My "Two Weeks Notice" From Life Issues

[deadp00l7217]

ButterBalls Journal

The title is kind of says it all and is kind of true. I would assume in about two weeks I'm going to be too busy to do almost anything on Gaia or even the internet. I don't really know this for certain but I would assume that it's true based on a few things.

As many of you know I'm not around Life Issues too much anymore and I'm not even really on Gaia anymore because of a few reasons. I'm just going to mention a few if you don't know already.

One of the main reasons for the past month or so: My Arms.
If you don't know about a month or two ago (when it was summer) my arms started hurting just because. I didn't really know what it was at first and I thought it would just go away, it didn't. I was watching a movie one night and my arm starting going numb for no reason and my arms were hurting like crazy, when they shouldn't have been. The next day or so I went to the doctor to see what was up and found out that I've been having muscle problems. No, it's not Carpal Tunnel, if you saw my signature about a month ago. My mom thought it was because I actually had a lot of signs leading to it. The spaces between my bones are big and doing just fine though. I do have muscle problems and I've always noticed it. I just never really thought anything of it. It would go away after a few seconds. Apparently, it's not a good thing and it's definitely not a good thing for my arms since they hurt. I've been on these pills for a while now, Naproxen, to help inflation in my arms. I had to wear a neck brace, I've been on steroids (low-dosage) and for a lot of that time I wasn't even allowed on the computer. It's been an up and down kind of ride. I've been able to go on the computer and then I'm not able to go on the computer. Which is why I was there some days and gone for almost a week without notice. Sorry about that to anyone that worried.

It's definitely opened up my eyes though in that physically bad things can happen if you go on the computer too much. One of the main reasons is because you're doing the same thing over and over. I think the main reason they said it was because of my backpack. I carry all my books in their and all my classes are required for college. Meaning, I have around: 5 books, 2 folders, 2 notebooks, a magazine, and other items most likely weighing in at over 50 pounds. So, it's probably true that kids are going to get back problems now-a-days. Learn from me, and take the embarrassment and just get a roller backpack or something.

Yes, I'm still on pills for my back and neck and I'm currently doing exercises everyday to help strengthen my muscles in those areas I think. I think they're working because it feels a lot better. Not to mention that I'm not really on the computer that much anymore.

School
With the new school year comes a lot of hard classes and more homework. I'm not going to say that junior year was a cinch but I think it was by far the easiest year I've had as far as homework and class work and everything, which is why I was on a lot more because I didn't have as much homework.

Well, this school year isn't exactly the case. I'm going to have harder classes and I'm going to get less sleep. Here's a rough outline of the classes:

1. Trigonometry
2. English 4P
3. Photography
4. Civics
5. Chemistry
6. Digital Design

With those classes I'm going to have a lot more homework and I'm just not going to have enough time to post and help everyone in the LI forum. It's been around a week of school right now and almost everyone knows that the first week is probably one of the easiest weeks. Well, I've already had about 2 hours of homework a day. Usually it was around 3 - 3 1/2.

So, you have about 24 hours in a day. I get roughly 7-8 hours a day. Which is 16 hours. Around 7 hours for school. 9 hours left. Then subtract about 3 hours for homework a day. 6 hours left.

Exercising
Since I go on the computer everyday I usually don't get that average daily exercise that you're supposed to need. Some quote like, "1/2 hour a day keeps the doctor away." Something like that, I don't know. So, yeah, I really, really, have to start exercising more and getting out and doing things more. It's not even really a matter of I don't want to because there's nothing to do. It's really a matter of health now. I don't really want to go into too much detail publicly about it but before I wouldn't exercise much little things that shouldn't be that hard, were (which doesn't seem like much but if you knew it would be). And one of the biggest issues with it right now is that when I wasn't exercising and such I could feel my heart beat. For example, you know when you work out and you ran a little harder than normal and you feel your heart racing kind of. That's what it was, except less intense. So, yeah, that's pretty bad I would imagine? Especially considering that now that I am exercising I don't feel that anymore. So, I would only assume that's bad.

