To wonder if I have distasis recti or is it just fat?

[ChampionWorrier21]

Lost over 1.5 stone recently through diet and strength training. So I’m 8st 7 and 5ft 4. Really pleased with how I look but don’t want to lose anymore. Thing is my stomach looks great from the front but still rounded from the side and I’m so annoyed that I can’t shift it.

I’m wondering if it could be DR so I tried the test tonight where you lay down and stick your fingers in your belly. I can feel a gap - but I did it on my husband’s belly too for comparison and his stomach felt the same as mine.

Also, I did leg pullovers the other night with dumbbells and was really pleased with myself because I couldn’t do them a few weeks ago. But afterwards my abs were sore (as you’d expect), but they felt like they’d been pushed outwards and looked a little more rounded.

I can pinch some fat around my middle so it could just be fat but it’s just the roundness that makes me wonder….

How can I tell for sure? Would I have other ‘symptoms’?

Shakira Akabusi on Instagram (Strong Like Mum) does a lot about DR so is worth looking up.

Thank you - I think I just want to know if it’s definitely that first or do I just need to accept it’s that last annoying bit of fat??

I have diactis rectis. I was very slim when pregnant and a massive pregnancy bump that split my stomach muscles.
My daughter is 13 now and I still look 6 months pregnant. Very depressing.
When I put my fingers in the centre of my stomach and tighten my stomach I can feel the muscles are parted.

@PhoenixIsFlying yes, I was very slim in pregnancy too. Kids are 13 and 10 now. I wouldn’t say I look pregnant - but I do think my styling sticks out more than my bum does. Have you tried anything?

I think I feel a gap in my muscles - but like I say, I think I feel the same in DH’s stomach so I’m not sure. Is this something a GP could check for me or would I be wasting their time?

I think it's diastasis recti - for comparison I had a baby couple of months ago, used to be 8st with a flat stomach. I'm now overweight and dieting, 10st, but I still have a flat stomach.

When I saw a postpartum physio they said I had no DR gap and abs were back together. I'm sharing this to say I'm a lot fatter than you but still don't have the pregnant-tummy-look because my abs are together. So if you have that at a much lower weight than me, it's probably DR - you can ask a physio to check you!

I suppose even if it’s not DR, doing exercises for DR can only be a good thing??