Women with children, give me hope?

ShannonWinger

This is how it was for me too. It took a long time but you can get there. It was the last thing to achieve for me and I still have to work hard to keep it. Lots of work and good eating get you there but it's worth it.

DizzieLittleLifter

There is HOPE! And like another poster said your age will really help! Just really watch what you eat, get your cardio in, strength training and LOTS of water! Good luck sweety!

qtiekiki

I am glad to read that some of you were able to get rid of your belly pooch. My kids are 3 and 1.5, and I just started exercise g again. I actually lost my weight fairly easily both times from breastfeeding, but I do have a belly pooch. It's not bad when I am standing, but it's all wrinkly when I sit. I am hoping that it will get toned.

OP, you are young, and that's on your side. Good luck.

nfprox

I've had 6 kids, and gained between 40-50 pounds with each pregnancy. The pooch is going away -- slowly, slowly diminishing (my youngest is 3, I'm within three pounds of goal weight). I'm 46 -- I have seen many younger women snap back. I know I did with the first 3; age makes a difference. You're gorgeous, chickie. Good luck!

Rae6503

I still have a bit of love-handles but my stomach is almost completely flat. I have the start of a 6 pack. I've had 3 children (no C-sections though). The youngest just turned one, and the old is almost 5.

Someone was asking for pictures the other day so I shall be an attention *kitten* and post again:

atsteele

Yeah I had an EMCS because the doctors messed up, didn't realise my body cannot have a natural birth due to something not being arched enough to push and blah de blah, and my son was simply too big for it to handle, so I'm attriubting that to disgusting c-section overhang

I also had a 10lbs 8oz baby, so put on over a stone/14lbs in pregnancy alone! (including water, placenta etc.) I was like a small walking whale by the time I was due, and going over certainly never helped either!

When I stand up you can definitely feel muscle, not too fat on top either, but the skin on top is just really saggy and I have no idea how to firm it back up enough to see the fruits of my labour. I feel like no matter how small I get I'm still going to have this gross overhang!

My first baby was 10 lb 5 oz!! I was HUGE!! LOL And I did lose the weight with each baby (all five of them) but I dont think that there really is any way to firm up the skin.

fteale

I haven't managed to fix mine yet.

atsteele

Well, I've had two kids and lost almost all of the weight. The belly fat is coming off last of course but I am nearing a place where I think I will be comfortable staying. My skin is definately not what it was before babies, so I don't know how much advice I can give, but I can encourage! I'm sure you would agree with me that my kids are the greatest things that could ever happen to me, and worth every sacrifice. It has taken me some time (because I used to hate what was happening to my body!) but I am learning to look at myself with respect and gratitude. When I see stretch marks and belly skin that is NOT what it used to be, I let it remind me of the time I got to spend carrying my babies inside me. (We were creating new life, that is some accomplishment!) I let it remind me of how grateful I am that I was able to get pregnant, and have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies, because that is not a reality for some women. And when I see my breasts that look so very pathetic (because they were only an A to begin with!), drooping just like that belly skin, I choose to remember the countless hours I spent nursing my babies and what an awesome experience that was, bonding with them, giving them all the nutrition they needed to grow and be strong and healthy. That was such a blessing and an honor! And I wouldn't trade these boobs of my for the most gorgeous celebrity ones if it would mean missing that time of breastfeeding. Some days, I am right there with you, looking in the mirror, remembering what I used to look like and missing it terribly. But then I choose to see what I have now that I didn't then, this amazing little family, and it is all worth it! Love the skin you're in, girl! It tells a story of where you have been and all you have done. You were designed to have babies, and you are even more beautiful now, after reaching that potential, than any flat-stomached teenager out there!

I couldnt agree more.

atsteele

I still have a bit of love-handles but my stomach is almost completely flat. I have the start of a 6 pack. I've had 3 children (no C-sections though). The youngest just turned one, and the old is almost 5.

Someone was asking for pictures the other day so I shall be an attention *kitten* and post again:

You should be proud of yourself!! You look great!!

SiltyPigeon

baby bump!

kentlass

i have gone from fat to fit, had 2 children and have gotten myself back to fit again(i gained over 50lbs having my kids) i am not perfectly happy with my tummy yet but it's almost there

here is apost i put up acouple of weeks back

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/283143-tummy-after-2kids-and-50lb-lost-sorry-more-flesh-than-i-rea

newmetasha

I havent got saggy Skin or anything But i am covered in stretch marks & have a wobbly pouchy bit Which is so depressing My mum is just turned 50 and she didnt get any at all with me or my Brother she has an amazing figure i defo didnt take after her!!!! good luck i hope u tone it up xx

tiffanyquincey

I have to somewhat disagree with some people. Although genetics do play a role in how your skin bounces back, they aren't completely to blame. My mother and grandma both never bounced back from having children. They both have loose skin and lots of stretch marks. But I look like I haven't had a child, even only 3 and a half months later, except for 4 or 5 stretch marks under my belly button. Moisturize and exercise and make sure to drink lots and lots of water. Good luck!

SiltyPigeon

I still have a bit of love-handles but my stomach is almost completely flat. I have the start of a 6 pack. I've had 3 children (no C-sections though). The youngest just turned one, and the old is almost 5.

Someone was asking for pictures the other day so I shall be an attention *kitten* and post again:

I am so jealous!!! My two kids are the same ages as your youngest and oldest... but my tummy doesn't look like that. :grumble: It's just a *little* droopy at the bottom over my appendix scar. You know what? I almost hate you.... lol. J/k.

Collinsky

After five babies, I fully expect my stomach to be flat again. I was worried about it starting out, thinking I'd have floppy skin, but I think it will go back over time. I think it will take time, though, and I think that a lot of the papery, wrinkled skin may never go completely - but that will be over taut belly, if that makes any sense. And I had one c-section, so that scar will probably affect the flatness, but not in any way that will bother me. (I hope. Unless it changes a lot over the next 20 lbs or so!)

I've looked at a lot of before and after photos, and it seems that with fat loss, strength training, clean diet, and time, loose skin is something that is an "intermediate" step along the way for a lot of people with similar stats as me. However, I do have friends who have a completely different situation going on - one thin friend has a severe front "apron" leftover from her second pregnancy, and it does not seem to be something that will go away without surgery. There are different elements at play, as others mentioned, so my back up plan in case I find out my stomach is a complete wreck once I lose the weight, is to remind myself that regardless, I'll look better, feel better, and live better, and I wouldn't trade those for a flat stomach again. That's just my mental Plan B. LOL

fteale

I have to somewhat disagree with some people. Although genetics do play a role in how your skin bounces back, they aren't completely to blame. My mother and grandma both never bounced back from having children. They both have loose skin and lots of stretch marks. But I look like I haven't had a child, even only 3 and a half months later, except for 4 or 5 stretch marks under my belly button. Moisturize and exercise and make sure to drink lots and lots of water. Good luck!

I moisturise every day, and did throughout both pregnancies, I drink a ton of water and I do a lot of exercise and none of that is going to make the slightest difference to my stomach, because it is roadmapped with stretchmarks and the skin is paper thin. Literally transparent in some places. My mother and one of my sisters got none at all, and snapped back. My oldest sister and I, covered in stretchmarks and loose extra skin. It is ALL about genetics - clearly my oldest sister and I got the bad ones from my father's family.

mommachef

Drink lots of water! When your skin is well hydrated, it is more elastic.