If anyone has lost the saggy menopausal belly , how did you do it ?

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

I'm specifically putting menopausal belly because I know lots of people say the hormones affect the way fat is laid down.

It;s the saggy apron flappy skin and bloaty belly that stares back at me .

I;m 56 and menopausal .(2 DC but not CSection)
I don;t drink or smoke
I cannot do the high fat/low carb because it will give me extreme pain.

I;m not even contemplating HRT or surgery but I know many have found success there .

I lost a stone last year through extreme ill heath (in a month ) but this has likely crept back .

I'm not looking for a miracle , but I don;t want to just accept it and I know as I get older its more difficult , plus the diabetes risk is higher .

Any tips ? Excercise specific to my abdomen ?

TIA

Wow, that’s the spirit.

Love that positivity post @TinyCactusInAPot and that you have to enjoy it to make it stick.
I'm also going to look into those books mentioned.
I have nothing to add but have found reading this thread very inspiring that I can do something about my baggy belly.
I do love my carbs though, so reducing them will be hard. I have upped protein and even just little things like improving my posture actually make my stomach appear smaller (not slouching and tilting pelvis).

You need to address why you have a sagging belly? Was it there before the menopause?
I'm 58, 2 DC, size 8, on HRT, spin , swim amd cycle . Due to my excercise routine I need to consume quite a lot of calories. I love food and wine.

Have a look at your diet...keep a food diary for a week...write down literally everything that passes your lips. You will soon realise why you might need to adjsut what your eating.
Also, think about joining a gym and get a PT. If you dont fancy a gym, you can find an independent PT who will come to your house or will work from their own home or maybe in a park.
I personally do not enjoy running but you might enjoy park run. or do the couch to 5K.
There are also some brilliant instructors and excercise classes for free on youtube.
Plenty of free advice out there.

Accepting a bit more fat and upsizing on clothes is the worst idea and attitude I have come across.
No wonder British people are getting so fat and unhealthy with it.

Following for motivation

Reformer Pilates. Life changing.

another vote for Next Level/Stacy Sims

Reading this thread with interest - I’m 37 and had first (and last) baby via c section 10 months ago, but have also been through breast cancer treatment and have noticed that although I’m a lower weight than pre-pregnancy the weight I do have is all on my tummy. I just finished chemo yesterday and have been told I will need to take 10 years of oestrogen blockers which is scaring me more than the diagnosis itself (daft I know) I am usually a very active person, I ran a marathon while I was pregnant and 5k the day I gave birth, I’ve managed some long cycles and a couple of runs during chemo but this belly just doesn’t want to shift. Is it here to stay? So depressed when I look in the mirror now, one boob, bloated belly and balding head. I know I shouldn’t care but I do ☹️

I'm recommending flattening glucose curves to everyone - I'm finding I have fewer cravings for crappy carbs, more energy, no afternoon slump resulting in sugar consumption. I read Jessie Inauchpe's book after discovering via Zoe podcast:

open.spotify.com/episode/7l9T7BaYtjQ9PQrZf134Qi?si=ELthcJIZSMOXlHEv8ey3QQ

Hey - just wanted to say I had Breast cancer 12 years ago - I’m now 47. It does get better and easier. Going through breast cancer treatment and having a 10 month old baby is so, so tough. Be kind to yourself. Mine were 10 months and 2 years when I was diagnosed.

I’m honestly fitter and stronger now than I was pre cancer and babies now. Pilates is fantastic for regaining core strength so when you do build back up you’re less likely to get injured.

It’s such an exhausting time though. Build back up gently. It just takes time. I found tamoxifen fine (if that’s what you’re on?) once I’d got used to it.

@Delatron thank you so much for replying to me, your post really has given me hope. I’ve not met anyone else going through this with a baby, she was 16 weeks when I was diagnosed. I’ve felt so despondent at times, so much has happened in such a short space of time (3 surgeries including my c section then all the nasty chemo) and I just don’t recognise myself any more. In the mirror or as a person.

@Delatron it will be tamoxifen, after I’ve done my radiotherapy. All I’ve heard are horror stories about impossible weight gain, loss of libido and mood changes - you’re the first person to tell me you’ve found it fine so thank you for that too ❤️

Accepting a bit more fat and upsizing on clothes is the worst idea and attitude I have come across.

I had to upsize because my normal clothes were starting to look ridiculous. However, it was the kick up the bum I needed to start eating less and doing more. My stomach (and bum] has shrunk and the upsized clothes have started to look baggy.

Well done...too many people are on the slippery slope once they start going in to a bigger size.
Get rid of them bigger clothes and vow never to do that again 😉

Ooh , lots to consider and it's enlightening to see I'm not alone in this .

I;m not going to accept it , I'm getting older and my worry is the fat will hang there , gathering pace .

No surgery for me , that's not my way , but I fully embtace that it works for many .

