Help! Menopause - my middle is getting thicker!

[Susan126]

Okay I went through menopause! I used to have a nice waist but now it's disappearing. Plus all my exercising is not helping me to lose this waist weight either. I do eat healthy. Well, I am a sugar junky. But I've tried cutting back a lot. Anyone out there have the secret to keeping their waists thin after menopause? I've heard yogurt is the elixir of waist reduction. I don't want to become my mom and aunts. All slim except their waists! No more zipper pants for them, everything elastic! :(

[sundial]

Don't you hate that? I noticed mine started filling out at 38. Blah! Since I started cycling hard and heavy everything has toned up well except for the middle. It's slow going but I might be able to get back down another size by Christmas, and I've been at it since last summer. :mad:

My gyne said that when people hit their 40's, their bodies go through as dramatic change as puberty. Ack!

Hang in there. You have company to share your frustrations. :)

[Veronica]

I'm almost 42. I've lost 3.5 inches off my waist since July when I began working with a trainer. We spend about 30 minutes twice a week targeting the abs. Then move on to some other body part for the next 30. That usually includes some stability work, which again engages the core muscles.

I've cut out a lot of sugar, mostly in what I drink, not what I eat.

I'm seeing the benefits of increased strength in everything else I do.

Veronica

[tulip]

I have not gone through that, but I've always had a thick waist. Pilates has done wonders for me.

[Crankin]

I've been in menopause for 6 years and I have not gained any weight. My abs are not as toned, but generally that is because I am not spending enough time working on the stuff that Veronica described. My waist is still small, but maybe an inch bigger.
I swear this year I will work on my core...
I do have to watch my food more. You can't be a sugar junkie. Not that I never have it, but it's rare. No soda, cookies, candy (except one piece of dark chocolate a day) or things with HFCS. I eat ice cream or dessert maybe twice a month or on other special occasions.
Weight training.

[violette]

I hit 40 this year, everyone says I'm too skinny, but I started to notice that I have "loose skin" around my waistline!! It's like I have a little spare tire. Makes me sick. I haven't changed anything in my eating habit or biking/running time.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

They say fitness walking gives you a small waist. Your torso vs. hips twist in a way that jogging doesn't do quite as much.
I can say that during the years I was waitressing in a very busy restaurant I had the most amazing tiny waist- and I sure was doing a lot of 'power walking'.

[lph]

You can tone muscles in particular parts of your body, but there's no way you can lose fat only in certain spots. No way, uh-uh, no matter how many situps you do or what those enthusiastic little twiggies in the ads say ;) You can reduce fat all over by exercising more or eating less, and when there's less fat in the way - ta-da - those lovely abs will start peeking through again.

I was born with a thick waist like all the women in my family, and I have to really be pretty fit and almost get quite skinny before I even get a waist. I can't wait til menopause... :rolleyes:

[Veronica]

Who said anything about losing fat in only certain spots? I only talked about the waist because that was the OP asked about.

I've lost inches all over with what I'm doing.

Veronica

[lph]

Nobody used those exact words, you certainly didn't, but it's a common misconception that some specific type of exercise will "give" you a smaller waist, or thinner thighs or whatever, when it has more to do with total fat reduction and where your body chooses to store fat.

[bmccasland]

Nobody used those exact words, you certainly didn't, but it's a common misconception that some specific type of exercise will "give" you a smaller waist, or thinner thighs or whatever, when it has more to do with total fat reduction and where your body chooses to store fat.

Don't forget the 6-pack abs... and buns of steel :D

My middle resembles more of drinking the 6-pack, and not just toting it around.

Ah, yes, menopause, slowing metabolisms, and all that, is such fun. I've told my doctor on more than one occasion that it isn't fair!

[Veronica]

Don't forget the 6-pack abs... and buns of steel :D



The 6 pack is real! I've got about a 4 pack now. ;) It kind of reminds me of a 4 pack of Red Bulls. And I'm pretty sure my metabolism has increased since what use to satisfy me at meal time leaves me still rather hungry now.

Veronica

[Elise]

Since I started Pilates, (on machines) I have noticed a nice improvement. I have been at it since January, it does take time but in my opinion it is wonderful for the core.

[Susan126]

I think I will incorporate walking three times a week along with my biking. I do need to do some weight bearing exercise. Kill two birds with one stone? Walk for waist and bones. I'll let you know if it helps.

Oh and I have cut back my sugars too. In my drinks like Veronica. No more sugar drinks or juices. I don't eat a lot of sweets but I sure do (er did) drink a lot of sugary stuff!

