Big fat belly.

[Thatsminging]

Mine.

I’m sick of it and feel so down. I don’t overeat, walk the dog everyday and have started cycling again, but still need to lose 2-3 stone to be a size 10 again. I used to be slim, but had to work out 4-5 times per week to stay that way. Within a year of stopping the gym (ivf/fertility treatments and pregnancy) I was starting to put weight on. Now with a 2,5 year old toddler, I just feel too far gone.
I’m still suffering some effects of long covid from March last year so can’t do intense cardio. What can I do 🤷🏻‍♀️I really don’t feel myself. Is it possible to lose this much weight and how quickly?
My belly is huge right now and sort of firm high up, not even flabby but sticks fight out 😪

*Right

Take a look at the Low Carb Bootcamp thread, new challenge starts on Monday and it's a super friendly group of people.

Also, walk - every day, 10,000 steps in one or two long walks, outdoors.

Have you got burst tummy muscles perhaps? If it sticks out and is firm it might be that your muscles haven't gone back together? That said, if you weigh more then maybe its not just that. If you feel generally unwell have you had it all checked out to make sure that it's not a big cyst or bloating or something going on that ought not to be rather than simple weight gain?

Just want to caveat what I’m about to say by stating that if the weight is solely around your waist it may be worth a check up with the GP just to check all is well.

I don’t overeat, walk the dog everyday

Have you kept a food diary for a week and actually added up calorie intake? I find it surprisingly easy to underestimate how much I’m actually eating when I add the butter in a sandwich, oil used cooking etc.

Plus you need to keep increasing your exercise until you get to a weight you want to maintain.

Over the years I’ve put on and lost 6 stone. I’m back at the weight I was at the start and it’s taken an overhaul of my diet and an investment of time to exercise. I do 5 hours a week most weeks, sometimes more. That’s to maintain not to lose.

It’s absolutely true that your metabolism slows with age and it gets harder to lose the weight. It definitely takes more effort.

Me too OP! I have a fibroid and had 3 csections so I know these also don’t help. I’m trying yoga and planks. I’ve cut bread and pasta and in general trying low carb. I’ve lost lots but still have the tummy.

It’s quite tough on the self esteem though, right?

If you are still suffering with long covid I would take it steady with the exercise. Maybe focus on eating as healthily as you can rather than dieting as such?

@EasterEggBelly I’ve tried doing the MyFitnessPal app and find it fairly easy to stick to, but no progress, even my Dp says I don’t eat much 🤷🏻‍♀️My downfall at times can be bread and I know I need to knock that on the head. I’ve always had to eat hardly anything and work out a lot to be slim, it’s so depressing.
I’ve put weight on everywhere but my belly being firm but big shocks me the most

@ConstantlyChanging I don’t think it’s burst stomach muscles? As have had it for a while 🤷🏻‍♀️I wondered about cysts etc but have noticed if I lose a bit then pile it back on again, my stomach looks like this again.

@Greenmarmalade It is, I feel gross

Intolerances can also cause additional weight gain and bloating.

@KoalaOok That’s the thing, I’m too scared to get back on a treadmill etc and I know it would do me harm. I’ve only ever been able to lose weight in the past before properly by exercising quite hard, I eat healthily probably 90% of the time and haven’t lost anything

Personally I find bread and high carb foods (like grains in cereal, biscuits and cakes) are not good for my belly! I try and avoid them where possible - and actually the more you avoid them the easier they are to avoid! Good luck.

It could be possible you are not eating enough? The metabolism is like a machine. It needs to be working and little but often keeps it ticking over.
Also muscle uses more calories then fat so the more you work out, the more calories you burn, even when resting.
One thing I’ve realised over time is that a few simple choices make a big difference. Whole meal bread rather then white. An apple rather then a packet of crisps, 8 glasses of water a day etc.

I’ve lost nearly 2 stone with YouTube workouts (Leslie Sansone, Team Body project) and calorie counting. All my weight sits on my stomach. You can do it with young kids as can exercise at home

@EasterEggBelly I only ever eat wholemeal
Cereal bread etc, but I’m thinking I perhaps need to quit carbs altogether to see if there’s a difference 😩

I would discuss your concerns with your GP. Get some bloods done and take it from there.

Don't beat yourself up.

@Darbs76 I really can’t do any jumping around workouts etc as my heart rate goes nuts and I have chest pain for days afterwards. I’m fine walking the dog and biking it to the beach but I’m guessing those things aren’t going to help me lose weight,
How long did it take you to lose 2 stone?

@Boopeedoop Blood tests for what though?
I had lots done in May/June (due to the covid after effects) they included thyroid ones and all was perfect

I don’t have any magic suggestions but just wanted to say I am in exactly the same boat, also had ivf, long term infertility and my little one is just a bit younger than yours. My pregnancy was awful, had sepsis afterwards, found breastfeeding exhausting, have a huge diastasis, back to work was draining and then had covid. Big long list of excuses but it is tough and I sympathise with you totally. I’m still just surprised (and the depressed) by my shape in the mirror!

How I remember just slipping jeans on and that flat tum and waist. So sick of covering up on the beach and never being able to buy/wear nice clothes, I used to love clothes shopping and fashion and now it’s just about covering up. I want to look nice and feel good about myself again

@Passanotherjaffacake So sorry, brings you down, doesn’t it. I don’t think they’re excuses at all, you’ve been through a tough time, I have to 💐 it all takes its toll, but shifting it just isn’t happening. How much would you want to lose?

I'm a size 10/12 but have the most horrendous belly if I eat cereal and white bread. Am currently getting tests done to look at the lining of my stomach. I never understood the word bloating until this year! Best of luck OP, hate it!!!

@Thatsminging I'm with you, it's horrendous and I hate it. My weight has ballooned for various reasons over the last four years. I've definitely put weight on pp. I have a one year old but look nine months pregnant (no exaggeration) my stomach is really firm and high up too. I do have IBS but I can drink water and it bloats straight up. It's ruined my self esteem - I know really I need to lose 3/4 stones to get back to how I should be... but I'm still breastfeeding and now TTC again (already had one MC pp) so I'm really struggling to push myself to do it in case it messes up my periods etc again. Plus it's just not easy to do.

@cupcakesandglitter So sorry about mc, it’s so hard to feel motivated with a lot going on.

Yes, my stomach is exactly like that, it’s not really flab 🤷🏻‍♀️Just firm and high up, I’m sure people would probably think I was pregnant too, so embarrassing. Is it normal, is that just down to weight gain?

I’ve just entered my food etc into the diary at MFP, today I’d say was a bad day (weekend) in terms of not really thinking about what I’m eating or making an effort to include fruit and veg, which I have loads of during the week. It came to 1252 calories with 50 taken off due to number of steps taken today (that doesn’t include my bike ride as I don’t carry the phone when we go) so a bad day is within the daily goal they’ve given me (1200 calories)