I am a woman with an enormous gut. I hate it and am ashamed.

[Anonymous]

Cut out added sugar and alcohol. Alcohol and fructose are both metabolized by the liver and stored as visceral fat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cut out gluten dairy and sugar. Gut will be gone in six weeks.

Not true. It may help lose overall weight, but if you are genetically too heavy, nothing you eat or don’t eat changes that

Yes true.

I am an apple and I was holding about 10-15 pounds in my gut alone and I lost it by cutting out gluten, dairy and sugar. I actually have a flat belly and a waist now and I am fifty.

Try it OP. You can come back and brag in six weeks.

You still are top heavy relative to the rest of your body. An apple will never be a pear

Would anyone want to be a pear? I had lipo to stop being a pear.

Well, when your choice is apple (belly fat, no waist) or pear (booty fat, great waist), I'd say most women would prefer to be a pear. Because waists are sexy and you can fit into clothes.

[Anonymous]

I'm gonna go ahead and disagree with everyone here.

I think it's incredibly difficult to lose weight and keep it off when you hate your body. And you clearly, just from your short post, HATE your body. I would start there.

Your body is awesome! It's what's letting you walk and talk and think and love and breathe and experience things. If you've had babies, WOW your body is truly amazing. Start giving it some credit! Try standing in front of a mirror and thinking about a few things you LIKE about your body. Start small! You don't have to love your gut. But eyes? Hands? There must be something you like? Build from there. Start changing your self talk - no more "I'm ashamed and I hate my body" but rather "wow, I just played a game with my kids, and I was able to do this because of this amazing body! Opposable thumbs! Eyes! A brain! True miracles!"

Corny, yes. And you'll have to fake it at first. But fake it till you make it.

What can you do to pamper your amazing body? Fancy soap or shampoo? How about a pedicure (at home, there is a pandemic, after all)? Next up - some clothes you LOVE. That fit your current body. Don't spend a ton (you want to lose weight after all, so I get that). But maybe two outfits you feel great in? EVERYONE deserves clothes that fit well and make them feel good. Don't wait until your body is perfect (spoiler: it never will be) to have clothes that you love that fit. Plus, weight loss (the good kind that sticks around) is MAYBE 8-10 pounds in a season. That's generally still the same size. I wouldn't buy seasons ahead when you're hoping to lose weight, but buy some clothes now, they'll likely still fit in March. Then you can buy some new spring clothes! Again, I wouldn't go with a whole new wardrobe, but a couple outfits - so you can go out to the grocery store with confidence!

Then - start thinking about how you can treat your amazing body better. I think that while generally, for myself and when I'm talking about losing weight with others, I say start with food. It's more bang for your buck than exercise. But coming off a major self loathing problem? Go the other way around. Start with exercise. What sounds fun and appealing? Can you sign up for a zoom dance class? Or do a couch to 5k? Or just start being an urban hiker, exploring the city. Start small if you're not used to it - maybe just walk around the block. Set small, manageable goals to help you build momentum. Focus on that positive self talk. Look at what your body is doing! Amazing!

Once you're in a good groove with that - start thinking about how you can fuel your amazing body better. Again, start small. I find its easier to focus on ADDING nutrients, rather than REMOVING calories, at least at the beginning. So - where you can get more fruits and veggies in your diet? If you're usually having two servings a day, can you bump that to three? Or four? Visualize all those vitamins and minerals going into your cells and your cells being so happy!

The very last thing I would do is start decreasing "bad" foods and watching calorie intake. Yes, eventually, you'll probably have to do that. But starting there is a recipe for hating yourself more.

I know this all sounds ridiculous and corny and stupid - but positive self talk can really change your life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think all of the posts should indicate whether you are in perimenopause or menopause yet. It’s been a total game changer for me in terms of belly fat. It’s like my body is preparing to become Mrs. Claus.

Omg...so true.

Yes, I always had a flat stomach even after a baby at 38. Ten years later though and my stomach is something I suddenly don’t recognize thanks peri menopause.

Me too

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How can I lose belly fat? It is so humiliating. I hate looking at myself. I look preggo. It is genetic. My family carries weight in their stomachs. But I have gained during COVID. Please help.

Have you been pregnant before? You may have diastasis recti.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm gonna go ahead and disagree with everyone here.

I think it's incredibly difficult to lose weight and keep it off when you hate your body. And you clearly, just from your short post, HATE your body. I would start there.

Your body is awesome! It's what's letting you walk and talk and think and love and breathe and experience things. If you've had babies, WOW your body is truly amazing. Start giving it some credit! Try standing in front of a mirror and thinking about a few things you LIKE about your body. Start small! You don't have to love your gut. But eyes? Hands? There must be something you like? Build from there. Start changing your self talk - no more "I'm ashamed and I hate my body" but rather "wow, I just played a game with my kids, and I was able to do this because of this amazing body! Opposable thumbs! Eyes! A brain! True miracles!"

