Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: ricekrispie on October 03, 2016, 08:06:04 PM
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Has anyone else got fatter around the middle since they hit menopause? I'm assuming the answer is yes. My question is: what have you done to get rid of it? I'm having a very hard time. Gave up sugar entirely, started eating so much better and managed to lose 5kg but that's it, I'm stuck. Any tips or experiences would be great to hear. Thanks.
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Join the club. The menopause stinks. It's normal to loose muscle strength, loose weight and still have more fat around the hips and tummy. HRT can help to keep the figure. Diet and exercise can also help but the body just seems to change shape with the menopause. DG x
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Middle aged spread :o - 4 me it was a drop of the apron ……. as oestrogen levels drop so muscles become lax and eventually my belly dropped. Side ways on I don't look too bad but looking down: however, I haven't gained any weight. It's simply gone South :( bugga ::)
Swimming may help. Stretching upwards ……… yoga can be useful.
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Gravity seems to do it's worse. I joked with somebody the other day that perhaps we should all walk around upside down on our hands when we get to 50 - stop the skin from sagging. ;D
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;D
Yep that would sort it DG ! Except my boobs would cover my eyes ! :rofl:
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Oh Heck :rofl:
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Hello ricekrispie.
I read somewhere that people who ate a plant based diet which includes lots of fibre, don't experience middle aged spread to the same extent as meat eaters. Perhaps any vegan or vegetarian ladies can comment.
I eat plant based because it's an anti inflammatory diet and I believe it is helping to keep my UC in remission and I don't have a spare tyre. This may be a coincidence or the effect of the diet however my belly and hips are larger than they were pre meno so maybe even diet can only achieve so much. Oh,the joys.
Wishing you well.
K.
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Unfortunately you can't get rid of it completely ricekrispie as it is to do with redistribution of fat because of changing hormone levels! Yes you can lose weight but after menopause you will still be more likely to have slim thighs/hips and a relatively large waist - even on HRT (as I have). Oestrogen is responsible for our feminine pear shape and when this falls, the ratio of oestrogen to testosterone falls (even though testosterone is itself falling gradually as we age) so we become more apple shaped ( like men!). HRT can presumably alleviate this to some extent but I would suggest the dose needs to be pretty high to stop it completely.
I would be interested to see that study Kathleen - I am sceptical - until I read the study!!!
As far as I know, it is not possible to target weight loss but exercise can differentially strengthen muscles in different parts of the body (so all those diets that say cut that belly fat - are rubbish - if they imply that you can lose fat from belly only - because if you lose weight you will lose from belly and elsewhere!). I will happily be persuaded otherwise if there are some data/studies!!!
CLKD what is this apron you speak of? - I just can't imagine and you keep talking about it and I've never heard of such a thing except you on this forum!!!! - I wear an apron when I'm cooking but dropping it :-\ - the very idea sounds rather unpleasant! ;D
Hurdity x
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I'm a life vegetarian - so sadly can't say it has helped stem off the 'middle age spread' I am also an ex professional dancer and though I can't dance any more ( hips and back are really not good) I do walk a great deal and my job involves lots of stair climbing.
I do eat lots of eggs, yogurt and cheese - some animal protein is vital as there are certain amino acids that are crucial for the immune system and for supporting the skin and joints. I am a bit obsessed about getting enough calcium as I'm really frightened of osteoporosis.
I do eat a lot of fruit and fibre so open my bowels at least once a day, often twice - I'm convinced a high fibre diet is good for you - will probably reduce risk of bowel cancer.
I do think posture is very important. I try to always ‘walk tall' with shoulders down, back and head straight and engage my abdominal muscles while walking. As soon as we slouch then the chin sticks forward, our shoulders become rounded, we sink into our hips and the tummy relaxes.
We may not be able to stop the fat collecting around our middles but we can certainly make it less obvious - Walk tall ladies and pull that tummy in - apply a bit of lipstick and smile. ;D Dg xxx
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Oh I couldn't agree more DG, old habits die hard! I danced up until my late 30s though never professionally. I maintain the posture my earliest ballet teacher instilled in me; head high, shoulders down, pulling abdominal muscles in, 'walking tall'. It looks better but actually also makes you feel better.
Whilst I accept that my appearance will change, and I'm truthfully not at all concerned about my appearance ageing, I always make an effort. Clean styled hair, light makeup, always smart even if smart casual; again it makes you feel good! Making the best of what we've got!
I love this site, it does make me smile. Dazned I wish I had boobs big enough to cover my eyes when upside down! To be honest, with my back I'd be delighted to be able to arrange myself upside down!
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Have you never watched a TV programme when excess belly weight is removed - i.e. the apron area of the abdomen. It certainly is unpleasant ……… :sigh: .
I danced from 8 until 18. Ballet mainly as well as learning tap. Didn't like sport other than swimming and ice skating. I was in the choir too. I also cycled everywhere, or walked. For years I ate enough to keep me upright ……….. having been diagnosed as anorexic at age 5.
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Oh I'm very sorry to hear that CLKD x
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Hi ladies
I would just like to offer you some hope about our middles! I had been getting quite tubby over the last 10 years and I'm short which doesn't help! Tried dieting, I am quite active doing 2-3 classes a week (aerobics, walking, dance) but nothing was happening until...da da da the gallstone saga kicked in.
Some of you know I had a couple of pretty bad attacks but as soon as the first one happened I put myself on a very strict low fat diet. It was boring, it was hard but of course these things are easier when you know it's for your health and keeping you out of hospital!
