Get Rid of C-Section Belly Fat

Women who have Cesarean sections, or c-sections, to give birth often struggle post-partum to get rid of c-section belly fat. This pooch of belly fat along the lower abdomen causes a good deal of concern. Many trainers tell these women that the fat is impossible to lose and they will never have a flat tummy, but that is not entirely true. The key for these women is in determining the source of the pooch and then dealing with it.

Why Can’t I Get Rid of C-Section Belly Fat?

Skin or Fat?

You first need to make sure that you what you have is actually fat. While most women assume that their bulge is fat, for some women it is skin. If the skin around the belly can be pinched and skin pulled away, then the problem is not fat. The loose skin cannot be controlled through diet or exercise. Instead it must be removed surgically.

Nerve Damage

One of the most common problems with c-sections is that the area where the incision is made has a large network of nerves. Doctors often cut these nerves during the procedure. In most cases, feeling will return completely in six months. Until that time, though, women will have trouble toning up the muscles in the mid-section and should work on dietary fixes instead.

Diet and Your C-Section Belly Fat

If you want to lose weight, the premise is simple. You need to learn all you can about burning calories. Take in less than you use, and you will begin to burn fat. Doing so is a little tougher, however, especially when you’re a new mom. Various diet programs are available to help with plans for busy people who need to eat better foods.

Low-Fat Diet

Because the bulge in the tummy is belly fat, which is the most dangerous, the answer for most moms is an extremely low-fat diet. If you want to get rid of c-section belly fat, then you will need to become very conscious of what you consume. Some options are basic calorie-counting. An average American diet is around 2,500 calories, though many dieticians suggest 2,000 or fewer. A diet of 1,500 or fewer may be the best choice for moms trying to lose weight unless the mom is breastfeeding, in which case fewer calories is not a good choice for the baby.

Water Intake

Drinking enough water is essential to any weight-loss or maintenance program. For moms, though, it is even more important. Moms tend to run constantly and take little care of themselves. Their convenience diets lead to water retention. The increased water build-up to prepare a woman’s body for labor also may remain after delivery.

The best way to get rid of this excess water, which will help any bloating in the tummy, is to drink enough water consistently. Though 64 ounces is the standard recommendation, some sources are beginning to argue that more water is necessary for weight-loss. Moms who want to get serious about hydrating the body should divide their weight (in pounds) in half and drink that many ounces of water per day. A woman who weighs 150 pounds, then, would need to drink 75 ounces of water per day.

Exercises to Get Rid of C-section Belly Fat

Drinking water is essential.

Once you are working on reducing the fat in your belly and making steady progress, you should begin a regime of exercises targeting this region.

Pilates

This exercise program, started in the 1920s by Joseph Pilates, is strenuous if done correctly. Pilates is based on the idea that if one controls the balance and core of the body, then she will get into good physical condition. The core consists of the pelvic region, and the spine and its proper alignment is at the heart of Pilates. For getting rid of c-section belly fat, a number of Pilates exercises, including the leg stretches and rolling ball, will help to tone the abdominal muscles. The key in getting rid of the lower pooch is doing exercise that requires the muscles to tighten in the region for a few seconds at a time. Pilates also is a fat-burning exercise, meaning it also helps reduce overall fat.

Crunches

Abdominal crunches are the old-standby in terms of fat reduction. They work for c-section fat as well. Instead of just doing the standard, though, try reverse crunches. In this exercise, you leave your upper body on the floor and raise your bottom toward your tummy. This works exceptionally well for c-sections because it works the lower abdomen.