I've had 2 children, the 2nd one was over 11lbs, so my tummy muscles got damaged. They're improving over time but still don't quite pull in enough.
There's also a bit of skin that doesn't quite go back, but it's not too bad, just wrinkly!!
Got any tips on fixing the abdominals????? The best advice I've been given so far is to work on the 'corset' muscles that will in turn hold the big muscles in place better.
I spend a bit of time trying to consciously 'suck in my gut', haha. :D
Muscle separation is heaps common after pregnancy. I know of a few who have had 'tummy tucks' and they've been stitched back together (the muscles).
Not sure about the wrinkly skin (I was lucky there, unlucky in other ways). I suspect you are stuck with that cept for surgery.
oh, I sure hope not..
Cant give any advice on this but its sure as hell scaring me out of wanting to have kids lol
Races & PBs:
Docklands Dash 2010 (4km)- 19:21
R4TK 2010 (14.38km)- 1:25:02
VRR Angela Taylor Memorial Run (10km)- 52:23
DOW Live Earth Run for Water (6km)- 31:45
Sri Chinmoy Princes Park (15km)- 1:24:09
Mothers Day Classic Geelong 2010 (8km) - 42:51
Sri Chinmoy Como Landing (14km) - 1:16:49
lol dont worry about it. Ive had four but then im no poster girl. Check missfit out. Shes hot as and she's had kids
When dieting down I haven't had a problem with my ab muscles as such but definitely after having my daugter I have a few stretch marks and loose skin on my stomach liek you describe Leafy
Guess there's not a huge amount that can be done apart from getting leaner and more toned through what you eat, training and I have found a couple of moisturisers that firm the area up a little but don't obviously take the strecth marks or loose skin away. Nivea Q10 has worked well for me in terms of that tighter feeling.
As for training I only do hanging leg raises and decline crunches specifically for abs but have found my HiiT running intervals and kick boxing work well for firming the area up. I used to dance and do gymnastics so my muscles felt like they "returned" to how they were pre-baby but extra skin is my major issue!
If you are thinking of competing in figure Leafy - you just tape the skin on the lower abs down under your suit. Seriously!!! Obviously the lower your body fat gets the more paper-thin your skin will be. And if you already have loose skin on your stomach then it is easily taped down. sounds gross but I know a few girls who have done it
Bianca
Bianca you might know. I read ages ago that some exercise (abs) can be detrimental IF the woman has a severe separation. I think i read something like that. Something to look up while at work :D
If it's too big a gap, crunches aren't a good idea and only make it worse supposedly. My separation is borderline. The muscles still bulge outwards too, it's like they're permanently overstretched. So they need both pulling in and pulling closer together, *sigh*.Originally Posted by Rusha
Gymbunny, my tummy went back fine after my first, no stretchmarks or anything so don't worry. :) It was the 2nd that did it! She was enormous. LOL.
She is worth it tho. ;)
Wonder if I should go and see a sports physio???
I have four ....
You can check the width of the gap. i think lay down on the floor and do something lol. I can't remember.
Yeah go and then come and report back here for us :)
When I was at the gym the other night I met a lovely lady who had three kids and she still looked so young but apparently she was 42, she didnt look it tho lol, ANYWAY - we got chatting and I started giving her some pointers and things and we got onto abs and she is not able to do and fast or prolonged crunches or other ab moves by advice of her doctor, her ab muscles are that wrecked.
And also she is not able to do them cos she has had a hysterectomy and all her bits might fall out!!!
Races & PBs:
Docklands Dash 2010 (4km)- 19:21
R4TK 2010 (14.38km)- 1:25:02
VRR Angela Taylor Memorial Run (10km)- 52:23
DOW Live Earth Run for Water (6km)- 31:45
Sri Chinmoy Princes Park (15km)- 1:24:09
Mothers Day Classic Geelong 2010 (8km) - 42:51
Sri Chinmoy Como Landing (14km) - 1:16:49
Ive had four and mine arent that wrecked. Just a bit wrecked.
Sounds like shes at risk of prolapse but what would prolapse has been taken out (uterus) so dunno there.
You lie down flat on your back, put one hand behind your head, the other on your abs, with your fingers in the middle, right where the separation is. One leg is bent, with the foot flat on the floor, the other is straight. Then lift your head and shoulders off the ground whilst lifting the straight leg. You should be able to feel the separation. I still have about a finger width of separation, which is pretty good. I think if you have more than three finger widths, then you have a problem.
If they are still separated, straightforward crunches will do little to get the gap to close, and you risk strengthening the abdominal muscles in their separated position which makes them even harder to close. The physio will be able to help you with specific exercises.
I'm 2.5 years post baby and my abs are still not where I would like them to be. My belly still looks convex (whereas prebaby I had a very concave stomach). Only recently I have started working on a lot of elbow to knee type exercises, bridging work, broomstick twists, medicine ball twists etc and these are definetely helping. I also just stand up in front of a mirror and try and suck my belly in as tight as I can (say while brushing my teeth). I am lucky in that I got no stretchmarks and only a small amount of loose skin, which is very lucky considering I put on over 30kgs!!
That's amazing no stretch marks. I got up to 98kg (back to 65.2kg now) with my pregnancy (20 months ago) and wasn't so lucky but just checked my abs and they are good no gaps, win some lose some.
Rusha I remember my nurse coming out to my house a few days after I left hospital with my daughter and she said not to start doing ab work for at least 6 weeks post labour.
she said that it can potentially do some permanent damage as the muscles don't tend to come together properly again. I found that my abs came together really quickly and think this may be due to dancing and gymnastics cor strength because my mum said that she felt as though her abs never really 'came back together'. That being said she has had 4 kids now as well
There was stuff all difference for anything after one kid. My fourth did any damage that was done. I was lucky though. Stuff all stretch marks (few on public line and hips), no wrinkly skin and only mild muscle separation. I have other damages though but nothing too tragic.
Bianca i was told much the same thing.
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