Are muffin tops and love handles automatic after having babies?

[MrsMerryHenry]

I used to have the loveliest little waist. Now it's small-ish but blighted by a small tyre which sits above my jeans. Am I doomed? Is there any way I can regain my formerly Dita-esque physique?

not always

i am a size eight and have had 4 kids

I am size 10 with teeny waist but still have muffin top.

No point trying to lose weight either as it just makes my (already small) norks vanish completely [huff]

AnarchyAunt - I know, I know! I'm a 10/12 and want to get back to a 10, but am already mourning the loss of my massive bfing norks (having been an A-B pre-preg). Why can't we have it all? S'not fair.

Saw on Amazon a new diet book called the Flat Belly Diet - how to get the flat stomach you always wanted - and there is a seperate cookbook to go with it! Hmmm - not convinced!!!!!

I had to work at it the second time. Which was awful because the first time I just breast fed and seemed to be slim again in no time, so, I ATE for EUROPE and beyond when I was pg with dc2. And I had to run off every gram of extra weight. I'm ok again now, but weirdly my rib cage is wider so I was 32C and now I'm 34b. lucky me. A bigger back . Smaller tits. you couldn't make it up.

I didn't know about the stem cells, btu I swear I was HUNGRIER carrying a boy.

Its not so much my stomach as the bit above my hips - not in an area that has muscles to exercise, just room for some bulge.

Its very annoying, as my ribs are visible when I am topless so its not as though I need to lose weight, and I eat a healthy vegetarian/low dairy diet already.

Oh, OllieWollieWoo! Come on! Are you not getting this 'I can't be arsed to work for it' thing?

Liffey (hi! just saw you on that Ronan Keating thread) I was STARVING with my boy! Was pg for a few weeks before (miscarried), but no ravenous hunger, so it must've been a girl. Much more civilised - they clearly understand a woman's body angst even from the womb .

I also have a winder rib cage - but below my bra line. I also realise I was in the wrong size bra pre-preg so have gone down 4 inches and therefore up in nork size. Did you really want all that info?

I knew I was having a boy almost as soon as I peed on the stick. I needed, NEEDED walkers cheese and onion crisps...

when I had a girl I needed fluffy things like fruit salad...

Thanks for all that info about your bra size! Actually, I get a bit when the white haired ladies measure my pancakes in those proper grown up lingerie shops. Can't I just guess my bra size for the rest of my life

Getting it Mrs H - just a bit at such a book that reckons diet and not exercise can shift MT! (Have yet to embark on either despite DS2 now being nearly 2 - keep hoping that one day MT will shift upwards to boob area - I miss my pre baby ones - they were luvly and I didnt give them the appreciation they deserved!!!!)

God I had so many crisps in the first 4 months of pg it's a wonder I didn't have a coronary.

I'm actually champing at the bit to go running, Ollster. Have been getting over a nasty chest bug but I know that once I start running regularly I'll end up looking as fabulous as Kate Winslet. Well, okay, not quite so fabulous, but you get my drift.

As for all those annoying women who've posted here about sprogging 15 million nippers and still being only a size 4 before a morning poo....

Read this thread whilst mucnching my way thro some Mars Planets - so guess that means I really should work on my will power!
V impressed with running plans Mrs H - I will be one of those Mums sat on a bench (prob eating said Mars Planets) watching Kate Winslet alike whizz past, whistfully wishing I had the motivation (and pelvic floor) to do the same!

You may sit and eat on my beach, Ollie, as long as you shout as I pass by: 'OY, KATE!!'

Finding enjoyment in eating salad every night helped me. Got to look real hard for that enjoyment sometimes...

However, nothing apart from another pregnancy is going to help me grow boobs again. Actually think mine might be concave.

Oh God. Salad every night.

I give up. I'm going to embrace the fuller figure and just start wearing smocks.

Mrs H - Bonnie was my hero once. Sadly may now have to stick with my own 80s wardrobe. Too many legwarmers not a good thing.

I could've done with a pair of legwarmers today, stropster - flippin' freezing out there and my knee started playing up. I feel old...fat and old!

i just feel old. my hairdresser referred to me as one of her more mature clients. i am 35...maybe skinny but obv my face has gone. love legwarmers btw am forcing dd into them as i am old now.