Okay over 50 and can't drop the weight!

[Susan126]

Okay ladies, well those of you in my situation, over 50 and harder and harder to lose weight. Yea, I thought I would never gain weight because I exercise and eat right but lately I have noticed that since I turned 50 three years ago my middle section has been getting thicker. I just can't seem to get this situation under control. Anyone out there experiencing the same thing as me? And if so did you find an answer to shedding the midrif tire? HELP! I mean my hips and legs are fine but my middle argh! I don't want to start wearing stretch waist band jeans like I have seen older women wearing AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRGGHHHHH

Sue with more than one spare tire on my bike rides.

[Tuckervill]

It's menopause. I don't think there's a cure.

I'm just 45, and even I noticed that my legs are slimming and my middle is thickening. I was always butt heavy before. Still fat all over, though.

Did someone here once say that the young looking 50+ women are all on hormone replacement therapy?

Karen

[Pax]

What Tuckervill said.

My legs are getting skinny/ropey looking and my gut is all poochy now. I've never had a butt so I can still wear guy jeans...but the gut thing is driving me nuts, it just won't go away.

[Susan126]

Nice to know that I'm not alone at least. But still

What a gut I'm getting! Sigh . . . and now hubby pokes my gut (I guess he's getting back for all the years I poked his! Pay back is a you know what!)

[OakLeaf]

I'm not quite 48 and still having occasional periods and I've been getting the gut for over a year now. DAMMMM!

[sundial]

My menopot came in my late 30's. It's one of those evil, quirky, bodily transitions you make. I found that if I balance my diet (add more fruit and veggies), watch my portions and limit simple carbs, I am able to lose weight--even if it's at a snail's pace.

[Moptop]

Don't assume its menopausal and that there is nothing you can do about it just yet! I'm in my 60s (not for much longer!) and have only in the last 18 months begun to get a bit tight in my trousers!

I think you should look very carefully at your diet and make sure you aren't eating too much of something that bloats you. With me its bread, and home made bread especially. (I just LOVE it) If I cut that down I definitely get less bloated. Google up 'food combining' - that's worth consideration too. It's a bit awkward to instigate if you have a family, but may be worth the effort. There are several books about it and usually contain a collection of recipes along with the interesting info. Doris Grant & Jean Joice have written 'Food Combining for Health' It's a British book (Thorsons) but maybe Amazon could get you a copy of it if you haven't got an alternative over there. (though I expect you have). You may find riding hilly routes will help to strengthen tummy muscles too.

Lots of luck!

P.S. My DH has just walked in from the shops with a HUGH Danish pastry - can I resist it? Answers please on a postcard.......

[Pax]

Don't assume its menopausal and that there is nothing you can do about it just yet! I'm in my 60s (not for much longer!) and have only in the last 18 months begun to get a bit tight in my trousers!

I think you should look very carefully at your diet and make sure you aren't eating too much of something that bloats you. With me its bread, and home made bread especially. (I just LOVE it) If I cut that down I definitely get less bloated. Google up 'food combining' - that's worth consideration too. It's a bit awkward to instigate if you have a family, but may be worth the effort. There are several books about it and usually contain a collection of recipes along with the interesting info. Doris Grant & Jean Joice have written 'Food Combining for Health' It's a British book (Thorsons) but maybe Amazon could get you a copy of it if you haven't got an alternative over there. (though I expect you have). You may find riding hilly routes will help to strengthen tummy muscles too.

Lots of luck!

P.S. My DH has just walked in from the shops with a HUGH Danish pastry - can I resist it? Answers please on a postcard.......

I'm the same way with anything containing yeast. If I have a glass of wine I'm fine, if I have a beer I'm bloated for 2-3 days. The same holds true for good bread from the local farmers market, the store bought stuff not so much.

[Susan126]

I must admit that I am a sugar junky. Joe tells me all the time to cut out my sugar (mochas, candy bars . . . especially chocolate) and I would probably lose weight automatically. He is always amazed at how much sugar I can put away in a day. It runs in my family. My dad (thin as a reed) can eat an entire loaf of Italian bread with butter. I saw him eat an entire bag of chip ahoy chocolate chip cookies once! He's 90 years old and still going strong. I am my father's daughter.

I may try just this, make one change, give up my daily grande white and black mochas with whip cream for an Americano plus give up all my daily chocolate stash I have at my desk at work.

Wish me luck!

[ladyicon]

Hi Susan. I was so glad to read your post because I thought I was the only one with this problem. Last year I gave up carbs and sugar and lost 30 lbs.
Since the I have started to eat carbs and sugars again and have gained all the weight back, plus more
As with you, I am 50 and have all the weight on the middle part of my body. It seems that riding just doesn't help me lose it. I know, I know.....I need to do some sit ups and upper body conditioning but after a day of work it is really hard to muster up enough energy to do anything !
Ok I noticed that I started to ramble on my problems This is just to let you know that you are not alone. Let me know if you find a miracle cure.

[spokewench]

I'm 47 and I've had this problem for a couple of years. What I've found with me is that I used to be able to have a beer a day; or a piece of cake every other day; or pig out on something fatty a lot more regularly and not worry about the weight on my middle - but in the last couple of years, forget that!

So, in order to keep that middle to a minimum, I make myself forego beer every day. If I seem to be putting on some weight there in the middle, I just have a beer every third day or so instead of a beer every day - and of course, don't have ice cream when my hubby is digging in; and I'm able to keep it under control.

I don't want to give anything up cause then I know I would just crave that item more, so I just put limits on those things I really like, but don't really need!

spoke

[deedolce]

Ack. I can still see my grandmother, bless her soul, and she was shaped like a barrel. Skinny arms and legs, and torso shaped like a barrel! It's genetic. I'm 48 with occasional hot flashes (for YEARS now, although I still have my '.') and I'm noticing it too. No fat anywhere else, it stays right there on my stomach. Eat a donut? It goes there. Same with the chips. Bleh.

So I've been lifting a bit more, to build up my shoulders to compensate. Think it'll fool anyone? lol!

[Tonya]

Try eliminating all sugar and white food for a couple of weeks and see if you notice any changes.

[netoll]

I have the solution to the bulge, pilates! I am 55 and started pilates classes on machine (not mat) about a year ago and am absolutely amazed at how it has transformed my body in less than a year. I have always been athletic, running, etc. but wanted a firmer mid section. I have never had abs this tight and firm in my life.
I just started biking a month ago. As I was riding the first weekend, I positioned my mid section as we do in pilates class, ribs to hips. This means pulling your ab muscles down into your hips keeping your core tight. It removes tension from your shoulders and positions your body so your legs are doing the work while your core keeps your body in control. When I finish riding, I feel as if I have not only worked out my legs but also my abs. Pilates also forces your body to use it's muscles not the joints which saves you from injury.
I would appreciate any advice you all can give me regarding biking as a newbie. I love biking and received great info from the bike shop where I bought my bike but I need a woman's input now. I could use advice on biking in the winter in Atlanta, training, clothing, shoes, good areas to ride (so far I only ride the Silver Comet), anything.
Thanks!!!

[kelownagirl]

Netoll - so I am curious to know if you were able to lose that lovely covering of fat as well with pilates? I have pretty good abs now but the fat covering it makes them hard to see....