I would love to talk to you more about your experience with the tummy tuck. I actually have a consultation appointment scheduled for March 3. I was a size 7/8 before having 2 kids. I went up to a size 12. I am now a size 4 but my stomach has excess skin and terrible stretch marks. It is so unsightly and I am extremely self concious about it. It has become an obsession. I am desperately trying to figure out a way to pay for the surgery. Can you pay reasonable monthly payments?
Help! My belly fat is discouraging me!
- Thread starter KittyMama
- Start date
KittyMama,
I have read all of the posts and find them very interesting, because different things work for different people.
I work my abs everyday and I have for many years - I also have ten children - yes, I had them all myself and my abs are very flat and very well defined - but I do work them out hard and on a BOSU which has helped tremendously - my skin elasitcity has even gotten better, since I haven't had a baby in three years.
There were a few peole who posted they read you need to give your abs a day of rest like with weight training - but when I do my abs the only weight I do use is maybe a medicine ball when Cathe does - so it isn't like its weight training - do you know what I mean?
I love how my abs look - especially considering I am 48 and have had ten children - my abs look better now than before I had children at the age of 18 - because I work them out - it makes a big difference.
Cheryl
I have read all of the posts and find them very interesting, because different things work for different people.
I work my abs everyday and I have for many years - I also have ten children - yes, I had them all myself and my abs are very flat and very well defined - but I do work them out hard and on a BOSU which has helped tremendously - my skin elasitcity has even gotten better, since I haven't had a baby in three years.
There were a few peole who posted they read you need to give your abs a day of rest like with weight training - but when I do my abs the only weight I do use is maybe a medicine ball when Cathe does - so it isn't like its weight training - do you know what I mean?
I love how my abs look - especially considering I am 48 and have had ten children - my abs look better now than before I had children at the age of 18 - because I work them out - it makes a big difference.
Cheryl
Hey there! I am seriously considering a tummy tuck as well. I would love to hear how it works for you if you go through with it. I have 2 kids, my youngest being 3, and they stretched me out so much that no matter how much dieting I do or ab-work, my loose skin just hangs there looking horrible! I have old silvery stretch marks that I am hoping will come off with the surgery too. I feel like my abs are tight underneath all that mess but you just can't see it. I am 31 years old, healthy, and too young to have this old belly. Please respond and let me know what kind of tummy-tuck you are having done, how it goes, and anything else you would like to tell me! Good luck!
cmoroney/cheryl 
......
I am SOOOOO glad to hear you also say you work your ABS everyday. I would like to know about how long you work yours everyday, 10-15-20 minutes ? I am just curious, I do the Freestyle Training, and I work mine everyday too. I will eventually get a Bosu Balance Trainer, had one ordered, but I decided on another piece of AB exercise equipment. I am 44 ........... look forward to hearing from ya again.... thanks Rhonda :7
......I am SOOOOO glad to hear you also say you work your ABS everyday. I would like to know about how long you work yours everyday, 10-15-20 minutes ? I am just curious, I do the Freestyle Training, and I work mine everyday too. I will eventually get a Bosu Balance Trainer, had one ordered, but I decided on another piece of AB exercise equipment. I am 44 ........... look forward to hearing from ya again.... thanks Rhonda :7
RE: cmoroney/cheryl ......
Hi Rhonda! Just had to keep this thread alive!! LOL BTW I wanted to report my own progress w/working my ABS every day. Well I already see a difference. I'm also everyday concentrating on zipping up my lower part of the abs. My form is now IMO impeccable when doing the exercises. I've done 30 min. of Ab Hits & the next day did the ab section to PUB w/no problems; the next day did ab section to ME + Ab Hits. Tonight I'm scheduled to do L&G & will tack on 15 min. of abs. I also work my abs doing yoga & there's also pilates so that works my abs too. BTW I'm 50. Thanks Rhonda!! Best, Kathy
......Hi Rhonda! Just had to keep this thread alive!! LOL BTW I wanted to report my own progress w/working my ABS every day. Well I already see a difference. I'm also everyday concentrating on zipping up my lower part of the abs. My form is now IMO impeccable when doing the exercises. I've done 30 min. of Ab Hits & the next day did the ab section to PUB w/no problems; the next day did ab section to ME + Ab Hits. Tonight I'm scheduled to do L&G & will tack on 15 min. of abs. I also work my abs doing yoga & there's also pilates so that works my abs too. BTW I'm 50. Thanks Rhonda!! Best, Kathy
RE: cmoroney/cheryl ......
