Getting my body back after babies…there IS hope!

There is hope for my body once again.

Let me give you all a brief backstory. I had our son, our first child, 16 years ago. I carried him just like I had swallowed a watermelon sideways, carrying him straight out front. Little did I know that, while my pregnancy with him was healthy and uneventful, the way I carried him would have lasting effect on my body that I would still be overcoming today.

That watermelon effect resulted in a condition in my ab muscles known as diastasis recti. Basically, that is a fancy name for a separation in the muscles that form the six-pack in your abdominal muscles (whether they are well-defined or covered over with a layer of other tissue known as fat, haha), as well as a pronounced weakness in the connective tissue that holds the muscles and organs in their proper place. Thus, the result is that familiar “mommy tummy” or pooching out of the belly that is so very hard for women to deal with and get rid of. ;-(

However, it is way more than just being cosmetic in its effect. The separation diminishes core strength, and compromises back muscle strength as well. A LOT of women walk around dealing with this and not even knowing it, due to the fact that many doctors do not diagnose it as such. Furthermore, conventional (and popular) exercises like crunches and sit-ups do not help, but, in fact, make the problem a lot worse!

If you are like me, you have wondered if surgery is the only way to fix this issue. I am not for surgery for myself unless it is absolutely necessary, and so I became frustrated thinking that there would be no feasible remedy for my flabby and weak abdomen, my weary back, and my slight wrecked ego about my post-babies bod. Was there any help for me?

Well, after 16 years, 3 children, and prayer and research and trying different exercises, I am really on my way to getting my body back. And not only my body, but a bit more strength and confidence as well. What am I doing? Nothing that is complicated or strenuous (whew!), but that is nevertheless effective for me.

I want to dedicate a whole post to what is working for me, so that maybe it can be of help to you. please come back for Part 2…you will be encouraged!

There is hope for you, too,

Dee

One Reply to “Getting my body back after babies…there IS hope!”

  1. […] I was having a moment, feeling a little glum about my tummy rehab. I have been working on this tummy situation for more than 15 years, off and on, and I wasn’t seeing the results that I thought I should be seeing by now. {Read: closure of my DR, and a nice tight tummy area. If you are coming in on the middle of my journey, feel free to read a little of my story here.} […]

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