Pregnant Looking

Sounds like you have a diastasis, also known as a "mummy tummy" and be forewarned, it can be exacerbated by doing the wrong type of ab exercises (like the pilates 100 - bad for a diastasis, typical sit ups are also not good!). You need to get your transverse muscle engaged and strengthened before you can effectively work all of your other ab/core muscles. Here's an abbreviated explanation of the diastasis and some exercises you'll need to do to make your diastasis smaller (reduce the tummy):
http://www.maternalfitness.com/education/lose_tummy_semin...
http://www.maternalfitness.com/baks_basics.pdf

I'm still working on my diastasis, and it's now down to 2 fingers, but I've been slacking lately and think if I put any sort of regular effort into doing my exercises, I could probably get it down to a 1 finger's width separation. I know it sucks, though, being asked if you're pregnant when the baby came out months before - happened to me too!

I know EXACTLY how you feel. I have the exact same gap between my stomach muscles. It occured after my second little girl and I have been to 4 different doctors trying to find a way to repair this muscle tear, or an abdominal diastasis, as the doctors call it. Unfortunately, I have a ton of lower back trouble because I have no support from my stomach muscles anymore, are you having the same trouble? Anyway, the only doctors who will normally do surgery to repair this seperation or tear are plastic surgeons unless you have some sort of umblical hernia or such, then a general surgeon will usually do the surgery. This is just what I have learned from the 4 different trips to the doctor. I did do some research online too and found some information on a brace or fabric strap that you can wear while doing ab exercises that is suppose to help bring the muscles closer back together. Check out the book or internet for "How to Lose the Mummy Tummy" Anyway, I just wanted to pass along this information and let you know that you are not alone. I know when I was trying to find out what this was, I felt very alone because none of my other friends who had children had this issue. So, it doesn't help much, but at least you know you aren't alone and so do I! :)

Ha Ha, sorry but I think you need about $100,000 a year for the fish, organic veggies, personal trainers, and nannies. I too am thin everywhere but my belly. It sags near the bottom and my belly button looks funky. I do yoga during the week a few times and it has helped my core strength but the skin will always be there. I blame this on bad genes ha ha ha. But seriuosly, you just have to work at it as best you can. I have digital cable and dvr. I record the shows on fittv that I want and do them at my leisure. We cannot all look like movie stars. I have come to terms with my body and with myself, I LOVE ME!

Hi S.,
Be very careful doing regular ab work until you get your muscles joined back to 1-2" apart. You could get a horrible hernia.
My abs slip with both pregnancies. My first OB sewed them back together after my c-section. This time I came home with an area I could put my entire fist into.
As pp stated, search the web for special exercises dedicated to your situation. I have my space down to 2" now from doing 75 baby crunches each day (while pulling my muscles together & down with a towel)
My encouragement is that I don't fit into ANY of my clothes & I will not buy new.

It took me a full year to get my body back firm after #1. Keep trying, but keep in mind it just takes time.
Celebs have trainers, chef's & devote hours a day to the gym. That isn't realistic as a goal.
Good luck
Becky

You just had a baby think of it this way 9 months up 9 months down. I am a very small girl 105 and I gained about 50-60 pounds with both kids. You will want to start out slow and not over do yourself yet because your stomach muscles will take time to build back up to normal and if you over do it in the beginning you can do some serious damage that can not be repaired. I bought a ab lounge you sometimes can see it on tv it costs about $100.00 but if you use it trust me it is worth it. You do sit ups in it and you can turn on your side on get rid of those love handles if you have them I did bad after my pregnancies. But I started out 20 reps three times a week, now I am up to 200 reps three times a week and trust me that was the best investment I made. I took it slow and if you do it and the next day your stomach muscles hurt(not the sore feeling from working out) but pain start out with 10 reps three times a week and go from there. If you can not afford to buy on you can do sit ups you just don't get the wider range of movement. You can buy them at any Dick's sporting goods. I don't know where you live or if you know where one is but I would also check online it is called AB longe. Good luck

hey S., i am a mother of 6 kids ages 4-14 and i am 28 yrs old. 1 of the kids is a step child. anyway, just 4 mos ago i was weighing 210 lbs and i never in my life been that big. i tried pilates, different diets, and got no results. i seen turbo jam on an infomercial one day and decided to try it out. i now weigh 164 lbs and my waist went from 37 inches to 33 inches in 4 mos. and turbo jam is really fun and motivating. its just something for u to look in to. and to make it so bad, i had a c-section, and u know they say its hard to get rid of that lil pouch down there, but i'm beginning to look like i don't have any kids especially 5/6. and i'm trying to get my waist down to 28 inches around. but that just a lil info for u to look in to. good luck!!!!!

