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As a beach bum and writer, I go to the beach as much as possible during the summer. This means that I’m in a bathing suit a lot. I have six suits because I wear them every day when I’m at the beach. And I’ve noticed one thing that I hate.
At fifty-six, I’m the exact weight that I was at thirty-five. There’s a difference, though. My pounds now show up on my front. Clothing fits tighter on the front of my body and looser on the back. I’ve had the same level of exercise for over twenty years, lifting weights and running on various machines. So, how has this weight shifted from all over to just the front of my body?
I’ve theorized and found only one answer to this problem.
Bending and gravitational forces.
Since our knees bend in only one direction, after years of bending toward the front, fat and skin shift to the front of our bodies. If our knees bent backward, like the back legs of dogs or horses, our weight would shift toward our backsides. I’m not sure that that’s any prettier of a picture.
If my answer is correct, would backbends help reverse the process?
What’s your theory and solution?
Maybe if we could sleep all night on our backs, which I cannot do, the gravity would reverse.
ReplyDeleteYeah, and then snoring becomes an issue.
ReplyDeleteGood theory! If I were only flexible enough to do a backbend...
ReplyDeleteThere's a lining that covers the abdominal organs like an apron and fat accumulates in this apron. There's nothing comparable across our backs or backsides. The body stores fat in the lining when we are stressed so we have stores ready. Our genes have prepared us to survive in very hostile environments and these genes still work the same even if the only stress we experience is a pain in the neck workmate. Blame human genes.
ReplyDeleteAlso, if you lose weight, 30 lbs say, fat disappears from the abdominal lining.
Good scientific explanation, Pauline, but I haven't gained any weight! I'm still the same weight I've always been. Has it moved to this apron? Why, other than gravity! PS-We're glad you are back, Pauline and on the mend.
ReplyDeleteKara-Don't try a standing backbend. Lie flat on the floor, position your hands aside your head, palms down-fingers pointing toward the body and lift. I see so many older people who are slumped over. Try backbends to reverse and help the spine. Keeping flexible helps everyone stay ambulatory--No one thinks about that in their 50s, by the 70s though, it becomes an issue.
Whatever fat you have goes to the lining and not to arms, legs, or bustline. If you lose weight, as in you're sick for some time and use up stores, your stomach flattens and shows stretch marks.
ReplyDeleteLovely, Pauline--so glad you told us that! Of course, some will offer that as a great reason not to lose weight--and they may be right as long as it's only 10 pounds.
ReplyDeleteI just keep on keeping on and hope that the spread doesn't keep spreading.
ReplyDeleteThat's the plan, Ricky. I even had my metabolism checked. No, I'm not burning as many calories as I used to, so I have to eat less and move more!
ReplyDeleteElaine, same thing for me. I'm still the same weight. In fact, at a recent doctor's appt. I couldn't believe I was exactly the same weight as the year before, yet some slacks are tight across the middle, some won't zip. I don't exercise. Oh, a long walk every now and then, but that's it. I hate exercising and I think when I did, it caused more harm than good. Everything's sinking. There's no way to stop it. That's my theory, and I'm sticking to it.
ReplyDelete