I want my waist back!

[Tigermoth]

I want to lose about 2 inches off the middle bit of me that I laughingly call my waist. PDQ. I also want to tighten up the area from the end of my rib cage to my hip bones.

I'm of average height, average size - not model perfect, but roughtly the same as I've always been. I don't think a diet alone will help me get back my pre-pregnancy shape.

I'm lazy (hate exercise), busy (not free till till after 9.00pm in the evening)mean (not prepared to spend hundreds of pounds on some magic exercise equipment or regime) and old (early 40's).

I lead a very seditary life - I drive to work (can't walk or cycle, its 40 miles each way) and sit at a computer screen all day. There are no exercise facilites within reach in my lunch hour.

Any tried and tested, quick and surefire ways of firming up around the middle?

[Suew]

Have you checked Loot etc for anyone who has bought one of those extortionate Slimtone or whatever they are called machines and is now desperate to offload it?

That's the only thing I can think of, other than forcing yourself to do some of those waist stretches/twists and a few crunches after 9pm at night.

Good luck!

[Joe]

Tigermoth - I wouldnt call you old, in her prime more like. I have one of those rocking sit up things, not very dear and very easy to use and probably about five minutes a day would suffice. I have the same problem, I had a very toned middle before pregnancy. I shall get mine out 2nite, its time I got it back.

[Dannie]

Anyone got any heartwarming tales of success against the odds? I have a sad, wrinkly, sagging stomach despite twice-weekly visit to the gym. My hairdresser (you laugh, but she recommended an excellent osteopath) says the Power of Yoga video worked for her sister, but I'm having trouble braving the ridicule of my kids/dh. My stomach bugs me because I'm quite fit, just locally destroyed by 2 kids in quick succession. And we went on holiday to a scarily posh place in Corsica in the summer that was full of upmarket Brit mummies in bikinis with kids smaller than mine. I hate bikinis, but I'd like to have the choice, y'know?

[Tigermoth]

Hi,Danni, no huge success story I'm afraid, but since originally posting here, I have started to run in my lunch hour. Luckily I work near lots of quiet roads. I jog for about 20 - 30 mins three times a week. I have been doing this for four weeks, along with a few colleagues. I am not dieting but I can already feel a difference all over - and the waistband of my favourite skirt is no longer as tight!

[Twink]

Try a gym ball. They are large burst-proof balls which you can use for doing sit-ups with (amongst loads of other things). Mine cost me 20 quid (since seen them in Argos for less) and it's the best money I've spent in ages. They come with a list of exercises and really hit hard - I could only do 10 situps on it to start with although I could do 60+ in the normal way. My 2 year old and her friends play with a lot too.

One word of warning though, if you decide to try one, make sure you're alone with the curtains drawn until you are confident you have sussed out your balance...

[Tigermoth]

Sounds good, Twink, Have you had it long enough to see if it really takes off inches? If so, how long do you need to persevere? And what happens if you can't do proper sit ups - are there any other exercises you can do with it? Even in my 5 Pineapple-dance-classes-a-week phase, I could never do real sit ups. Perhaps I was born without the right muscles!

[Twink]

Yes, loads ! Check out this link www.gymball.com for more info.

As for whether they work, well I will never be mistaken for Geri Halliwell but although I've managed to go from a size 18 to a nearly 12 since March, my tummy just didn't seem to be shrinking at the same rate so a friend suggested the ball and I've been using it for around 3 weeks. My jeans are looser and even dh has commented on the difference so I guess it must be working !

[Tigermoth]

Twink, thanks for the link. Oh that rhymes! Pretty impressive going down nearly 3 sizes. You must be very motivated. Oh well it seems I have less and less of an excuse to have a flabby waist. My 7 year old is desperate for a six pack, (bless) so perhaps we can take it in turns. Or we could get an ab cruncher - thanks star. Sounds terribly painful!

Twink, please can you post again in a few weeks if you find the gymball is still working? Thanks!

[Suew]

Twink and Tigermoth - I have heard some excellent reviews of the gymballs, not just for exercise but using them as a chair (when watching TV or sitting at the pooter) is supposed to take inches off over a period of around 6 weeks.

There was in particular a review in Shape magazine I think, where one of the sub-eds used one as her work chair for roughly that length of time and toned up her abs and strengthened her back.

My tunny's looking a lot better now I've been going to the gym regularly (altho I go 5+ times/week, doing cardio stuff each time and weights 3x). It's important to pull your tum in whilst you're doing any exercises.

They are extremely good for posture too.

I want one for our study but DH won't hear of it. Says it will take up too much room as we also need a chair for him. If we got rid of some of these boxes and he got around to putting up some shelving, there'd be plenty of room!

[Robinw]

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[Marina]

I've always fancied belly-dancing, it's supposed to be fun for all shapes, ages and sizes and particularly for toning your waist. Or hula-hooping...

