.
TL;DR: My boyfriend moved in with me and due to valid stress and trauma he is nearly incapable of adulting. The stress of supporting him in basically every facet of life is becoming too much to handle, but I don't want to kick him out and make him homeless.

Healing and killing
Hey hey y’all, so I am healing SIBO dominant gasses for both, and currently have bad gastritis healing as well.
So I am killing with - Grape seed extract - GI Mixrob X designed for health
I tried antibiotics - hence it created gastritis
And I am feeling it killing it off ever day and when I take it with them I feel it killing with burning.
What else can I do to heal the gastritis while healing sibo. I do Sucralfate and DGL licorice for healing gastritis. Done this for over a year.
I take also BPC-157 with PEA. It helps to heal the stomach
I eat a higher carb diet and i feel it killing off the bacteria. I have tried low carb before and it laid them dormant. Everyone’s different
I ate strictly, oatmeal with a bucket ton of Peanut butter a day, sweet and normal potatoes with chicken, turkey and lobster for 8 months with little to no improvement and still do the same but I am now basically eating a lot more just nothing with grease or fried foods, No red meat(Alfagal)
I’ve changed up diet to see if anything acts different and it does not it all produces gas.
What else should I do to kill faster, I’ve been dealing with this off and on for about almost 2 years
I burp literally constantly forcing it out so it doesn’t build up. I have an artery issue which will make me pass out if there’s too much gas build up😂😂 life’s wack with all of this.
Drinking water = burping because it forcing the air around I guess

This is a crossover fanfiction between original fiction titles: Nature of Predators by SpacePaladin15 and The Last Angel by Proximal Flame respectively. All credit and rights reserved goes to them for making such amazing science fiction settings that I wanted to put this together.
You can read The Last Angel here: Be warned, it's decently long, and at its third installment so far. I highly suggest reading it before reading this, or this story will not make sense.

