Random Thought Thread

bluemax_1 said:
Actually, there are several endurance athletes I’ve known, who are advocates of this; taking it prior to an event (and people have been doing it for quite some time apparently).

It’s not exactly a recent revelation. What was relatively recent, was the research into the mechanism of action. People used to think it had something to do with the electrolytes), but yes, you can take a shot prior to an event, and depending on the length/duration, periodically take another shot (or take one at intervals etc.).

As mentioned, you still want to take care of potential underlying causes of muscle cramping (eg. Endurance athletes used to have salt tablets, because they knew that water alone, would cause cramping from an electrolyte imbalance, and could even lead to death from hyponatremia. Nowadays, with so many electrolyte solutions available, no one really uses salt tablets anymore.
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Although I don't claim to know why it works ... I've used mustard several times through the years and it works great and fast.
 
bluemax_1 said:
Don’t know if you know/use the trick, but one of the ways to (temporarily) quell muscle cramps, is either pickle juice or mustard. A straight shot of plain vinegar will also work.

A bit of further explanation might help those who’ve never heard of, or used this trick.

1) it has absolutely nothing to do with the electrolytes/salts or any nutrients. It works way too fast (generally starts working within 60-seconds. Usually quells the cramp completely in under 5 minutes) for any kind of nutrient absorption to have an effect.

2) the mechanism of action is basically a neural/nervous system reset.

Regardless of what the underlying cause may be (dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, lactic acid buildup, medications, health issues etc.), when a muscle starts cramping, it’s because it’s receiving an indiscriminate nerve impulse to continually contract.

There are taste receptors towards the back of the tongue, for pungent flavors (eg. Bitter). When they’re subjected to a very strong bitter or pungent flavor, they sort of shock the nervous system, causing a reset, that stops those indiscriminate nerve impulses to contract the cramping muscle.

A simple way to envision this, is like a defibrillator. It isn’t used when someone flatlines (unlike what you see in movies lol). A defibrillator is used when someone’s heart is getting jumbled electrical signals that cause the heart to convulse in a manner that doesn’t effectively pump blood (fibrillation).

What a defibrillator actually does, is shock the heart into stopping, in the hopes that when it restarts on its own, it starts back up in a normal sinus rhythm. A defibrillator literally shocks the electrical system in the body to trigger a reset.

Pickle juice/mustard/vinegar work in a milder way to quell muscle cramps. This is also why you don’t want to gulp it as quickly as possible to not taste it. It NEEDS to trigger those taste receptors, to trigger the reset, so let the stuff stay on the back of the tongue for a second or two. Heck, swish it around if you feel like it.

It doesn’t take much. A shot glass of pickle juice, or somewhere around a tsp or tbsp of mustard.

If the underlying CAUSE of the cramping is still there, the cramps might return in an hour or two, but it gives you time to try to avoid that (eg. Drinking water if dehydrated. Preferably an electrolyte drink, as an electrolyte imbalance is a VERY common cause of cramping. Sweating out tons of salts but only replacing the water).

Interestingly enough, the reset can be done preemptively. If you feel that odd tingle, that tends to come before cramps, you can take a shot of the stuff to stop the cramps from happening.
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I’ve suffered from terrible cramps, mainly in my legs most of my life. Will wake up out of a dead sleep and hamstrings and calves cramping unbearably.

Interesting tip, I’ll have to try.

Next time it happens I’ll run for the pickle jar and be like……….
3347931239831426366.gif
 
Cwilliams563 said:
I’ve suffered from terrible cramps, mainly in my legs most of my life. Will wake up out of a dead sleep and hamstrings and calves cramping unbearably.

Interesting tip, I’ll have to try.

Next time it happens I’ll run for the pickle jar and be like……….
View attachment 2965541
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If you also experience random muscle cramping during waking hours, one easy method, is to EDC the packets of mustard from fast food restaurants.

Easy to carry, and a good serving size.
 
I'll add in another potential cure for cramping.... Magnesium.

Most people probably have sub-optimal levels of magnesium in their bodies and it's a common cause of cramping besides those mentioned above.

It's not always the case of course, but for situations like Cwilliams563 Cwilliams563 , I'd bet that magnesium will help. It's been a lifesaver for me at warding off those exact situations. It's not a quick fix (probably takes 30+ minutes to kick in), but if you get them regularly, start supplementing with magnesium and see if it doesn't alleviate the problem moving forward. It did for me.

Bonus is that magnesium does SO many useful things for the body and is known as a muscle relaxer. It's like calcium's counterpart.... Calcium helps contraction, magnesium helps relaxation. A bit oversimplified but for purposes of this conversation, good enough.

May even help Nathan the Machinist Nathan the Machinist back spasms.

I tend to prefer a good magnesium glycinate supplement. Take it split up throughout the day or before bed as it can be relaxing when you first start taking it. Just find the dose that works best for you (typically around 500mg/day for an average size make) and don't go crazy high with dosing at first as taking too much at once can give you the runs!
 
The Knife Life said:
I'll add in another potential cure for cramping.... Magnesium.

Most people probably have sub-optimal levels of magnesium in their bodies and it's a common cause of cramping besides those mentioned above.

It's not always the case of course, but for situations like Cwilliams563 Cwilliams563 , I'd bet that magnesium will help. It's been a lifesaver for me at warding off those exact situations. It's not a quick fix (probably takes 30+ minutes to kick in), but if you get them regularly, start supplementing with magnesium and see if it doesn't alleviate the problem moving forward. It did for me.