But, hey, no worries to anyone that might. I'm doing things everyday to get better (Thomas, haha, my eye just swelled up. I swear man... I think you're right) with that and hopefully lose weight. I did lose weight a long time ago and then I put it back. I didn't exactly lose weight the "right" way.

I'm trying, trying, trying (sort of I guess) to lose weight the right way. I think one of the hardest things is saying no to foods that you shouldn't have. Because you don't really think it's a big deal but then you regret it around 5 minutes later. It's not as if I don't have self-control but I don't know. That's all I'm going to say on that.

With what I've been doing lately it takes a good hour to get the exercising over with. I do a thirty minute cardio (running, walking, jogging, maybe biking) and I do other stuff like sit-ups.

Joke threads, troll threads, flame threads, etc.
Well, with any forum the amount of threads like these will increase because the amount of users that go to the forum. I think it's getting increasingly worst as the days go by. No, I'm not blaming this on the administration, mods, helpers, or any other people that make the site more enjoyable to be at. I mean, if you think about it, it's really the user's fault because they make the threads. Just my opinion on the matter.

However, it's becoming an increasing problem and I've always kind of ignored it before because it wasn't that big of a deal. Some people are serious when they do it and some aren't (meaning some need help) and I always gave the person the benefit of the doubt. I don't really want to do that anymore because I really just don't have time to answer someone's thread who really doesn't need the help in the first place and along with that is doing it for his/her own personal pleasure in making someone do something they shouldn't have to do. It's really a waste of my time (not that it's precious) and I just really don't want to deal with it anymore.

I've actually heard a ratio of the amount of troll threads vs. real threads and someone said it was around 4:1. For every four troll threads there's a real thread. Now, even if it's close to something like that that means half my advice won't matter to the person. I've even confirmed it with a few people and they said that they would agree.

I think one of the biggest reasons is: My obligation to the forum.
For I would say a good year that I've been in the LI forum I thought it was my obligation to be there. It was an obligation to help people. It was an obligation to be there every-single-day (and I really mean everyday) and to post at least an hour or so everyday.

I think many of you know about this. I've brought it up to a lot of people and they've always told me that I didn't have to be here and even helping one person was enough. It wasn't like that for me though; I thought it was always an obligation that I help more and more and more people. It got really bad though for a lot of months that I was there.

It got bad because I'd do around 8 hours of helping in one day and think that wasn't enough helping. Probably helped a good 50 users just in those hours. I'd have to do more and more. I don't think I really ever satisfied that feeling that I wasn't doing enough. Maybe once I did, that's about it. I always felt that I had to be here more and more and more. Can't really explain it other than that.

Not many of you know this, though, and I never really told anyone, but what the hell. It got so bad that I would have to compete with other users. I'd have to get more threads than they would because I'd have to help more than them. Not really going to give out more than that. It's not like I was helping them only for that but it kind of got that bad.

But, now, I don't know why but I don't really feel that obligation anymore. I do sometimes but it's not as bad as it was before. It's kind of like the idea of "I paid my dews, so I'm done."

The gratification
This is probably the hardest one for me to put out here because I don't like being selfish or anything. However, work that's never thanked becomes tiring I think.

So, I mean, on an average week I'd probably help 200 people more or less depending on the week. That seems like a lot of people, maybe. Then you keep adding to it week after week after week after week.

Not to seem selfish at all, but the gratification that comes with it is just not enough. It never seems like people appreciate what I'm doing for them or for the forum. I know there are users that do but it never seems like it. I'd help thread after thread after thread after thread and get nothing form anyone. In a way I liked it but in another way I hated it. It left me with the sense that I could leave and no one would care to notice and worry (which was cool) but I hated it because I didn't think my efforts were appreciated. I still don't really know if they are today. I hear a user every once in a while but it never clicks in my mind. Kind of hard to explain.

I definitely know how people feel in the workplace now, however, they're getting paid. My work was purely volunteer. Maybe that's why, I don't know.

I think another big reason why I feel this way (maybe to clear up that I'm not trying to be angsty at all) is because most people could probably care less for what I have to say. 'Cause if you think about it: if I don't say anything, someone else is going to. So, why should my answer matter to them when they're just going to get someone else to clear the issue anyway?