Otherwise, enjoy the story! Thanks again to u/jesterra54 and u/skais01 for beta and checking of work!
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Memory transcription subject: Governor Tarva of the Venlil Republic
Date [standardized human time]: October 22, 2136
The reveal of the Arxur's assistance of Earth was a unsettling, but mostly overlooked note to add to the headlines filling news sites today on Venlil Prime.
UNKNOWN SHIP DEVASTATES FEDERATION FLEET ABOVE EARTH, HUMANITY LIVES
While the ship wasn't currently unknown to us, given the UN's report, General Kam had advised that it would be better left unspoken of what capabilities we did know, so as to not worry the populace. "Leave causing panic to the humans" he said. But I heard the worries and anxious rumors throughout both social media and verbal conversations...
"That ship destroyed an ENTIRE fleet!?"
"Oh Protector, please tell me its not an Arxur vessel..."
"Why don't we know more?"
I couldn't help but feel for my people. I came to disagree with Kam's advice more and more, as I wished desperately to allay their fears of it being an Arxur superweapon, or that it was going to destroy us soon, or other similar worries.
Are you so sure yourself, Tarva? Even the UN government is scared of it, and it supposedly was made by a future Humanity...
I tried not to focus on that pang of paranoia. I just hoped soon enough the UN would make a statement on the Nemesis already. As I accompanied Noah to the UN's remembrance speech today, I did my best to scan for the feelings worn on peoples faces. The Venlil were unsettled as before, but the human refugees were an odder story altogether.
They were devastated, and scared as well as us Venlil were. But on top of it, I could see a common face worn of confusion. The information disambiguation hadn't made its way to Venlil Prime like it had Earth, and as such they were as much in the dark as the public here was. I could only imagine their uncertainty, knowing their race was likely saved by something they had no idea about.
Noah spoke out of nowhere. "I feel for the refugees here. Forced to an unfamiliar place, so unofficially hostile to them, and now they learn of Nemesis like this? I'd be as confused as them in their place." He checked his suit, attending to shift it so slightly as to make him look better in it. "I also can't imagine your opponents didn't run the whole ball with their existence here, too. Are we taxing you harshly, Tarva?"
I gripped his hand tighter. "No, Noah. While there are those that want you off-planet, I will not let them kick you off. I'll fight for you, no matter the cost."
"Seems like anywhere we go, we cause a fight some way or another. Pops always said space was our ticket to a better future, yet all we seem to cause is trouble for merely existing."
"Noah, its not your people's fault we're afraid of you. The Arxur are to blame for that, and we're at fault for holding it against you. What happened to Earth was not your doing, you tried your best, and it just was not convincing enough for millennia of cultural momentum."
He smiled at that, a muted, but still genuine smile. "Thank you Tarva. I'm glad you see the best in us, even when we don't."
I continued to scan the crowd, looking for the sight of Meier. He always seemed alight in diplomacy whenever he was around, it was a strength of his, outshining the room like that. I could only hope he was doing okay in the current state of Earth. The last time we talked, he seemed very tired, very...frustrated with everything.
But I was glad to see him in some his element soon after, amongst a group of dignitaries from other Federation species. He seemed to be listening to a Mazic diplomat, one I remembered by the name of Cupo. Sadly, however, despite Meier's attempt, it seems the conversation was not on a good track.
"-they're a menace to the rest of the galaxy, and you just let them in, not so soon after this ship blindsided an entire Federation fleet out of nowhere!?"
Meier dejectedly sighed. "Cupo, I thought I already told you, when the Arxur showed up, we had no capability to tell them to take a hike. They were ten-thousand strong and we barely managed several hundred ships left. That they even engaged in dialogue rather than just subjugation was a surprise to me."
"That doesn't make much sense either, Elias Meier. Since when do the Arxur play merciful? You're not telling us something here, and it curls my trunk in knots. How can we trust you when you can't even give us the details on what that ship is, or why the Arxur even showed up in its stead?"
The Mazic was not interested in Meier's friendly act, not giving any room for benefit of the doubt. The other diplomats crowded around began to mumble in agreement, as Meier stood there, formulating some response.
"What we do know about the ship and the Arxur, we'll clear up publically later in this event. But neither were expected by us, you have to believe me. Humanity is just as confused as you all are on the results of that battle, and-"
Cupo interrupted this time, clearly not willing to hear an explanation out. "You're running out of trust, Human. We think you ought to be given a chance; as the empathy studies show, you're not the Arxur. But associating with them as you are, with little transparency is not doing you favors with us, and if you want further association with us, you'd best cut ties with those monsters sooner, rather than later." The Mazic's ears hung in displeasure, and I could sense the nervousness in Meier as he stood down one of the races in the room far bigger than he was. Whether Cupo knew it or not, Meier was intimidated by his presence, and was trying to keep it cool to some degree. "We'll at most help with the Gojid refugees at the moment, as they've suffered both of your kind, but beyond that, consider it on hold until that problem is resolved."
They walked away, and some of the alien crowd amongst them followed. The only ones still sticking around seemed to be a Yotul diplomat, a Nevok, and a Fissan. The latter two stuck obviously to discuss more trade details, seeking to cut the other off from Earth to a degree in hopes of exploiting the system, but the Yotul was a surprise. I didn't even realize they had sent one this way.
Given the relatively new uplift of their world, I didn't imagine the Yotul having much stake or spread throughout the galaxy, so how did humanity...?
Meier turned to him. "Ah...Ambassador Laulo, I'm sorry you had to see that. We're...not doing so hot in the grand scheme of things, and some relations are boiling over as a result."
Laulo enthusiastically shook his head in denial. "No, it's okay! I understand the feeling of that persecution, even if it's for a different reason. Feels like the galaxy kicking you while you're already down."
"I appreciate any help we can get in regards to this. You're one of the very few races left that's pledged some sense of unconditional aid. I promise, with all I have in my power, I'll try and return the favor-Tarva!" Elias noticed my presence at last. "I...uh, how long have you been standing there?..."
"Long enough to hear most of it. I'm sorry the more neutral species aren't helping any, Meier. But that's not why I'm here, specifically. We need to talk about the human refugees."
Meier looked at me funny with that statement, as if he wasn't expecting something out of me. "I see...I hope it's not anything too bad, is it?"
I silently cringed at the exact words. Noah filled in the details in my stead. "Meier, the refugees here are seeing images of Earth, of those not too horribly in shock to do anything, there's been an uptick in suicides...a massive uptick. They aren't aware of the full story, due to the Venlil government's reluctance to publish the report sent here publicly. This remembrance speech better give the people here a semblance of peace, of stability, because there's an extreme lack of morale left in the camps."
Meier grimaced and scanned the crowd, glancing at the humans that were here. I assume he too could see how dejected many were, how many seemed at the end of their rope, coming here for the slightest hint of hope left in their lives at the news. They would need some good news, or there was a chance some wouldn't be here tomorrow.
I felt for them. They didn't deserve this, and our intentional censor of the details, so that Meier could deliver the news likely didn't help with the rates.
"I get that Noah. I really do. What happened at Earth was a tragedy, and the death toll is nearly 800 million. You could likely gather a group of ten or so humans from anywhere, and one of them lost someone close to them. I'll...do my best to raise their spirits, there's plenty to talk about here. The alien diplomats just aren't making this easy..." Meier gestured to the clearly forming bloc of neutral species dignitaries that gathered in the room. They did not seem to want to talk further on any support of Earth until some demands were met, mostly on why things were kept so information-blackout heavy at first. The speech would have to be twofold, at raising human refugees' spirits, and at convincing some of the touchy species to support Earth.
His work was cut out for him.
"Did you wish for any assistance on that front, Meier?" Noah offered. His kindness shone through even in the depths of despair that wore
itself on humanity currently. His soul was purely sweet and kind, regardless of his predator disposition, I so deeply respected that about him.
They began to talk shop, Noah mentioning his current experiences with human refugees upon Venlil Prime, and what topics Meier ought to add on and hit on in his speech. As rushed of advice as it was, Meier seemed determined to fit it in somehow, but I knew he had a silver tongue, his capability to navigate and convince was downright bewildering, present company excepted of course. Nothing would get those species over his diet anytime soon, so I could only hope he could appeal to their empathy as another sentient in this case.
I believed in them. If anyone could turn the state of the galaxy around, it would be these two.
Memory transcription subject: Dorian Abder, Commons Member of Parliament
Date [standardized human time]: October 22, 2136
I sat on my desk, watching out the window of my office at the Westminster Palace, reminiscing on the sad scene outside. Another body under cloth cover, wheeled out on a stretcher from a home surrounded by paramedics. Another swept up in despair, seeing the state of our beautiful planet, of our populace, so brutally scarred, enough to take their own life.
How many was it, so far? Nearly a half-percent suicide rate for every hundred thousand in England? More than eight times the highest resting rate in our entire history. And we were hardly hit in comparison to the rest of the world...how are they doing if it's this bad here?
I leaned back in my chair, back cracking in old age, forcing myself away from the scene outside. I tried to not think about it, just tried to focus again on my work. On the coordination efforts with the UN, the Arxur, and any other races seeking to help. But it was a mountain of work ahead, a peak of papers I could barely see myself climbing in an entire week, let alone the mere day it was handed down here.
We've all lost someone. Not a single soul hasn't been touched by the Federation's bombing.
I thought about how the targeting of cities took. How they focused so heavily on Africa and Asia, the most booming corridors of population on Earth. How they erased 78 cities from existence before their fleet was devastated by The Sword. They weren't aiming to cripple humanity, on industrial depots and power plants, but to exterminate us. They aimed for the most populated cities first, before taking potshots at what remained.
Being put to the death by The Sword serves them right, they deserved judgement by that blade for what they had done.
Or, rather, the Nemesis, as reports had given us. A human ship, but not quite our humanity. A time traveler conveniently sent here by accident, saving us from extinction. An AI piloted ship that sought now to reunite with Earth having defended us. Given what remained of our Guardian Angel, I sought to do everything I could to make their welcome home a celebration, for they defended humanity in our darkest hour.
I recalled my journeys around the globe as a younger man. How my endless wanderlust took me to every corner of the globe in the wake of the Satellite Wars. How the global power vacuum led to so much relief efforts, as the less-touched nations finally had room to breathe, the canopy of carefully controlled superpowers no longer eating up their light needed to grow. How African countries like South Africa and Niger found themselves expanding to match the designation of First World. How beautiful the Seychelles were to see in person.
How my volunteering in the UN's Unfurled Umbrella Initiatives after the Treaty of Shanghai took me to the partially collapsed countries amidst Asia. How Tokyo, despite its immense infrastructure failure, dragged itself back to a powerhouse of a city, as Japan built for itself after so long. How China's government reformed into a Republic after the post-war coups, and how Taiwan finally opened its heart more to them for it. How Beijing found itself all the stronger for adversity.
How the South and Central Americas found themselves no longer under the impressive hand of the United States' geopolitical influence. How the first Diaspora vessels took off from Argentina, seeking to establish a government sentenced only to the annals of history on Earth upon the distant surfaces of Mars. How they were so determined to prove the world wrong on its presuppositions of how a place should be ruled, free of the influence of bullying countries. And how their dream led to the now Martian Collective.
I thought of all the other places the UN took me. Of Cairo, and its deep connection to our most prominent civilization of the ancient past. Of Istanbul, to see the beauty of mixing Christian and Islamic influence over centuries of swapping hands. Of the stunning ports of Singapore, an industrial powerhouse of a nation, so tightly packed into one single city. Of the stunning silver forest of skyscrapers that was New York City, still kicking even after the devastation of the Satellite Wars. Mumbai, Baghdad, Lagos, Mogadishu, Guadalajara, Rio De Janeiro, Berlin. How I drank in all the beauty and magnificent history and culture of the world, and was all the fuller a person for it. These and so many more.
I thought of the honey farmer I met by the Saigon River; how Châu Được's family had kept the traditional job going for so long, and divinely sweet their harvest was they shared with me. I thought of Dari Qazi, how the humble Afghani-borne man had found himself at the forefront of a secular revolution in Pakistan, reaching unrivaled progress not seen since the 1980's. I remembered the ambitious young woman in Monterrey, Mexico, who talked to me of her dreams to build spaceships for the Diaspora program, how she wished dearly she could leave a mark on history, and how now her name was on the finest rockets of the age.
All gone. Dust on the wind. Atomized debris now. Their homes, their families, their history gone, according to reports of which cities have evaporated to bedrock.
Thousands of years of history, erased in moments by antimatter over Rome. Los Angeles was reduced to the basin it was built on those long years ago in America. Cape Town's hard fought for progress from humble beginnings to the most populous and prosperous city in all of Africa, wiped from the record in an instant. Seven-hundred and eighty million dead in the span of an hour.
All those years spent, traveling around the world, drinking in the sights, to know they will never return. To know they are gone and buried, snuffed out by a bloody cruel universe, filled with utterly contemptible aliens. A deep voice spoke inside me on a loop, constantly asking an enraging question.
"Did it all mean nothing to you, Dorian?"
There was only one answer I considered giving to that accusation. To the monsters that took so many lives and homes from humanity, merely for having the gall to eat differently. What answered back blistered with hatred, yet kept frigidly focused.
"It meant everything to me."
Something clicked inside; the Federation wouldn't get away with this. We deserved justice. I rustled through my desk drawers, looking for old contacts from my political days. The stacks of papers on my desk could wait, this was more important. I needed to make some calls. Humanity deserved better, and I knew just how we could get it. But it would require a far more coordinated effort than just me. No, it needed a movement.
The galaxy will hear us. One way or another, we deserve justice. And we have just the circumstances to deliver it...
Memory transcription subject: Governor Tarva of the Venlil Republic
Date [standardized human time]: October 22, 2136
"-the sting of these days will someday pass. Maybe not in the near future, maybe not even in our lifetime, but we will one day no longer feel his pain, this suffering. Until that day comes, we will not go gently into that dark night, we will live on, mourn our dead, defend those still living, and make humanity known to the galaxy that it will not roll over when faced with such hostility. To those who support us even now, I thank you deeply to the core, and ask for a moment of silence to those lost both above and on Earth...to those who would stand with the Federation, who did so cruelly act upon us, we urge you to reconsider, and turn away, for we bring not a olive branch, but a sword. Those species governments that did this will not get away with this, and those who stood aside and watched...either choose a side, or be labeled on one for your inaction. Thank you."
Meier finished his speech with that, and some applause was heard from human refugees amidst the crowd, but a majority remained mostly quiet, in remembrance of the lives lost. A good majority of the dignitaries from the Federation neutral races had already left by this point, so the pointed message at the end likely missed them personally, even if they listen in later. It was a good speech, but it felt...infused with something that was clearly not Meier's normal calm. It was like seeing a side I had never seen with him before, not rant-angry, but mad nevertheless, hidden behind a veneer of diplomatic politeness.
Noah put it in terms I thought best as Meier walked off stage. "You're a bit more of a firebrand than I thought Meier, but nevertheless a good speech! I'm glad you tied in what advice I could give for the refugees here so smoothly."
Meier smiled at that, a cathartic smile that spoke of being proud of what he delivered just a moment ago. I could only imagine he was aching with tension over the pain of so much loss of life, it was only fair that he be angry at the galaxy at large for it, and make it heard.
"Thank you, Noah. I sincerely mean every word of it. The Federation must not escape scot-free for what they have done, and already now at home we're preparing to bring the fight back to them." He looked at me. "We'll...obviously not go as far as the Federation did, but I speak for everyone in that humanity is not happy, and it shows. Even the refugees that came here looking a mere instant from giving up seem a bit resolved now to that goal. I just wish more were on our side to start...I never wanted war, but the galaxy's forcing it."
"I'm so sorry, Meier. My deepest sympathies for how the galaxy has treated you and yours. Despite the hiccups recently, I guarantee we'll still remain close allies; humanity deserves nothing less."
The remainder of the species in the remembrance assembly started to funnel out; it was mostly just humans and Venlil at this point, but a few stuck around. The Yotul ambassador, Laulo, was an obvious one amongst the stragglers, clearly meaning to talk with Meier and us further. As the room became more and more empty he walked over to us once again.
"Meier! Your speech was wonderful, full of spice and vigor, yet calming all the same. It was like a call to arms while smoking spiritwood. The Federation stragglers hopefully will reconsider!"
I felt a little weirded out by his choice of focus in the speech on The Federation, rather than humanity, but I responded in Meier's stead positively: "Yes, Meier's an expert in political and social matters. Anyways, what did you want? You seem to be just hanging around, waiting for a moment here."
"Ah...yes, about that..." Ambassador Laulo nervously tugged at his uniform. "I was sent here initially just in good faith for humanity, as we knew what it must've felt like for the Federation to bully you so immensely. But this second visit, to the gala itself...we actually want to propose something to Humanity and the Venlil, but I wanted to wait for Federation sympathizing eyes and ears to be far away from here first."
He looked somewhat desperate, but resolved. "We're planning on breaking off from the Federation. Their influence on our planet is awful, given what they've done to us during the uplift. They seek to repress our culture, they constantly call us backward, and primitive, hardly capable of thinking for our own in this galaxy. We're tired of it, but we still are partially relying on their technological development to get to this point, and we don't have a proper fleet made. Your space is closest to ours, and we hoped-"
Meier finished "-that'd we begin our war fronting towards Leirn first? Free your people from the Federation? I'll gladly bring it up with our military advisors. You helped us, we help you back."
Laulo sighed in relief at that, a huge weight taken off their shoulders. "T-thank you. Thank you so much for this. Leirn has sought to be free of their grasp ever since we learned their intentions were not pure. You've been the first species to actually care to some degree, and were our only hope out of this mess."
"Don't thank us just yet. If you'd like to get in contact with our military, I can set you up with some Generals and your government as a liason for the war. You can coordinate anything on your side of the bargain to us through them, and make this smoother." Meier handed him a card, and waved over a human attendant of his to Laulo. She talked with him as the two walked away, and Meier remained.
Noah turned to me, a warm hand scruffing my fur. "I know the state of things doesn't look too great, love, but it could be so much worse. We'll make due with what we can get, and hopefully the galaxy will be a better place for it. Don't worry, all will be well someday."
I believed him. Who wouldn't believe in humanity?
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Hey hey y’all, so I am healing SIBO dominant gasses for both, and currently have bad gastritis healing as well.
So I am killing with - Grape seed extract - GI Mixrob X designed for health
I tried antibiotics - hence it created gastritis
And I am feeling it killing it off ever day and when I take it with them I feel it killing with burning.
What else can I do to heal the gastritis while healing sibo. I do Sucralfate and DGL licorice for healing gastritis. Done this for over a year.
I take also BPC-157 with PEA. It helps to heal the stomach
I eat a higher carb diet and i feel it killing off the bacteria. I have tried low carb before and it laid them dormant. Everyone’s different
I ate strictly, oatmeal with a bucket ton of Peanut butter a day, sweet and normal potatoes with chicken, turkey and lobster for 8 months with little to no improvement and still do the same but I am now basically eating a lot more just nothing with grease or fried foods, No red meat(Alfagal)
I’ve changed up diet to see if anything acts different and it does not it all produces gas.
What else should I do to kill faster, I’ve been dealing with this off and on for about almost 2 years
I burp literally constantly forcing it out so it doesn’t build up. I have an artery issue which will make me pass out if there’s too much gas build up😂😂 life’s wack with all of this.
Drinking water = burping because it forcing the air around I guess

