What is a Good Exercise to Strengthen Your Stomach/Core Post C-Section?

[Anonymous]

I'm looking for a recommendation for a stomach or core exercise. I'm 3 years post babies and I have absolutely no stomach strength. My stomach muscles are so weak it feels like I can barely even suck my stomach in, and my stomach sticks out a lot by the end of the day.

I won't consider surgery after two very difficult c-section recoveries, but I would like to try some exercises to help. Any recommendations?

[Anonymous]

I'm a crossfitter and have amazing abs. I used to do Pilates and yoga a lot - that was ok but nothing like I have now.

[Anonymous]

I'm in the same boat. There are a lot of videos online (free or paid) aimed at this specifically. Avoid crunches or face down push-ups until you establish strength and know there's no ab separation. Do wall push ups, side-lying exercises like leg lifts and clam shells, box squats, and hip tilts. Practice "zipping up" your core, pulling your navel and midline in and up - - people will say it's too simplistic to just pull your navel to spine, but that's a good place to start.

[Anonymous]

I haven't personally had results with this yet (second c section was just a few weeks ago) but I saved this article as it looks like it has some helpful info on exactly this issue: http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/08/07/541204499/flattening-the-mummy-tummy-with-1-exercise-10-minutes-a-day

[Anonymous]

solidcore

[Anonymous]

no crunches, tons of planks. Second the rec for crossfit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm in the same boat. There are a lot of videos online (free or paid) aimed at this specifically. Avoid crunches or face down push-ups until you establish strength and know there's no ab separation. Do wall push ups, side-lying exercises like leg lifts and clam shells, box squats, and hip tilts. Practice "zipping up" your core, pulling your navel and midline in and up - - people will say it's too simplistic to just pull your navel to spine, but that's a good place to start.

ALL of that. Check out Mommastrong - Courtney goes through this process in a very easy to understand fashion. $2/month

[Anonymous]

Do the same exercises that any person would do for core. I would start with barre or pilates and then look up fitness youtubers such as Whitney Simmons for ideas on working out at home and at the gym.

[Anonymous]

I did the Tamilee Webb "I Want Those Abs" video that I found in my aunt's basement every day for a year and it worked great. In fact, it took me a month to work up to being able to make it through both segments of the workout. I know it is dated and not popular now, but it worked really well, and gave me toned abs that I had never had before.

You can probably find it on youtube now.