Corny, yes. And you'll have to fake it at first. But fake it till you make it.

What can you do to pamper your amazing body? Fancy soap or shampoo? How about a pedicure (at home, there is a pandemic, after all)? Next up - some clothes you LOVE. That fit your current body. Don't spend a ton (you want to lose weight after all, so I get that). But maybe two outfits you feel great in? EVERYONE deserves clothes that fit well and make them feel good. Don't wait until your body is perfect (spoiler: it never will be) to have clothes that you love that fit. Plus, weight loss (the good kind that sticks around) is MAYBE 8-10 pounds in a season. That's generally still the same size. I wouldn't buy seasons ahead when you're hoping to lose weight, but buy some clothes now, they'll likely still fit in March. Then you can buy some new spring clothes! Again, I wouldn't go with a whole new wardrobe, but a couple outfits - so you can go out to the grocery store with confidence!

Then - start thinking about how you can treat your amazing body better. I think that while generally, for myself and when I'm talking about losing weight with others, I say start with food. It's more bang for your buck than exercise. But coming off a major self loathing problem? Go the other way around. Start with exercise. What sounds fun and appealing? Can you sign up for a zoom dance class? Or do a couch to 5k? Or just start being an urban hiker, exploring the city. Start small if you're not used to it - maybe just walk around the block. Set small, manageable goals to help you build momentum. Focus on that positive self talk. Look at what your body is doing! Amazing!

Once you're in a good groove with that - start thinking about how you can fuel your amazing body better. Again, start small. I find its easier to focus on ADDING nutrients, rather than REMOVING calories, at least at the beginning. So - where you can get more fruits and veggies in your diet? If you're usually having two servings a day, can you bump that to three? Or four? Visualize all those vitamins and minerals going into your cells and your cells being so happy!

The very last thing I would do is start decreasing "bad" foods and watching calorie intake. Yes, eventually, you'll probably have to do that. But starting there is a recipe for hating yourself more.

I know this all sounds ridiculous and corny and stupid - but positive self talk can really change your life.

I agree with this. But positive self talk can also be "I deserve better than this." Not necessarily related to appearance, but "I deserve to enjoy a bike ride with my family" "I deserve to feel a runners high". "my body is a gift. I'm blessed to have a functioning body and I can celebrate it through exercise."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm gonna go ahead and disagree with everyone here.

I think it's incredibly difficult to lose weight and keep it off when you hate your body. And you clearly, just from your short post, HATE your body. I would start there.

Your body is awesome! It's what's letting you walk and talk and think and love and breathe and experience things. If you've had babies, WOW your body is truly amazing. Start giving it some credit! Try standing in front of a mirror and thinking about a few things you LIKE about your body. Start small! You don't have to love your gut. But eyes? Hands? There must be something you like? Build from there. Start changing your self talk - no more "I'm ashamed and I hate my body" but rather "wow, I just played a game with my kids, and I was able to do this because of this amazing body! Opposable thumbs! Eyes! A brain! True miracles!"

Corny, yes. And you'll have to fake it at first. But fake it till you make it.

What can you do to pamper your amazing body? Fancy soap or shampoo? How about a pedicure (at home, there is a pandemic, after all)? Next up - some clothes you LOVE. That fit your current body. Don't spend a ton (you want to lose weight after all, so I get that). But maybe two outfits you feel great in? EVERYONE deserves clothes that fit well and make them feel good. Don't wait until your body is perfect (spoiler: it never will be) to have clothes that you love that fit. Plus, weight loss (the good kind that sticks around) is MAYBE 8-10 pounds in a season. That's generally still the same size. I wouldn't buy seasons ahead when you're hoping to lose weight, but buy some clothes now, they'll likely still fit in March. Then you can buy some new spring clothes! Again, I wouldn't go with a whole new wardrobe, but a couple outfits - so you can go out to the grocery store with confidence!

Then - start thinking about how you can treat your amazing body better. I think that while generally, for myself and when I'm talking about losing weight with others, I say start with food. It's more bang for your buck than exercise. But coming off a major self loathing problem? Go the other way around. Start with exercise. What sounds fun and appealing? Can you sign up for a zoom dance class? Or do a couch to 5k? Or just start being an urban hiker, exploring the city. Start small if you're not used to it - maybe just walk around the block. Set small, manageable goals to help you build momentum. Focus on that positive self talk. Look at what your body is doing! Amazing!

Once you're in a good groove with that - start thinking about how you can fuel your amazing body better. Again, start small. I find its easier to focus on ADDING nutrients, rather than REMOVING calories, at least at the beginning. So - where you can get more fruits and veggies in your diet? If you're usually having two servings a day, can you bump that to three? Or four? Visualize all those vitamins and minerals going into your cells and your cells being so happy!

