Over 40 Belly Blues

[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.

[jamom]

It's soooo not fair! The older we get the less we can eat and the harder we have to work out. I totally relate to the belly thing and the pounds creeping up with each year-maybe it would help if I stopped eating like a pig! (I seriously don't eat like a pig but could stand to cut back!)

[suzbyrd]

I turned 40 this summer, did a trithlon to celebrate, and then my body just seemed to go nuts. First, let me say, I have been basically the same weight since college. I have been a runner, cyclist, etc. my whole life. I actually eat more now than when I was running 50 miles a week in my early 20's. I'm much healthier now. I have carried my weight on my hips and never on my stomach. I hate my "fat butt" :-) My body has just revolted on me. I started having periods every 2 weeks, gaining weight, moody, moody, moody. I went to the doc and she put me on birth control. That took care of the menstrual cycle, but the first thing I did was gain 5 lbs. It makes me feel gross and bloated all the time (it's a very low level of hormone, she said). Long story, shortened, I can't gain weight b/c of my part time job which is officiating. On the court, women just can't carry any extra weight. Men can carry a keg on their belly, but women have to be slim. It's driving me nuts. I have quit drinking any alcohol. I have maintained a calorie intake that is very reasonable considering I ride almost every day and work games 3-4 times a week. I have to take in calories or I can't operate. If it only gets worse as I get older, then it seems I have a tough road ahead. Don't get me wrong, I have worked too hard to give in now, but jeez, something's got to give. Please some of you women older than me, give me some kind of hope for the future :-).

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Suz,
I don't think it gets worse and worse as you get older.- the weight thing that is.
Our bodies do continue to change shape as we age, but it doesn't mean we get fatter and fatter. Changing shape might mean our breasts aren't as perky, or our butts get less round, or we have a little belly- it also means our skin texture changes and becomes less elastic and firm. BUT...we can still look absolutely beautiful at any age, and we don't helplessly get fatter and fatter.
As we get older we need fewer calories and we need less sleep. We shouldn't depress ourselves by wanting to continue eating and sleeping like a 20 year old. Having a tummy that sticks out is pretty normal for middle aged women.
We should stop negatively comparing ourselves to younger ages and just focus on being in a healthy condition for OUR age, yes?
Here's to being older AND fit! Being fit is HOT at any age!

[momof4greatkids]

Anyone else have the peri-menopausal metabolism and belly blues?

Lucky 13

I have the peri-menopausal belly blues. I could so easily get discouraged, because I feel like I could starve myself and exercise until I drop, and my belly wouldn't budge.

I'm learning to dress appropriately for my age (45) and just try my best to camoflauge it in clothes. But as AintDoody said, it's not easy to do in lycra!

Lucky, I think the best thing I can do is learn to learn to accept myself the way I am and focus on the positive. For instance, being very grateful that I am fit and healthy enough to have ridden 23 miles in the great outdoors on this very fine day in NE Ohio.

[Bikingmomof3]

As was posted earlier by I think Lisa (my apologies if this is incorrect), no matter what, the body changes as we get older. Gravity affects us all. My tummy will never be the same as when I was 18, but you know what, I am not the same person I was at 18 and for that I am truly grateful. Each year (I noticed many changes after age 35) has brought new changes, but also a new acceptance of who I am and I happen to like myself and be more comfortable with me with each passing year. Stretch marks and all.

[momof4greatkids]

Hi Ladies.
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.
Lucky 13

Lucky, one thing I want to add: NEVER EVER give up! I know a lot of women in our age group (I'm 45) who have exactly the same problem. I think it's doubly important to say, adamantly and with fist in the air "NO SURRENDER"...do not give in, do not give up. Real women DO NOT look like the anorexic, surgically enhanced versions of femininity that our culture routinely portrays as the "ideal".

Each season you commit to biking, but the belly persists. Better to commit to biking and have a belly, than to give up biking and have a bigger belly, flabby thighs, calves that moo, a butt that jiggles and arms that wave back at you! And that's without even mentioning the emotional and health benefits, beyond the outward appearance, that biking enhances.

How many women your age do you know who can put in the miles you can on your bike? Precious few, I am willing to bet.

This reminds me of the time I placed third in my age division for a cross-country running race. Well, there were only three women in my age group! Who cares? That in and of itself tells me, I'm doing pretty good. I treasure my third place prize mug!

Keep moving, never stop!

Colleen

[eclectic]

Hi Ladies.
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

I just got caught up on this thread- yes I am turning 50 in Dec and yes I have the belly blues. With all the exercise, crunches, scrunches and whatever else have you, I just tell people "I have a 6 pack under there somewhere! "

I started Southbeach the middle of September and I LOVE it. It is NOT low carb, Atkins is low carb. SB is somewhat for the first 2 weeks but even then if I was riding my bike longer than a hour I ate some bread before I went to keep the glycogen stores up.
SB is about keeping your glycemic levels stable (similar to a diabetic diet)
It basically cuts out sugars and processed grains.
Now my belly fat is reducing along w/ the rest of me,(fifteen lbs less to pull up a hill since the middle of september) I sleep better at night and have more energy during the day. AND have absolutely no sugar cravings which is the best part!

