Does This Uterus Make My Stomach Look Fat?
Replies
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Ditto on bloat. Fun fact, I also seem to be constipated at the moment ...
Probably TMI, but I've noticed a pattern. The week before my TOM, I get REALLY bloated and constipated as well. Then once I start, the bloat goes away, things get regular and I shrink back to normal for about a week. Then the cycle starts all over again.
Perimenopause sucks. I never had these issues when I was younger. 15 -
Omg yes! It’s a week before my period starts and I’m going through the exact same thing and have noticed this pattern for about 8-9 months now.
Glad I’m not alone.1 -
mom23mangos wrote: »Ditto on bloat. Fun fact, I also seem to be constipated at the moment ...
Probably TMI, but I've noticed a pattern. The week before my TOM, I get REALLY bloated and constipated as well. Then once I start, the bloat goes away, things get regular and I shrink back to normal for about a week. Then the cycle starts all over again. Perimenopause sucks. I never had these issues when I was younger.
Yep, exactly the same for me, down to the perimenopause. Sucks. But that first week after TOM feels amazing—comfort-wise, I mean, though I also feel like a supermodel to be fair.9 -
Oh man I don't even want to think about it.
Bloat is just plain evil.
I get bloated around ovulation and around my TOM. So annoying. For me it's only 1-3 lbs, but still annoying. Oh and if I happen to eat pizza I look like I am several months pregnant :laugh: (doesn't stop me from eating pizza though)
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Thank goodness for this thread!
I've been really struggling with my belly area for the past, I don't even know anymore, 6 months?!
I started "bulk" around August-September and been putting on weight which was my intention but I never knew I would struggle with my belly so much.
I did know that I would also gain a bit fat and that my belly would get bigger, but lately I've been so bloated all the time. On worst days, I look like I would be pregnant and it doesn't make me laugh anymore. I even went to my doctor because it seemed to get worse and worse. All tests came back normal so it must be have been something I've been eating.
I did cut off dairy for few weeks, no effect really. About few weeks ago, switched oats to bread and surprisingly, I haven't been that bloated, go figure...
I still get quite bloated everyday, but not as much.
Really needed this thread to remind me that Instagram is not reality. Obviously I've been scrolling through insta, looking at flat bellys which has made me feel even worse about myself and my belly.
So for now, I am just looking things that I eat and switch things up, see if it helps or not. And reduce stress!
The pictures I am posting show the difference...
Right one is day off from work (light stress levels), belly works as usual and in the morning it is flat and even later on it wasn't that bloated.
On the left, it is after work and bloated.
Age: 30
BMI: 21.4
BF%: No clue
Number of Pregnancies: 0
Medical Conditions affecting appearance: Scoliosis (other medical cond: asthma, emphysema/copd)
Primary form of exercise: Weights, walking
Number of years doing aforementioned exercise: Weights 3 yrs, walking my whole life20 -
@ellustiina, I haven't ever done much research into it, but I wonder if there is a circulation component to bloat. Like I noticed the other day I woke up, looked in the mirror and thought, "Daaaang, looking lean!" Two hours later of walking around upright (still hadn't eaten anything) I was all bloated again. 7
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mom23mangos wrote: »@ellustiina, I haven't ever done much research into it, but I wonder if there is a circulation component to bloat. Like I noticed the other day I woke up, looked in the mirror and thought, "Daaaang, looking lean!" Two hours later of walking around upright (still hadn't eaten anything) I was all bloated again.
https://www.livestrong.com/article/447258-why-do-you-look-slimmer-in-the-morning/
If you google you will find all sorts of answers, but people do tend to look slimmer in the morning. Since I am a shorty, this is my favorite part of the article:
"When you wake up in the morning, you're slightly taller, which may make you feel slimmer. Lying down makes the discs in your spine separate slightly, so your height will increase a small amount, as a result. Over the course of the day, the compression of walking squishes them back together to your "normal" height. This compression is why you lose the average of 1 centimeter in height when you run a marathon. If you're taller in the morning, even a little bit, your weight spreads out over a larger surface area and you feel slimmer."10 -
A good reason to stretch flat out a few times a day for 15 minutes or more?16
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More reason to have a physical first thing in the morning, to have greater height, for improved height-weight proportion!15
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mom23mangos wrote: »@ellustiina, I haven't ever done much research into it, but I wonder if there is a circulation component to bloat. Like I noticed the other day I woke up, looked in the mirror and thought, "Daaaang, looking lean!" Two hours later of walking around upright (still hadn't eaten anything) I was all bloated again.
