My total hysterectomy (EVERYthing gone) was 7 years ago. Of course I had the inevitable budha belly bulge, but very small and almost unnoticable (I am a skinny person... about 100 lbs). In the last year, however, I've gained about 10 pounds.. guess where... the belly! I somehow was fortunate to get about half a pound or so in each breast. First time in my life I've had "boobs"! So of course the gravity factor was waiting right there for me to catch up. My doc was impressed that I had actually gained some weight. He and his nurse (both of whom I love dearly) laughed and told me that my age was finally catching up with me as I just turned 50. My question is... why did the weight have to be in my belly??? Why not my skinny arms, legs, and face ! How do I "move" it away from my belly to ANYplace else, I don't care where.. heck, I'm used to being skinny and this bulge is really getting on my last nerve! What kind of exercise "cures" this??? Any suggestions would be very much appreciated !

I have the same thing, Miladytn! I am also skinny, about 100 lbs. at 5'4", the difference is I have not had a hysterectomy. I have a little belly that I cannot get rid of, and I too have very skinny legs, (esp. my calves!) and thin face and can't understand it. I have been told to step up the cardio to at least 45 minutes 3 times a week (had previously done 20 or 30 min about 5 times weekly plus weights). I think sugar does it too. Have you cut out sugar?

Skinny me actually likes my little belly. The extra fat is said to store estrogen, and I marvel at the body's wisdom. Granted, I can no longer wear clothing with tight waistbands, but I can live with that.
Cesca

Here is a link to an article that I found interesting.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6891416/
It explains a lot about what happens and why during menopause and as we age. It explains "the belly"! Notice the comment about "abdominal weight gain". I've been skinny all my life and I'm used to it. maybe that's why the budda belly bothers me. I can live with it the way it is as long it doesn't keep growing! As my doc tells me, exercise more! I've discovered that you can find stretch pants that are acceptable for wearing to work. And heck, I don't care. I'm old enough to not care anymore. If I'm comfortable, other folks will just have to accept it!

OK Girls - 100 lbs - You can't have much of a belly!!!!!!

I would love to be a 100 pounds again - those were the days - I just want to be back to my regular, normal, former 130 pounds - with a flat hard belly - I have just begun to feel the JELLY BELLY in the last 3 to 6 months!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

miladytn - Boobs!!!!!!! I am up to a DD these days and spilling out. Hey does anyone know what comes after this???????

I feel like DOLLY PARTON - "When I get dressed it's like trying to put 50 pounds of flour in a 10 Pound SACK"


I will say it again and again and feel no shame - I want my body back!!!!!! I want my belly back!!!! It is beginning to sound like a county song......maybe I'll get Dolly to sing it. I think I'm getting my sence of humor back.....at least at this moment.

HOLY CROW! A double D???? I've been a 34 B ALL my life (with the exception of the pregnant months!) and now my 34 B's are headin' south! I have noticed the belly the past few months, but hoping now that I'm back to my 'physical job' (I work in an office for 3 months and manage a motel the other 9) the belly will shrink back to somewhere around normal. I weigh 122 and have always had a slight belly, but lately it seems bloated all the time. *giggles* If I had DD boobs I would SURELY tip over!!!!
HUGS!

Kleeo

I feel just the way I did when my milk came in after childbirth.
I wonder if this is caused by the hormone replacement that I just started. I think so.

Why is it that BIG BOOBS are considered sexy before peri & Meno - and then you look matronly??????

I have so many questions and so few answers???????

The belly is the hardest thing for me to endure. I do walk almost daily - so I don't know where this is coming from except to the changing hormones. Everything else on me is a bit firm - I think.

I always thought that once I got my hysterectomy my belly would be flat again. I guess I"m wrong from what I'm reading from you all. I'm skinny too but I thought my little belly had to do with my uterus being enlarged. Oh well. I don't get it. I haven't had the hysterectomy yet. But, what is this I hear about getting bigger boobs? That would be nice as the little ones I had seem to have disappeared this year altogether.

Oh...me too! I do step aerobics, Pilates, Yoga and walk three times a week. Now I have this belly forming and am up to 36D bras. I can relate in so many ways and have so many questions too. Help!

Yes I am on Bio-identical hormones including testosterone, but along with that I am hypothyroid. It has been six years of thyroid hormones and watching every bite I eat just to stay down below 142..now it gets worse? Nonna...I feel just the same as you "I want my body back". or at least for it to keep up with my exercise schedule, as in achey knees

Tia

Add me to the list. Another one who has always been thin until the last 18 months or so. I took three bags of clothes to Goodwill the other day because I can't fit into them any more! I look like a python that swallowed a pig or something. I'm going to have to start buying maternity clothes soon! Okay, maybe I'm being a Drama Queen, but I can't help it. And to add insult to injury, by 32A's are actually looking a little saggy, too! I NEVER thought that would be problem since they're so small!

Maybe we need to take up belly dancing. Belly dancer's stomachs look flabby when they're in street clothes (but it's really muscle, I think), but they look great in their costumes! Or, we can just lie and SAY we're belly dancers....

