From Fluffy Mom to NPC Women's Physique Competitor w/ PICS

How did you get those abs?! I too have risen from the "mom blob". I've worked out regularly for about 3-years. However, I have just added more strength and have been eating right for about a month. I have a very strong core, but I can't seem to get any definition because of the looser belly skin after my 3 kids. I know that great abs are made in the kitchen and I am on that path, but I don't see your abs at the end of my road! Any pointers?

Everyone has different skin elasticity, so some people's skin "bounces back" after pregnancy/weight gain/weight loss more than others. My abs/midsection are not the same now as they were before having children, and I think we, as moms, have to cut ourselves some slack, because having a person inside your belly DOES change your body, whether you like it or not. That is NOT an excuse to give up...it's just reality. I used to say I wanted my "pre-baby" body back...well, guess what, it's GONE. I'm older now and my body has changed, just like yours has...doesn't mean we can't have a rockin' "post-baby" body, it's just different. I think it's actually a better body, because everything I have now I worked my butt off for.

I like to say that "Abs are made in the gym, and REVEALED in the kitchen"...I think that's more accurate. It's a multi-step process...you have to develop the muscles themselves, which I did with just basic ab exercises...but to actually SEE them, you've got to get rid of the fat which is done through your diet.

I don't do ab exercises anymore, because my abs get plenty of work with all the other lifting I do, but I did do abs 8-10 min a day 3-4x a week the first year I started back. As far as skin goes, I don't have any answer for that. GIve it some time to see if it will bounce back...if not, you only really have 2 choices, have surgery or learn to live with it. There's no amount of exercise or diet that will tighten loose skin, so you may have to make that choice at some point. Best wishes