A few comments I have referring to helping
It's always been fun to post in LI. Gaia Online has taught me a lot in life and I still am grateful for it everyday (despite other issues I have with it). It's taught me how to deal with people that agree and disagree with you. I've laughed from posts, I've helped in posts, got mad at posts, and a lot of other things. I think society as a whole has a real problem with assuming and being close-minded, I learned some to most of that from here. Most of this has been a learning experience for me really. I've learned a lot more about issues than I ever thought I would have. And more that I don't feel comfortable discussing.

What about the future?
In the future I'll probably have a lot more work and be here a lot less over time. I'm going into college next year, most likely, and with being a full-time student I'll have to get a job and everything. I've heard just balancing those for some people is really hard and I would imagine it would be. I really just honestly won't have time for Gaia and such.

In the recent future I'll try and be on as much as I can. I have a guild out now that some of you might know of and I'll be helping out and going in there a lot more rather than the forum itself. I can't really say how long I'll be in there each day but I'll try to get on there everyday and answer a few threads.

My new guild


It's kind of self-explanatory in the banner. If you'd like to join just fill out a "Request to join" form. Almost everyone is welcome to join.

Other comments
If you're still reading that obviously means you care to know. That or you skipped right to the bottom. However, through my time in LI I haven't given out a lot of information about myself for various reasons and I think it's worked well along with the "fact" that people don't make assumptions about me.

My avatar is female. I am not.

My age is Only 17. Matter of fact, my birthday was September 12th. It's very fulfilling to find out that people think you're a lot older than you are and more mature than you seem. Throughout the time that I was in LI I was just some other 16 year old. Geese, I remember someone thought I was over 30, good times.

Anyway, that's about it. I'm always willing to help someone just PM me about it and I'll try to help you as best as I can.

Just explains a few things.

And, two keep this relevant and on topic I'd like to ask a few questions about certain foods and home exercises.

About the food. I heard sandwhiches can be really bad for you because of all the carbs in them and I heard that cereal can be really fattening because of all the carbs. It kind of makes sense so I accepted it.

1) Are those foods really that bad for you? I mean, I knew chips and chocolate and such were really bad for you and a sandwich wasn't that great but is it really that fattening?

2) What could I eat instead of those? I really don't have time in the morning to whip up a full-course meal. I was thinking make some eggs every morning but that could take a long time. Sometimes I'm rushing out the door. We have fruits lying around that I could eat but what if those were gone?

3) By home exercises I mean easy-to-do exercises that can be done at home. Basic ones are sit-ups and push-ups. What else can I do that's not that time consuming that can be easily done? Something mainly for my quads? I was thinking squats but then my mom said it was hard on your legs.

4) What is the definition of full? Um, kind of embarrasing really to ask this because someone this age should probably know but better to ask now then when I'm thirty. Usually, my kind of full is when I finished a meal or my stomach starts to hurt a little.

5) And, how long do you think it's going to take for me to have a noticeable change. I've been doing this for kind of a while. I had to take a break. But I've been in full affect for a good 5-6 days. Been doing it for around a week. I know that it takes time to do these things but I just want a rough outline. Because it's discouraging when you see no change and your straining everyday to see improvement. I think it's around three weeks or something on average, but I'm not sure. I just want to know if what I'm doing is working.  

[deadp00l7217]

Tirion

Just to start it off, Happy B-Day man. Mine's coming up the 22nd and, as you wrote, I could have sworn you'd have been older than I am (going on 19).

It's really sad to see things getting it the way of you helping out here, but it's obvious that you have much more important things to deal with in your own life. I'm sure that the LI'ers around here will try to pick up the slack in your absense, even though it's gonna be tough not having you around. I really appreciate all that you've done for the Life Issues forum, and have wanted to ask you questions myself on occasions. Knowing this... I just might drop you a PM about something or other.

Now, onto your other subjects....

I don't have the site right now, but I'll edit the second I get home and post it up here. I found a free web-site that provides a bunch of excercise rountines for people that don't have weight sets or such. Pushups, situps, laterals, squats, and a few more.

