Desperate for a strong core again!

[eternamariposa]

How do you get your core strength and tone-even moderate-back again after a second pregnancy?  I have been trying to do cardio on my elliptical most days of the week and I do yoga for stretching/flexibility but I just have no core strength whatsoever at this point.  My little girl is 18 months old and I have 60 pounds to loose!  This extra weight combined with such a weeks set of ab/back muscles makes me really sluggish.  I have checked and my abs closed up soon after the 6 week mark but they are so weak that they still feel and look like they bulge.

The self esteem issues are starting to be serious problem, I really need to improve ASAP. HELP!

 

[SweetSilver]

The May 2011 issue of Yoga Journal has a great article on core strength ("beneath the surface").  I pretty much do yoga at home with videos, plus some of these routines I find in this magazine.  We don't have classes nearby.  What i liked about this particular article was the focus on keeping the psoas muscle from tightening.  It felt great!  We get our copies via the library.

     One easy idea I like from yoga is the lock--udianda(sp?) banda--where the abdomen is pulled inwards.  You probably know it: from a wide stance, put hands on knees, exhale, while breath is out lock chin and pull abdomen into your spine.  Hold, or drop and pull up the abdomen repeatedly until the next breath.  Before inhaling, relax the abdomen completely, then inhale.  Repeat.  I found doing this just once or twice a day was enough to feel some strengthening.

     I also liked the video "Yoga Burn" with Rodney Yee, and, surprisingly, "ABC Yoga Kids" with Marsha Wenig is great for back and abs.  It's my favorite in the series because I really feel tall and strong after it, even though it's for kids.

     I find that having the occasional "soup day" makes a good cleanse (I WILL NOT FAST!) that has instant effects on both my weight and my gut.  I only do these (just one day only) when I need to reset my appetite and feel a little better about how I look.

     GOOD LUCK!

[violetflapjack]

The Giam pilates video that I have, "Pilates for Weight Loss" has a three level program from beginner to advanced workouts. It is a really slow paced video, which I find really helpful for being able to concentrate on feeling each of the muscles in my core and which ones I am trying to stregnthen.  My abdominal muscles were pretty much shot after birthing my first.  I was absolutely HUGE in the belly! At about 6 months everyone started asking if I was going to have my baby tomorrow!  20 months later my abdominals are still not back together...the point is, I think I might be able to relate about having reduced core strength... This video might help.  My midwives also just told me to flex my abdominals periodically thoughout the day like while doing dishes or laundry (to help me remember to do it often.)  I do a lot of flexing in the car, since I drive alot...hope this helps! good luck mama!

[neonalee]

I'm not sure this technically strengthens the core but I have a lower back problem & was told to do so. I find belly dance helps with my pain so I think it strengthens the core? I just told DP today that if I only get to have 1 hobby right now, if we have the money I want my dance lessons back. I suck at dance, I'm just not coordinated, but belly dance made me feel good in so many ways!

Sent from my Evo Shift using TapaTalk, please forgive typos

[sren]

Doing resistance work with an exercise ball made a big difference for me.  Best core work ever.

[sewaneecook]

The best core work I've done is some Jillian Michaels videos (30 Day Shred and Ripped in 30).  Even when I was a college athlete my core wasn't as strong as it is now!  There was a point this spring that I couldn't do any high impact workouts because of an injury and I was able to adjust those videos so that they weren't as high impact.  She incorporates a lot of pilates (plank, ab moves, back exercises, etc.) with cardio and I've found it to be a great way to strengthen my core in a very short time (each video only takes about 30 minutes and that includes warm-up and stretching!).