The Truth About Post Pregnancy Abs!
How to get a flat belly after having babies?
Let me start my saying, I am a mommy of two boys and I have a flat, tight belly! So yes, it is absolutely possible to get flat Abs post pregnancy. I also want to clarify that it took me about 2 years after having my second child to completely lose belly fat and gain enough muscle for my Abs to look toned.
I also want to add that there is a huge difference between having a flat tummy and having 6 pack Abs that pop! If you are looking for the latter, then this is not the right article for you. To get 6 pack Abs that pop you need to have very low body fat and a very strict diet. This is something that fitness models or people who want to enter fitness competitions follow.
In this article I am talking about sexy, toned Abs that you can rock in a two-piece bikini or just feel comfortable in your own skin without worrying about love handles or a flabby tummy!
So let me give you a few tips that have specifically helped me to lose those last 3 – 5 pounds, especially around my mid-section.
1. Abs Are Made In The Kitchen:
Food plays a major role in losing abdominal fat. Unless you are an Olympic level athlete and burn thousands of calories every day, you need to rely 90% on nutrition to get flat Abs. Here are a few food tips:
A. Think about adding local, unprocessed foods to every meal and really watch the timing and portion sizes. It is what, when and how much you eat that will make or break your Abs!
B. Add good fats like olive oil, avocado, walnuts, coconut oil and ghee to your meals. Fats help to regulate appetite, add flavor to your food and help you stay focused.
C. Stop eating refined sugar and processed food. Anything that comes out of a can, a plastic bag or the freezer usually falls in this category. Check labels of everything that is not fresh produce.
2. Stop doing extended hours of steady state cardio:
Well, there is nothing wrong with doing an hour of elliptical trainer or the treadmill if you have the patience and if it works for you! Personally I get bored using the treadmill for 60 minutes and feel very hungry after. For me doing short, high intensity workouts, works the best. I am using all I have got in those 30 minutes and it is the most effective way to keep burning calories even after you stop exercising.
3. What about the lose skin?
Your skin stretches quite a bit when you are pregnant. So many people get lose skin post pregnancy. Women are worried that they will get more lose skin if they lose more belly fat. Your best friend at this point is strength training. With strength training you are not just losing fat but also gaining lean muscle in your core. The more muscle you have, the tighter your Abs will look and less prominent the lose skin will be. I promise it works!
4. My favorite core exercise:
First of, you cannot just do core strengthening exercises and get tight Abs. Your exercise routine needs to include high intensity functional moves; high intensity cardio, strength training and flexibility training to melt away that fat and tone up the abdominal muscles.
But one move that really targets Abs muscles without straining your back is the Plank! The Plank targets all the core muscles as well as your glutes, upper body and hamstrings all at the same time. This exercise can never get old as it has so many variations and you can make it harder as you get stronger.
Hope these tips were helpful! I highly recommend checking out the Om Meal Plan below. This plan has all the tips you need to be able to eat correctly to burn off that excess fat. It is all based on eating real, wholesome food that will help get rid of that bloated feeling and toxins in your body. It also has healthy recipes, food lists and tips you can use when you go out to eat! Check it out!
