C sections

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ive had 3 c sections, last one was 19 months ago. All through my pregnancy I lost 4 stone due to illness then after my pregnancy I put it all back on.
I've just (I'm on day 7 tomorrow) started cutting down on crap, walking and doing 30-45 sit ups a day. Is there anything anyone can recommend for me to tone my stomach up please?
Thanks :-)

Replies

  • bbontheb
    bbontheb Posts: 718 Member
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    I have just started 6 weeks ago but I too have had 3 c sections. I think people on this forum will tell you that it's a calorie deficit that you need and that spot toning is a myth (I think). What I hear a lot that I am going to incorporate into my overall goals are to strength train, maintain a calorie deficit and adjust as needed, and ensure I weigh all food/log food on mfp :)

    I still have pain, numbness, and am quite overweight still (65 lbs). I would be interested in hearing if anyone has any tips for strengthening those areas affected by caesareans though!
  • jorinya
    jorinya Posts: 933 Member
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    Hi @11Adams11wife11, I've had four c-sections. If you feel like its time for you to lose the pouch, if you know what I need, then core exercises is the best. I'm doing 30 Day Shred on YouTube. There are three levels. Start on level 1 and when comfortable move up. Add me as a friend for support and motivation.
  • 11Adams11wife11
    11Adams11wife11 Posts: 66 Member
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    bbontheb wrote: »
    I have just started 6 weeks ago but I too have had 3 c sections. I think people on this forum will tell you that it's a calorie deficit that you need and that spot toning is a myth (I think). What I hear a lot that I am going to incorporate into my overall goals are to strength train, maintain a calorie deficit and adjust as needed, and ensure I weigh all food/log food on mfp :)

    I still have pain, numbness, and am quite overweight still (65 lbs). I would be interested in hearing if anyone has any tips for strengthening those areas affected by caesareans though!

    I also still have pain, soreness and numbness. It's horrible. :'( I'll try to add you (new to this so not sure if I'm doing it correctly) :-)
  • 11Adams11wife11
    11Adams11wife11 Posts: 66 Member
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    jorinya wrote: »
    Hi @11Adams11wife11, I've had four c-sections. If you feel like its time for you to lose the pouch, if you know what I need, then core exercises is the best. I'm doing 30 Day Shred on YouTube. There are three levels. Start on level 1 and when comfortable move up. Add me as a friend for support and motivation.

    Thank you. I think I've added you :-)
  • SuperMelanie
    SuperMelanie Posts: 70 Member
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    The best advice I received was to lose weight at a slow and steady pace, rather than crash dieting. This stops the skin getting too loose above the scar and looking saggy and wrinkly. And after a good exercise session, shower and use a body moisturiser all over. Whilst I still have along way to go to get my pre-pregnancy body back, I've found the stretch marks on my belly have all but disappeared and the skin looks much less droopy. Hope this helps. Good luck :)
  • bbontheb
    bbontheb Posts: 718 Member
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    I added you :) I get "ow my c- section scar! pain". I had a lap done in late 2013 (last section was 2012) to check for endometriosis. Not that they could see any but there was extensive, extensive adhesions (again) to organs. So, apparently can have pain from them pulling etc :( It's terrible. I also saw a specialist at a women's hospital because I have severe pain trigger points around my stomach because of it. Makes me sad. Anyhow if you ever want to chat, feel free to PM me anytime.
  • 11Adams11wife11
    11Adams11wife11 Posts: 66 Member
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    The best advice I received was to lose weight at a slow and steady pace, rather than crash dieting. This stops the skin getting too loose above the scar and looking saggy and wrinkly. And after a good exercise session, shower and use a body moisturiser all over. Whilst I still have along way to go to get my pre-pregnancy body back, I've found the stretch marks on my belly have all but disappeared and the skin looks much less droopy. Hope this helps. Good luck :)

    Thanks so much :-) thankfully I was lucky not to have any stretch marks on my stomach during any of my pregnancies.
    Thank you for the advice. It's very much appreciated :-)
  • jorinya
    jorinya Posts: 933 Member
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    bbontheb wrote: »
    I have just started 6 weeks ago but I too have had 3 c sections. I think people on this forum will tell you that it's a calorie deficit that you need and that spot toning is a myth (I think). What I hear a lot that I am going to incorporate into my overall goals are to strength train, maintain a calorie deficit and adjust as needed, and ensure I weigh all food/log food on mfp :)

    I still have pain, numbness, and am quite overweight still (65 lbs). I would be interested in hearing if anyone has any tips for strengthening those areas affected by caesareans though!

