Back with belly concerns

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herringboxes
herringboxes Posts: 259 Member
edited June 2023 in Health and Weight Loss
I posted a while back wondering how much more I needed to lose given my belly is still big despite being at a decent weight. I decided to lose a few more pounds. I’m currently at 125lbs / 57kg (female, 5’ 5” / 165cm) and willing to go to 120 but kind of nervous about going under that. I’m definitely not looking to overdo this.

But I was just reading this article about healthy waist sizes:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-to-measure-your-waist#waistline-size-and-health

It suggests women want to be at or under 31.5 inches to be healthy. I pull out the tape measure and I’m 34 inches.

I am thinking another 5 pounds is not likely to erase 2.5 whole inches. So once again, I’m confused about how I could be so far away from a healthy baseline at what I consider to be a decent weight.

The article also discusses the Waist to Height Ratio and says anything over 50 is at risk for obesity related disease. I’m at 52. I’m 125 pounds and my belly is considered at risk.

I’m frustrated again. I wonder if I have a ton of visceral fat, and if so, how much do I have to lose to knock it back. (Subcutaneous fat seems fine, it’s there but nothing major).

I hoped for a minute that maybe having this belly wasn’t that abnormal, that maybe I was just equating models to normal, but I’m back facing the fact that my belly really is very large.

Sigh.
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Replies

  • californiagirl1969
    californiagirl1969 Posts: 50 Member
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    You sound healthy, but we all carry weight in different ways. Maybe an exercise regimen is what you need and not further weight loss, a picture would be nice and your dietary and exercise regimen would help to help you.
  • herringboxes
    herringboxes Posts: 259 Member
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    I did post pictures in a previous thread, not that I’m super eager to pull them up again lol.

    I have started weight lifting. I like it a lot. Still new to it, though, but enjoying the newbie gains. I’m starting with StrongLifts. I walk or use treadmill for cardio right now.
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 9,925 Member
    edited June 2023
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    I remember you posted a picture and the consensus was you look good and I wouldn't say you have a "big belly", on the contrary it's pretty flat from that pic. In regards to waist circumference, these are guidelines only and you would need a Dexa scan that will show visceral fat, bone density, muscle mass that kind of thing. One of the most often missed diagnosis is, as we age we lose muscle mass and without years of a proper diet, which is one without adequate high quality protein and not stressing our muscle through exercise, sports etc and before we know it we have what looks like a skinny fat body frame and more than likely sarcopenia would show up on the Dexa as well. Maybe think recomp, keep your weight the same just change the distribution and this might be something to think about as opposed to lowering calories and not getting enough nutrition, which is probably not going to change that distribution, except just being a little smaller all over. Cheers
  • springlering62
    springlering62 Posts: 7,476 Member
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    Why not ”park” here a while and let the weightlifting have a chance to take effect?

    You can always choose to lose more later.

    Question, though. For me, all my extra skin has congregated in my waist.

    My legs and arms muscled up and thinned out. My ribs pulled back in to “normal” position, instead of being splayed out to accommodate the weight that used to be there. This has all sort of forced my extra everything on to my waistline. I think that everything else has thinned out so much by comparison it’s making the belly look artificially larger.

    It’s particularly floppy and malleable. I can put on compressive leggings and it disappears. Low cut jeans or shorts causes a volcanic muffin-top so I have to go high-waisted.

    Have you considered that you may have a similar issue?

    Unless I want to endure surgery (and I emphatically do not!), it is what it is.

    I sometimes worry that once we get successful, we get on a path of better, Better, BETTER, PERFECTION!!!!! And perfection is unrealistic.

    Hugs. I “feel” your belly woes.

    Disregard those stupid charts and articles. You are a real woman, not some number on a science study’s spreadsheet.

  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 32,195 Member
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    It might be a good time to talk with your primary care doctor about these issues, in context of your total health history, too.

