LoveToKnow Diet:AllComments

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Hi Kelsey,

Not everyone's body is the same. Some women snap back into shape with no problem. Your weight reflects you are not overweight. If your problem is skin that has been stretched and hasn't returned to it's former firmness, exercise and diet cannot help that. Some people have more elasticity than others. If it is hanging skin then the only way to get rid of it is through surgery, however, another pregnancy would stretch it out again.

Donna

-- Contributed by: Donna Sundblad

I am 90lb girl who had her son in April at 18. I now have belly flab that will not go away. I tried running, crunches, working out. It has been 7 months and I need to know what more I can do to get rid of it. I am scared to put a bathing suit on.

-- Contributed by: Kelsey

Hi Summer,

If you're carrying that much extra weight then I'd suggest you choose a diet plan suited for your personality. Counting calories works for some while counting carbs works for others. Once you choose your diet plan, an exercise is important too. A combination of both will help you burn more calories than you eat and the weight will start to drop off.

Donna

-- Contributed by: Donna Sundblad

it's been a year and a half since my c-section and i am so discouraged! i still look 9 months pregnant and don't understand what i need to do to lose this weight around my belly. i have always been a skinny girl and now i weigh almost 200 pounds and am tired of ppl asking me when i'm due!!

-- Contributed by: Summer

Hi Mrs. TM,

Everyone's body is different. I've seen people who look like they were never pregnant when their baby is a month old, and then there are those of us who have to work and trying to regain our shape. If you had a C-section, remember that muscles and in some cases nerves were severed. If the nerves are cut then it may take time for the feeling to come back so you can tone your tummy.

Donna

-- Contributed by: Donna Sundblad

Hi, I delivered a baby 3 months ago, but my tummy looks so bad. It seems like I am 4 months pregnant, which look so awkward and I have a complex that I will never look good again.

-- Contributed by: MrsTM

Hi Andy,

Most often tummy tucks are performed by plastic surgeons. You will have to talk with your doctor to find out if he can/will perform a tummy tuck and how much extra it will cost.

Plus, there is a chance you won't need a C-section with your next baby.

Donna

-- Contributed by: Donna Sundblad

Hello,

I had my baby 15 mths ago and still cant lose the bulge. It's really bad because I look like am 3 mths gone with it. I have done all the workouts and diet. Can my doctor do my tummy tuck in my next c-section? I want to know.

-- Contributed by: andy

Hi Michelle,

Congratulations on dropping most of your pregnancy weight. Keep on going.

As for the condition of your stomach, it is hard to say for sure what will happen. That's because we are all so different. I had one friend who was back in her regular clothes within two weeks even with her fourth pregnancy...and I mean she had a small waist, shirt tucked in with a belt.

Then there are some of us who don't have elasticity to our skin who suffer a saggy stomach after pregnancy that can only be taken care of with surgery.

Lastly, there are those of us who must exercise those muscles to regain the tone we once enjoyed.

I know this isn't a cut and dried answer, but it is because for some of us...we are doomed to have the pregnancy belly while others will gradually get back their figure.

Donna

-- Contributed by: Donna Sundblad

I am 35 and had my first child 15 weeks ago. I gained a WHOPPING 72 lbs with this pregnancy, even though I ate pretty healthy. I was told because I was so active before the pregnancy and because I was high risk, wasn't able to be active at all during, so I gained all that weight. Now I have already lost 53 of those lbs with just healthy eating. I have not been able to really work out at all. But my stomach still looks pregnant even though I have lost a lot of weight. I also find that when I contract my stomach muscles, I am unable to contract them entirely like I was able to do before the pregnancy. When I contract them as hard as I can, I can still shake my stomach with my hands which would have never happened before. Is there a remedy for this or am I just doomed forever now?

-- Contributed by: Michelle

Hi Del,

I can certainly understand your frustration. There are many factors that play into stomach fat following pregnancy. The first is, how much weight did you gain?

If you pre-pregnancy weight fell within the healthy range, you should have gained between 25 and 35 pounds during your pregnancy. If you gained more than that, you may still have weight to lose.

You're on the right track with exercise and diet. Another thing I've heard some celebrity moms have done is what is called abdominal binding. It's an old practice, and I'm not sure if it works, but you can look into it. It is said to:

Reposition the womb
Increase weight loss
Enhance waistlines

Due to the separation of abdominal muscles during pregnancy and childbirth, it is difficult to get back your pre-pregnancy figure. The premise behind this binding of the abdomen, is that it supposedly brings your muscles back together which tightens the midsection. I really don't know if it works, but some of the celebrities who have tried it include:

Angelina Jolie
Jessica Alba
Halle Berry

It might be worth a try. If you do, please let me know if it helps.

Donna

-- Contributed by: Donna Sundblad

I had my first baby 4 months ago through emergency c-section. I gain a total of 45 lbs, i have lost the weight but my stomach still looks like I was 3 months prego! I walk, do cardio and also breast feed, I don't eat sweets or any thing fat as I have a family history of heart problems. i take care of myself!!!! I just don't understand why my stomach still big, I'm frustrated! any advice please!!!! Is this normal? Thanks

-- Contributed by: Del

Hi Applehad,

You may not be doing anything wrong. Remember that when a C-section is performed, the incision goes through layers of muscles. Your stomach may not be able to return to its once flat look. In some cases people go in for a tummy tuck to remedy the problem.

-- Contributed by: Donna Sundblad

Hi! I'm 36 and my son is 13. I had c-section with him, and do exercise. I do ab workouts, but I was cut straight across my bikini line and it has a bad sag to it. What am I doing wrong!

-- Contributed by: applehead

Hi Gg,

Proper postural alignment must is important when doing exercises to flatten the stomach. It can make a difference in the workout's effectiveness. Follow these guidelines:

Keep your head horizontal to the ground over the shoulders.
Tighten your abs while exercising. Imagine pulling the belly button to your spine to keep the right contraction.
Align knees with second and third toes.
When on you back, feet should be spaced comfortably apart, usually hip width

In your case, make sure you are holding your stomach in while performing your exercises. This can make a drastic difference in training your muscles.

-- Contributed by: Donna Sundblad

I do exercise at home everyday for 20-40 min. to get rid of belly fat. My leg are now toned and my arms although the most I work on is the belly. It has gotten hard, but it still looks fat.

-- Contributed by: Gg

Hi Lois,

Do you have feeling in that area of your stomach? In most cases nerve damage heals after six months or so. and if that's the case then that is not the reason you struggle with lower belly fat...at least not totally. You're genes may predispose you to gain fat on this part of your stomach, your daily activities may neglect this part of your core. It really is a combination of factors. I suggest you eat healthy, follow an exercise regime that targets your core as well as cardio and see if it has made a difference in three months. When you do any kind of stomach exercise make sure you hold your stomach in as you do it. It makes a difference.

-- Contributed by: Donna Sundblad

Will a verticle incesion from a c-section be the same nerves you was speaking about? Thirty years ago this is the way they did csections. Now I find it so hard to loose the belly.

-- Contributed by: Lois
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