The very last thing I would do is start decreasing "bad" foods and watching calorie intake. Yes, eventually, you'll probably have to do that. But starting there is a recipe for hating yourself more.

I know this all sounds ridiculous and corny and stupid - but positive self talk can really change your life.

I agree with this. But positive self talk can also be "I deserve better than this." Not necessarily related to appearance, but "I deserve to enjoy a bike ride with my family" "I deserve to feel a runners high". "my body is a gift. I'm blessed to have a functioning body and I can celebrate it through exercise."

+1. Getting nice athletic clothes that I actually feel comfortable being active in (especially a quality sports bra) has also significantly upped my activity. There are plenty of smaller races still happening if you need a goal to train for. It's also a healthier mindset, I think, to aim for performance and take the pressure off weight. It'll naturally fall off as you train to do your best in whatever 5k you pick up.

[Anonymous]

Do you have diastatis recti? So many women have it and do not realize.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm gonna go ahead and disagree with everyone here.

I think it's incredibly difficult to lose weight and keep it off when you hate your body. And you clearly, just from your short post, HATE your body. I would start there.

Your body is awesome! It's what's letting you walk and talk and think and love and breathe and experience things. If you've had babies, WOW your body is truly amazing. Start giving it some credit! Try standing in front of a mirror and thinking about a few things you LIKE about your body. Start small! You don't have to love your gut. But eyes? Hands? There must be something you like? Build from there. Start changing your self talk - no more "I'm ashamed and I hate my body" but rather "wow, I just played a game with my kids, and I was able to do this because of this amazing body! Opposable thumbs! Eyes! A brain! True miracles!"

Corny, yes. And you'll have to fake it at first. But fake it till you make it.

What can you do to pamper your amazing body? Fancy soap or shampoo? How about a pedicure (at home, there is a pandemic, after all)? Next up - some clothes you LOVE. That fit your current body. Don't spend a ton (you want to lose weight after all, so I get that). But maybe two outfits you feel great in? EVERYONE deserves clothes that fit well and make them feel good. Don't wait until your body is perfect (spoiler: it never will be) to have clothes that you love that fit. Plus, weight loss (the good kind that sticks around) is MAYBE 8-10 pounds in a season. That's generally still the same size. I wouldn't buy seasons ahead when you're hoping to lose weight, but buy some clothes now, they'll likely still fit in March. Then you can buy some new spring clothes! Again, I wouldn't go with a whole new wardrobe, but a couple outfits - so you can go out to the grocery store with confidence!

Then - start thinking about how you can treat your amazing body better. I think that while generally, for myself and when I'm talking about losing weight with others, I say start with food. It's more bang for your buck than exercise. But coming off a major self loathing problem? Go the other way around. Start with exercise. What sounds fun and appealing? Can you sign up for a zoom dance class? Or do a couch to 5k? Or just start being an urban hiker, exploring the city. Start small if you're not used to it - maybe just walk around the block. Set small, manageable goals to help you build momentum. Focus on that positive self talk. Look at what your body is doing! Amazing!

Once you're in a good groove with that - start thinking about how you can fuel your amazing body better. Again, start small. I find its easier to focus on ADDING nutrients, rather than REMOVING calories, at least at the beginning. So - where you can get more fruits and veggies in your diet? If you're usually having two servings a day, can you bump that to three? Or four? Visualize all those vitamins and minerals going into your cells and your cells being so happy!

The very last thing I would do is start decreasing "bad" foods and watching calorie intake. Yes, eventually, you'll probably have to do that. But starting there is a recipe for hating yourself more.

I know this all sounds ridiculous and corny and stupid - but positive self talk can really change your life.

NP.

I love this post. Thank you, PP.

[Anonymous]

I've seen a couple of responses on here about diastus recti. Can anyone suggest a specialist in DC who can check me for that and help me fix it if necessary?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've seen a couple of responses on here about diastus recti. Can anyone suggest a specialist in DC who can check me for that and help me fix it if necessary?

You need to see a physical therapist who specializes in this area. Sometimes they say they specialize in pelvic floor areas. My midwife diagnosed me right after I had my 2nd. For 2 years I was carrying around a stomach I never had before. I finally went to physical therapy and fixed it. My stomach is flat again. Also, limiting sugar and carbs helps minimize fat. But if it is diastasis recti, you have to fix this first. Going to look up specialist and will repost. I fixed it in another city.

[Anonymous]

https://therapydiadc.com/diastasis-recti-treatment/

https://www.myadvantagept.com/services/prenatal-and-postnatal

http://www.ptsmi.org/031419.html

https://carriepagliano.com

There are more. Call and ask to see a therapist who who can assess if you have diastasis recti and do a treatment plan for it.

Good article:

https://thrivept.com/new/the-dos-and-dont-of-diastasis-recti/