Question for thin/skinny moms

[Anonymous]

Once you have had a kid or two, is it possible to get your stomach more or less flat again? By flat I mean that it does not stick out any farther than your rib cage. I am curious what a thin stomach is suppose to look like.

Pre-kids, I was always thin, but I've also always had weak abs and bad posture. I am trying to figure out what my stomach is supposed to look like rather than chasing something that will not be achievable. I've seen a plastic surgeon about a tummy tuck, and he said he could do some things but he couldn't make me look twelve again (not that I remember what I looked like at 12!). The recovery also scares me, so I am trying to do this with exercise and diet but I am not sure what a skinny normal tummy looks like. I'm also small on top, so I joke with my husband that all my problems could be solved by implants because then no one would notice my stomach!

[Anonymous]

A friend just had a tummy tuck (had a boob lift a few years ago, too) due to post partum issues. She also had the split abdominal muscles, and the worst case of sagging skin I've ever seen. The doc repaired the split, which was extremely painful post op for several weeks. And she was a gym junkie. He also took away her old belly button, and made a new one in order to remove all the loose skin. She looks great and it was about $10k canadian.

[Anonymous]

I went pretty much back to normal (and even a bit thinner than pre-pregnancy) about a year after DS was born. For about 6 months, I had a pouch.

I don't think there is a magic bullet--and I personally find elective plastic surgery not worth the risk (having worked on breast implant litigation)--except to make exercise as much a part of your life as possible (for me, this means walking everywhere, I don't ever go to the gym except for the occasional swim!) and eating lots of veggies and protein with a side serving of good fats and complex carbs.

[Anonymous]

strengthening your core--abs and back--will help with many things, including flattening your stomach. It will also help prevent or alleviate back pain.

My abs still have not gotten back to their pre-pregnancy strength and the extra 10 lbs I'm carrying are not helping, but that's because I am lazy.

If you aren't lazy, I do recommend picking up some exercise videos. Just 10 minutes a day (and you don't have to sweat) will help tone things up. Try Quick Fix Abs and Core Fusion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A friend just had a tummy tuck (had a boob lift a few years ago, too) due to post partum issues. She also had the split abdominal muscles, and the worst case of sagging skin I've ever seen. The doc repaired the split, which was extremely painful post op for several weeks. And she was a gym junkie. He also took away her old belly button, and made a new one in order to remove all the loose skin. She looks great and it was about $10k canadian.

This is too much to go through, how tragic!

[Anonymous]

Try Pilates, it's great for strengthening your core muscles. I had two kids pretty late in life, and have a flat stomach. Not quite a 6 pack, but you can see stomach muscles. And I'm hardly a gym junkie, just the Pilates 2 -3 times per week. And some cardio, ditto the PPs eating right (veggies, fruits, etc).

Stay away from the tummy tuck, it's bad news. The Pilates will also help with your posture, by the way--and good posture will improve a lot of things.

[Anonymous]

I've had one child and my stomach looks about the same as it did before I had her. (I had an awesome stomach before her and I have a very good/toned stomach now.) In my case, I worked out daily before the pregnancy, I kept working out 6-7 days/week during the pregnancy (including ab work) and I work out daily now. I do ab work at least every other day - nothing crazy, but at least 100 crunches of a few different types to target the upper and lower abs and obliques. (sides.) So there's a lot of work that goes in, but genetically, I don't really gain weight in my stomach until after I gain it in my hips/thighs/butt. So usually I can see myself gaining there and stop gaining before my stomach gets flabby. My diet is not perfect - I eat way too many sweets - but i'm pretty good otherwise about portion control, limiting fast food and eating a healthy mix of protein, carbs, veggies, dairy, etc.

Before even considering surgery, I'd talk to a trainer or a yoga/pilates instructor about ways to strengthen your core and improve your posture. That alone can make a huge difference. Even if you don't have the money for a gym membership or yoga studio classes, you can learn the proper technique for plank position - very good for abs, and you can do that at home. I tried pilates and thought it was great for core strengthening, but i felt like yoga was better for my whole body. (and with limited time, I had to choose.)

[Anonymous]

My stomach was fine after the first 2 kids with some exercise (couple times a week). I'm finding after the third the muscle tone isn't coming back as quickly -- but I suspect that is largely because I'm older.... (and not working out as much).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A friend just had a tummy tuck (had a boob lift a few years ago, too) due to post partum issues. She also had the split abdominal muscles, and the worst case of sagging skin I've ever seen. The doc repaired the split, which was extremely painful post op for several weeks. And she was a gym junkie. He also took away her old belly button, and made a new one in order to remove all the loose skin. She looks great and it was about $10k canadian.

This is too much to go through, how tragic!

Why is it tragic? She worked out, it didn't help, she had surgery and is happy with her body now. Get over yourself.

[Anonymous]

The split stomach -- as in a diastasis? Does insurance cover the surgery?

I don't have one, I'm just curious, because it seems as though it could cause health problems.