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Original poster

Still look pregnant after 3 years - what can I do?

33 replies

Paperowls · 13/06/2017 17:57

I am so over looking pregnant but I'm not making any progress. I've been working out with a personal trainer for 8 months but I'm not any fitter or more toned. I've got three kids, the youngest is 3. I look awful, like an egg on legs. My self esteem is at rock bottom, husband has cheated on me and every time I see my reflection I'm reminded of a pantomime dame. Pre kids I was never a super fit person, but I had a waist and didn't look like Humpty Dumpty. Why isn't working out changing my shape?

OP posts:
Original poster
Paperowls · 13/06/2017 19:00

and the marriage is a mess, but I kind of can understand why he's done what he's done, when I look like I do. Not many men could get the hots for a sack of potatoes!

OP posts:
Intransige · 13/06/2017 18:59

This has an explanation of how you check if you have diastasis recti.
www.befitmom.com/diastasis-recti.php

Original poster
Paperowls · 13/06/2017 18:56

I use My Fitness Pal to track my eating and I consume around 1800 calories per day on average (some days are worse though). I don't eat meat or anything fried. Mainly carbs and fruit and veg.
My training routine is mix of cardio (things like spin bike or rowing) and strength stuff with kettle bells and medicine balls. I did Pilates for a year after my last baby was born but gave it up as it was hurting my pelvic bones. I've never heard of distasis recti. How would I know if I have this? I can't do the plank, would that be a symptom of it?

OP posts:
lljkk · 13/06/2017 18:28

Ditch the Husband for a start. That's 10 stone of deadweight easily lost.

Intransige · 13/06/2017 18:09

This is often due to a distasis recti that hasn't corrected.

The usual advice is to stop doing any exercises that use your outer abdominal muscles, like crunches and sit ups. And try to lock your core before picking anything heavy up or pushing a buggy.

Do a lot of deep core exercises instead - e.g. pelvic floor exercises, mutu system, some Pilates exercises (head on the floor if lying down). This type of thing.

Mine slowly went away after about a year of being very very careful and doing Pilates every week with a teacher who is a physio and understood that I had a muscle separation.

bloodymaria · 13/06/2017 18:08

With respect, would you consider ditching the husband? A cheater will never be good for your self esteem and without that stress in your life it may be easier to feel good about yourself.

WRT exercise, cardio to bring your weight down combined with lots of crunches and core strengthening moves maybe? There are loads of videos on youtube and I knowing difficult to fit in around kids etc but even 10 mins daily will make a big difference if you can get into the habit.

juneau · 13/06/2017 18:02

Are you a healthy weight? Because if you're overweight and an 'apple' shape then you're going to carry that weight around your middle. The answer in that case is to lose weight.

Shelvesoutofbooks · 13/06/2017 17:58

Might sounds stupid but have you changed your diet?