Is anyone in the position where their weight is ok but their waist size/stomach is not?

[RumAndRaisinIceCream]

I had a health check up just before lockdown and I've been so busy I hadn't read the report. Essentially my weight is fine - I'm about 166cm and 60.5kg which is just on 22 in BMI. I'm a size 10.

However, my waist to hip ratio is almost 0.9 which apparently puts me at high risk, even though I'm not technically overweight. This is because I carry all my weight around my stomach/hips (I do!).

Problem is I find it nearby impossible to lose more weight than I'm at now. I have been down to 57kg before but I look almost skeletal. I might be able to get to 58kg but I'm not sure it's sustainable as I'd have to do a serious keto diet to get there and I've always trended back to the 60kg mark.

Just did some research and apparently having weight round your middle like this is just as risky as being obese. But I'm not sure how to get rid of it permanently - is anyone else in the same boat or have some ideas?

btw I'm late 40s so any weight loss does tend to be slower and the weight round my middle has become more of an issue in the last few years (I imagine as I'm getting near to menopause)

No advice but will be following to nick any tips posted!

Like you I put on weight on my tummy.
Have you combined your diet with targeted exercises? That might help tone your tummy more. I do weights/ skipping for cardio / yoga and Pilates and the combo has definitely given me a more toned tum. Lots of people recommend HIIT and of course sit ups too.

I have this problem it's really getting me down. I am 5 foot 7 and weigh 9st 9lb BMI 21.3 but have a huge stomach. I look 6 months pregnant. I have had 3 children which could be a factor, I don't know so watching this thread with interest.

Another follower (with sadly nothing to offer)

well I'm glad there are at least some other people in the boat even if we have no solutions!

yes, I could also be 6 months pregnant @Ladderinmytights. I had 2 but a long time ago!

I have tried toning and it does work but it doesn't reduce it in size. I just get more muscly there rather than it getting smaller if that makes sense. I just can't find a sustainable way of making it smaller to the degree it needs to be!

one thing i should say for all of you, if you haven't checked, and particularly if you've recently had kids or have had a few of them is your stomach muscles separating can make you look like you have a larger stomach. So it's worth checking you don't have that if you haven't done so already

www.webmd.com/baby/guide/abdominal-separation-diastasis-recti#2

Could you try intermittent fasting?

I'm wayyyyy off my goal but at a stone down for the first time ever my tummy is less pronounced. It's never happened before with sw calorie counting. Thete must be something about it as I see lots of similar posts on my fb group

Do you have, or could you have, fibroids?

@RumAndRaisinIceCream I've struggled with not being able to wear certain clothes this summer. Winter Will be easier as I can hide with baggy jumpers. I'm going to try intermittent fasting and cut calories to 1000 a day tops and pilates.

Weight found the tummy area apparently can be caused by insulin. According to the books, IF (the 16:8 method) cab really help with this. You don't need to loose weight, so you can eat what you want but IF should change your shape. Also helps with the fat you can't see, people who carry their weight round the middle are much more likely to have a fatty liver as well, again, IF helps with that.

Whilst you are not overweight, it might help you to read The Obesity Code (I found it as a pdf online if you don't want to buy it), it explains the science behind it and why it reduce fat around your middle and your organs.

Yeah same here, I weight 9stone I'm 5'62 but my stomach is chubby/flabby. I don't want to loose weight as my BMI is perfect but my flabby tummy is very unattractive

thanks, yes interesting that there are a lot of us with the same issue

@Farcry66 I will look that book out as I am absolutely convinced my hormones are playing a part in this. I haven't tried a proper fasting diet but I will give it a go if it specifically helps this issue!

Just done my first pilates for beginners session. Going to do it twice a day to see if it helps tighten my stomach.

Me too. I look about 5 months pregnant unless actually starved. I do have split stomach muscles (supposedly repaired by mesh insert, but it didn’t work!).

I guess we should all check up the symptoms of ovarian cancer, just in case there’s anything other than fat going on here for anyone.

I think a woman’s body can change shape after pregnancy.

That could just be something you need to accept?

I have a uterine fibroid the size of a small pear. I don’t recall my tummy ever being flat so I reckon I’ve had it years!

Google uterine fibroid and see if you have any symptoms.

Another with the same issue! I’m finally a healthy weight after years of being under weight but I look pregnant.

I’d go back to the doctor and ask them to rule out any medical cause. If that’s find I’d just accept people have different shapes.

Me too 5ft 6 and 9 stone 4. Hoping that my new exercise regime will sort things out a bit more but I'm still going to have to drop some more weight as my legs are flabby too. Got down to 8 stone 9 last year but still had the belly, but that was with no exercise so will see what happens this time

I look 5 months pregnant and I can't do a single sit up. I weigh less than 9 stone. Not a club I want to be in but I definitely quality!

I've always been this shape. I can remember at 17 buying jeans in a shop and the lady helping being absolutely stunned at my waist size being so large!

I totally get the different shape body thing - mine is more a health issue. With medical research starting to say that a large waist is actually incredibly risky even if your BMI is normal, I do just want to try and address it somehow!

www.imperial.ac.uk/news/49194/large-waist-almost-double-your-risk/

I am going to try and eat a lot more sensibly and do some toning and cardio and I'll come back and let you know if it works. Please do keep the thread updated if any of you have any success!

Me! I am a true apple shape. I am 9st 13 (currently dieting) and 5ft 3 so I am larger for my height but I'm not massively over weight. I have to wear larger sizes as my stomach is just so big compared to my frame.

@GhoulWithADragonTattoo

I’d go back to the doctor and ask them to rule out any medical cause. If that’s find I’d just accept people have different shapes.

Everything is phone consultation here at the moment. I’m not ruling it out but wondering how much they’ll be able to tell that way.

I had several thyroid tests but apparently its just my shape!