I am and always have been thin but all of the sudden I have a puff of fat, sort of a slight protrusion above my belly button and then additional thickness below. Its like my stomach goes out and in and out. what is this bizarre shape?

I have been working my butt off all summer outdoors and if this was even a year ago I would be dropping weight like crazy, but not now. I am staying around the same but I can't imagine what would happen if I never missed a meal and I relaxed for more than 1 day.

Also the skin around my underarms is loose like even with all this heavy stuff I do, used to be nice definition, this is a horror too!

Oh my gosh - you are describing me!! I actually made an appointment with my GP and dreaded getting on the scale because I thought I'd gained at least 10 lbs in about 8 weeks. None of my pants button, I have this roll and what I call about a 5 month pregnant belly - really! Well, I get on the scale and I've not gained any weight. But how can that be? My body LOOKS really fat. TSH came back normal (I was actually hoping it wouldn't, thinking at least there would be a physical reason for this happening!). Made an appt with my GYN to check and see if an old fibroid is growing (hence the pregnant belly). She was very sympathetic, but basically no answer. While I am relieved I'm not gaining weight by the day, my belly just keeps poking farther and farther out (and up). Ugh.....

Sorry, no answer for it. I'm just trying to walk/jog and not devour everything in sight, but this is very discouraging. I see Floater started a weight loss message. You go girl! I may also look up the GI info, but seriously, this roll is disgusting. I don't even want my husband of 20 years to get a glimpse of me naked. Isn't that pathetic?
Your friend in misery!
Adair

Oh my gosh - you are describing me!! I actually made an appointment with my GP and dreaded getting on the scale because I thought I'd gained at least 10 lbs in about 8 weeks. None of my pants button, I have this roll and what I call about a 5 month pregnant belly - really! Well, I get on the scale and I've not gained any weight. But how can that be? My body LOOKS really fat. TSH came back normal (I was actually hoping it wouldn't, thinking at least there would be a physical reason for this happening!). Made an appt with my GYN to check and see if an old fibroid is growing (hence the pregnant belly). She was very sympathetic, but basically no answer. While I am relieved I'm not gaining weight by the day, my belly just keeps poking farther and farther out (and up). Ugh.....

Sorry, no answer for it. I'm just trying to walk/jog and not devour everything in sight, but this is very discouraging. I see Floater started a weight loss message. You go girl! I may also look up the GI info, but seriously, this roll is disgusting. I don't even want my husband of 20 years to get a glimpse of me naked. Isn't that pathetic?
Your friend in misery!
Adair

Ditto here. I have always had a belly but since periods stopped this summer I have noticed the unusual bulge above the belly button, which then goes in, and out again further down!! It's horrible. I knew a little weight was going on, and in fact I have gained about 7lbs, but it's all in the one spot. At first I even thought those low waist jeans and tight waistbands were pushing the fat up and changing my shape, but reading these posts I now believe that it is a natural occurence at this time of life. I am determined to lose it in the future, although part of me thinks that we should make some leaway for ourselves during the year of menopause, and not be too severe on ourselves. Our bodies are doing this to try to store estrogen, after all. So I am not going to diet too severely, and just try to keep eating and exercise within reason.
Also on the look out for 'tummy hiding' clothes...

I totally agree that we need to be more accepting of this as a part of the process. My big problem is I can't afford a whole new wardrobe!! I'm getting along ok with summer and "loose, flowing dresses" but what happens when it's winter and I can't fit into a pair of my pants??? Oh well, one day at a time, right?
Adair

I want to know why it won't come off when you diet and exercise. I was on about 1300 cals a day and my MD said it's too low. If I eat 1600 I will gain!

From what I've read here on PS, the bulge thing is just very stubborn until all the meno stuff is over. (Meanwhile, HOW do I fit into any of my clothes???) So maybe one day, it will just kind of go away on it's own. I'm going to try something new for exercise, since I know sometimes that provides a jump start. I have no other ideas; anybody else have any?
Adair

Adair - I have been using a balance (or exercise) ball. I've been having some slow success with it toning the core muscles.

I am also eating low sugar to help with the yeast overgrowth I have. I am also having success with that. I started a thread about it in another area.

I can't scientifically prove this with quotes from PubMed, but some research on changes in our insulin resistance and carbohydrate metabolism during peri and meno cause this "bulge" to occur. So it's not how much or how little you eat, it's what you eat, when you eat, and how your body has changed in it's hormonal response to a meal. Some foods you used to eat, will now cause an inflammatory response in your body, causing the hormonal cascade that tends to store more fat around our middle.

You need to experiment on yourself to see if you are carb-sensitive, by changing around the percentage of macronutrients. This is a tedious process, and subjective at best. I just follow the plan of eating 5 to 6 small meals a day, with some lean protein at each one, and try to keep my macros balanced at 30%protein, 30% good fats, and 40% carbohydrates.

Also may women develop gluten allergies, which cause inflammation and bloating.
Dairy allergies are common, too.

So much of our metabolism changes for the worse, it's hard to anticipate what will work and what will not.