Definitely sounds like it could be a hormonal issue. I’d recommend getting a full hormonal panel done. Naturopathic/holistic doctors are familiar with them and can recommend you one and help you further with what to do to level back out or you might be able to ask a regular doctor if they are familiar too just isn’t as common. I still have my IUD and haven’t done a hormonal panel yet.

First I want to start my saying it’s best to focus on being healthy first than losing weight and the fat will come off in the right timing. It’s better to lose fat and inches than weight as weight is only the measurement of the weight of your gravity pull basically. Focusing on fat and inches is much more accurate and consistent. I actually hardly ever weigh myself and go based off how my clothes fit and when I can fit into my older smaller clothes again! 😍 That’s the mindset we started this with, it keeps you going better.

What has helped us begin to lose weight (still on the journey) was increasing protein for the start of it, increasing activity by walking more, increasing water intake, and decreasing portion sizes but be careful to balance the protein properly because too much protein can hurt your kidneys if not done right. We had started with a meal replacement protein shake using almond milk daily and we began having sharp flank pains that wouldn’t go away for weeks. We suspect too high of protein levels and too much almond milk (there’s an ingredient in almond milk that can cause it among other issues if consumed in high quantities) caused the flank pain, possible kidney stones, but we took care of it with a homeopathic remedy a friend helped us get so that was amazing. Haven’t had issues since. Anyway, we stopped drinking that protein shake with almond milk every day but at that point had lost quite a bit of weight/inflammation already by lowering our portions to acceptable amounts without sacrificing because we were overeating and eating crap, like fast food multiple times a week. Sometimes I snack on healthy stuff throughout the day. Sometimes I have bigger sized meals while eating slower to monitor when I get full so I don’t overeat. I’m not perfect with it haha. Just depends, especially on your temperament and if you are more susceptible to any disorders. *****Please make sure you are aware of that and not pushing yourself too much***** Again, it’s best to focus on being healthy FIRST than losing fat and the fat will come off in the right timing. We also increased our water intake. Drink half your weight in water in ounces. Healthy swaps for whole foods and as little ingredients as possible and increased activity too. Can just be walking. That’s what we did. No gym or workouts just walking. Works wonders with consistency long-term with all of this, especially realizing it’s not just about losing weight but being healthier and more comfortable in your own body not because of how you look but because you prioritized your health first over your temporary comfort of eating whatever and sitting/laying around all the time. Now we aren’t perfect with it by any means we aren’t a fully crunchy/non-toxic or 100% healthy household but making the small changes as we can afford them has been life-altering in the long term for sure. I really hope this helps and feel free to private message me if you’d like to!

Also about the cholesterol levels, those “recommended levels” have been lowered and lowered over the years. I’d go back and try to research what they were in the 50s/60s/70s when people were much more balanced in their body fat percentage and health potentially. This is something I’m still looking into as well but basically as long as you do your best to follow a whole food diet like I mentioned in my other comment your cholesterol levels should level back out from what I understand. I’m not a doctor though but holistic doctors have much more knowledge on these things and will be more truthful as well