Crabmommy's Mom-Flap Challenge: A progress report

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  Posted by HotCrossBuns Mon Jul 28, 2008 12:03pm PDT

  I've heard the same thing about some exercises emphasizing the ab flap. I've been concentrating more on an overall cardio workout than on an ab-target workout,and both my heiney and my mom-gut are benefitting.

  I've been jumping on the trampoline for 10 minutes every night after dinner. I look like a lunatic in my backyard for all my neighbors to gawk at (although my husband seems to be enjoying it!), but I've lost an overall 4 pounds from my rear and my abs (in almost 2 weeks!). My pants are looser in the waist, so I know it's working the abs.

  I've also been doing breathing/toning exercises throughout the day. I spend a few minutes concentrating on breathing in and letting all of my tummy muscles go limp...Then exhale slowly (count of 4 or 5) and use my ab muscles to blow all the air out of me that I can and then hold the ab and rib muscles as tight as I can for a count of five seconds. Relax them again as I inhale slowly. I do this for about 5 breaths in a row, 5-6 times a day. It seems to be doing more than the general cardio, because I can see and feel the muscles I use getting tighter.

  As for the flap of skin from having all of my babies too close together and carrying each of them between my thighs for the last trimesters, I think the only thing that will get rid of that is a few thousand dollars and a good plastic surgeon. I guess I'll stick to tummy control panties for now and work on the muffin top some more!

  PS I've cut most sugars out of my diet, too. I drink about a half gallon of unsweetened green tea a day.

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  Posted by Alex Mon Jul 28, 2008 1:54pm PDT

  I was freaked out about that too when I read other people's posts. I was still very excited and I went out and bought a double jogging stroller (used, of course) and have been taking the babes out for walks around town. The terrain is pretty insane so I forgot about some muscles I used to have! It's been working because my tummy is slowly flattening.

  I have also been doing push-ups and flying my babies around on my shins. Five minutes go by in no time. This encouraged me to start working on my upper body and trying to get my nice calves back.

  Now if I could only get rid of my sweet tooth...

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  Posted by Crabmommy Mon Jul 28, 2008 2:01pm PDT

  Hot damn, Hotcross! You are one motivated gal. I would kill for a trampoline--I believe that does wonders. Skipping ropes too. I am on the verge of buying one...this mom-flap stuff is morphing into a desire for total makeover (if not quite yet the motivation to ACTUALLY do it).

  You sound like you're flying high on this one. Sounds like you will have hot buns to match your name before the month is over! YAY FOR YOU! Very impressive stuff.

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  Posted by Crabmommy Mon Jul 28, 2008 2:10pm PDT

  Faye, you rock!! And I hear you ont he sweet tooth...heading off for a little pile of Gummi worms now. Mmmm.

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  Posted by cara Mon Jul 28, 2008 11:44pm PDT

  walk...I am THE laziest person, was a smoker, had 1 c-section and two ten pounders before, all on a petite fame and belly so I understand the baby belly remnents...but I am telling you, my belly is not a non-mom's belly, but I am happy. I started out walking, which lead to jaunting, to jogging...now for a minimun of an hour a day. That coupled with cutting out condiments and eating lots and lots of protein. Tyson's chicken patty's on 1 slice of whole grain bread, yum and you can have like 3 or 4 a day ( with sunchips )PLUS a hershy BAR for a midnight snack yes, the whole thing!! And of course 2 eggwhite w/ half a piece of toast for breakfast. I'm telling you, I'm by no means a babe...but I feel good. Also, blueberries anytime of day. I'm telling you, run, regardless of how slow you are, how stupid you THINK you look, coupled with that diet I mentioned, try it for a week and the weight will fall off. ( I've found I loose myself more when I run outside....and I tone more, it only makes sense...oxygen prob flows better through us, so make sure it's outside exersise ) Pilates is great for your abs too.

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  Posted by Sew Flake Tue Jul 29, 2008 6:05am PDT

  Y'all are so motivating. I want to get into doing all this. :( I signed up to do the ab challenge last week then I ended up getting in a wreck on Tuesday so all that kinda stuff is out for me for a bit. Any suggestions on what I can do for now? This sucks! I just got a treadmill on Monday too and then bam! the next day. hahah isn't that just how luck goes? Guess i could still walk slowly on the treadmill couldn't I? I think it just mainly hurt my shoulder and my neck a little bit from the seat belt and I tensed up real bad when I hit so I think it made my muscles all tired. And it hurts to put deoderant on my right side but not my left.

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  Posted by Jennifer R Tue Jul 29, 2008 6:25am PDT

  Hey girl - can you describe the Tupler technique?

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  Posted by Jennifer R Tue Jul 29, 2008 6:27am PDT

  Hey Chattnmama - You should check with your doc about those injuries - see if he recommends something .. I always use a hot bath and Epsom salts to help sore muscles - it works amazingly

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  Posted by Stephanie Tue Jul 29, 2008 6:44am PDT

  I started my own Mom- flap challenge in January. Most of my life I was overweight and after baby well then it was just laziness. So for four years I tried to get rid of the ol' gut, fad diets, sporadic exercise whatever... then in January I got MAD- not crazy mad, but angry mad. I was so sick of going up and down on the scale and having to constantly worry about the size of my jeans when I went shopping for clothes. So you know what? I researched and read and tried something new. I changed what I ate and how I exercised. I learned: 1) cardio is the fastest way to burn calories. 2) cardio is also what will shrink your tummy. There is a layer of fat below the muscle in your stomach and you have to burn that first before those stomach exercises will work. So I would suggest walking at first either on a treadmill, or around your neighborhood. Then when you're comfortable at a good level, ease into a light jog. I started that in Jan. and then was running by Feb. and have lost 10 pounds. Yes it was hard, especially when all the fitness experts say you can "lose a pound a week" Baloney- more like a pound a month- but it STAYS OFF as long as you cut down on the sugar, fatty foods, etc. I was a fairly healthy eater to begin with so that's why I think it took longer, but once I started to run the weight really did come off. It's all about moving your body more to burn the fat. Also- I read that if you do something for 30 days it becomes a habit and harder to break so keep going and see if you can make it a whole month :) Good Luck!

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  Posted by Fox Tue Jul 29, 2008 6:48am PDT

  10-minute work out DVDs that I find on Amazon.com. The Pilates for pregos has a great post-prego workout. All are 10 minutes. Do something different everyday, not just ab-flab workouts. Work your legs and back, that'll help take weight off which will make your core easier to work with.

  Drink water! Stop with the ultra-sweet uber fake drinks and get back to basics.

  -XX-

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