Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask if you have managed to get rid of perimenopausal belly fat and bloat and how you have done it?

131 replies

SoManyQuestions219 · 21/05/2015 17:16

Am 46 and am noticing bloating and a thickening waist Sad.

Just wondering what you have done to combat these symptoms!! Is it possible to be this age and have a youthful figure? Have about half a stone of general weight to lose but my belly has freaked me out!

Thank you!

OP posts:
Dowser · 21/05/2015 17:18

Sitting quietly with a cup of tea waiting for the all the answers to come along!

( that is a fruit infusion, no milk, no sugar and no chocolate brownie to help flush it down! Heaven help me!)

FlabbyFlabbyBits · 21/05/2015 17:20

Oh, yes. Me too. Also 46. Gained 2 stone in last year. Most of that since starting HRT (though apparently HRT doesn't cause weight gain). I probably need to move more!

fearandloathinginambridge · 21/05/2015 17:25

I have similar concerns, am 45. I bought the My Hormone Doctor book which offers advice to women of our age. Tips include don't eat late into the evening, You don't need many carbs as you get older and I think recommends low GL. Will have to and check. I also find that not drinking wine/booze really helps cut the bloaty belly.

JugglingLife · 21/05/2015 17:25

I swear to god I blinked and a stone jumped on overnight on top of the 1.5 stone I already needed to lose. Haven't had a period since march either. I'm 44 for gods sakes.

brainwashed · 21/05/2015 17:29

Loads of exercise, including weights.I am nearly 46.

SecretSquirrels · 21/05/2015 17:30

I'm 57 now and about half a stone too heavy, I don't believe it's connected to the menopause though it's because of chocolate. My weight has never varied much since I was 20.

TheBeagleHasLanded · 21/05/2015 17:31

I'm 46 and have managed to shift it by using My Fitness Pal since January and by being very honest and strict with it. 21 pounds lost and as of today I'm one pound off my goal weight.

To get rid of the bloat and general 'pillowy' layer of pudgy fat that crept on all over my body I've been religiously doing Jillian Michaels' DVD's. I started with the 30 Day Shred in January. I then moved on to alternating No More Trouble Zones and Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism. I've just added 6 Week 6 Pack to that and have put recurring reminders in my google calendar on a running program until August when I will re-evaluate again.

The harsh truth I've realised is that I will have to very carefully watch what I eat and exercise daily from now on if I want to stay in shape. My fitness and energy levels have definitely improved that's for sure.

Prior to this I ate all the time and never exercised so it's been hard work but ultimately worth it. Hope that helps?

JaceLancs · 21/05/2015 18:15

51 here
Having to go gluten free last year has helped massively
I also go to gym 4 times a week and do toning and weights as well as usual aerobic exercises

Dowser · 21/05/2015 20:00

Gluten free, sugar free, dairy free and still struggling!

butterfly133 · 21/05/2015 20:28

Dowser, what a mare! Do you mind if I ask, are you actually overweight still? This thread caught my eye because of m cousin who is 52, no sugar, no dairy, low carb and also can't shift weight which she gained really fast last year. She's upset because her doc has been unhelpful. I can vouch for her living on lean protein and veggies though, she's given up fruit too. Nightmare.

blankgaze · 21/05/2015 20:30

dowser it's awful when the effort put in doesn't show much success, isn't it? What are you eating that's stopping the fat rolling away? Rice and potatoes maybe or too much fruit? Are you using sweeteners? They can be a hindrance as the body reacts as if they are sugar - see John Briffa's blog and read up on insulin, ghrelin and leptin, then ask on the weight loss boards, some of the ladies on there are very knowledgeable.

I'm also in the needs to make more effort camp Flowers

Feminine · 21/05/2015 20:44

I'm. not peri yet,(43) but.
Cutting down on cards and pilates will make a difference. I mentioned on another thread recently, how l made most of my evening meal from veg. Using the carb as a 'sprinkling' . It almost tricks you in to. Thinking you've had more. With the pilates
you will improve your core strength, thus holding you taller..... :)

cardibach · 21/05/2015 20:47

I am 50. I am overweight, but I really don't understand what 'bloat' means.

faitaccompli · 21/05/2015 20:48

I am 52 and have put on 2 stone in the past 12 months. I shot up from 9.7 stone to 11.7 stone. Did not change my diet or exercise - it just appeared overnight. ANd now I am exercising (brisk dog walking twice a day every day) and it is making no difference at all. I have never had to diet in my whole life and this is a horrible shock!

FarFromAnyRoad · 21/05/2015 20:51

Ditching the sugar will help enormously and if you can bear it get rid of the gluten too. Obviously exercise is the key - I'm told swimming is very good and easy on the joints if they're painful (mine are) but I just hate getting bloody wet so I'm working through my stockbook of excuses right now!

SquinkiesRule · 21/05/2015 21:42

53 here and my stone managed to jump over the last year it's horrible.
I need to go back to my fitness pal and use it honestly again.
It's hard work as I work silly shifts around the clock so food is whatever I can grab some days.

lastuseraccount123 · 21/05/2015 23:46

43 here. Have the belly. Have upped my cycling schedule from 2x a week to 5 x a week (5-6 ks a day) plus 2x long walks in the weekend.

It is definitely helping, along with eating less during the evening, but I also think I need to just lower my expectations about my waist now.

DarkNavyBlue · 21/05/2015 23:51

I am 44 and have lost nearly a stone on a high fat low carb diet. Brilliant.

RonaldMcDonald · 21/05/2015 23:54

Stop breakfast , it is miraculous

PinkFlamingoAteMyLipstick · 21/05/2015 23:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

gladistopped · 21/05/2015 23:55

I have lost 8 stone in 10 months on a low carb high fat way pf eating (THe Harcombe Diet)

ouryve · 22/05/2015 00:09

45 and have a stone to shift. I'm so bloody hungry all the time and seem to have developed a sweet tooth, when I never had one at all when I was younger. Can't do any exercise that puts any strain on my joints (HMS) and can't swim (dyspraxia).

Low carb gives me horrible gut cramps. And I'm rubbish in the morning without breakfast. Don't even try to speak to me until I've had a bowl of nutty muesli with soya milk and a mug of strong coffee. I have an amitriptyline hangover to get over before I can function and do the 1.5 mile hilly round trip of the school run.

I think my issues are snacking and wine. The wine I can solve by not buying it, but the snacking is harder as I will find something to eat if I have a craving. Out shopping today, so I grabbed a Count on Us curry to have for lunch when I got home and that did see me through to dinner. Maybe that'll be the solution for me because if I snack in the afternoon, I'm more likely to do so in the evening, too.

GatoradeMeBitch · 22/05/2015 01:07

Wow, well done gladistopped !

FindoGask · 22/05/2015 05:52

As I understand it, when you get older your metabolism slows down along with the cycle of cell growth/renewal so I agree that more exercise is the way to go. I'm in my late thirties and not perimenopausal yet (I hope, though my periods have gone weird over the last couple of years) however I do notice that to maintain my weight I'm needing to exercise more than I used to. I also find myself eating smaller portions. Sorry, this probably sounds insultingly obvious but it appears to be working for me so far.

SecretSquirrels · 22/05/2015 09:31

RonaldMcDonald Stop breakfast , it is miraculous

What were you having for breakfast?