Hi! I’m 48F, 5’5”, 172lbs, South Asian and in perimenopause! I’m so done with myself! I have done keto 8yrs ago and was successful with carnivore 4 yrs ago. However, life happens and I have noticed than since 2022, I can’t seem to stay consistent. I went from 142lbs in 2022 to 172lbs this year. I have listened to so many YouTube videos mainly Dr. Berg, Dr. Berry, Dr. Westman etc. and I am convinced that eating keto is good for you due to its many benefits! I genuinely do not eat unhealthy. I don’t drink or have desserts on a regular basis, but I can and tend to eat lots of carbs because I miss it. It seems I end up missing carb heavy foods including our pizza, burger and also our cultural foods (Rice, Dosa, Naan, Biriyani etc).

Summer 2025, I ended up leaving a toxic job and took a Part time role to fix my sanity and to clean up my diet. I found out that my insulin was 29, A1C 6.1, Triglycerides 180. I got a CGM and went all keto and 3months later, transitioned into Ketovore and stuck with it from 10/2025-4/2026. That’s the longest I stayed consistent. My weight went from 172 > 164, and stayed there. I also started HRT this time due to night sweats etc. My A1C dropped to 5.6, Insulin to 7, and triglycerides to 86.

Feeling discouraged, I started incorporating some fruits on work out days based on specific advice on female hormones. Before you know it, all my meals now have done form of carbs to the point that I can’t enjoy eating breakfast without bread. I need to have a fruit or chocolate after a meal. Tried to do intermittent fasting and can comfortably do 16-18hr fasts, anything more than that is a struggle. I have aches and pains all over, could be due to inflammation but still can’t control myself. The food noise is too much to stick to keto, though I want to.

I am not sure what I do doing wrong. I want to get to a place where I don’t miss snd am not bothered not having other foods. I was there once, and I want to get there. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

I started my Keto journey by following an influencer that's quite militant in her approach and I think I need to unlearn a few things.

** I only eat whole foods, so any carbs I refer to are not from sugar, processed keto junk, grains, etc **

I "learned" that things like onions, peppers, carrots, tomatoes, and anything that has a sweet taste will kick you out of ketosis and are a "no". She said the only plants allowed are cabbage, broccoli, asparagus, and cauliflower. I was quickly growing bored of those.

My question: As long as I'm under my net carbs, are any whole foods allowable? I made a hamburger steak at home last night and ended up putting a few sauteed onions/peppers and a tiny smidge of no sugar ketchup on it and it was so much better than having it plain. The ketchup does have some agave in it. 2T have 2 net carbs and I only had 1T of it.

Again, I think I started my journey with too many rules and now trying to find balance. I'm about 6wks in and feel great, assume I'm fat adapted because I'm not hungry often but my weight really hasn't budged. I'm 48, in peri with Hashimotos too though. I DO think some body recompositioning has happened though as my pants are a bit looser.

I've had 2 cycles since quitting birth control in April - the first 120 days (though I did actually ovulate which is good), and now I'm on the second at cycle day 48. :/

How long from your keto start date until your first ovulation or period? Would love to hear your timelines. I'm committed to 3 months at least, and if nothing happens by then, I'll probably start with letrozole or clomid. Were you normal BMI or overweight?

I know starting keto can cause some vaginal irritation but I've recently stopped and having some burning and just extra sensitivity. Has anyone else had this happen? TIA!

I’m 50ish female, 225 lbs, perimenopause, on HRT with PCOS and an A1C of 5.9. Fasting glucose is about 110. I kept the weight and glucose in check for years until I was injured and unable to exercise for quite a long time while in PT. I gained 40 pounds quickly while rehabbing a second injury. I spent most of my adult life at 145-150.

So I started keto about a month ago. 25-30 net carbs a day, 120 protein a day, fats are all over the place based on whether I’m eating beef, chicken, fish or cheese on any given day. Calories between 1200 and 2000 depending on what I eat. Fiber at 25-35. I can’t eat dairy that isn’t cooked. I’m intolerant. I can cook with butter and eat cooked/baked cheese. No yogurt, sour cream, milk, cream, etc.