https://www.livestrong.com/article/447258-why-do-you-look-slimmer-in-the-morning/
If you google you will find all sorts of answers, but people do tend to look slimmer in the morning. Since I am a shorty, this is my favorite part of the article:
"When you wake up in the morning, you're slightly taller, which may make you feel slimmer. Lying down makes the discs in your spine separate slightly, so your height will increase a small amount, as a result. Over the course of the day, the compression of walking squishes them back together to your "normal" height. This compression is why you lose the average of 1 centimeter in height when you run a marathon. If you're taller in the morning, even a little bit, your weight spreads out over a larger surface area and you feel slimmer."
Do you think you get that centimetre back after a marathon?0 -
TavistockToad wrote: »mom23mangos wrote: »@ellustiina, I haven't ever done much research into it, but I wonder if there is a circulation component to bloat. Like I noticed the other day I woke up, looked in the mirror and thought, "Daaaang, looking lean!" Two hours later of walking around upright (still hadn't eaten anything) I was all bloated again.
https://www.livestrong.com/article/447258-why-do-you-look-slimmer-in-the-morning/
If you google you will find all sorts of answers, but people do tend to look slimmer in the morning. Since I am a shorty, this is my favorite part of the article:
"When you wake up in the morning, you're slightly taller, which may make you feel slimmer. Lying down makes the discs in your spine separate slightly, so your height will increase a small amount, as a result. Over the course of the day, the compression of walking squishes them back together to your "normal" height. This compression is why you lose the average of 1 centimeter in height when you run a marathon. If you're taller in the morning, even a little bit, your weight spreads out over a larger surface area and you feel slimmer."
Do you think you get that centimetre back after a marathon?
Haha! I would imagine after a night of sleep and being properly hydrated they would.
I found table 2 very interesting!
https://www.jospt.org/doi/pdf/10.2519/jospt.1990.12.4.1392 -
TavistockToad wrote: »mom23mangos wrote: »@ellustiina, I haven't ever done much research into it, but I wonder if there is a circulation component to bloat. Like I noticed the other day I woke up, looked in the mirror and thought, "Daaaang, looking lean!" Two hours later of walking around upright (still hadn't eaten anything) I was all bloated again.
https://www.livestrong.com/article/447258-why-do-you-look-slimmer-in-the-morning/
If you google you will find all sorts of answers, but people do tend to look slimmer in the morning. Since I am a shorty, this is my favorite part of the article:
"When you wake up in the morning, you're slightly taller, which may make you feel slimmer. Lying down makes the discs in your spine separate slightly, so your height will increase a small amount, as a result. Over the course of the day, the compression of walking squishes them back together to your "normal" height. This compression is why you lose the average of 1 centimeter in height when you run a marathon. If you're taller in the morning, even a little bit, your weight spreads out over a larger surface area and you feel slimmer."
Do you think you get that centimetre back after a marathon?
Haha! I would imagine after a night of sleep and being properly hydrated they would.
phew!2 -
TavistockToad wrote: »mom23mangos wrote: »@ellustiina, I haven't ever done much research into it, but I wonder if there is a circulation component to bloat. Like I noticed the other day I woke up, looked in the mirror and thought, "Daaaang, looking lean!" Two hours later of walking around upright (still hadn't eaten anything) I was all bloated again.
https://www.livestrong.com/article/447258-why-do-you-look-slimmer-in-the-morning/
If you google you will find all sorts of answers, but people do tend to look slimmer in the morning. Since I am a shorty, this is my favorite part of the article:
"When you wake up in the morning, you're slightly taller, which may make you feel slimmer. Lying down makes the discs in your spine separate slightly, so your height will increase a small amount, as a result. Over the course of the day, the compression of walking squishes them back together to your "normal" height. This compression is why you lose the average of 1 centimeter in height when you run a marathon. If you're taller in the morning, even a little bit, your weight spreads out over a larger surface area and you feel slimmer."
