My belly has gotten bigger with exercise

[Anonymous]

I (43F) have an hourglass figure although my belly has always stuck out a bit. When the pandemic started, I began doing a 30-minute walking video (Leslie Sansone) in the mornings, followed by 10ish minutes of Pilates (Trifecta Pilates). I eventually found Bailey Brown's videos (focused on abs, butts, and inner thighs) and have mostly been doing those instead (I have a list of probably 30 YouTube videos I rotate through). So about 40-45 minutes total of working out every morning.

At first, the soft pooch that I had (in addition to my stomach) went away. Great!

Now, three years later, my stomach has actually gotten bigger and I'm having trouble fitting into some of my clothes (shorts, skirts). I HATE clothes shopping and have been the same size (8 or 10) since college, and I don't want to go out and buy a new wardrobe now.

I generally eat healthy; I intermittent fast and have yogurt w/raisins and another protein, along with another piece of fruit, for lunch. Dinner always includes at least one vegetable, a protein, and a starch (which I try to eat less of). We mostly eat vegetarian during the week, so a lot of beans.

Any suggestions to get my stomach to go back to its somewhat smaller size? I'm probably only looking to lose an inch at the most, but it would make my clothes so much more comfortable!

TIA!

[Anonymous]

Your post should probably be that your belly has gotten bigger despite exercise. Is it lower belly (over where your uterus is)? Sadly it may just be premenopausal hormones hitting you. The only people that seem to be successful in fighting that are people that take pretty extreme measures that I’m not willing to do. I wish I could wear sweatpants every day.

Or it’s something in your diet that you’ve introduced without thinking about. Or the beans are making you bloated.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for your response.

My belly got smaller in years 1-2 of the pandemic. It's this summer that I've noticed that my belly has expanded. I don't know if those exercises have made my stomach muscles bigger or what, and I don't know who to ask (that's why I'm asking DCUM!). It's not the lower belly that's gotten bigger; it's the entire belly, I think. It seems to go straight down, just further out than it used to be.

We've been eating beans several times a week for over a decade, so I doubt that's affecting me just now.

[Anonymous]

Wow, are you me? I have the same workout story as you, and I am having the same issue! The only thing I have determined is that I lost belly fat except a pooch that was always under there due pregnancy and now mid-40's hormones.

Sometimes my lower belly hurts after sitting for a long time, so I might get checked out for a hernia--protruding muscle might make the stomach larger.

Let me know what you find out!!!

[Anonymous]

Most likely its hormones and not working out.

[Anonymous]

I don't see why exercise would cause this.

[Anonymous]

It’s very likely hormonal and nothing to do with your exercise routine.

https://www.avogel.co.uk/health/menopause/videos/body-shape-changes-during-menopause-and-why-they-happen/#:~:text=Instead%20of%20being%20pear%2Dshaped,is%20a%20typical%20stress%20response.

Age happens. You are beautiful. Embrace your beautiful body in all its manifestations. Do what you can to be fit and healthy, but be kind to yourself in accepting the changes that come with age. Absolutely nobody but you is concerned with your slightly thicker belly - I mean that in kindness.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you everyone! I appreciate the kind words. I am actually just fine with my body, even if I gain weight (which, based on my mother's history, I will as I age). I expect it and accept myself as I am.

I just hate shopping for clothes, and I realized that I don't fit into my favorite pair of nice shorts and a bunch of skirts that I've had for decades! I try to be a minimalist, especially with clothes, so I don't have much in the way of extra clothing to fall back on. Sigh, I guess I will need to suck it up and go shopping as necessary. Now THAT's going to be hard to accept, lol.

[Anonymous]

Make sure you are expanding your stomach when you exercise. I have caught myself doing this at gym when I lift and made a concerted effort to stop. I have noticed a different since I have tried to not allow it to expand or push it out while I am exercising. Not sure if that makes sense.

[Anonymous]

Stop eating so much and it will solve your problem. It's not the exercise it's the food.

When I increase my workout load, I get stronger, not leaner. When I change my diet, i.e. less food, I get leaner. It's not really what you eat, it's how much you eat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most likely its hormones and not working out.

Yup, it’s your age and unrelated to exercise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stop eating so much and it will solve your problem. It's not the exercise it's the food.

When I increase my workout load, I get stronger, not leaner. When I change my diet, i.e. less food, I get leaner. It's not really what you eat, it's how much you eat.

Total ignorance in this post re: hormonal changes in women’s aging bodies.

[Anonymous]

It could be bloat. I hate the gluten free trend but my belly does go down when I avoid wheat.

You might also get a checkup to be sure it's not a medical issue such as a growth, etc.

[Anonymous]

It's hormonal. I'm 46 and eat healthy and work out. I'm only 5 lbs heavier than when I was 35, but my stomach is bigger relative to the rest of my body. It's frustrating, but there's not much to be done about it.

[Anonymous]

Ditch the sugar. As I have gotten older I needed to cut sugar or I have a similar issue. Raisins are super high in sugar, low fiber. I would replace raisins with blueberries. Focus on protein, veggies, and fruit. Cut back on starchy carbs. Lift weights. Humans start losing muscle after 40. Less muscle = lower BMR/RMR.