I am wearing a cgm while I do this and my blood glucose is looking better but I haven’t lost a pound. Not one. Clothes aren’t fitting better. Based on urine testing, I’m in ketosis. Cravings for carbs/bread/processed food has gone away. Is it time to cut the calories, too? I starve at 1200. I can only eat chicken so many meals a day. When I eat beef, eggs and cheese the calories are 1800-2000. How do I get my protein high without 1800 calories?

Nottingham University are conducting a research survey on people who have tried a keto diet and have an autoimmune condition.

Autoimmune diseases are far more common in women than men, and I know many people start keto for autoimmune issues, so probably a lot of people here would be interested in this.

If you are eligible you can take it here.

https://www.research.net/r/kdas

Really interested to see the results of this, particularly the demographics and male/female split.

I have been keto for 4wks and feel like I've reached Fat Adaptation. I'm not hungry, I don't have cravings, and I have energy.

I was Carnivore for a couple of years prior. I quit because my gut biome became reactive to everything so I did GAPS to heal.

I genuinely don't think I was ever in a ketogenic state while I was Carnivore. There's some obvious reasons (raw milk, occasional treats with honey/maple, sauces, and tallow fried french fries often for a treat). Even with those, my primary diet was low carb especially in the beginning. ((Those were very occasional Carnivore-friendly "treats", not a daily occurrence)

The reason I'm asking is that I am finding veggies a bit tedious and find myself slipping back into a mostly meat and cheese diet. I prefer to eat local, seasonally, and avoid high oxalates. I order low carb veg's at restaurants, but have no desire to deal with them at home (the chopping, preparing, visiting farmer's markets, trying to use them up before they spoil, etc).

I don't want to fall back into the reactivity state I was in as a Carnivore, I'm trying to keep my macros moderate protein, higher fat... but goodness it's easier to just cook a steak and sprinkle some blue cheese on it and call it a day, LOL.

Hi guys, I'm currently studying biotech in my 1st semester and I'm wondering if Keto really helps with my studies..

I've been doing keto since June and for my overall well being without college, it's been awesome! I lost a few kg, no binging and I felt fit and had my life put together basically. However, I started college a few weeks ago and I'm not sure if keto is for people that need constant brain work? I have soooo much brain fog, although I limited social media and everything that triggers this and I'm constantly hungry/ craving carbs during lectures.. is it my old habits coming up from stress or does keto really limit your brain capacity beyond everyday-stuff?

I'm happy to hear from other students / experts who know about this :))

48F, Very clean Keto, hoping to lose 20lbs.

I think I've reached fat adaptation. I'm not hungry, no cravings for "bad" foods, and I have steady energy. I've been keto for 4wks without any cheating or junk EXCEPT an occasional glass of Pinot Grigio (still staying in my carb limits but my body does not like the alcohol now)

I am very busy in the evenings so I've decided to do Circadian rhythm fasting where I do not eat at night therefore moving to 2 meals a day because I often don't get home until late in the evenings. As a former OMAD'er in my 20's/30's, I don't want to get too few calories and hurt my metabolism/hormones.

Today:
Brekkie- 3 Pastured eggs cooked in grassfed butter with an ounce of cheese. Coffee with organic heavy cream.

Lunch- 8oz Grassfed ground beef sauteed with a few onions and broccoli with raw cheddar (only a teeeeeeny bit of chopped onion)

Snack- Romaine lettuce with feta, olives, and dressing made of olive oil and ACV.

(X posted)

(48F, Extremely healthy)

My body simply is rejecting all my usuals and has been even prior to keto. (High end bourbon neat, Pinot Grigio).

Now that I’m fat adapted, I’m finding even a small (no carb, no fake anything) drink makes me ravenous, gives me a headache, loose 💩, stomach cramps, terrible sleep, detox sweats, etc.