    I'm your height, a little heavier (131 point something this morning), but different measurements (none recent). Body configuration - weird stuff like how close ribcage sits to pelvic bones, pelvic width, etc. - has a big impact on what's the most healthful weight range.

    From what you say, I'm getting the idea that something about your body configuration could be statistically unusual. That's not some bad or negative thing: It would just mean that those ratios wouldn't apply well for you in ways they might for others. An in-depth conversation with your doctor could helps sort some of that out.
  • herringboxes
    herringboxes Posts: 259 Member
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    Neanderthin - yeah, okay, thanks for talking me back down again.

    Yeah, I’m all in on the weights. Wish I could send a message back to my 14 year old self to do them. Was always interested but never thought I could.

    Not sure how the weights will help my waist but I just need to deal either way. I guess I was just caught in a weak moment.

    Springlering - thank you. Yes, I guess I’ll park here.

    My lifetime high weight was just 2 pounds into overweight BMI (152) though it certainly was too much for me. And most of my adult life I’ve been trim, just a couple of times I’ve had to dial it back. But I’ve always had a big belly, even underweight. Even as a little kid. I don’t know what it is.

    Had decided to just deal and let it be - but felt the old feelings of confusion come back reading that article and seeing I’m not imagining the big belly. And wondering if I’m not as healthy as I had hoped.
  • herringboxes
    herringboxes Posts: 259 Member
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    Ann - yeah, I’m also thinking something is different about me.

    I’ll think about seeing PCP.

    But.

    Have not found docs very helpful for much other than pills and surgery.

    And not currently in the market for either.

    Still, will think about it.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 32,195 Member
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    herringboxes wrote: »
    Ann - yeah, I’m also thinking something is different about me.

    I’ll think about seeing PCP.

    But.

    Have not found docs very helpful for much other than pills and surgery.

    And not currently in the market for either.

    Still, will think about it.

    Might require a new PCP. Or specialist. Or even a really, really good (hard to find) personal trainer. Maybe.
  • herringboxes
    herringboxes Posts: 259 Member
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    Would love a trainer! No money, though.

    I’m not going to pursue a specialist. Whatever it is hasn’t killed me yet, and it’s been lifelong. But I might see my PCP.
  • PAV8888
    PAV8888 Posts: 13,654 Member
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    Measurement error is a possibility. Seriously.

    Are you looking in a mirror or someone else is making sure that the tape is at a level parallel to the ground while it is going around you?

    Where exactly does you measuring you waist?

    Did you feel out the top of your iliac crest, marked it with a marker, bottom of first rib. Mark. Halfway, mark. Repeat on other side.

    Measure parallel to ground from mark to mark.

    Assuming you don't have a majorly droopy tummy from past issues

    Plus the points discussed above make a lot of sense to me
  • sollyn23l2
    sollyn23l2 Posts: 1,619 Member
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    Do you have long legs and a short abdomen? People who have that body type can look as though they have a larger belly because all their internal organs have to be squeezed into that space. For people who have a longer abdomen, their organs have more space to fit and not be squeezed into the waist.
  • herringboxes
    herringboxes Posts: 259 Member
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    PAV, will try measurement again.

    Sollyn, lol, it’s the opposite. I’m all torso, stubby legs. Should be enough room to jam those intestines in somehow! Then again, it’s possible it’s my upper torso that is long, not certain, I just know I’m petite in the legs but tall in the torso.
  • PAV8888
    PAV8888 Posts: 13,654 Member
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    You can look up the definitions and guides but a common one for the measurements you are looking at is the one I described at the mid point of the gap between the highest point of your iliac crest and your lowest rib directly above. Parallel to the ground (so level to the ground for front to back)
  • Lietchi
    Lietchi Posts: 6,128 Member
    edited June 2023
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    You mention a long torso, but if it's your ribcage that is long, you could just have a shorter distance between ribs and hips causing a larger measurement? Ribcage and hips circumference plays a role too, I imagine.
    I have a friend that has scoliosis, she also has a very short (and therefore wider) waist due to the deformation of her spine, but she is very lean otherwise.
  • herringboxes
    herringboxes Posts: 259 Member
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    PAV8888 wrote: »
    You can look up the definitions and guides but a common one for the measurements you are looking at is the one I described at the mid point of the gap between the highest point of your iliac crest and your lowest rib directly above. Parallel to the ground (so level to the ground for front to back)

    So, it’s interesting. Yesterday I measured at the belly button per one source and got 34 inches, as I mentioned above. Remeasured there just now, being careful to keep tape parallel to floor, and got the same.

