I Was Asked When I Was Due AGAIN!....my "Baby" Is Three :(

Last time someone asked me that, I gave them one of my kids' birthdays (whichever one was with me at the time. If it was all three, then it was random), and let the other person do the math while I stand there with a blank stare.

Have you tried a direct slap to the face when someone asks? ;-)

Try abdominal pilates. It really helped after my first! Sometimes the only answer to truly flat abs is a tummy tuck :-( I'm having one because of a condition where my muscles have come unnattached from their "base" so to speak, so I have this upper gut thing going on that just doesn't go away. You may want to get checked out by your doctor regarding that or a possible hernia. I wish it was okay to kick people really hard who ask that question unless you're just about to deliver. I like the comedian who says, "Unless you see the baby's head crowning -just don't ask!"

You may have a separation in your abdominal muscles. That tends to be the case more often than not when situations like yours happen.

Lay on the floor, knees bent, and just lift your head off the floor. Feel around your belly button and once you find your abdominal muscles, see how far apart they are. Then continue to follow them all the way up to your sternum. If you feel a separation that is 2 or more 'finger widths" apart, then you have a diastasis recti. Depending on the severity of it, it's something that you may be able to correct with exercise. If it's quite severve, it may require surgery to repair the problem.

"Lose Your Mummy Tummy" is a good way to start if the separation is minimal. It will show you the exercises to do to begin the correction process.

Are we talking a lot of loose skin and soft tissue or a bulging abdomen?
My mother was seriously annoyed about people asking her whether she was pregnant for YEARS after we were born. Finally after two kids (and the ultrasounds that come with that) a hysterectomy (and all the exams that come with that) she was diagnosed with a condition that caused her kidneys to ballon to the size of footballs (and bigger), giving her that 7 months pregnant look. I am still to this day absolutely flabbergasted that with all the exams she had NO DOCTOR ever found this! She was only diagnosed after my sister was, and since it's a genetic condition all of us went in for exams specifically looking at our kidneys.
So if it's not just "flab" I might suggest getting a check up and make sure everything is fine, before you start working on those abs.
Good luck!

Dear A.,

Let's all rock our baby pooch (especially if there is no medical complication) :-)

The advise given is really good and wish you all the best with whichever ones work for you...I just had a baby who's 3 months old and I'm getting questions and suggestions non stop - it's either questions about when I'm due or unsolicited suggestions from friends and family about how to loose the pooch.

As a full time working mum with a husband and baby - I've decided to be very clear about my priorities and make very few things critical in my life. I was in very good shape before with no one's help - waking up 4:30 AM to go running solo - and I know I can get back to a decent shape over time. And if I don't -I'm also okay with NOT being the most fit woman around and rocking my pooch and any other gifts of pregnancy.. I will work out to maintain good health and buy looser fitting clothes with spandex when I feel like it.. and on the days that my pooch shows.. I'll just smile and and laugh it off.. Long story short- don't let such mindless talk bother you very much...

Shake it off and enjoy your life... there are so many more important things in life than having a flat stomach..

Good luck with everything!

Hi A.. I'm sorry to hear of that happening and know it can be very upsetting. I was asked the same thing by an insensitive sister-in-law 2months after I had my baby boy. Now my youngest is 10 yrs and after so many, many exercises (I bet I could teach a class by myself!) I did the un-imaginable...I had a TT. But dont think this is the only solution to your problem. We all have different bodies, some tend to bounce back with alittle or alot of exercise, unfortuntely mine didn't fit into either catergory. If you go with a TT, research your PA, take your time (years if needed) and completely come to terms with your decision before signing on the dotted line. If I had seen even an ounce of improvement from all the exercises I did, the TT would not have entered my mind. But some women have stomach muscles that have seperated so much, no amount of exercise would bring them together. There are mini-TT also for the "baby pouches" as you mentioned. Exercise or surgery, best of luck. I have no regrests with my TT.

im just a little outspoken when people ask..i usually just say...sorry, im still fat from the last one..it usually shuts them up...i know i should embrace my motherhood, my husband finds my belly extremely attractive..i still look like im 6 months pregant..and im uncomfortable with it, but, it is what it is..i did manage to lose weight by doing yard work and drinking those shakes..but, i stopped and it all came back..
my hubby refers to it as my mommy trophy and i should be proud of it, cuz i earned it with 2 beautiful little girls

All the other suggestions are good. You might also consider what sort of clothes you are wearing. If you wear tight shirts or high- or low-rise pants, this emphasizes the tummy. Good luck.

You might also consider Spanx or other undergarments that hold you in. They can make a big difference with that extra pregnancy skin.

belly dancing, forward roll, " Shimmy' on the exercise channel. Made my back feel better also.

try some reverse crunches. the 5 day ab dvd from the Firm DVD set has them.
It's lifting your hips instead of your shoulders.

I know of a exercise regime that includes a fat burning bar that you eat 15 minutes before you exercise. Fat is burned before you start burning your carbohydrates. The regime also includes a meal replacement bar or shake. For more imformation contact me.