ok,, so need motivation about bellies,,,,

bdavenport62

I have tremendous sympathy. There are days when I say nasty things about my belly, too. But then I remember how sad those words make me feel. And how much better I feel when I show gratitude toward my body, for the gentle way it carried my child, and for the hard work it has done to carry me for 35 years—even when I did a poor job taking care of it.

I hemorrhaged after my daughter was born and had emergency surgery to save my life. I was cut vertically, from navel to pelvis. My scar is bad and my lower belly (which was already covered in stretch marks from the pregnancy) hangs like hound dog jowls on both sides of my scar. It’s not a pretty description, but it is the honest truth.

In the month that I have been exercising and focusing on my health I can say that I have already noticed a huge difference in the shape of my belly and the skin. I do yoga three to four times a week. And I take a body pump class once a week. My lower abs are EXTREMELY weak due to the surgery and inactivity (I cannot lift my feet off the ground even 1/4 of an inch in boat pose). But I swear to you that the yoga is making a major difference.

But just remember, when we use words like “hate, ugly, and disgusting” to talk about ourselves, it won’t matter how small or how flat our bellies are, we’ll still feel shame when we look at. So be kind to yourself.

So very true! We always discount what our bodies do for us. I think that sometimes we let them down, not vice versa.

As far as having the "mommy tummy", I was 250 at my heaviest (I'm 5'8) and right before I got pregnant I was 150 (Weight Watchers and running). So when I got pregnant I did gain 70 pounds but since I was even heavier than that before I didn't get any stretch marks or anything so I'm hoping it looks like it did before birth. I also think it has a lot to do with whether or not you had a c-section.

morganadk2_deleted

ehm, what i will say is first and foremost love your body, its the only one you have. Secondly i do have a big belly and i am working at losing as much of it as i can. i dont know if it will ever be rock hard flat, but i do know i am losing weight and it is shrinking. Dearest believe in yourself, it is reallly possible to lose the weight and look beautiful. Please try to develop a positive image about your body, the more you get to love it, the better you will want to take care of it. Welcome and wishing u great success.

IT CAN BE DONE:flowerforyou:

i totaly agree, also i do body pump class twice a week i love it! and its working for me

Zabarilla

I'm right there with you as well. I wasn't allowed to do much physically while I was pregnant with my daughter. I also got pupps while I was pregnant which caused stretch marks from all the itching I did in my sleep. All that was compounded by my anxiety and depression which has been out of control for a year now. I'm slowly getting everything under control. One thing I had to learn was to be kind to myself. I'm my own worst critic. In the past this has worked to help me do better or finish a goal. But I let it get out of control to the point I was tearing myself down not only in the weight area but in my entire life. I now tell myself, out loud, that I can do this, I'll meet this goal, I deserve to look better, to feel better, I deserve to wear something hot. Haha

What I'm saying is have some faith in yourself and your body. Be kind to both and you will be suprised at how much better you feel. I know I wont be the same as I was before. But thats ok. Having my daughter changed me....for the better. I wouldn't have it any other way. Now..... I'll just look better than I did before. Haha

Here is to changing the area's we would like improved.

janesmith1

I woke up this morning, and knew I had done pretty well with calories yesterday. I looked at my belly, it did not flap down as much as it did! I'm so pleased!!! One side in the mirror looked a bit better than the other - less flappy.

rachelcytacki

I posted a similar question a couple of days ago. I feel defeated already and I have only just begun. Stupid flappy belly you can do it and I keep telling myself that anything is an improvement of where I am now.

janesmith1

I posted a similar question a couple of days ago. I feel defeated already and I have only just begun. Stupid flappy belly you can do it and I keep telling myself that anything is an improvement of where I am now.

LOL....I must have missed it. Oh you know, at my weight, it hangs DOWN, but amazingly with just 5 lbs lost, it's beginning to DEFLATE like a balloon, and I've never had a flat belly in my life not even when I was small. I think it's the exercise program I'm using - see sig.

paulinaciryt

It is possible! My sister-in-law lost it after her first baby within a couple months eating 1200 a day and exercising. She just had her second baby and she is already on her way back to her flat stomach.

YeaILift

I have never had a SUPER flabby tummy, but everything will tighten with a proper diet, cardio, and weight lifting.

janesmith1

I have never had a SUPER flabby tummy, but everything will tighten with a proper diet, cardio, and weight lifting.

Your stomach looks amazing!!! I agree, I think through exercise, not just dieting is what will help all of us.

nilisabel

there are special post-pregnancy sit-ups you can do for diastesis recti - ask your doctor/nurse about them. love your body and it will work with you, mind over matter. it's really deep in our culture to say after kids this and that and there is a lot of truth to it, but it is not insurmountable nor even as daunting a task as it appears. It just takes time. And you cannot rush it. But you will get that belly and it is attainable. I've seen lots and lots of moms pull it off, it's just a matter of loving your body (be careful, don't pull muscles), doing the work, not rushing, taking the time it takes to get there.

doublexhelix

i've always had a flappy hangy belly and i've never had kids!! haha....... i can't wait for it to get smaller. but i think i would be fine with some roundness when i get down to my goal weight, cause i think having a nice soft tummy is sexy and feels good.

danadc01

I have the same problem but am very hopeful that I can reduce the flab to satisfaction. I have not found that spot weightloss works for me only overall fat reduction. Honey not happy with losing the booty!

janack

It will probably get better, but it most likely will not completely go away. There are some things about motherhood you just can't erase, LOL. My sister worked out a lot and looked great - except for her tummy. Wrinkly and kind of hangy - she didn't stretch well while pregnant. She ended up having a tummy tuck to get her flat belly back (and remove the stretch marks).

janack

I have never had a SUPER flabby tummy, but everything will tighten with a proper diet, cardio, and weight lifting.

You look great and all, but that is not the same as a stretched out baby belly. LOL