The Battle Of The Bulge(s). Body & Weight After 35.

 

 

 The Battle Of The Bulge(s). Body & Weight After 35.

2-21-2012

 

 

It’s amazing when I look in the mirror how many unforeseen changes the last couple of years has produced on my body. Seems like after 30 metabolisms start slowing down and weight gain is easier to do and harder to lose.

 

Once you hit the magical age of 35, maintaining everything seems to get tougher. But you can do your best to fight against the number. If you are still in your twenties, perhaps you might like to change the page on your browser right now. No need to fret just yet about things yet to come.

 

Why does this happen? Why does fat enjoy accumulating on our bodies and staying for the duration at what I believe is still such a youthful age? We may never know the answers, but that it is just a fact that metabolisms slow down over time, and though that is unavoidable, and yes having a fit body we crave becomes ever harder over time, I don’t believe it’s impossible. I think the most important thing as we go on in age as women is…

 

 Self acceptance!

Some of us may wish to lose 40 lbs. and get our bodies fit and fabulous, but heck if you lose 5 lbs, 10 lbs, 20 lbs. don’t mourn the pounds that still remain, celebrate the success you have had with your body thus far. Pat yourself on the back and say, ‘I am doing it.’ I think sometimes we place too high of expectations on ourselves and our goals, and get too down and out far too soon. Praise yourself for what you DO accomplish, continue working on the rest.

 

We’ve got to make peace with the fact that we may never make it to that Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition, but that is OK. We are strong, beautiful women. Not twiggy, airbrushed models seemingly used to make our entire sex at any age feel insecure. Don’t compare yourself to others. You are the one and only, true and beautiful YOU! Perfection does not..I repeat does NOT exist!

 

 

Combat thigh fat.

It is OK if our thighs grow together. Mine didn’t used to, but at the tops they have now, as thighs seem to be the place where my body loves storing fat. Seems like a common thing as the 30′s linger on. If it could only pass some around to my caboose, I’d be happier .

 

It bothered me at first, and I’ve tried working out the area, and though I can stop most of the jiggle through exercise, I can’t remove all of the fat in the region, only try and make some muscle there to replace it with. I didn’t used to have to exercise at all to keep that area taut. Another beauty of 35+.

 

You CAN do targeted exercises to make your thighs look as hot as possible. Here are some.

 

Running, jogging…(aka walk the dog, go for a jog with the jogging stroller, or a walk through the park. This will help.)

 

Shoes with a purpose. I swear when wearing my Skecher’s Shape Ups most of last year it DID make a difference in the looks of my legs and thighs. I have to start up with them again. I totally am a believer in them. I have the sandals, boots, and sneakers.

 

In all honesty, I’m buying that Suzanne Somers Thigh Master this week. I found it for $15 online. It works much like one of our popular gym machines that does in fact work, so what do I have to lose but some ugly thigh fat? I’ll do a review if it works, and let you know how things turn out.

 

 

When lumps and dimples appear..

Being thin doesn’t make you immune.

 

And not the cute dimples on your facial cheeks, but elsewhere..don’t feel alone, because you’re not. I just started getting it in recent months. There isn’t much we can do to combat the dreaded C word, but cellulite can be improved by exercise (both aerobic..I recommend Zumba), and strength training in the legs. Do those anti-cellulite potions work? I have been trying, but I think exercise is what helps honestly, and not the Nivea gel, which at the very least feels nice.

 

If you like to jog, run, or power walk, this will help strengthen the leg and buttock muscles which in turn helps diminish the unattractive look of cellulite, though we can’t get rid of it altogether. Losing weight can help to a certain degree, but even thin women get cellulite. It’s a myth to think otherwise. It’s in part hormonal and genetic much like stretchmarks. Roughly 95% of all women in fact get cellulite to some degree. Take heart in the numbers if you are also not one of the lucky 5%.

 

Also:

Quit smoking

Limit drinking

Watch your diet.

(Spicy & fatty foods.)

Limit caffeine.

Stay hydrated. LOTS of water.

Birth control pills?

(Wondering about this myself right now.)

(I’ll get into cellulite in-depth at another time.)

 

 

Belly pouches.

I noticed as I watched my mother age, maybe not so much in her 30′s, but 40′, then 50′s, and now in her early 60′s, she has a ‘mummy tummy’ that has developed over time. Last year when I saw her in a swimsuit I questioned (to myself of course), if she could have been somehow miraculously pregnant. She is not a large woman at all, but it seems to be a common complaint with age. It is harder to stay flat or get flat as we get older, but there’s hope.

 

Combat the belly bulge by:

 

Targeted exercises to the core area. Some can be found here and in other videos. Check out my channel.

 

Keeping your body fat percentage down through aerobic exercise, muscle building, and healthier eating habits. (Eat low in fat foods..limit carbs.)

 

In your 30′s there is no better time to join a gym.

You get out of the house for awhile, away from the kids and the stresses of life, and enjoy a class and/or use the machines. It’s a worthwhile investment for your body and a terrific stress relief, even if just one time per week. You can choose to go like I do to an all girl gym if working out with the male sex has you feeling uncomfortable as it does me.

 

Belly binding.

I was going to give my mother a Squeem undergarment, but didn’t want to insult her. (She’s touchy.) Belly binding has been a practice used for centuries to give starlets a slimmer waistline. It’s no surprise that it can do wondrous things for the average woman to. No age group is immune to the miracles that belly binding over the period of 2-3 months can accomplish, and now without all the pain of the old, heavily boned corsets from many years ago. Best binder HERE.

 

In conclusion…yes, it may take more work to get ready for swimsuit season then it used to, and you may not be able to eat and not gain an ounce like perhaps you did years ago, but being 35+ can still be beautiful if you stay true to yourself, work towards your goals in weight loss and fitness, and take heart…you aren’t the only one having a harder time at it.

 

I am seeing firsthand now how much harder it is to lose one lb. even. One lb. at a time though…baby steps. Hoping to lose a few also. Go easy on yourself, and love who you are! THAT’S beautiful!

 

 

God bless!