Belly pooch and toned abs???

christou84

I'm a mother of 3 ... I always had a flat toned belly... now after 3 babies, I have a lil mommy pooch and was wondering if anybody have had success the natural way ( eating right and exercising)... or should I start looking at cosmetic surgery??? Just curious???

Anybody that had success in that department, would you mind sharing how you achieved it and how long it takes? About 4 months ago I start with MFP and exercising... I did lose weight, but am getting a lil impatient (mainly because back in the days I'd lose weight so quick, now it takes lonnnnnnnger :-( )...

Looking fwd to read if that's at all possible ... Thanks guys!!

lorierin22

no answer for you, just bumping because I am interested also. I am now the at the weight I was when I got married, before 2 babies, with a lower body fat percentage and I am still sporting the mommy pouch. I also used to have a very flat stomach. I even got it back after my first child, but now it seems impossible. Will be watching this post for any answers...

christou84

Same for me... got it back after my 1st baby, but now after baby #3... I dunno... I hope it's doable because I'm all about exercising now and hopefully it's something that can happen... If someone else can do it, I know I can too...

luckyclover78

i want to know too!

Shayztar

http://theshapeofamother.com/

Beautiful site. Be proud of yourself.

TavistockToad

its doable, but it'll be a sloooooooooooooow process. keep at it for another 4 months and then see how you're doing!

LaMujerMasBonitaDelMundo

Unfortunately as we get older, we naturally lose muscle which is our body's most efficient fat burner which translates to a slower metabolism. So its natural that back in the days you lose weight so quick but now it takes much longer. That's the bitter reality that we have to accept unless we do something about it.

Going back to your question, the only way to lose mommy pooch is to lower your overall body fat percentage which you can achieved by 80% proper nutrition + 20% workout that is mainly focused on heavy weight lifting especially compound movements that targets multiple muscles including your core. To achieve fat loss, you should eat at a moderate calorie deficit but aim to eat protein at 1g per pound of body weight coz protein is the building block of our muscles.

As we all know, we cannot spot reduce and it doesn't matter if you do 1,000 crunches everyday for as long as the ab muscles are covered by a thick layer of fat then it won't give you a flat tummy.

contingencyplan

Visceral fat and subcutaneous fat are two different things. Subcutaneous fat lies in between the muscle and the skin as to mask definition and can accumulate all over the body. Visceral fat accumulates underneath the muscle and only in the abdominal region. It accumulates as a result of your diet being rich in toxins and other processed "goodies" in the food you eat that are too much for the liver to be able to filter. Exercise cannot get rid of it and neither will counting calories. It is 100% about the QUALITY of the food you eat. You will have to almost completely cut any kind of processed foods from your diet.

It could also be a sign of gluten intolerance.

christou84

Wow... your answers are so helpful!!! I'll be sure to remember these things during my journey... thanks a lot guys

christou84

http://theshapeofamother.com/

Beautiful site. Be proud of yourself.

Thanks for sharing that site ... I am proud of myself but I want to be healthy and be a better version of me

TiredMom12

I'm in the same boat. I have 3 children (8, 1 and 3) and just turned 42. I am about 20 lbs. heavier than I should be, but only lookiing to loose 15 b/c I think that is where my body is most comfortable. I started up at the gym and doing the c25k program. I'm up to week 8, day 1 and running 28 minutes straight, but not a 5k yet. I also am doing the elliptical and trying the machines a few times a week. I also am trying to be better about planning my meals and calorie intact and cut out the junk food and nightly glass of wine (or two). My stomach is the area that I always have trouble with and all the fat stays there. My goal between now and the end of this year is to loose 5 lbs. and go into 2013 with only 10 lbs. to go and to be running a 5k. Not sure if my stomach will ever get flat again, but this is my plan and I'm hoping for the best.

gxm17

I've always had a naturally round belly. Then I had two c-sections and it seemed even more prominent. I was able to change the shape of my stomach through core work. I don't have washboard abs but, at 54, my stomach is flatter than it's ever been. I even changed my profile picture in response to yet another "abs are made in the kitchen" thread. (The only thing I do in the kitchen is eat!) I love core work so there's no dread factor, and it's not a big deal for me to include core-focused workouts 3x a week, which is what I'd recommend. You will see results, especially if you don't neglect the lower ab (pilates toe taps, leg lifts, captains chair). If you don't like ab-specific workouts, you may need to get creative, there are a lot of compound strength moves that incorporate the core without you knowing it. Plank work is especially good for the core. If I can do it, anyone can. Go for it!

Rum_Runner

Did you have a c-section? If not then yes, you can get a flat belly the natural way. I even know women who gave a flat belly after a c-section but I hear its a lot harder.

I have two kids and you can see my belly in my profile. I think its pretty flat.

Yaya1976

One cousin of mine had a tummy tuck. Her stomached looked amazing after the surgery and recovery. I don't really remember what her stomached looked like before, but I think it was pretty flabby and she just couldn't get it back to flat- she had 3 babies. My other cousin got lipo. I don't think she really needed it. She's always been quite small. Now 2 babies later, she's considering a tummy tuck.


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zoukeira

I think people jump on the tummy tuck train too easily. I had a pooch - still have a wee one (see my profile pic, it's out on show for you all) but resistance training, weight training and core work make a HUGE difference and it's disappearing fairly quickly. Plus I'm improving lots of other areas of my body at the same time - you couldn't do that with surgery (unless you were REALLY rich and fine with a painful and lengthy recovery!) I've done it all myself so I can be really proud of my hard work - rather than my surgeon's.

Madelinew22

i was pretty active and fit before i got pregers and idk if i really had the deffinition of a pooch, but i had a big saggy loose skin belly and with super clean eating carbs at 30% and fat at 30 and protein at 40% my belly it pretty much flat clean up the diet , add more strength training, and give it time, i didnt notice untill about 6 months

alyssamiller77

Visceral fat and subcutaneous fat are two different things. Subcutaneous fat lies in between the muscle and the skin as to mask definition and can accumulate all over the body. Visceral fat accumulates underneath the muscle and only in the abdominal region. It accumulates as a result of your diet being rich in toxins and other processed "goodies" in the food you eat that are too much for the liver to be able to filter. Exercise cannot get rid of it and neither will counting calories. It is 100% about the QUALITY of the food you eat. You will have to almost completely cut any kind of processed foods from your diet.

It could also be a sign of gluten intolerance.

The description of visceral fat is pretty much correct, however the claim that it is hard to lose and will only be reduced by eating “clean" is patently false. Truthfully as we diet and exercise, visceral fat is one of the easier to burn forms of body fat. Short of a physiological issue there's no reason a low calorie diet and exercise won't burn visceral fat.

That said, this whole subject is irrelevant to the OP's question. Subcutaneous fat is what causes a ”pooch" and can also be lost through patience and a continued focus on calorie control and exercise.