[mtbdarby]

I love reading your responses on this thread! My tummy magically appeared last winter at the age of 38 - and with that came almost 15 pounds. I'm still trying to find my correct attitude and love for my body and when that comes I feel my body will adjust. I stopped obsessing about how much I work out and I'm concentrating on spending time with my son and finding a balance in my life. Thanks for the great words of wisdom!

[Lucky 13]

I am just thrilled to hear from y'all about this topic. It is comforting to know that this is not just my struggle but practically every athletic woman who ages...despite our best efforts to keep in shape, what we once worked in our 20's and 30's, probably won't keep us in check years later. I appreciate the rooting section telling us no matter what, stay active and bike. It really does do us good vs. flab and being out of shape.

Somebody made a comment about going on the pill to regulate periods. Here's an interesting story. Last June I went to a dermatologist to fix my adult acne..brought on by, you guest it....those lovely menopausal hormones. The Doc put me on Spironolatone, which in higher doses is used for blood pressure. But lower doses are used to control acne. Here's how it works. The drug is an anti-androgen...which in turn works on the amount of testosterone floating around. The testosterone causes the cyst like-acne in hormonally challanged women (how do you like that phrase?). So by controling the testosterone...voila, clear face. Great I thought. By August, I had to come off of it although it did clear my face up. It made me miss me period for two months (essentially thru me into menopause) and I ended up with mega breasts-looking like a fertility goddess of sorts. This was NOT good, since I was getting married in Sept and my dress no longer fit.
Fortunately, I was able to deflate with stopping the med and fit into the gown. (I found the Presta valve!)

Oh how I enjoy being a girl
My new mantra is Accept, accept, accept the changes!
Lucky

[trail_mommy]

Ok judging by some of the replies on here I just could be the youngest gal posting I am 26 and a Mother of 3 boys! Jared is 5.5, Dylan turns 3 onFebruary 12th and Kyle turned 1 yesterday. I am 5'9 and 160 lbs. Doesn't sound bad does it with the height *but* I was a size 18 months ppd with my first son after I weaned him and did some pilates...then pregnancy 2....got pregnant with #3 when #2 was just 13 months so I still carried some leftover baby weight. I didn't start biking until recently. I had not biked at all since I was a teenager and started hitting these MTB trails after my dh got me into it. All my weight is mainly the tummy, the hips...and breasts. I have this problem with late night eating. I'm a night owl and I tend to snack late at night. I have been riding 2-3 times a week for about 2 weeks now and doing tae bo twice a week. So far I have gained a little which I know must be muscle. I am still nursing so I know that helps my metabolism. I have lost 35 pounds since I had our third...but my target weight is 130...I hope if I keep this up I can lose the pounds. I want to be better and faster and I know losing weight will help me in my manuevering, speed and just all around...


Edited to say silly me not paying attentiong to the thread title...it's the lack of sleep I tell ya!

[rocknrollgirl]

Hi guys,
I have been following this thread and I want to add my 2 cents. I just turned 45 this month, and a few years ago I too started to notice a change. I was running and biking and hiking and still did not feel that I was in the shape I should be in. Not a huge belly, just not where I should be.

And then I rededicated myself to weight training again. Now I am not talking a huge aamount of time, or a huge amount of weight, just twice a week for 30- 40 mins. I did have to cut back on my cardio to fit it in.

Well, I have to tell you it made a huge difference in how I looked and felt. So in my case at least, to keep my engine revving and my metabolism high, I have to lft some weights. All of the cardio in the world was not doing it for me.

So for those of you out there who are not lifting, you may want to give it a try. I really do feel it will make a difference.

Ruth

[hirakukibou]

All my weight is mainly the tummy, the hips...and breasts. I have this problem with late night eating. I'm a night owl and I tend to snack late at night.

This thread is really helpful. I too carry my extra weight in my belly. I am 5' 2'' and used to weigh 220 lbs which I gained from a medication. I changed medications and the weight came off and am now 125. But the belly still persists. And like you, trailmommy, I am a night eater, sometimes binger and it is causing me to gain weight. I actually have gained 10 pounds since the end of the summer and the trend worries me. So, I know that I have to work on my compulsive eating and also at getting more exercise. I rode on average 200 miles per week in the summer months and that has dropped to half now that the weather is yucky some of the time. I do weight lift some, but could do more. I think I am going to have to break down and join the gym to get the aerobic exercise my body and mood need.