Looking heavily pregnant when I'm not
samaz32
Posts: 16 Member
Hi all,
This is something I've struggled with for many years now. Since my teenage years, when I first gained a lot of weight, I've always had a terribly protruding stomach. I've seen others, many much bigger than myself, with a relatively flat stomach, but mine sticks out so much.
I currently weigh 118 lbs, I'm 5'2 and just looking at myself I look around 6-7 months pregnant. This makes dressing up very difficult as I have to find something to hide my stomach under. I have skinny arms and legs, can fit into smallish clothes, but my stomach looks ridiculous. I've gained some weight over the last year, I was around 105 lbs, but even then I had a protruding stomach.
Is it just lack of exercise, or something else? I wish I could get rid of it, but it's so difficult. The more weight I lose, the skinnier my arms and legs get, my collarbones stick out, but although my stomach will reduce, it still looks pregnant.
BTW, I've never even been pregnant.
This is something I've struggled with for many years now. Since my teenage years, when I first gained a lot of weight, I've always had a terribly protruding stomach. I've seen others, many much bigger than myself, with a relatively flat stomach, but mine sticks out so much.
I currently weigh 118 lbs, I'm 5'2 and just looking at myself I look around 6-7 months pregnant. This makes dressing up very difficult as I have to find something to hide my stomach under. I have skinny arms and legs, can fit into smallish clothes, but my stomach looks ridiculous. I've gained some weight over the last year, I was around 105 lbs, but even then I had a protruding stomach.
Is it just lack of exercise, or something else? I wish I could get rid of it, but it's so difficult. The more weight I lose, the skinnier my arms and legs get, my collarbones stick out, but although my stomach will reduce, it still looks pregnant.
BTW, I've never even been pregnant.
3
Replies
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Have you been to a doctor about this?
It might also be helpful if you post a pic. You don't have to include your face.8 -
(Please don't take this as minimizing your concerns) How is your posture? Do you do any core work? I agree that it would be helpful if you posted a picture. You may have some body dysmorphia going on.6
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I won't be posting a picture, but I really am not over-exaggerating. Posture is terrible, I slouch a lot. Also, I rarely exercise, although I have joined the gym recently (Monday) and hope to stick to it this time, even if I just work out 3 days a week. Maybe that's it. Lack of exercise.4
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Perhaps a trip to your doctor might help? They may have a more knowledgeable answer. Or perhaps it's just your body type? The teenage years are when most folks develop into their given body shapes/types, so that may be what happened. I've known some people who just hold their weight in certain areas.1
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I won't be posting a picture, but I really am not over-exaggerating. Posture is terrible, I slouch a lot. Also, I rarely exercise, although I have joined the gym recently (Monday) and hope to stick to it this time, even if I just work out 3 days a week. Maybe that's it. Lack of exercise.
I really wish you would post a picture. You could have body dysmorphia; you could have a medical condition. It's hard to steer you in the right direction without a picture.
I look 5-6 months pregnant due to my uterine fibroids. I suggest you go see your primary and/or GYN and get checked for medical conditions and also for a reality check. Ask them if you look 6-7 months pregnant.15 -
If you are not willing to show us a picture, it's nearly impossible for us to assess the situation and see if we can help.
I think a trip to the doctor is the best idea. Let the doctor know your concerns.7 -
TheresaAnn1990 wrote: »Perhaps a trip to your doctor might help? They may have a more knowledgeable answer. Or perhaps it's just your body type? The teenage years are when most folks develop into their given body shapes/types, so that may be what happened. I've known some people who just hold their weight in certain areas.
It's definitely a lot worse now I've gained weight, so I think I'll try to get my weight down first, this time with exercise, see if that helps. I don't know if it's just my body type as I've never really seen others with the same problem, not to the same extent anyway. It's like the stomach doesn't belong on my body, always so big in comparison to everything else.8 -
When's the last time you have had a pap smear or been to the obgyn ?7
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Genetically you were blessed with that distribution of fat in that area? Mom? Grandma? Dad?
Have you used your abdominals to hold it in. I grew up with a mom who constantly was.....stand up straight...hold you stomach in.....quit walking like a duck.....toes straight ahead! Oh crap the nagging!!!
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My coworker looked pregnant and it turned out she had huge cysts in/on her uterus,she ended up needing a hysterectomy,,,not saying that's what's happening with you but a trip to the doc night answer some questions9
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I won't be posting a picture, but I really am not over-exaggerating. Posture is terrible, I slouch a lot. Also, I rarely exercise, although I have joined the gym recently (Monday) and hope to stick to it this time, even if I just work out 3 days a week. Maybe that's it. Lack of exercise.
Yup....you need my mom....she'll whip you into shape!
