Losing my baby belly - what should I do and what's a reasonable timescale to do it in?

[Miaou]

OK, it's only 2.5 weeks since I had ds, but I am keen to make a start on shifting my baby belly. I haven't put weight on anywhere else, fortunately, but my stomach is still huge and I'm still in maternity clothes. I'm usually a size 10 but guess my stomach makes me around a size 16 atm!

So... what do I need to do to get rid of it? And how long, realistically, will it take? Any ideas welcome!

[Mummyvicky]

I found after about 6 weeks it started to look a bit more normal again !!
Still need to do lots of muscle toning exercises though to get it flat though !

[nailpolish]

i lost all my weight (and more!) by doing weight watchers. and i had most of my weight around my tummy. i didnt go to any of the classes, i just did the 'at home' thingy, where you call them up, send a cheque for £50 and you get everything you need to do ww for a few months, you do it all yourself (req a lot of willpower, but none of the classes nonsense)

would highly recommend it, you get recipe books and everything

[Eaney]

Pilates

[desperatehousewife]

bloody hell, 3 years on and I'm still wondering how to do it!!

[almost40]

It's been nearly 2 years for me, and I still have the weight all-around. Everyone here will probably tell you to focus on sit-ups if your focus is the belly. There was a good thread on this the other day with links on proper sit-ups to attack the lower abdominal area. I sound very knowledgeable, but to look at me, you'd think I'd never done a sit-up in my life. . .

[almost40]

Oh - and your doctor will probably tell you not to even think about exercise until 6 weeks after birth. Just focus on your little one and congratulations.

[Miaou]

I couldn't sit around for six weeks! I'm climbing the walls already and can't wait to start swimming again!!! (got a uterine infection though so I can't go yet ). My diet's pretty healthy and I'm breastfeeding atm so that side of things is probably ok.

So - abdominal exercises. Sit ups? Anything else? I'll have a look for that link now...

[almost40]

If you're desparate for physical activity, I would suggest walks until 6 weeks - then you can swim again, which is great also for the abs.

[northerner]

What you have now is not what you will be left with. As each week passes it will get better. I found running was the best thing to tone me up. Sit ups will help.

I thing tummys after having baby's are always a bit 'fluidy' and never as toned as before.

[Miaou]

Thanks almost40 - just waiting for buggy to be delivered then I shall be off

We were hoping to manage for the first three months with just a sling but my back is too bad unfortunately (getting old!!)

[Bozza]

Wouldn't do sit ups yet, but yes lots of walking/pram pushing and then sit ups after 6 weeks.

[Miaou]

Absolutely northerner - I never really lost my "baby belly" after having dd2 6 years ago!! I'm not over-worried about it, but my style has changed and I wear clothes that are quite fitting now, instead of baggy things, so I'd quite like to be able to get back into them this time. And being a very impatient person I want to speed up the process! Certainly not looking to wear a bikini or crop top

[FairyMum]

Just healhtily and walk your baby a lot. I think Swimming and then a good sauna is good too! I lost my excess weight in a couple of months, but after 3 children I will never have a flat stomach and I can't say it worries me.