how to get rid of mummy pouch?

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Well exactly that really... how do I get rid of my mummy pouch? My youngest DS is 2.5. I still hold myself like I am pregnant. I am 5ft7in and about 11 stone. Ideally I would like to lose about a stone. I am small busted and hold most of my weight around my waist and my arms (bum/legs I am more or less happy with), I guess I am more of an apple than a pear.

I am fairly fit. I run quite regularly (10-20 miles a week) and yoga occasionally. But nothing else. I eat relatively well, I like veg and fruit and try not to eat too much meat. Alcohol is a relatively recent thing (only stopped bf about 5 months ago), but I do like a drink or two but would happily cut it down.

I am 40 and worried among other thing about heart disease (family history) and just want to look slim again. I used to be more of a size 10 than the size 12-14 I am now and I am finding it depressing. I keep thinking that everyone looks at me as if I am 3-4 months pregnant.

Any top tips?

Well you sound very fit running 10-20 miles a week. You can look on youtube for videos about targeting your middle core, I'd suggest just focussing on that really. Sit ups, crunches, twists, definitely look into core exercises.

Strengthening your core will improve things no end - not just stomach exercises but back and side strength too. 30 day shred is quite a good starting point for ab work.

Once you're stronger, lowering body fat (I.e. losing weight, but keeping muscle) is the only solution though.

I have managed to lose my pouch despite thinking it wasn't possible! What worked for me was a mixture of cardio and strength..I started my journey with Jillian Michaels 30 day shred and ripped in 30, then did turbofire and am now back to Jillian. Do you think your body is used to the long runs? How about mixing it up eg less distance but more intense eg short bursts of sprints followed by slower jogging. Using weights has definitely sculpted me along with core work like plank variations and push ups etc

I am finding swimming good for reducing my tummy and waist area, especially backstroke [I can't do front crawl] as it uses the core. On days I don't swim I do crunches. I looked on youtube to find the different types as they work different areas.
Other than that it is a matter of losing weight overall.

Thank you all for your suggestions.

You are right, I do need to work on my core. I guess I knew that but I just can't seem to bring myself to do it. Which is mad really!

CHST Hopefully I have the Jillian Michaels DVD (used once a while ago), and will get that out again.

CHST I like your suggestion of the speed work as well for my running. My ultimate goal (aside from losing the pouch) is to run my (first and only) marathon in under 4 hours and I will need to do some speed work as my pace isn't quite there yet. I plan to do the marathon in 2013. I've done a half and I loved it. However, I know I only want to train and do one marathon as it will take it's toll on my joints to do more than that.

RomyMadison and fatlazymummy I will check out Youtube for some core work suggestions.

Swimming is also a good suggestion I'd love to do more swimming but I don't really have access at a convenient time to a pool where I live.

CHST do you have any good links for using free weights, I have some but I am a bit intimidated by them for some reason and I am scared of using them incorrectly and hurting myself. My weights aren't heavy.

I don't use particuarly heavy weights either..I've only ever done Jillian Michaels using weights...of course the heavier you go, the harder it is...I like the look of Bob Harper's Dvds....maybe you could check those out? They are on amazon and are region zero despite saying region 1. I plan to get some of those after I have finished with Jillian! When I did turbofire, it was cardio kickboxing with fire drills in the middle so hiit training...also there was several hiit trainings depending on the schedule but I found that these short bursts of intense cardio really really help endurance a lot. I like the look of les mills pump also that is a free weight program...maybe one day!!

I'd 2nd the Jillian Michaels recommendation. I don't believe that you can spot reduce fat but you can sculpt the underlying muscle, your running should take care of fat burning. The only issue I can think is for completely eliminating the dreaded pouch is if its not fat and is loose skin I don't think any exercise/diet is going to help, that's a tummy tuck!

I agree Jillian Michaels and also to lose weight generally, and tone core muscles - some will come from tummy - cutting down on sugar (and cutting out alcohol) could help too - have read lots of stuff about sugar intake leading to tummy fat.

That all being said my problem areas are my thighs and I had to get my body fat under 20% before the fat went from problem areas, I suspect you'll have to lose more than you think to lose the tummy fat.

I am also small on top so I lift (heavy) weights focussing on chest, shoulders, triceps, back, biceps to try and add to my upper body.

Thanks again CHST and also SOT and Forever

My pouch is definitely fat, and I don't really have any core muscles to speak of (or they are extremely weak which makes my back quite weak too).

I suspect you are correct that my sugar intake is to blame for my tummy fat. Alcohol pre-kids played a part in that, and then with having small children cravings for sweet stuff when you are exhausted etc.Since I have been getting some more sleep I am generally better about eating.

I am hoping the core work will improve my posture and therefore give the optical illusion that I have a flatter stomach.

There is no magic remedy is there ... I've just got to do the work ... damn!

Right, tomorrow will be Day 1 of the 30 day shred. It's only 20 mins ... gulp!

A low carb diet is reputed to attack fat around the middle. Have a look at biwi's bootcamp thread - it sounds a bit daunting to begin with but you get great results without feeling hungry.