What is going on (body shape changes)?

U

usamarsha

Cathlete
I have been working very hard to get my body back into shape. I am currently back to my "pre having any children" weight and I'm not fitting into some of my old clothes. (I've had two children in the past 2 1/2 years, with my youngest being 11 months.) My shape has definately changed. My waist is bigger by several inches and my hips, thighs and butt are smaller. What is going on!?? I used to have a very narrow waist, with any extra weight being carried in my thighs and butt. It's like it reversed. x(

Does anyone know if this is from having children or just gettting older? Is there anything I can do about it or do I just have to accept it. I'd like to lose 10 more pounds, all off my waist, but I know that is not possible. :7 I've been focusing more on my abs this month, working them out 4-5 days a week and working more on obliques. Anyone have any other suggestions?

I now believe women who said that their body changed after having kids. :) :) But I still love my little buggers! ;-)
 
Well first thing that comes into my head is about diet. All the great w/o in the world doesn't compensate if you're diet isn't up to snuff. Second I wonder HOW you are working out. What are you doing, and what goals do you have? Different bodies respond to different types of training.

I am post PG, well 2 yrs, but I am in better shape now than I ever was. So I don't think PG necessarily alters your body permanently. You just have to work at it a bit to get it back ;)



"you miss 100% of the shots you never take"


Debbie
 
>So I don't think PG necessarily alters your body
>permanently. You just have to work at it a bit to get it back
>;)
>

I agree with what Debbie said. Definitely had to work hard to get back to pre-pregnancy shape. However, I feel in better shape now, in my 30's, than my 20's. It helps to work out, so I can keep up with them! ;-)

It will happen just be patient.

ETA: It's only been 11 months. Enjoy your babies!:)

Dallas
 
Marsha I also lost my waist, which before my 3 monsters was very small. Like you I had carried all my weight in butt and thighs. I got my weight down to pre-pregnancy, my pants and skirts fit better in the lower body, but I couldn't button the waist. So I'm with you. I don't know the explanation and I'll keep working on it - but just wanted to say I share your misery!

Lorrie
 
>Well first thing that comes into my head is about diet. All
>the great w/o in the world doesn't compensate if you're diet
>isn't up to snuff. Second I wonder HOW you are working out.
>What are you doing, and what goals do you have? Different
>bodies respond to different types of training.

I agree.

My body has definitely changed post-pregnancy but for the better -- after finding out what kinds of workouts to do and what eating plan to have to reach my goals, which vary about every 3-4 months.

My waist is bigger but not by much, and I think it's a bit bigger because of all the core work, and I don't mind that. My hips and thighs are smaller from endurance work and kickboxing. I used to be glaringly pear-shaped. Not so much anymore. But it did take a LONG time to get to where I am since I had to do a lot of trial and error.

Evaluate your goals and find what works for you.

Pinky
 
Well, my diet since the holidays hasn't been the best, but it has not been really bad. I was meticulous with my diet (following BFFM) for 12 weeks prior to December and lost over 8% body fat. I'm at about 19% now. Which is close to what I was in college and I have a totally different body shape now. (which was the last time I knew what my body fat was, prior to last year) I currently have a 31" waist (at 5'7") and was at 26" in college 12 years ago. I do cardio 6 days a week for at least 45 minutes, add on abs 4-5 days and weight training a couple of days a week. I just added on more ab work this month.

I guess my frustration is I was always one of those people who naturally had a narrow waist and six pack abs. My clothes don't fit the same anymore. I read a little bit about freestyle in regards to shaping your lower body; exercising it 6 days a week. Should I try this with my abs/waist or will this make things worse? Or I guess I could just go out and by a new wardrobe. ;-)

Thanks for the responses!
 
Thanks for sharing! I was starting to feel like I was imagining things. I knew I wasn't when I couldn't get some of my pants buttoned around my waist. :7 I was an hourglass, now I'm a ruler. LOL!!
 
I definately have a changed body shape after two pregnancies, but I'm also in the best shape of my life. And just like you, it's my waist. My stomach is much more toned than it ever was before the kids, but it's just a bit wider. It's annoying, I know. I never had to work so hard on my waistline before, but now it's one of my main focuses. Even though it's technically wider, I know it looks the best it's ever looked, so I've just shrugged it off. You're not alone :)

Kelly
 
Marsha, I'm thinking also it would be good to go start training heavier & more frequently to not only slim down but define and sculpt muscles. Try to spend at least an equal amount of time lifting as you do cardio. Cardio is often overemphasized. If you are a cardio junkie, that's fine...just make sure you have time for lifting. That will help proportion you a bit. You lost 8% bodyfat? That's awesome! Sounds like something is going right :)



"you miss 100% of the shots you never take"


Debbie
 
I'm with you too. I had the exact same problem after my daughter. I got myself back to my pre-pregnancy weight yet I couldn't get some of my pants buttoned. I have always had a trim waist and carried all my weight in my butt and thighs, but since I had my daughter I know carry extra weight in my stomach. It's frustrating, but I figured it's just a part of having kids and that all I can do is work on it. So, you are not alone.

Katie
 
Marsha,

I am the same size as I was 24 years ago...which is right before I had my daughter. I really haven't changed much at all....maybe it's genetic. My skin is not as elastic and has more wrinkles;), but I honestly haven't found any other differences.

Robin
 
I have no idea how old you are, probably quite younger than me, but as you approach perimenopause in your 40's (for some women, this will be after 35), you do start getting more of a gut. As your body secretes less estrogen, your belly fat starts to put out its own estrogen to assist and the fat cells there actually enlarge. There are several books out there (Outsmarting the Female Fat Cell is one) that explain this in detail. I have lost 13 lbs in the last 2 months (yes!) and I am pretty sure my body fat is back in the teens again but I have noticed that it's taking longer for my lower abs to really return to flat...I'm not done yet, I have about 5 lbs to go. I think it's my age - I'm 44. The last time I was this thin was about 4 years ago, and even though I have no other perimenopause symptoms, I KNOW that because of my age, it's happening. Maybe you had your kids late and you are creeping up on this. I had my second one at age 35.
If you didn't know all this, sorry to be the one to fill you in. Keep your body fat low and your abs toned because that area becomes a real problem as you age. (wish I had not gotten sloppy the last 4 years) Look around at most women over 40 that do not exercise like maniacs. Even some of us that do have to fight this.
 
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