women who had babies

All I was told was cardio, cardio, cardio, core, cardio. I'm interested to hear any good tips as well.

Actually fat lose comes from creating a deficit, no cardio needed. You can do this by diet only, Cardio only, strength training only, or a combination of all of them. Essentially eat at a small caloric deficit and exercise (mostly strength training with a little cardio)

If you are at the same deficit you will get faster results doing more strength training then cardio.

Interesting, coming from someone who never has been or never will be pregnant.

Uh, I completely agree with him and I've had 3.

Wonderful! I don't think a man has advice to offer on post-pregnancy issues, though (especially one entitled "women who had babies"). I don't post on threads about prostates.

You are posting on a public forum, which everyone can see, and I took the opportunity to offer better advice then the previous responders in hopes that it will help people reach their goals more efficiently.

FYI: fat on the stomach is not the same as prostates

While I have long weight loss journey ahead of me, I have shrunk in inches... just doing Zumba (CARDIO) my pooch has shrunk! (not flat but shrinking)!

I've had 4 "naturally" and things losen up permanently. Twice I've been skinny since. The skin stays, but the fat under will go. Even if it's the last to go. It gets wrinkly and won't tighten up past a certain point. I did 30 day shred which had a lot of abs work. That did help. I nearly got a 6 pack! And even under the lose skin! But nearly. The last "pack" is where the pouch is and it's a little hidden. Running is also a big whittler of the waist. And a butt lifter.

Yeah yeah yeah, cardio and diet. But we all know how to lose weight on here. It's about the Mom gut. It's valid to look for answers.

Make friends with the pouch. It's a badge and reminder that it was worth having those babies. I understand wanting it gone. But I also know that I would never regret having the babies, nor would I be trading my smooth tight skin back for my babies. Recently I had cosmetic surgery. Not on my breastfeeding boobs, not on my mom-belly. I got my eyes fixed from older lady droop. Know what? I feel so good! Worth it. Do I want my belly fixed? Naa... It's in my pants and under my shirts. Do what's worth it.

Cardio and working the transverse abs has done wonders for mine so far... enough that I now (after 5 births, one a c-section) have hope that I'll be free of the pooch.

I really, really, really can not ever say enough good things about working the transverse abs (as opposed to relying on crunches and planks for all your core needs.)

I havent read the responces given, but appartenly it is achieveable without surgery... lots of cardio, lots of protein and lots of abs workouts.... start with Jillian Michaels 6 Week 6 Pack... you can do it, its just that you need to put in A LOT of work.... good luck!! btw, my youngest is near 7 and I look 4 months too, however, I havent really started do anything about it until of late...

FYI: fat on the stomach is not the same as prostates

You're missing the point entirely. Post-pregnancy issues do not apply to men. Prostate issues do not apply to women.

Also, I think most ladies here will agree that the post-pregnancy fat we've experienced is entirely different than other fat we've accumulated.

Cardio and crunches....lots of crunches!!

I just joined this tracker...and got my calorie intake recommendation...however, there was not a box to click for "currently breastfeeding". I know I require more calories than this because of that...anyone have some insight?

I actually got a exercise program called "Mama Wants Her Body Back", which comes with "Mama Wants Her Abs Back" exercises. It focuses on the areas that get stretched during pregnancy.
It took me 3 years to lose the weight with my daughter...just in time to get pregnant again. Now, it is 6 months after my son was born and I am almost back to my prepregnancy weight. I do those exercises, cardio, and MFP. You might want to give them a shot. Another thing I like about them is that they are only 20 minutes. I know moms have trouble fitting exercise into their schedule...at least I do.

4 kids later (2 of them c-sections) and I'm dying to know the answer to this question myself!!!!!!!!!!! I have a kangaroo pouch under my belly button and it's soooo frustrtaing! lol I feel the same way though. Like there is no getting rid of it without surgery. We, however, are done and hubby has offered that if I get to goal weight to use his bonus for a Mommy makeover. Loose the loose skin, even out the boobs. I can't wait!! as a side note I know muscle burns fat quicker so maybe some light weights with the cardio? still figuring this one out though!

You have the best husband ever!!!

I realize this is not going to be the answer anyone is looking for, but this is what is helping me (so far). I have lost 15 pounds so far, and noticed my stomach was beginning to sag. I have a friend who swears by itworks wraps, so I tried one. *I* can tell a difference. My lower tummy is tighter.

That being said, I know that it does not work for some people, so I would recommend drinking a lot of water and wearing a girdle (dreaded word). The girdle will hold your tummy up at least and prevent further sagging, and the added water will help add elasticity.

Strivectin! It's expensive, but it works.

Ive had two C-Sections. I am basically commited to the pooch.

Same boat.... the incisions were tight... and I now have a permanent pooch... hard to get my stomach muscles to work properly.

I just joined this tracker...and got my calorie intake recommendation...however, there was not a box to click for "currently breastfeeding". I know I require more calories than this because of that...anyone have some insight?

Eat no less than your BMR + 500 for as long as you're exclusively breastfeeding, 300 once baby starts other food or if you're partly formula-feeding. Apparently you can add it in on the food or exercise here on MFP, but I would find it easier to just adjust the daily calorie goal and leave it set. Baby's nutrition is more important than rapid weight loss... but I found that nursing was a really good way to lose weight all on its own. I was tempted to keep pumping just for the calorie burn. LOL

Agreed. I actually recommitted to tracking after the baby in order to make sure I was eating enough to protect my supply. Yes I want to be healthy, but the baby's nutrition comes first.

And I'm tempted to pump once she weans for the same reason!

I hate to tell you this, but the "pooch" is probably because of a diastasis recti. What happens is there is a seperation between the muscles in your abdomen. There are exercises that can improve, but it is not the typcial abdominal routine. Regualr abdominal exercises can acutally seperate the muscles farther. As far as the skin goes, it will shrink quite a bit up to two years after pregnancy. However, there might be some skin that was stretched past it elasticity that will never shrink back. I know a lot of people are against plastic surgery, but after 2 babies and a lot of exercise, I am opting for a mini tummy tuck to remove excess skin and correct my diastasis. It can cause stomach and back problems. My internal organs bulge out of the center of the diastasis. You can check to see if you have one by laying flat and pushing you fingers between your abs. Then do a crunch. The number of finger widths you can fit between your abs will tell you how wide the diastasis is. It kind of freaked me out the first time I did it. Look up the Tupler Techinque for more information. It was reccommended to me by a PT.