I'm petite but look permanently pregnant - any advice?

[Flingmoo]

I'm 5'3", size 10, I have an almost 1 year old, and I look like I'm permanently about months pregnant

Pre baby, it used to just be a noticeable food-baby after I ate a big meal, and straight after having my baby I lost more than I gained during the pregnancy. But 1 year down the line I'm not burning so many calories by breastfeending, my weight has shot up a few kilos and so has my belly flab.

The problem is that I'm not fat or even chubby. It's literally just a podgy/bloaty belly which is really noticeable on my slim frame.

People sometimes ask if I'm pregnant. It's embarrassing. I'm back at work now and hate the thought that people see me standing in line at the canteen, see my belly and think "God, is she pregnant again already!?"

Any advice for dressing to hide the belly without hiding my slim waist? Right now a lot of my jeans are slightly too tight/low rise which just emphasises the belly bulging out!

I'm watching with interest. I'm the same except I'm shorter and my baby is considerably older. Any excess weight I have is on my middle. I feel quite self conscious about it in a lot of clothes. So sorry no advice other than suck 'em in pants which do work but are no good for every day.

www.insideoutstyleblog.com/2012/02/how-to-flatter-a-protruding-stomach.html
Some tips here.

Check your posture. I have a little drum belly too, but after starting pilates I noticed that by letting my pelvis tilt forward when standing it really exacerbated the problem. Strengthening your core muscles by maintaining good posture should help to keep your food babies in check too.

I'm an Apple shape too and one thing that really made a difference was a low carb diet. It stopped my belly from bloating so much. Give it a try for a few weeks and see if it makes a difference.

Thanks for the link and the posture advice.

I finally cracked and raided our junk room spare room to find my old maternity jeans OMG, they are so friggin' comfy... Other than maternity jeans, I wonder if it's possible to get normal stylish jeans that are stretchy and comfy round the tummy without being frumpy.?!

Same here, I actually wear a lot of dresses that are the shape to hide my belly, they will hide your waist too though!

Stomach exercises and good posture, keeping bloating down are the only other things to do though.

It could be diastasis recti - separated stomach muscles.

Nothing helpful to add. Just that I'm in a similar position and feel your pain.

You may have Diastasis Recti. Look it up. Some women get
it from pregnancy. I have it and it sucks! I always look pregnant over 2 years postpartum. Any bloating you had pre-pregnancy will show up worse if you have DR. MuTu is a food and exercise plan that can help.

X posted with seaoflove

If it is diastasis recti, go to your GP. I got referred for physio, which has helped hugely. Just wish it hadn't taken 5 years for me to find out about it!

Very same here. 5ft 3, size 10 and a little baby bump! Ds is 8 months.

It's not really there first thing in the morning though. I'm thinking tummy exercises will be the only way to deal with it. Is it too late for post natal exercises I wonder?

Me too, 5'3 and a size 8, but recently I've started to get a little bit of a tummy...no children as an excuse though. I've recently started a nice sedentary office job though so I think that's why.

I'm trying to cut out fizzy drinks (bubbles!) and crisps (so much salt) and I also try and do yoga every morning.