Over 40 Belly Blues

[Lucky 13]

Hi Ladies.
Just wondering if any of you out there have the same issues. I am 46, relatively athletic 5'2 and weighing in around 155-160. My high school weight was anywhere from 140-150 and I've always been a size 12-14. So, here's the problem. Each "season" I committ to biking, I've always PUT on weight. Yes, some would say it's muscle but not really. The Buddha Belly suddenly appears and it pisses me off. I totally understand that it's probably what's in the diet. However...I just want to chow after riding 10 miles to work in the morning and 10 miles home in the afternoon in Boston...especially now when it's getting cold out. It's my first time trying the fall/winter riding. I can't seem to figure out the carb thing when I am very active. 2 years ago when I was out of work for 6 weeks after a bunionectomy, I went on South Beach and lost 20 pounds ( I had reached 175 prior to the operation). I can't fathom going on South Beach while I am riding 2-3 times a week to work.
Anyone else have the peri-menopausal metabolism and belly blues?

Lucky 13

[Bikingmomof3]

Welcome to TE and you are not alone. I do not have a magical answer. Sorry. I try to eat 6 evenly spaced meals a day, it helps keep me from being hungry and over eating.

[Aint Doody]

Lucky, it doesn't seem to matter what we do. I've been told that it's the way we age--rounder stomachs and flatter behinds. I'm considered slim, but it looks like I have a basketball in my pants! I've done countless crunches, everything. I agree the Southbeach helped, but cyclists need those carbs. I'm 57 and just try to hide my tubby tummy. It ain't easy in lycra!

I hope somebody has a magic wand. I'm not too keen on liposuction.

[ridethewind]

Lucky, it doesn't seem to matter what we do. I've been told that it's the way we age--rounder stomachs and flatter behinds. I'm considered slim, but it looks like I have a basketball in my pants! I've done countless crunches, everything. I agree the Southbeach helped, but cyclists need those carbs. I'm 57 and just try to hide my tubby tummy. It ain't easy in lycra!

I hope somebody has a magic wand. I'm not too keen on liposuction.

Hope you're right about the flatter behind part. I'm still waiting.

Jean

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

The facts:
40 year olds are not shaped like 20 year olds.
50 year olds are not shaped like 30 year olds.
60 year olds are not shaped like 40 year olds.
This is independent of weight issues. Weight issues will emphasize it perhaps, but a woman's shape changes with age even if we are not overweight.

So, if you're shaped like a 40 year old don't be moping about not being shaped like a 20 year old...just be glad you're not shaped like a 60 year old. And if you're shaped like a 60 year old don't be moping about not being shaped like a 40 year old...just be glad you're not shaped like a 80 year old. And if you are shaped like a 90 year old, you probably won't be looking in the mirror much anyway...hopefully you'll just be glad to be alive and kicking!

[Popoki_Nui]

Oh I am so with you on this. I lost almost 50 pounds on Atkins and cycling, but the moment I turned forty the weight started creeping up. Now despite longer, harder rides, and -with a few oopsies- careful attention to diet, my belly almost qualifies for its own zip code. WTF?
I actually believed doctors who say that exercise and diet would = weight loss.
Ha-ha. Silly me....

[Lucky 13]

Thanks so much, ladies for your words of wisdom....and humor! It's helping me to put it all in perspective. I just need to be thankful that I can ride a bike...and ..and...and...

The self descriptions are priceless...I am with y'all too!

Lucky

[PinkBike]

wow y'all i thought it was just me, maybe due to being over 50, post-menopausal, or (wishful thinking) more muscle underneath. well, this just aint fair. i see all these super cycling guys with these tiny little butts, but even the women pros seem to carry extra weight. guess we just learn top live with it? accept it? what else can we do? wish i knew

[KSH]

Ah... yes... I know this well.

Here is how it went for me over the summer:

"I just rode 40/50/60 miles in 100 degree heat! I can CHOW DOWN! Hhhuuummm... will it be Taco Bell or Taco Bueno today? Or pizza! I can eat pizza!"

Yea, uuuummm... that lead to me gaining 10 pounds.

Unfortunately, just because we ride a bike, doesn't mean we get to eat all we want.

Good luck on getting the food in check and figuring out how to ride and keep the belly away! I have done pretty good with couting calories... BUT, I am also not in the height of my riding season either.

Take care... and keep riding!

[mimitabby]

my belly.
when i was 18, i had a gorgeous belly. Then some years later, i had two kids.
(one at a time) even though for a time, i weighed LESS than i did at 18,
my belly NEVER EVER EVER could compare to that 18 year old belly that i had.
now i am 55 and i just try not to think about it.

[KSH]

I went on South Beach and lost 20 pounds ( I had reached 175 prior to the operation). I can't fathom going on South Beach while I am riding 2-3 times a week to work.

Yea, the low-carb thing doesn't work with a physically active person.

You do have to find a balance between carbs, protein, fats, and calories... to eat enough for energy... but not too much.

Otherwise... gravity works against us every year we get older. I am in my 30's.... but I certainly relish everyday I am phyiscally fit enough to ride my bike.

I can only HOPE that I will be in this good of health (as many of your ladies are!) when I hit my 50's!

[kelownagirl]

I too have been frustrated with my body since my last child. I'm 46 and he was born when I was 37. Since that time, I have gained a little over 20 lbs and seemed to be gaining about 5 lbs a year in the past few years. I have tried dieting alone but it didn't do much. Then last spring I started riding along with the dieting and I started losing. I did not eat more even though I was riding a lot. I drank only water and unless I was riding thru the lunch hour, I didn't eat power bars or anything. So I consumed less calories, and burned lots of calories as well. I lost 15 lbs before summer, then all summer I didn't diet although I didn't go overboard either. I rode lots all summer and only gained back 2 lbs. Now I'm back to dieting and exercising again and I'm slowly losing weight. I KNOW that I can't have a 20 year old body again but my goal is to be able to wear a bikini again by next summer. I figure it's my last chance. If not next summer, then it'll never happen and I can live with that. But I figure I may as well try.

My point, if you make a concerted effort to eat fewer calories and burn extra calories, you will gradually lose weight, even at our age. But I tell ya, it's HARD and if I didn't write down eveything I eat, I wouldn't be able to do it. There are so many places where I didn't realize I was adding up a lot of calories. (I eat between 1200-1500 calories a day, staying pretty close to 1200 if I can and I only lose about 1 lb a week.)

I think peri-menopause is just beginning for me although it's hard to tell because I'm still on the pill...

[jobob]

Pilates might help.

[Bikingmomof3]

My point, if you make a concerted effort to eat fewer calories and burn extra calories, you will gradually lose weight, even at our age. But I tell ya, it's HARD and if I didn't write down eveything I eat, I wouldn't be able to do it. There are so many places where I didn't realize I was adding up a lot of calories. (I eat between 1200-1500 calories a day, staying pretty close to 1200 if I can and I only lose about 1 lb a week.)

Wow, I need to eat at least 2000-2200 calories a day or my metabolism shuts down or worse, I lose muscle not fat. Another thing I can be grateful for-more food.

[nuthatch]

...my belly almost qualifies for its own zip code. WTF?
.....(

I love this!

My perma-belly is just revenge of the gods. When I was younger and firmer (just three years ago), I looked at the older women in my cycling club and thought, "they must not be working hard enough - look at all that flab!" Now that 50 is here, I'm seeing them in the mirror!

Anyone have your family ask what you're doing to your face? My family was advocating that I start smearing vaseline on my face because being out in all weathers was bringing on the wrinkles so fast. Welcome to the crone's club!