Susan-

Thanks for posting. I feel so silly focusing but it really bothers me too especially since friends used specifically discuss my flat stomach. It has been a time of lower self esteem for me and this just adds to it. My stomach hasn't been wonderful since pregnancy but around turning 48 it got it's own mojo. I mean it's alive and resists intervention.

I don't know what that med was you were on- BCP?

I know there are millions of theories people have-- carbonation in beverages, alcohol. carbs, hormones waning causing the body to hold the fat to hold estrogen was the latest I was told. I almost want to close my ears and just dream up ways to outsmart it like much more exercise, much more hydration and much cleaner living. Working on that but life ensues and tends to help me derail from these great plans. I used to have a flat stomach but I used to have a better lifestyle when I was just concerned with myself and so few other things. Okay rambling now. Tell me what that med was and lets see what others say. Y.A. 

Ahseif,

The medication I was on was the Vivelle Dot and it is estrogen for hormone replacement therapy.  I'm not sure if it caused or prevented the belly fat since I was on it and then went off of it for a few months.  I recently started it again as the hot flashes were getting worse and I found that I kept waking up through the night.  I couldn't function on only 3 hours of sleep a night.  Since going back on the Vivelle, I now get a full night's sleep. 

But getting back to the belly fat, it just seemed to be there overnight.  I know I'll never have a totally flat stomach as I had two kids, but it's uncomfortable with this belly fat and it has a tendency to bulge over the waist of my pants.  What can be done to get rid of it?  Plus I'm concerned that it will get bigger.  I do watch what I eat and get regular exercise.

Susan

Susan,

They belly fat that you describe sounds stress related to me. Have you ever heard anyone say "stress can make you fat?". Well it's true. The adrenal glands (one of top of each kidney) release hormones into the blood stream to help us cope with stress. When the adrenal glands become weak from too much stress this causes an imbalance in hormones and weight gain is one of the symptoms.

When the ovaries stop producing estrogen at menopause, the adrenal glands are suppose to take over, but if the adrenals are weakened already, menopause symptoms will be much worse, and again, weight will increase, especially around the belly.

This is just a very brief description of what I believe is going on, but if you do a search on the Internet for "Adrenal Fatigue" you will get a better idea of what I'm talking about.

I recommend you start supporting the adrenal glands. A naturopathic doctor can help you with this.

Hi Penny,

My daughter, who is hypo, has been diagnosed by a very good naturopathic doc as having adrenal fatigue.  He has her on many supplements for her estrogen dominance, adrenal fatigue, PCOS, and hypothyroidism.

Unfortunately, even when she starts to feel better, the weight will not come off.  It is so frustrating for her.  She goes to the gym, eats no more than 1500 calories and has probably gained about 100 pounds these past 2 years...

Any suggestions?

Thanks.  Suzanne

You all sound like you're describing my body.  I have had a problem with belly fat since high school.  Then it was only minor.  I think actually it was partially a posture problem then.  Of caurse after having my 2 daughters it got worse.  My girls are now 24 and 27.  I'm 49 and an still struggling with this.  Last year I tried Taebo.  I bought the tape for people over 40.  It's still a great workout but I knew I wouldn't be able to keep up with the regular tapes.  Anyway I exercised to the tape twice a day for 3-4 months.  I actually got to where I was noticing a difference ion some places but not my stomach.  My daughter used to comment on why my stomach was flabby.  My response was always "have a few kids and see how you look".  My younger daughter now has an 18 month old and she is now complaining about not being able to loss the flab.  I only weight about 135 lbs so am not really overweight.  I would love to get down to about 120 but always loss weight in all the wrong places.

I did try Mochatonix from Market America.  I used it mainly to combat fatigue.  I was told it would even help control my appetite to help me loss weight.  I was no longer tired but still didn't lose a pound.  I stopped using it because I found it kept me too alert and I wasn't getting the sleep I needed.

I have now started menopause so am hoping my hormones will settle down so I can eventually get in better shape. 

