Post-meno - why has all the fat gone to ass and thighs?

[todayandnottomorrow]

I'm 53, post meno. 80% of the time I've clean/healthy food/living, I rarely drink anyways, and I intermittent fast 15:9 about 4/5 days a week. I do a lot of strength work too

But my ass has got bigger and my thighs are thick. Tummy is fine, waist is very narrow.

It's so frustrating! Why is this?

Calories, sadly

I'm 55 and my bum doesn't look like a youthful bum anymore but my thighs are fine. However my boobs seem to be growing on a daily basis and I've got (whispers) - back fat. Oh the shame.

But I feel like I don't ever max out on calories at all - below what I need etc

Maybe lack of muscle tone

@todayandnottomorrow it is to help prevent osteoporosis, makes sure that you are doing weight bearing exercise at all times.

More seriously, you are quite lucky. Most women put on a bit of weight after menopause, just like we do on that teenager to adult journey. Your thighs and ass are the healthiest place to carry it.

I already am on the cusp of osteoporosis, sadly...

Good to know it's healthy, even if it's annoying. But I did have a big bum as a teen, so clearly reverting back

There’s a really good book called Next Level by Stacy Sims - all about exercise and diet through menopause and beyond.

You may well already know that you need to prioritise protein? You are doing strength work and exercise needs to be fuelled. She argues cutting calories is counter productive.

For example she says ‘when you have insignificant energy intake to meet your energy demand, you are left with too little energy reserve for all those important metabolic functions. As a result, your thyroid activity dims and your resting metabolic rate drops. Your cortisol becomes even more elevated, you develop resistance to growth hormone and your hunger hormone levels increase while your satiety hormone levels decrease.

So basically because of our changing hormones at this time everything that used to work for us to lose weight, maintain good muscle mass etc doesn’t. Women try and cut calories and exercise more and this doesn’t work.

She’s also not a fan of intermittent fasting as most of the studies to show it as beneficial were done on men.

Anyway, it’s a fascinating book and goes in to detail I’ve never seen before about exercise, diet and menopause.

Well, if you are going to have a big bum, you'd better make sure it is a pert big bum. Nothing as aging as a flat arse.

Dr Stacy Sims seems reasonably sensible

I took up hill walking with the dog last year, toned my ass and thighs but my knees objected somewhat.