That python swallowed a balloon look after menopause?

[TofuTuesday]

Honestly it’s so depressing, I’m still a size 10-12 but my entire body shape has changed. Just a slump from my boobs like an isosceles triangle into my stomach and then teeny legs at the bottom.
everything I wear I look so chunky from the side. No definition or differentiation between waist, boobs etc

I mean, it's a natural ageing result, but it is annoying. I used to have a weeny waist and flat stomach. I find when I avoid gluten, I'm less bloated.

I hear you. I look gross from the side. Then see Amanda Holden and think how the heck does she do it and why can’t I ?

@Jeromeinaboat are you following her diet and exercise because personally I cannot eat like that

I’m sick of the tyre round the middle look.

I had this before I overhauled my diet and exercise and got on HRT. Someone said I looked portly. 😮

That’s how I look!

I feel like it must be a very strict diet and a personal trainer? I have no clue otherwise. Even the very slim old ladies I see have bellies, it’s so depressing.

What did you do @JustSetFireToIt?

I did Keto and interval training and most importantly, weights. Fired up my metabolism so that, together with the HRT put me back on track but sadly, i eat a lot less than I used to.

@Huckleberriesnope - as I said I am horrible side on. She must work incredibly hard as there’s not an ounce of fat on her. I can’t shift the barrel belly but nor can I face keto or any very restrictive diet. I remember my mum’s friends when I was a teen being on diets all the time and now I know why ! I remember them making jelly from some fizzy pop called one cal?! Memory unlocked right there

I don’t have a protruding belly. A jiggly one from having 3 children but otherwise an hourglass figure. I only really eat one meal a day, early evening, but it can be whatever I like. If I’m hungry before then I’ll have greek yoghurt & blueberries or an apple & cheese or a piece of chicken and an apple or grapes. I’m not on a diet, I strength train (3 times a week intensive training with a trainer not just fannying about at the gym) no cardio apart from a bit of walking and I maintain my weight (10st at 5’5”).

I’ve been much bigger and much smaller but here is where my body has decided to settle. Perhaps its down to initial body shape. Bigger or smaller I am hour glass.

I was actually just in the shower about 15 monies ago giving myself a scrub all over and I thought “ where thee hell have my legs gone and why has it moved to my belly?”. Looked in the mirror and I’m like a seal on a pair of stilts despite being a size 12. Everything has gone shockingly wrong since mid forties 🫠

I used to be tall and thin and now I’m an inch shorter and so much wider. I do yoga twice a week, and eat vegan (nuts, hummus not fake meat) at around 1800 calories a day. Just weighed myself and I’m 9 stone 11 at 5’6 which seems really high compared to my pre menopausal weight who can was more 8 1/2 /9 stone.

I have just decided to accept it. My mum is a size 8 and still has a belly. I used to have a 24 inch waist. Now more like 30.
Menopausal women don't need to look like 25 year olds.

I also don't look at myself sideways!

I’ve seen Amanda Holden in real life. She’s very pretty but tiny with that lollipop look. She must work so hard to be that small at 50 odd. Respect for the discipline but for ordinary folk who like food and don’t have the time or money for PTs, it’s unattainable. I’ve acquired that barrel look and put on weight recently post gallbladder surgery, no idea how to sort it other than starvation.

Absolutely nobody will believe me, but I have no desire to look like Amanda Holden. Really.

I don’t want to look like a sleb body tbh, I don’t have the pressure or income of someone like Jo Lo, but I’d love to slim down a bit or tone up, whatever

Absolutely fair enough. I am trying myself to trim my waist.
I just think we need to be a little kind to ourselves too.

I was looking at Amanda Holdens photos (I quite like her). She will work hard for that body though, and have a lot of support. She won't be doing two half arsed local gym pilates sessions a week. The woman probably has a reformer in her house 🤔 and a trainer who tells her to get on with it. Then they do weights and she has the odd run. And only has a slither of cake afterwards. Some of just had a quarter of a cake after a run.....

I swear I could solve a lot of my problems around a podgy stomach and spending too much money on cake and chocolate if I put my mind to it.

Im thinking of introducing a mini mid week session that chat gpt just created for me, involving planks, side planks and bird dog so weight bearing but not using weights? I hate the gym so much with all the young men and huffing and puffing , I just feel so self conscious.

Have been considering posting something similar to OP for the last 6 months. I’m eating as healthily as ever and also eating less. I exercise regularly. This has been the case for the last 8 years or so, but in the last 6 months I’ve developed the python swallowed a balloon look (great phrase for it!). A complete wardrobe overhaul because clothes don’t fit or no longer suit me was not on my retirement plan.

I’ve started doing press ups daily and that’s helping pull in my core a bit but I hate the gym too and cancelled, as was I too intimidated by men standing over me on the machines until I finished than starting mammoth sets

In all honesty, the only way is to eat less.
Post meno, fat heads to the belly.

OP you might need only 1400 cals.

You can't spot reduce with planks or anything like that.
Those exercises will create muscle tone, but they don't flatten a fat tum.

Are doing any exercise?
You need to do something aerobic like swimming or fast walking for an hour at least 4-5 times a week.

I don’t want to look 25, but I’d like my clothes to fit, and to be able to bend down to tie my shoes without a bulge of gut in the way.