Wobbly tum

[Scattymum101]

Is is just a fact that after two kids I will never get a tight tummy. I know I have abs somewhere under there but I can't seem to get them visible.
I'm 5 ft 4 and 8.5 stone so I'm not heavy. My legs and arms are quite toned. I try to follow a low carb, low sugar diet 80% of the time and do workouts like the 30 day shred 5 times a week.
I know if I worked out constantly and barely ate I probably would get visible and but not sure I want them that badly lol.

Is it just a question of keeping going and I'll get there eventually or is it something I'm only going to achieve if I workout 2 hours a day and do a body builder type diet?

[MrsMook]

My younger child is 2 and I've noticed a small improvement in the last year. I run and do strength work. I'm a healthy BMI and have a healthy fat ratio that I have no desire to significantly reduce. Even if I did, my bust would completely evaporate first!

I'm not quite sure that any method of substantial improvement is worth the risks or effort for me. Oh well, my DCs love blowing raspberries on it

[Scattymum101]

lol at the raspberry blowing.

Yeh my youngest is 8 months next week so I suppose it's not been that long since it got stretched majorly. Im not sure if it's fat or if it's just loose skin tbh.

[MuttonDressedAsGoose]

I have stretched skin. I was 39 when I had my last baby and I accept that the skin isn't going to snap back (I'm now 45). So, I will never have a pretty tummy again.

However, I was left with a mushy midsection, with no core strength. There was a four finger gap between the abdominal muscles after my last birth. That has mended over time. Running and hill climbing did the majority of that (walking downhill on uneven ground is excellent for that.)

I now focus on functional strength, doing compound strength training moves. I'm working on building the neural pathways across my core in all directions. These things will make me fitter as I go through middle age and beyond. I may not look pretty in a bikini, but I will hopefully be fit, strong and independent for many years.

[MrsMook]

I have a lovely 50s style high waist bikini that hides the worst of the wrinkled skin and CS overhang. I refuse to hide my body for the rest of my life. I've also got high waisted leggings which mean I can look respectable in my old pre-children cropped tops when I work out in warm weather.

Building core strength and reducing abdominal gaps definitely helps. since DS 2 turned 2, my body has got closer to its old normal than I feared that it might. There was 18m between pregnancies, and with hindsight, I was still recovering.

[DavetheCat2001]

I have seen a massive improvement in my mummy tummy after 6 months of running and core/strength exercises. I follow a lady called Rebecca Louise (you can find her fitness vids on You Tube).
I find them really effective and am beginning to actually see some muscle tone in my stomach.
I'm 42, had my last child at 40 and think I am in the best shape I have ever been. The running has done wonders for shifting the flab and the ab exercises are helping me to tone up.
I'll never have a washboard stomach (never had one pre-DC's so no chance now!), but it's definitely looking better than it did 6 months ago!

[suzannecaravaggio]

MrsMook, just keep at it, small gradual improvements are the best way, those are the improvements that we retain and build on over the long term.

There are many good youtube vid's and good recommendations on MN, pilates type exercises can be helpful for 'connecting' with and controlling the midsection musculature.
I find it helps to put one hand on my belly whilst doing movements for abdominal strength it helps me to flatten the muscles in the area.

I've also found it useful to watch videos which show all the abdominal muscles and how they work, eg

(I dont have any experience with abdominal separation problems though)