Does your stomach still stick out?

My stomach still sticks out and it looks like I am a good 5-6 months pregnant. Just the other day a very nice young man asked me if I was pregnant. I told him I forgave him for asking only due to his youth and inexperience.

But seriously! I'm not expecting my stomach to ever be flat (it never was) but I have some major muffin top action and it sticks out a lot more in front than I am comfortable with. Will it ever go away? I have been doing some exercise, getting out and running about once a week, and I was doing quite a bit of biking this fall before the weather got bad here. But it is still stubbornly there. I have been at/around my pre-pregnancy weight now for several months.

Time to take a Pilates class? How do I tell if I have that whole "separated stomach muscles" deal? When I gained a couple pounds over Christmas, it all and I mean ALL went to my stomach. Will I ever be the same again?

 

QUOTE(JenniferTwinMomMinneapolis @ Jan 7 2008, 04:37 PM) [snapback]561616[/snapback]
Time to take a Pilates class?



Pilates is great!

 

My stomach went down considerably after some time, but I felt like I always looked pregnant.

 

Still have my pooch too. I was back to pr-preggo weight pretty quickly - was wearing my jeans again the first week - but my belly still looks pregnant. and it's high - not low in the abdomen. I've been doing sit ups etc. - but it doesn't budge. When I FINALLY got my period it went down considerabley - but I haven't had one in 2 mos (peri-menopauseale) so I'm back to having a stomach again. I think I've given up on my "flat" stomach and just hope for a little less......

 

I commiserate. I too have the pregnant belly...even though my boys are over six months old...so, I have no idea how to get rid of it; but have been considering Pilates myself...
I don't look forward to being asked whether or not I'm pregnant, but I'm sure it's only a matter of time!! ha!

At least you still have your confidence intact as you were able to forgive the young guy! Tough to do, I know...

 

I have invested in "Spanx", they keep everything in and have let me wear my prepg jeans again, I am 15 pounds below my prepg weight and still have a stomach that sticks out.

 

Rocking the pregger look as well. I'm with the lady with the Spanx. Can't afford them, but I wear the crap out of some Wal-Mart Spanx-type garments. I am down to 117 pounds, my HIGH SCHOOL weight and I still have this pooch. I can suck it in with much effort but I really enjoy breathing so I let the girdles do the work for me. Inotice that depending on what I eat or drink, it disappears sometimes. Even so, without a shirt on, it looks like whodunit and why. Ah well. Can't have it all, huh?

 

QUOTE(serranoboys @ Jan 7 2008, 09:13 PM) [snapback]561990[/snapback]
I can suck it in with much effort but I really enjoy breathing



:rotflmbo:

 

I have muffin top in some jeans. I can suck it in very well but hope that i can get rid of the 20 i am still packing and it should be flat then! Time is all i need...

 

the "pooch" is caused by two things:
A. separation of your rectus abdominus muscle (what you see as as 6-pack). You can check for diastatis by doing the following:
1. Lie flat on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
2. place the fingers of one hand on just above your belly button.
3. Inhale. On the exhale, slowly lift your head, neck and shoulders off the ground like a situp.
4. If you have a diastasis, your fingers will 'sink'
5. Stop lifting your head/neck/shoulders as soon as you feel this sensation.
6. 2 fingers is a moderate separation, 3 or more is severe.

B. weakness in your transverse abdominus muscle.
- this muscle is the deepest layer of abdominal muscle and acts like a 'girdle' that supports your spine and back.

These have to be rehabbed very specifically. If you can, get a referral to a physical therapist. They can teach you the appropriate exercises in about 2 sessions. If not, Pilates is excellent but again, learning it from a Pilates teacher is far superior to following a book or video.

I'm working on mine!

 

QUOTE(Mama Chunk @ Jan 9 2008, 09:41 AM) [snapback]564254[/snapback]
the "pooch" is caused by two things:
A. separation of your rectus abdominus muscle (what you see as as 6-pack). You can check for diastatis by doing the following:
1. Lie flat on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor.
2. place the fingers of one hand on just above your belly button.
3. Inhale. On the exhale, slowly lift your head, neck and shoulders off the ground like a situp.
4. If you have a diastasis, your fingers will 'sink'
5. Stop lifting your head/neck/shoulders as soon as you feel this sensation.
6. 2 fingers is a moderate separation, 3 or more is severe.

B. weakness in your transverse abdominus muscle.
- this muscle is the deepest layer of abdominal muscle and acts like a 'girdle' that supports your spine and back.

These have to be rehabbed very specifically. If you can, get a referral to a physical therapist. They can teach you the appropriate exercises in about 2 sessions. If not, Pilates is excellent but again, learning it from a Pilates teacher is far superior to following a book or video.

I'm working on mine!



What is one finger width?? Mild separation? Thanks so much for this! Maybe if I start the referral process now, I'll get some help by the time the boys are 6 months!

 

Wow, just lurking and I really needed that info!!! Thanks for posting that info Mama Chunk! I knew when I couldn't sit up without using my hands or having help that something was really messed up. Maybe cause my hand practically sinks! :huh:

 

A 1-finger separation is mild and normal for most pregnancies. It should resolve itself with gentle, progressive abdominal strengthening. You could still benefit from a referral to a PT but for insurance reasons, you'd probably have to demonstrate it was affecting your activities of daily living (ADL's) because of back pain or an inability to lift objects.