I have been fighting the battle of the bulge for about 50 years or so, and I thought I understood the enemy. For many years I was at my ideal weight - but I had to work at it. I could not let my guard down. A ten-pound enemy was always lurking around the corner, waiting for me to slip up.  Grab one-too-many cheeseburgers, or give in to the siren call of a bag of fun-size Hershey bars, and “GOTCHA!”  The ten pounds were back!  And so was another diet.

Back in the ‘70s, we had an arsenal of diet products to help us out.  My personal favorite was dubbed the “Pep Pill”.  This diet pill was a combination of methamphetamine and amphetamine – aka, speed, which doctors prescribed to lose weight!

Fueled by these diet pills, I had no appetite and tons of energy!  I lived on Slim Fast and Tab, and spent an inordinate amount of time using the fat-shaking-belt at the gym. I lost weight fast!   When I went in to renew my prescription, my doctor cut me off, He said I was too skinny.  “TOO SKINNY?!!   ME?!!”   I fattened back up.  And then it was time for another diet.

 I have tried so many diets over the decades:  The Ayds diet (eating caramel candy that suppressed your appetite) was my favorite. Unfortunately, it was taken off the market when the Aids epidemic began, so my beloved candy diet was dead.  Then, the Atkins Diet became my new favorite because you could eat a pound of bacon in a sitting and still lose ten pounds in a week!  I used that one for emergencies. Mostly though, I was sensible, and I just cut back on food and kicked up the exercise.  That worked too - just not as fast.  

For the next four decades, those ten pounds and I jostled back and forth in our perpetual battle. THEN … something happened. I gained ten more pounds!   I was in unfamiliar enemy territory.

 I always knew that it was more difficult to lose weight as you aged, but I was not prepared for this leap into the unpredictable, abrupt expansion of my waist and the increase in pounds since I was not eating any more or exercising any less! I was furious! This sabotage of my body was so unfair …  and unhealthy!  

The extra weight around the waist means visceral fat ... the fat that accumulates around your organs and is an indication that you're at higher risk of developing health issues.  My cholesterol and blood pressure levels went up.  And now, even my “fat clothes” in the emergency section of my closet, are too tight.  I need to do something. But what?

Most of my friends are experiencing this same thing; Meno-belly is real.  It is directly related to aging.  A combination of things wreak havoc on our post-menopausal bodies that contribute to the problem:  Decreasing hormone levels, a change in body-fat storage, a slowing metabolism, inflammation, sluggish thyroid and muscle-mass loss. If you’re like me, there is also stress-induced cortisol and insulin resistance which both play a detrimental role.  So does insomnia. And mood change. And, we’re mostly retired now so our activity level has decreased.  

Your doctor can help you decide if you want to try hormone replacement therapy, thyroid meds or something else. But, the standard, solid advice concerning diet, exercise, yoga and meditation for stress, still stands … except ...  NOW WE'RE TOLD WE HAVE  TO DOUBLE-DOWN TO MAKE IT WORK!!!  Now,  we're all furious.

I have been really trying! Eating less. Healthy choices. More exercise. Sticking to my goals. After a month, I lost three pounds!  Three lousy pounds! This from the girl who had lost 10 pounds in a week!    I need hope and I need help.  

 I won’t be getting any “Pep Pills" from my doctor, but …… here's something:

I have been reading about the recent interest in the spice, turmeric, for weight loss.  We all know there are numerous. proven health benefits to this spice. But now, new studies are showing that it HELPS BURN BELLY FAT!   Research published in the journal, “Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism” found that people who walked and took a turmeric supplement lost belly fat 3.1 times faster, and overall body fat 6.2 times faster than those who took a placebo!  It does so by slashing inflammation, increasing metabolism and blocking blood cells that feed our fat… so … (get ready) … it causes a significant number of fat cells to self-destruct!

Research on this fat-busting benefit of turmeric is promising and ongoing, and there is a lot of information about the proper protocol online. Read about it! 

 In the meantime, I’ve already taken my turmeric and am lacing up my walking shoes.  I will let you know how it goes!