Lol, Caught your attention? Good. Can someone please give me some advice on how to get rid of a hanging belly. Please don't tell me surgery cause I rather be without more scars. I've been overweight since I was 11, I am now 26. I have had one child, c-section but only a bikini line cut so it's not down my belly, it's right under it. Please tell me there is an exercise that I can do that will give the elastisity back to my skin, or a cream? I've been doing sit ups, crunches, ab-lounge, ab-sport, and that machine at the gym that makes you twist your body using your abs and weights. I've seen a change in my waistline, but the sag...there's gotta be a way to get it to go back in place...I mean come on, my belly button is nearly in parallel with my crotch...please!
After having my third child via c-section at the age of 46, I had a tummy tuck and believe it is the best thing I ever did. Before I became pregnant I weighed 110 pounds (5ft tall) and still had a hanging belly from my first two pregnancies and years of yo-yo dieting. It was so much worse after the third baby, especially since I gained a lot of weight during my pregancy. I waited two years, until I lost most of my weight. I also "trained" for the surgery by eating clean prior and working out regularly. The pain was manageable; I was off prescription meds in three days and recovery was easier than expected. You have to prepare and do a lot research on surgeons. Interview them, look at their pictures and ask to talk to satisfied patients. You also need to make sure your expectations are realistic. I do cardio, strength training, and pilates regularly and my body never looked as good as it does post surgery. I never thought I would get plastic surgery, but it is the best thing I have ever done for myself.
There is nothing you can do besides surgery and it can cause health problems. That belly hang you describe is called a pannus. It can cause constant skin rashes, etc. . .
I don't want to encourage you to have surgery if you don't want it, but I'll share my story.
I was overweight most of my life until I finally got a handle on how to control my weight and lose it. I went from 270lbs down to 120lbs. Needless to say, I had the same issue of what I called a belly flop. I had a full tummy tuck and yes, it was worth it.
A foundation garment will not stop the flopping when you dance or run and after a point, it gets down right painful, mentally and physically. The way I look at it, the surgery cost less than buying a car and I'm going to be in my body forever so why is that not worth more than a car? The tummy tuck hurts worse than the C-section and takes about a month before you start to feel anything resembling normal. Some people will tell you it is less, but they had a mini-tummy tuck. If your belly button is down to your crotch, you are going to need a fully tummy tuck to fix it. The only regret I have now is that I didn't do a full body lift while I was at it because now, I can't seem to find a full three weeks together I can take off from work to get it done.
On a more positive side, I am a size 2 now and love that my stomach is flatter than some of my staff that are ten or more years younger than I am. My plastic surgeon improved my C-section scar because he stitched a lot better than an OB/GYN ever does. You can't even see the scar from my tummy tuck now because it faded with time and my plastic surgeon was awesome.
Go Girl! Get the tummy tuck!
There seems to be two differing of issues here. Some of you are talking about 'pouches' of fat, which can be exercised and dieted into submission, and others are talking about massive amounts of loose skin. The skin, after it's been stretched to a certain point, just won't snap back no matter what you do, eat or how much you exercise. The only solution is surgery. There are no easy fixes and it's an unfortunate side effect of substantial weight loss. Just when you've accomplished what you once felt was impossible and should be feeling good about yourself... Life just isn't fair.
The best thing you can do for fat loss (hanging belly) is to do interval cardio. That combined with the ab routines you are doing and eating healthy will drastically reduce fat. The skin elasticity issue i don't exactly know what clinical things would work (creams and such) but fat loss is going to be your best first step. You can even google interval cardio routines and get lots of options. Also P90X's Ab Ripper dvd is a great 18 min ab work out. It's a bit intense but lots of fun. You will definitely feel accomplished. Good Luck!
I understand that, when I changed my diet and stopped eating certain foods that had created my weight gain from 128 to 162 over the years, that what I wanted was not what my Dr. 10 years earlier had said was even possible. I guess the reality of being handed 4 prescriptions, (1. High Blood Pressure, 2. To loose weight, 3. For pre diabetes-insulin, 4. Water reduction), was enough to shake me up to the point that I had completely gone against my principles. No meds, eat healthy, not from a box, little as possible processed foods, now the fats (triglicerides), and no more licorice pastels (by the one lb. bag at a sitting). The diet was extreme, but I really liked all the veggies, beans, rice, spaghetti, etc. I never learned to dislike food and was always able to keep up with myself and watch my weight, it was ok until, the principles went out the window. Stress was the biggest problem for me. I could not unwind, even swimming laps (I can't swim, but I could hang on to a float board, put my head down and kick like crazy, for a mile, every other night after work.) It wasn't enough. The diet said I could reverse my cholesterol level, lower my high blood pressure, lower my blood glucose level, and eventually gain control of what I had lost, but I needed to cut out meat, poultry, fish & dairy. I needed to stick to a Multi Vitamin, and eat moderately of plant based oils (peanut, sunflower,) and eat sparingly of nuts (almonds, peanut butter, avocado), and plants to get the omegas that I needed. My Dr. agreed to help me out with the plan, and I was dropping all counts last blood test I took. I got a Blood Glucose Monitor to test with and am well within range. I am happy for my weight loss, it happened so slowly, that the fat lost in the muscle was pretty much absorbed. I am using Jojoba Oil for my face and night time Curel by Johnson & Johnson. I don't want to be a model at 69 years of age, but I am down to 115 lbs, and wear a size 6 from all the other sizes I had in my closet. I watch what I eat every day, and I cook for myself - but I also know that I can have a small amount of anything at least weekly, sometimes every other day if it is in small amounts. Then right back to what I know really works - for me:) You guys are so great and yes, a good undergarment helps you out for a while, but mine don't fit anymore, so I bought myself some lacey little stuff that I love:) aea
I have been told that surgery is the only way to resolve this issue, but I am finding that by doing yoga and working very mindfully on building my core that my stomach is flatter than it's ever been. Yes, I have some lose skin, but it seems to be lessening. Something like pilates or yoga that works with the smaller deeper muscles and doesn't allow you to use your back or your arms to crank yourself into a situp, may be the ticket. Surgery is certainly a reasonable option, but I'm encouraged by my progress. I do vinayasa yoga, hot yoga and forest yoga and I go to 60 to 90 minute classes 3 to 5 days a week.
