Do you suck your tummy in?

[FurForksSake]

After reading this www.mamamia.com.au/jamie-lee-curtis-body-image/?fbclid=IwAR1RS1njwbsfb4gLx3mf3pf1kptnEQ4M9ylPnBmJleMqsYeMFfcKX1TO5SE

and seeing some things on TikTok it seems like people regularly clench their tummy muscles or suck in their tummy. I have never even considered doing this, a midwife told me after I had my first son I should pull my tummy in, but I thought she was just being odd (she then milked me so it was an odd exchange).

So AIBU to ask if you suck in?

YABU - Yes, I clench / suck in / however you want to put it
YANBU - No, I don't do this

I wouldn’t say I suck my tummy in, but I try to always have my core muscles engaged, especially if lifting, bending etc. which come from pilates and is important for posture and back support.

she then milked me so it was an odd exchange.😂😂😂

I hold all my extra weight in my tummy so there's my motivation for sucking it in. I'm not sure if I'm convinced on the all the benefits of doing it though.

@RandomBasic

I was on a beach chatting to this older lady, and I said something about my tummy and she said "oh, honey, life is too short to worry about your tummy. Enjoy the beach." I try and remember those words.

It's not an aesthetics thing. Maintaining your core is very sensible and massively improves quality of life in old age.

@ofwarren

Do men suck their stomachs in I wonder?

Of course they do, why do you think they might not?

Is there a specific vacuum you need to buy for your stomach? Just picturing my husband standing over me with a Dyson ball?..

Yes i do it all the time. I am thin but would genuinely look several months pregnant if i didn't suck my tummy in

Men absolutely do this, when they dress up smart especially like in a suit or whatever, they stick their chests out and pull their bellies in!

well I voted YABU to indicate that I DO suck my tummy in, but I don't think you are unreasonable to ask.
Also I suck my tummy in because my mum started telling me to do it when I was 12 or 13 and that's actually a fucking awful fact now I think about it. It was constant 'hold your tummy in' when we were out. I just do that naturally now, all the time. I don't think I would know how to do otherwise.

Don't tell me I am supposed to stick me chest out, too?? Someone had to show me about bending from the waist and then putting your bra on to get them in "better", can't say I bother doing that either. I just shove them in and do it up at the back...

@intheblightgarden

To clarify, if you wipe whilst sitting, do you:

A) wipe back to front, which is grim and puts you in danger of all sorts of infections or
B) wipe front to back in which case you've got to get your hand round the back and surely end up touching the loo seat/even the rim of the loo with your wrist?

B! By why would I be touching the loo seat?

A means I'd be more likely to touch the loo seat surely? I don't think my arm is long enough to reach my arsehole from the front!!

People who stand to wipe - is that also wee?

I've realised perhaps I'm unusual that I also wipe a wee front to back too? Everything is done from behind here!

(PS yes I guess I also hold my stomach in subconsciously)

I used to alllll the time when I was younger and whenever I was on a night out/clubbing etc. and my clothes would kinda force me to 😂 now I'm pregnant with my first baby, and my tummy is the one thing I'm a bit self conscious of. Now I'm trying to accept the fact that it's growing and that's 'okay' (years of diet culture) and my midwife brain is helping with that. I also do Pilates which does imprint on you to tighten your core

@FurForksSake

Don't tell me I am supposed to stick me chest out, too?? Someone had to show me about bending from the waist and then putting your bra on to get them in "better", can't say I bother doing that either. I just shove them in and do it up at the back...

My mum told me that I had to hold my shoulders back tight... from the age of 13 to 21. She said my shoulders would "set in place" by 21. I still slouch like a moody teen!

@dudsville

Well I just found one physio who advised against it, saying "Does a lion pull its belly button in before it jumps on a gazelle? It’s not natural; it’s not how our musculoskeletal system works." I wonder if the gazelle though might well have a tight core!

Off to Google vacuuming...

Um, lions have four legs. They aren’t trying to balance on two. That’s why humans need core stability. Also, I’m a retired PT and that’s the first time I’ve ever even heard of s PT who didn’t think deep abdominals are important. I think she’s wrong.

Indeed. Think of it like a bodysuit. Your six pack is attached to the poppers. If the poppers aren’t strong enough - PING!

Also, ‘sucking’ is far too strong a word, here. It’s very gentle - 10 percent at most. These are deep postural muscles, think low level tightening, not lifting-your-toddler-bracing!

It's interesting to think of the two reasons people see behind this, one for vanity and to look better, the other for posture and good physical health. I suppose they aren't mutually exclusive!

it seems like engaging my core and being mindful of my posture would be a good and fairly standard thing to do. And I am going to try the stomach vacuuming and possibly look for a pilates class.

@Hellorhighwater

Indeed. Think of it like a bodysuit. Your six pack is attached to the poppers. If the poppers aren’t strong enough - PING!

Also, ‘sucking’ is far too strong a word, here. It’s very gentle - 10 percent at most. These are deep postural muscles, think low level tightening, not lifting-your-toddler-bracing!

OK, that's helpful. I imagined people sucking themselves all the way in constantly. 10% is doable!

Going completely off course here...

@FurForksSake what on earth do you mean by 'milked you'...was that a typo? I just can't imagine anything else...unless you do actually mean that she plonked herself down onto a little wooden stool, and started to 🥛 you into a 🪣 😨

Surely not? 🐄😱

I’m too fat for it to make any difference.

Yes, all the time. It feels weird when I don’t do it. Even pregnant I’ve been doing it because it’s such a habit (I don’t know if I should be and I try to relax but it’s something I really have to try to do)

@SweetPotatoDumpling

Going completely off course here...

@FurForksSake what on earth do you mean by 'milked you'...was that a typo? I just can't imagine anything else...unless you do actually mean that she plonked herself down onto a little wooden stool, and started to 🥛 you into a 🪣 😨

Surely not? 🐄😱

This is outing as hell, but never mind! If you know me IRL, never speak of this, ok?

So, my son lost 15% of his birth weight, she was the breastfeeding midwife when I was readmitted. She milked my breast to see if I had a supply. She also snatched the formula out of my hand that the paediatrician insisted my son needed and it was just all horrible. She did ask first, she wanted to see what my let down was like, I think? It is all a bit of a blur now quite a few years later.

@JeffThePilot

I’m too fat for it to make any difference.

It will make a difference to your core muscles. It doesn't matter that it doesn't make you look slimmer.

Just as pelvic floor exercises make a difference and don't make you look slimmer either.

Yes- I don’t even think about it, (dance teacher)

Does the stomach vacuuming help support your lower back, or middle area of back, out of interest?

I feel like I had great core strength in my youth due to the sports I did.

But now they must all be like melted butter, and scared to ask how I can measure my core strength now!

@JeffThePilot

I’m too fat for it to make any difference.

I am obese, but my core muscles are strong, despite being hidden!