Post pregnancy belly

[racechick79]

What is a good workout to get my stomach muscles back in shape after pregnancy. I have tried situps and workout videos geared at "abs", but it seems that I am not seeing much in the way of results. Just wondering if anybody had any ideas or thoughts. Staying in shape has always been a passion of mine, but also used to come a lot easier than it has since having children!

[btatro]

I think I would suggest a full body strength training program, as muscles in the back, chest, and abdomen all correlate to each other. As for fat, there is no way to target fat loss to any one area. A combination of cardiovascular exercise with light strength training should help in achieving something close to your pre-pregnancy body.

[brandontnguyen]

There is no such thing as spot reduction. That is, you can't lose fat in just one area. If you want to lose fat overall, you should do more cardio and eat a good healthy diet. For starters, you can start a running or jogging program, or anything that will get you active really. To see that belly go down, you need to lose fat throughout your whole body. There are many creative ways to do cardio, you just need to look em' up.

[racechick79]

Thanks for the responses so far. I consider myself to be a fairly active person. I get out and walk/run as much as possible. I try to do at least a half hour of cardio a day if I am able. I am not even really looking to lose much weight since I have been able to get back down to pretty close to my pre-pregnancy weight. I am just having trouble getting the ab muscles to get back into shape. They are being stubborn and when I look at my stomach it just still seems so loose and flabby now!

[racechick79]

I'm actually realizing that I should have posted this in a different section, since I put it in weight loss but I should have put it into more of the workout section! Sorry about that, probably confusing!!

[shaun]

I would recommend doing planks and the plank variations like side planks. Planks are a functional strengthening exercise for the abs. If you have never done planks before, start off with the basic plank. Hold each plank for as long as possible and do 10 sets.

[racechick79]

I would recommend doing planks and the plank variations like side planks. Planks are a functional strengthening exercise for the abs. If you have never done planks before, start off with the basic plank. Hold each plank for as long as possible and do 10 sets.

Thank you. I have not done planks, but do know what they are so I will try them and see how the work! And with the little ones it does seem like an exercise condusive to doing while they are in the room and when I have a few extra minutes!

[spiderman]

Thanks for this topic, my wife is going to love this. Hope to see more inputs. Keep it coming!

[nene5]

I also agree with some of the posts. This has to do with training technique along with eating plan. You need to eat so that you are reducing your body fat. This shouldn't be thought of as a diet because those don't work and make you feel deprived. You need to do regular crunches, planks, reverse crunches and burpees. This will work the entire midsection. It also gets the dreaded kangaroo pouch we get after babies. I have one now and it is tougher. I know it can be done though. Good luck!

[racechick79]

I also agree with some of the posts. This has to do with training technique along with eating plan. You need to eat so that you are reducing your body fat. This shouldn't be thought of as a diet because those don't work and make you feel deprived. You need to do regular crunches, planks, reverse crunches and burpees. This will work the entire midsection. It also gets the dreaded kangaroo pouch we get after babies. I have one now and it is tougher. I know it can be done though. Good luck!

I love that you called it the kangaroo pouch - now I will look at my children as little joeys!! I know of crunches, planks and reverse crunches, but am somewhat new to being more serious about working out (since I didn't have to try very hard before children). Could you explain to me what a burpee is and how to do it? (It sounds like something I should be doing to the baby, not to myself...lol)!