#debloat

Modern web browsers are increasingly focused on features beyond the core browsing experience, many of which just end up as distractions. Chrome gives you coupon codes while shopping. Microsoft Edge fills the New Tab page with clickbait garbage articles from MSN, and previously tried to sell you loans.

The generative AI era has made this even worse. Google's Gemini AI is now everywhere in Chrome, and the AI Search mode that told people to eat rocks and cook with glue is now prominently featured in the address bar. Edge also has countless Copilot AI integrations, and Firefox is getting an AI browsing mode. When these features aren't using cloud AI services, Chrome, Edge, and Firefox have their own local AI models that eat up system resources.

Call me old fashioned, but I want my web browser to be just be a browser. I don't want shopping integrations, or AI agents taking over my cursor, or local AI models running constantly in the background just to reshuffle my tabs. I shouldn't have to resort to Safari or half-working Firefox forks for that.

My solution is Just the Browser.

The prerequisite to this thread is being at a low bf%, optimally around around 8-12%. If you aren’t lean, what the fuck are you doing?Also be aware that you have reached a certain age, because if your too young you obv still have baby fat and debloating wont do as much as it will later. Be aware that during development cutting too hard will be contraproductive. Only proceed with this thread if you are aware of that. Debloating is one of the best techniques to drastically improve your looks, you’ll look as lean as you really are. This thread will cover real methods to stay chiseled.

There is a lot of BS out there when it comes to debloating, be it drinking more water to flush out the extra sodium. Keep in mind debloating is temporary, partially. You should never drain your body of water and electrolytes for extended periods. Prolonged dehydration is linked to health complications like chronic kidney disease.

The first question should be; What causes bloating?

The mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) is the primary mediator of the fluid, electrolyte and hemodynamic homeostasis of the body. It is part of the RAAS.

We can directly modify the body's fluid homeostasis by influencing the ligands of the MR. The primary endogenous agonist of the MR is aldosterone. Progesterone and cortisol both bind to the MR with similar affinity, though they appear to have low agonistic activity. This could be because progesterone is converted into inactive compounds and cortisol is deactivated by renal cells expressing 11β-HSD2, which converts it into cortisone.

Steroid users experience bloating primarily because of increased renin and angiotensin II levels, both of which are part of the RAAS, leading to an increase in aldosterone. High E2 levels also cause bloating, as estradiol increases angiotensinogen.

Insulin also causes bloating by activating the RAAS and reducing ANP.

There are plenty of other compounds that cause bloating including minoxidil. Fortunately, there is a solution to all of this.

First of all;How to permanently debloat

The great thing about modifying the MR pathway directly is that it is the holy grail for negating bloating from most of the compounds you use in your Looksmaxxing journey. There are several MR antagonists like Eplerenone, Spironolactone and Finerenone. They all vary in parameters like selectivity and effectiveness. Spironolactone is one of the least selective MR antagonists, meaning it has a non-negligible binding affinity to other receptors like the AR, PR and ER, making it one of the worst options. In fact, Spironolactone could be compared to anti-androgen treatment with cyproterone acetate. Eplerenone on the other hand was structurally derived from Spironolactone. It has a slightly weaker binding affinity to the MR but is more selective with only minimal binding affinity to other receptors, making it the best choice. Other MR antagonists like Finerenone are worth considering, but the best option would be to just stick with Eplerenone.Keep in mind to dyor.

Now for the fun part: Experiment with a dosage of 25-50mg first to check for drug tolerance. Increase that dose to a max. of 200-400mg depending on parameters like bloating and secondarily blood pressure. You can take Eplerenone long-term without any significant side effects except for disregulated electrolytes. Seriously, keep them in check. to permanently stay debloated take 100-400mg of Eplerenone depending on the severity of the water retention. Just be aware of potential electrolyte dysregulation and DYOR. To debloat temporarily consider using a loop diuretic like furosemide. The ideal dose would be between 40-80mg taken a few hours before the desired time window. Don’t forget that abuse of this compound can lead to serious side effects such as ototoxicity. The best time of the day to use Eplerenone is in the morning, when your aldosterone levels spike.

In fact, Eplerenone may even be a great addition to support your cardiovascular health, as it does the following: - Reduces coronary vascular inflammation and oxidative stress - Improves endothelial function, ventricular remodeling, norepinephrine uptake, and heart rate variability - Attenuates platelet aggregation

How to temporarily debloat

A stronger and temporary alternative to MR antagonists are the so called loop diuretics. They work by inhibiting sodium and chloride reabsorption in the kidneys, thus promoting the excretion of water and electrolytes. The most commonly used loop diuretic is furosemide. Keep in mind that dosages vary drastically between different diuretics. 40mg of furosemide is equivalent to 20mg of torsemide and 1mg of bumetanide. You should only use loop diuretics temporarily, as they may result in side effects like ototoxicity (loss of hearing). Also check for possible drug interactions.

Dosages for furosemide

Typical dosages of furosemide in studies range from 20 to 120mg. I would strictly advise against dosages above 120mg. Take the furosemide a few hours before the time window in which you want to be debloated. Also try to reduce your water and electrolyte intake throughout the day.

