how can I lose 'the pouch'

[buttercup963]

Hi,

I cant seem to find anything similar on here although its probably been posted before, but it seems for me the top set of my abdominal muscles poke through but I cant seem to get the bottom abs showing, is this because of extra skin from 2 pregnancies/ excces fat or does everyone have this problem, I have looked on the interenet but it just seems to show abdominal workouts but I wondered if there are any specifically to target what I would call the pouch area?
Thank you.

[anandagirl]

It might just take time. Keep eating clean and lifting heavy! Usually it is extra fat that settles right there, but with two pregnancies, it might be just skin that needs to tighten up. From your stats it doesn't look like you really need to lose fat overall, so just be patient and see how it progresses :)

[Mindi912]

It might just take time. Keep eating clean and lifting heavy! Usually it is extra fat that settles right there, but with two pregnancies, it might be just skin that needs to tighten up. From your stats it doesn't look like you really need to lose fat overall, so just be patient and see how it progresses :)

don't listen to a girl who's jumping on her bed and using it as avi :p

lol your avi always makes me giggle

personally I wouldn't go too heavy on direct ab work...

but you're right about diet and patience that's for sure

[tm29]

After my third pregnancy I never thought I'd see my lower abs again! It takes lots and lots and lots of time, and instead of focusing on specific ab exercises, I find it more productive to incorporate core training into everything I do....If I can do it standing on a balance board, I do.

Don't give up!

[anandagirl]

don't listen to a girl who's jumping on her bed and using it as avi :p

lol your avi always makes me giggle

personally I wouldn't go too heavy on direct ab work...

but you're right about diet and patience that's for sureIt makes me giggle too which is why it stays! I hate being too serious! ;)

Oh, and meant lift heavy everywhere else (not really abs) to build muscle to add lean mass which will then help your skin and any fat underneath. :D

[Jmh80]

I would offer Napalm by Avant Labs. I
'm not sponsored by them to log it or a rep for them.
I just bought a bottle in February and have been on a combo of it and Lipoderm-Y (one week Napalm then one of LipoY then repeat) since Feb 23rd.

I can see 4 abs very well and a 5th sort of. I've not had this good of ab development in maybe 7 to 10 years (high school or early college).

Anyway - for fat loss you may give Napalm a shot. It has my seal of approval.



(The loose skin I have no idea about or what to use.)

Good luck!

[Justthe2ofUs]

My wife has been wondering the same thing. Do any of you ladies know of someone or how you lost a considerable about of fat in the abdominal region? Most of the women that we see who seem to "bounce back" after pregnancy were either naturally lean, young (so skin elasticity was a bit better), or didn't have as many kids.
My wife has had 4 children, the last of which was a C-Section. She's beginning to feel that Liposuction or a "tummy tuck" is the only solution.

[Mindi912]

It makes me giggle too which is why it stays! I hate being too serious! ;)

Oh, and meant lift heavy everywhere else (not really abs) to build muscle to add lean mass which will then help your skin and any fat underneath. :D

:D

just checking :)

[buttercup963]

Thanks for the replies everyone, I shall carry on with my workouts and wait and see.

[HawaiianSiren]

have you tried monitoring/lowering your sodium content? my GUT is the biggest part of my body. Once I lowered my sodium content, it started shrinking.

Clean eating.

Good luck on your program! :-D

[pumkin_]

i was thinking about lower abs work, to hold and tighten that area. i have no idea if it actually works, but it makes sense to me. im going to try it :]

[Mumof2]

Hey Buttercup, I have a similar problem. I think, well for me, it is combination of loose skin from pregnancies - I've had 2 as well - and fat....I have always stored my fat mostly on my tummy, and this just got worse with being pregnant and breastfeeding. Even though I have lost a lot of weight - but too much actually - I still have some fat left on my tummy though not really anywhere else! Add to that the excess skin and my poor abs don't have much of a chance. A friend told me a few days ago that after about 5!!!!! years the skin bounces back, thats 5 years after no more babies! lol hhhmm I'mnot sure if that is a positive or not...long time to wait...I do think though that from what I have read that building muscle development in other areas, especially legs, seems to help boost the metabolism to burn more fat and also to tighten up skin. Think I read about it recently on the musclewithattitude website. Just takes time I think hun....Frustrating I know. Right now I look like a sharpei ( no idea bout the spelling sorry!) dog with all my rolls of loose skin!ANd so crepe - like as well. Not pretty! :)

[Ever84]

Hey Buttercup, I have a similar problem. I think, well for me, it is combination of loose skin from pregnancies - I've had 2 as well - and fat....I have always stored my fat mostly on my tummy, and this just got worse with being pregnant and breastfeeding. Even though I have lost a lot of weight - but too much actually - I still have some fat left on my tummy though not really anywhere else! Add to that the excess skin and my poor abs don't have much of a chance. A friend told me a few days ago that after about 5!!!!! years the skin bounces back, thats 5 years after no more babies! lol hhhmm I'mnot sure if that is a positive or not...long time to wait...I do think though that from what I have read that building muscle development in other areas, especially legs, seems to help boost the metabolism to burn more fat and also to tighten up skin. Think I read about it recently on the musclewithattitude website. Just takes time I think hun....Frustrating I know. Right now I look like a sharpei ( no idea bout the spelling sorry!) dog with all my rolls of loose skin!ANd so crepe - like as well. Not pretty! :)

What's that mean for some of us who want more kids???? Like 3? CRAP! I'm in trouble now....And I've heard it just gets worse and worse with every baby...that even the ab muscles start growing outwardly like your pregnant! The gut is absolutely the hardest part of pregnancy recovery! Poo!