I just wanted to add that my abs are my biggest trouble spot and that incorporating nontraditional ab work 6 days a week has really helped to strengthen and define them. I have been a consistent exerciser for more than 15 years (doing the Firm until I discovered Cathe 2 1/2 yrs ago). Until I discovered Cathe, particularly the Intensity Series, I could barely get my shoulder blades off the floor during a crunch. And I was quite fit otherwise! I am 42, have three children (youngest is 3) and my abs are more defined and stronger than they've ever been. I think yoga helps tremendously with core strength as well. I've also recently begun adding Pilates and Lotte Berk Hip Hugger Abs to my rotations and have noticed considerable improvement in a short time. Good luck!
......I just wanted to add that my abs are my biggest trouble spot and that incorporating nontraditional ab work 6 days a week has really helped to strengthen and define them. I have been a consistent exerciser for more than 15 years (doing the Firm until I discovered Cathe 2 1/2 yrs ago). Until I discovered Cathe, particularly the Intensity Series, I could barely get my shoulder blades off the floor during a crunch. And I was quite fit otherwise! I am 42, have three children (youngest is 3) and my abs are more defined and stronger than they've ever been. I think yoga helps tremendously with core strength as well. I've also recently begun adding Pilates and Lotte Berk Hip Hugger Abs to my rotations and have noticed considerable improvement in a short time. Good luck!
That is too funny, I am also going to be 31 in a couple of weeks. I have 2 children also, my youngest is 5, and my story is the same. I feel like my abs are tight but between the extra skin and unsightly stretch marks it doesn't seem to make a difference. I did read a little about it and it does improve the stretch marks. They actually pull the skin down and get rid of the excess. Any stretch marks above the belly button would end up below the belly button. If you are like me I have them starting above the belly button and down to the tops of my thighs and every where in between. I will be sure to let you know how the consultation goes. Good luck to you also!
LovingLife
Cathlete
Thanks!
Just wanted to thank everyone who's contributed on this thread to motivating me to take my ab work up a few notches. I was doing abs every other day or sometimes even just twice a week -- mostly because my abs couldn't hack the work and I was exhausted by the end of my workouts to continue on with full force. But this week I've been separating my ab work from my cardio or strength/cardio to have greater energy and focus on really working them and have been alternating traditional days with stability ball days. I'll be back to report my progress in a few weeks!
Just wanted to thank everyone who's contributed on this thread to motivating me to take my ab work up a few notches. I was doing abs every other day or sometimes even just twice a week -- mostly because my abs couldn't hack the work and I was exhausted by the end of my workouts to continue on with full force. But this week I've been separating my ab work from my cardio or strength/cardio to have greater energy and focus on really working them and have been alternating traditional days with stability ball days. I'll be back to report my progress in a few weeks!
4
40something
Guest
Cheryl! Reading your post on this thread has given me more enthusiasm than any other fitness advice I've read to date!! I am 42 and the mother of four. My third child was a c-section delivery and that seemed to be the end of my flat tummy. I wonder if it was because of the 'over-stretching' of the abs at the time of the delivery/surgery...I still have a 2" gap in the median of my abdominals. I have worked and worked to tighten this up but to date I've not had success. I am going to take your advice and work my mid section daily and see if it helps me. But by golly...if the mother of 10 can have a flat stomach surely I can overcome the after-effects of one surgical birth!
Calico
Cathlete
RE: I can tell you that Atkins does work on the belly
So sorry for not responding to your question to me. As for doing Atkins for the 1st phase it wasn't too difficult. I made it through if that says anything about it and I was a carb a holic,LOL!! I did get dizzy and lightheaded alot and had no energy or strength, not sure if it was from withdrawal from carbs or losing the weight too fast. It will definetely kick start your metabolism and get you losing again. And if you stay away from the white flour, sugar, pastas and rice you will continue to lose just at a slower pace.
Hope that helps you some.
So sorry for not responding to your question to me. As for doing Atkins for the 1st phase it wasn't too difficult. I made it through if that says anything about it and I was a carb a holic,LOL!! I did get dizzy and lightheaded alot and had no energy or strength, not sure if it was from withdrawal from carbs or losing the weight too fast. It will definetely kick start your metabolism and get you losing again. And if you stay away from the white flour, sugar, pastas and rice you will continue to lose just at a slower pace.
Hope that helps you some.
tricia
Cathlete
Hi fortysomething!
I thought it might just be me- I had my daughter via C-Section and I now have the 2" gap that you're talking about! I never had a smooth, flat tummy prior to her birth, but it was never this big gap, either!
I'm glad to see I'm not the only one, so thanks for posting.
I have recently added Pilates workouts to my routine (as often as possible,) and I feel a real difference. I can't visibly see it YET, but just being able to feel how much stonger my core is is SO MOTIVATING!!
Just wanted to throw in my 2 cents!
Tricia
I thought it might just be me- I had my daughter via C-Section and I now have the 2" gap that you're talking about! I never had a smooth, flat tummy prior to her birth, but it was never this big gap, either!
I'm glad to see I'm not the only one, so thanks for posting.
