Special K Diet and Losing Belly from Baby ADVISE

Sugar is the #1 cause of belly fat. Look closely at your diet and clean it up.

Again, you can't spot reduce - but if you need to strengthen the muscle, planks are the best medicine for post-childbirth re-training. Your transverse abdominis is the muscle UNDER the other muscles (that "6 pack muscle we all see") that actually acts as a corset to you core. It gets totally destroyed during pregnancy, so you need to build that strength back up. It's the muscle that will give your tummy that flat look.

Planks work magic to get your core back.
Here is a how to - pay very close attention to your form. As they get easier, change up the way that you do them.
http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/abdominalcorestrength1...

Once you can get through several of these in a day, holding them for a minute at a time, *then* start adding in other ab work, like crunches.

You can do these anywhere, anytime. On the floor while playing with the baby. Stop and do one as you're cooking dinner. Do one in the bathroom after washing your hands...Just get them done.

You can't spot reduce. You don't get to choose where the fat will fall off from. Of course if you only have belly fat - chances are, it will come from there.

Any diet will work - but it's temporary. Sensible eating plus excercise will always give you great results.

Personally - I wouldn't do it. Eat less bad fat, sugar, bad carbs and you will lose that belly fat.

Lean meats, veggies, fruits, nuts and seeds. Eat foods in their natural form (no processed foods) as much as possible and you will lose fat. Plus a good mix of cardio/strength training. Building muscle will burn fat.

Best wishes!!

I don't know if there is a way to lose it just in your belly. I think you have to your whole body overall.

It's almost impossible to specifically target an area on your body. They only way you can do that is through lipo. However, I do know that low carb diets do take away belly fat. That is because carbs a typically deposited onto your belly area.

I do have to warn you that your stomach may never be the same. You may get back down to 105 and still have a little belly. But it will just be some excess skin. The only way to get rid of that would be a tummy tuck. You may just have to get used to your new body. Everyone's body changes after having a baby. It will NEVER be the same as it was. It doesn't matter how much you diet or excercise. Trust me I was down to 104 lbs after my 3rd and still had a belly. But only I could see it with no clothes on.

There is NO such thing as losing weight in just isolated places. It's a myth that too many people believe. To lose fat you have to look at your diet and you have to exercise. Yes, abdominal exercises are essential but if you have fat around your midsection and you are not willing to modify your diet and exercise regularly, then the belly fat will remain. I would suggest you begin by looking at what you eat and drink. Add more fruits, vegetables, lean cuts of meat, avoid processed foods, avoid fast food, limit your sugar intake (cut out colas/sweetened beverages), limit your fat...but most importantly you need exercise. Anything that raises your heart rate (cardio) burns fat...and this is exactly what you need. If you hold onto the idea that you don't want to lose weight anywhere else, then I am sorry to say that your belly will stay with you for a good long time. You can include weight training to help build/tone/strengthen your muscles. Muscle does weigh more than fat but to see the muscle tone, you do have to get rid of the fat. Also, I personally do not believe in diets. Do you intend to stay on a special K diet forever? Because if you don't begin modify what "normal" foods you eat, then a diet is what you will forever be on just to maintain what you lost. You have to be willing to make changes to a healthier eating style.

And, I've had 3 c-sections, about to have my 4th in a few months. While it is true that a c-section does affect our belly, you should still be able to lose the fat and get your tummy flatter than it is today.

Lower your sugar, avoid carbonated drinks, alcohol and caffiene, stick to high fiber/high protein foods for diet. I just switched to clean eating (Tosca Reno and the Eat Clean Diet- google it).

As for exercise, though you do not want to lose anywhere else, it order to get rid of fat (no matter where it resides), you need to do cardio...even if it is only 20-30 minutes a few times a week. Other than that, I would try plank positions, side plank positions, roll outs on a large exercise ball, etc. Things that really really get the core -- not just crunches. Sit ups will not do it and will mostly target the hip flexors. Crunches on the ground also won't really do it. Crunches on a fitness ball are better. I lost my belly in 4 mos with baby 1, 7 mos with baby 2 (they were only 17 mos apart) and I am currently prego with #3 (21 weeks). It can be done (I had a c-section with #2). Of course, you may always have some extra/loose skin there -- it has to do with your skin elasticity/collagen/age and not necessarily fat though.

Best wishes!

Hi, A.,

I'm not one to recommend dieting in general, but I found "The Flat Belly Diet" to be a really good resource. I didn't follow the diet per se, but I integrated some of the ideas from the book into my lifestyle with good results. It's out in paperback now for 10 bucks - I've even seen it for sale at Target. I think it has a better, more sustainable plan than the Special K diet.

Good luck!
H. S.

sit ups/ crunches and side to side crunches, start slow with the crunches but try to do at least ten a day to start

The belly goes last no matter which diet you do. If you only have 15 pounds left to lose, it's all in your belly and it will be gone once you lose that. Don't lose faith! Spot training is no use, you need overall muscle training and cardio and great pure diet and it will all come off. Belly last. Been there done that 3 times. Now, whenever I put on 5-10 pounds, it goes right back to my belly, but it always comes off too.

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I have always struggled with my belly and even doing planks, leg lifts, crunches, sit ups did not make it go away (it does definitely help but it doesn't make it go away). The thing that really, really has helped is changing the way I eat so that I don't eat white bread, white pasta, potatoes, or much sugar at all. I might have a half potato once every 2 weeks. Whole wheat pasta maybe once a week. 2 pieces of whole grain bread a day. I love my sweets so I make special brownie-cupcakes with fiber and have 1 a day and no other sweets at all. I eat a ton of fruits and veggies. If you don't need to lose weight, I would just change what you are eating, eat more fruits and veggies (even if you prepare them with butter, cheese and/or breadcrumbs made from AllBran crackers), do even 5 minutes a day of planks and side planks and I'm sure you will see a change.

Hi, A.:

check Dr. Phil's website. He is promoting the 17 day diet.
Participants from home can get involved.
Good luck.
D.

I AM SO EXCITED THAT YOU ASKED THIS!!!!

NOTHING can get rid of the c-section belly (short of surgery). I got fed up and have been working on a line of lingerie for us C-section Mommas...one that you can wear during intimate times and your husband will never see your "flap" or flab!

It is coming out in a few weeks in time for Valentines. Email me with any questions. :)

www.SexCies.com

Are u still breastfeeding. I worked and exercised so hard to lose my belly. Nothing helped. When my daughter was 11 months I stopped breast feeding completely and my belly fat left. I did not fit the typical lose all the baby weight from breast feeding group