Abs after Babies

truthseeker · Post by **truthseeker** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 5:34 pm

I have three children ages 7, 2 1/2 and 9 months. I began a diet and workout plan 5 months ago. I don't know how much weight I've lost because I'm one of those who refuses to get on the scale for fear of being discouraged. But I have went from a size 16 to a size 12. concern is abs. They just don't seem to want to tighten up. The size of stomach is decreasing but it's still a lot softer than what I think it should be after 5 months. Any suggestions on how to tightened these stretched out muscles?

swanso5 · Post by **swanso5** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 5:51 pm

do you still have excess skin there? that may most of the problem and only time and soild diet/training will get rid of that

Boss Man · Post by **Boss Man** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 6:07 pm

It will be harder with Stomach, as Abs area a good stoarage place for Fat.

Could be excess Skin, could be a bit of Water retention, or possibly could be Abdominal Fat, caused by elevated Cortisol levels, if you're in a tense, stressful or Adrenaline fuelled environment, which with having 3 children may cause all 3.

If the excess skin thing is occuring, it might be you're slightly losing weight a bit too fast. Is this occuring all over or just on Abs?

If you have Water retention a little bit, then I suggest slightly reducing Sodium levels in your diet, as that can cause Water retention, so that could be something to do immediately in any case.

Your Salt intake shouldn't exceed 6g a day, and with the possible exception of Boiling Potatos, where a pinch of Salt may improve flavour, refrain from adding Salt to food.

truthseeker · Post by **truthseeker** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 6:28 pm

swanso5 wrote:do you still have excess skin there? that may most of the problem and only time and soild diet/training will get rid of that

I do have excess skin in the lower abs from the previous pregnacies. Right now I am nursing so I don't have a strict diet. I watch portions and stick with fish, lean meats, fruits and veggies. After nursing is there a specific type of diet you would recommend?

truthseeker · Post by **truthseeker** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 6:33 pm

Boss Man wrote:It will be harder with Stomach, as Abs area a good stoarage place for Fat.

Could be excess Skin, could be a bit of Water retention, or possibly could be Abdominal Fat, caused by elevated Cortisol levels, if you're in a tense, stressful or Adrenaline fuelled environment, which with having 3 children may cause all 3.

If the excess skin thing is occuring, it might be you're slightly losing weight a bit too fast. Is this occuring all over or just on Abs?

If you have Water retention a little bit, then I suggest slightly reducing Sodium levels in your diet, as that can cause Water retention, so that could be something to do immediately in any case.

Your Salt intake shouldn't exceed 6g a day, and with the possible exception of Boiling Potatos, where a pinch of Salt may improve flavour, refrain from adding Salt to food.

I am only having problems with abs. The rest of muscles are toning up quite nicely so far. I'm unable to get to a gym but 5 days a week I take an hour walk and I do light weights and use the ball for abs.

I will have to monitor salt intake. I have been using mrs. dash a lot in meals but I need to look again at the foods I'm consuming that may be high in sodium. I'm sure this will help some.

Boss Man · Post by **Boss Man** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 6:47 pm

I don't think you need a specific diet whilst nursing, I might be wrong, but I don't think you do. You might possibly need a few extra things in your diet, like possibly a slightly increased Folic Acid intake, or another 100-200mg of Calcium, things like that possibly, but no, I don't think compared to say a female with no children, looking to shed a few lb's, you need to be significantly different in your food consumption.

SarahPT · Post by **SarahPT** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 7:48 pm

Welcome! I'm glad you've joined us.

Getting those abs back after having children can take time, but you CAN do it! I have no doubt. While nursing you don't exactly need a strict diet plan, though you can have one. I have worked with women who are nursing before on nutrition. After you are done nursing having a set nutrition plan should give you some great progress. One of favorite sayings is "abs are made in the kitchen." How you eat is the most critical factor. Eating small, frequent meals balanced with good carbs, lean protein and good fats works well. Calories should be low enough so you are burning more than you take it, but not too low. Lots of natural, unprocessed foods is best.

Let me know if I can help more.

Sarah

Borntorun · Post by **Borntorun** » Mon May 05, 2008 5:25 pm

Hi HI....I am a mother of two...the youngest almost 5....It definitely depends on whether or not you had a Vback or Cesarian on how your abs will react, but LET ME TELL YOU...SITUPS! Even the flabby looking stuff that seems to be all of this extra skin....it will go away...number 1) see it gone...2) start with 10 situps....and keep increasing by 10....do them with feet flat on the floor, then in the air, do them straight forward and to each side. I have absolutely gorgeous tummy...mothers freak when they see me in a swim suit...and I am not being caddy...I worked really hard for this...also...IT MUST BE MAINTAINED!!! I worked up to doing 300-400 situps in one sitting...(I had time when the kids were small)..now this is how I maintain:At least 100 situps before breakfast (more if I have time)...I work now, or I would do 100 before lunch...Then while the noodles are boiling (or whatever)...put your baby ont he floor with you or some distraction...while you rock out another 100 before dinner. This will be cake once you have done the work to get you to a place where its just about maintaining...

Best wishes...of course throwing some cardio in there will be extremely great!

silent1029 · Post by **silent1029** » Mon May 05, 2008 7:04 pm

i may be ignorant but i heard regular sit ups are bad for ur back and to do crunches instead. i might be wrong though

swanso5 · Post by **swanso5** » Mon May 05, 2008 9:19 pm

sit ups and crunches are both rubbish and great for stuffing up your posture

SarahPT · Post by **SarahPT** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 6:35 pm

[quote="silent1029"]i may be ignorant but i heard regular sit ups are bad for ur back and to do crunches instead. i might be wrong though/quote]
A major problem with sit ups and crunches is that people do them with poor form. If you watch the average person do a sit up or crunch they will round their spine and curl their neck, which isn't good. The "correct" way to do them is keeping the spine nice and straight throughout the whole movement, which is very hard to do.

Seiler_79 · Post by **Seiler_79** » Fri Nov 07, 2008 2:10 pm

I have 2 children also, 7 and 2 1/2. I haven't been in great shape for at least the last 3 years. I just started this site-which is incredible-and I would like to know about the flabby tummy, too. I just started this week on 5 days/wk with aerobics, and weight training. I incorporate the stability ball, too. How many days per week is recommended for the abs on this schedule?

Boss Man · Post by **Boss Man** » Fri Nov 07, 2008 2:58 pm

You only need about 3 sessions a week. Caning Abs is pointless, hey need time to recover the same as any other muscle.

swanso5 · Post by **swanso5** » Fri Nov 07, 2008 6:36 pm

give us a detailed plan of your training and eating

swissballs are pretty advanced, your probably not ready for them

Seiler_79 · Post by **Seiler_79** » Sun Nov 09, 2008 1:21 pm

swanso5 wrote:give us a detailed plan of your training and eating

swissballs are pretty advanced, your probably not ready for them

3 days/wk aerobic 40-45min w/some light weights intermittenly
I do 10 mins abs w/ball on these 3 days
2 days/wk pilates and yoga 30 min

After finding this site and entering daily caloric intake, I realized that there is no room in day for candy, cookies, or fav-cake. So I cut those for the past 4 days and upped lean proteins ie: chicken breasts, salmon, turkey. I also upped raw veggie consumption significantly. I weighed myself this morning at 165 from a start of 170. Do you think this may be water weight that I am losing? Seems like it.
Also, should I be adding some whey protein as well to diet? I don't want to add any muscle, just tone up and lose the extra flab I have.

Abs after Babies

Abs after Babies

How I tummied Flat!

on mommy tummy