Losing that stomach "pooch" - help

I had a baby 2.5 years ago. Along with that baby I gained around 53 pounds.

I used to weigh 115 had my daughter and shot up to 168 (last time I was weighed a week before having her). I have been exercising 20-30 minutes a day on my elliptical - not faithfully, though I do try to at least 3 times per week. I get so bored. I am now down to 120, so I still have those few extra pounds to lose.

So my question is I have that little "pooch" that I just can't get rid of. Will it go away? It isn't loose skin or anything. I just don't know how to make it go away. It is my only problem area. My legs are back to where I want them to be, my arms are fine - it is just my stomach.

I heard crunches won't necessarily make it go away because you have to lose that extra body fat through exercise.

It is so frustrating and I am so self concious about it. I am actually skinny enough that I could wear a bikini and feel comfortable, had I not had that pouch that you can see right above my pubic bone.

[kitsch_k]

havent had a baby yet so i dont really have advice to give you..have you explored other options like minor surgery?

I've thought about something like lipo, but my husband is totally and completely against it. He doesn't know "what my problem is" or why I'm so self concious about it. We will probably have more children, so I will probably wait until after all of that for any kind of surgery.

i haven t got a baby yet but the belly is here already
i m so lazy to exercise
but i know crunches are the only way
and maybe a highly proteined(not sure if that is an english word lol ) diet

I dont have kids, but I know the best way to loose any wieght is by exercising, once you get moving, you actually start to get used to it and start liking it!

I am a victim of the pooch. I have 2 kids (6 yr and 2 yr) . I am sad because it won't go away on its own. It evens bothers me more when i sit down. I just cant take it any more so i just bought an elliptical trainer for christmas and i am going to spend about an hour a day . It will take discipline to make the pooch go away.

The tummy area is the hardest area to get tightened up especially after children. You will have to do many crunches as well as cardio. Watching what you eat will help too.

[lcsamano]

I think the only way is by doing crunches or some other sort of exercise that tones the stomach area. I have had children my self and I have the pooch. I think it might just be alittle extra skin from when your belly stretches.

I agree, crunches is one of the best ways. I used to start with 30 per day, and Im adding up 20 every week. I also do some back exercises coz I have a mild scoliosis.

[kitsch_k]

aww im sooo lazy just thinking about crunches makes me tired already...

try to exercise and target that specific area, i think that would help lessen the pooch

[lcsamano]

Also try a treadmill. Since it is winter it is really to cold to walk so using a treadmill can also help you. As well try using an Ab Lounge. My mom has one and she has toned her stomach up alot.

Pilates is supposed to help with the baby pooch! The problem with it, I find, is that for it to work it has to be done more than once a month.

[pinkbag]

i am trying to work the pooch by doing crunches and Yoga, There is a position /aasan in it called KapaalBhaati. It is really helping me in this case with immediate results.

[erindallas]

Try doing crunches on one of those inflatable balls. It makes the ab muscles work harder.

but if you really want to get rid of it in a short time then you can opt for liposuction or other surgical procedures

I think exercising the area would help a great deal. Running and ab exercises would be the thing. I have an exercise tape that I love. I'll have to look at the name later; )my baby is sleeping in my lap right now).

a belly tuck is also one of the best option you have coz i saw a program on tv about this and the result is really amazing

[etali]

It sounds like your weight is fine now and you just need to tone the muscle in the area. Crunches should work, but they'll take time. I'd recommend some regular aerobic exercise just to keep the rest of you in shape, combined with crunches to target the differen ab muscles. Stick with it and you'll be toned in no time

[britjojo]

I have the post baby pooch too. I have repeatedly read that if it is loose skin, it takes forever to go. If it is saggy muscle then you need to specifically work on those muscles, and if you can't do it on your own, maybe you should go see a trainer for advice.

[gabsmom123]

I just had my first baby and she is 4 months old and I am really beating myself up about it. I went from being a model to a mama and now it is really killing me to try to lose this. I never really had to try hard to lose weight, but now it seems that I have to try so hard. Another mom suggested to me to walk every chance that you get and drink more water and stay away from sweets and she said this helped her to lose the weight.

[britjojo]

And you can also use your baby to help. Do exercises like sit ups whilst holding her, and take long walks with her in a sling or pouch on your chest. Are your nursing? That does wonders for weight loss in many women.