What is your workout routine with diet plan? My coach once said that both diet and workout are connected with each other to achieve fitness goals.
Everyone has posted some good ideas here... We're all different, so we all have to find what works for us.
I've had a huge issue with my weight - caused, primarily, by under active thyroid issues, but also by diet and exercise deficiencies, along with pre-diabetes.
I agree that Keto isn't a diet that most people can live with on a long term basis. The most recommended diet is, as Paxiled said - the Mediterranean Diet, which incorporates a lot fish, vegetables, fruit and whole grains.
Our bodies change over time, so what worked at one point in our lives, may not work at another point in our lives - that is certainly true for me. As specialmom said - I used to be very slim and active and if I gained a few pounds it was no big deal because it would come off easily. Once my thyroid malfunctioned, all bets were off because if hormones aren't balanced, nothing will work.
In your case, you could have developed a hormone imbalance or you could simply have hit a plateau... When we hit a plateau, we usually have to change things up and find something else that works. Eating the same food, doing the same exercise every day gets our body into a routine and if we don't challenge it, everything stays the same for us.
I suggest, first, that you make sure you haven't developed a health issue that causes weight gain/inability to lose (hypothyroidism, insulin resistance, etc). Keep in mind that some medications also cause weight gain. Once you determine that you have no health issues, make some changes to your routine to see if that helps. They don't have to be huge changes - small changes can make a big difference.
Hi, welcome to the forum! I hear ya. I was always active and slim and then I had kids close together in age, had a lot going on with them, got busy, gained weight. It also happens, I'm sad to say, rather easily as we get older. I think overhauling your diet is great. And I've found that while there are time tested things that work and this theory or that theory, and people who say don't count calories and other people that says do (I don't cut calories but know 'about' where things are and when I want to lose weight, going lower calorie while staying full helps me lose), etc. YOU seem to know what works for you. I would probably be a disaster on your plan because I just know myself too well and I can't be super specific and documented with things like trackers or apps. I set broader goals (exercise X amount of times a week and for at least this amount of time, cut out cookies and pop totally and limit sugar) and that works for me. I also can't have super complicated recipes. I see keto and I get all blurry in the brain.
One thing that does really help me and I heard it on from a doctor from NYU Langone (prestigious and usually pretty good docs there) is to cut out food in the evening. I do that after dinner. Then if I need a little something, I have a cup of hot tea. When I do this, it helps slim me down.
What we eat is such a huge part of weight loss. And exercise is in the helper role. Now, with kids and a husband gone, it's probably hard to find the time. But, important to do so. Online, Youtube, through your cable company, or dvd's you have a wide choice of classes. My Y where I have been known to work out has ZOOM exercise classes. What do you like to do? I found 'boot camp' classes that had a cardio component and a strength component going back and forth to be very effective. I also love Tabata work outs. You have specific sets that don't last long and you repeat three times to the chimes. Some like Zumba a lot. I got a mini trampoline for my kids a long time ago, I run in place on it or do pretend jump roping. take the kids for walk. Get some small hand weights for home.
Anyway, to me, it sounds like you are doing things right and the weight may be stubborn for a bit, start coming off, then plateau and then come all the way off. I also have to mention the sad reality. I lost all the weight I wanted and then some a few years ago. I had a physical and my doctor was so pleased. She said "now, here's the thing. Most people can't keep it off long term. To be true weight loss, it really needs to last for two years to be permanent. And our mind plays tricks on us. We'll be going along, catch ourselves eating ice cream and think 'why did I do that' and weight seems to go back on. So you have to maintain the weight loss for at least two years". Well, I didn't. I gained it back. Grrrr. So, lose and then get a long term plan on how to keep it off. :>)
Keto isn't one diet, so it doesn't really tell us much. It's also a fad diet that has no evidence it works long-term or that is is a healthy way to eat. You might consider, since it isn't working, trying to just eat a healthy balanced diet high on veggies and whole grains and well, you know what's good for you. And then increase exercise. Eating well works forever. Fad diets usually don't. What you want is to be not only a weight you like but also healthy for the long-term. Also, the notion of carbs is very misunderstood because of marketing masquerading as fact. The carbs to avoid are simple carbs such as white flour and sugar, but a healthy diet and one that is good for weight is mostly carbs. Veggies are carbs. Beans are part carbs. Whole grains are carbs. But these foods are where health comes from. Maybe time to go back to doing some research. Look at what's been termed the Mediterranean Diet, it's a rubric for what humans seem to do best eating long-term. Nothing fancy, no gimmicks. Just what we were all taught. Peace.