Postpartum Pot Belly - how long does it take to lose??

[yippiehippie]

Ugh! So, yeah, I went from 120 to 160 w/my babe, am at 135 now (4mo pp). I realize that it can take a while for the wt to come off and am ok w/that. What I am not OK w/is this stomach! I've always had a pretty flat tummy until now. Is it genetic? My mom had 6 and isn't overweight, but looks preggers. My sis had 5 and has trouble losing it too. But I figured after just one I'd be fine.
I run, coach gymnastics, lift weights, and eat healthy, so WTF?!? I remember hearing a long time ago that situps don't help bc it just creates muscle under the fat, which kinda makes since.
I'm wondering if anyone else has this issue. I really want more kids, but, geez, will it just get bigger and harder to lose with each one?

[Gena 22]

Only was pregnant once, but with twins and man do I have a PP Pot Belly! Yes - 2 1/2 years PP, after losing all the weight and being healthy. It's not distastes, just relaxed muscles.

I *think* some ab exercises will help. It's not a fat issue, I need those muscles to be tight again. So I am going to do some. Maybe they'll help. I doubt it, because my mom did try too and still had the dreaded PP Pot Belly.

You're not alone. Tell us, someone, that you had the problem and fixed it!

[nola79]

With my first, I didn't have one. With this one I do, and I'm back to my pp weight. I don't think it'll stay, though, it's gone down considerably. Do some core work, like pilates, or planks.

[Linda on the move]

disclaimer -- naked you can tell I've had a couple of kids. With clothes on, however, my tummy looks flat

Originally Posted by nola79

Do some core work, like pilates, or planks.

yoga is good too ~~ anything that works on body alignment.

Our posture makes a huge difference in not only what our abs look like right now, but how they become shaped. Our bodies are meant to be held up by our core muscles, not our spines.

We can aim for a *slight* engagement of the core muscles all the time, while sitting at our computer, standing up, etc.

Exercise like yoga or pilates helps us find that engagement in the first place. But just going to a class and then spending the other 23 hours a day with our backs rounded isn't going to do it.

This is my trouble spot, too. It is the very first place I gain and the last place I loose. My abs look best when I avoid certain foods, such as sugar and white flour.

If you are into chakras and energy, I think it is interesting that this is our 3rd chakra -- which is our personal power chakra. I think that part of the reason that so many of us struggle with this area after having kids is that we can't figure out how to have our personal power and be good moms. Remembering this helps me stand up straight, tuck my tail bone in just a tad, and engage those core muscles!

[Sativarain1]

interesting how this is also where our 3rd chakra lies. I never connected that piece. I think part of it is just what happens after having children,even with eating healthy and excercising.

[busymama77]

Being on a low carb diet and doing lower ab area workouts AND cardio have worked for me. It's not completely gone. I still have a 'pooch', but it's much smaller than it was after my 1st pregnancy. For me, I think it's been the diet. But I agree that core workouts (yoga, pilates) and some abs workouts will help with it as well.

[OkiMom]

Honestly I haven't found anything that worked for me. Im pregnant now but before I became pregnant I got down to my prepregnancy weight with DD1 (I actually got down to the weight I was when I got married!) but I still had the extra skin flab. I was slightly miffed because I worked so hard and a friend looked at me and told me its not fat it skin there isn't much I can do about extra skin.. welll there is but I refuse to put myself under a knife for cosmetic reasons, especially when we plan on having more kids.

Cut yourself some slack! I was over 12 months PP before I started losing any real weight, some people keep it on longer than others. It stunk though since I guess my mom was one of those people who leave the hospital in their prepregnancy clothes (according to my dad, my mom has passed on so I can't ask her) and my dad spent the entire time criticising me for not dropping the weight like my mom. Thank goodness we live so far apart so I could manage when I had to deal with him.

[ChristyMarie]

I had the exact same weight experience you did. Oh wait, I think I got up to 164. At 135 - still had that tummy. I found it was the last thing to go. Once you get down to your normal weight it should be gone. Warning, for me the last 10 took forever. Getting to about 132-130 wasn't too hard but after that, man. It took me about 11 months to lose it all.

Make sure to do lots of core work to get those muscles back in shape too.

[yippiehippie]

Originally Posted by OkiMom

my dad spent the entire time criticising me for not dropping the weight like my mom. Thank goodness we live so far apart so I could manage when I had to deal with him.

Well I guess it just takes some longer than others. I've heard you should lose it before the next kid or it'll get harder and harder to, but I think that it just gets harder to lose the more kids you have? I definitely want more, but don't want to take the stance of 'i'm just gonna get pregnant again, might as well wait till I'm done to get my body back" bc that's just unrealistic for me.

[e.naomisandoval]

I'm getting there, finally, but a big key for me was realizing it was cortisol related. Stress was my norm. I have really learned to relax more and sleep better. I also gave up caffeine. Bottom line is once I started lowering body fat, it definitely came off my belly. I'll be posting my 12 week transformation contest thread as soon as it's up so you can see the difference. Most of that was diet.

How interesting about the chakra. That is a new take and I am going to give that some thought! Good stuff. I love when I have a new piece of the puzzle.

[GriffsKat]

Once I cut carbs my pot belly went away. I hated to do that. But I guess some people are more carb sensitive. Now I've got a flatter belly. And I started running, which helped a lot!

[busymama77]

Originally Posted by GriffsKat

Once I cut carbs my pot belly went away. I hated to do that. But I guess some people are more carb sensitive. Now I've got a flatter belly. And I started running, which helped a lot!

I noticed a big difference right away, too. I'm sticking with that diet and I just started up running again. I'm looking forward to the results in a couple of months if I keep up a good pace.

[lookatreestar]

yup, my stats are pretty similar to yours op and same issue. i did do the heck w/ the weight loss thing and had the second. things are pretty much the same. i lost the weight faster (nursing 2) but still have a ways to go. everything looks normal, just not my midsection. my ds was over 10lbs and he really stretched my muscles to the max. i am trying to do core exercises as well and they seem to be helping a lot.