Do you think you get that centimetre back after a marathon?
Haha! I would imagine after a night of sleep and being properly hydrated they would.
I found table 2 very interesting!
https://www.jospt.org/doi/pdf/10.2519/jospt.1990.12.4.139
I'm not particularly squeamish but that makes me feel a bit.... ikky...
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Good job ladies, I raised three daughters and I'm so glad none of them are hung up on their looks. Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes.10
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One week between pictures. The one on the right is pre-TOM with bloating. The one on the left is post-TOM without bloating.
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Most of your stomachs are still flat. I'm not seeing anything encouraging really for those who do have stomach issues. I've had a gut since I was a teenager in middle school. My stomach is one of my worst features especially after childbirth because it is covered with stretch marks.
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WillingtoLose1001984 wrote: »Most of your stomachs are still flat. I'm not seeing anything encouraging really for those who do have stomach issues. I've had a gut since I was a teenager in middle school. My stomach is one of my worst features especially after childbirth because it is covered with stretch marks.
I guess it all really depends on your perspective. I find plenty encouragement here, and I have "stomach issues." I've had a gut for as long as I can remember--and it's also covered in stretch marks, despite not having had any children, ever.
I'm sorry you don't find this post helpful. I personally find it very inspirational to see so many different bodies in various states, some only minutes apart. It really illustrates that your body is what you make it.34 -
I'm so glad I found this thread. I've always been self conscious of my stomach as it is always the place I gain at first and lose last. Nice to see people talking about posture too because mine is terrible and I always feel like I'm 'cheating' if I stand up straight and flex for progress pics which is so silly because that's what all the models are doing anyway! I'm not at my goal yet but sharing my photos for anyone who is triangle or apple shaped to give an idea of what someone with that shape at a healthy BMI looks like.
Age: 27
BMI or Height/Weight/Bone Structure: 136lbs 5"3 BMI: 24
BF%: If you know: Most recent estimation was 27% but that was my boyfriend with some cheap calipers so who knows!
Number of Pregnancies:0
Medical Conditions affecting appearance: Just years of awful posture!
Primary form of exercise: Weights and running
Number of years doing aforementioned exercise: Around 2 years consistently
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WillingtoLose1001984 wrote: »Most of your stomachs are still flat. I'm not seeing anything encouraging really for those who do have stomach issues. I've had a gut since I was a teenager in middle school. My stomach is one of my worst features especially after childbirth because it is covered with stretch marks.
More representation would be great. Someone will have to have the confidence to post, which would hopefully encourage others.18 -
WillingtoLose1001984 wrote: »Most of your stomachs are still flat. I'm not seeing anything encouraging really for those who do have stomach issues. I've had a gut since I was a teenager in middle school. My stomach is one of my worst features especially after childbirth because it is covered with stretch marks.
My stomach is covered in stretch marks, too. It's also still squidgy and not quite flat despite weighing the same as when I was in high school and it was flat. This thread is full of photos of people who have achieved their goals, so yeah, lots of amazing flat or almost flat tummies! Are you looking for more 'befores'? Because I guarantee you, a lot of us started out in a similar place to you.12 -
^^ I was under the impression this thread was for women with a normal BMI to share what our stomachs look like, so that those women who are still trying to lose weight won't have unrealistic expectations and expect to have a rock hard, flat stomach when they reach their goal weight.44
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^^ I was under the impression this thread was for women with a normal BMI to share what our stomachs look like, so that those women who are still trying to lose weight won't have unrealistic expectations and expect to have a rock hard, flat stomach when they reach their goal weight.
Yes. And also to see the wide range within a normal BMI. So someone at the higher end of the normal range not happy with the way they look can see what BMI range it might make sense for them to shoot for to get their desired look. Or if it's even worth it to them. But the biggest reason is just to make people feel NORMAL about their pudge, their bloat, their loose skin, their stretch marks, their frowny belly buttons, their character shaped plank bellies....21 -
shadow2soul wrote: »Oh man I don't even want to think about it. Bloat is just plain evil.