One comment though to everyone.  Don't let this prevent you from enjoying life.  I decided  I could still wear a bikini - not a brief one - and still not be too self conscious.  I decided that if someone didn't like how I looked they didn't have to look at me.  Changing my attitute really helped me deal with it.  At work I wear clothing that help hide the flab.  Alot of people comment on how slim I am.  My comment is usually that they only think so because they've never seen me in a bikini.

Ginger, excellent comment!

<<One comment though to everyone. Don't let this prevent you from enjoying life. I decided I could still wear a bikini - not a brief one - and still not be too self conscious. I decided that if someone didn't like how I looked they didn't have to look at me. Changing my attitute really helped me deal with it. At work I wear clothing that help hide the flab. Alot of people comment on how slim I am. My comment is usually that they only think so because they've never seen me in a bikini.>>

As long as YOU feel good about how you look - that's the only thing that counts. Hey, if they comment on how good you look - let them! LOL

I wish I only had a "flab" but, unlike you, I am overweight - working on it - have lost 13 1/2 lbs in one month on the Rice Diet. I will not wear a bikini because I can see how I look and the picture is not pretty to ME. I don't care how people see me, but if I am not comfortable with MY looks, that's another story. I will not wear tight clothes because I don't like the way it looks on ME, but I don't care if others do, if they feel comfortable wearing tight cloth, being overweight, it is fine with me.

My motto is, if there is something I can do about how I look, I will try, for myself only, but things I cannot change - I will accept and not bother with it!

Hi Suzanne,

you say your daughter is on 1500 calories. That's what the rice diet is - but I am never hungry and I am loosing and have a lot of energy.
I don't know if this diet would be appropriate for your daughter - she would have to check with her physicians first, but if she gets the ok, it is worth trying!

Also, you said she is on that drug, Metformin - from what I have read about it, a lot of people on it have lost a lot of weight - so there is hope!

I don't know what else she could do, she is doing so much already! I wish her success, perseverance will work, it has to!

It's called the "Rice Diet Solution" - you can check the website or buy the book - Borders has it.

The diet is based on rice or other grains, vegetables and fruit mainly, and low sodium. it is simple, easy to follow and as far as I am concerned, the only diet that ever worked for me. My energy is to the roof. I have not felt this good for a long time, and motivated! I have been on it only 1 month. You can eat meat or rather fish once a week on the second week, but I don't miss it at all! I thought I would but after the 2 first weeks, when I did crave for meat once or twice - I am completely fine now and am looking forward to the day I can eat fish, it's a treat!

I have to check again for the website - but you can google search "Rice Diet Solution" by Dr. Gurkin and his wife Rosetti-Gurkin I believe. There is a clinic where they do this under medical supervision - very expensive!!! The book is slightly different from what they do at the clinic, allowing people to do it without constant medical supervision, although, especially in your daughter's case, she should be supervised by her physicians with any diet anyway. Check out the website and then you can decide whether you want to buy the book.

  Hi Susan,

  How often do you exercise and for how long?  Have you ever tried Pilates?  Pilates focuses on your "powerhouse", the core area (the stomach, waist, and back muscles that support your body like a belt).  It takes one hour a few times a week.

  While the DVDs are great, I would pick up Mari Winsor's book, The Pilates Powerhouse, first.  It gives you an understanding of how this method works and how you can maximize its benefits.  It explains each move in detail and gives you some helpful imagery to execute the exercises correctly.  This is the only exercise program that has erased my love handles and those little pockets of fat that hang out on your body and don't budge, no matter how much cardio you do.  I haven't been on a treadmill since....I can't even remember.  And I don't care!

  If your belly fat is health or stress-related, this method will help you tremendously.  I look forward to Pilates as just that - a stress reliever.

Laura

Hi Cotonmom,

I usually try to exercise about 30 minutes a day about 5 days per week. I have tried Mari Winsor's Fat Burning Program and got the first two DVD's which are the Maximum Burn Basics and Fat Burning. I did them for about 3 weeks last year and then went onto something else. I do like the Pilates-type exercises and have one of those elastic bands that I use as well as treadmill, exercise bike and for strength training a Neoshaper. Maybe I didn't try the DVD's long enough. Where did you get the "Pilates Powerhouse" book, just at a bookstore?

