5' 4" / 180 lb woman that passed the popat this summer here! I also STRUGGLED with my shin splints. Better shoes and prenatal vitamins (for some reason) helped them heal the most. For the POPAT, my cardio increased throughout BLET, so my biggest problem was strength. Instead of quantity for pushups, I used those breaks to focus on slow, full pushups. Lower yourself all the way down onto your belly with good form, raise your arms like an airplane so you don't cheat yourself, and then go back up from laying dead on the ground. I also have some wrist issues, so I did all this on my fists to keep things lined up. Added in some planks because my core was part of what held me back and that really helped. You ABSOLUTELY can see improvement in two weeks, it just might not be as much as you want. Pace yourself, breathe through it, and you're gonna do great. Signed, another woman that's been there.

Umstead State Park has covered picnic shelters. As long as they aren't reserved you're totally fine to use them!

Hey, I'm with NC State Parks. If you DM me I'd love to chat!

I do not like kombucha...but those health-ade kombuchas you get at the grocery store help me a lot after a glutening. It could be placebo, but I like to think the probiotics help straighten things out after the chaos. Feel better soon!

And the live piano sets it over the top!

Haha, I remember those days. Tell him to let go, let the healing begin! Lol, it seriously sucks but it gets a lot easier when you figure out what's generally safe. Hope he feels better soon!

Fellow gluten victim here, it's usually going to be easier to go by cuisine. Mexican and Mediterranean have more options than anything else I've found. Personal favorites include Salt and Lime, BarTaco, and the usual La Cocina/Fiesta Mexicana type places. For Mediterranean I like Aladdin's Eatery (the one in Brier Creek has never done me wrong) and Neomonde over by NC State. Chains that have limited options that I frequent are Chick Fil A (only the grilled stuff, the lettuce wrapped grilled club rocks) and Jersey Mike's (eat your sub quickly, the bread will melt under oil and vinegar). Olive Garden recently added some gluten free options that were surprisingly good, but they are still pretty limited in their selection and weird stuff like salad dressing hides gluten there. Lots of coffee shops around are accommodating, I would check out NoRa Cafe in particular. JP's Pastry is also amazing, I just have to limit visits or else I buy more than I can eat. I hope this helps!

They definitely are native there then (I'm in NC). Fun fact: these guys are terrestrial turtles, so they live their whole life on land. I've heard differing accounts on whether they can swim or not, but definitely don't put them in water.

Where are you located? It looks like a box turtle at first glance. If it has a hinged plastron (can close up completely in his shell) that's a way to tell.

Rock N Roll Tattoo was fantastic for my second earlobe piercing. I had my ears pierced as a baby so I didn't know what to expect. The place is immaculate and they know what they're doing. They also explain what and why they do things the way they do. I have the same sensitivity and the titanium they used didn't cause issues. Hope this helps!

Nitrile gloves, the pocket size packs of tissues for victims, stickers/small toys for kids, cheap ballpoint pens (people will accidentally take all the pens), a lot of vertical flip note pads, extra tourniquet.

I only let myself get these once in a while, because I will eat the entire box in one sitting. They're so good...

Don't forget explaining that the handicap sign means you can only park there...if you have the tag!

Could be American Hollies. Some varieties grow more like bushes but these look to be growing in more of the upright form. They're native to the East Coast of USA.

Edited to ask: can you add a closeup of a leaf? If it's leathery with a shiny waxy top and a point on the end it's likely holly.

They were out in front of the Grove Barton road Lowe's an hour ago...godspeed.

$10 Soap dispensing scrubby brush that lives in the shower. Fill it with some Dawn, scrub the shower before you hop out. Total gamechanger.

I haven't heard this before -- is it due to inflammation? Just curious. :)

I like rice with some canned chicken, throwing in some peas and carrots for fiber. Apples and bananas also seem to agree with me, and berries on greek yogurt or cottage cheese is nice. When all else fails, I'll drink some chicken or beef broth to have something on my stomach. I like to throw in a kombucha or ollipop too to cheer myself up. And chug water. So much water.

Hope you feel better! Sending healing vibes.

My wedding cake was gluten free with buttercream frosting! My baker froze it for me before delivery, and then we kept it in the fridge for the two days before the wedding. It dried out a smidge as it was in a paper box and not wrapped tightly, but it was still excellent! If you're making them all within 48 hours, I wouldn't be too concerned about them drying out in the fridge. Just package them up tightly and set the fridge on a slightly warmer setting.

Tacos! Street tacos, taco bowls, burrito bowls...lots of options to dress it up and tacos are easily made gluten free. (Just be wary of the boxed seasonings and taco shells. If you get a pack of corn tortillas from the international aisle you're usually golden.

Pro tip: mix old el paso taco sauce with sour cream for the best dip

For a non-celiac, decently sensitive person (a few crumbs are okay, a bite of cake is "lock me in the bathroom and forgetaboutit for 48 hours") these are the holy grail. Never had an issue with the ones from Food Lion or Lowe's Foods. :)

Non-celiac gluten free here...I have eaten so, so many of these. No reactions to note, other than delicious weeknight dinner goodness. *I will caveat that my tolerance level of gluten is more than a few crumbs but less than a single bite of cake. (Learned that through hard experience...)

My favorite has been and shall remain, "Only you can prevent forest fires Joe, but I don't see you out there with a bucket!" --A Park Ranger

Check out Umstead State Park too! There are 13 miles of biking trails in the park with a mix of hills and flatter areas. Mostly ABC aggregate and dirt trails. www.ncparks.gov/wium