Why does my stomach look like this?

2

Replies

  • sugaraddict4321
    sugaraddict4321 Posts: 15,715 MFP Moderator
    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.
  • mlinci
    mlinci Posts: 403 Member
    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.
  • rheddmobile
    rheddmobile Posts: 6,840 Member
    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.
  • hgycta
    hgycta Posts: 3,013 Member
    CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »
    hgycta 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
    pqhxv1f8oxq7.jpeg
    But wake up looking like this
    bxfk2gr1kdia.jpeg
    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!
  • nowine4me
    nowine4me Posts: 3,985 Member
    Moter98 wrote: »
    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.
  • julie_bee_123
    julie_bee_123 Posts: 25 Member
    I think it's mostly your posture. It looks like the way you hold your shoulders and your hips.
  • jsalazar8714
    jsalazar8714 Posts: 9 Member
    Moter98 wrote: »
    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.)
    cms4uac2i5k3.jpg

    "why does my stomach look like this?" i think that same question about so many parts of my body lol! and since getting in better shape i learned eat healthy (real healthy not marketing healthy) work out well (not over doing it) and enjoy life and the rest follows my body may never look mens health cover worthy but i feel better and just this morning i looked at my toes and thought why do they look like that but that doesnt stop me from trying to gomi someone in jiu jitsu class despite my lack of flexibility at the moment. so ms i say you look great now enjoy the day and keep at it!!! im still trying to get the hang of this macro tracking and cal tracking. grrrrr!
  • RadishEater
    RadishEater Posts: 470 Member
    Mexicangreensalsa wrote: »
    Mine sometimes looks like this and I am 19 BMI only. Bloating is normal. If I eat low sodium and watch what I eat to eliminate bloating it goes down. I just like to eat things that make me bloat and also like to eat bigger portions, haha. svqc2xg47bfb.png

    8fe76t9ak4p9.png
    It’s nice to see others with bloating sometimes it feels like it’s just me when you’re inundated with pictures on the internet. I bet if I drank less seltzer water and chewed less gum I’d be less bloated a lot. Also I love my broccoli cauliflower and beans 😂.

    I with the others that’s it’s organs and genetics, because even unbloated, if I lost the last bit of stomach fat, my stomach would still stick out a bit no matter the posture. If I tense my abs, I can feel where the muscle starts and from a side view it’s definitely farther out than people with flat stomachs have,which is annoying but as long as I’m getting stronger and accomplishing fitness goals I’m not too bent out of shape about it.
  • Moter98
    Moter98 Posts: 51 Member
    Keto_Vampire wrote: »
    Weak/untrained transverse abdominis (corset/belt muscles) & less than ideal posture possibly.
    Look into doing stomach vacuums (very old school exercise)

    I will try these, thanks.
  • AudreyJDuke
    AudreyJDuke Posts: 1,092 Member
    Great suggestions!!!!!!
  • hgycta
    hgycta Posts: 3,013 Member
    I appreciate all the suggestions!!! I'll definitely work on building some muscle (and gaining some weight, I did struggle with anorexia nervosa which explains the low BMI but I know it's very unhealthy to stay at this weight)!!

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