Stubborn Belly fat...yuck!!!!

Circuit training is the way to go without surgery. After my first child I would sit and cry because I couldn't get rid of the belly fat and I thought I looked so terrible. I was very thin before I had him. I started doing just cardio because everyone tells you cardio does the trick. Nope. Then I got back into bellydance like I used to do before pregnant with the hopes that would do the trick. Nope. It took going to a gym every morning and circuit training to get my muscles back into shape and my fat gone. I joined a gym and went every morning BEFORE I ate for an hour. First I used the rowing machine for 5-10 minutes (to help strengthen arm and chest muscles (makes boobs look perkier), I hopped on the elliptical from 20-30 minutes and gave my all. Then I did the weight machines, first the abdominal crunches, then back extensions, and then every other day I would focus on arms or legs so as not to overwork my muscles. I followed a south beach type diet fathfully. By the time I got prego with my second, I was looking pretty good. I plan to do the same again starting well, now! I just had my little girl a month ago but this time I am not as upset about my post pregnancy body. I know I can get back to the way I used to be again since I figured out how to do it before.

Good luck! it is hard to dedicate yourself to a strict exercise regime and diet but it is well worth it. and it becomes addicting.

2 moms found this helpful

It does take awhile for your body to recover after giving birth. Your hormones are affected which in turn affects your body's willingness to part with fat storage. Try not to be too hard on yourself. First being a mom is a monumental accomplishment.
Without knowing your specific body composition, it is hard for me to give you adequate diet and exercise advice. However, I can tell you that you are young so your skin should still have adequate elasticity to pop back into shape, depending on your weight gain and loss. Too much weight gain during pregnancy will stretch the skin excessively making it difficult to shrink back to its original shape. However, it is always better to try the nonsurgical avenues first. Surgery always involves a risk factor.
The best way to lose the belly fat is to make sure you're getting adequate nutrition in balanced proportions with the right amount of calories for your activity level. Too many processed carbohydrates are stored as fat. Too many calories of any kind are stored as fat. So you must increase your activity level. If you are not accustomed to exercise, the best way to start is to walk either outside or on a treadmill. Walking and moving your lower body involves the abdominal muscles. At the same time try eating more smaller meals throughout the day so that you don't bloat your abdomen up with 1 or 2 big meals that are harder to digest. Smaller balanced meals are metabolized and go through your system faster without sitting in your digestive tract for long periods, stretching your abdomen and making it look bloated. Once you are accustomed to walking, quicken the pace, lengthen the time to 45 min to 1 hour per day at least at a pace of 3.5 or more. Then you can start adding in toning and weight bearing exercises that build muscle and burn more calories.

If this is not the answer you're looking for, I highly recommend Dr. Chappelle in Severna Park. He is an experienced cosmetic surgeon. IF you choose a tummy tuck remember to get the abdominoplasty where they tighten the muscle wall, not just remove skin.

I hope this helps.

1 mom found this helpful

I think Pilates is a great exercise, and so is yoga. You can't spot-reduce but you can increase core muscle strength and improve posture.

Also, I know this sounds strange but I do tae kwon do (my older son did it with me and now wants to start again), and I'm about to test for my black belt. I lost 10 pounds doing it, and I've never had more muscle tone or definition, including in the stomach. I can also do 70 pushups, and I am the one who was picked last in gym for any sport. The time commitment required is two fifty-minute tae kwon do workouts a week, but it looks better than when I'd spend hours a week at the gym. You stretch during warm-ups, and even kicking works your abs, and you work those muscles on the sides of your waist. And the jumping kicks and board breaking builds bone mass to prevent osteoporosis. And when your child is older he can join you!

I just started this diet. I love it! Many woman cant say they like dieting, but this one is great.Check out,"Jay Robb"..website. The fat burning diet, and the fruit flush. You lose up to 9 lbs in the first week, because you are getting water and toxins out of your body...then usually 2 lbs a week after that till your at your goal weight...I hope it works...I gained 50 lbs with my first preg, and I have only lost 20 lbs in 12 months...I didnt diet then, but I am now! I have 34 lbs to lose...hope you can check it out. I know that your not trying to lose weight, but instead the belly fat...I would do Dance videos..Carmen electra has a great one out...it is hip hop.I SWEAT!!!!!!!!

Hi M.,

I have not had liposuction, but a co worker has - she paid 5000.00 for it and she doesn't look any different to me!
Now her fat goes to other places on her body. After seeing her pain, and no change in appearence I won't not choose to have that type of procedure. She still complains how how fat she is, and she works out everyday.

