58 and Stuck in a rut!!

[Esther Norton]

Cathe-
I am a 58 year old woman who has always been active. I started working out with you when I was home raising children and I found you on television. I am still very active and work out at the gym but also supplement with dvd's at home.
What would be your recommendation for getting rid of the more mature woman's belly? I can't seem to rid myself of it. I am a menopausal women and have been for the last few years. I own ALOT of your DVDs but workout mostly at the gym doing the same classes for many years now. I am thinking I need to change my routine. You are amazing and look amazing seeming to never age or gain weight!!!

 

[Repo]

52 and stuck in a rut...I was hoping you would get an answer ...just giving you a bump.

 

[jamie vaughn]

Hi Esther,
I'm 49 and post menopausal already as well. My personal experience has been that I have to focus more on diet now more than ever and cut down on the hidden sugars/ processed foods in order to lose the fat. Changing your workout routine would certainly be beneficial, ensuring you include enough resistance training to build more muscle since we tend to lose it as we age.
Good luck and I hope Cathe responds as well!
Jamie

 

[Beth-B-Fit]

Hi Ester and Repo! I'm 51 and am pretty sure I'm menopausal as well-it's been since last October (so not a year, but closer every day!). For me staying out of a rut means listening to my body and doing what I feel like. I have never been good with rotations for more than a week-except for a few times: When I do STS (since I can pick my own cardio and days to workout) and one bun blaster rotation. I like to have a general plan: weights-usually a total body and either an upper/lower split or a 3 day split. The rest of the days I just do cardio depending on my energy levels. I'm finding I need to stretch my whole body now like every single day to keep flexible. So I've been doing that. I try to walk frequently and have an active job.

The last year I've been trying to reign in my diet as well and agree with Jamie-less sugar and processed food is key. I've been following the whole30 plan (I'm a few years behind the craze) with good results. This is the first time I've ever had a flat stomach! But over the past year other diet modifications I've done are: 21 day sugar detox, cut out 95% processed foods (I don't make my own butter and a few other things!), stopped baking cookies and cakes and such on a routine basis for my family . The whole30 has you cut out all dairy, grains, alcohol, legumes and preservatives. You only eat meat, seafood, nuts, seeds, eggs, veggies, fruit, coffee, water, and can have a few preservatives. There's a whole book and website with all the info.

So as far as being in a rut-summer is a great time to try new activities: biking, hiking, walking, Cathe rotations (or even better make your own and see how you like it!), swimming. You have to decide what you want! Good Luck and let me know what you do.

Beth

 

[blkblt]

Hi Ester and Repo! I'm 51 and am pretty sure I'm menopausal as well-it's been since last October (so not a year, but closer every day!). For me staying out of a rut means listening to my body and doing what I feel like. I have never been good with rotations for more than a week-except for a few times: When I do STS (since I can pick my own cardio and days to workout) and one bun blaster rotation. I like to have a general plan: weights-usually a total body and either an upper/lower split or a 3 day split. The rest of the days I just do cardio depending on my energy levels. I'm finding I need to stretch my whole body now like every single day to keep flexible. So I've been doing that. I try to walk frequently and have an active job.

The last year I've been trying to reign in my diet as well and agree with Jamie-less sugar and processed food is key. I've been following the whole30 plan (I'm a few years behind the craze) with good results. This is the first time I've ever had a flat stomach! But over the past year other diet modifications I've done are: 21 day sugar detox, cut out 95% processed foods (I don't make my own butter and a few other things!), stopped baking cookies and cakes and such on a routine basis for my family . The whole30 has you cut out all dairy, grains, alcohol, legumes and preservatives. You only eat meat, seafood, nuts, seeds, eggs, veggies, fruit, coffee, water, and can have a few preservatives. There's a whole book and website with all the info.

So as far as being in a rut-summer is a great time to try new activities: biking, hiking, walking, Cathe rotations (or even better make your own and see how you like it!), swimming. You have to decide what you want! Good Luck and let me know what you do.

Beth

Cathe-
I am a 58 year old woman who has always been active. I started working out with you when I was home raising children and I found you on television. I am still very active and work out at the gym but also supplement with dvd's at home.
What would be your recommendation for getting rid of the more mature woman's belly? I can't seem to rid myself of it. I am a menopausal women and have been for the last few years. I own ALOT of your DVDs but workout mostly at the gym doing the same classes for many years now. I am thinking I need to change my routine. You are amazing and look amazing seeming to never age or gain weight!!!

Hi Esther,
I am 61 years old and LONNNNG past menopause. I agree with the other posters that DIET is the absolute key here. I eat a ton of veggies, fruits and try to balance my proteins and unprocessed carbs the best I can. I don't have the flat stomach I had when I was in my twenties (just found a picture the other day) but it's pretty darn close. My diet is about 28% fat, 34% carbs and 38% protein. Before I was eating a lower % fat and I must admit that it's better since I've upped them a little. My skin and hair are so much shinier. I also lost 11 lbs in the past few months. In the summer I still do weights, but not as heavy as in the winter since I play golf and it hinders with my swing. So I suggest you focus on your diet, keep a good combination of strength and cardio workout and you should see results. Good luck.

 

[Cherylann Stachow]

It's ALL about the diet. A lot of research states a whopping 80% is what you eat & 20% is exercise and it is sooo true. You need to completely avoid processed sugars. I also found choosing more low starch vegetables over fruit (especially later in the day) has helped keep my abs toned and flat. ((I'm 52 years old). Remember alcohol turns to sugar, so cutting back or eliminating this helps too.

 

[LasVegasFitGirl]

It's ALMOST ALWAYS your diet. I'll say "almost" because I'm not a professional and don't know anyone's circumstances. But, for me, over the past 10 or so years, I had to go on Jenny Craig twice because, as I got older, the pounds packed on. And, I'm not saying their food is "healthy" but I stuck to their plan and dropped the weight easily. After the 2nd time on Jenny Craig, I lost the weight again, even more than the first time, and after a year or so, I began to put weight on again, so, I started to eat like their plans but without paying for their TV dinner food. Finally, I had to stop drinking alcohol. I continue to do Cathe workouts every week that include an upper body, lower body, and cardio workout each week. I'll be 49 in a month and I'm hoping menopause is coming soon (I'm just done with the whole period thing). I just eat as clean as I can, cheat once in a while (I love peanut butter) and work out five days a week. I'll never be movie star skinny or as fit like an athlete, and I don't need to be.

 

[poohpeggy]

Try changing your diet up but only with changes you can live with. I agree with changing up your exercise routine. I for one, am a firm believer of working the whole core. I really like RWH Core 1 & 2. I also like all Cathe Stability Ball core workouts. Kickboxing may help. If you see other woman your age with flat belly when your at the gym, ask them how they acquired their look. If your doing all those things already, maybe a little surgery can do the trick.