This belly...

So, the twins were my third pregnancy and that pregnancy seems to have screwed my belly up more than I thought could happen. After my first pregnancy my belly seemed flabby, not much change after the second... but this pregnancy has left it looking awful. I feel like it's been stretched out and has zero muscle tone to it. I don't even know where to begin or if it's even possible to repair any of the damage done. Ideas? Suggestions? Maybe some good exercises for the transverse ab's?

 

If you find something short of surgery that works let me know. I know some women don't have this problem but I sure do. These twins were my 3rd pregnancy I have a singleton lost a set of twins but had already started showing when I miscarried and then the twins I have. I have done ww and walked 3-4 miles a day all summer and lost 8 lbs and that was it. My belly is rediculous to the point that I still wear some maternity tshirts. Its making me nuts and also making me want to call a plastic surgen.

 

Where I live midwives often give classes for postpartum exercise and show you what gentle exercises to do. Midwives are an excellent source of knowledge what your ody can do after pregnancy and birth.

Before you start any exercise for your abs you also need to be sure that your abdominal muscles did not separate (rectus diastase) which is fairly common with twin pregnancies. Your doctor should have checked that during your postpartum check-up. If you have rectus diastase it can take a long time to heal and you need to be very careful with exercise. Mine took nearly 2 years after the birth to heal and I was not allowed to exercise on my own at all by doctor's orders apart from brisk walking and swimming for a full year.

Your babies are still young and your body will probably need a lot more time to recover. GL!

 

Exercise will do it. U can't just focus on the middle area. U need to do cardio and ab as well. The deep fat layer is very easy to lose. As soon as u lose weight, it will be gone. The topper layer requires serious ab workout to lose it. But after 2 month of work out and healthy diet, you will lose the running belly 50-80%. also don't starve yourself. It wont work. U need to eat many times/day. Check out your metabolism and calculate how many cals ur body need/day. U don't need surgery to lose twin belly.

Many women make biggest mistakes. They starve themselves. They do lose weight but most what they lose is muscles not fat. And weight will come back with interest. Work out to build muscles and give you a healthy lifestyle And a healthy mind. U will also say bye bye to all the emotional/mental breakdown. Gl!

 

Look into Mama Wants Her Body Back programs- great for eating, core, and exercise. I've been doing it for 2 weeks plus doing a lot of transverse ab work- just sucking in all day long- and I already notice a difference. The key- getting rid of sugar in your diet, eating lots of protein and fiber, working out a lot, and sitting and standing with great posture and abs sucked in whenever possible!

Haven't tried T-Tapp body brushing but I've heard some women have had great success- exercise combined with dry body brushing (works on the skin damage while you work on the muscle through exercise).

Don't do standard crunches- get core exercises specifically for women with kids- they make a huge difference.

 

I don't recall my doctor checking anything on my abdomen other than my incision.

 

Thank you for the tips! I'll look into the different programs that you mentioned. I've been watching my diet, but unfortunately my experience is that I just gain weight like crazy while nursing. I've been able to slow the weight gain down, but I know I won't be able to take off all this extra weight until I'm done nursing.

 

Yes, your Dr should have examined your ab muscles. Maybe he/she did it with out you knowing what they were doing? I would call before starting anything. Your babies are young and you are nursing, I would just focus on eating a healthy, well rounded diet and as the babies get older and start playing more you can get your exercise in then, by taking walks and things like that with them. You will have all the time in the world when they get older to work on your abs...they are only itty bitty for awhile

 

I started running when my girls were 5 months old, it was hard to find the time but it was well needed time. My stomach has gone down, I dont think it will ever be as flat as I want it to be, but hey its my trophy for giving birth to a singletone and twins, well thats what I tell myself anyway

 

I feel for you, girl! I seem to have gained weight while nursing too! I lost a lot of water weight very quickly, but then realized I started gaining fat in my lower belly, thighs, and upper arms! :woah: I stopped pumping and nursing in July and I'm not noticing a big difference, (except for my shrunken boobs, which make the lower-body fat even MORE noticeable! LOL --but we've also been eating quite a bit of take-out lately since it's been so hectic with work schedules!) I've been trying to get back to jogging but it's really hard to find the time! I wish you luck. If you find something that works please share!!

 

There isn't anything to target the abs, just whole body exercise. And to watch what you eat. I have to admit the flab takes a really long time and if there's any progress it's very little. My body's been more toned now, and my tummy's slightly flatter and firmer, but the skin still jiggles quite a bit. My mom (who's never had twins) was shock when she felt that my tummy was jello soft LOL.

 

All of me is soft as jello right now! I guess that's what an entire pregnancy of modified bed rest will get you . Boo! Well, starting a running/walking program (aiming for 3 times a week). I need to start dieting as I've been packing on pounds since the boys were just a few weeks old. My body is weird... I nurse one baby I gain weight, I nurse two babies I gain twice as much weight twice as quickly. Feeling so bummed over my body right now, I hate that I don't have many clothes that fit and I don't even feel comfortable in the ones that do. Gotta get this under control!

 

While there are ways to work on improving I don't think it's really fair, or wise, to say things like I hilited in red above. Every body is different. Some will go back, not all. Some bodies are so traumatized by a twin pregnancy that there will always be some reminders, others will go back to the tight, toned prepregnancy state of being. The suggestion you (and others) have given are actually good ones but the hilited parts are just setting some women up to feel like they are failing at what the are trying to accomplish. That's the last thing anyone needs when they're already struggling to keep up with new (or not so new) twins and get some sort of normalcy in their life.

 

I recommend the book "Lose Your Mummy Tummy." It's all about helping to repair the separated ab muscles due to pregnancy. I haven't been consistent with the exercises, but have noticed a little difference.

I also recommend looking and seeing if you have a Stroller Strides class nearby you. It's a cardio (mix of walking and jogging)/strength class that you do with the stroller and babies. I did it over the summer and really found that it helped tone my muscles. I still have a long way to go, but the class was enough to jump start my motivation. Plus, you get the added bonus of meeting other moms with babies close to the same age. Though, at times, I did get frustrated because I was so out of shape from a twin pregnancy/bed rest, plus pushing double the weight in the stroller and all the other singleton moms were ahead of me. But the benefits of getting out of the house and starting to get back in shape were worth it.

 

I didn't mean to make anyone feel bad at all. It's actually doable. I do understand everyone is different. Some don't need much effort to lose weight. Some have to work harder to lose a lb. Plus it's very hard to lose weight in the first yr. Stress is the worst enermy. Cardio does hellp to lose weight and belly fat. But it requires at least 45 mins/ each time and 3 times/ week to get the result. Losing weight requires serious workout and patience.

I suggest before you decide to be on diet or workout, check out some metabolism books read some and figure out that metabolism type, body fat,..you have. Then you will have more idea how to do it effectively.

I you think I am so easy to lose weight and the twin belly, ou are wrong. I have been suffering from weight for yrs. I could lose many lbs then gained back. And it's hard for me to lose even a lb. After I read some books, I realized I have been doing it all wrong and even messing up my system badly. Also work out helps improve our mood and prevend mental breakdown. Scientists proved it