Workout muscles after c-section..???

Jesshadley0924

I had my baby through c-section a few years ago. I can do sit ups and crunches and planks until I'm red in the face but I can't seem to get rid of this pouch. I'm generally conscious of what I eat so I was hoping for some suggestions on maybe more intense fat burning exercises. Any ideas are helpful!!

jemhh

Is it possible that you have diastasis recti? That would be the first thing that I would determine.

After that, it is a matter of losing overall body fat (because spot reduction of fat is impossible) through a caloric deficit. Plus, doing ab work and strength training (lift weights) helps strengthen those muscles and, once you are no longer eating in a deficit, can help build muscle.

shadow2soul

jemhh wrote: »

Is it possible that you have diastasis recti? That would be the first thing that I would determine.

After that, it is a matter of losing overall body fat (because spot reduction of fat is impossible) through a caloric deficit. Plus, doing ab work and strength training (lift weights) helps strengthen those muscles and, once you are no longer eating in a deficit, can help build muscle.

^ agreed.

Jesshadley0924

Hmm I've never heard of that I will check into that now. Thank you!

jocey517

I had a c-section too and I started working out consistently 2 months afterwards but it hasn't been until I truly made sure I was doing a calorie deficit that I started to finally lose that lower pouch. I found success in lifting more weights and I weighed everything or measured my food because although I thought I was eating healthy I had hit a brick wall with losing the excess that I wanted. When I did this, that's when my abs started to show through. It's possible so don't get frustrated (I know I was):)!

Jesshadley0924

Thanks for the reassurance jocey!! I'll be putting more effort into and watching my serving sizes better now.

jocey517

it helped me when I got frustrated, just know that it will go away!

jvs125

You really need to make sure you're at a calorie deficit. I've always been careful to eat healthy, but during and after pregnancies, my appetite was crazy and if I don't actually log my food, I overeat. I had 2 C-sections and had strong abs before having the babies and worked hard after to get them back. I can see some definition, but it's really more about the food than it is about the workouts.

shinisize

When I started doing lower ab exercises (leg lifts and such) I started to notice a big difference in my stomach, especially just above my csection scar. I also had my hips rotate forward (back to how they were pre-baby) and I stopped having issues with thinking I was going to piddle a little when I had a coughing fit. Take it slow and don't overdo it, the scar can take some work to soften up!