M.,
It's not all belly-fat. Those muscles got stretched wayyyy out of whack while you were pregnant. Although they will tighten up some, they will never be super tight again. If you are planning on having more children, I wouldn't do anything just yet. When you are absolutely positive you're done, talk to a plastic surgeon about your options. I know how you feel though! I want my perky breasts back!!! I have every intention of getting them picked up and put back where they used to be after I'm done having/breastfeeding babies.

Good luck!
T.

Tell me about it. That part just seems to stick on like super glue! I have a friend that had a tummy tuck and she really enjoys her result. But she is done with having kids. So if you wanted to have another one, even if your going to wait a year or 2, I would suggest doing some stomach strengthing exercises. I know, the dreaded "E" word. That would help it along only so far though, as you probably know. Now that its the fall time you could get away with wearing those slimming undergarments! You'll look like you did have a tummy tuck, without the recovery. I am going to be signing up to take personal training corses at the college this winter. If I run into some great ab moves for the "post baby belly hang" ( as I like to call it) I will surely send them along to you! Take care and enjoy your week! D.

The best thing you can do without plastic surgery is to do a cardio workout for 30 minutes and an abdominal workout for at least 20 - 30 minutes about 4 times a week. This helped me to get my stomach to look better, but it probably look the way it did prepregnancy unless you do some cosmetic surgery. It just has something to do with genetics. If you are planning to have more children, you should wait until you know that you are not having any more kids to consider surgery.

Hello... Have you tried yoga or pilates. Both work to strengthen core abdominal muscles. There are many yoga dvd's out there that focus on abs. Also, it quiets the mind and provides some peace which is very needed as a mom. Good luck with your decision. B.

Eat lots of apples, and try this exercise.

Lay down on the floor on your back.. put your legs straight up in the air.. lift your butt of the floor using your lowest ab muscles, where the belly fat is, your legs will just go up and down while pointing in the air. It does work, it may take time, but you WILL feel it.

Just became a member and looking around the site...wondering did that fruit flush diet work and did you ever get rid of that belly fat?

i don't have any suggestions, but just wanted to let you know that you are not alone! i had my son, also named Jayden, almost seven months ago. i had a c-section, so it is even worse because the scar tissue is hard so it makes the fat hang over it. everyone says i look fine, but you know that how you perceive yourself is very different then what others say they see! about the plastic surgery, personally, i wouldn't spend the money yet if you plan to have more children. anyway, if you get any good tips, maybe you can share them with me!! just wanted you to know someone else knows how you feel!

I definitly know what your going thru. I was 21 when I had my son, and I was very used to having a 21 year olds body. I was going crazy and i definetly thought about lipo... I didnt though. Tyler has just turned 3 and Im only a few pounds heavier then when I first had him. I definetly carry weight in places I never did before though. It sounds cheesy but the only way I lost it... I gained 60 pounds! was GOING TO THE GYM. I didnt think I had time, but I just got up a lil earlier and had my day start sooner. And the GYM is different then if you try to work out at home. FROM experience THAT DOESNT WORK-EVER! Once i got into the routine I loved it! I didnt bother dieting but burning the xtra calories ACTUALLY worked. I went 45 min a day 3 times a week. I did it about 6 months. I got to the weight I wanted and slacked off. Havnt been in forever, but have managed to keep the weight off. GOOD LUCK

Sit-ups, sit-ups, and more sit-ups!

I had my daughter in 2004 and about the same time as you I lost 20lbs less than I was pre-pregnancy. I felt the same thing about it looking worse. I think your skin is so use to a certain weight that when you go less then your use to it tends to look loose. I did a lot of sit ups and rode my bike to get it looking tighter. I am pregnant again and now that it is filling out it doesn't look loose anymore. I guess we just can't win.

I know what you mean.... My son is 3 weeks old and already I am fed up with the way my stomach looks... I had a perfectly flat stomach pre-pregnancy.... If you want a work out buddy, I'm all for it! Walks in the park with the little ones while the weather is still nice whatever... let me know!

How did you lose the weight?????????????????????

I had the same problem. When I was pregnant I had toximia so I gained a lot of weight. First if you are on the depo shot for birth control, that makes it very hard to lose weight. If thats the case then I suggest getting off of that and finding a differnt source of birth control. This will help you lose some of that "belly fat". Also, something else that helped me was doing cardio workouts for about 1/2 hr a day, and hold the muscles in your stomach as tight as you can while doing that, you have to consider that the muscles in your stomach were also stretched. Drink plenty of water. This is what has been working for me, its not completely gone but its almost gone. I personaly dont recomend plastic surgery, its to risky.

I am going through the same thing! Ughhhh!! My son is only 5 months old but I had just lost it all from my daughter and then got pregnant with him and I gained more weight with him then I did with her. I am so bummed about the way I look.

I myself though wouldnt do plastic surgery unless I knew for sure I was done having kids