belly flap :(

i feel your pain! i had a hysterectomy in feb and i have a similar problem, looking at the boards hanging leg raises etc can help, so i will be trying these and squats!

thanks ned I'll have to try those and I also had a c-section when I had my daughter so I know it's from that as well as the weight...and yes amammaa I do cardio as well as strength training...most of the strength training is working on the core muscles...the stomach is shrinking just not the dang flap!

I had 2 c-sections too, and gained a lot of weight when pregnant. I'm thinking about a tummy tuck...I don't think there's much else you can do for loose skin, unfortunately!

I don't think anything helps with it. I lost weight before I had a kid and didn't have this issue, so I'm positive its from the belly stretching out when we were pregnant. I'm with you though, I'm sure I could fit into smaller pants if I didnt have this issue. I think surgery is the only way to correct it, and since we want at least one more, that's a no go for another year and a half. Congrats on your weightloss, you should be really proud!

I feel your pain, I had twins via csection in 2005 and although I have lost 82lbs and sit at a respectable 162, I still feel really gross about my tummy. Doesn't really seem fair. I have considered surgery (also need my ab muscles sewn back together) but thought first I would put some really strong effort into my ab area... I just do a general weight circuit at the gym. Haven't done it yet - I have no issues going to the gym, but gosh I feel lazy with this. Hang in there.

I've looked into what's involved in getting abdominoplasty (removing the extra skin on the belly), and they want you to do a bunch of exercises to strengthen the abdominal muscles first. That sounds like something we can start doing ahead of time! The idea is to tighten up the muscles to be able to hold in the gut better, and they usually have to remove some of the stretched connective tissue between the rows of muscle on each side, so you can't exercise them as much until it's healed so the further ahead you get there the better. They recommend not doing it until you're done losing weight, which makes sense but will probably be frustrating when I get halfway there. ;-)

THIS drives me absolutely crazy too!!! UGHHHH.....I feel so fat still because of this.......I definitely also feel like I could be in a smaller size if it weren't for that hideous thing!! I am definitely going to try the leg push downs and squats like my friend told me!

keep working out. I had a decent sized "apron" and I have noticed that it is shrinking as I lose weight.

ETA: I had a c-section 12 years ago. I have always had a small overhang ever since then--at one point I could not SEE where my scar was because of all the overhang, in the last few weeks, I can *almost* see it. I know when I lay down on the bed, I used to have a HUGE hill of fat and skin above it--now there is barely a lump.

For the last 3 months I have been doing strength training as part of my exercise routine. I do crunches, back extensions, assisted squats, plus some back and chest exercises.

Definitely add strength training to your exercise routines, it really does make a difference. There is also a theory that the slower you lose your weight the easier it is for your skin to "snap" back/ shrink along with you. That won't help for those of you who have already lost your weight. But for those of us just starting out there is hope!

Squats, lunges, planks, crunches, planks all will help build your core muscles up.

I had a c-section to-- why do we have a flap? I weighed 130 when I got pregnant and weighed 150 when I delivered via C-SECTION. I don't think I was big by any means so why the flap?????

I was reading yesterday an article from a personal trainner she stated that the people who find one or 2 meals that they enjoy and stick with it longer and reach thier goals 98% of the time in comparison to those who keep looking for something new...I learned to make a mini quiche and a home made verison of the mcmuffin and those are my two breakfasts..

The short term solution is to get yourself a good compression under garment.

That might work in cold weather, but in summer it would lead to crevasses full of sweat and then bacteria, and even more trouble with skin infections than the plain old flap can lead to!

Sorry...But I didn't know that "Bridget Jones (type) Drawers" were now a health hazard too.:embarassed:

Abdominoplasty is major surgery and it is not uncommon for abdominal incisions to heal slowly. I would try all other avenues first.