I think my belly fat is just "old lady related". Seems like the pounds pack on so easily since I hit the big 5-0. I'm not fat but could stand to lose about 10 pounds which is mostly around my stomach and waist and even above my waistline below my ribcage.

Have you had success with any of the Mari Winsor DVDs? Do you watch what you eat?

Susan0410

I saw on Dr. Weil's website recommending thiamine and B vitamins to support adreanal function. Do you just take B vitamins for this? Has it helped?

My belly fat seemed to happen overnight and I relate the cause to being over 50, menopause and taking hormones. I know you can't exercise and spot reduce the trouble areas, but I was just wondering if something else was going on with me besides normal weight gain.

Susan0410

Hi Susan,

Yes, all the B Vitamins are very important for adrenal function especially B-5 (Pantothenic Acid) which helps the adrenals to produce more stress hormones.

Not sure if I mentioned this in my previous post or not, but when the ovaries stop producing estrogen, the adrenals have to take over, which is why it's so important to keep them healthy at this time in your life.

I like to use the cave man metaphor. Back in the cave man days when the cave man spotted a tiger, his adrenal glands would pump out stress hormones into the blood stream to help him cope. These hormones would cause the blood sugar to rise giving him the energy to run away. Once he ran away and saw that the tiger was no longer chasing him, the cycle was complete.

In modern day when we're stressed, the adrenals still pump out hormones, and the blood sugar rises, but we are seldom running away from the stressor. We are most likely stuck in traffic or on the phone with an irrate client. Since we are not using the blood sugar for energy, it goes back to the liver and is stored as fat. Typically the fat surrounds the belly.

During menopause, this can be even more of a problem because the adrenals are working even harder. The more unmanaged stress we experience, the worse our symptoms are.

Apart from a good B-Complex, some herbs that are very helpful to support the adrenal glands are:

Rhodiola Rosea 100mg ? Anti-stress, anti-fatigue.
Suma 100mg ? A restorative tonic for fatigue, hormonal disorders, sexual dysfunction and stress reduction.
Siberian Ginseng 100mg ? supports adrenal function, normalizes reactions to stress.
Schizandra 80mg ? Counteracts the effects of stress, optimizes energy, helps with insomnia.
Ashwaganda 80mg ? Anti-inflammatory, anti-stress, for overall health and energy, immune boosting, thyroid support.

Look for an adrenal support formula at your health food store that contains some or all of these.

Walking 30 minutes a day will help with weight reduction and with hot flashes, if that's a problem.

Avoid simple carbs like potatoes, white flour, white rice, sugar, and junky snack foods. Choose instead whole grains, Ezekiel bread if you can get it, brown rice, oatmeal, etc.

Avoid stimulates such as caffeine and alcohol which weaken the adrenal glands.

I hope this has helped.

Penny

Penny,

Thanks for the valuable info. Sounds like you know your stuff! Menopause certainly wrecks havoc on our systems. I'm going to look into the B-complex vitamins and adrenal support formula. I know there are a lot of good supplements out there to help us, but I get overwhelmed. I already take a good multi vitamin and folic acid daily. The multi has B vitamins in it, but maybe I need more. I really don't want to be taking a lot of vitamins/supplements every day. I do try to stay away from white flour and sugar products and I don't eat nearly as much of them as I used to. As for the caffeine, I have been drinking iced tea regularly. Maybe I need to cut that out too but I do love it.

Thanks again for your help!

Susan0410

Susan,

Cutting out caffeine can make a big difference. Try decaf iced tea (make it yourself) or try herbal iced tea. I've been making Rooibus Berry iced tea. It's very refreshing in the hot weather.

Good luck with the supplements. If you are already getting some B vitamins in your multi - you may not need to take the B-complex as well. But I would definately look for an adrenal support formula.

Also keep an eye on thyroid function. When adrenals get too weak the thyroid has a lot of work to do and can weaken to.

Glad to help

Penny

I should also mention that stress management is also very important. This means taking time for YOU. Meditation, reading, visualization, yoga, moderate exercise, rest and quiet time. Pay attention to how you feel and react to stressful situations.

Women who don't deal well with stress or have toxic livers will have worse menopausal symptoms.

Penny