Whatever happened to my waist?

You are not alone. Even my very slim friends with nice legs arms etc seem to have a midriff issue. The alternative to cinched in belts etc is not necessarily floating in smocks! Just sweaters have to be a bit longer, dresses less fitted etc.

Thanks Lucca, I’m awash with tops and sweaters, not really a dress person, but maybe I should be. I live in leggings at home, but to get good fitting trousers is a problem, bigger waists seem to mean larger cut thighs, which sag on me. And I really don’t want to escort to elasticated waists.

For many it’s a result of child birth! Our ribs and muscles are expanded to accommodate the growing bump. Some women are very lucky and snap back for ever.
As we age the muscles become more lax, even maintaining weight doesn’t remove the waistline flab.

Lexisgranny, it happens to the best of us, I'm afraid. Last time I measured myself (big mistake), I was utterly horrified to find my below-bust and waist measurements were exactly the same! I'm now a tube shape!

When you have no waist, but slim hips, start looking for men's trousers. They seem to fit me perfectly (great, tube shaped with a man's figure - never mind).

It so obvious!!

The flesh from your arms has moved to your waist.

Don't diss elastic waist bands! They give you a lovely waist amidst the rolls of flab. Life is too short to feel constrained about the middle.

0opsadaysy4 ?? do you think there is any chance it could find its way back again?

I have always been tall and slim with little waist (not to be read as a little waist!) - quite boyish but now I seem to have a tyre around my waist. Legs are still good although arms less so.
I lost quite a bit of weight when I was on chemo last year but still the tyre remains.

Lexisnanny Nope. That ship has sailed!

I don't think it's a result of pregnancy and childbirth so much as falling oestrogen levels post menopause that changes our shape. I too once had a small waist

To me, it seems that the couple of handfuls of 'padding' I used to have, on my bust, has slipped down to take up permanent residence, below my belly button, but above my cesarean scar. Perhaps I should sleep hanging upside down - like a bat?

thanks for the chuckle it gave me, yes me too.

Thanks for the laughs this morning. It's when tube shape turns to apple shape that's the real problem. Luckily not quite there yet. I sew all my own clothes and tend to make dresses without a defined waist. Some folk advise to wear belts - Noooo way!

I want to know where my bottom’s gone. I seem to have a long back that disappears into my thighs. Again like others I’m considered slim but resort to baggy, long tops to cover the shapeless rear view.

I have always had a waist, however much my weight has fluctuated, and that waist has always been proportionately small for my overall size. Where it has gone now I have no idea; I didn't notice it going, but I now have a roll of...well, fat. No subtle way to put it, I have a roll of fat where I had a waist, but weight, food consumption, exercise - nothing has changed. Most depressing.

I think most of you will have noticed that as your waist has thickened your height has reduced. This is because the disks of cartilege between the vertibrae of your back shrink and become much thinner; that means your spine shrinks and the gap between hips and ribcage shrinks, so that means less space for the skin to go into the waist and out again, a bit like a vertical hammock.

I have been saved this problem, as I never had a waist to begin with as my hips and ribs were always very close together, the main problem has been that my rather short neck has got shorter and I sometimes feel I look like a tortoise with its head shrinking into its shell, I love polo neck and cowl necked sweaters, but recently have started looking like Kilroy in them, nose and eyes, peaking over a wall of knitwear.

It happened with menopause for me. Childbirth didn’t affect my waist, but now.....slim everywhere but my waist. Very annoying.

Elasticated waists aren't what they used to be. All the high street stores sell them. They're usually called pull on trousers. I like the way they fit without having buttons and zips spoiling the smooth look.

I have a fat tummy but am not too worried. A couple of years ago I was ill with a lung problem and the weight dropped off me. That was the only advantage of my illness - I had a lovely flat tummy!

Thanks to some very clever doctors I am ok at the moment but a bit flabby.

Lucky me ! Always fairly slim. Now well into my seventies, too late to change ?

My proportions haven’t changed - I still have a waist albeit larger, along with larger boobs and hips! The hourglass just gets bigger as I get older!

Not sure where your waist has gone but if you find it,could you please ask them to have a look for mine? Disappeared, no idea where or when but I’d welcome it home if found.

Ashamed to admit to being jealous as my daughter, who lives alone, has nominated her boyfriend of a couple of months to be in her bubble. I do understand but I have been so close to her in The past two years during a difficult divorce and now feel redundant. I am happy that she has found someone she likes but ....