Stop that slouching stuff and hold your stomach in. You have allowed your body to be lazy and it shows.8 -
Have you ever brought your concern to a doctor?
I think it could be helpful to rule out a health condition or discuss body image issues.3 -
TheresaAnn1990 wrote: »Perhaps a trip to your doctor might help? They may have a more knowledgeable answer. Or perhaps it's just your body type? The teenage years are when most folks develop into their given body shapes/types, so that may be what happened. I've known some people who just hold their weight in certain areas.
It's definitely a lot worse now I've gained weight, so I think I'll try to get my weight down first, this time with exercise, see if that helps. I don't know if it's just my body type as I've never really seen others with the same problem, not to the same extent anyway. It's like the stomach doesn't belong on my body, always so big in comparison to everything else.
Were you undereating before, to get to that low weight? It's common when undernourished people start eating more adequate levels -- typically seen in recovering anorexics -- to put it all on in the torso. It'll redistribute eventually, but it takes time -- like, a year.
And, just in case you're thinking about restricting again (now that I've seen your diary), keep in mind that it's not going to redistribute if you don't eat at minimally acceptable levels. Less than 1,000 calories a day is just going to prolong the problem.5 -
Posture makes a huge difference. Get to a physiotherapist or a doctor who can refer you to one to work on it. Working on adding muscle may help as well but get the posture thing fixed. The majority of lighter people who I've seen post about their large stomachs have very bad posture that makes their stomachs look bigger than they really are.
After that, it may mean that you need to lose fat. I carry nearly all extra weight in my stomach (in fact I'm up about 15 lbs from my norm and have been asked if I'm pregnant twice in the past month) and know how much it sucks so you have my sympathy.0 -
You could have ovarian cancer, cysts or an enlarged uterus. Also protein malnutrition and liver problems can sometimes lead to what you are saying you see. Please please go get checked out.5
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It may be your posture - a Pilates class would help with that. It may also be the tilt on your pelvis, I have heard that sometimes the tilt of the hips and curve of the lower back can result in a 'beer belly' appearance. I would talk to your doctor to rule out any internal medical issues and then sign up for Pilates or Yoga to help you with posture and gaining control of your core muscles.0
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If your doctor is not seeing anything out of the ordinary and this isn't a new thing (you mentioned you've always had a protruding stomach since puberty) it may as well be posture. That can be worked on and corrected.
Fat loss through resistance training and a very small deficit may help if any of that is fat and posture training still leaves you unsatisfied.
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There is no point in trying to adjust things by manipulating your weight or posture if the whole thing is caused by an underlying medical condition.
Go ask your doctor.
Once all these things (including posture and weight and all the medical concerns others have brought up) have been discussed and ruled in or out with your doctor's help, then you can plan!3 -
Posture could have an effect, when I was a kid I had an awful curved spine. My waist size wasn't too bad, but because I pushed it forward I looked much fatter than I was. I had fairly intensive osteopathy to fix it so go and speak to your doctor, they will be able to help0
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There is no point in trying to adjust things by manipulating your weight or posture if the whole thing is caused by an underlying medical condition.
Go ask your doctor.
Once all these things (including posture and weight and all the medical concerns others have brought up) have been discussed and ruled in or out with your doctor's help, then you can plan!
This is correct. It doesn't even have to be something scary, you may just have an intolerance to some food that is causing you to be bloated. Since you will not be posting pictures, we'd also have to consider that you may be seeing something that isn't there. Body dysmorphia is a real thing where the way you see yourself is not really the way things actually are. Have you measured your waist circumference? This may be a more objective measure than the mirror.6 -
With all due respect to you, OP. I really think you need to speak to a doctor. The way you are describing your body sounds very disordered and your diary shows that you are eating way less than you should. The fact that you are dismissing reasonable advice to see a doctor/share a pic to rule out dysmorphia leads me to believe that you are just looking for people to tell you to lose more/work harder/restrict more. Well you shouldn't. Set your goals on MFP to an appropriate rate of loss for your weight (.5/week) and eat the goal it tells you. Eat back a portion of your exercise calories.
As an aside, if you look pregnant, people will say something. At my pre-MFP weight I had strangers asking me if I was expecting. Our culture is very baby obsessed, and the likelihood of friends or family members being on the look out for a baby bump is very high if you are in a steady relationship, while strangers will make comments regardless. If you are not getting comments of these kinds, you probably don't look pregnant.10 -
gogetemrogue wrote: »With all due respect to you, OP. I really think you need to speak to a doctor. The way you are describing your body sounds very disordered and your diary shows that you are eating way less than you should. The fact that you are dismissing reasonable advice to see a doctor/share a pic to rule out dysmorphia leads me to believe that you are just looking for people to tell you to lose more/work harder/restrict more. Well you shouldn't. Set your goals on MFP to an appropriate rate of loss for your weight (.5/week) and eat the goal it tells you. Eat back a portion of your exercise calories.
