Over 40 Belly Blues

[PinkBike]

trail mommy, for being 5'9, i don't think your goal should be 130, that is way too thin. i'm 5'8, and when i was 130 (five years ago) everyone said i was too skinny, even the doctor. then menopause struck and now i'm 148 pounds.

i just can't accept this weight, my clothes still fit but they're tight and i like them loose. i can't eat any less than i do, so i'm following this thread and seeing that maybe i need to do some weight training to jumpstart my metabolism.

ladies, is that even realistic? does weight training help your metabolism? also, any other thoughts on the south beach diet? i do totally low fat right now, which has been successful for 30 years and has now failed me.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

trail mommy, for being 5'9, i don't think your goal should be 130, that is way too thin. i'm 5'8, and when i was 130 (five years ago) everyone said i was too skinny, even the doctor.

I was going to say the same thing. 5'9" and 130 pounds seems WAY too thin to be healthy. Even 140 would be very thin at that height.

[roguedog]

"Buddha Belly". I love it. I thought I was the only one who called it that!

uh... (as I shovel dinner into my mouth and having gained 5 lbs over tday (damn))

I now just called it the underbelly of success..

[KnottedYet]

trail mommy, for being 5'9, i don't think your goal should be 130, that is way too thin. i'm 5'8, and when i was 130 (five years ago) everyone said i was too skinny, even the doctor.

I'm 5'8 and 145, and I'm utterly thrilled at how lean I am! 140 would be nice, but 130 would be far too thin for me at 5'8, even though I have very "thin" bone structure.

At 5'9 I'd worry about 130. Seems like a person would have to lose a lot of muscle to get that low.

Can you try switching your food from night-time to morning? If I eat a ridiculous huge b'fast, I eat much less the rest of the day; and less over all without ever feeling hungry.

[hellosunshine]

ive just been put onto the gi diet,check it out,in theory it should sort out cravings,and help energy levels.ACCEPT,the 20 yr olds have flat stomachs,but we have a wealth of experiences and life knocks as well as that extra roll,which would you rather,and some lucky ones have kids too.,what a reward for an extra bit of blob!

[Velobambina]

I've read that having extra fat in your midsection helps protect your bones when you go thru menopause. I'll take the belly over osteoporosis any day!

Lifting weights will do wonders for you -- I'm almost 44 and have been lifting about 10 years. Heavy weights. I'm much stronger now than when I was 20 and I look better, too. Best of all, I don't have to ask my husband to pick up heavy items, open jars, etc.

[eclectic]

I've read that having extra fat in your midsection helps protect your bones when you go thru menopause. I'll take the belly over osteoporosis any day!

Wow first I've heard that but at least it makes it a plus

I think weight training is the best gift any woman can give to herself (well one of the best - a new bike would be nice It has soooo many benefits.

RE the belly fat (mine is all abdominal) Now everyone can tell me "my you look like your mother . . . grandmother. . . aunt . . . cousin ....." Sometimes you just can't fight genetics