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Video4 minWith Nikkiey Stott

Gaining Weight on Keto After 40? What to Do Instead

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This video is part ofDiets, Fasting & Diet Culture133 lessons · where to start, common questions and more

In this video

You cut the carbs, pushed through the cravings and did keto by the book, and the scale still won't move, or it's going up. Nikkiey Stott explains why that happens to so many women over 40. In her view, as hormones and metabolism shift, a strict keto diet can stress your system and raise cortisol. On top of that, most women on keto are cutting carbs and calories at the same time and simply not eating enough.

She also points out that early keto results are often water weight, not lean muscle. Muscle is what keeps your metabolism working for you, and years of cycling through low fat, no fat, keto and paleo make it harder for your body to respond to any diet.

The fix she lays out is practical: track your macros, put protein first, lift weights, and keep cardio moderate instead of endless. This isn't about keto being bad. It's about finding what actually works for your body right now.

Key takeaways

  • Nikkiey explains that a strict keto diet can stress your system and raise cortisol, which she says shuts fat loss down, so stop blaming yourself.
  • Most women on keto cut carbs and calories at the same time and end up not eating enough, which Nikkiey says makes the body hold on to fat.
  • The right carbs in the right amounts help fuel muscle building and metabolism repair rather than working against you.
  • Early keto results are often water weight, so check whether you are actually gaining lean muscle.
  • No amount of avocado and bacon replaces strength training and protein for building muscle.
  • Start tracking your macros so you know how much protein, carbs and fat you are eating and can fuel your body correctly.
  • Put protein first, add weight training to your routine, and keep cardio moderate, since Nikkiey says endless cardio can raise cortisol and break down muscle.

Questions answered

Why am I gaining weight on keto after 40?

Nikkiey explains that as hormones and metabolism change, strict keto can stress your system and raise cortisol, which she says shuts fat loss down. She adds that most women on keto are also cutting calories and not eating enough, so the body holds on to fat.

Do women over 40 need carbs to lose fat?

In Nikkiey's view, carbs help fuel muscle building and metabolism repair. She says the right carbs in the right amounts are your ally, not your enemy.

Is the weight I lose at the start of keto real fat loss?

Nikkiey says keto might help you drop some water weight at first, but the bigger question is whether you are gaining lean muscle, because muscle is what helps your body burn more calories, even while you sleep.

What should I do instead of keto to lose fat after 40?

Track your macros so you know how much protein, carbs and fat you are eating, focus on protein first, and add weight training to your routine. Nikkiey also recommends keeping cardio moderate and focusing more on resistance training.

Is doing lots of cardio a good way to fix a keto plateau?

Nikkiey says endless cardio sessions can backfire by increasing cortisol and breaking down muscle. She recommends keeping cardio moderate and putting more focus on strength training.

Full transcript

Nikkiey: Today, we're diving into why keto might not be working for your body and what you can do instead to finally see results.

Guest: I think I tried Weight Watchers, I tried keto. They never really worked.

Guest: I also had eaten keto. Not eating correctly, following all the keto, low-carb issues.

Guest: I was definitely trying keto, low-carb, and just got to where I was gaining weight and nothing that I could do was stopping it.

Nikkiey: Let's talk about something uncomfortable but real: why you're still stuck and frustrated on keto. If you've been saying, "Why isn't this working for me?" or, "I'm doing everything right but the weight won't budge," this is for you.

I see it all the time. Feeling like keto is the only way to drop the pounds. Cut the carbs, push through the cravings, and hope for the best. But guess what? The scale doesn't care about hope. And here's the hard truth: keto might not be serving your body the way that you think it should.

I'm Nikkiey Stott and I created the WB4 Method, which has helped over 17,000 women get toned, fix their metabolisms, and feel stronger than ever while going through menopause, perimenopause, and all the challenges that come with getting older.

Here's the deal. As we age, our hormones change and our metabolism shifts. A strict keto diet can sometimes backfire because it can stress out your system. That's cortisol we're talking about. And when cortisol goes up, fat loss shuts down. It's science, not you. So stop blaming yourself.

Most women on keto aren't eating enough food. Yes, you heard me. You're cutting carbs. You're cutting calories. And guess what? Your body panics. It goes into starvation mode, holding on to every ounce of fat. Plus, we need carbs to fuel muscle building and metabolism repair. The right carbs in the right amounts are your ally, not your enemy.

Keto might help you drop some water weight at first, but are you actually gaining lean muscle? Because muscle is your metabolism's best friend. The more muscle you have, the more calories your body burns, even while you sleep. And let me tell you something: no amount of avocado and bacon will replace strength training and protein for building muscle.

Let me guess, you've been cycling through every diet since your 20s. Low fat, no fat, keto, paleo. Does that sound familiar? Yo-yo dieting breaks your metabolism over time, making it harder for your body to respond to any diet. What your body really needs is stability, balanced macros, and strength-based exercise to rebuild trust and functionality.

Now, let's talk about some solutions. If you want to stop spinning your wheels, here's the fix. Start tracking your macros. This helps you understand how much protein, carbs, and fats you're eating and ensures you're fueling your body correctly.

Focus on protein first. Your body needs it to build and repair muscle, especially as you age. Then incorporate weight training into your routine. Building muscle is the fastest way to boost your metabolism and burn fat, even while you're resting. Strength training should be your new best friend.

And stop doing excessive cardio. Endless cardio sessions can actually backfire by increasing cortisol and breaking down muscle. Keep cardio moderate and focus more on resistance training instead.

Listen, it's not about keto being bad. It's about finding what actually works for you and your unique body right now. If you're tired of guessing and you're ready to build strength, eat real food, and finally see results, let's get after it. Let's fix your metabolism. Let's build your muscle. And let's transform your life together.

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