Hopefully by spring I'll have a better mid profile! :)

[Dogmama]

There has been recent research that intervals burn more fat than endurance exercise, even when expended calories are the same. It is thought that with intervals you burn more calories after the exercise is finished.

Also, I suspect that Veronica is doing strength training (correct?) Obtaining muscle through moderately heavy lifting (8-12 reps) and maintaining muscle require more calories than maintaining fat.

When I concentrate on weight training & intervals, I always look better nekked. I love my long cycling though. :) It is better for my head.

[cylegoddess]

After the Big M, you have less estrogen right?so weight stops going to hips and butt and now is in abs.
What you need is some great herbal stuff they do here in Australia but I bet you can buy over the net.
Her stuff balances hormones without drugs and has specific tablets for bdoy shapes.
Her books rock!



Also, animal fats tend to congregate around waist more than others, for some reason.

Dr. Sandra Cabot is her name.

[jobob]

I'm 49 and my periods stopped a few months ago, after a couple of years of irregular ones, so I suppose I've joined the club. Although a friend has warned me that they may not entirely be over, yet.

But one thing I also noticed over the last few months is that (a) I have been having a helluva time losing weight - cutting back the way I did only a few years ago (which used to work) has produced no results at all this time and (b) my waist has thickened noticeably, even with all the pilates I do.

So yes, major physiological changes are happening. Gah!! :mad:

[Dogmama]

Jobob, I'm right there with you. I used to be able to squeeze in an extra cookie or two - not anymore.

I'm one year beyond my last period & my hot flashes are getting worse! It's only February - I shudder to think what this summer in Arizona will bring. I'm already planning a week in San Fran to cool off.

[OakLeaf]

In two weeks it'll be a year since my last period, which supposedly will make me officially Menopausal. :p

My middle has been getting thicker for the last couple of years even though my weight has stayed the same (touch wood). I'm always changing up my training though (last year it was more cycling and less heavy weight lifting; this year it's more running, yoga and less gym time; come summer I'll be doing more hills on the bici), so my body composition doesn't remain constant in any event.

I'm waiting for the ton of bricks to hit me. :rolleyes:

[Zen]

I just recently discovered that fat cells produce estrogen . It It was like a light bulb going off over my head.

So last night I bought some low-fat chocolate soymilk :o

[sundial]

So last night I bought some low-fat chocolate soymilk :o

Where's the joy in that?? Ya gotta break out the Hershey's syrup for an occasional treat. :D

[Zen]

Thank you, no.
I have enough demons without you, Sundial http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-devil19.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org)
;)

[Laterider21958]

Hi. Last period was almost 2 months ago and if I really think about it the hot flushes began a few weeks after. It was hard to tell because we're in the middle of our hottest part of the year and our heat wave maximum was 47 deg C around that time. It was hot with out the flushes! I'm finding the flushes last about 4 or 5 minutes, but are beginning to occur more frequently. At times a couple of times in an hour. Won't take HRT as that's what my mother did and ended up with hormone related breast cancer. Looks like I'm going to have to get used it.

Regarding losing weight. When I turned 49 late 2007 I decided I needed to rid myself of a few kilograms so I began fast walking. Found that listening to fairly up-tempo music on my mp3 player helped to keep the pace going throughout the 5 km route. I began my walks when I had 5 weeks holiday, so walked most mornings, however when I returned to work could only walk weekends. In 4 months I lost 3.5 kgs and then a further 1 kg during 2008. Haven't managed to do much walking for a couple of months now, but have maintained my new weight. Eating habits haven't changed all that much other than eating a lot less bread (and butter I suppose). Like others have mentioned, my waistline gradually (and sneakily) got larger after I turned 40. The 4.5 kg loss in weight must have made a little difference to my waist as I feel much more comfortable in my clothes. Oh, and my "back roll" is less noticeable these days - perhaps the 4.5 kg came off my back!

[KathiCville]

I'm 50 and have had only two periods in the past year, so I'm definitely well on my way to being officially menopausal....YAYYY! I do NOT miss my period!

I have noticed that I'm a tad thicker than I used to be in the middle. I've always been slender and 'angular,' so it feels a little odd to have, mmm, 'curves.' Fortunately, doing yoga and/or Pilates regularly seems to help to maintain muscle definition. My BF has commented a couple of times recently that---to his eyes---I look like I've lost weight. I never weigh myself, but don't think I've actually dropped any pounds. I think he's just noticing the toning I get from mat-time.

