Hi i'm a newbie on this forum, my name is Andre MrAcoustat Sevigny i am 68 years young and decided to start stretching, i am retired so i don't have to worry about what they might say at my job, even if i wouldn't care anyways, i've had my left ear pierced over 50 years ago, before my first stretch i went to a pro tattoo shop to get the right information, on the piercer's recommendation my first stretch was 8g, after two weeks i went to 6g, after another two weeks i went to 4g, after one week i went to 2g, after another two weeks i went to 0g, big mistake this time i did not wait long enough and i ripped my ear, it was back to 2g for four weeks and as of today i am back to 0g, after this small adventure i will take a little more time between stretches, my goal was 00g,i have at least 20 pieces of jewelry size 00g BUT now decided to go for 1/2 inch and now i have 30 pieces of jewelry size 1/2, i know i know i'm not a patient man i live in Canada but ALL my jewelry was bought in California USA, much much cheaper, this is my stretching adventure hope that this can help others please take your time between stretches.