Weight gain - redistribution of fat?

I'm noticing a very interesting phenomenon as I grow fatter and fatter (I've been off the bike for 2 months with an injury and I'm fattening up quite nicely :().

Anyway, what I'm noticing is that I'm gaining weight in different places than I've gained weight before. I just started cycling a year ago and it seems that I'm not gaining weight in areas where I have cycling muscles. Instead, I'm gaining it all in my middle (yes, I have a lovely enormous pot belly now). A few years back I was about 40 pounds overweight and at that time, I was just fat all over. Now it seems like my butt, hips, and legs are staying slimmer while my stomach and mid-section are turning into flab city. I'm kind of fascinated yet also disgusted with this. I certainly hope that this nasty fat goes away quickly once I'm riding again. I just hope that day comes soon!!!

So I guess my conclusion here is that cycling promotes muscular less fatty legs and potentially promotes a big fat bowl-full-of-jelly tummy when a person decides to chunk up a bit. Or else my body is just really weird. Good grief, I need to go on a diet starting first thing tomorrow morning!!!

Diet alone won't help that much. You'd be pretty miserable eating the amount of calories needed to lose weight without exercising.
I don't want to be misunderstood here, you can lose weight by diet alone it's just that if you add activity your calorie restriction won't be so severe.

Is there any activity you can do? walk on the treadmill? lift weights? Yoga?

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Originally Posted by zencentury

Diet alone won't help that much. You'd be pretty miserable eating the amount of calories needed to lose weight without exercising.
I don't want to be misunderstood here, you can lose weight by diet alone it's just that if you add activity your calorie restriction won't be so severe.

Is there any activity you can do? walk on the treadmill? lift weights? Yoga?

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I just need to get my lazy self on the trainer more often and stop pigging out! My new beer belly should, in theory, motivate me eventually, right?!?!

Actually, I'm confident these extra pounds will go away once I'm riding regularly again. My ankle is the culprit here. I can spin on the trainer but everything else I've tried causes increased pain and swelling. This past week I went skiing and I'm paying the price for that. So I decided to basically do nothing for one week and see how my foot feels. I did shovel snow today so that should've burned a few calories.

It sure would be nice if some researcher somewhere would figure out a way to move fat from one place to another within your body. For example, from my belly to my chest. It's really only a few inches. How hard could it be to move it up there? :rolleyes:

Well....you could try something like this

http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/b...omhellcopy.jpg

Although she looks like she's in a little pain

That woman is 3 seconds away from fainting. :eek:

I've been fairly fit for the last 10-15 years, and I've noticed that when I've gained weight, like when I've been sick or something, it looks completely different on me than it does on some other people. I've seen women a lot "fatter" than me AND more unfit, who carry their extra weight in a lot more flattering way. My SIL is positively Rubenesque, she's quite overweight but has an hourglass figure to die for. Her extra weight is sort of distributed all over while mine goes straight to the middle.

Depending on your age, that could be a "menopot." I've read a few articles, stating the prior to menopause, women start accumulating fat more in the tummy area. It's your body's way of protecting your bones as you enter "the change."

I think Spanx (is that the right spelling) and other manufacturers make more advanced fat-smooshers than the girdle pictured below.

Sara, try not to stress out about it. If your injury allows you to crosstrain, now is the perfect time to discover another activity. Rowing is great. Swimming? Incorporate some weight training and/or yoga.

This is the perfect time of year to have some extra padding, too. Keep you warmer...

I second the "menopot" idea. I just turned 46, and I noticed my formerly wide hips were starting to slim down and my belly was getting bigger about 4 years ago. Now that I've lost a bunch of weight and strengthened my abs, my belly is not so big. I never was able to wear Levi's before because the thighs were always too tight, but not anymore!

Then some people carry their weight above the waist and some below. I never knew it could change, but I also know I'll never be totally an apple shape like my mother-in-law, for instance. Just a little rounder around the belly.

Karen

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Originally Posted by sara

I just need to get my lazy self on the trainer more often and stop pigging out! My new beer belly should, in theory, motivate me eventually, right?!?!

Actually, I'm confident these extra pounds will go away once I'm riding regularly again. My ankle is the culprit here. I can spin on the trainer but everything else I've tried causes increased pain and swelling. This past week I went skiing and I'm paying the price for that. So I decided to basically do nothing for one week and see how my foot feels. I did shovel snow today so that should've burned a few calories...

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Sara, Sara, Sara! C'mon, girl! You are smart and strong, now let's take some action!