Gone are the days when I could indulge my sweet tooth and count on working it off in a hurry! I definitely eat less starch (bread, pasta) and less sugar (candy, desserts) than I used to. S'OK because now my energy doesn't rocket up and down like the stock market. ;)

My biggest challenges so far with menopause haven't been weight shift or hot flashes. Instead, the main annoyances are disrupted sleep and a ridiculously short attention span. Melatonin helps somewhat with the sleep. And my doc says that once I'm fully through the transition, the AWOL attention span should snap back into place. (Soon? Soon?) :D

[jobob]

My biggest challenges so far with menopause haven't been weight shift or hot flashes. Instead, the main annoyances are disrupted sleep and a ridiculously short attention span. Melatonin helps somewhat with the sleep. And my doc says that once I'm fully through the transition, the AWOL attention span should snap back into place. (Soon? Soon?) :D

OMG, I noticed the short attention span too. It doesn't even take shiny objects to distract me these days. :rolleyes:

I was starting to worry that I might be in the early stages of Alzheimer's or some other dementia. Seriously! So it was very reassuring for me to read (here and elsewhere) that this is a common symptom of early menopause. Whew!

[OakLeaf]

Hmmmmmm. I was attributing the attention span to too much time on the computer.

Yippee!!! I can stay here without frying my brain!!! :D:D

[Dogmama]

Attention span....mmmm...yeah...what were we talking about? Oh yeah, the weather....

How about memory retention? I just returned to school this year..holy moly. I had a "check up from the neck up" this week and my shrink prescribed something called Cerefolin NAC. It is basically a drilled down form of folate acid (B vitamin), b-12 and an antioxidant. Just started taking it yesterday & have already noticed a surge in energy. He said it helps memory & actually is used in pre-dementia people. Anyway, I liked that it is natural - OK - as natural as a drilled down vitamin can be. I *seem* to be concentrating better but I'm thinking it may be a placebo effect. Or maybe not. What was I saying? :D

[sundial]

I used to have an excellent memory. Now it's shot. I forget words mid-sentence and it's really embarrassing. I feel like I've got a short in the brain. :o

[Dogmama]

I used to have an excellent memory. Now it's shot. I forget words mid-sentence and it's really embarrassing. I feel like I've got a short in the brain. :o

Oh man, do I know that one! And I'm studying to be a therapist. It ought to be fun, "Gee Mr. Jones, how do you feel about your wife having an affair with....hey how about those Dodgers?"

[sundial]

LOL!

I can't seem to get my tummy to shrink much, if any, either. What was so frustrating about this process is I managed to lose weight on the same diet that suddenly put 15 lbs on me within 6 months of my surgical menopause. :mad: :mad:

[Selkie]

Don't they call that "brain fog?"

I've heard that the tendency for menopausal women to collect belly fat is the body's way of protecting one's bones. The dreaded "meno-pot."

I'm staying on the pill until I'm 60!!!

[shootingstar]

I've only been in perimenopause in less than past 2 yrs. Though my metabolism has changed in the last decade, I can attribute waistline problems are just snacking way too often. It is healthy stuff but it all adds up.

Would like to think my memory slight light flickers, are due to overflowing with too much in the head as one experiences more things in life. :D

I am intrigued about the experience of birth control pills, estrogen and weight control/gain. You see, I've never used pills ..at all. Ever. And I have had decent control of weight during cycling years when younger and years of normal menstruation before went to peri now.

[sundial]

Don't they call that "brain fog?"

I've heard that the tendency for menopausal women to collect belly fat is the body's way of protecting one's bones. The dreaded "meno-pot."

I'm staying on the pill until I'm 60!!!

Didn't work for me. Started meno-pot in my late 30's. :rolleyes:

[cylegoddess]

fat cells make estrogen?!! NOOOOOO!!! So if your a pear shape, with saddlebags, nothing will help! ( as pears are more estrogen dominant ). How trippy. That must be why some women get thinner legs, when they hit menopause( go from pear to apple).

I have a thicker middle, but Im not menopausal. In fact, my waist is HARD. Is that muscle from riding>?:eek:Ive never had muscle there in my life!!
It would be nice to see some results from a year of hard training!

any body look at Sandra Cabots site? As soon as I hit menopause, I am doing her program( maybe no one else,cos its here In Oz.)

[malkin]

Meno-pot?

Can we get medical marijuana for this?

[OakLeaf]

Meno-pot?

Can we get medical marijuana for this?

I think appetite inducement is the very last thing I need...