    Going for the iliac crest/bottom of rib cage midpoint as you mention puts me about an inch above my belly button and a measurement of 32 inches.

    The curvature is steep around there. Minor adjustments lead to big measurement changes. I went half an inch below the belly button just for fun and it’s 35 inches.

    So now I’m wondering how anybody measures a waist.

    Bottom of ribcage is 28 inches.

    I’ve moved all my chips back to “deal with it.” Thanks for the help, everyone, it really does help. Carry on.
  • herringboxes
    herringboxes Posts: 259 Member
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    Lietchi wrote: »
    You mention a long torso, but if it's your ribcage that is long, you could just have a shorter distance between ribs and hips causing a larger measurement? Ribcage and hips circumference plays a role too, I imagine.
    I have a friend that has scoliosis, she also has a very short (and therefore wider) waist due to the deformation of her spine, but she is very lean otherwise.

    I think you’re right on both points. I think I’m stacked in the shoulders and upper chest area. Maybe abdominal space is smaller.

    And I do have scoliosis. Doctors fussed about it when I was a kid but I still don’t know what it really means for me or how it affects me. It was just another freaking diagnosis in a long list. Would be interesting if that explained this, though.
  • springlering62
    springlering62 Posts: 7,476 Member
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    Ah, scoliosis here, too.

    Interesting.

    I’ve sometimes wondered if my (to me) unusually large shoulder and chest girdle had anything to do with belly shape.

    I’m trying to avoid the classic dowager’s hump down the road. 😬
  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,483 Member
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    @herringboxes, your waist (looking at previous pictures) is a couple of inches above your bellybutton. Not positive but it looks quite high. Look for the narrowest part of your torso to measure.
    You look as though you have average abdominal muscles. You could improve your waist measurement by strengthening your abs and obliques and pelvic floor. This helps hold our organs in place as we age.

    Pilates, yoga and similar programmes that focus on the mid section may help with that. I personally found belly dancing really helped me get in touch with my abs and obs and learn how to engage them. In person classes would be best but YouTube, carefully followed, is good too.
    (Crunches and sit-ups are not the route to take, you would benefit from a good all round programme)

    When you learnt your lifting routine did you also learn how to correctly engage your abs?
    If not that is another thing that you should work on. It will improve your abs and obs, help prevent injury, and improve your lifts.

    Lastly, posture, yours is not bad but improving it will improve your forward rounding.

    I don’t think you need to lose weight (again, going by previously posted pics.)

    Cheers, h.

  • herringboxes
    herringboxes Posts: 259 Member
    edited June 2023
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    I did not learn about engaging the abs. Thanks, will check that out.

    Have taken a few mirror selfies and I guess I do see what might be the scoliosis. And if I’m right (might not be) it’s directly affecting my abdomen. Hunh. Go figure.

    Fortunately, I can live with that. Maybe I can improve it with better core muscles and I will look into posture. But just having a possible explanation just feels better. It changes it from “no, I don’t know what the heck is wrong with me” to “yeah, I have scoliosis, so what.”
  • Une_Poire
    Une_Poire Posts: 55 Member
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    As others have mentioned, posture, for whatever reasons, can be a factor.

    I find my weight distributes differently since menopause and belly is now a spot for that.

    But another thought I had was related to my own experience of uterine fibroids. Mine were large enough to visibly affect my belly, like early pregnancy look. I eventually had a full hysterectomy because of them and the associated issues. So if you have fibroids, that could play into belly appearance.

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