It's at least partly genetic, I think. At almost 45 I am now shaped just like my late mother, with the same big belly and narrow butt and hips. The only difference is that because I ride so much my legs have definition and shape where hers were just a couple of sticks. I am shaped rather like a slightly pudgy tree trunk in the middle. I wear a lot of mens' clothing because women's clothing (especially bike clothing) usually doesn't fit me so well.

My diet choices are somewhat limited by having Crohn's disease, so I shrug, eat what I can (word up: having breakfast is SO important!), watch my meds and symptoms and try to ride at least a little every day. (I average between 40 and 50 miles a week commuting, and also do longer distance rides some weekends.) I also try to stay active at work. But the last thing I want to do is get totally down on myself because my body isn't a certain shape. It's the shape I have.

For me the result is that I have a body I can live with (even if it doesn't always behave) and I'm not cutting out so many foods that I feel totally deprived and bummed. My partner adores me just as I am. I can live with being shaped like a slightly pudgy tree trunk. I'm alive, and vital, and amazingly healthy for someone with an auto-immune disorder. Life is good. I'm going for a bike ride now. Happy riding --BH