Why does my stomach look like this?
Moter98
Posts: 51 Member
I posted awhile back about my stomach pooching out and was advised to lift and gain weight and that it was possibly a muscle mass issue. So I gained 7lb, lost a couple and now sit at 115lb at 5'3". But my stomach looks worse than it did before. Yet it seems no matter what weight I'm at it still pooches out. I've been as much as 9 lbs lighter before and still had the belly pooch. How can I get rid of this? (I've had 4 kids, but had this before I had kids too.)
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Replies
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*Could* be that your body doesn't handle gluten very well...40
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This is standing up straight? I know if I relax my stomach (and i'm near the same weight as you) it pooches out like that by mid-day. My posture also has a great affect on it. Part of it is bloating for me, and I also think that part of it is just how stomachs look when relaxed. Either way, you look wonderful. If you are feeling discomfort and are concerned about this imbalance in proportions I'd suggest talking to your doctor to rule out intolerances and allergies.
Sending love!2 -
This looks like diastasis recti, in which case only surgery will fix it.28
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monkeefan1974 wrote: »This looks like diastasis recti, in which case only surgery will fix it.
You we're better off saying for her to go see a doctor instead of giving a possible diagnosis.23 -
Sounds like it’s genetics if you had it even before babies.
I have a similar stomach although I’m not quite as slim as you are (5’ 4” 132lbs). I’ve been told it is the way it is because of how I flexed my abs for years while doing anything that required me to use my those muscles, sit ups, leg raises, lifting heavy things, getting up off the ground...any use of the abs. I’m trying hard to adjust to sucking in and pulling my belly button towards my spine rather than pushing out when using my abs but it’s a very difficult habit to break since I’ve been doing the way I did it to supposedly get the stomach for 40+ years.
Not sure if there is any merit at all to this. My trainer seems to think so and I might be starting to notice a difference...hard to say. Sorry, wish I could be more certain rather than pass on what might be woo. Maybe someone else can weigh in on this. That, or I’ll let you know if a few more years if my stomach looks better or the same LOL1 -
monkeefan1974 wrote: »This looks like diastasis recti, in which case only surgery will fix it.
You we're better off saying for her to go see a doctor instead of giving a possible diagnosis.
I didn’t say it was a diagnosis. I said it looks like this to me. Of course she should ask her doctor, that’s a given, I think she can figure that out.16 -
I do have a diastasis if 2cm at belly button and 1.5cm below. It used to be 3.5cm but I’ve been doing exercises to reduce it. I’m 2 years postpartum from last baby so I think this is as good as it gets as far as closing the gap anymore. I have pretty good “tightness” of whatever the tissue is called below the belly button. At belly button not so good but not terrible either. Surgery not an option as it’s not bad enough and would be considered cosmetic only.7
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I do have a diastasis if 2cm at belly button and 1.5cm below. It used to be 3.5cm but I’ve been doing exercises to reduce it. I’m 2 years postpartum from last baby so I think this is as good as it gets as far as closing the gap anymore. I have pretty good “tightness” of whatever the tissue is called below the belly button. At belly button not so good but not terrible either. Surgery not an option as it’s not bad enough and would be considered cosmetic only.
Interesting, so you do indeed have some diastasis then.
Does it get worse after eating a meal or does it just stay the same all the time? Could be bloating or an intestine bulging through the abdominal tissues. And I think OP knows this, but just to clarify for others, I’m not diagnosing you, just brainstorming what it might be since you asked. What does your doctor say? Your posture looks fine to me btw.3 -
My stomach looks similar and I have diastasis from having five children. Mine starts just above my navel and ends below so it's concentrated in that area. Bloating and poor posture makes it look worse. The muscles don't lay flat anymore, even with minimal fat they bulge permanently. I just try to work on having a strong core regardless. There isn't much you can do if that's what you have going on.5
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Have you tried Pilates apparatus training? Pilates is great for posture and engaging the entire core. You really learn how to zip up and hold your abs in which might help with the pouch. See if you have a studio near by or if your local health club offers one-on-one training.1
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monkeefan1974 wrote: »I do have a diastasis if 2cm at belly button and 1.5cm below. It used to be 3.5cm but I’ve been doing exercises to reduce it. I’m 2 years postpartum from last baby so I think this is as good as it gets as far as closing the gap anymore. I have pretty good “tightness” of whatever the tissue is called below the belly button. At belly button not so good but not terrible either. Surgery not an option as it’s not bad enough and would be considered cosmetic only.
Interesting, so you do indeed have some diastasis then.
Does it get worse after eating a meal or does it just stay the same all the time? Could be bloating or an intestine bulging through the abdominal tissues. And I think OP knows this, but just to clarify for others, I’m not diagnosing you, just brainstorming what it might be since you asked. What does your doctor say? Your posture looks fine to me btw.
It's for sure worse at night compared to the morning, but I don't have a flat belly in the morning either, much closer, but not flat. I have never had any doming or bulging, my core is fairly strong...I've run a few TVA/diastasis programs and continue to do so to keep it strong. The programs I've done considers diastasis healed when 2 or below, which I am, so I wasn't sure if it was that or something else. Looks like its the gap causing it then. Darn it anyhow. I haven't seen any Dr. but my OB for it and all she said was yes I have one, no there's nothing to do about it. Well thanks that was not helpful. Any knowledge I acquired about it was on my own.1 -
DomesticKat wrote: »My stomach looks similar and I have diastasis from having five children. Mine starts just above my navel and ends below so it's concentrated in that area. Bloating and poor posture makes it look worse. The muscles don't lay flat anymore, even with minimal fat they bulge permanently. I just try to work on having a strong core regardless. There isn't much you can do if that's what you have going on.
