I started doing sit ups on Sunday

[FabIsGoingToBeFabIn2010]

After having my baby in 2005 I have separated stomach muscles, a lovely wobbly tummy, a sore c-section scar and 3 extra stones on me. I managed quite a few sit ups and found them easier than I thought so not sure I am doing them right and I ache today. DH said that means they are working.

Has anyone got any advice for me as I am determined to get this weight off and a less wobbly tummy would be a bonus.

TIA.

Do you generally store fat on your stomach? I have been told numerous times and seen in numerous articles etc. that to tone up your stomach, you need to do fat burning exercise as well (rather than just sit ups where you develop fabulous muscles - underneath flab). Things like jogging and basically most cardio is good for that.

I have never had a flat stomach but it is bigger than normal atm . Jogging would kill me. I have an exercise bike and are considering getting a treadmill. I don't want to run in public. Stopping every 4 paces to use my inhaler would be embarrassing.

You should be fine them with an exercise bike/treadmill. I find watching TV at the gym while exercising helps to distract me and I end up exercising for longer than I would do otherwise.

One of the best things for fat burning is internal training, so start off at a moderate pace for 2 minutes, then do two minutes intense (so running or cycling very fast), then back to two minutes moderate pace and so on. It also helps break up the exercise and make it a bit less painful

There are some really good exercise DVDs out there which have sections for toning up different parts of the body.

I got the Beach Bum DVD and it has 4 different sections for legs, arms, tummy and bum, I like it because it's short and sweet but pretty intense so you work hard but don't get bored.

Also, maybe a step and a step aerobics DVD? That was the one thing that really shifted my weight in the past and you can do it at home.

I had a c-section and in desperation at the state of my overhang went to see a personal trainer afterwards who was excellent. She advised me to avoid sit ups as they can make the muscles bunch up and seperate more (making you look pregnant). Instead she suggested I start running (the running movement tones the stomach as well as losing the fat), I also did lots of core exercises e.g. the plank, balancing on one leg whilst lifting light weights etc.. I have to say it really worked. My tummy, although podgy because I eat to many biscuits, has definition and my overhang has lifted and is barely there now. If you are interested she worked from a functional training perspective.

How funny Lcy, I was just trying to remember what you told me about stomach exercises to post!

Oh, conflicting thoughts.

I did some sit ups last night and to start with I couldn't do any but once I got in a rhythm I found them pretty easy.

Not sure what to do really. I don't want to cause any more damage but I do need to lose weight and if I can get rid, or at least cut down, the over hang that would be great.

You might be finding they are fairly easy at the moment as you are not quite used to using all of them yet. After both of my cs's I found my first gym visits fairly painless, then once I had remembered posture and got some engergy back it started to hurt a lot more (in a good way).

What about yoga and pilates to stretch it all out? Pilates would work the deeper muscles.

yes pilates. i have just started because although i am quite fit my stomach muscles are disaster.

and fab nobody would look twice if you ran outdoors, even if you only managed five mins. honestly they don't, all too busy thinking about themselves...

The physio at post-natal told us it was ok to do sit-ups but not to do oblique work (where you lift the right elbow to the left knee, etc) till you'd got your rectus stomach muscles to come closer together. Although they never go back all the way, the aim is to get them one finger's width apart.

Luckily I have big fingers!

I wouldn't have a clue how far apart they are.

Are you following any sort of diet? I I have had a wobbly belly since my 2006 c-section and have been low-carbing for a week. Although my weight loss was only 4lbs, I can really see the difference as I was obviously really bloated as well.

I have started having breakfast and we have walked to school more so in 3 days I lost 3 lbs which was a .

well that's a good start! makes my 4 lbs in a week pretty pathetic

ChocolateGirl that is interesting about the obliques - I am about to re-start doing pilates 18 months post section.

I have no idea how far apart my stomach muscles are, not sure I could find them under all the wobbliness!

4bs in a week is excellent.

I am sure my weight loss will slow down and this was just a fluke as my body was shocked it got feeding in a morning.