[JamesD3]

Being a guy, I have a hard time getting to my lower abs as well. I have a low bodyfat but seem to have a "gut" in that area. I can still see them but not as much as my uppers. So don't worry theres lots of others in the same state. I am just trying to incorperate some lower ab excercises in my ab workout. Just search some up on the bodybuilding.com.

[Mrs_Muscles]

I agree with those who've said you don't really need to focus on fat loss. What I will say is in many ways an extension of what has already been said.

1. Diet is extremely important. Make sure you are getting enough calories and that they are from clean foods. Junk foods, even if you are at your calorie maintenance level, will hinder progress. Healthy clean foods keep your body functioning properly and healthy, which is essential to helping that skin shrink back up.

2. You will more than likely be at your pre-pregnancy weight before that skin shrinks back up. It takes time. As was said, be patient! I know, easier said than done :) I join you here! I want it GONE!

3. Sadly, in some cases genetics can be against you. Some people simply have more elasticity in their skin than others. Although, other factors do come into play (like diet and age).

4. Strength training develops full firm muscles... a perfect anchor for that skin. LOL... yeah, great analogy, I know :p Rather than targeting just that area though, focus on all over strength training. It sounds like your abs are developed, they just need that pooch gone.

Best of luck to you. You're certainly not alone.

[Honey75]

I have the same problem. I've had 3 kids and my gut just doesn't want to disappear. I've been gradually working on cleaning up my diet and doing my workouts on a regular basis. So far, I'm seeing progress yet I still have a ways to go. Just keep plugging along. :)

[buttercup963]

Mine disappears when I breath in, so from now on I will be walking around looking like I am trying to hold in gas then! lol!

[runner05]

Take comfort in being younger... 'cuz I'm sure that is to your benefit in a big way! Got to look at the positive! I'm 42 and feel that it's somewhat hopeless to lose the "pouch" as my kids are older and it's been a part of me for SO long... but I'm not giving up! Perseverance girls!

[ShilohB]

I have lost 130 pounds so far- I know the battle of the skin! A lot of my research has shown that changing body composition is key- some great arguments in favor of that are at www.bodyfatguide.com/LooseSkin.htm. I've been convinced! The thing about skin is this- it's NOT that thick. Pinch the skin on the back of your hand- that's as thick as your skin on your entire body. Now, if the pouch on your lower abs is folded over and thin as a sheet- well that is loose skin. If it has a "roll" feel to it at all, or you can feel anything underneath it, it's fat. Period.

That all being said, I have a few things that I've been doing personally to address the issue based on extensive research:
#1 A Full System Cleanse. I'm not even kidding. Check out this website if you can stomach it- www.drnatura.com. That pooch on your belly could just be accumulated "matter" that your system needs help getting rid of. And if you're feeling really brave, read the info on parasites. Oh yes. We all have them. You wouldn't believe the things I saw staring back at me....
#2 Skin Brushing. It stimulates the lymphatic system, gets lymph fluid moving, strengthens the skin and improves it's overall tone. Plus it feels awesome and is almost like a daily treat to yourself. It takes me a little over 5 minutes to do my whole body. You can google skin brushing and get all kinds of info. After the skin brushing, I lotion myself up with a mixture of emu and coconut oil. My skin is glowing and soft, and I can feel the elasticity in it. You can google emu oil too and read some of the amazing healing properties.

[PLANETGETLOW]

I have lost 130 pounds so far- I know the battle of the skin! A lot of my research has shown that changing body composition is key- some great arguments in favor of that are at www.bodyfatguide.com/LooseSkin.htm. I've been convinced! The thing about skin is this- it's NOT that thick. Pinch the skin on the back of your hand- that's as thick as your skin on your entire body. Now, if the pouch on your lower abs is folded over and thin as a sheet- well that is loose skin. If it has a "roll" feel to it at all, or you can feel anything underneath it, it's fat. Period.

That all being said, I have a few things that I've been doing personally to address the issue based on extensive research:
#1 A Full System Cleanse. I'm not even kidding. Check out this website if you can stomach it- www.drnatura.com. That pooch on your belly could just be accumulated "matter" that your system needs help getting rid of. And if you're feeling really brave, read the info on parasites. Oh yes. We all have them. You wouldn't believe the things I saw staring back at me....
#2 Skin Brushing. It stimulates the lymphatic system, gets lymph fluid moving, strengthens the skin and improves it's overall tone. Plus it feels awesome and is almost like a daily treat to yourself. It takes me a little over 5 minutes to do my whole body. You can google skin brushing and get all kinds of info. After the skin brushing, I lotion myself up with a mixture of emu and coconut oil. My skin is glowing and soft, and I can feel the elasticity in it. You can google emu oil too and read some of the amazing healing properties.

Great feedback!!

[Honey75]

Great post, ShilohB! I'm a big fan of coconut oil! Works great inside and out.

[SirSavageX]

I would offer Napalm by Avant Labs.

Avant Research. ;)