u/Outrageous-Fun1267

I’m 24F, 5’2”, and around 130 lbs. This is the highest I’ve ever weighed, and I feel completely stuck.
The frustrating part is that it feels like every approach to eating backfires.
If I count calories, I start feeling overly restricted.
If I eat intuitively, I end up eating way more than I actually need.
If I try to “eat healthy,” I usually end up under-eating during the day, then I’m starving at night, can’t sleep, and everything just falls apart.
I also have a history of an eating disorder (binging and purging). The one positive is that this is the longest I’ve gone without binging or purging, and I really don’t want to go back to that. My mental relationship with food is healthier than it’s been in a long time, but physically I feel worse than ever.
My goal isn’t to be super skinny. I just want to get leaner, build some muscle, look toned, and have a normal relationship with food. I don’t want my life to revolve around dieting forever.
The problem is I have no idea what “normal” eating even looks like anymore.
Dietitians and personal trainers are way outside my budget. I’m a full-time student and I work full-time, so I also don’t have hours every day to plan meals. Honestly, I’d be perfectly happy eating the same breakfast, lunch, and snacks every day if it meant I didn’t have to think about it, but I don’t even know what those meals should be.
Has anyone else been in a similar position, especially if you’re petite and have a history of disordered eating? What finally helped you? How did you figure out what to eat without constantly feeling restricted or out of control?

I’m 24F, 5’2”, about 135 lbs, and my DEXA scan said I’m around 32% body fat. I’m honestly just confused about what I should be doing.
I don’t know if my main goal should be losing weight, building muscle, or trying to do both at the same time. I’m not technically overweight, but I’m really unhappy with how my body looks and feels. This is the heaviest I’ve ever been. I used to stay around 122 to 125 lbs, and I know 10 lbs doesn’t sound like much, but on someone who’s 5’2”, it feels like a pretty noticeable difference. Most of that weight seems to be fat rather than muscle.
The problem is I have no idea where to start. I don’t really understand calorie deficits, how much protein I should be eating, what foods I should focus on, or what kind of workouts I should be doing. Right now I just have a pair of 10 lb dumbbells and a yoga mat at home, but I’m willing to put in the work if I have a solid plan.
It also feels like everything I’ve tried just isn’t working, or maybe I’m just not being consistent enough. I honestly don’t know which it is anymore, and it’s getting frustrating.
I also don’t have the money to hire a personal trainer or nutritionist, so I’m trying to figure this out on my own.
If you were in my position, what would you focus on first? Fat loss? Strength training? Both? I’d really appreciate any advice or resources that helped you when you were starting out.

Hi! So a little backstory: I (24F) have been relaxing my hair since I was 18. A little over a year ago I decided enough was enough and that it was time to embrace my natural hair. I recently cut it to a little bit above my shoulders to finally cut off all the straight hair. I can finally see my naturally curl pattern shining through and i love it, but now I'm just not sure exactly how to care for it and make it look the way I want. The things I'm struggling most with are 1. humidity. I will walk out of the house with my hair looking one way, and come home with it looking like a frizzy disaster. And 2. how to sleep with it so that it looks good in the morning. Thank you for everyone with your help!

Hey everyone. I’m 23F from Michigan and honestly I don’t know a single person IRL who’s into Psytrance, festivals, or really this whole scene in general. I’ve been getting deeper into Psytrance over the past few years and really want to start going to more events and festivals, but it would be nice to actually know people in the community instead of always doing everything solo. I’m mainly looking to meet people in Michigan/the Midwest, but I’d honestly be willing to travel internationally for the right events eventually. Psytrance culture seems way bigger outside the US and I’d love to experience that at some point. If anyone has festival recommendations, groups, or just wants to connect, feel free to comment or DM.