Face or…stomach? (older woman and weight)

Crystal4cats

I have heard the famous saying that at a certain age, a woman must choose between her face and her, ahem, rear end. The idea is that when an older (50+) woman gets too thin, her face starts looking haggard.

If ONLY I had to choose between my face and my butt! In my case it's my face or my STOMACH. I'm apple shaped and every extra pound goes to my gut, not my butt. I could live with having a larger butt - after all, the current beauty ideal allows for a bigger booty! - but there is no current beauty ideal that celebrates a big stomach on a woman! Besides, having a thicker middle makes finding clothes to fit a nightmare. It's hard enough being petite and having to get pants legs shortened all the time.

I'm 5'2", small framed, and I would ideally like to get down to 120-125 lbs. So far, by low-carbing it, I'm down by 23 lbs, yay! I've also started an exercise program (lifting weights, will add in yoga and Pilates). I never had much trouble with my weight until I hit my 40's and when I turned 50 I was all of a sudden up to 165 lbs. That's why I'm here.

Do I have to choose between face and stomach? I think my target weight is sensible - it's not as low as when I was in my 20's, but back then I weighed 95 lbs. and I don't think that was healthy. Already, I'm seeing a big difference in how I look and feel (losing the equivalent of a large jug of cat litter will do that!). Unfortunately, I think the stomach will be the last to go. Already I'm retiring jeans when they get that "saggy diaper butt" look, as the weight is going from my thighs and butt first. I don't want to look haggard, nor do I want to be so unproportioned that finding pants is an ordeal, NOR do I want to shop for elastic waist jeans at K Mart. I'd love to hear from women in their 40's and over who have successfully lost weight.