Late 40s lower belly fat

[Anonymous]

I realize this is not a new issue or topic, but I am so discouraged by the lower belly fat that has arrived in the past couple of years. I'm otherwise thin -- you can see my ribs and my upper abdominals. But it looks like someone made a big bowl of pudding, and then injected it into the space between my belly button and underwear seam. It's so gross and its uncomfortable when I sit, but I feel like I'd need a full-on eating disorder to actually get rid of it. I also have a really small chest, which just makes it impossible to hide, as it sticks out further than my chest. It makes me want to just totally give up on my appearances generally.

[Anonymous]

Are you doing pelvic floor exercises? That might help develop some tone down there

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you doing pelvic floor exercises? That might help develop some tone down there

No, I'm not. Is that like Kegels? I'm having trouble seeing how that would affect just a solid roll of fat deposited over top of my uterus, though.

[Anonymous]

I’ve always had this and I’ve always hated it. Ab muscle definition above my belly button and pooch below. It’s much worse now after kids. I’m in my early 40s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve always had this and I’ve always hated it. Ab muscle definition above my belly button and pooch below. It’s much worse now after kids. I’m in my early 40s.

Interesting. Not sure if it’s because I had a c section but mine is the opposite. Lower belly is like it was when I was 20. Upper belly not at all. There’s like a shelf.

[Anonymous]

Tummy tuck

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve always had this and I’ve always hated it. Ab muscle definition above my belly button and pooch below. It’s much worse now after kids. I’m in my early 40s.

Interesting. Not sure if it’s because I had a c section but mine is the opposite. Lower belly is like it was when I was 20. Upper belly not at all. There’s like a shelf.

C section shelf is a thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve always had this and I’ve always hated it. Ab muscle definition above my belly button and pooch below. It’s much worse now after kids. I’m in my early 40s.

Interesting. Not sure if it’s because I had a c section but mine is the opposite. Lower belly is like it was when I was 20. Upper belly not at all. There’s like a shelf.

C section shelf is a thing.

I'm OP and I had 2 c-sections. But the c-section shelf is lower -- it's below my underwear line. The pooch is above that -- between my underwear line and my belly button. The c-section shelf is MUCH less of a worry and can be hidden with the right clothing. The pudding belly is just unhideable.

[Anonymous]

I have the same (40 and 2 kids and C section and apple shape and have always had a bit of belly despite being pretty thin).

What has worked for me:
- Doubling down on pelvic floor, yes the fat is on top but it does make a different to Tighten the level below
- The pelvic floor Type of exercise has also pushed me to improve my overall posture. Lost of Pilates and barre to go with it= Changed a bit my spinal curve, stand taller, square shoulder more: posture and how I carry myself has made a BIG difference.
- and on the diet, like you I need to go into starvation mode to get rid of belly. But I can keep somewhat flat belly if I eat very low carb . I know it is not what you want to hear as it will probably sound too restrictive but carbs fro me are one low carb toast in morning (Ezekiel bread), and then veggies and fruits. Pasta, rice and the likes are like a dessert treat, rare and in moderation...

[Anonymous]

Reduce your carbohydrates intake in half.

[Anonymous]

I have never birthed children (I adopted my 3 kids) but i developed the same thing in my mid-40s. It has never gone away, even 10 years later. The rest of me is is in fantastic shape. I am a Pilates instructor, too.

My closest friend is an OB and she told me it is hereditary. She has a belly as flat as when she was an 18-year old professional dancer, even after birthing 2 kids. We are the same age -- mid-50s.

Make peace with it and get everything else in great shape.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have the same (40 and 2 kids and C section and apple shape and have always had a bit of belly despite being pretty thin).

What has worked for me:
- Doubling down on pelvic floor, yes the fat is on top but it does make a different to Tighten the level below
- The pelvic floor Type of exercise has also pushed me to improve my overall posture. Lost of Pilates and barre to go with it= Changed a bit my spinal curve, stand taller, square shoulder more: posture and how I carry myself has made a BIG difference.
- and on the diet, like you I need to go into starvation mode to get rid of belly. But I can keep somewhat flat belly if I eat very low carb . I know it is not what you want to hear as it will probably sound too restrictive but carbs fro me are one low carb toast in morning (Ezekiel bread), and then veggies and fruits. Pasta, rice and the likes are like a dessert treat, rare and in moderation...

I am sitting here nodding. I have buttered toast for dessert!

[Anonymous]

I have always had the below the belly button pooch, even as a child. I'm thin - 115 lbs, 5'6". It's the only place on my body where I store fat. The only time it went away when I was undergoing a stressful situation and my weight dropped to 102 lbs - I was positively skeletal. These things are genetic. You could try liposuction or one of those melting/freezing therapies that get rid of fat in a specific area.

[Anonymous]

Another always-thin woman here. 5.2, 105 pounds athlete all my life. I'm now 51. But I have always had a pooch below the belly button.

[Anonymous]

Yes, we call our small pooch the Family Watermelon. Not that noticible, but figure it is genetic. Even when I was really into distance running, and roughly 110 lbs. it was still there. Joked to my doctor that I'll always have the Family Watermelon and she whipped out a card to a plastic surgeon. I got another doctor (not just for that, but it was probably the icing on the cake). It doesn't seem to be an indication of health problems as I'm very healthy, and my mom and her sisters are all in their 80s and quite healthy too.