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Toning tummy
Lily is 20 months, Madeleine is 5 months old today, we're not planning to ttc for at least another year and the time has come for me to do something about my mummy tummy!
I need to exercise generally as I weigh about a stone and a half more than I want to, but my main concern is my tummy, which was flat pre-babies and now looks like a marshmallow hanging over my jeans unless I tense it.
I know that post-natal women are not allowed to do sit-ups because it can aggravate rectus diastasis (I very much still have this split). What can I do to encourage the muscles to knit back together, and to tone the whole tummy area?
Thanks )
I need to exercise generally as I weigh about a stone and a half more than I want to, but my main concern is my tummy, which was flat pre-babies and now looks like a marshmallow hanging over my jeans unless I tense it.
I know that post-natal women are not allowed to do sit-ups because it can aggravate rectus diastasis (I very much still have this split). What can I do to encourage the muscles to knit back together, and to tone the whole tummy area?
Thanks )
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Replies
Em x
I have a marshmallow look going on too! So much so that I'm going to my first 'post-natal circuits' class tomorrow, which is run by a physio. I definitely have the split between my tummy muscles too, so I'll let you know what they suggest once they've had a prod....
The way you know if you have a split is: lie flat on the floor, tense your tummy muscles and do a little mini sit-up just lifting your head of the floor. If you have a split you'll feel a trough with your fingertips right down the middle of your tummy muscles. Some people's are just a little hole above the belly button, some go all the way from under your boobies to below the belly button. Mine was about a finger's width after Lily and maybe 5cm in length, but is now twice that.
I'm not sure when you can start doing sit-ups again exactly Em, but think it's once this split isn't a significant width or length any more. Not everyone gets one but it is quite common.
xx
I also do pilates and yoga on sky (I think it's channel 275)
http://babyfit.sparkpeople.com/articles.asp?id=710
Other websites say that it's ok to do sit-ups if the split is one or two fingers wide, but not to if it's wider. My postnatal fitness instructor (after having Lily, not Maddie) said not to do them at all until the gap is closed, or you risk forcing the muscles even further apart.