Shifting the Mummy tummy

fteale
fteale Posts: 5,310 Member
edited September 27 in Health and Weight Loss
I am pretty happy with how I look, most of me is fine these days, but I still have a huge amount of loose skin and flab over my abdomen post children (and lovely stretchmarks to complete the look).

I do 3 classes a week which each contain 15 mins each of core work - planks and crunches, as well as circuits which have some abs stuff in too. I also run twice a week (8-10k per run). I am working on my overall body fat, but honestly, the loose skin is getting more noticeable, not less as I lose weight.

What more can I do to get rid of the post-baby bulge? My youngest child is 3 1/2 now, so I don't have the excuse it's recent!

Replies

  • learnbygoing
    learnbygoing Posts: 103 Member
    I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but short of surgery, there isn't anything you can do about the skin. Skin and stretch marks don't go away no matter how much your work out, or how firm your abs are :( I have the same problem.
  • fteale
    fteale Posts: 5,310 Member
    I kind of guessed that was probably the case, but it can't stay as bad as this!
  • jreese5226
    jreese5226 Posts: 328 Member
    Same problem here. I've resigned myself to the fact that I can only do so much. Especially since I had a c-section. So not only do I have the stretch marks and extra skin, I have the overhang over the incision. If it troubles me when I get to my goal weight, I may have to save some moolah to get a tummy tuck.
  • jennyb31
    jennyb31 Posts: 166 Member
    I have the same problem. The thing I have noticed that helps improve the look of it is doing planks to tighten up the core muscles (I do front, back, and side) and just eating REALLY clean. I agree the only thing that will make it go away is surgery, DARN! If we could find an easier, cheaper way we would all be rich!!
  • fteale
    fteale Posts: 5,310 Member
    Same problem here. I've resigned myself to the fact that I can only do so much. Especially since I had a c-section. So not only do I have the stretch marks and extra skin, I have the overhang over the incision. If it troubles me when I get to my goal weight, I may have to save some moolah to get a tummy tuck.

    I had a section with my first and have the same problem.
  • learnbygoing
    learnbygoing Posts: 103 Member
    I kind of guessed that was probably the case, but it can't stay as bad as this!

    It might get a little better...but honestly, some people have better skin elasticity than other people. If your youngest is already over 3, you're probably looking at as good as it will get naturally :( My youngest is 5, and my skin hasn't looked any better in years.

    My best friend jokes that I have an old man living in my belly. I punch her.
  • jennyb31
    jennyb31 Posts: 166 Member
    I kind of guessed that was probably the case, but it can't stay as bad as this!

    It might get a little better...but honestly, some people have better skin elasticity than other people. If your youngest is already over 3, you're probably looking at as good as it will get naturally :( My youngest is 5, and my skin hasn't looked any better in years.

    My best friend jokes that I have an old man living in my belly. I punch her.
    LOL, My three year old grabs his beely scrunches the skin together and say, "mommy, your belly looks like this dosen't it!"
    Gotta Luv them!
  • kdao
    kdao Posts: 265
    I have the same problem! I have had 5 children and I am now 5'2" and 111 pounds and it did not go away :ohwell: I am having surgery next month to fix it. When I went to my plastic surgeons office, he said there is no amount of exercise you can do to make it go away, plus my stomach muscles are separated from being pregnant so many time. Tummy tuck with muscle repair...here I come!
  • hroush
    hroush Posts: 2,073 Member
    If it's fat and not loose skin (which it probably is), then the only way to get rid of it is essentially diet. Exercise will help, and if you don't have much left to lose it should be heavy weight lifting, but in the end only diet can give you abs.
  • Swimgoddess
    Swimgoddess Posts: 711 Member
    an intermediate remedy before surgery is a treatment called TITAN. Ever see the infomercials for that "lower face tightening" thing? Practically the same concept, but can be applied to your abs. Something to consider if you're borderline and the possibility of a tummy tuck scar outweighs the benefit of a smoother look.

    Cost is several hundred dollars compared to several thousand & no down time.
  • mutusystem
    mutusystem Posts: 4
    Hi there, you will need to address the deep core muscles if you want to get a flat belly after babies, as well as correct a diastasis recti (split abdominal muscles). Without tackling these first, you'll never get a flat belly as the muscular foundation won't be there. To lose the fat that lies on top, this is largely diet related, indentifying foods that bloat you as well as those which make you fat... Posture also plays a big part. Loose skin is I'm afraid just loose skin... but you can make a huge difference to everything else through corrective exercise & diet.

    IMPORTANT: DON'T DO SIT UPS OR CRUNCHES! These will make a mummy tummy worse.

    You can get a tonne of free information form http://mutusystem.com
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