Are you tired of rocking a mom belly? After having kids it can be hard to get rid of but there is hope!
**This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Natalie Hodson, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #abscorepelvicfloor http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV
Let’s talk about motherhood for a minute shall we?
I think we all agree that it is an amazing, beautiful thing. I think we can all appreciate the fact that our bodies are capable of growing and nurturing another human being and bringing them into the world. There is nothing else that gives you perspective on your capacity to love someone else the way that motherhood does. It is truly amazing, and I know for me, the most important, entertaining, frustrating, joyful, unpredictable experience of my life. I wouldn’t trade these three little people that life gave me for the world. I love being a mom.
However, in the midst of the beauty that is being a mom, there is the toll that bringing tiny humans into the world takes on your body. Thankfully there is hope for getting rid of your mom belly… even if your “baby” is almost 10!
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I was 18 when I got pregnant. One of the great things about being super young when you have a baby is that your body bounces back pretty quick. All those young parts just spring back to where they were before and you go on about your business wearing the same jeans you fit into pre-pregnancy.
Baby number 2 came along when I was 23, still nice and young, but my dear Nathan was a big, big baby. His 9 lb. 14 oz. self did a number on my body, I gained a TON of weight, and my belly was huge! As young as I still was, I didn’t spring back so well after that. I started looking for clothes that were a little looser around the midsection!
Then at 28 my “baby” came along. Thanks to a case of gestational diabetes, he was a whopping 10 lbs. 6 oz.! Well lets suffice it to say, those jeans I could zip up after baby number one were now about 5 sizes too small….
Three pregnancies under my belt, two that were really large babies, resulted in a midsection that I’ve done my best to keep hidden.. my lovely squishy mom belly.
I’ll be honest, I gave up trying.
So after baby number one I still felt pretty good about my shape. I had stretch marks, but my belly was still pretty flat, and a little exercise got it back into shape.
After my second I got myself some Tae Bo tapes, and an Ab Doer (I may have been watching too many infomercials at the time) and tried to get back into the shape I once was. I got frustrated because the one area I wanted to tighten and tone, my midsection, seemed to be the one place that wouldn’t get fit again.
Now after my last pregnancy I decided I’d get myself in shape since I’d had my tubes tied and was not having any more babies. I tried running along with crunches and sit-ups, Pilates, yoga… and other exercises that are supposed to tighten your tummy… and I still had a pooch.
I resigned myself to the fact that after three kids I just have a flabby midsection. I’ve tweaked my wardrobe to be loose around my middle, lots of leggings and stretchy waisted pants as to not create a muffin top, and a little groan when it comes time to put on a bathing suit.
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I couldn’t figure out why nothing seemed to work for me, why these exercises I would see online or in magazines designed to tighten and tone your tummy, did not at thing… in some cases I swore they made it worse!!
The reason is, those exercises won’t work for me… at least not yet.
I’ve heard the term diastasis recti before, I’ve seen pictures of women who still look pregnant months after having their babies, and I’ve heard how it can cause back pain, and how it is a separation of the abdominal muscles caused by pregnancy (especially if you’ve had giant babies like me!)
From the extreme cases I’ve seen online though I didn’t think it was something I was dealing with. However, I was wrong.
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I recently discovered a program called “Abs, Core & Pelvic Floor” and one of the first instructions is how to feel your muscles to see if you are dealing with diastasis recti. Well much to my surprise I followed the instructions and felt a big gap in my muscles where there shouldn’t be one!
I kept reading and realized that there is hope for my “mom belly” after all. Natalie Hodson and Dr. Monique Middlekauff created this program to help heal diastasis recti, and strengthen pelvic floor muscles (yes ladies you don’t have to pee when you sneeze after you’ve had kids!! )
“Abs, Core & Pelvic Floor” explains how diastasis recti effects your muscles, how you abdominal muscles work, and why traditional exercises like sit ups, crunches, and planks can actually make the it worse, and won’t work to help heal your muscles.
Getting rid of my mom belly, almost 10 years later!
Like I said before, I’d pretty much resigned myself to having a midsection I’d have to hide forever. I’ve never been one of those women who likes to blame weight gain on pregnancy, or “let myself go” because I have kids. But my belly was one of those frustrating things that I knew was from having babies, that I thought without a tummy tuck, I’d never be able to fix.
I’m only a week into the “Abs, Core & Pelvic Floor” program and I can already feel a difference. The exercises that Natalie shares are simple, gentle, and effective. The book not only focuses on the exercise portion but offers advice on diet, supplements, and having the right mindset to achieve success. They focus on loving the body you have, being thankful for the amazing things it has done, and not focusing on your pre-baby body. They include weekly affirmations to encourage yourself through the week, and feel good about the journey! The program includes an e-book, instructional videos, and bonus information on nutrition!
I notice that I’m more conscious of my posture moving through the day, I’m making the time to do the exercises, and I feel good knowing that finally there is something that is going to heal my body, and actually work! I’ve replaced my morning yoga with this program, and it’s an amazing way to start my day!
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Not only does this program help heal diastasis recti but the exercises also strengthen your pelvic floor. I know it’s not something a lot of women like to talk about but it happens to a lot of us post baby… a little pee in your pants! If you are avoiding bouncing on a trampoline with your kids, or try not to cough or sneeze too hard, you need to get that pelvic floor in shape! Incontinence is another thing that we don’t have to just accept as part of a post baby body! It can be fixed through these gentle exercises!
So I’m pretty excited to work through this whole program and see the results. I’m excited to know that as I celebrate my little one turning 10 I’ll be feeling good about my post-baby body! I’m excited to share this with other moms who may have given up like I did and let you know that it’s never too late!
These bodies of ours that have brought life into the world are amazing! With the help of “Abs, Core & Pelvic Floor” you can feel amazing in your body, feel healthy and strong, and laugh, dance, and jump with no worries!! Kiss that mom belly goodbye!
Skye says
This program sounds amazing. I just thought a little pee was normal forever – so glad to know I can do something about it. I’m definitely checking it out!