    It gets harder to do the more c-sections you have. It takes longer to recover. Try walking, doing chair exercises and low impact workouts if you still getting pains. I'm not pain free but can deal with it. My consultant recommended that I do some small amounts of core exercises until the muscles repair themselves. See when you have a c-sections they cut through your abdominal muscles and then stitch them back together which can result in scar tissue. For the muscles to heal you need to do core exercises. I'm here if you need anything. Even advise not related to losing weight. By that I mean dealing with pain and anything else that goes along with having a c-sections.
  • 11Adams11wife11
    11Adams11wife11 Posts: 66 Member
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    bbontheb wrote: »
    I added you :) I get "ow my c- section scar! pain". I had a lap done in late 2013 (last section was 2012) to check for endometriosis. Not that they could see any but there was extensive, extensive adhesions (again) to organs. So, apparently can have pain from them pulling etc :( It's terrible. I also saw a specialist at a women's hospital because I have severe pain trigger points around my stomach because of it. Makes me sad. Anyhow if you ever want to chat, feel free to PM me anytime.
    I messaged you :-) (I think) I'm terrible at this lol
  • 11Adams11wife11
    11Adams11wife11 Posts: 66 Member
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    jorinya wrote: »
    bbontheb wrote: »
    I have just started 6 weeks ago but I too have had 3 c sections. I think people on this forum will tell you that it's a calorie deficit that you need and that spot toning is a myth (I think). What I hear a lot that I am going to incorporate into my overall goals are to strength train, maintain a calorie deficit and adjust as needed, and ensure I weigh all food/log food on mfp :)

    I still have pain, numbness, and am quite overweight still (65 lbs). I would be interested in hearing if anyone has any tips for strengthening those areas affected by caesareans though!

    It gets harder to do the more c-sections you have. It takes longer to recover. Try walking, doing chair exercises and low impact workouts if you still getting pains. I'm not pain free but can deal with it. My consultant recommended that I do some small amounts of core exercises until the muscles repair themselves. See when you have a c-sections they cut through your abdominal muscles and then stitch them back together which can result in scar tissue. For the muscles to heal you need to do core exercises. I'm here if you need anything. Even advise not related to losing weight. By that I mean dealing with pain and anything else that goes along with having a c-sections.

    I think I added you but not totally sure. :-/
  • softblondechick
    softblondechick Posts: 1,276 Member
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    Yoga and spin. And Pilates. Work on the core.
  • jorinya
    jorinya Posts: 933 Member
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    jorinya wrote: »
    bbontheb wrote: »
    I have just started 6 weeks ago but I too have had 3 c sections. I think people on this forum will tell you that it's a calorie deficit that you need and that spot toning is a myth (I think). What I hear a lot that I am going to incorporate into my overall goals are to strength train, maintain a calorie deficit and adjust as needed, and ensure I weigh all food/log food on mfp :)

    I still have pain, numbness, and am quite overweight still (65 lbs). I would be interested in hearing if anyone has any tips for strengthening those areas affected by caesareans though!

    It gets harder to do the more c-sections you have. It takes longer to recover. Try walking, doing chair exercises and low impact workouts if you still getting pains. I'm not pain free but can deal with it. My consultant recommended that I do some small amounts of core exercises until the muscles repair themselves. See when you have a c-sections they cut through your abdominal muscles and then stitch them back together which can result in scar tissue. For the muscles to heal you need to do core exercises. I'm here if you need anything. Even advise not related to losing weight. By that I mean dealing with pain and anything else that goes along with having a c-sections.

    I think I added you but not totally sure. :-/

    Yep you did. It takes a bit of getting used to but you will soon!
  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    edited May 2015
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    I've had 2 c-sections. My last one was 1 yr and 2 days ago. The overhang I have has definitely decreased as I've lost body fat. Up until this month, I haven't really done any workouts to isolate the core (I am doing a 30 day ab challenge for fun this month). It was slowly improving with calorie restriction and a workout dvd set called X-TrainFit at Home (split body resistance dvd's + cardio dvd + circuit dvd). I don't know if it's just my mind playing tricks on me, but in my opinion it has been looking better since I started Stronglifts 5x5 (switched to Ice Cream Fitness 5x5 in April) and running in Feb.



    edit: I will probably have a little bit of loose skin there unless I get surgery, but that is from the fact that I was obese (bmi 44) after my first c-section.
  • Asher_Ethan
    Asher_Ethan Posts: 2,430 Member
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    I had a c section 18 months ago. Just start lifting heavy... You don't really need to do that many sit ups. What really helps get rid of belly fat is a calorie deficit.