HO HUM - me too

Julie x

Belly dancing!! Now you have hit on something My husband took me to a belly dance concert. It was beautiful. There must have been twenty dancers of every size, age and ethnic background...(22 to 52 in age and 120 lbs to 200) and they were all wonderful! Some of them could roll their bellies around in very intricate movements in time with the music and the costumes were just glamorous. My husband found all the ladies to be attractive. He says "It's not what ya got, but how you use it". That makes me smile.

Tia

Julie,

I'm with you. The other day I put on a pair of pants and realized that after 52 years, I have developed a BOOTIE! A noticable rear-end! Made me want to wiggle when I walk!

Looks cool in the pants, but out of the pants? Yeah, throw me the sunglasses!

Dearest Wigglejacqu ..........

Now theres an idea - think Ill treat John to a new pair of sunspecs - and tell him theyre for bedtime !

Julie x

Tia - I took some belly dance lessons many years ago, but just didn't have the stomach for it! Pun intended. I should try lessons again now that I have something to really put into it!

Since I've outgrown so many of my summer clothes, I had to go looking for something new. I love vintage dresses and found several that really help conceal my new body. They are '50s style with straps, kind of a fitted bodice and full skirt. These are dresses that I COULDN'T wear when I was way skinny. They feel and look good. However, I don't recommend plaid Bermuda shorts. They make my hips look even bigger than they already are! I used to be able to wear outfits that made me look like Pussy Galore, now I look like Donna Reed.

Funny thing is, when I was ironing the vitnage dresses I suddenly had a craving for an unfiltered cigarette (and I don't even smoke), a cocktail, and a Frank Sinatra or Dean Martin LP on the record player!

Trying to adjust to the 'new normal' me!

Oh quit your bragging Julie!! LMAO

Still waiting for the bigger boobs ........

Sheesh Leanne - If a girl cant brag quick, before the sag what can she do ????

Cotten - remember the knitted boob tube!!!!!!!! EVERYTIME I think about it a giggle bubble bursts in my chest .......... R U any warmer yet ? I miss you all on insta-chat ............. X

Julie x

Liz,

I got a big kick out of your post.

Bet you look FAB in your 50's dresses!

And hey, a cocktail, and Frankie on the record player - sounds kind of heavenly!!

God bless your attitude. (And I'll heed your advice to stay away from plaid Bermuda shorts!)



Jacquie

I'm with Cotton Head...where are my bigger boobs??? <_<

I have a "pot" too...freaked out when I couldn't get it to go away, and then remembered the French girl in "Pulp Fiction" (Bruce Willis's girlfriend) and how she wanted a pot belly because they were so sexy and womanly. I thought that was such a cool attitude that I've tried to adopt it myself.

Not that I don't attempt to s*ck it in once in a while...

Heaven help me, if my boobs get any bigger, I'll have a major problem on my, er, chest. I'm already a 38DDD!

I am a lean mean 135. I stand 5'4. When I hit menopause my boobs turned into flat wallets. I used to were a D-cup. Now I am a loose fitting C. I probably should get a B. When I wear a flannel shirt I look flat chested. Yeah I have a little budda belly too.

I can relate to everyone here. I am 5'2" and used to weigh about 110. I am now up to about 140. I can't stand it. My daughter says I have a pillow butt and my tummy is sticking out. The one good thing is that the boobs are getting bigger. Used to be 34A and now a 34B. I think I might be able to go bigger yet.

My hysterectomy is scheduled for July 18 and I am afraid I will gain even more weight after that.

It is nice to know that I am not alone.

When I sit down, I feel like my belly is getting in the way. It sits in my lap. I really don't like that feeling. I have been thin all my life and this just s*cks.

I agree with the 50's dresses. I just bought some dresses that have flared skirt bottoms and I feel more comfortable in them.

Thanks everyone, I love the posts.

[font=Comic Sans Ms]Hi there. Unfortunatley it is true for most women - the tummy does not go away after a hysterectomy. I had one 2 years ago and have had a belly ever since, for the first time in my life! I have always had a flat belly! I know several other women who have experienced the same thing, and it sounds like there are quite a few of you on this site as well. All we can do is try to reduce it with exercise, and try to love this new part of ourselves.

I have been exercising the past year; running, bike, weights and crunches, although I have seen a slight decline in my belly fat, it is still a million years away from being a flat washboard belly. I am 45 and I just went to the Bahamas for my neices weddng. I had my two teenage sons with me. I did however work hard enough the past year to wear my bikini on the trip. My older teeneage son who is 19 said " I would be proud if people thought you were my girlfriend". That made it all worthwhile. Do I still want that washboard stomach? Sure, why not but I will settle for that little difference I have seen in my stomach area due to the hard work I did all year for a response from my son anyday.

I do know this for a fact....exercising every day or every other day not only allowed me to see results but has helped me with panic attacks, mood swings, insomnia, and all that fun stuff that comes with Peri......it has allowed me to vent and after I am an done with my routine, there is no better feeling in the world!

I've lived my entire life never meeting ladies with the skinny arms/legs syndrome and NOW I find them on a perimenopause board!
I'm also just about 5'4" and 100 pounds with a thicker middle now. My 28 daughter teases me about being "fatter" than her now as I've always been much smaller.
But it's the skinny legs, thin face thing that has always plagued me!
I'd love to PM with ladies in my same boat.
Makes me feel better knowing I'm not the only one with weird bird legs and yes, especially the calves.