Conclusion

As someone who has dealt with chronic bloating for a lot of my life, here are some of my thoughts, observations, and recommendations. HUGE disclaimer: I am in no way an expert on this, a medical professional, nutritionist, or anything of the sort.

Especially for women, bloating can be a sign of gynecological issues (endometriosis, PCOS, hormone imbalances like estrogen dominance, and even a warning sign of ovarian cancer). So, if you experience constant bloating that doesn't get better with improved digestion, schedule an OB/GYN appointment ASAP to ensure that everything is okay on the women's health front.

Everyone's triggers are different, but for me, these are some of the common causes of bloating that I've noticed:

Lack of sleep

Stress

Eating too quickly or while stressed

Lack of movement/walking

Not drinking enough water

High-fat meals

Chewing gum

Carbonated drinks/alcohol

Here are some of my best tips, habits, and product recommendations to manage & minimize bloating:

Engage in a 1-minute diaphragmatic aka deep-belly breathing exercise in bed right after waking up and right before going to sleep (place one hand on the middle of your chest and the other in the central "hollow" area right below your rib cage)

Get at least 6-7 hours of sleep a night

Have a bowl of oatmeal (made with plain oats and water) with cinnamon and fruit every morning

Drink water before any coffee in the morning; Only having at most 16oz or one large mug of coffee before breakfast in the morning

Chew my food slowly, taking time between bites

Drink at least 8 large glasses of water daily

Take my Vitamin B12 and Vitamin D supplement daily (I love the Deva brand!)

Have avocados/use avocado oil as my primary fat source (I love nuts/nut butter, but they really bloat me, so find your trigger foods!); I've found a large salad with a romaine lettuce base, some veggies, avocado, and an ACV-based dressing works wonders to settle my stomach or steamed spinach with roasted root vegetables/potatoes

Use digestive enzymes when necessary (These digestive enzymes are my favorites!)

Take at least 30 minutes to walk/move around daily (Pilates, yoga, or bodyweight exercises also work)

Drink ginger tea or some herbal-based tea nightly (my long-time favorite is Bigelow Benefits Calm Stomach Ginger Peach Herbal Tea!)

Don't eat anything for at least 3 hours before bed

Ever wonder about that system working silently behind the scenes to help clear out waste and support your immunity? That's your lymphatic system! Think of it as your body's internal cleansing network, moving fluid (lymph) that contains waste products and immune cells.

Unlike your circulatory system which has the heart as a pump, the lymphatic system relies on muscle movement, breathing, and gravity to keep things flowing smoothly. When this flow becomes stagnant (due to inactivity, dehydration, stress, etc.), you might experience things like puffiness, sluggishness, brain fog, or feel more susceptible to colds.

Supporting your lymphatic drainage is a gentle way to encourage your body's natural detox processes and feel more vibrant. Here are 4 simple ways to activate lymphatic flow at home:

Deep Diaphragmatic Breathing:

How it Helps: The pumping action of deep belly breaths acts like a powerful internal massage for lymphatic vessels, especially deep in the torso.

How to Do It: Lie down comfortably. Place one hand on your chest, one on your belly. Inhale slowly through your nose, letting your belly rise (chest stays relatively still). Exhale slowly through your mouth. Repeat for 5-10 minutes daily.

Gentle Dry Brushing:

How it Helps: The light brushing motion on the skin can stimulate surface lymphatic vessels, encouraging movement towards lymph nodes.

How to Do It: Using a natural bristle brush, start at your feet and use long, gentle strokes upwards towards your heart. Brush your arms upwards towards your armpits. Always brush towards the center of your body/heart. Use light pressure – you're stimulating the skin, not scrubbing it! Do this before showering.

Simple Self-Massage (Neck & Collarbone):

How it Helps: Gently massaging key areas where lymph nodes cluster can help move stagnant fluid.

How to Do It: Using light, gentle pressure with your fingertips:

Stroke downwards along the sides of your neck, from behind the ears towards the collarbone.

Gently pump/press in the soft hollows just above your collarbones.

Repeat several times. Can be done with a light oil or lotion if preferred.

Movement & Rebounding:

How it Helps: Muscle contraction is crucial for moving lymph! Any form of movement helps. Rebounding (gentle bouncing on a mini-trampoline) is particularly effective due to the vertical motion and gravitational pull.

How to Do It: Go for a walk, stretch, do yoga, dance! Or, gently bounce on a rebounder (or even just bounce lightly on the balls of your feet) for a few minutes daily.

The difference in my face within the last two months of focusing on my gut and liver health.. :) I’ve noticed an increase in energy, clear skin, my bloat has gone way down, I’m happier. My goal isn’t weight loss anymore 🥲 it’s to heal my body from the inside out! I wouldn’t give all the difference to supplements, but some things I included into my daily regime were:

•Chlorophyll water

•Probiotics

•digestive enzymes

•green superfood powder

•Berberine

•fiber increase

•nutrient dense foods/quality, clean protein

•not skipping meals/depriving myself!!!

•organic milk thistle extract

•keeping up w my water intake