I'm also ectomorph, 24M, and this summer I almost replaced my water consumption by milk and drinking 0,5/1L of raw goat milk (I mix it with strawberry syrup it is delicious) daily, I've gained 2kg easily just adding that. I'm also doing weight lifting 2-3 times a week. I can also advise you to eat 1 spoon of raw honey at the end of each meal to spike your insulin and activate your "weight stock". Btw, I think Ray Peat was also in the same situation but when he began to take thyroid he could gain weight or not losing weight while eating less. I thought I was in the same situation but I checked my temperature waking up with a mercure thermometer this whole summer and was always at 97,7 degrees Fahrenheit

Thought I should post a brief update since this thread has gotten some more attention lately: The symptoms I was dealing with have greatly improved with some diet and lifestyle changes. I've reduced my zinc supplementation to a more standard 15mg a day, but I still feel 120mg/day was beneficial as a short-term loading dose. I do get plenty of copper and manganese in my diet from regular shellfish consumption, and I've started using molasses as well. If anyone is interested, the current stack I'm running is a standard B-complex, 300mg thiamine HCL, 8000IU vitamin D, Thorne's vitamin K formula, 15mg zinc citrate, and T3/T4, progesterone, pregnenolone, and DHEA rarely as needed

Fatty liver affects the livers ability to store glycogen which is necessary for blood sugar regulation. Also an unhealthy liver can impede on gluconeogenesis. Kinda recipe for blood sugar instability. Just keep nourishing yourself well and I’d always have carbs within a balance meal. Maybe too much coffee here.

@brad Thank you!

@Imprtr11 purple panda

@happyhanneke I tried a mag glycine version and actually slept amazing for the first time in forever. Worth a shot even if it was just a fluke

@madmac unrelated but what has been your experience with taking DHT?

@LucH Ok thanks I see

@idealabsrat glycine induces sleepiness taurine would be better in my opinion

taurine b complex zinc/copper/selenium/iodine coconut oil

Aspirin thins out the blood effecting Vitamin K, maybe try to supplement it if you aren’t already to thicken the blood

Backing up David's idea above there's a knowledgeable guy in my own circles who swears by NAC and Guaifenesin for similar symptoms. Though he does take NAC regularly. Speaking of NAC, checkout the following claim of it's anti-aging properties, scroll down till you see the list of substances: https://joshmitteldorf.scienceblog.com/2022/03/31/glynac-improves-biomarkers-in-humans-and-extends-lifespan-in-rodents/ Josh Mitteldorf got that info from here: https://genomics.senescence.info/drugs/browse.php#details-549

If no supplements are available to you during the week, just load up on Vit E and befotiamine (a more expensive analog of thiamine) during the weekends and try not to worry about deviating from your routine otherwise. I also recommend buying small cocktail umbrellas for the weekends. Try to chill out when you can.

Sounds like a stress response. You may have a lot of adrenaline going through you as a result of your workouts and--most likely--your new life stress and accompanying lack of sleep. You generally hang lower the more relaxed you are and the warmer you are. Recall how a flight-or-flight response causes your genitals to tighten or shrink as blood flow shifts to where it may be urgently needed. The first thing is to find a way to sleep well. The second order of business is to tackle the stressful item(s) in your life at a point in the day when you have the most energy (if possible). Addressing the stressful issue will help you get through the rest of the day with better confidence. Feelings matter: your voice seems weak because you feel weak. Do not let yourself feel humiliated by whatever is stressing you out. During the day, don't forget to keep hydrated. I find that bicarbonate and aspirin in the evening is a great help for winding down.

@Furball said in Lumbar stenosis/sciatica, herniated disc, nerve pain: I have a friend with a herniated disc and lumbar stenosis/sciatica pain. I'm wondering if there is any particular advice on how to reliably reduce the inflammation, in case the proposed allopathic/surgical solutions do not work. She has a 9mm herniated disc. Extremely debilitating pain and she often falls when walking due to the muscle weakness it causes. It has impacted her posture and she has a crooked stance. Does anyone have personal experiences, or does anyone have advice on topical solutions or supplements that could help? I'm desperate because she is in a lot of pain. She takes Progest-E, T3, epsom salt baths. What else could help other than basic supplementation and avoiding inflammatory foods? oral lidocaine, or something like that? Here's a video for your consideration: Bizarre Symptoms of Vitamin B1 Deficiency That You've Never Heard Before Thiamine is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. But it's the connection with the nervous system and nerve function that I think might be of primary interest here.