Over 40 Belly Blues

[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.

[bambu101]

I am also a 53 year old member of the Blubber Belly club, and 2 years post-menopausal. About 6 years ago, I lost 35 pounds on Weight Watchers, and have put all but 10 pounds back on again. When I lost the weight, the belly was still there, only smaller, but iy never went away.

A friend of mine at work bought one of these midriff bulge smoother things that she referred to as an all-in-one. She manage to suffer for a whole 30 minutes before running to the restroom to wriggle out of it. It sure smoothed out the belly, but all that blubber had to go somewhere, so all of a sudden her hips ballooned out form all the belly fat being squished downwards. She was bemoaning the fact that it didn't squish the fat upwards to enhance her cleavage! The rest of us that were witnessing this display were laughing hysterically!

[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!

[Crankin]

I think that some of this has to do with genetics. We can't do much with that. On the other hand, think of trying some type of weight, core, resistance training. Don't just ride. Sometimes you need to fool your body into revving up your metabolism (which does slow down with age).Although I don't need to lose weight, I have struggled with the end of season change in body. It's like clock work. I am just as active, but doing slightly different things. I do try to restrict my carbs a little more in the off season, but if I am out x country skiing, it's hard to do. The suggestion of eating more, smaller meals a day is a good one. I know that I am ALWAYS hungry, even though I don't starve myself. In fact, most of my life seems to revolve around food and exercising! I am almost 5 years post menopausal and my weight has pretty much stayed the same since I lost 15 pounds when I first started cycling, about 7 years ago. I was seeing some not so nice changes, even with a steady diet of aerobics and walking (since I was 25). Once the effects of cycling kicked in, it was a matter of tweaking the diet and mentally preparing for challenging eating times, like holidays, etc. I don't believe in diets. Once you establish healthy eating habits, they should be easy to stick with.

[Dianyla]

Oh crap, you mean it's gonna get worse?!?!

Vent: When I was a wee little kid, I was skinny all over except for my tapeworm belly. As an adolescent and adult I've been a variety of sizes from slim to chunky and the belly is always there. Not to mention it's covered in stretchmarks, and I've never had a kid! Lately, it's even starting to droop a little. I'm 29 and already have the belly of a 50+ year old. What n' hell is it gonna look like when I am 50?

Oh well, rather than flog myself mentally I think I'll just meditate on the Venus of Willendorf and recite an Earth Mother Goddess mantra instead.

[ACG]

So I'm doomed I guess.

[Aint Doody]

I can give y'all a few tips on the face. I belong to a group of 4 women from 51 to 67. We all study the wrinkle stuff out there. I'm totally sold on Strivectin. I use it at night. Then in the a.m. I'm putting on some other creams--all with a minimum of SPF 15. We all know how important that is.

Now--for the real secret--clear, medical-type adhesive tape! I used to do Botox, but have found that a piece of tape stuck between the eyebrows before I go to bed does just as well. And since it's clear, my husband doesn't even notice! I'm not too sure he'd notice if I went to bed bald-headed! I also put a few pieces on those wrinkles around the mouth. I haven't been doing them as long as the forehead, but I swear to y'all that it works. When you sleep on your side, your face gets all scrunched up and that encourages the wrinkles. Give it a try--you'll be amazed! Don't do the crows' feet, as that skin is too delicate.