Hey, Im Daniel and im 22. September 2023 i was 120kg(264 pounds), And this is the story of how i went from 120kg(39.6% bf) to 76kg(19.8% bf) in only 4 months.
My routine used to be, wake up, gaming for 18h straight, 2L Coca Cola and eating shit everyday, till i saw a Brazillian guy on youtube, his youtube channel is called "Space Today", And he started a project with some other professional bodybuilder youtubers, he started at 180kg and i was like "huh, if he can do it, why wouldn't i be able to? he's starting line is way above mine." so i went to my local gym, took some nutricionism advices online for better understanding of food, and used some apps like Myfitnesspal or Fatsecret, to know how many calories each food had, bought a scale to weight my food 1 by 1 and did everything perfectly. I used to workout like a madman, my new routine was, wake up at 7 a.m, fasting, go to gym and do cardio, and then muscle training, I was eating 1300 calories a day and my total expenditure was like 3000/3400, that in the beggining.
A few months go by, and i started to get heated up on things, started working out 2 times a day, 1h 30m cardio in the morning, 1h 30m muscle workout at noon, every single day, i was greedy, i wanted it, i trained like it was my last day on earth, heavy training at that, 20km running every day, 140kg squat, 400kg leg press, 100kg bench, i was pretty satisfied with my numbers with only 3 to 4 months of training. One day i looked at the mirror and i could the infamous 6 pack starting to get form, imagine, took me 21 years to get 120kg and only 4 months to get lean, pretty good huh? So, i kept increasing weights, at this point (by my 3rd month) i was eating 1800kcal already cuz i thought i was spending way too much and giving in way too little, but i didnt wanted to exagerate. It reached a point i was training 6 days a week, and only sunday off because the gym was closed on that day, so i would go in the park near my house and start running.
By the end of January, i was running my usual 20 to 25km daily, when i suddenly felt something wrong, it wasnt just muscle pain on my legs that i felt, i stopped the treadmill and looked down confused, it was hurting like hell but i didnt care, just felt like it was a bad day and went home, prepared for afternoon workout and went to the gym, walking with a lot of pain but i couldnt afford to care. Kept doing my workout as usual day by day but with a lot of pain, till one day i was in the treadmill, and i had to stop by the kilometer 2 or 3 because of extreme pain, i couldnt run anymore, so i kept walking on the treadmill, like i said before, i didnt care at all about pain, people used to look at me, i was smiling while running and at the same time looking like i was about to just drop on the floor dying, you dont know the feeling of being depleted of energy but keep going at it till you try it... But in this day in specific it was different, i couldnt run anymore, nor walk, nor nothing, i seated in the treadmill and when i tried to get back up i couldnt, it was pain in the lowerback(lumbar) radiating to the legs, i felt that everyday specially on leg days, but never at this level of pain, this time i couldnt get up at all, so my friend called the PT'S and they decided to call an ambulance. i did a TAC analysis in the hospital, and they discovered degenerative herniated disk and several damaged sciatic nerves. I'm that type of guy that doesnt cry for anything, but I started crying when they told me i couldnt work out anymore and that i would need a cirurgy to replace the damaged disks...
You dont know what it is until it happens to you... Its so frustrating, in the start, you do it because you need to do it in order to lose fat, but when you start to see progress, you start to have fun with it, it stops being an obligation and starts being a fun hobby. They use to say that "in your highest times is when the devil comes for you", and i felt exactly that, in a moment, i was happy for the first time in life with my self and my body, and 1 minute later i had nothing.
Sorry for the big text, all this to say, its not worth it guys, take it slow, do a diet where you do a decent deficit, cutting 500kcal is okay, its not worth it going under 2000kcal, you dont need to cut half your calories, your body needs nutrients in order to function properly, Think of your body like a car, it needs gasoline to keep going, but it also needs oil, and manuntention, etc. I felt a lot of times out of strenght, i just kept going because in my mind was some David Goggins type of shit, "Do or die", "Imagine if this weight was a car and your mom's below it, push it or she'll get crushed" type of mentality you know? But what for? The best advice i can give you is, loosing weight is extremely easy, like i said, 21 years to get to 120 and 4 months to get back to 76, and if i had done it safely, probably could've achieved close to that number, like 85 or 80, with an even better physique, cuz will all this cardio training i lost tons of muscle mass. Remember, your body needs to rest, its not a machine, the world wont end tomorrow, you have plenty of time no matter your age, forget about being meso, meta or endomorph, everyone can do it, just change your habits little by little, and when it comes to food you dont need to change it at all, just control your portions, inform yourself with useful data. There are a lot of fake influencers but, also good ones like Dr.Mike or Paul Revelia or Lee Lem, they give plenty of healthy advices for free on how to achieve your ideal body % and realistic time to get it.
Thank you for having patience to read through all this. If i could go back in time, i would've done everything differently, being greedy was my biggest mistake, but if you are fat right now, i know you understand what were my thoughts, i just wanted to get rid of all that fat. In the end, it wasn't worth it guys. Stay safe!

