to be fucked off that I can't get rid of my belly! Is this it now I'm 46???

[soupdragon321]

So,, I'm a fairly fit individual. Have done yoga and pilates four times a week for nearly ten years. Have been running 5k 3-4 times a week for over eight months. And yet, I have not lost a single lb or inch from my waistline. I am getting seriously pissed off and I can only think that this is simply down to the fact that at 46, my body is just not going to do what I want it to because it's in early menopause and the 'thickening' of the waist is a real thing! Don't we women have enough shit to deal with! My weight has gradually increased over the past year to over 7lbs more it previously was. It seems so bloody unfair that despite all the exercise and healthy eating, I'm never going to have the body I'd like. Yes, maybe all the exercise is preventing me from being even BIGGER at my current age then i would be if I did nothing, (yeah, great, work your ass off just to stay the same which is more than you were originally! How depressing!!) but it feels that once you're over 40, unless you are genetically blessed, or choose to literally starve yourself (and life is far too short for that), then you just have to suck it up. ARGH!!! Rant over, just wanting to see if anyone else feels the same.

ANyone?

You can do all the exercise and healthy eating in the world but the reality is that unless you’re eating in a calorie deficit, you won’t lose a pound!

I felt the same until I realised that it’s basic maths. I used to be able to eat what I wanted and stay slim but as I’ve got older that isn’t the case anymore.

Unfortunately your body will lose weight all over and not from target areas - for me, my bum and thighs are the last to go (and where I need to lose weight the most).

Also studies suggest alcohol doesn’t help with fat loss and particularly in the stomach area. Maybe cut out alcohol and work out how many calories you should be eating and the 7lb should go quite quickly.

Hi MPC, thats the thing, I don't really drink, on an average day I'll have porridge for breakfast, salad and tuna for lunch, maybe a sandwich instead, and for dinner I'll have a healthy meal. I'd say average days intake is around 1500 calories or less. I wouldn't really want to eat much less than that - don't see why I should go hungry. I know you can't target areas as such , but it would be nice to see at least SOME difference SOMEWhere! Bollocks to the menopause. What a bugger it is.

It is pretty depressing isn't it! The best thing I can suggest is adding weight training to your routine, it is the best way to counter the effects of hormone changes that lead to that 'middle aged' look that slim women can have...flat bum and slim legs and arms but rounder tummy. Apart from the great physical benefits (eg stronger bones, helping prevent osteoporosis and lessening the risk of falls when you are much older), at least if you build up your legs and bum a bit it will help counter that aesthetic imbalance...? ?

sleepwhenidie, that sounds intersting. Are there any websites you could suggest?

Weight training should also give you a little more leeway with your food, just choose protein rich stuff!

Depends how you like to train - are you a member of a gym or would you consider it? Would you prefer to invest in some equipment for home?

You don't need to starve yourself but you need to be honest about portion size and the actual stuff you're eating.
I think your routine looks too cardio based with the running and would replace 2 of those running sessions with lifting weights at a gym if you can. Heavy weights for squats lunges and over head presses.
Cut out alcohol
Cut out as much refined sugar as you can bare it
Cut out bread bread rolls tea cakes etc
Drink as much water as you can

I'm 41 and I'd say stomach is probably the flattest it has ever been. I'm certainly far more times than I was a teenager. I can't pretend it doesn't take a lot of effort though.

I find the up side to this is you begin to not give a fuck. I'm in my 40s and I have chin hair, eye bags and a belly, meh!

I try to keep fit and not overweight for my health. Other than that, I'm middle aged, have had two kids and I don't care if I'm not perfect.

My portion sizes are quite small already - am under no illusions about that - this is why it's getting very frustrating! I am a gym member but wouldn't have a clue where to start with weights etc - I usually don't hit the equipment floor at all - just the studios for my yoga and pilates classes. Pinkblanket, what kind of effort has it taken you? I have to say, my stomach was also quite flat when I was 41. It is literally the last since hitting 45 that its all gone Pete Tong (along with hot flushes and red mist!)

Mooncup, I know what you mean and there is an element of that - it's quite freeing, but still, I#d like to see a positive outcome to the hard work, which I will maintain anyway because I FEEL better even if I don't LOOK better IFSWIM

I'm about your age OP. I find my waist/tum shrink a bit when I increase protein/fat intake and reduce carbs. Great! This hardly ever happens though as I love carbs...

I love carbs too but try not to eat them too often. GEtting old is just shit!

Yes!

Im 39 and my weight and specifically my midriff is so frustrating me!

I go to the gym 5 times a week. I do cardio, training and weights.

I eat sensibly, eggs for breakfast, lunch is either soup with crackers or salad with protein and dinner would be stirfry, omelette or salad.

I log my food with MFP and i'm under 1400 calories a day which is recommended for my output.

I can lose a lb or 2 then as soon as I have an off day for a celebration or a night out its 3-4 lbs back on.

So frustrating!

Same age, same boat soupdragon! I've always eaten healthily and watched my weight and been able to diet if I've needed too but now nothing seems to work! I ran a half marathon last year so upped my training and also did a 100 mile challenge one month, and I lost a pound, one pound!!! It's so frustrating! currently trying soup for lunch and low carb teas. If you find the answer let me know!

..

Weight training (serious weight training) is what is finally doing it for me. I'm 45.

Any chance you're lovely and toned/slim and have unrealistic expectations/are too harsh on self?

I felt the same until I realised that it’s basic maths. I used to be able to eat what I wanted and stay slim

These two statements are contradictory. If it's 'basic maths', how come you used to be able to eat whatever you want and not put on weight, and now you can't?

There are other things involved, hormones, metabolism (affected by hormones) etc. It most definitely gets harder as you get older - yes, a calorie deficit will help but it's not quite that straightforward.

Have you been checked for heliobacter pylori infection? & maybe Candida too

This was me a few years back, though health problems mean I'm no exercise junky, but my diet was/is very healthy & so I couldn't understand why I was always so bloated. Original GP was useless & started quizzing me about my relationship with food when I mentioned it🧐.

Locum GP checked me for h.pylori, I had it, had had it for years. Treatment is harsh triple/double antibiotics & may need more than one course to shift it. I needed a course of strong anti fungals afterwards, so I'm not 100% sure which of the 2 or if it were both that caused me to frequently look 10 months pregnant, but it went away after that treatment.

I was always sure at least some of it was fluid retention, back up by a manual lymphatic therapist I saw, but denied by my GP.

My stomach is much much flatter now & fluid retention in my legs also disappeared.

I'm in my late 50s, so yes it is possible if there is an underlying cause that can be fixed

Same age, same boat soupdragon!

I've just had a WTF moment.

Use a rowing machine.
Decrease carbs, increase protein.
Weigh everything.
Use mfp and track everything.
Drink water.

I've never had a flat stomach or a trim waist, but it's definitely got worse since just before I got 40. I go the gym twice a week which just about keeps it in check and me able to wear the same size trousers I've always worn, but tbh, I can't be arsed to make the effort to get it much smaller! Going in diets or more intensive exercise would be more effort than the relatively small satisfaction of a trimmer waist would be worth IMO. I just kind of accept it as coming with being older and try to stay fit rather than necessarily thin.

(Should have elaborated - I thought "I've not posted my age or a problem")