Stay away from refined sugars ESPECIALLY SODA!!!! Drink more Green Tea or Yerba Matte tea than you can stand and when your not drinking that, drink WATER WATER WATER! This combined with excersize (bellydancing is GREAT for your mid section) should drop the belly fairly quickly.

Also, not that I should need to say it, STAY AWAY FROM FAST FOOD! make your own meals and keep it simple.

my obgyn has had six kids and has a very flat stomach I once asked her how she dose it and she told me that all threw the day no matter what you are doing focuse on holding your stomach in this will help tighten also she walks every day about five miles (holding in her stomach as she walked) so about six years ago I started doing the same and guess what it really works. give it a try for a few months and see what kind of results you get.

There's nothing for it except to work out, if your issue is soley muscle (as it sounds like it is). My kids are close too and I am only 30. If you can't do a full situp yet (I know I had trouble with these in the beginning) then just do some crunches and reverse crunches (where you keep your shoulders on the floor and bring your legs and pelvis up) and work up to the various kinds of sit ups. Yoga can also be helpful if you do it regularly and don't start with anything too hard. If your time doesn't permit even these things, or in addition to these things, everytime you think about it while you are walking around during the day, tighten your stomach muscles as much as you can and try to hold it for as long as you can while you are doing your daily activities. This will help to build your muscle as well. Think of it as a "walking workout"! Good luck!

This is me too!!! I have been asked several times, "When are you due?" or, "How far along are you?". Number one, people need to be VERY careful with those questions. Number two, sadly there is very little to do. I also have a pretty wide gap as well (which makes for fun (or sick) party humor when I show people what happens during a sit-up). There is a great book out there which I got from the library a while back (unfortunately the name escapes me) which addresses specifically ways to reduce post-partum tummies. The gist is DON'T DO NORMAL SIT-UPS! This can actually make the gap wider. They are big into squeezing together the sides of your tummy before any type of exercise. And breathing exercises. Sorry I can't remember the name of the book, but you can do a subject search on the library's website and hopefully find it. I remember it having a catchy name. Did it help me? Well no, but I lost interest after about 3 days (typical). But I'm learning to love my little inverted cereal bowl shaped middle. Good luck!

PILATES, PILATES, PILATES! For years ballerinas have been doing pilates to keep that lean, long look - and great posture! Pilates strengthens your "core" muscles, which is just about everything below your rib cage down through your hips. Getting those strengthened will reduce your back pain, pull your stomach muscles in and reduce the gap. Other people are right about the "regular sit-ups" they'll just strengthen the gap because they work the vertical stomach muscles. Pilates works the horizontal ones and helps pull the gap together. Start at home with just one exercise - laying on your back, feet on the floor with knees bent, shoulders relaxed and arms at your sides - then suck your belly button into the floor while breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth. Count to five on the breath in and five on the breat out. Relax the stomach muscles for a count of 5 and do it again - and again....etc. You'll start to feel a difference in your posture in a few days. Then, get yourself a pilates video. The best ones have different skill levels so you can start at beginner and work your way up. You don't have to spend money on a class, although going to a few beginner's classes may help you learn the techniques better. The more correctly you do the techniques, the better they work. All pilates moves can be adjusted to your ability/level. Don't try to do something that is too hard because you'll loose the technique and posture and won't get the right benefits. Instead, work up to it. And, not only is pilates fantastic for your "core" - it is relaxing! I was an athlete all my life growing up and still work out regularly. After having two kids and a 2-3 finger gap after the first one, I started pilates and was hooked. It worked so well for the gap that after the second pregnancy, it wasn't near as big! Best wishes and take care!

Ab loungers can also be baught from places like sears or any place that sells work out material...I saw one online at target one time I think. Bicycle crunches work well and planks. The two combine have taken a few inches off my waist.

As for the stars...many of them have the nanny to watch their kids, and the personal trainners that work HOURS a day with them to get back into shape. Some even have a cook! Just about anyone could lose a few pounds with all that help! :)

Best wishes!

I have been doing Denise Austen every morning on the Lifetime channel. She's on for an hour from 7-8. I have a DVR machine and record it when I can't do it first thing in the morning. Many days I do it when my kids nap. It's nice to have a different workout each day. She does a lot of yoga and palates. Palates are the best way that I've found to get my ab muscles flat again. Palates is much more intense then just doing sit ups. It works all the muscles in your core. Yoga is great for toning the whole body. If you don't have Lifetime try one of her videos or her book "Palates for everybody". Give it a few monthes and make sure you measure yourself before you start. You loose inches every where. I swear by it even though in my early 20's I thought Denise Austen was a fruit cake :-) I couldn't go a day with out her now. Good Luck!