Alright so If you're on the hunt for a natural alternative to Ozempic for weight management, Ozemra offers an interesting option. From my perspective, it's got a strong focus on boosting metabolism and controlling appetite (especially with its glucomannan and chromium), which are key for shedding pounds.
But while it sounds promising, its effectiveness can vary depending on individual factors like your diet, lifestyle, and how your body specifically reacts to its ingredients.
Overall, I’d rate it at 3.5 /5, with PhenQ beating it at 4/5, as better Ozempic alternative.
This post discusses all such potential Ozempic alternatives.
One issue is glucomannan is only at 200 mg in Ozemra, with more potent glucomannan based weight loss supplements use it in much higher quantities. Glucomannan like Berberine, is a potent appetite suppressant, Here I've listed out more glucomannan supps. worth checking out.
I have also compared Ozemra comprehensive with PhenQ and Serolean in my review.
However, none of these supplements – PhenQ, Ozemra, Serolean contain Berberine, which is recently most talked about ingredient as natural Ozempic alternative.
While PhenQ mimics berberine with the use of a strong Nopal cactus fiber, Ozemra does it with glucomannan.
If you’re sepcifically looking for best berberine for weight loss, I’d recommend a supplement by Dr. Sam Robbins - Blood Sugar Optimizer. I recommend reading this article on Berberine supplements.
Comparing Ozemra with Serolean and PhenQ, here's the lowdown: if you're someone who struggles mainly with emotional eating, binge-eating and stress-related cravings, Serolean might be more up your alley and suit you more.
It targets weight loss not just by suppressing hunger but also by improving your mood and reducing stress, increasing “serotonin levels” which can be a game-changer if these are your main stumbling blocks.
On the other hand, PhenQ could be a good fit if you're looking for an all-in-one weight loss supplement that targets weight loss from multiple angles. It not only helps with fat burning and appetite suppression like Nature’s Ozempic but also includes ingredients that help prevent fat production and improve mood and energy levels. This makes PhenQ a comprehensive solution, which might appeal to you if you want multiple benefits in one go.
In essence, Ozemra is a solid choice if you're primarily looking for a metabolic boost and appetite control without too many extras.
However, if your weight loss journey involves tackling mood fluctuations or if you need a more aggressive approach against fat accumulation, then PhenQ or Serolean might serve you better.

