Looking for Ab Exercises - Samples

when you are ready to start working out again try the ab roller. $5.00 at walmart. It really works! I would start out only doing one or two a day. you can really be sore the next day!!

If you get responses, let me know - I also had a c-section MANY years ago, and just can't get rid of this little poochy part...

My OB told me to wait 3-4 months before even doing any ab exercises at all. I think you'll get there if you give it more time.

My yoga instructor has shown us a pose that addresses weak abs:
Lay on your back on the floor, having both legs out. Bring both legs toward your bottom, feet flat on the floor. Lift your right leg and place the right foot on the left knee, turning your right knee out at a 45 degree angle. Hold it there while you breathe, and then gently lift the right foot and leg, as one piece, a couple of inches off the left knee. Hold it there for several breaths. Then lower the right leg, returning it to the floor, and do the other side.
Build up the duration of each hold and the number of reps over time. This will strengthen all of the core muscles, and doesn't involve the agony and/or potential damage of crunches. Much gentler, but very effective at building the core group, including abs.

check out www.sparkpeople.com
IT IS AWESOME and FREE! My user name is aer1977. It has everything from diet, exercise, general health, and great 'teams' so you can find people with similar interests and goals.

1. I don't know anything about c sections
2. Try cardio to burn fat, sometimes folks have it there and to see the abs the fat needs to go.
3. After two vaginal births (a third epected in April) I can tell you fab abs are possible!!! I did had video recorded a ton of 10 minute ab workouts fro my parent's On Demand and did one ten minutes workout EVERY morning. I also did cardio and ate clean (Check out Tosca Reno's Eat Clean Diet Book)
4. check out www.sparkpeople.com

Hi K.~

I would recommend doing pilates dvd's...if you're new to pilates then start with the beginner's version just to learn basic technique. It sounds like your in shape so i would go ahead and buy the intermediate dvd's at the same time since it shouldn't take long to upgrad to the intermediate level. I had a c-section in 2006 and all I did was pilates for a while before I got the motivation to move onto cardio and I had no problems flattening my tummy (at the time I was teaching pilates classes 5 times a week). I had another c-section in 2007 and it's been a little harder but I'm sure it had something to do with having my hands full with two boys 15 months apart.

Do you work out at a gym? If so then they should offer pilates classes... If not the dvd's work fine. I prefer the dvd's b/c I like to do cardio and weights at the gym.
I love teaching pilates but with 2 boys, two and 12months, it's so difficult committing to a certain time. I live in Allen...if you are close and want to learn more about it just let me know and we can get together...pm me if you are interested. It's good motivation for me when I workout with someone else.

Leslie

You say that your ab exercises are harder to do. Do you mean physically or that you just don't feel like doing them? If it is physically harder, then perhaps it is diastasis recti http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diastasis_recti. This is where your abs literally split during pregnancy. The doctor told me that it is more common in women who are physically fit before pregnancy and have never been overweight.

If that is the case, it will never be the same. Sorry

I'd give your abs a full year to recover.

I agree with Carrie. I have started doing pilates and have noticed a HUGE difference! My daughter was born 8 mnths ago and I have just started exercising again (i did not have a c-section). My stomach will never be as it once was, but Pilates makes me feel more comfortable and happy about the progress I am making. To make it better I rent a different exercise video every week (I just go to the library and borrow it for free). This changes things up as I can do pilates, yoga, taebo, etc. and workout different parts of my body. And since the videos are broken down I can do a quick 20-30min routine in the mornings or evenings with my daughter right next to me. Just take things slow. Go for walks with your daughter and instill good habits now.

Yes, your abs need more time. But also know, your body will never be the same! You've now got a M. body!
But after a full year, you'll probably be closer to what you were. Bicycle ab work as well as reverse crunches are great for targetting the lower abs- I'm a former personal trainer.

K.,

They will never be the same - but they can be close. Pilates. Pilates, Pilates. They focus on core exercises and my instructor had girl surgery and has a scar just like my c-section. Its flat. I'm working on it, but not quiet there yet.

Good luck!