Thank you, this is helpful to know. I've been wondering for years what the heck this was.1 -
Have you tried Pilates apparatus training? Pilates is great for posture and engaging the entire core. You really learn how to zip up and hold your abs in which might help with the pouch. See if you have a studio near by or if your local health club offers one-on-one training.
No I haven't tried Pilates. Thank you for this. Going to a gym or class will not happen as I have 4 kids and hubby works very long hours, but I do have a home gym. I'll look for something I can do at home.0 -
OP - first, I think you look awesome and 2) I’m a firm believer in Pilates too. There is an app called Pilates Anytime (free 30 day trial, $17/Mo after) that has tons of classes. I have a reformer at home, but there are a gazillion mat classes you can try out. You can select the difficulty and duration to work with your schedule.0
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Have you tried Pilates apparatus training? Pilates is great for posture and engaging the entire core. You really learn how to zip up and hold your abs in which might help with the pouch. See if you have a studio near by or if your local health club offers one-on-one training.
No I haven't tried Pilates. Thank you for this. Going to a gym or class will not happen as I have 4 kids and hubby works very long hours, but I do have a home gym. I'll look for something I can do at home.
You tube has a ton of Pilates workouts you can do at home.0 -
I too think you look really good. Your hard work is obvious. But I can see a small bloated look there too*Could* be that your body doesn't handle gluten very well...
This was my guess too. Food sensitivities will do that to some people. And cause some issues.
You could consider an elimination diet. It would probably take a few months to find out if that's the problem. An offending food often needs to be removed for at least a week before results are seen.7 -
OP - first, I think you look awesome and 2) I’m a firm believer in Pilates too. There is an app called Pilates Anytime (free 30 day trial, $17/Mo after) that has tons of classes. I have a reformer at home, but there are a gazillion mat classes you can try out. You can select the difficulty and duration to work with your schedule.
Thank you! I'm going to try that.0 -
OP, all these suggestions are great. Do you have any issues with your periods? Certain gyno issues can add size in this area, for example, fibroids, endo, etc.0
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Can anyone direct me where to start with pilates? How often and how long should I be doing the exercises and are there any that I should avoid with having the diastasis?1
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There's a YouTube gal I like that does beginner pilates - Blogilates. Her own site is blogilates.com but you can find her on YT as well. I think I even found her through a recommendation here on MFP.
I found the workouts to be low-impact but still quite effective.
She has calendars for daily exercises, etc. Regardless of what program you try, make sure you do some research on what exercises NOT to do when you have diastasis recti - for example crunches and sit-ups can actually make it worse. There are DI-specific exercises that can help.1 -
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You’ve had four kids??? You look AMAZING! From my perspective you have absolutely nothing to worry about and a fantastic figure to be proud of.2
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I had good luck fixing my diastasis following abdominal surgery using a combination of stretching/vacuum exercises and an ab roller. When you stretch upwards as high as possible as if you are trying to touch the ceiling, can you feel your abs engage and move into a more correct position? That definitely helped me learn the feeling of using the right muscles. The abs roller is about eight bucks for a cheap one and the best abs workout I've found. A lot of trainers recommend it because it's dynamic unlike planks, and eccentric unlike crunches.
Seriously, though: stand flat footed and try to touch the ceiling. Hold it. It made an incredible difference for such a simple exercise.1 -
CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »No clue... but I’m having a similar problem. I’m 5’6 and around 110 pounds. Some days I go to bed looking like this
But wake up looking like this
No editing or anything I promise! It baffles me!
are you standing straight as you can? looks like you have a posture issue to me as your spine curves a good bit not sure if its a spine issue caused by posture or something else at play
I was trying to stand straight in the pictures, and there is a drastic difference in my stomach size like that each night to each morning no matter how I stand. That being said, if I don’t consciously think about it my posture could certainly use some improvement!0 -
Can anyone direct me where to start with pilates? How often and how long should I be doing the exercises and are there any that I should avoid with having the diastasis?
I’d find a local studio and sign up for the starter session. Make sure you share any limitations with your instructor. They will provide modifications for any exercise. Reformer classes are expensive (at least in my area), but worth it to me once a week.3 -
your organs need some place to go! It's not natural to have a washboard-flat stomach. You look amazing.6
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I think you look fine. Your body is doing way more than just worrying about weight loss. You are very thin. I'm 4'11" and would be skin and bones at 115 and you're 5'3?? If you've had 4 kids then I think you're bragging at this point. Not too many people can have 1 kid and get away with having a little bit of a belly in the lower part of it so you will have some belly after 4. There are people starving in the world hun. Just sayin.
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gallicinvasion wrote: »your organs need some place to go! It's not natural to have a washboard-flat stomach. You look amazing.
agree. not to mention IF she is eating food every day (lol) that stuff has to go somewhere til it's moved on elsewhere.5
Your tummy looks fine!
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