Intro

If you're diving into the overwhelming world of weight loss supplements, you might have stumbled upon Ozemra. This product is buzzing in forums and among fitness enthusiasts as a natural alternative to some of the heavier prescription options out there, like Ozempic.
In this post, I’ll break down everything about Ozemra—from what it is, how it claims to work, to the critical take on whether it's as good as it sounds or just another bottle on the crowded shelf.
As someone always on the lookout for effective and safe ways to manage weight, I was intrigued but skeptical. I'll walk you through my unfiltered thoughts on Ozemra and its fat-burning stages, plus a deep dive into its ingredients.
What is Ozemra?
Ozemra pitches itself as a revolutionary, non-prescription aid for weight loss, prominently highlighting its natural composition. If you are like me, wary of side effects and long ingredient lists that sound like a chemistry exam, Ozemra’s approach might initially catch your eye. It boasts a formula packed with components like glucomannan, green tea extract, and other natural ingredients known for their health benefits.
However, let's not get ahead of ourselves. Each ingredient in Ozemra is supposed to support weight loss through different mechanisms. For example, glucomannan is a dietary fiber that helps you feel full longer, potentially cutting down your calorie intake. Green tea extract is celebrated for its metabolism-boosting and antioxidant properties.
While these ingredients are impressive on paper, the real question is about their concentration and synergy in the product. Just having them listed isn't enough; they need to be in effective doses to truly work, which many supplements often skimp on to cut costs.
How Ozemra Works: The 4-Stage Fat Burning System
If you're curious about how exactly Ozemra claims to tackle weight loss, they’ve laid out a 4-stage system, each targeting a different aspect of weight management. Here’s a rundown from a user perspective:

1. Stage 1: Appetite Suppression - The journey starts with controlling your hunger. This is where the glucomannan comes into play. It absorbs water and expands in your stomach, theoretically helping you eat less. From my experience, while it does help a bit, don’t expect miracles. You’ll still need to control your eating habits actively.
2. Stage 2: Metabolism Ignition - Next up, Ozemra claims to fire up your metabolism, helping you burn more calories at rest. Ingredients like green tea extract are supposed to boost this process. However, if you are someone who already struggles with caffeine sensitivity, the added natural stimulants might feel overwhelming rather than energizing.
3. Stage 3: Lipolysis Trigger - This phase focuses on breaking down fat. Here, substances like L-carnitine come into the mix, which in theory helps transport fats into cells to be burned for energy. People may notice a slight uptick in how they feel during workouts, possibly due to this, but it won't be the drastic fat loss promised.
4. Stage 4: Optimized Energy Utilization - Finally, Ozemra aims to ensure the energy from the fat being burned is efficiently used. It’s supposed to help you feel more energetic and less sluggish, even on a calorie deficit. While there's a mild boost, it's comparable to any decent B-vitamin complex.