I have recently added Pilates workouts to my routine (as often as possible,) and I feel a real difference. I can't visibly see it YET, but just being able to feel how much stonger my core is is SO MOTIVATING!!
Just wanted to throw in my 2 cents!
Tricia
4
40something
Guest
Oh Tricia, misery does love company!! You are the only other person I've talked to who can relate to this. I have other friends/relatives who have had c-sections but they don't exercise so they haven't noticed any change in their abdominals. I think it's caused by the ab muscles being separated at the time of delivery. Even though it's only a matter of seconds it's still an unnatural occurance for the muscles and they are 'over stretched' by it.
Anyway, when I first started doing Pilates I absolutely could not do the ab work correctly. You know what I mean...starting from prone position and slowly curling up to sitting...no way could my abs handle that much. I did not have the strength anymore. And even now, I still have to cheat and raise one foot off the floor in order to do the move in it's entirety. So I still have a long way to go and I still have that gap and that child is now 6 years old.
We will have to keep in touch on our 'progress' towards closing this gap we are forced to deal with!! But what is bad about it besides the obvious that the abs are weakened is that when I stand sideways in a mirror (in my undies) you can actually see the skin/fat/tissue what ever you want to call it protrude right at that gap starting above the navel and extending down to the pubic area.
Boy, does that daughter ever owe me!
Anyway, when I first started doing Pilates I absolutely could not do the ab work correctly. You know what I mean...starting from prone position and slowly curling up to sitting...no way could my abs handle that much. I did not have the strength anymore. And even now, I still have to cheat and raise one foot off the floor in order to do the move in it's entirety. So I still have a long way to go and I still have that gap and that child is now 6 years old.
We will have to keep in touch on our 'progress' towards closing this gap we are forced to deal with!! But what is bad about it besides the obvious that the abs are weakened is that when I stand sideways in a mirror (in my undies) you can actually see the skin/fat/tissue what ever you want to call it protrude right at that gap starting above the navel and extending down to the pubic area.
Boy, does that daughter ever owe me!
I'm late seeing this thread but I'm SO glad I opened it. I had my 4th baby 18 weeks ago. AFter having 4 kids in 6 1/2 years, my abs are a mess and my belly fat is grossing me out. I'm losing weight and firming up other areas, but my belly is so stubborn and huge. I never had belly fat before kids, and always had a flat tummy until I was 27 and had my first child. I'm 34 now and feel too young to have a belly like this. BUT, I am not going to accept this belly fat without a good fight!
I'm really interested in the replies here. Its amazing how differnet things work for different people.
Oh, and 10 kids, WOW!! If you can have flat abs at 48 with 10 kids, you are my motivation. So 4 kids at 34 does not seem so hard after reading that.
I'm really interested in the replies here. Its amazing how differnet things work for different people.
Oh, and 10 kids, WOW!! If you can have flat abs at 48 with 10 kids, you are my motivation. So 4 kids at 34 does not seem so hard after reading that.
>Ha!Ha! Strap it down and cover it up. That's funny! I
>did one year of workouts, running & ab work, 6 days a week.
>It got a lot better but it didn't go away. So...I had a mini
>tummy tuck and that DID work. Its not as expensive as you
>might think.
HI THERE, WHAT IS A MINI TUMMY TUCK PLEASE?
That's funny! I>did one year of workouts, running & ab work, 6 days a week.
>It got a lot better but it didn't go away. So...I had a mini
>tummy tuck and that DID work. Its not as expensive as you
>might think.
HI THERE, WHAT IS A MINI TUMMY TUCK PLEASE?
40something,
I never had a c-section - so I cannot relate to that - I can just imagine how much harder that would be - I know of a few women who have had c-sections but they never workout like someone else posted.
I had my last 8 children in 16 years, actually my last four in six years - so I had them somewhat close - but I always worked out while pregnant and lost my weight before I got pregnant again - but I must say that my abs have never looked better - this last year I have developed lots of muscle definition - even the looser skin has gotten better.
Don't give up - if you have some extra weight in the belly area of course you need to burn that off to see the ab definition. I know some people say not to work the abs everyday - but it has worked for me and I have the muscle definition - but it isn't built out - do you know what I mean?
Good luck,
Cheryl
I never had a c-section - so I cannot relate to that - I can just imagine how much harder that would be - I know of a few women who have had c-sections but they never workout like someone else posted.
I had my last 8 children in 16 years, actually my last four in six years - so I had them somewhat close - but I always worked out while pregnant and lost my weight before I got pregnant again - but I must say that my abs have never looked better - this last year I have developed lots of muscle definition - even the looser skin has gotten better.
Don't give up - if you have some extra weight in the belly area of course you need to burn that off to see the ab definition. I know some people say not to work the abs everyday - but it has worked for me and I have the muscle definition - but it isn't built out - do you know what I mean?
Good luck,
Cheryl