The biggest problem areas for me after having my baby were toning up my booty and of course the ever present belly pooch that happens after you give birth. That baby belly was present for far too long and I couldn't figure out how to get rid of it after having my 2nd baby.
In fact, I wasn't the only one that noticed. Someone actually asked me at 5 months Post Partum if it was going to go away. And here's the deal I thought it was.
I had been working SO hard. I had been doing the workouts, I had been eating clean, my body WAS changing, I mean I “looked” skinny... but my gut was still pregnant looking most days.
And honestly… I was FRUSTRATED. And EMBARRASSED.
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At the time I couldn’t even bear to post about this topic let alone share the picture on the right which was taken just 2 days after the pic on the left. Pretty deceiving huh?
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While I was getting “in shape” I still had days where my stomach would completely bulge back out and I would legit just cry.
And honestly… I was FRUSTRATED. And EMBARRASSED.
.
At the time I couldn’t even bear to post about this topic let alone share the picture on the right which was taken just 2 days after the pic on the left. Pretty deceiving huh?
.
While I was getting “in shape” I still had days where my stomach would completely bulge back out and I would legit just cry.
I felt like a fraud - one day getting fit the next day not again. (don’t be fooled by all the perfect postpartum bodies on IG friends). I wish now I had taken a pic of what my stomach looked like standing up on these days but I can promise you it was really just as bad as sitting down.
I kept thinking, "This had not been as difficult after my first baby so what was my deal this time? Why couldn’t I lose the belly? Why was I aways fluctuating?"
I was sick of wearing baggy and flowy shirts to cover my stomach up and I just wanted to feel like me again and feel like my hard work was paying off!
I knew I was past the 8 week point when your uterus was supposed to shrink down by so it had to be something else…
I started doing my research and figured out there’s some key reasons why this could happen. It IS something you can improve and change through proper exercise, alignment and FOOD!!!!!
It has everything to do with knowing your body, removing inflammation and treating your body the right way.
Here's the deal though, first off we are our own worst critics. So, of course I was frustrated because I was comparing myself to my former self. The realization that your body has changed (quite possibly forever) is definitely something that is hard to deal with mentally. Its a body dysmorphia thing that we all have to come to grips with - just like aging. However, I do believe my feelings of frustration were valid and so are yours.
That being said if you are going through this type of challenge just know that you really do have to give yourself TIME and GRACE! It took you 9 months to make that baby and its going to take at least 9 months or more (for me it was closer to 12 months) to feel and look like yourself again!
There are some things you can do to help improve this area of your body a bit faster that I wish I had known about previously.
1. Food
Now, lets get this straight. I was eating clean and healthy foods by this point in my postpartum journey. However, the thing most women don't realize is that after having babies our body and our hormones change and in doing that our microbiome and gut health changes as well. Not to mention the fact that in the first couple months we are just trying to survive we're starving and eating everything in sight (or anything that our mother-in-law will bring us) and its not always healthy foods. All of this combination can add up to gut disbiosis which ultimately leads to new food sensitivities in our body. Those food sensitivities are what is causing the inflammation, bloating, swelling, gas, etc which is why one day you might think your body is making progress and the next you're swollen and pregnant looking again.
So what can you do? You CAN heal your gut. Do this you need to start by removing inflammatory foods. These are going to be different for everyone, however that are some more common ones like sugar, gluten/grains, fried foods, dairy and soy. Start with sugar and see how your body responds to removing it from your diet for a few days. You can slowly eliminate each one and just see how you feel and respond to it. Its also incredibly important that you start eating foods high in nutrients. Eat whole foods, eliminate all processed foods and stick with protein, complex carbs, veggies/fruit and healthy fats. Eating foods rich in probiotics like kefir (I added this to my daily shake) or plain yogurt can help as well. You may also want to consider adding in a probiotic supplement.
Poor gut health is by far the BIGGEST reason most women still see that belly bloat after having babies.
Check out my Simple + Healthy Meals for Real Moms Cookbook eBook for delicious recipes the whole family will love!
Check out my Simple + Healthy Meals for Real Moms Cookbook eBook for delicious recipes the whole family will love!
2. Alignment
Poor posture can greatly affect your body as well. When you're in poor alignment it can put too much pressure on your rectus muscles and weaken your transverse muscles, which can cause your stomach to protrude slightly. This is a common contributor because when you think about it, your body is out of alignment naturally by the end of pregnancy because of how much extra weight you have in your belly. Then to top it off if you're breastfeeding you're often hunched over and/or carrying your baby around on one hip, rolling your hips under to hold them or arching your back. This can all lead to improper alignment.
What can you do? Be aware of how your posture is at all times. Sit straight up, don't hunch over or arch your back. Exercises like stretching, yoga or PiYo can absolutely help you to improve posture. Seeing a chiropractor or getting regular massages can also help!
3. Diastasis or Incorrect Core Work
Diastasis is the separation of your ab muscles that happens to many women during/after pregnancy. To read more on this topic in detail and how to heal it or know if you have it, click HERE. This separation can also cause your stomach to protrude in some women. You also need to be aware of strengthening your core in the right way. Again, to read more on this topic click HERE to read my previous blog dedicated to diastasis.
I hope that these reasons give you some clarity to why you might be struggling with the postpartum belly like I was. Know that you are not alone and that ultimately you need to give your body time to heal and recover!
This is a big reason why I created my 3 Day Butt & Gut Challenge for Moms.
What is the 3 Day Butt & Gut Challenge for Moms?
Its a Free 3 Day Challenge that helps moms to get a jump start on reaching their health goals after having kids. Whether you're 8 week postpartum or several years, this challenge can help you start making positive changes in your health.
What is included?
- Daily Butt Toning + Belly Blasting Workouts
- Daily Meal Suggestions
- Simple Healthy Recipes
- Grocery List
- Nutrition How To's
- Daily Accountability + Support
- Advice to Help you Accelerate Your Results
Ready to get started mama? Click here to join.
Join the 3 Day Butt and Gut Free Challenge here!
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