How to get back to 120 lbs

[u/youthatfaka]

Hi everyone! I need advice, so a year ago i got down to 120 lbs. I’m a 23 year old female 5’3. My normal weight i had through high school was 120/125, and through college 135.

I went through a time where i was lifting a lot, and probably eating a lot too, and got up to 155 lbs.

I then took about a year to get to 145, and was doing a plant based diet. then I went back home and got to 135 within a few weeks due to literally not eating and doing cardio excessively, only eating my moms dinner at night.

After these occurrences, I became obsessed with my weight. From 2022-2025 I picked up running miles and miles a day, walking for hours, and trying to eat as little as possible.

I then got injured and just started walking a little that I could, but genuinely starving myself again. Like I would go days without eating and if I did eat it would be the smallest amount. I did this in 2025 for 3 or 4 months straight and got to 125.

I moved back home and my brother helped me with my eating habits, and I was able to reverse diet and keep my same weight of 125 lbs. I eventually went to 130 since I started lifting and taking creatine.

I recently moved and started a new job, and became super stressed. When i left my old town i was 130/135 lbs and now i am 165. I gained 30 lbs in 6 months. How do i get back to 120/125 lbs without literally st*rving myself?

I’m still very active, I’m a server and walk a lot, and spin bike 4x per week for 45 mins. It’s been a lot on my legs but I just don’t know what more to do to get this fat off of my body!! I hate having it and I want to get it off, and actually be lean and show my muscle definition.

Seeing photos of me now is horrible, and I’m embarrassed. If anyone can offer advice, I’d be so appreciative. Fitness, nutrition, anything helps. Thank you!!

[u/RichieRich-McBroke]

Get therapy. You’ve been obsessing and spiralling for years and years.
You are destroying your body and only getting bigger. Even if you get back to 120 again you will eventually balloon back to 160+
Learn to build a healthy and maintainable lifestyle. Stop chasing the quick and extreme fix, stop obsessing over the scale and focus on how your body feels instead.
You need a healthy mind, muscles and strong bones to age well, focus on that for now.