Anyone else’s body change in their early 40s? Why?!

[Sellorwait6]

I exercise a lot and eat very well. But I’m larger all over. Bigger boobs, bigger bra back size, less defined waist, less slim legs. It really doesn’t suit me as I’m quite short. When I was in my 20s and 30s I was naturally very slim. My friends’ figures all seem to look largely the same as they always did!

I want to not care, but I see photos of me and I look so frumpy.

What’s happening?! And did this happen to anyone else?!

It's ageing! Of course it happens to women all the time!

I still feel a bit too young to look so frumpy! I feel like I don’t have control over what I look like anymore. (This is probably a self pity post )

Definitely ageing. Everything is so much more difficult to maintain and weight distribution changes a lot. It also gets worse during and after the menopause. I completely empathise as in the same situation.

I've just turned 40 and got a personal trainer last year. I realised that being a bit fat and not very muscular is ok in your 30s but it's all going to look awful in coming years with gravity and ageing so I need to deal with it before it's too late! Do you workout?

@CodenameVillanelle

I've just turned 40 and got a personal trainer last year. I realised that being a bit fat and not very muscular is ok in your 30s but it's all going to look awful in coming years with gravity and ageing so I need to deal with it before it's too late! Do you workout?

😂 The OP's first sentence was I exercise a lot

I do work out - I do cardio about 3 times a week and lots of walking every day. Perhaps I need to step it up?! I want to take a bit of control back!

I eat really healthily, but I haven’t lost the mentality of “if I want chocolate, I’m having chocolate”. I’ve never restricted food before (but I don’t over eat). Maybe I need to start doing that too?!

I’m probably a stone heavier than my normal weight in my 30s. I can’t seem to find clothes that look good on my new body, so I don’t have any sense of style anymore either. It only bothers me when I go to nice places or see photos of me (rare) but it really bothers me then!

OP weights are better than cardio in my opinion. Also check your thyroid.

I'm the same op. I was always able to stay slim til I hit 45 ish and suddenly my shape totally changed. I now have hips and bigger boobs and everything seems to have 'softened' somehow.
Eating the way I've always eaten kept me at around 9 and a half stone now I'm 10 stone 3 and CANNOT shift it. I have to work really hard for my weight to stay the same or I can lose a pound maximum in a week, then the following week I've put 2 pounds back on. It's so frustrating!

Yes OP. First thing was my shoes were too small.

My feet aren't fat! I'm not fat. My bones actually seemed to grow. I have such skinny legs and the weight has gone onto my stomach.

Back size has expanded.

Nothing to do with fat... it's odd. It started at around menopause at 43/44. I'm just 50 now and hope it has stopped.

I have a slim, tall friend, always very willowy. She is now much larger, not fat, larger. With big boobs. She never had before!

Get under some weights, get a personal trainer an learn how to lift, you won't get leaner doing cardio, you need to up your muscle mass and increase your bone density, all crucial heading into 40s for later life!

Have the chocolate, the pizza and all the nice things restricting food is the worse mistake you can make, just grab my fitness pal app, see how much you are eating calorie wise and start to learn about nutrition and eating well for your build and shape. You may find just keeping to 1500 a day helps you, maybe 1200 a day.

Most people are shocked they are up at 2000+ so it's a gradual process small steps and you'll be able to feel like yourself again in no time.

That’s interesting about weight training! I do only cardio workouts / walking / running at the moment.

It’s both reassuring to know I’m not alone and frustrating that this change happens to us!

I will try using myfitnesspal to see where I’m at with calorie intake. I have absolutely no idea! I feel like I don’t eat too much, but I will soon see...

Waist thickening in middle age is normal it just doesn't show on any of us that already have the extra weight. Your genetics used to adapt to what you ate, theirs didn't.

I'm a bit older than you and vowed not to be fat and middle aged at the start of the year. Weight training is definitely worth doing - if you build muscle your body uses more energy even when you're not doing anything. It increases bone density which is really important for women. I do three 45 minute sessions a week and have lost over a stone and a half this year doing this and by changing my diet - I don't snack anymore and eat more lean protein. I don't avoid carbs, but stick to unrefined carbs like brown rice, jacket potatoes, whole meal bread.

If you use mfp do not eat back your exercise calories - the calories you burn are often over estimated and you need a calorie deficit to lose weight.