From the moment I started that diet (under 10grams of fat per meal and then latterly 5, which isn't much believe me!) cutting fat and consequently sugar I instantly started to lose weight and also from my tummy! I didn't change anything else, still did the same amount of exercise etc. I also ate liver friendly foods, cucumber, beets, celery and also heaps of grapes. Now I had read that red grapes contain a substance which can help with weight loss, it's also in red wine but alas I can't drink much of that now :( .
I'm 6 months on from my gallbladder removal now (time flies!) and I have managed to keep the weight off and my mid tummy! My lower tummy is a bit of a pouch still, not as bad as it was (just no low cut bikini bottoms now!) I'm eating more fat now but not a huge amount and trying to keep everything balanced. I think having to do that diet for 5 months pre-op got me into such a way of eating it is actually hard to break out of. When on holiday I was actually looking forward to getting back to eating plain, simple dinners! I've also found I can't eat a huge amount in one go now as well, so I think portion control does play a big part. Some portions in restaurants are so big now I actually feel sick looking at them!
The other thing now is my digestion is soooo much better, I did suffer from bloating and not being terribly regular before but now unless I have a day when I don't drink as much as I should or a change of routine it's been really good, therefore I think when things are moving along properly that also helps your wellbeing. I did read that a lot of naturally slim people have really good gut bacteria and I've been taking a good probiotic since the op.
The only issue I've had with losing weight around the middle is that it's messed my hormones up a bit at times. As you know some of the fat around the middle is there to make up for lost oestrogen so that had an reaction as I started getting some bad side effects again, flushes and anxiety and all that funny head stuff which we all talk about! I think things have settled a bit now but I had an awful few weeks but I saw a naturopath who helped with some supplements. Plus also I don't know how much of that was down to the op as well, as soon as I had finished the physical healing all this other stuff kicked in. Anyway, I'm doing much better, I can still feel the anxiety bubbling under at times but I just tell myself that's what it is and to bugger off!
I think it is hard to lose the middle tum and my shape is much straighter than it used to be but I just wanted to say hopefully it is possible but it's strict work! I've just got to hope I can keep it off now but I do feel and look so much better that I hope that in itself is an incentive... I just really need to do some toning work and tummy exercises each day!
It's pretty drastic what I had to do but for me it worked so I do have some gratitude to those pesky stones! Hopefully you can all do it without the pain, good luck!
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Fab post Wombat62 - so good to hear you are doing well post op.
Cutting out sugar is of course a ‘no brainer'. However cutting out too much fat can have other problems. A lot of the calcium rich foods are high in calcium and in fact we do need a certain amount of the right fats to absorb key vitamins and protect our heart. I take Omega 3 oils every day. I'm a bit obsessive about getting enough calcium (scared of osteoporosis) so do ensure I have a small amount of cheese every day - I love cheese anyway and we all need our bit of luxury food. I'm sure you are balancing things well to ensure you get enough fat - however, as you have mentioned, the down side of loosing weight can be an increase in meno symptoms. I think, to a certain degree, we are meant to gain a little weight at this time in our lives as a kind of ‘reserve' - it's all about balance.
Catherine Deneuve (the famous french actress) did famously say that one had to choose between ones face or figure as we age (I paraphrase) - being too thin can be very cruel to the face.
You've had the gall stone problems but I've had stomach acid problems so have to avoid things like grapes, onions etc.
If I loose too much weight my energy levels drop a great deal and I often become quite ill.
The bad eating habits we all tend to acquire over the years do come home to roost with the meno - we often think we are eating right, however, it certainly doesn't do any harm for us all to reassess our diet and very importantly not gain too much weight. DG x
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I agree with the face or figure statement, I've definitely got more face wrinkles with the weight loss! Booooo! I don't think I want to lose any more just need to tone up now.
I try to keep fats to the good ones, avo, walnuts, salmon, yoghurt, lean meats etc with the occasional small amounts of naughtiness!
I think it's trying to find something that suits you, some people have done well on the 5-2 diet, some on the low carb diets, plenty to choose from!
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Kathleen, how old are you and are you using HRT ? I tried a vegan diet for a year but struggled with constant hunger and sugar cravings and started to gain weight immediately after starting a vegan diet (also began HRT at the same time). Now I'm back to low-fat high animal protein diet (egg whites, dairy, chicken) and hope to start losing those extra pounds that I gained during a vegan diet. Could you give a sample of your daily diet ? I'd love to be vegan but have not yet been successful.
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If it's a question of face or health/figure - then I will go for the latter any time - it's typical of an actress to say that - of course their looks are important to continuing in their profession!!! However for the rest of us....forget about the effect of weight loss on the face - and think about your health primarily - and then make the best you can of your looks - through skin care, exercise, hair, clothes, make-up etc! I think the initially sagginess from weight loss when you are older tends to tauten after a while anyway - unless one is obese to start with. Of course we should not aim to be stick thin but there are so many women who glide towards middle age, overweight, or obese and just accept it and this is so detrimental to health. I agree that a few extra pounds are fine - provided you are within a healthy BMI and have good diet and lifestyle - eating fresh and unprocessed foods and having plenty of fresh air and exercise.
re diets - wombat that's great - so you are not really low fat as in Slimming World low fat - but you eat the fats that are normally in food without adding extra. I have adopted similar but also almost zero added sugar, and very few extra (pure) carbohydrates - restricting these mostly to what's in food eg beans veg and fruit. This keeps my weight down along with exercise as you do wombat - but I have to do it on a permanent basis. I eat tons of yogurt!
There is no way I would want to go on a vegan diet - because I like to have animal protein and especially fish. In order to be balanced a vegan diet seems too much like hard work and not sure it is good for us in the long term? I have problems with hunger and low blood sugar too so don't think I could keep it up!
Hurdity x