This. The diary is very concerning, if it is accurate. Malnutrition leads to things like hair loss and no menses, but most people don't mention (or even know about) some of the other things, like really bumpy, flaky nails, or cracks at the corner of your mouth. It is not an attractive look. Get some help.5 -
If your stomach tends to accompany painful bloating after meals, do your doctor.
I'm a celiac. When I was undiagnosed I always carried a sweatshirt to hold in front or wear in order to cover my protruding belly. It would get painfully large, but at times it would get flat. If your stomach is bloating and the flattening out, see your doctor.0 -
[/quote] It's definitely a lot worse now I've gained weight, so I think I'll try to get my weight down first, this time with exercise, see if that helps. I don't know if it's just my body type as I've never really seen others with the same problem, not to the same extent anyway. It's like the stomach doesn't belong on my body, always so big in comparison to everything else. [/quote]
To be clear, you say you are 118lbs at 5'2"...by no stretch of the imagination do you need to lose weight. You may just be skinny/fat. You may want to look into recomposition with resistance/weight training.
As for your belly, again, the idea you think you need to lose weight at such a low weight already indicates body dismorphia. But if I am being less dramatic, it could be an intolerance to gluten or dairy that is causing bloating.
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collectingblues wrote: »TheresaAnn1990 wrote: »Perhaps a trip to your doctor might help? They may have a more knowledgeable answer. Or perhaps it's just your body type? The teenage years are when most folks develop into their given body shapes/types, so that may be what happened. I've known some people who just hold their weight in certain areas.
It's definitely a lot worse now I've gained weight, so I think I'll try to get my weight down first, this time with exercise, see if that helps. I don't know if it's just my body type as I've never really seen others with the same problem, not to the same extent anyway. It's like the stomach doesn't belong on my body, always so big in comparison to everything else.
Were you undereating before, to get to that low weight? It's common when undernourished people start eating more adequate levels -- typically seen in recovering anorexics -- to put it all on in the torso. It'll redistribute eventually, but it takes time -- like, a year.
And, just in case you're thinking about restricting again (now that I've seen your diary), keep in mind that it's not going to redistribute if you don't eat at minimally acceptable levels. Less than 1,000 calories a day is just going to prolong the problem.
I have increased my calories now. I've joined the gym and am now planning to take my time and lose the weight I've gained slowly. I know restricting too much the worst possible way to lose weight, just was feeling a little stressed last week.
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NeverSawAWildThingFeelSorry wrote: »You could have ovarian cancer, cysts or an enlarged uterus. Also protein malnutrition and liver problems can sometimes lead to what you are saying you see. Please please go get checked out.
I doubt it as I've had this problem for so many years.0 -
amusedmonkey wrote: »There is no point in trying to adjust things by manipulating your weight or posture if the whole thing is caused by an underlying medical condition.
Go ask your doctor.
Once all these things (including posture and weight and all the medical concerns others have brought up) have been discussed and ruled in or out with your doctor's help, then you can plan!
This is correct. It doesn't even have to be something scary, you may just have an intolerance to some food that is causing you to be bloated. Since you will not be posting pictures, we'd also have to consider that you may be seeing something that isn't there. Body dysmorphia is a real thing where the way you see yourself is not really the way things actually are. Have you measured your waist circumference? This may be a more objective measure than the mirror.
I will get checked out, but I worry the doctor will just think I'm a hypochondriac. My sister has coeliac disease, I eat a lot of gluten, hope it's not the case, but could be.2 -
Ask your doctor about Cushing's syndrome. There are many medical reasons for a disproportionately large midsection and you really, really need to get it looked at if you are correct that your stomach doesn't look like anyone else's you have seen of the same weight.
It's reasonable to expect the doctor to think you are a hypochondriac- mine did - but I wasn't a hypochondriac, I was someone with a massive tumor. Insist on being taken seriously.6 -
OP, are your periods ok? Certain gyno conditions can cause this.0
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amusedmonkey wrote: »If your doctor is not seeing anything out of the ordinary and this isn't a new thing (you mentioned you've always had a protruding stomach since puberty) it may as well be posture. That can be worked on and corrected.
Fat loss through resistance training and a very small deficit may help if any of that is fat and posture training still leaves you unsatisfied.
This! If there's no medical reason then this is very true! I had a miserable posture for years (and back pain). My size was always recorded as 167cm and I so wanted to be bigger. Then I started lifting weights and doing bodyweight exercises. Not only did my posture improve so much, I'm now just over 169cm! Just a better posture does so much to improve things.4
This discussion has been closed.
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