I think though , I will go and see the GP about HRT , mainly for my bones but my brain fogs are starting to worry me !

I've cut carbohydrates , I do like pasta so that will stay , but bread only once a week (I have a breadmaker which makes the best bread , but I can rely on DS,DH and DD to remove the tempation ) . A Friday morning slice of fresh toast is something not to miss out on.

Oh 16 weeks old - that’s so tough. You will
come out the other side I promise. Chemo really does a number on you. Then everyone expects you to be fine when it’s finished and you just feel broken and worse than ever. You will feel like your old self soon - you’ve just been through a lot and it takes time to recover both mentally and physically. You’ll get there - I promise!

I had zero weight gain on Tamoxifen- I was tired but then I had 2 young children and just been through the wringer so who knows. But I didn’t gain weight.

Now I’m Peri I have to be more careful and lift heavier weights but that’s perimenopause not tamoxifen!

I think though , I will go and see the GP about HRT , mainly for my bones but my brain fogs are starting to worry me !

It might have been coincidence but I started to put on weight around the same time that I started HRT, although the two are not supposed to be linked.

Have a look on the menopause board

www.mumsnet.com/talk/menopause/4751955-why-we-put-on-weight-during-menopause?page=3&reply=124339117

Chapeau to you @WorryMcGee . You and your body have had an outing. As @delatron says be kind to yourself, you are still very young and your body will get stronger with time and of course you're still allowed to care what you look like. Excercise was obviously a massive part of your life and can be so again. I assume you might have heard of 'her spirit', there are some brilliant coaches on there and lots of mental health support and encouragement too. I follow them on instagram and listen to the podcast with Louise Minchin.
Was wondering if you have been offered a reconstruction, especially as you are so young? x

@astarsheis thank you for the recommendation, I actually hadn’t heard of them! I’ve given them a follow on instagram and will check out the podcast, I love podcasts 🙂 I don’t think I want reconstruction, the thought of more surgery really freaks me out. I have a severe phobia of general anaesthetic despite having had a few of them now, and I had a c section and the two cancer surgeries all within the space of 6 months - I don’t think I can face any more for a while. I’m quite flat chested anyway and I think if I could just sort the belly out I could come to terms with the rest of it. It’s the belly that’s making me look weirder than the lopsided chest (I think anyway)! Maybe I’ll feel differently in future though.

@Delatron Have spent the afternoon speed reading Next Level - I think the detailed explanation of the hormonal changes in women's bodies during perimenopause and menopause is exemplary, the best I have seen in print to date. It should be essential reading for all women to better understand what is going on with their bodies.

For my part, I'll be making a few tweaks to how I/when I eat on days I go to the gym, and also how I lift - will be concentrating on lower reps and heavier weights, so (as an example) will switch from 3 sets of 10x40kg deadlifts to 3 sets of 5x60kg

Thank you again for the recommendation

Ah you’re welcome @highfidelity I’m pleased you’re enjoying it. Yep, this info really isn’t out there anywhere else. Especially for women who do lots of sport/training.

I’ve made lots of tweaks too. With regards to fuelling, supplements etc. it’s fascinating.
I’m trying to lift heavier too. I find it hard as I tweaked my back a few years ago so anything heavy in forward flexion puts pressure through my discs. But trying to build up.

I found the part on spring interval training interesting too. I do a lot of running but trying to incorporate more sprinting.

Agreed, it is fascinating. Have recently reviewed my supplements too.

Prior to all this, I didn't exercise at all, it's been an interesting journey to see what works for me and what does not. LISS rather than anything more cadio-focused is not my friend. (And F45 nearly killed me, or rather it raised my cortisol levels so much I actually gained weight).

Am not a runner, never have been, but once the weather warms up a little, will resume swimming too. Like you, I have did something with my back a few years ago too, and that coupled with a shoulder injury means I am taking it very slowly and currently training under supervision so I don't do myself more harm.

Have already lost 10kilos of perimenopause weight gain several ago and it was much easier than that time round - starting HRT was the magic bullet, along with weight lifting and counting macros. However, my hormones shifted again, menstruation finally stopped and at 47, am now three years post menopause. Am still on HRT, naturally, but training is so much harder on my body now - when once I could train on consecutive days with no ill effect, now I have to take a day or two rest in between. So yes, this book is definitely something I will read over the weekend and take notes. Thank you again 💪

Accepting a bit more fat and upsizing on clothes is the worst idea and attitude I have come across.
No wonder British people are getting so fat and unhealthy with it.

I respectfully disagree. Many women gain a few pounds during or post menopause. We must be realistic. And given that they do, it does your mh no good to try and squeeze in to clothes that make you feel and look awful.

Far better imho to meet your situation head on. I felt a lot better when I bought clothes that made me feel good and from that point on I was able to lose weight. Hating yourself and your body is never a good path to weight loss.

Me too. 55 and a horrible belly. Marking the page!