The sagging belly conundrum

L

lisellesmith

Cathlete
Hello everyone. So I know that everyone has read or posted questions about the ever popular sagging post partum belly, . . myself included and I was wondering if anyone on this forum has ever in their research come across this site
http://www.bodyfatguide.com/LooseSkin.htm
This guys claim in a nutshell is that there is a cure to the sagging, stretched post partum belly,. . . lower body fat. He feels that plastic surgery via the tummy tuck is not necessary and that the way to cure the sagging tummy is to lower body fat to 10% or lower. He gives examples of celebrity's and their body fat percentage to prove his point.
So my question to you all is this. How many women out there that have had children and are in this 10% or lower body fat percentage have no sagging stretched out skin?
I'm just curious. His theory sounds pretty logical to me but I've never met a mom who's had kids, and has that low a percentage of fat. I mean obviously they exist, . . ie. Cathe, Denise Austin, Christi Taylor, but they are aerobics instructors who do this for a living. I would love to know if there are average women out there that have accomplished this low percentage of body fat using regular exercise 5-6 days a week with clean eating that have had children. Would this guarantee that I would lose my sagging tummy if I lowered my body fat? No easy task but I'm sure is attainable with hard work.
Many thanks for reading this.
liz:)
 
10% or lower? That's ridiculous. Most fitness competitors don't have body fat that low, particularly in the off-season! I bet Cathe's body fat isn't even below 10%!

This guy sounds like a fraud.
 
Are you kidding me? That is highly dangerous, even for competitors. That information is just ridiculous, no offense intended.



Debbie


I ask people why they have deer heads on their walls. They always say because it's such a beautiful animal. There you go. I think my mother is attractive, but I have photographs of her.
Ellen DeGeneres
 
Sounds like a load of you-know-what to me.

I've had four children and my stomach had no problem going back to where it belongs...without any sort of surgery.

I'm 46 years old and I've been working out since I was 17. Right now my body fat percentage is right around 14%.

It can be done!!!

Dianne
 
I agree w/Dianne. Although I have not had children I have had abdominal surgery and carry some lower abdominal "fat", that little poochy area. The past two months I've cleaned up my eating alot (not the total best, but) and have done one rotation and in the middle of another and I can see a big difference. Make that a huge difference!:7 My body fat says 23% and I weigh 117 at 40 yrs.old.
 
I just had my body fat tested at the gym (my dark secret) and the trainer said that my healthy body range should be around 23%. My stomach is not small but it is not saggy after 4 kids. I remember when I was young, lean and lithe I had body fat of 16%. 10%!!! I don't think so.

Cheryl
 
I've had 2 children and was over 200 lbs with both pregnancies.

I started to get serious about my health last January and have SLOWLY lost 40lbs and now weigh 143 pounds. I did not crash diet or throw myself into an intense cardio program. I already ate healthy, I just started to reduce my portions and reduce processed foods. I began exercising 5 or 6 days a week - cardio and weights.

I haven't had my fat % tested, however, I still have a soft, squishy, stretch-marked belly. It feels SQUISHER than when I started!!!! I can feel the nice hard muscle underneath if I poke around, but you sure can't SEE it!

I am hoping that by the time I get down to the 120-125lb range more of my jelly belly will have disappeared. I would love to hear if ANYONE has been in similar situation and lost the jelly belly without a tummy tuck. I have very seriously considered the surgery and investigated it pretty thoroughly. The main thing holding me back is the fact that for the same price I could plan a trip to Disney World!!

Corrie

ps - should I go get my body fat% tested? I have been using BMI and waist-hip ratio for setting goals, but maybe body fat% would be a better indicator of my fitness?


We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore,
is not an act but a habit.
--Aristotle

http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?uid=8313401
 
And there is NO WAY that Mariah Carey's body fat % is 5.39 - sorry - don't buy it!

Lorrie

I NEED a Cathe Roadtrip - BAD!!!!
 
laughs, . . .i know some of those celebrity body fat percentages, . . you have to wonder. i appreciate all the feed back ladies. BMI, . . .body fat % as long as i continue to eat right and exercise hey, . . . i'm happy. a squishy belly is well worth the laughter of my kids and heck i can make it through cathe's dvd's that must mean i'm doing something right.:)
 
Liz,

I just had to respond to this post. I am 51 years old and I have had 10 children. The oldest is 33 and the youngest is 6. I had my last three kids after the age of 40. I was 45 when I had the last one.

I have a flat stomach from consistent workouts with Cathe - but I must say that about 8 months ago I started to get a pooch (menopause) I gave up all sugar and started to drink only water, even though I did only drink diet pop. I have lost 12 pounds since cleaning up my diet.

I know the workouts have helped me immensely, but I must add that when my weight goes a little too low, (I am 5' 5" and I weight 115), my skin sags some from my belly. I feel that a little extra in the area kind of fills it in. I don't know if that makes any sense.

People can never believe that I have had so many children and have been able to stay in such good shape.

I still think that genetics plays a big role in how your abs are going to look after having babies, even when you do work out regularly. Some people just carry more fat in that area.

Cheryl
 
That's amazing Cheryl. :D Marnie



I once read something similar in an issue of Oxygen. It was higher than 10% though - maybe 14 or 13. Marnie
 
>And there is NO WAY that Mariah Carey's body fat % is 5.39 -
>sorry - don't buy it!

Hmm, maybe that's her number when she's squished into one of those ridiculous outfits like a sausage.

}( }(
 
I have had 2 kids and c Sections to boot. I gained a lot of weight with my first pregnancy and have a lot of loose skin and stretch marks.

Last year I competed in three Figure competitions - I wanted to prove to myself that I could compete without surgery. My stomach DID flatten out under 10% but it is not a weight I can maintain. As soon as I gained weight my belly came back, though it is not as bad as it was before. I competed at 5'5" 118 pounds and now weigh 128.

Cheers
Liz N

You can check out my pics on www.girlgetsitdone.blogspot.com
 
>I have had 2 kids and c Sections to boot. I gained a lot of
>weight with my first pregnancy and have a lot of loose skin
>and stretch marks.
>
>Last year I competed in three Figure competitions - I wanted
>to prove to myself that I could compete without surgery. My
>stomach DID flatten out under 10% but it is not a weight I can
>maintain. As soon as I gained weight my belly came back,
>though it is not as bad as it was before. I competed at 5'5"
>118 pounds and now weigh 128.
>
>Cheers
>Liz N
>
>You can check out my pics on www.girlgetsitdone.blogspot.com
>
Liz N,
I just wanted to comment on your pics and blog. I thought your writings were very inspiring and you have a such great outlook on life. You also look incredible! Thanks for sharing!!!
Carolyn
 
Thanks Carolyn! My fitness journey has been quite a ride and I'm always happy to share my experiences. I am having quite a Cathe-fest these days, gotta love Bodymax 2 :)

Cheers
Liz N
 
Liz, awesome blog! I especially like your post about having tea with friends who weren't ready for their kids to go to "kindy." WTH?

Also checked out the "leaness lifestyle" link.... looks interesting.

Getting back to the sagging belly thing... with me, it really is so much about food... and especially sweets. I notice when I cut out the cookies, cake, candy, etc., my belly responds within days in terms of appearance. But to have it get really flat, I need to keep that up, which is difficult with kids and DH who really enjoy their sweets.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Our Newsletter

Get awesome content delivered straight to your inbox.

Top