[Bugsy]

Goodness Tigermoth, you are setting us a very difficult task. You have no time, no opportunities and little inclination - Aaaah! The only thing I can suggest is finding some time early in the morning. Even if you just did 10 mins a day, I'm sure you'd notice the difference.
The other thing you can do is do tummy tucks while you sit in the car. I bet if you did that on one journey each day you'd start noticing the difference!
My top-tip for tummies is not to do loads of crunches, which is what people normally do - mostly incorrectly. Try standing up in front of a mirror, with your arms hanging down by the side of your body. Pull your tummy in and keep it pulled in as you lean down to the side, ideally until your finger tips reach your knee. You must, must, must keep your tummy pulled in and you must not lean forwards. Do this to each side about 15 times, very slowly and you'll feel your muscles pull the next day. This is a really good exercise for waist definition.
Good luck.

[Tigermoth]

Well all is not lost - or is that some is lost already? anyway I have found that that running is having a slight whittling effect on my waist.

Canooing? Where can you do this on a dark winters night after 9.00pm? Could flood the bathroom I suppose and sit in the old baby bath with some oars. Belly dancing? It would frighten the cat, I'm afraid. Excuse for a nice costume, though.

Like the sideways stretch, without cheating. Bugsy - now the 60 million dollar question: have you really done this and does it work?

[Twink]

Tigermoth, I've just thought of another 'lazy' exercise which my aerobics teacher swears by. Lie on your back, (not sure if it needs to be a firm surface so bed might work !) take a big deep breath in then breathe out while trying to pull your tummy muscles in as tightly as poss. Hold and breathe normally for a couple of minutes. Repeat as many times as you can.
Also sorry about my previous post sounding so smug, it wasn't meant to, just to demonstrate that losing weight doesn't necessarily get rid of a saggy tummy. My motivation has definite fits and starts, but is boosted by some of the Mumsnet postings on the weight loss thread !
One other thought, try getting a child's hoola hoop; it would whittle your waist and entertain the kids at the same time !!

[Bugsy]

Tigermoth, wouldn't have recommended it if I hadn't! I try and do them every morning - even now with my 16 week bump. I don't always succeed but probably do them at least 4 days a week. If I forget for a period of time, I really notice the difference, everything seems to slump a bit.
Glad to hear the running is helping too.
Another good one - if you can bear to hear more - is to get down on all fours with your arms straight and your back straight, neither humped nor curved (its a good idea to check in a mirror). Let your tummy flop down and then pull it back in again, keeping your back completely flat all the time. Do the exercise about 15 times and then try pulling your tummy in and holding it in for as many seconds as you can manage. Again dead easy, not sweaty, and I think it is effective.

[Robinw]

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[Tigermoth]

Twink, you didn't sound smug at all. Your adivice has been really helpful. The exercise tips that you and Bugsy have supplied are just what I am looking for (well, actually I was looking for a free offer of liposuction at a top clinic but that's hardly going to happen). The best thing about the exercises you all describe is that you actually do them and you say they work for you. Far better than just looking in a book. I will report back.

Will bear the canoeing suggestion in mind, RobinW!

Thanks again all.

[Stompy]

I read a magazine article a few weeks ago about using kids toys to get fit. A few people have already suggested hula hoops, which sounds like a really good idea as you could do it in front of the telly. Yeah you might feel like a loon but hey, so what!!
Also suggested were skipping ropes, space hoppers and pogo sticks for a cardio-vascular work-out, and much cheaper than going to the gym. Much more fun too!

[Stompy]

Sorry me again. While we're on the subject of getting rid of nasty bellies, I was wondering if anyone has had any success in getting rid of stretchmarks or saggy skin.
My dd is 6 months old and luckily I'm nearly down to my pre-pregnancy weight. But the thing that is really getting to me is the horrible pouch of excess wrinkly skin I'm left with. The stretch marks have faded a lot but the scars remain.
I'm not quite so bothered about the stretch marks but somebody please tell me that the loose skin will go. Pleeeeeeeasse??????? If I had the money I'd seriously consider surgery it's so bad :-(

[Twink]

Tigermoth, I promised to report on progress and it's definitely (thanks to Lizzer for that) After 8 weeks of using my gymball, my waist is 2 inches littler and my 'pouch' is seriously reduced (although not yet gone ). My diet has been 'flexible' of late but I'm still gradually losing weight so it must be exercise that's making the difference.

Try it ! (when they're deflated they're quite small so Father Christmas could probably get one into your stocking)

[Tigermoth]

Twink, thanks for that. 2 inches in 8 weeks is really, really impressive. My running has seen some reduction in my waist/hips/thighs area, and even my upper arms too, despite the fact that I am not dieting. However, the gymball sounds like it targets the middle very effectively so I'll put it on my christmas list.

[Twink]

Tigermoth, something else has just occured to me - have you tried using wrist weights while you're running ? A friend has got some which wrap round with Velcro fasteners so you don't have to hold them. I'd have thought it would help tone your arms further for minimum effort on your part.

[Lizzer]

I WANT ONE NOW!! The only thing is I have one of those frames to do sit ups on, meant to make them easier etc. But lately I found that its just as effective to do them without it. Twink, are they more 'multi-tasking' than just stomachs as I'd hate to waist more money (sorry, terrible pun)?