Where the Heck Did This Belly Come From?

Asking for me… and literally every woman over 40.

One day, I woke up and there it was. Not a full-blown food baby. Not bloat from the night before. A permanent belly. A soft, squishy, always-there middle-aged tummy.

I didn’t order this. I didn’t subscribe to it. But somehow—it arrived. Uninvited. And apparently, it was staying awhile.

I tried sucking it in, hiding it with Spanx (hello, internal organ pressure), and leaning into those “flowy tops” that scream boho freedom but feel like surrender.

But nothing, and I mean nothing, prepared me for the day I turned onto my side in bed and felt my belly flop over with a soft, unapologetic “thud.”

Rude.

So... Where Did It Come From?

Short answer? Hormones. Longer, more annoying answer?

• Estrogen starts to dip in perimenopause and menopause. It can disrupt the body's natural signals for hunger and fullness

• Fat redistribution kicks in (translation: the hips and butt clock out, the belly clocks in).

• Muscle mass declines, slowing metabolism.

• Add in stress, sleep issues, and life, and suddenly your abs are out here living their best, untoned life.

And no, it’s not because you’re lazy or weak. It’s biology being disrespectful.

Is There a Way to Avoid It?

Kind of. But not really. You can slow it down, you can manage it—but completely avoiding it? That takes a level of effort most of us aren’t willing to give up cheese and joy for.

But here’s what does help:

• Strength training: Builds muscle and boosts metabolism. It doesn’t mean bulking up—it means staying strong and telling gravity to back off.

• Protein-rich foods: Helps with muscle retention and keeps you full so you’re not snacking out of boredom and betrayal.

• Intermittent fasting: For some of us, it helps with belly fat and insulin sensitivity. (It helped me. It’s not bad once your body adjusts.)

• Lowering cortisol: Yep, your stress hormone is holding onto belly fat like it’s a family heirloom. More sleep, more water, fewer doom scrolls.

• Cutting processed sugar: I know, I hate me too for saying it.

  
  

But More Than Anything—Let’s Talk Grace

Your body isn’t the same. That belly? It tells the story of what you've survived—births, stress, hormonal warfare, life. And no, we don’t have to love it every day. But maybe we can stop hating it. Maybe we can stop buying pants two sizes too small “for motivation” and start wearing what fits right now without shame. Maybe we can stop tucking, squeezing, Spanx-ing and just breathe.

Because the truth is—Your belly doesn’t define your worth. Your softness doesn’t cancel your strength. And your curves? They’re not a flaw. They’re proof you’ve lived.

So the next time you roll over and feel the flop—say hello. She’s part of you now. Might as well make peace. Until you do the work and lose her.

Until the next hot flash…

 💋 LB