Belly fat in an Asian body: how are you fighting it?

[Kheerkadam]

Deeply frustrated by my shape in my fifties. I am a healthy BMI-just- but like most Asians, any tiny bit of extra fat goes straight to my very saggy belly. Has gotten even worse in menopause, to the point I look pregnant and clothes look horrible.

I eat super healthy lowish carb, exercise, don't drink, don't eat sugar blah blah blah. I could up the exercise, but honestly feel like its too much work. Every Asian woman I know has a menopaunch. White doctors and nutritionists just don;t seem to get it because white people store fat differently. I seem to be genetically predisposed to store it in my tummy. Even when I lose weight, it goes off my butt.

I am also veggie most of the time, so that makes it harder to up protein, though I am trying protein shakes, eggs, yoghurt, and tofu.

I store the fat in my belly too so have rarely ever had a flat stomach.

I’ve only managed it when I’ve tracked calories on my fitness pal to not eat above my target, low carb, high protein/fibre diet. Plus exercise.

It sounds like you’re doing everything right though - it’s just hard as an Asian with genetic disposition to store fat there and then risk of T2 diabetes etc

I’m asian and extremely pear shaped (think waist size always being two size smaller than hip size) so I don’t think it’s an asian thing as such it’s an apple shape thing. I suspect it’s just an inevitable consequence of menopause. The only apple’s I know who have flat tummies are either quite thin or have high muscle mass.

Do you focus on weights instead of cardio?

Go for liposuction. With our genetics, medical intervention is needed. But that's my view

I had a super flat stomach until I crosssed 45. Diabetes runs in the family too. Medically, I have had investigations and all is good. It seems to be the way I am. My mum is very slim but with a belly too.

I am going to up my exercise a bit- what else can I do?- but my god, why is it so much hard work for us Asians? It's not fair.

Oh also tried intermitten fasting. Reduced my belly by a bit but not by much.

@wizzywig That is where I draw the line.

@Noicant I do lift weights but am not very good at it. I also don't enjoy it one bit, and it's a struggle. I may get a personal trainer next year when I have more spare money to be more effective. I find most trainers assume I eat a lot of sugar because they are not familiar with Asian bodies and how we take longer to put on muscle.

Have you considered a personal trainer. I'm in a similar situation albeit younger. I'm struggling with flabby arms and belly.

Honestly it’s a bit shit, definitely geared towards laying down fat rather than muscle. I’d go with the PT and try to focus on building muscle, it should improve things, good luck OP, sounds like you are otherwise healthy and thats the important thing.

I agree with pp that it's an apple shape thing rather than an Asian thing. Low carb, high protein, abs workout and lifting weights works for me.

The "Thin fat Indian" syndrome is an actual thing. If you are born and brought up in India as female you are more likely to have been malnourished in childhood (son preference innit) and conversely more likely to store fat.

Apaz for a given calorific intake you have to do about 1 to 2% more exercise to burn it off.

Basically we are more fuel efficient

https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/how-malnutrition-and-obesity-are-linked-in-india-9199858/

Do you do weight training? I think a combination of running and some weight training can help.