Each stage of this system sounds great on paper, but in practice, the effects are more subtle than you might hope. If you’re looking for a dramatic change, Ozemra’s gradual improvements might feel underwhelming.
Plus, consistency is key; these pills alone won’t work wonders without proper diet and exercise.

What Should You Try? PhenQ vs Ozemra

Choosing between PhenQ and Ozemra depends largely on your specific weight loss goals, health condition, and preference for certain types of ingredients. Here’s a guide to help you decide:
PhenQ is best for you if:

• You are looking for a comprehensive weight loss solution. PhenQ’s variety of ingredients supports multiple aspects of weight loss, from fat burning to mood enhancement.
• You struggle with fatigue while dieting. The inclusion of B-vitamins and L-Carnitine helps convert fat to energy, combating the usual tiredness associated with calorie deficits.
• You need help with sugar and carbohydrate cravings. With ingredients like Chromium Picolinate and INNOSLIM, PhenQ is designed to reduce these cravings significantly.
• You are looking for an effective natural Ozempic alternative: Although NOT a direct replacement to Ozempic, PhenQ has some weight loss benefits with it.

Potential alternatives: If PhenQ seems too intense or if you have sensitivities to caffeine, consider looking at supplements that focus more on mood support and less on stimulants, such as those containing more adaptogens or fiber.
Ozemra is best for you if:

• You prefer a straightforward approach to weight management. Ozemra focuses on metabolism and appetite control without too many additional effects.
• You are sensitive to stronger stimulant effects. Even though Ozemra contains stimulants, it might be less intense than PhenQ due to the different formulations and concentrations.
• You are primarily concerned with metabolic enhancement. Ozemra's ingredients like caffeine and L-Carnitine are great for boosting metabolic rate.

Potential alternatives: If you find Ozemra too mild or are looking for something that also supports gut health or has anti-inflammatory properties, consider supplements that include probiotics or omega-3 fatty acids.
Both PhenQ and Ozemra offer unique benefits, so consider your personal health profile and weight loss goals carefully before choosing.

How I evaluate Ozemra?

Blood Sugar Regulation: 3/5 If you are looking for a natural supplement to help manage your blood sugar levels, Ozemra has some notable ingredients. The combination of chromium picolinate and chromium nicotinate glycinate in Ozemra is impressive, as chromium is known to enhance insulin sensitivity, which can stabilize blood sugar levels. However, I would say it doesn’t fully mimic the comprehensive glucose management effects of Ozempic. It provides a moderate benefit, suitable for mild cases or as a supplementary measure alongside a balanced diet.
Appetite Modulation: 3.5/5 When it comes to suppressing appetite, Ozemra is pretty promising. Ingredients like glucomannan and the dietary fiber from ingredients like cayenne pepper can help fill you up and decrease overall appetite. This mimics one of Ozempic's benefits, making it a decent natural alternative if you're looking to curb those hunger pangs effectively.
Metabolic Enhancement: 3/5 Ozemra includes ingredients like L-Carnitine and a significant amount of caffeine from the Phenterex Caffeine Anhydrous Complex, which can stimulate your metabolism. These ingredients are effective for boosting metabolic rate to some extent, but the effect may not be as significant as Ozempic’s indirect influence on metabolism through glucose management. Therefore, if enhancing metabolism is your main goal, Ozemra provides moderate support.
Energy Optimization: 4/5 If boosting your energy levels is crucial for your weight loss journey, Ozemra could be a beneficial supplement. The high levels of Vitamin B12 and the stimulating effects of caffeine anhydrous contribute significantly to energy optimization, helping increase physical activity and vitality. This aspect of Ozemra is quite effective, making it a good natural alternative to support energy levels, though with a more temporary effect compared to the sustained energy regulation one might see with Ozempic.
Weight Management Support: 3.5/5 When you're looking for a supplement that supports sustainable weight loss, Ozemra seems quite capable. The presence of L-Carnitine helps with fat metabolism, essentially aiding the body in burning fat for energy, and cayenne pepper can enhance fat oxidation. These ingredients, combined with the appetite-suppressing effects, make Ozemra a solid choice for those aiming to manage their weight naturally. However, it may not be as powerful as Ozempic, which has a more direct effect on weight loss through its influence on insulin.

Hi! I started taking inositol and nac everyday (wholesome story) for three weeks, and I have been incredibly strict with my diet and exercise regime. I do have some high blood sugar (prediabetic) and I started this as I kept having really bad time on metformin. I did, however, have a very hard time getting myself to switch to a low carb diet.
I noticed roughly a 7 lb weight gain since I started the supplement, and I think I have a theory. I was reading how inositol allows the glucose to more easily enter your blood, thus reducing the need for insulin and reducing insulin resistance. Could preexisting elevated blood sugar be the reason why many PCOS women see weight gain with the supplement? I know it can take months of dieting and exercise to really get your blood sugar down, and I wonder if I need to wait a while before introducing inositol back into my daily stack. Maybe if I keep taking it, paired with a low carb diet, the weight will eventually come back down?
I'm not a medical professional by any means, so if anyone has insight that would be greatly appreciated

