At what age does middle age spread begin?

[lounellie]

Hi all, bit of a random topic but please bear with me.

If you don't have children and you keep your weight stable, at what age do most women's waists start thickening?

I am 35, no kids, same weight and size as ever, but I have been noticing a change in my waist in the last couple of years and I am trying to understand if it is a matter of fitness or just my body changing with age.

Thanks for your thoughts!

@GinBooksChocs do you have a programme you follow for weight / strength training?

I find being thicker around the middle makes me feel and look huge.

And does swimming help at all?

I don't. I knew a little about weights from general knowledge.

I'd suggest, if you can, engaging with a PT or gym for specific advice and they can also help with form to prevent injury. If that's not an option, there are an increasing number of online PTs helping women who are older and are aware of the affects of hormones etc.

Hope this helps and good luck!

@@BlastedPimples I do Caroline Girvan and always recommend it. She has tons of free programmes on youtube although has moved to a paid app for her newer stuff (which is really good value if you do decide you like her).

I've had to spend a bit on buying weights but overall still less than a gym membership.

Same here, but then my wine habit did increase which always makes a noticeable difference!
Once menopause kicked in, and collagen goes, you've got no chance 😆

I'm surprised at these answers . Yes I did put weight on from late 30s but assumed this was because I had a baby at that age .

In my experience weight gain or 'middle aged spread' in your late 30s is absolutely nothing compared to your 50s post menopause . My whole shape has changed completely .

Up to my early 30s , I had definite hips/bum/thighs but was fairly flat chested and had a totally flat stomach . Now my belly appears to be the largest part of me .

I had a look at a few articles around different shaped 'bellies' and it appears they mine was called an alcohol belly - as opposed to hormonal. I don't drink a huge amount (although when I do it tends to be lager) and I was wondering if it was a general sugar thing . Really couldn't stop eating all carbs but I was wondering if dropping sugar and maybe wheat would help .

I don't drink a huge amount (although when I do it tends to be lager) and I was wondering if it was a general sugar thing

There isn’t much sugar in a pint of lager.

Im 45 no kids, my waist is the same as it was ten years ago. I’m waiting for it….
Im not tiny i’m a size 12 pear shape but currently it’s ok. I do exercise though, Yoga, spin, walking and weights when my shoulder is ok! I eat nutritionally oo and drink lots of water

I think maybe it’s luck atm rather than that tbh.

I'm 43 and not changed yet(a slight belly after kids but barely anything) but I wouldn't mind, as I'm very pear-shaped due to a huge bum. I bet it won't come off that though and I'll look even worse with a big bum and belly.

Editing to say I don't lift particularly heavy weights!

Still waiting at 64! Maybe my tummy looks a little rounder! Same size now as I was at 16!!

In my case I thought it was age but it was lifestyle. I’m late 30s now and my waist is now 30 inches which is more or less within the recommended size for my height. Back in early 2022 after years of takeaways, ridiculously high sugar consumption and not moving especially during the pandemic I grew to 38.5 inches!

I’ve now lost over two stone and 8 inches off my waist through cutting out takeaways and reducing sugar and portion sizes and making a conscious decision to get 10K steps in.

That said it does depend - there may well be some people whose exercise and eating habits didn’t change much but their body did, but I think age can often be overstated when it’s really lifestyle.

I agree with the pp who say it’s not inevitable.

Mine was 35 after I had DS1 just had DS2 37 and I don't think it will ever be the same. I am not bkessed with elastic skin so I have awful stretch marks and lots of saggy skin that can only be removed with surgery.
I wear a waist trainer to hold in the skin. But looks awful.

This year .. 49 .
Exercise loads , eat well . Have always been an 8-10 - weigh under 9st .
Haven't changed anything .. but my waist is expanding and getting flabbier . Lots of bloating and the skin is losing elasticity.
It seems to have happened really suddenly.
I think it must be peri menopause.
The only way I could possibly combat it is to exercise even more and eat even less !!

I'm 46 - I think it's 46 😅
And I shall fight it kicking and screaming all the way. I already run and weight train - I have now upped the weight training, and started cutting down on alcohol and takeaways, and fingers crossed starting to slowly but surely go back to my normal shape!

You get used to it Honestly

I no longer feel hungry in the morning now . And rarely feel hungry before midday

I follow a womans fb who keeps fit, she is 50 and has a better physique than when she was 20. She works at it every day though. But it's possible

I'm 65 and noticed a larger waist and tum this year. I had this a bit a couple of years ago and tried the 7 pints of water per day.

50! During perimenopause - bloody awful :/

Caroline Girvan

Yeah it’s an everyday kind of thing. It would be quite unusual to do it only once or twice a week.

Right now I’m having my last meal at 7:30/8pm then having black coffee in the morning and eating breakfast around 11:30.

Obviously if having breakfast with a friend or if I feel especially hungry eg. on my period I’ll eat earlier but most days I do 16:8.

I’m not that bothered about having a different shape as long as am actually healthy. If it’s a change in shape because am less healthy then that bothers me but I’ve been through menopause now so my hormone levels are different and pre-puberty I was a different shape so I kind of expect to be a different shape now. I just want to be the healthiest version I can be of whatever life stage I’m at.

I’m 55 and really noticed it around 50 - it’s all gone on round my stomach area. I know I need to reduce my carbs but it’s really tough.