What is going on with my waist?

[helpwithhouse]

Apologies as I'm sure I'm posting in the wrong place, but I'm getting desperate.

I've always been very apple shaped. Even at my slimmest and fittest I've always had a tummy and I'm ok with that just being my body shape. I also have bad IBS and the bloating that comes with that, however the bloating was really only when I ate gluten/loads of rubbish. I have been on a lot of laxatives due to health problem, but I haven't needed to take any in a few weeks. I always thought they made me bloated.

I had a baby 18 months ago and have not quite lost all my baby weight. But lockdown was hard, I was injured and couldn't exercise much and it was just me and my little one all day every day (husband works away). I do yoga a few times a week and plenty of walking. I'm delighted that my weight hasn't gone up since lockdown, but my waist is bigger than ever!! Its not specific bloating or anything (my tummy is soft to touch, no lumps or bumps), I just have no shape anymore. You cant even see love handles anymore, I'm literally just a circle. I have very slim legs and if anything I feel like they just make it more obvious. I'm 1 stone overweight but my waist measurements put my in the obese category.

What can I do?? I feel sluggish and blah!
My diets not perfect but I eat loads of vegetables, not loads of booze, I've cut out gluten and cut down on dairy (it bloats me too!).
I'm also still breastfeeding if that makes a difference.

Any advice?

Just to add, I used to do a lot of running/high intensity workouts which the physio has told me to stop while I'm injured, but hopefully I can start them again soon.

I don't understand what you mean by measurements putting you in the obese category? Which measurements?

It's hard right now but I would definitely consider talking to someone properly about managing the IBS, like a nutritionist. Not just a 10min gp.appt (sorry if you have already had lots of help) cutting out two whole food groups is not a good idea!!

I have had IBS in the past and I also cut out gluten. It did help. Then I ended up leaving my job and a load of other things happened and I realised that my IBS was purely stress related. I will still get the odd swollen stomach but this is most definitely linked to eating junk rather than eating gluten. For me, I had to realise that if I got symptoms after eating a whole pizza to myself then most likely it's the junk aspect of the food (super high fat, huge portions etc) that was causing the symptoms, not the gluten or dairy. I'd be concerned that without these two food groups your body is missing out on key nutrients which may even be making the problem worse.

Anyway that's what happened with me. I eat all food groups now and try to moderate my junk intake. I will literally only get IBS symptoms maybe twice a year if I really pig out on junk.

Hope you feel better soon

I lost the rest of my baby weight without trying when I finished breastfeeding, maybe you're one of us who doesn't just drop it all form breastfeeding like the myth has it?

You need to see your gp and get a proper examination, including an internal pelvic exam. It may just be bloating, but it could be something more serious.

After pregnancy it could be diastasi recti (?) when your stomach muscles separate. You need to do specific exercises to get them back together - my mum had this. But make sure you get a proper diagnosis first and help from a physio!

Sorry I should have said.
I've been seen by a dietician for a few years a while ago (through NHS) but I've since moved and it doesnt seem to be something they offer up here.
I've had a smear recently and discussed everything with a doctor (just before lockdown) and she wasnt worried.
Tummy muscles are fine and never split (3 professionals checked).

My period has also JUST come back.

A bout of constipation right after my DD was born left me with bad anal fissures (hence the laxitives), I've had a MILLION people have a look and feel due to that but I'm not having a bad flare up at the min. I'm waiting on a procedure to help (covid has delayed it)

@stopfundinghate that's really interesting, thank you.
By measurements it's the body fat %, I was told it's a bit more reliable than BMI x

Try reading about visceral fat which is the fat we store around our intestines and liver. It might be helpful. Inulin which is a type of fibre which helps the body remove visceral fat and it is prebiotic so is good for you generally too. On the dairy and bloating aspect are you lactose intolerant? Bloating is a sign. Hope things get better for you.

What are your actual measurements, OP? Bust-waist-hips.

Bust (measuring largest part) 105cm
Waist 91cm
Hips 105cm

Ibhace a friend who had similar. She started following a lchf diet eventually moving to keto and all of her bloating/waist/stomach issues disappeared.

Might be worth looking into? I joined a fb keto group (not done it myself though) and people share a lot of progress pics. Bloated/large stomachs are the first thing to disappear even with out any real weight loss.

A lot of the food we eat isn't natural food - it's mass produced factory food substitutes. It makes sense that our bodies don't know how to process it!

What was your injury op?

Those measurements = You're hourglass shape not apple shape.

This calculator might put you down as rectangle, actually.

Going by that calculator I've just realised how much pregnancy and breastfeeding has changed my shape.
I injured my knee when running. I have hypermobility and i stupidly didnt wear the right trainers like normal