Keto for women over 40 — my 6 month results

Starting: 44, perimenopausal, 163 lbs at 5'5", metabolism felt broken after years of calorie counting that stopped working around 40.

6 months later: 141 lbs. 22 lbs gone, from exactly where I needed — belly and hips. Dress size from 14 to 10.

Unexpected benefits: hot flashes reduced by ~70%. Not exaggerating. Sleep quality dramatically improved. Brain fog I'd chalked up to aging was largely gone by month 2.

Challenges for 40+ female: results came slower (3-4 lbs/month). Weight fluctuated hormonally — up 3-4 lbs before period then drops. Had to weigh once a week not daily.

The hot flash reduction is something other perimenopausal keto women report too. Blood sugar fluctuations seem to trigger or worsen hot flashes — stabilizing blood sugar through keto reduces the hormonal chaos. I experienced the same by month 3.

Important for women reading this: the 40+ female keto experience is genuinely different. Weigh once a week, measure monthly, take progress photos. The scale will lie regularly but photos don't. Also — protein is more important after 40. Aim for 0.7-1g per pound of lean body mass.

I'm 38 and just starting — the success stories from 25-year-old men were not inspiring me. This is exactly what I needed. Sharing with my friend who is 47 and skeptical.