QuestionQUESTION: For Helene please!
I am a 39 year old mother of 6- and 2.5-year-old daughters. Pre-pregnancy I was a size 2 and 5' 4" tall. Since the birth of my second daughter 2.5 yrs ago, my stomach has been bulging (esp. at night) to the point where I do look pregnant again! Having spent many hours doing computer research, a visit to my ob/gyn and to our family doctor, I have concluded that trying Helen's "Bounce Back Fast" dvd is the only solution to this belly-bulge (focussing especially on the transv. abdom. muscle). My outer ab muscles are pretty tight, but it's the muscle responsible for pulling in this stommach that must need the work! So, my question is this....how long will it take before I see some results?! I have some big 40th birthday plans coming up (as well as bikini season!); I am doing the 35 min program about 6 times per week and working on the transv. abd. in the car by simply holding it in. Also, is this enough to take away the huge belly, or am I too late? Thank you so much for your help, and your dvd!!
ANSWER: It takes about three weeks to build the initial foundation of strength in your TvA. Full rehab of your abs can take anywhere from 10 to 16 weeks, depending on how often and how well you perform the exercises.
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QUESTION: I have been doing interval training and ab work for several months now (at least 10 weeks), and the "BB Fast" DVD exclusively for a couple of weeks. Although I am not expecting perfection just yet, I have noticed absolutely no change in my bulge, despite checking continually that I am performing the exercises properly. Do I need to be doing something more, or is there a possibility that the damage is permanent?
AnswerStop doing all ab work that flexes/rolls the upper body off the floor of against the force of gravity as these movements will cause the external abdominals to overpower your Transverse Abdominis, or TvA. When your TvA is really strong, you should be able to dramatically change the shape of your abdomen when you contract the muscle.
You can also try splinting you abs on all of the moves that utilize the belly scoop technique. With your hands, push your abdomen down and toward your center mid line to get a really deep scoop, then re-tighten your muscles, and perform the exercise/reps so that you are using them in the best position possible.
Watch you daily body usage. Posture can greatly effect the shape of your abdomen. Make sure that your pelvis is neutral. If the pelvis is tipped, then the abdominals are continually stretched and the viscera will tend to fall down and forward into your abdomen.
It's also common for women to tend to push their abdomens outward while lifting and carrying too.