Before we start, we have to exclude genetics and eating disorders. Some people are just born big/skinny bc their family is. Some people have real diagnoses which prevent them from gaining/losing weight. Lets exclude "time" for the sake of the argument bc they will hurt/benefit both sides. Losing weight no time to exercise/cook the food. Gaining weight no time to find/cook the food and no time to be stagnant to burn less calories.
This discussion is only talking self-discipline, motivation and free will.
That being said, losing weight. Exercising/ working out and just simply "moving" is free. We move all the time, just do it more. Volume eating is a good start. You can still enjoy a majority of your foods, just eat less of it and eat more "low-caloric" foods. I dont understand how its more difficult to lose weight when you are at a caloric deficit and burning calories. It take less energy to eat less.
Gaining weight is more difficult bc it takes more energy to eat. You have to find "high caloric" foods. Not all high-caloric foods are built the same. We all know fast-food chain restaurants are unhealthy so those aren't an option. Im talking about the high-caloric "healthy" foods which are more expensive than unhealthy foods. Also being in a caloric surplus while burning less energy is difficult bc we have to move, go to work, we are always moving/burning calories.
In addition, i live in the US. Standard American Diet (SAD). We are surrounded by unhealthy fast food which comes down to self- discipline. I understand its convenient but doesnt make it healthy.
In summary, losing weight is easier bc it takes less money to eat less and its free to move. Gaining weight is difficult bc it more money to buy more food and moving less makes you unproductive.
Edit: I literally said "This discussion is only talking self-discipline, motivation and free will." Meaning choices and decisions you make. You wouldn't eat poop right? So thats a choice on which you decide to consume.
Edit2: im very open to gaining weight if you haven't noticed. And ive dont the steps people have been saying the comments. Im going to delete the post if no one can change my view. I love eating btw.
Thanks for reading. Change my view.

Hey guys,
I'd just like to get some opinions on whether I'm kidding myself about how reasonable this is or not.
My partner is an actor. He is a lovely, gentle, genuinely kind human who I'm madly in love with (despite being a widower, who never thought she'd be going down this road again!)
When we met a few years go, he was on the most insanely restrictive diet you can imagine. It was just absurd. Yes, it was vegan, but it went beyond that. We never at out because he had a dietician to plan everything that went in his mouth. We had to carry around a small suitcase full of blenders with all his supplements and powders.
This was all because he was preparing for a role in a new series that required him to be shredded basically. He also suffers mental health issues, and found this kind of routine and training good for him.
It actually wasn't such a bad way to live! We just cooked at home, saved loads of money, and I never had to worry about being the "awkward vegan gf" because I do vegan Keto myself.
By the time they'd shot the first season, he was exhausted. Obviously, it was a totally unsustainable way to live. He got better when he started eating just regular vegan meals.
But now the show's been picked up for a few more seasons and part of his contract is that his appearance can't change, meaning, he has to be in that shape again for another 7 months while they shoot. He's decided he simply can't do it vegan, because they travel all over the world, and there are a lot of meals out / on the road. He says he thinks he'll burn out and the idea of doing it again is giving him panic attacks.
I understand that this is his dream, and I want to be supportive. But I also feel like, veganism isn't something you just "switch off" when it's inconvenient. I asked if he could find a cook / trainer through the production company but he already has one, who specialises in a different skillset he needs to learn.
I'm really confused. I don't expect anyone to stay vegan it's bad for their health. I can't help but feel like it's vanity, even though I know this is something he's worked his whole life to achieve, and is scared of losing it.
What do you think? Does it say something about him I should take as a red flag? Or accept that he isn't perfect and try and stick it out. I don't think I could ever watch him eat meat. But I also don't want to lose him, and understand this was a hard choice.
Edit to update and say:
Sometimes, this sub can be a really negative / unkind place. It's understandable, we deal with an emotional topic. But this has been great. Thank you all for your lovely advice, you wonderful, very wise, vegan friends!
You've helped me realise it's likely not about the veganism at all, and that it's a mental health issue. He's scared of going through that gruelling process again, and is clutching for something to make it easier. Giving up his values won't do that. I'm going to suggest a therapist, and a honest conversation with the makers of the show about ways they can help lessen the mental gymnastics of organising it all. He could very well quit veganism, and find it equally as bad for his mental health.

Disclaimer: I am Chinese and cannot speak or read Uyghur. Xinjiang is a vast land, and the online communication of residents is strictly controlled, so even people from different regions are unaware of the specific situation in other regions, and there are significant differences between different regions. I tried to cross validate using sources from different ethnic groups as much as possible, but my language definitely caused some bias in my sampling.
There is a long-term tense relation between local ethnic groups, especially between the Han and Uyghur ethnic groups. A local Han who sympathized with the Uyghur told me that his American friend who visited described it as "racial segregation, and it was spontaneous among people.".
Other ethnic minorities also have resentment towards Uyghur people due to Uyghur nationalism. They also suffered from repression, although not as severe as the Uyghurs. Some blame the government, while others blame the Uyghurs.
Local Han generally believe this is what Uyghurs deserve. Mainland Chinese are generally unaware of this matter due to censorship, but no hostility towards Uyghurs.
Not all, but there are definitely some events that meet the criteria for terrorist attacks. It also involves indiscriminate attacks on other ethnic minorities and Uyghur who do not agree with them.
CPC actually tries to conceal these events as much as possible. If it is really impossible to conceal, their public deaths are much less than what actually happened, whether the deceased were Han Chinese, attacked Uyghurs, or attackers. The public parts are due to the controversy caused by the discovery of large-scale detention.
What other separatists did was also concealed as much as possible. CPC seems to primarily aim to avoid resentment towards the Uyghurs as a whole among the majority of people in China, and pretend its rule is prosperous and unshakable.
A local Hui who have been hacked by terrorists before:

If officials claim nothing happened, means manything happened. If officials claim one or two people died, means a group of people have died. If officials claim thirty people died, means a village has disappeared.
Separatists and CCP went to war, and the people suffered.

