Monday, January 23, 2012

The Long Overdue "Mummy Tummy" Update


It was May 2011 when I originally blogged about my frustrations with my "mummy tummy."  It is now almost eight months later, and I'm finally updating everyone on my progress.  I confess that part of the reason that I haven't posted on this subject until now is that I was so discouraged. I originally thought, "I'll make a plan! I'll stick to my plan! And in six weeks the results will be amazing and everyone will be encouraged and I'll be skinny again! Hooray!!"  And then six weeks passed... and another six weeks... and a few more months... and my stomach still protruded to what I felt was an embarrassing level.

As I mentioned eight months ago, I didn't just have too much fat on my stomach. I suffered from diastasis recti, which is a separation of abdominal muscles, causing internal organs to not be supported, causing a bulging stomach and protruding belly button (cute when you're pregnant, not cute when you're not.)

Although it took much longer than I anticipated (Denver is now almost 17 months old), I am happy to announce that my mummy tummy is almost completely gone! It has certainly taken a lot of hard work and dedication (Yes I did borrow that line from Dolvett on the Biggest Loser), but it's been worth it.


May 27, 2011


January 23, 2012 
(8 months later)


The little tummy that you see left in the above picture is mostly excess skin (TMI? sorry). It's possible that with time, that skin will tighten, but it's also very possible that it won't. As of now, I'm planning to never wear a two-piece again, and I'm pretty okay with that. I'd take Denver over a bikini any day. :)

For those that are interested, here's what I did to lose the tummy:

1. I went to physical therapy every week for 8 weeks, learning new exercises and helping to retrain my muscles.

2. I wore an abdominal splint (and still sometimes do) as often as I can remember to wear it.

3. I do "tupler technique" exercises multiple times a day. Like usually every time I drive, or whenever I'm sitting on the floor playing with Denver, or any time really. I try to do six sets of 100 exercises every day. Yes, that's a lot. But hopefully that gives you an idea of how important this was to me. I reeeeeally didn't want to look pregnant any more, and my lower back needed more support.

My main point of this post is to encourage anyone who is in a similar circumstance. When I look at my blog stats, I notice that other than Austin's post about Denver's birth, my Mummy Tummy post is my other most popular entry. Which makes me think there are other women out there with a similar story.

If you have diastasis recti, and you're feeling frustrated, feel free to email me and I can give you more info on everything I did: caitlinmariehines@gmail.com.

And in the mean time, please know that if you keep up with the right exercises, your muscles can be retrained, and you won't always look 4 months pregnant! :)

5 comments:

  1. Great job, Congratulations!! Awesome dedication!!!! An encouragement for me in perseverance for whatever I want to do!!! Thanks!!

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  2. I am soooo sooo glad I found this post! I have been living with this for 2 years!! My back is pretty much in pain every day, and the ache even continues down my hips and legs. It's like still being 6 months pregnant every day.
    So yes, 2 years of people patting my tummy and commenting "oh, #4 on its way! wonderful" Every week someone asks me if I am expecting. so frustrating. so embarrassing, for me and them. I thought I just had to do my best with exercises, or, learn to accept my new body. No one ever mentioned physical therapy or the splint.
    I am sharing a link to your post today on my own blog. And making a Dr's, or perhaps chiropracter, appointment. Thank you!!

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  3. Hey I saw your comment on my blog, I'm so glad to hear other people having my same frustrations. Not that you have them, but that I'm not alone. Since I'm pregnant right now I won't be working on it till after, but I intend to try the tupler technique this time.

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  4. I am so glad I stumbled across your blog. I totally have diastasis recti and I am feeling a little frustrated. I would love it if you could email me more info on what you did to get rid of it! My email is danerica@gmail.com

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  5. HI! I have DR too! (a "5 finger gap"). I have five beautiful children...my youngest is 15 months old. I have pretty much looked pregnant since my 3rd child was born 6 1/2 years ago. I can lose the weight everywhere but my belly still protrudes.

    Until today, I have thought (and have been told by 3 doctors) that the only way to fix my tummy muscles is through surgery and that the tissue that keeps the muscles together doesn't reestablish itself through exercise. BUT I have been doing some research today and finding out that maybe that it is true after all.

    I just talked to Julie Tuplers (creator of the "Tupler Technique") assistant and ordered her guidebook, DVD and splint. I finally have some hope that I can DO this without painful and expensive surgery!

    Glad I found your site! ;)

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