The first part--you got it. If you are not exercising and eating poorly and too much, of course you're going to gain weight. The more weight you gain, the harder it will be to get off, not to mention other health problems that may arise. Stop pigging out. Eat more apples and less mac-n-cheese. Broccoli instead of fries. Drink water instead of Coke. You know all that already.

The second part--what are you waiting for? Two months for an ankle injury does not seem right--have you been to a doctor about the ankle? Swimming, gym work (weights), pilates, yoga are all exercises that are nice to your ankle. You have the knowledge and the power. Get your ankle checked out and get moving and be smart about eating.

Or don't. It's up to you. I've found that motivation that comes from a positive (wanting to be healthy) is alot more sustainable than when it comes from a negative (the new beer belly). If you are really having trouble with motivation, perhaps there is something else going on, too. I've had to deal with depression with a family member and it's debilitating when it hits. I hope that's not the case for you, but just like your ankle, if you find out the problem, you can get on the road to addressing it and overcoming it. But you know that already, too.

Spring will be here soon, but in the meantime, take action on those things that are in your control. It'll make spring alot more fun.

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Originally Posted by Velobambina

Depending on your age, that could be a "menopot." I've read a few articles, stating the prior to menopause, women start accumulating fat more in the tummy area. It's your body's way of protecting your bones as you enter "the change."

I think Spanx (is that the right spelling) and other manufacturers make more advanced fat-smooshers than the girdle pictured below.

Sara, try not to stress out about it. If your injury allows you to crosstrain, now is the perfect time to discover another activity. Rowing is great. Swimming? Incorporate some weight training and/or yoga.

This is the perfect time of year to have some extra padding, too. Keep you warmer...

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You mean there is an actual scientific reason for this 48 year old tummy bulge??? Oh, Thank Goodness, I thought it was all my fault!:D

spoke

Sara never said how old she is :rolleyes:

but I'm certainly dealing with the menopot. Bah. Humbug.

I'm 33, so I hope it's not menopot! I still want kids! :eek:

I am not surprised at all that I'm gaining weight. I know exactly what I'm doing wrong. Too much food and acting like a sloth will do it every time! I think I'll be back on the bike by February.

This ankle thing is kind of a nightmare. It's tendonitis that was made worse by adverse reactions to some of my PT treatments. I'm babying it for now and just hoping that it starts behaving itself soon. I sure wish there was an indoor pool around here...I'd love to try swimming.

At any rate, it's interesting to me how we all carry our weight differently. And how that can change over your lifetime.

I'm pretty sure I'm perimenopausal, at 46, but I'm very much still capable of having kids. :eek: The redistribution of fat was the first thing I noticed! I did read recently that perimenopause can start as early as 35.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by zencentury

Diet alone won't help that much. You'd be pretty miserable eating the amount of calories needed to lose weight without exercising.
I don't want to be misunderstood here, you can lose weight by diet alone it's just that if you add activity your calorie restriction won't be so severe.

Is there any activity you can do? walk on the treadmill? lift weights? Yoga?

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it's a combination of activity and diet. lifestyle being a major contributor. a sedentary life will result in more weight gain. walking and swimming are supposed to be 2 of the best excercises (next to cycling of course :p )

Where you deposit fat has a lot to do with hormone levels and those are affected by exercise.

dangnabit. I'm getting a menopot. :rolleyes:

Before I lost 20 pounds, no tone in the stomach area, my arms were fatter, and around my torso. Now when I gain it, it IS all in my belly. My family are all apples, and so I'll be a lost cause! I envy those that gain it in the hips and chest! My choices are either a stick up and down, or a stick with a bulging tummy. :eek:

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Originally Posted by mizztissa

it's a combination of activity and diet. lifestyle being a major contributor. a sedentary life will result in more weight gain. walking and swimming are supposed to be 2 of the best excercises (next to cycling of course :p )

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Put all forms of exercise into one of three categories - good, better or best.
Of the three, swimming would only rate a good. Cycling and walking/running raise body temps which in turn lowers appetite. Swimming doesn't raise body temps and swimmers can tend to overeat after a workout if they're not careful.
Any form of exercise, be it swimming, walking or weight-training, is good if the alternative is doing nothing. A mixture of some form of resistance exercise and cardiovascular exercise is better, while combining interval exercise (spin class or cycling with hills) and free weights - in my opinion at least - is the best way to get in shape
Losing weight is all about burning more calories than you eat. Any form of exercise, swimming included, will get the job done.
If you enjoy swimming, then stick with it. It's more important to be consistent with an exercise program you enjoy than to be inconsistent with one you hate. Just make sure to guard against the urge to eat more after you get out of the pool.

You're right! Consistency is the greatest asset you can have! Just keep doing it, whatever it is, so long as it is exercise!

Karen