how to get rid of post-baby tummy?

[Rkayne]

So I've managed to lose pretty much all of my pregnancy weight(only took me a whole year!)and my old clothes fit again. I'm still about 5lbs more than I would ideally like to be, but all in all, I'm fairly happy....

EXCEPT, for that fact that no matter how many sit-ups I do, I can't seem to make my tummy nice and flat again the way it used to be. There's still that inch or so just below my tummy button that's gone all soft! Any suggestions on how to get rid of it???

[Paula1]

When you do your situps, feel as though there is a piece of elastic pulling your belly button down to your back, and each time you raise your head & shoulders suck in your belly, apparently if you don't do this you train your abs to have a little pot shape, not a flat shape

[ionesmum]

Sorry to butt in on this thread, but when is it safe to do sit-ups after a c-section? I still struggle to get out of the bath.

[gillymac]

I read recently that sit ups are fine for stregnthening abdominal muscles but that to get your tummy really flat, you need to exercise the 'core' muscles.
To do this you should (according to the article) stand and tighten all the abdominal muscles as much as you possibly can and then breathe in deeply and then out again, ten times. This should be repeated 2 to 3 times per day.
Don't know whether it works as I've just started doing the exercise but my fingers are very much crossed.

[carrieboo]

I don't know when medically is the earliest you can do sit ups after a c-section but I started doing mine at five months and although they are hard work they don't hurt at all. Just try doing one gently every now and then to see what it feels like, that how I tested it. It wasn't untill 4 - 4 1/2 months that it felt like I wasn't going to damage myself!! They do say you need to wait untill 4/5 months before you start going to the gym doing aerobic etc. so the timeings kind of fit. Hope that helps.

To get rid of the bit of stomach at the bottom you need to do leg raises as these work the bottom group of muscles alone, where as sit-up tend to focus on the top set. However if you have a curved/week back these won't work for you, all the other exercises I was show instead you need gym equipment for.

[ionesmum]

Thanks, carrieboo.

[Rkayne]

How do you do your leg raises? I've tried lying on the floor, legs straight out, and raising and lowering them, but I do find these uncomfortable on my back. What about the ones that require gym equipment - I go to a gym (more or less regularly) so I could try some of these too? Thanks!

[carrieboo]

For the leg raises you prop yourself up on your elbows then lift legs up and down while they are straight. Like you I can't do them so have been show these other gym exercises to do. I can't remember what they are as I've been away for two weeks! I'm just off to the gym now so I'll bring my card home them post them later.

[Ishbel]

Have you tried Callanetics? - I swear by them and if you have experienced discomfort in your back doing other exercises then these are really back friendly (Callen had back problems herself) - there are sort of situps but not like ordinary situps.
The exercises are not for weight loss or fitness, just for toning. Try the 30 day countdown book or - if you already have good muscle tone and flexibility go straight for the full callanetics video. It's a bit 80s but it really works, honest.

[carrieboo]

Exercises as promised - the guy that wrote this really seamed to know what he was talking about in terms of post baby body

The first guy hadn't a cule when I told him that I had to wait until 5months before starting the gym again due to muscles being cut for the c-section, he repiled "I'm surprised you where told that, I thought that muscles separating was a normal part of pregnancy" !!!! How can a professional be that clueless. Needless to say I got my programme rewitten pretty sharpish by someone else and this is what I was given.


Cardiovascular exercise
Walk/jog/run 15min
Bike/step/rotex/top xt/row 15min

Resistance exercise
Pectorial reps 12 sets 3 (the machine where you put your hands behind pads and pull them together in front of your chest)
Tricep push down reps 12 sets 3 (where you pull a bar down from above you head and tuck you elbows into you sides then curl your lower arms up and down)
Standing glutes reps 20 sets 4 (2 per leg)(where you lean over a machine and put you leg in frount of the pad, then extend your leg backwards)
ADD reps 15 sets 2
ABD reps 15 sets 2
(these are the same thing but one is where you put your knees on the out side of pads and pull them in together the other is where you have your knees on the insides of pads and push them apart)
Lat pulldown reps 20 sets 2 (this is where you pull a bar down from above your head to your shoulders and release back up)
Pec dec reps 10 sets 3 9where you lie on you back, hold a bar and push and pull it up and down)

Stability exercise
Abs curls reps 25 sets 2
Obs curls reps 25 sets 2
Leg raises reps 25 set 2

When I do them I can feel them woking in the right places!

Good luck.

[Paula1]

ionesmum, I went back to doing aerobics/step/situps straight after my 6 week check after my c-section, doctor and HV said it was fine

[ionesmum]

Oooh Paula, I thought I did well to walk dd around the village at six weeks! Actually I'm still feeling a bit sore and like I said it's hard just to get out of the bath. I will give it a go but slowly!

[Rkayne]

thanks carrieboo - I'll try them and let you know how I get on!