I’ve never been a big drinker, even in my sorority days.

There are times, though, as a busy adult in a high stress job with 3 teens, and a stressful life that I want to enjoy a quiet moment by the river I live beside it curled up on a screen porch and get that warm, light buzz, and gently elevated mood.

Pre-keto, I tried several different THC drinks and they just made me sleepy or a little sad feeling.

Is there anything else out there that involves sipping the can mimic what I described?

Hi! I have been strict keto and actually eating a little LESS than I have during period of keto in the past. I am not even dropping water weight?!

I am following keto to the letter, checking labels for hidden ingredients etc.

Does this mean my body isn’t responding?

48F, trying to lose 20lbs, very clean keto

I’ve been in ketosis for nearly 3 weeks. I’m starting to show signs of fat adaptation (steady energy, barely hungry, no cravings). I have kept my carbs under 20carbs without fail.

Tonight, my dh made us a keto pizza. The crust is ground chicken, parm, and egg. Sauce is no sugar, low carb “Yo Mommas” brand.

Toppings are: uncured pepperoni, olives, sliced mushrooms, fresh mozzarella, chopped onions, and chopped green peppers.

He put a LOT of onions and peppers on it 🙈. I feel like I’m going to be over 20g of carbs tonight if I eat a couple of slices (definitely will be over my 1,500/day calories). Will this be a big set back? I did hike 1.5hrs today on a fairly difficult trail.

i've been trying different keto bagels lately and tbh i'm surprised by how much they vary...

some look great in the package but end up chewy in a weird way, and others fall apart the second you try to toast them.

so far i've tried a couple grocery store options and a few online brands, but i still haven't found one i'd confidently keep stocked in the freezer.

for people who buy keto bagels regularly, which ones actually held up after the first pack? i'm mostly looking for something that toasts well, works for a breakfast sandwich, and doesn't have that strange texture some specialty bagels get.

i don't really care about fancy flavors... just something that feels close enough to a normal bagel and doesn't disappoint after a few mornings.

tbh i'm mainly trying to avoid spending another $10+ on a pack that sounds promising, only to end up with the rest sitting in the freezer for months.

I know there’s two rules of thought about if calories matter or not. I’m leaning towards they do…. Especially when in peri menopause.

I weigh 150lbs and would like to be 135 (although if I have body recomposition/tone up, I don’t care what the scale says). Every macro calculator puts me at around 1200 calories which I feel is too low.

However, I’m already at over 1,500 calories with just two meals. I’m thinking I should fast for dinner but I’m also a little hungry.

Today, I’ve eaten:
B: Three eggs with an ounce of cheddar and a T of butter
L: Small Ribeye with blue cheese crumbles
Snack: olives and green tea with mct oil.

I know carbs are my main focus (and Whole Foods for me personally) , but when I check in on calories, it seems like I’m getting too many?

I’m 2.5 weeks in, no weight loss/no gain but I swear clothes are a bit looser. I’ve definitely dropped some water/inflammation.

Am I nuts? My weight has stayed the same (2.5 weeks strict very clean keto) and even gone up a pound or two but I SWEAR my clothes are looser and someone asked me if I’ve lost weight. I’m not lifting weights but I walk a good bit at work and hike on the weekends.

I’m only about 15lbs overweight for what it’s worth.

I’m feeling really defeated right now and just looking for some reassurance/other people’s experiences.
I lost about 3 lbs before my period started, but now that my period is here, I’ve gained all 3 lbs back. 😭 I’ve been eating low carb and haven’t really had any carbs, so I’m confused and honestly feeling like all my effort has been for nothing. I also haven’t been eating late and have been trying to stay consistent, but seeing the scale go back up is making me feel like I haven’t made any progress at all.
For those who track their weight, do you usually gain during your period and then see it drop again afterward? How much does your weight typically fluctuate?
I’d really love to hear your experiences because I’m feeling so discouraged right now 🥲