Carbs aren't exactly bad. They are a very great source of energy, but the reason that they got a bad rap is because they turn into (If i'm remembering right) a very difficult to lose fat if you don't burn them off. If you are still worried about them though, make sure that you eat them in the morning so that you are fueled for the day. That's the reason why breakfast things are so high in carbs. You'll really want to cut down on them as you go further on in the day, while trying to cut them out as much as possible once it gets late.

Of course, eating some fruits/vegetables would be great for a quick breakfast, but as I stated before you'll -want- to have some carbs in the morning. Try bananas, they've got quite a few.

Don't eat until you are full, eat until you are satisfied. I used to, and still do on occasions, eat until my stomach hurts. You just want to eat until you are no longer hungery and maybe a little bit more. Also, spread your meals out over the day. Have healthy snacks during the day, because those help to speed up your metabolism.

Just trying to do things to boost my metabolism, I've managed to lose 20 pounds over the summer. While it might take longer/shorter for you, I strongly suggest trying it. (I'll edit this as well and throw up a link) Even now I'm trying to do more working out because I"m unhappy with my physical apperence, and I just want to be in shape. Anyways, from what I know when you work out you want to be able to feel the strain in your muscles after a bit. Like, for example, when you do a pushup... Go down as far as you can until you feel the muscles in your back working. When you're doing bicep curls (with a weight, tomato soup can, family cat), you'll want to flex your arm when you pull it up.

I'm hoping all of this helps yah out, Butters. Good Luck.

Thanks, I was going to post it sooner but the guilds were down and didn't really find a sufficient way of doing it. Yep, it's always cool to see that people are older than me. Kinda just goes to show you that you can't really judge by age.

Yeah, sure, PM me anytime you want and I'll try to get back as quick as I can. Eh, well, I think people are getting the wrong impression about my first post. I'm not exactly leaving or quitting LI/Gaia, per say. I'll just be more busy is probably putting it better. The title was just for emphasis really.

I really should get a suggest user thread so people can suggest users. Or users from this guild should advertise and maybe get people to join to keep it going. I don't know, it honestly doesn't seem like it would be different if I wasn't around but I guess it would be for some people.

Alright, I'll look forward to viewing the site.

Yeah, but that's exactly why I don't want to eat them or that's exactly what I'm trying to do in all this exercising. I'm trying to lose all the fat that I have on my bones and I want to lose it kind of fast. I at least want some results and then it'll be alright if I lose it slower and slower. So, then, I should really try and cut the carbs down? Would this be an alright day for eating: bowl of cereal, a sandwich, and a piece of chicken? And, if a sandwich really is that bad for you should I just take out the bread or?

Yes, but if carbs really are fat producing, that's exactly not what I want. I need to learn how to eat salad again. And, if I eat salad is that bad for you if you have dressing on it? I heard the dressing is very fattening? Oh, and I love bananas, they're my favorite fruit/vegetable by far.

Alright, so I definitely have to make the effort to learn how to cook "good" foods. Like corn and salads and such. Because I'm sure a salad is better than having chips? xd

Mmk. I kind of knew that I was eating too much every time. I just don't really know what I'm supposed to do because I'm so used to having three meals a day but what if I'm too full for a dinner? Do I just not eat or? I guess I wouldn't. But, what's the definition of being hungry then? Because like I said when I usually eat my stomach really isn't growling or anything. And what exactly is satisfied. I think I pretty much know what you mean. So, I definitely, definitely have to work on this "No" thing.

Hm. When I do the ab machine at the gym I usually feel the burn afterwards for a while. When I do sit-ups at my house I don't feel that after doing around 80 sit ups. I feel the burn doing them just not the after affect. I definitely feel the burn in my calves when I'm running. I feel it from the 6 minute point to the 22 minute point. I don't feel the burn in my quads tough. But I did that bike machine at the gym and holy crap it works. So, I'm assuming that means I should go on my bike everyday too. Because I really want the fat gone in my quads. Um, because yeah, they're really big. So, big that they rub up against each other when I run. It's the worst. I want that gone like really fast.

Again, my main thing is that I want to know if what I'm doing is going to work. Because just as a little note. I'm doing this going from no exercising and eating chips and chocolate and all this stuff. Thanks for your help too.