Sweet Mother Mary, WHERE has all this weight come from???

[NoNameNellie]

I've maintained a stable ish weight for most of my adult life, always with 3 or so kilos to spare.

My lifestyle could hardly be called active, but it's certainly not sedentary. I'm on my feet most of the day for my job and I walk most places as I don't have a car. Food is OK, I'm hardly a saint but tend to mostly cook everything myself at home.

My clothes have been getting tighter and tighter over the last 4-5 months and I finally replaced the batteries in the scales the other day to see that I've gained 4.5kg. Even more horrifying, I checked some measurements I took 18 months ago to see that I have gained 9cm on my belly alone!! My stomach looks very distended... no other symptoms of ill health and definitely not pregnant. But what the hell?!

It seems that I've really piled it on in since September of last year, without any discernable changes in my food or exercise routine. I've booked in with my GP tomorrow to talk. Am I being naive in thinking there could be a medical reason? I feel otherwise perfectly healthy. Or am I am in denial and the occasional snacking and decreased activity (with lockdown) responsable??

Would be grateful for any insight, I'm aghast at the weight gain around the middle and am resolved to tackle this immediately.

It's more likely the decreased activity. 😁
You could try to have a look at your calories? Or if you don't want any if that, because it is only 4.5 kilo, you could just make some small changes. Make your portions bit smaller and up the moving with some shorter workouts (i found that I have less excuses when workout is short).

You're doing the right thing talking to your GP as a medical reason should be ruled out before anything else.

You don't say how old you are - peri-menopause and menopause can cause weight gain - are you of an age where that could be a factor? Many women find they have to cut down what they eat/increase exercise to avoid gradual weight gain when they get to that age .

Hmmm interesting! I’m not peri menopausal - only in my early forties.

4.5kg might so seem so much, but my stomach is so distended... if it weren’t me, I would think it was the body of a pregnant woman. I’m also short so the extra weight has me looking pretty dumpy.

Are you having any digestive issues lately? It can be a combo of both. But yeah, if something is odd go to go, absolutely!

A distended stomach while the rest of your body is normal can sometimes be a sign of an ovarian cyst or fluid retention, so talking to your doctor is definitely the right thing to do.

Perimenopause often starts in your mid-forties and I have heard of women with symptoms earlier than this - you can be in perimenopause for years before your menopause. You would be young for this, but I wouldn't rule it out altogether if the weight gain does turn out to be a gain of body fat rather than having a medical cause.