I get bloated around ovulation and around my TOM. So annoying. For me it's only 1-3 lbs, but still annoying. Oh and if I happen to eat pizza I look like I am several months pregnant :laugh: (doesn't stop me from eating pizza though)
Hah, yes! Hormones wreak havoc with my GI system too. Ovulation =bloated constipated angry woman. A few days of normalcy, then PMS brings it back. Repeat. I was so horribly bloated last week that I looked 3 mo pregnant and my high waisted leggings were chafing my belly. Leggings for goodness sake! The unhappy skin still hasn’t gone away but at least I’m not hosting a cantaloupe inside my tights anymore.
And speaking of posing doing wonders...I felt like a little Instagram princess here (not that I post these type of pics anywhere but here). Definitely not in that frontal shot, no matter how much I tried to flex
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WillingtoLose1001984 wrote: »Most of your stomachs are still flat. I'm not seeing anything encouraging really for those who do have stomach issues. I've had a gut since I was a teenager in middle school. My stomach is one of my worst features especially after childbirth because it is covered with stretch marks.
Did you look at the first 3 pages of this thread? If not, I would highly recommend it. I suspect you may find what you're looking for in terms of encouragement.
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^^ I was under the impression this thread was for women with a normal BMI to share what our stomachs look like, so that those women who are still trying to lose weight won't have unrealistic expectations and expect to have a rock hard, flat stomach when they reach their goal weight.
Expanding on that: Periodically we see photo posts, usually from quite young women, worrying because their stomachs don't look as flat as the photoshopped/posed IG-ers, but whose own photos here make it sadly clear that they're lamenting the slight swell of the abdomen that literally just means they have a uterus. It's heartbreaking, to me.
There are lots of reasons to applaud a "this is how real women look" thread.28 -
^^ I was under the impression this thread was for women with a normal BMI to share what our stomachs look like, so that those women who are still trying to lose weight won't have unrealistic expectations and expect to have a rock hard, flat stomach when they reach their goal weight.
Expanding on that: Periodically we see photo posts, usually from quite young women, worrying because their stomachs don't look as flat as the photoshopped/posed IG-ers, but whose own photos here make it sadly clear that they're lamenting the slight swell of the abdomen that literally just means they have a uterus. It's heartbreaking, to me.
There are lots of reasons to applaud a "this is how real women look" thread.
This thread has helped re-shape my view of what is realistic and attainable (as I have had zero comparison, personally, except what's on TV). In all honesty, I never thought of my uterus as having visible mass. It has always fallen into the mystery of "internal organs". My belly isn't going to be what it was when I was a teenager, but I cannot express enough how much this thread has really opened my eyes in terms of what real women look like.
And that I am not a freak of nature for not being exactly like the women thrown up for us to compare against.
I am not a healthy BMI yet, but I'm getting there. I have a reasonably good idea of what (potentially) to expect now that's much more realistic than what is glamorized.24 -
This thread has helped me a lot as well. After 4 big babies, there’s some loose pouchy skin and fat that is unlikely to disappear any time soon with anything like a normal diet and workout schedule. I’m not 18, I can’t workout 5 hours a day, and that’s the smudgy size of it. I can still be proud of what I achieve, even if it isn’t “Instagram worthy”. And it’s nice to know I’m not the only one like this. A lot of friends make comments about my shape and I think they have a warped idea of what’s going on under my tank top.19
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This was last week when I was bloated, constipated and on my TOM (sorry tmi). But I’m coming to terms with my body constantly changing due to hormones, and other factors. I’m starting to see how normal it is for bodies to fluctuate.
My body this week has been going through some digestion issues but overall the puffy look/feeling is going away.
I’m so thankful I found this thread because I no longer beat myself up for not being able to have the flattest stomach or think that my uterus (that I used to think was a pudge) shouldn’t be there.20 -
Age: 52
BMI or Height/Weight/Bone Structure: 23.7, 5’4”/138 lbs/broad frame
BF%: 23.5
Number of Pregnancies: 0
Primary form of exercise: ex. Walking
Number of years doing aforementioned exercise: 1.25 years
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