50 getting a podgy belly - anyone avoided?

[Fuckfacetime]

So I do loads of good stuff.

Regular cardio & weights - everyday
walk loads
low carb - no bread or cakes
sleep and drink loads of water
no UPFs, one meal a day cooked from scratch
low stress life

BUT I am still developing a squashy tummy. This is an issue as I am 5 foot tall and my trousers are getting too tight! If you knew the pain of trousers shopping when short with a big arse you'd be worried too. Usually I am a size 10. Been stable for about 10 years. I do drink too much, but I like drinking and don't want to cut back. It's my only bad habit.

Is it age? Is it laziness? Can I stop it? Help !!!!!

I feel like you’ve answered your own question here.

Cut the alcohol out for a month and see if it goes.

I'm in the same boat and I don't drink much. I fear it's age. Our bodies don't work the same way re weight loss as they used to. Watching this thread for any ideas!

You don't really have a choice OP if you want to battle your body for those fat cells. They produce teeny traces of estrogen and your body won't give them up without a fight.

Or you can't get some stretchy wastebands and accept it.

I found going into menopause you need less calories than before to stay thin. The obvious thing from there would be to cut the alcohol out.

Not want you want to hear but it's 100% the booze. Simply from a sugar perspective....Look at how many calories/sugar you are consuming in a day/week month.

I stopped drinking 7 years ago and it was the best thing I ever did for my health. I'm 49 this year and in the best shape of my life.

No one wants to hear this so apologies again 🤪

But what if you don't drink? I have about a unit a week!

When you say you drink too much, do you mean total or frequency? I am 5'2", a couple of years older and have similar issues despite being fit.
I have found that limiting alcohol (and whacking great doses of Oestrogel!) has really helped.

Work out your tdee. You need a lot less calories than you think!
Avoid alcohol, which is calorific, and too much sugar in general.

Studies have shown HRT can help. It can actually decrease waist circumference.

My tummy is flatter now than when I was slim throughout my earlier decades. I did have to get the the lower end of my bmi though.

I found I needed to cut about 300 calories a day to stay thin in menopause. Not great and miss the days could eat cake everyday.

noooooooo! But I really like drinking. Cold beers in the sun.

Yes I should work out my tdee. I don't have any menopause symptoms yet, apart from my periods mainly stopping. Not sure I can be bothered with the faff for HRT just for that.

OK plan:

Work out tdee
keep a food diary - maybe I am eating more than I think
do heavier weights
Cut back on drinks I am not noticing that I drinking.

GETTING OLD SUCKS

Be glad if your only meno symptom is a bit of a belly. I am a raging psychopathic lunatic! I won't bore you with all my issues, suffice to say HRT has been a life changer!

Maybe your body is supposed to be a different shape now🤷🏻‍♀️

One drink a fri night is ok surely. Three prob not.

Can confirm I cut out the alcohol and it made NO difference. Currently having an Aperol Spritz in the sun and embracing being a little wider than before 🤣

jackrussellsaremad I couldn't say without knowing how much you move (calories out) and how much you consume (calories in). This is really all it comes down to.

Yes if you're having one gin and slim a week (100 calories) it's unlikely to be making an impact but the OP is saying she drinks daily and then says she loves beers in the sun. Sugar and calorie loaded.

Are you on HRT? My treatment definitely helped with weight management.

But yeah, it’s the beer. Sorry!

Also, embrace wearing skirts!

This is encouraging as I eat bread and sometimes cake (although don’t drink) and it sounds like there’s no point giving up the bread 😁

It’s not just the calories, alcohol triggers inflammation so we retain fluids.

The hormonal changes of menopause change how and where we store fat. I have had a shapely waist all my adult life but now have a thicker middle and have just had to replace all my jeans. It’s shit.

How much alcohol?

I am older and do less exercise - weights and cardio once or twice a week ( lots of walking thought ) and eat more carbs, meals and snacks sone of which are UPF and don’t have a problem so something slightly off

Ok so I was worried about how much I was drinking so used an app to total it all up. It’s about 40 units a week. I do try to have two / three days off a week but a sunny day will see me drinks a pint and a half, couple glasses of white, couple glasses of red. Not big glasses, but still.

also I am five foot so there is no where to hide !

re changing shape yes, it might just be that. I am keeping my waist so far with exercise. Maybe I just have to buy bigger trousers and work on maintaining.

and agreed am v lucky it’s my only menopause symptom so far, apart from a few night sweats

I guess that adds up to 6-8000 cals a week? Like eating 10 mars bars? Halving that would help a lot for sure

I think the maximum safe limit in the uk is 14 or 21 so your way over.

If you had an ultrasound on your liver it would show inflammation from the alcohol. A blood test would likely be fine as livers literally soldier on until they fail.

A bottle of wine is 800 calories.

40units is a lot. I have recently started a new job in a public health team and the more I learn about alcohol the worse it sounds! I also like a drink and will not stop totally but have cut down massively - and it is impacting my weight and skin for the better. You could do an alcohol audit to see what your drinking is like as far as risk goes drinkcoach.org.uk