Periods stopped six months ago and I’ve put on a stone

[PigOnStiIts]

Just wondering if anybody knows how to deal with this.

I just can’t lose weight. Currently 11.5 stone, periods stopped in April and even though I am

age 50
eating Keto
under 1300 day
exercising about 12 hours a week

it’s not shifting, I just have a stone to lose really but nothing I do shifts it. Is this hormonal?

Yes it's hormonal in part.

Have you thought about the 5:2 diet? 600-800 cals for 2 days a week.

Keto is not considered healthy now - too much fat and zero /hardly any carbs.
Your body might respond better to a more balanced diet.
You also could be under eating and your body has gone into starvation mode, hanging onto weight.

I think it is hormonal, I've eaten low carb since 2020 (T2 diabetic partner) and I've really easily maintained weight for the first time in my life. I also do a kind of intermittent fasting as I don't eat breakfast until 11am ish most days.

I've been peri since I think 2016 but managed symptoms, from January things worsened, my cycle became much more erratic, anxiety and overwhelm went into overdrive and I could not manage my weight despite doing nothing different. It was creeping up.

I started HRT at the end of May, it's been life changing for me. I'm still tweaking levels but generally I feel masses better and can cope with life again so I'm reasonably close to a good balance.

I lost 3kg in the first week which was presumably fluid, I've then lost another 2.5kg without trying. I am more active as I feel better but it felt like my body was completely out of balance before and just wasn't working well.

I feel much better on low carb generally, I eat complex carbs and good fats, my cholesterol is "fabulous" (to quote my health assessment doctor!). My DH has put his T2 in remission and maintained that. I don't calorie count alongside low carb though. I find it difficult and unhelpful to count both carbs and calories.