I love TTapp. Her book has a flat abs dvd in the back - my stomach isn't flat, but it is considerably flatter than it used to be, and my BMI is still over 35.

GO find the book Lose Your Mummy Tummy by Julie Tupler. Truly the best, most comprehensive way to slowly rehab those muscles so that the heal RIGHT to lay FLAT!!!!

And you GO GIRL! I am an avid worker-outer, and love hearing about other fit moms!

My doctor told me it took 9 months to stretch everything out, it will take at least 9 months before everything will get back to somewhat normal. Give it a little more time and know your body may not ever be exactly what it was pre pregnancy.
Good luck!
A.

I like standing abs. Kind of like a crunc. in the standing position. As far as the C-section question, I don't know but I would think those muscles were sliced in two and it's going to be a while before they are looking normal again, if ever. Girl, be beautiful in your own skin for your husband and he won't even notice that you're not as flat as you used to be!

I'm under the impression that my tummy will not look as it did pre-baby without a tummy tuck (no intention of doing). I'm 5 ft 7 in and weigh 135 (10 lbs less than when I got pregnant). I feel like I'm a healthy weight, but I think the skin will always look loose. My second baby is 15 mo.

Get the video "The Firm - 10 minute abs" They have 5 different routines and each is only about 10 minutes - I gurantee if you do them they will work - this combo of cardio and wieghts is awesome.

Hi K.,
I've had 2 c-sections and will be having a third in June. Give it time, more time. THat was major surgery. Your body does need time to recover. You will eventually get a flat tummy. I did and i don't even work out that much.

Your answers are yes and no. Yes, you need to give more time to recover, ESPECIALLY since it was a c-section; and no, your stomach will never be the same again. However, Pilates is fantastic (if I could just find the time to do it!) Most gyms offer it, or you can find videos in the store or online.

I have no suggestions for the ab exercises, but I do want to say that you need to give your abs more time to recover. I had a c-section in July of 07 and it took me almost a full year, before I felt like I had the strength back in my abs that I had before the baby. And, even now, I still don't have complete feeling around my c-section incision. Just give your body more time to heal.

My sister (a Pilates instructor) told me that in order to have flat abs you MUST start toning them from the inside out. This means that you need to work the deep abdominal muscles first (think Pilates core training), and then on the muscles closer to the surface (with exercises like crunches). I've found some good inner core workouts in Fit Pregnancy magazine, and I'm sure there are more online too. You might also consider taking a Pilates class at a gym (videos are great, but only if you're already familiar with the movements and positions since bad positioning doesn't really work the right muscles and may leave you feeling like you've just wasted an hour rather than gotten a great workout) too. Good luck!

I can relate to your circumstance as I also had a c-section x 2. Your abs will look decent again, but they will never be the same. If you had a decently flat stomach prior to delivery you can definitely get them pretty flat again. Try some pilates exercises (on the floor or what they call "mat" exercises). These focus on the deep abdominal muscles (your "power house" or core) and flexibility. best of luck

Yes your abs can go flat, not sure if mine are ever the same after a c-section. I am only saying that because of looser skin and i have a pulling sensation at the scar sometimes. As far as workouts go, I enjoy doing abs on a swiss ball. Best of luck to you!

Try shapefit.com
It gives you meal samples, exercise workouts, etc. From what it sounds like you need to look at your food intake. In order to get the kind of abs you're talking about you will need to eat very basic foods. You may already have the abs you're looking for but they're not showing through because of the "fat" over the layer of muscles. Good luck!

Hello! Happy holidays!

WAY too early. Remember, you had major sugery. You got the weight off-that is more than most can do. The tight stomach will come eventually- besides, you do not have to put on a suit until May 2009!! Although some women never get the same body they had pre-baby.
Do not over work your abs- they say that your body needs a full year to get back to "running normally".

H.

Denise Austin has some awesome DVDs about toning your lower abs after a baby. Check her out!

If youre looking for a dvd, I liked the Core workout with the stability ball. I dont know if you go to a gym or not, but the best 6pack I ever had was from using a decline bench and a medicine ball. Those were great for the lower abs bc you had to extend all the way back. You can find decline benches pretty cheap for the home too. Good Luck!