There’s no doubt that any woman would happily do almost anything to her body if it meant she delivered a happy, healthy baby. That being said, it doesn’t make it any easier once baby is here and your body is unrecognizable. Given time, your body will rebound, but if you’re serious about getting back in shape and want to lose abdominal fat but avoid the costly, painful (and not terribly realistic, for most of us) route of surgery, you will have to target those problem areas with exercise.
It can be hard when faced with the barrage of celebrities who are back to their pre-pregnancy bikini bodies instantly, but it’s important to take things slowly. Weight lost quickly is often gained back again, so take it slow, focus on health and strength, and learn to love your new post-baby body. Your baby sure does! To help you get back where you want to be, read on to learn how to lose that belly.
The Plank
More effective than crunches, planking is a great way to work out your whole body. Here’s how to do it right:
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Lie down flat on your stomach.
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Raise yourself up on your arms, with knees off the ground. You will be in a push-up position but with your hands closer together, directly under your shoulders.
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Maintain a flat back, and pull your abdominal muscles in as tightly as you can.
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Remembering to breathe, hold the position for 1 minute, and repeat.
If you’re consistent with your planks and do them at least five times a week, you’ll begin to see results within four or five weeks. For best results and a truly new shape, make sure to incorporate cardio and a healthy diet.
Crunches
An old favorite, stomach crunches are hard to beat. Do them correctly and consistently and you will see the benefits.
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Lying on your back, keep your feet on the floor and bend your knees. Tuck those heels in as close to your buttocks as possible.
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Place your fingertips behind your ears, neck relaxed.
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Keeping your eyes on the ceiling, raise your shoulders and upper back off the floor, pulling your abdominal muscles in as tightly as you can.
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Breathe in as you go down, breathe out as you come up and crunch.
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Repeat.
There are some variations to the traditional crunch that can work your abs even harder:
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The Butterfly Crunch – The same basic principle, but the soles of your feet are touching one another, and your legs are open.
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Bicycle Crunch – Lie on your back with your feet off the floor, knees at a 90-degree angle. As you sit up, bring your left elbow over your right knee, and extend your left leg out straight. Do the same with your right elbow and right leg. Repeat.
Pilates
The founder of the exercise, Joseph Pilates, claims that you’ll have a whole new body after just 30 sessions of Pilates. A favorite of celebrities, Pilates can do great stuff for us everyday moms.
Focusing on targeted stretching and balance, this is a great exercise for building up your core abdominal muscles again. It’ll also do wonders for your posture, which can be greatly affected by pregnancy. Suitable to do all the way through pregnancy (with doctor’s consent), you can begin some moves right after giving birth, and pick up where you left off after your six-week OB check-up. It’s a great exercise for women who’ve had cesarean sections and can pull your stomach muscles back into place even years after giving birth. Just do 10 minutes of Pilates every day and you’ll feel a difference in a couple of weeks.