Uyghurs mainly reside in the southern Xinjiang region and are mainly poor farmers. Most areas in southern Xinjiang are mainly Uyghur, although Han immigrants have appeared in urban areas in the past two decades. Before the crackdown, a rural Uyghur may have never seen any native Chinese speakers in their lifetime. When I visited there last year, most adult Uyghurs can't speak Chinese at all, and most who speak fluent Chinese are businessperson. I visited there with the company of a local Uyghur friend(abbreviated as T). Most of the repression was lifted in 2021, and what I saw was a mild version:

Small mosques are demolished or sealed off. The landmark mosques has been preserved, but locals dare not enter because it poses a risk of getting them into trouble. Inside are mainly tourists. All Arabic slogans have been covered or replaced with Uyghur versions. Halal symbols are prohibited. Some tourists are Uyghurs from northern Xinjiang. They have greater freedom. Locals are not allowed to wear Ḥijāb or grow large beards. Uyghur ethnic clothing without religious significance is also taboo. The stores sell them, but only for tourists. All cutting tools on the street are restricted to fixed objects with iron chains. Economic decline. Not many locals consume. During the period of severe repression, people had no income. Even civil servants are owed wages by the government due to financial constraints. Before 2017, schools almost exclusively taught Uyghur language, and local teachers were also Uyghurs who did not speak Chinese. Now it's almost pure Chinese. T is worried about the hidden camera when speaking. All taxis have prominent cameras. All polices are Uyghur. T claims that after 2021, who is visible on the streets is not police, but just security guard disguised. The real police are either undercover or hiding. All signs are bilingual or in Chinese. Simple Uyghur language signs are prohibited. Ethnicity can be distinguished by appearance. When others notice that we are a mixed ethnic team, they will be surprised.

The riots were mainly initiated by Uyghurs from rural areas in southern Xinjiang. This place has been subjected to the most severe repression.
The total population of Uyghurs is over 10 million. No one can be certain how many had entered the camp. They don't have an interconnected database for this. I read a local official privately claiming that perhaps 500,000 are a close number. When I mentioned that Western media claimed the number was one million, and T felt it was an underestimate. Another Uyghur from a northern city think this is an exaggeration.
As of now, Uyghurs, even if living in mainland China, dare not post too many opinions on these matters through online. Others lives Xinjiang cannot either. When they post content that the local government deems inappropriate, they may be knocked on and asked to delete their posts. This is highly unlikely to happen in other regions.
A local programmer told me, if the photos you take accidentally include any part of camps, when it is post online, it would disappear directly.
In the past few years, the density of Uyghur people visible in the inland has significantly increased. Young people from various ethnic groups in Xinjiang seem to be generally trying to leave Xinjiang due to limited freedom and insufficient income. Riots and repression have both led to loss of the Han population. A resident of Urumqi told me that the actual population here may only be half of what is recorded on paper. Xinjiang government is attempting to recruit Han Chinese from mainland China to settle down.
In mainland, when reside in hotels, Uyghurs will be registered by the police. Only specific qualified hotels are allowed to accept them. Several male Uyghurs said they may have been raided and inspected by the police at night.
Uyghurs have different opinions. I do know three Uyghurs clearly express that CPC's suppression is generally good, although they still complain. This includes T, whose father was once detained in a camp. I don't know the proportion of different opinions. The random Uyghurs themselves seem unclear about this too.
The camp seems to have different levels. My data point from Uyghur in rural area of southern Xinjiang and specifically, there was indeed a terrorist attack carried out by the residents from this town, so this is the most extreme situation. By T, camp and repression were described as:

In 2017, if you are an adult male and not in school or college, likely to enter a camp. This is about 80% of men. It almost came to an end after September 2019. Two thirds of them had returned. (The rest are mainly sentenced, with a few deaths) Pure torment. Later, the government was afraid of the West, and people gained meat in their diet and skill training. (about diet, I explain as the financial difficulties faced by the Xinjiang government. After the camps attracted international attention, they received more funding from the central government.)
Government know they just need to persuade the househead. Women and children will obey him. Many excuses be used to get you into the camp. Sometimes it's intentional to provoke you, and when conflicts occur, they tell you that your viewpoint is flawed (needs to be modified). They will inquire and analyze from neighbors what you have done before and recently. If you lie, they will find out. TBH, Han cadres are most rational. The main ones bullying us are Uyghur cadres.
Submissive people were released after one or two years. Disobedient people were sentenced to prison. Who completely disobeys had died. There are an average of 400 families in the village. They would receive seven or eight corpses from the camp. Those sentenced families have had difficult times. Only women and two children in the family, difficult to survive. Women are easily bullied, children do not obey her, wander around and do not help her with work. The villagers did nothing wrong. My father is not interested in religion. When he returned from the camp, he spoke Chinese more fluently than me. Outsiders recruiting locals for terrorist attacks, then they fled, and locals were retaliated against. Many people here are uneducated. They are easily deceived by outsiders (to create a terrorist attack/riot). This is brainwashing to prevent them from being deceived by outsiders. I hate those outsiders. They have caused many families to break down, and give us Uyghurs a bad reputation. Islam is good, distorted by these people. I dislike the local extremist religion before. I was not even allowed to sing.

He described the welfare policy:

The government has established new villages. You only need to pay a small fee to move over. Most of the expenses are subsidized by the government. They have carried out infrastructure construction. Our living environment has improved a lot. But the economy has not been developed, and our income has not increased. If your family is considered trustworthy, you may be helped to start a business in mainland. If someone is sentenced, their family will receive financial assistance.

He is a firsthand witness to the terrorist attack that occurred locally:

This has been reported as the death of thirty Hans. It's completely different. Terrorists intercepted the road and killed all Han trapped in the convoy. The Uyghur who resisted them were also killed. The actual number of deaths is over a thousand. I can't believe my childhood friends would kill people. The next day, the tank arrived at our village. All participants had been captured. The rest of us were frequently visited by cadres. Terrorists intercept convoys by chopping down trees. So the government forced the people to cut down the trees next to the road a few years ago.

Hello everybody. I have started taking saxenda in February and I managed to go up to the 3 mg dose. While on that dose, I lost around 5 kgs (around 11 pounds) while exercising and dieting. From the beginning, I felt a bit frustrated since I can see people lose much more on this medication, especially considering I have been taking it for 4 months. I have taken a 3 day break from it recently and gained back 2 kgs. Now I am taking it again starting back from 0.6. All of this to say… I am incredibly frustrated. I’ve never worked out so much in my life and I’ve never been so on point with my diet but I feel stuck, the weight is not only going down but going up!!! Have you had this experience? Do you have any advice? Any help would be very much appreciated. Thanks 💖💖💖💖