Mum-tum

[ThreeBecameFour]

So following a colleague congratulating me for being pregnant today....(I am not) I really need to step up the making my tummy flatter exercise. I do the Jillian Michaels Yoga Burnout every other day. I'm a size 12-14 skinny legs and arms, big bust and a mum tum following 2 c-sections (last one 18 months ago so no excuse...). I eat pretty well and healthily. The comment was made in front of my whole office so really mortifying. Help me get rid of the mum tum. What are your best tips?

[Danceasifnooneswatching]

I need too now this to

[ThreeBecameFour]

Anyone?

[TwoLittleTerrors]

If you go to a gym, Les mills body balance is great. I'm doing a the 10 min Pilates solution at the moment as I have a 5mo baby. I'm using the post natal workout from the pregnancy one and also the 10min beginners.

No mum tum for 1-2 months now.

[ThursdayLast]

Cardio (I run) to burn the fat.
Pilates to tone the tum. It really works for me though I reccomend going to a class. I also had an emcs, 2 years ago.

What exercise do you like?

[TwoLittleTerrors]

This one
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0037B2WNC/ref=pd_aw_sims_9?pi=AC_SY230_QL60&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

I have the 4 disc box set and this is one of the discs.

[Purpleflamingos]

I borrow the dc's skipping ropes and do 10 mins at home between chores and costume making.
Unfortunately I won't do it in front of anyone so the weekends calories are still sitting there......

[JimmyCorkhill]

You may have diastasis recti.

[ThreeBecameFour]

I like any exercise I can fit in around running a household, working 4 days a week in a full on job, comnuting; raising 2 kids aged 3.10 & 18 months...which usually ends up as a cardio/or yoga DVD once the kids are in bed...but if you have any other ideas please let me know! maybe I am just being lazy sticking to dvd's...

[TwoLittleTerrors]

three that's why I love the 10min solutions! There's also shred and davina's 7 and 15min work outs. But Pilates is fab for core strength.

[snowydrops]

I love the skipping idea! That will get you fit in no time. I am having an ELCS next week so know it will be a while until I can resume proper exercise but keen to do so as soon as possible.

Another one my DH does is 100 burpee challenge. Seriously seriously hardcore (I managed 10 first attempt and was reasonably fit but then was pregnant so never did it again)but brilliant if you've got a spare 10 mins or in the garden on a sunny day! He did it last summer maybe three times a week and the results were brilliant although he obviously doesn't have a mum tum!

[loveableshoulder]

snowy I've just watched a video of the 100 burped challenge. I'm in!!! But I don't think I can currently do more than five...on Christmas Day this year I vow to do 100 burped in under 9 minutes...

[loveableshoulder]

OMG burped! That's more like it at the moment

[snowydrops]

Ha ha I think I might join you in that challenge by Xmas!! I think if you increase by one a day it should be easy enough...DH managed 50 on first attempt (with short breaks!) but he was quite fit anyway (moderately so) but within a week or two he was doing 100. He says he's doing it again this summer!

[DrHarleenFrancesQuinzel]

As someone who has always looked pregnant, I know how you feel. Ive had comments on my pregnancies before I was ever pregnant. I still look pregnant. Youngest is 3YO so I really dont have an excuse anymore.

I started the gym and go to Kettlebells, Metafit, Insane ABs plus 2 other non-class workouts. I still have the tum as I haven't been too strict about going to all exercise classes every week and I know I should.

I also often have this idea to do a 30 day ab challenge or 30 day core challenge (If I dont do both at the same time), but I haven't got round to it. Im no good at exercising at home. I have an app and a couple of DVDs currently gathering dust on the shelf. I need to get more motivated and do all my planned exercises every week with no excuses. I love exercising too, just need to get on with it.

[CarbeDiem]

For those saying they look pregnant do check that you don't have Diastasis recti, as mentioned above. You can look on youtube for how to check.

If you do then none of the usual abs exercise will work, they can in fact make it worse and your tummy more prominent. Even things like running and jumping can too.

[DrHarleenFrancesQuinzel]

My internet is too slow for youtube, but will have a look into it.

[CarbeDiem]

I copied and pasted some print for you.

Diastasis Recti/Abdominal Separation Test
This simple self-test will help you determine if you have diastasis recti.

Lie on your back with your knees bent, and the soles of your feet on the floor.
Place one hand behind your head, and the other hand on your abdomen, with your fingertips across your midline-parallel with your waistline- at the level of your belly button.
With your abdominal wall relaxed, gently press your fingertips into your abdomen.
Roll your upper body off the floor into a "crunch," making sure that your rib cage moves closer to your pelvis.
Move your fingertips back and forth across your midline, feeling for the right and left sides of your rectus abdominis muscle. Test for separation at, above, and below your belly button.

I find pushing my fingers in just above my tummy button is a good place.
Many people naturally have a half finger space without any problems.
Mine was 3.5 fingers and I narrowed it down to 1 - maybe just under.