Bonus is that magnesium does SO many useful things for the body and is known as a muscle relaxer. It's like calcium's counterpart.... Calcium helps contraction, magnesium helps relaxation. A bit oversimplified but for purposes of this conversation, good enough.

May even help Nathan the Machinist Nathan the Machinist back spasms.

I tend to prefer a good magnesium glycinate supplement. Take it split up throughout the day or before bed as it can be relaxing when you first start taking it. Just find the dose that works best for you (typically around 500mg/day for an average size make) and don't go crazy high with dosing at first as taking too much at once can give you the runs!
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Definitely interesting stuff guys! Can’t believe I’ve never heard of the pickle juice/vinegar solution. Even with a routine of bananas, more salt, more electrolytes, and more hydration, I still cramp easily. I’ve always heard the “eat a banana or drink more water and electrolytes, but still doesn’t help my situation. I’ve had a couple heat related illnesses in the past, to where my entire body has cramped so bad I couldn’t do anything but lay there trying to relax. Legs cramp bad while swimming too.

When I used to workout, I actually stopped working out my hamstrings with leg curls for that reason, is I’d cramp so bad.

I’ll have to check out the Magnesium as well, but the instant trick of pickle juice remedy, would be amazing.
 
The Knife Life said:
I'll add in another potential cure for cramping.... Magnesium.

Most people probably have sub-optimal levels of magnesium in their bodies and it's a common cause of cramping besides those mentioned above.

It's not always the case of course, but for situations like Cwilliams563 Cwilliams563 , I'd bet that magnesium will help. It's been a lifesaver for me at warding off those exact situations. It's not a quick fix (probably takes 30+ minutes to kick in), but if you get them regularly, start supplementing with magnesium and see if it doesn't alleviate the problem moving forward. It did for me.

Bonus is that magnesium does SO many useful things for the body and is known as a muscle relaxer. It's like calcium's counterpart.... Calcium helps contraction, magnesium helps relaxation. A bit oversimplified but for purposes of this conversation, good enough.

May even help Nathan the Machinist Nathan the Machinist back spasms.

I tend to prefer a good magnesium glycinate supplement. Take it split up throughout the day or before bed as it can be relaxing when you first start taking it. Just find the dose that works best for you (typically around 500mg/day for an average size make) and don't go crazy high with dosing at first as taking too much at once can give you the runs!
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I was taking enough magnesium that my doctor looked at my blood results and was like, bro you're overdoing it.

It is difficult to predict how much magnesium you're going to absorb. The particulars of the supplement that you use and the way your body incorporates it, there's a enormous difference between the amount you take and the amount you absorb.

I now take a much more modest amount, and have been for years, it is built up to a healthy level
 
sgt1372 said:
I love buying knives but I hate selling them because it's so much easier to buy knives than sell them.

I just spent a few hours a day over the past week reorganizing & labeling the boxes & knives that I store in other boxes in my store room & I'm still not done yet. Initiated this project for my own benefit but also to make it easier for my executor/trustee to ID the knives that I've got in my collection.

Of course, I came across a few knives that I don't like &/or no longer have any interest in that I should sell but I dread the process required to sell them:

1) taking pics of them, including note now required on BF
2) pricing them based on what I paid for them & their current FMV (if I can find it)
3) drafting & posting a listing here on BF (and, if necessary on EB)
4) waiting for a prospective buyer, if any, & suffering the disappointment & wasted effort if there are none
5) enduring the haggling process w/prospective buyers over the price (if applicable)
6) packing the knife, labeling it & taking it to the PO for delivery if/when it's sold
7) enduring the wait to receive payment & the deduction of fees if it's thru EB &/or non PPFF transactions
8) filing a 1099 for any transactions on EB &/or PP for sales over $600

This is why I hate selling knives & why I still have so many in my collection. 😒

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So, I'm thinking of putting the knives that I targeted for sale back in their boxes & just forgetting about them because the $ I could recoup selling them is all but irrelevant to me.🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️

Frankly, for the lower priced knives (anything under $100). I'd rather just give them away for all the trouble involved in selling them.

Is it against forum rules to open a "giveaway" thread??? 🤔

Or should I "donate" the knives that I don't want to bother selling to a knife organization (assuming they're willing to accept them) & let them sell them to use the "profits" for their benefit? & taking the tax write off (if they're a legit tax exempt organization) for the donation?? 🤔 🤔

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PS:, there are currently over 460 knives in my collection & I'm currently only considering selling 5 of them.

PPS: The give-way/donation list down to 2 each priced well below $100 each. 3 left worth $100-300 going back into their boxes in storage for now.

Just not worth the time & effort for the $500 or so they they could net to try to sell them. 🤷‍♂️
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I gave a bunch of fixed blade to the local Boy Scouts. They weren’t interested in the folders
 
yoko said:
Has anyone else notice a lot more wasp and hornet activity lately?

There's been alot more flying around my backyard then I've ever seen before
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I noticed a hornet nest on my house this morning. So I blasted it was Raid while leaning out of the window.
Come the afternoon there are two burly looking wasps either eating what’s left or planning to move in.
So I blast them with Raid while leaning out of the window again, except this time the wind blew some of the spray back onto me.
😞
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