I vote for the tummy tuck.
There is only so much you can do with diet and exercise and if you feel that you have taken those two avenues as far as you can, then the tummy tuck is the next option.
I am going to do it, eventually. It's a money issue and a time for recovery issue.
Also, I am still working on how much I can change my body by lifting weights and regular aerobic exercise. It's that last 10 lbs problem.
Check out your fiber consumed each day. Usually, no less than 40 grams of fiber per day will give you a natural roughage to help the digestion and elimination process in your system. The fiber is easily met with a high fiber cereal and milk, that can be used for your snack times @ 11 gr per serving (you can also use it for a yogurt mixture, or with your favorite diet pudding). I also like to use it as my base and mix in the cereal until the soya pudding is very full of cereal - this base is then eaten with a spoon and is very crunchy to consume (about 1/2 - 3/4 C cereal). Raw carrots are a good nibble also? No recovery time, easier on your body to try, and perhaps it will fall into the grocery list without a lot of cost since the money is an issue - I share in that one. It may not hurt the body to prepare for your surgery coming up!! Good luck in all fronts. aea
Get yourself a copy of a little ebook called the Truth About Abs. It provides the science of getting a flat stomach lol. I brought it and I think its a good book to read if you want techniques on how to use foods to cut fat. Its written by a nutritional scientist and the book dispels a lot of dieting myths. for example in the book they explain why you should drink soy milk if getting flat stomach in one on your primary goals--hope i helped
Dr. Neal Bernard - program for reversing diabetes without medication -. Gary Null - get healthy now, The Glucose Revolution Life Plan - Glycemic Index. I have also had the original book from my father about The Adkins Diet and saw what happened there. I also did a Rotation Diet, very healthy, but not enough as I grew older. Many leaflets from Jack LaLanne through his program. Love food and want the best for me. Thank you for your input, yes it is "fitting" to help the body. After all it helps you:) aea
Original Post by edible_artemis:
Lol, Caught your attention? Good. Can someone please give me some advice on how to get rid of a hanging belly. Please don't tell me surgery cause I rather be without more scars. I've been overweight since I was 11, I am now 26. I have had one child, c-section but only a bikini line cut so it's not down my belly, it's right under it. Please tell me there is an exercise that I can do that will give the elastisity back to my skin, or a cream? I've been doing sit ups, crunches, ab-lounge, ab-sport, and that machine at the gym that makes you twist your body using your abs and weights. I've seen a change in my waistline, but the sag...there's gotta be a way to get it to go back in place...I mean come on, my belly button is nearly in parallel with my crotch...please!
As most have said, there really isn't much you can do. It will tighten a little bit and I mean little by exercise but all in all, it's there for life.
I have it, had three c-sections and don't wear a two piece suit! Not a big deal to me but you're young so I can understand where you're coming from.
Do what you feel is best for you. No one can make that decision but you!
Good Luck!
Honestly.... you are 26. That means you have 50-70 more years to look at that belly. A friend of mine, in her 50s, got a tummy tuck. Afterwards, she was so MAD at herself only because she wished she had it done in her 30s... she looks back at all the years wasted she could have had with a sleek tummy. Good luck to you!!!!
This is a real personal problem that I guess we have to some degree after a certain age or because of cutting edge proceedures have caused certain muscles to weaken. Perhaps it is not anything but what is to be expected when the female decides to give up her body to have her child and whatever happens as a result. Good care reasons that if you have exercised right before your pregnancy for about 6 months and have gotten into shape and maintained it for a period (and every body is different), that you can maintain the same level of exercise if you donot over exert the muscles that support the fetus growing inside. Thus, you may not look like you are the prom queen, but you certainly can see yourself going home with your baby in a dress that you wore before maternity clothes. The worst offender that I can remember was breads, cakes, pastries, doughnuts, because that is left on the hips, belly and thighs. Now it is said that sodas as well as carbonated and artificially sweetened drinks do the same (not sure about that because I don't drink them anyway). Stand, walk, run, etc. always thinking about the 1, 2, 3, pull the belly in - helps to form a mental attitude that will help you in the long run. I feel that sit ups in all forms are the best for this control and I do and have worn support type undies for reasons of my back. I feel these have helped all my life until now and I am 70:) Hope this can help you too!:) aea
