Why Crunches Can Actually Make Mummy Tummy WORSE!

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Postnatal crunches can make 'mummy tummy' worse? Eeeeek! What? Can that be correct? I thought sit-ups were part of the recipe for a washboard stomach. Well, that is definitely not the case if you have just given birth to a sweet little bundle of joy that has unfortunately left you with abs separation. I've learned that curling movements and those that load the core too much can exacerbate the problem and leave us with a pot belly. Perhaps not the look you are going for long term? Me neither!

It was actually happening to me. I was getting fitter but my belly was pooching and I was experiencing some bladder leakage after tough workouts. I’ve started studying for certifications in this area because I want to serve you better than 99.9% of the fitness industry that neglects diastasis recti and pelvic floor function.

NOTE: First let me say, as new moms I think we should give ourselves a break and love our bodies. We should thank ourselves for growing these adorable little humans! I also hope that if we want a flat tummy again, and are wiling to work for it, we can have it.

I am in the process of healing my abs separation. You'll see my baby boy in the video above. I was fortunate to only have about two fingers of abs separation following his birth. The downside was that the separation was quite long and deep and my pelvic floor was a bit weak from a tough birth.

Some women have a lot more to heal so I feel fortunate. I have spent a lot of time and energy researching this condition. Diastasis recti is the official name. To get down to basics, according to WebMD,“Diastasis recti” means your belly sticks out because the space between your left and right belly muscles has widened. You might call it a “pooch.” It's very common among pregnant women. About two-thirds of pregnant women have it.

I've had a several physical therapy appointments and have been educating myself on diastasis recti and pelvic floor function.. In the video above, Tori from Peaches Pilates and I show you how to tell if you have abs separation and also demonstrate a few exercises she recommends to clients. As always, be sure to consult with your physician. Below you will also find a Q and A to dive a little deeper.

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15 Tips To Make and KEEP Fitness Goals... Advice From Top Trainers

It's always tough to make and keep fitness goals and resolutions if we don't have a proper plan in place. If you're having a hard time... wait! Don't throw in the towel! Time may get away from us, our co-workers may bring in their leftover holiday goodies, our kids may need extra attention... That's life. Life happens! But don't waste the effort you've made so far. Don't feel like a failure just because you fell off the wagon. Get up!... Let's stand up together... dust our shoulders off... Let's get back on... and try it again. Hit. It. Don't. Quit. It.

How can we keep our fitness resolutions? For the answers... I have interviewed several top instructors from organizations I have found some my own fitness success. Their advice is awesome. Take a look!

Soul Cycle: Ride Your Bike Like You Live Your Life

"Ride your bike like you live your life!" It's just one of the many inspirational quotes you'll hear from instructors during Soul Cycle classes. The boutique fitness studio chain has a cult following. And I must admit... I have been bitten by the Soul Cycle bug too. Students ride to the beat of the music by candlelight. Among their fans... instructors have rockstar status... and if ya just take a look... rock hard bodies too! ;-) I'm happily an advocate for em... and have been telling anyone who will listen about the 'tap it back' syndrome I've been suffering from... for several years now! LOL

Classes are typically 45 minutes long. Most of the time students are in perfect unison... dancing along to the pumping playlists... meticulously designed and choreographed by instructors. Each class also includes one song for a weighted toning section. Students use one to five pound weights and do overhead presses, bicep curls, tricep extensions, rows, etc... