Postpartum Belly: Why You Might Look Pregnant & How to Tone It

Question
My stomach will not go down.  I don't expect it to be flat, because I am about 30 lbs overweight.  I know some of the weight I carry is in my stomach, but I really look like I am 4-5 months pregnant again.  Help!!!!!!

Answer
Lots of postpartum women have this problem, even skinny ones.

What you need to do is first: build strength in your deepest abdominal layer, your Transverse Abdominis (TvA) and then second, train to muscle to function as a stabilizer so that you can maintain a flat abdominal profile during exercise.

The TvA is the body's internal "girdle" and when contracted, compresses the abdomen and pulls the abdominal wall closer to the spine. If you do exercises like crunches with a weak or poorly functioning TvA, then the abdominal wall will bulge outward on exertion.

If you try do rehab your abs this way they will never flatten. In fitness, what you practice is what you get.

For more details on how to rehab your abs after pregnancy, go to http://befitmom.com/abdominal_reconditioning.html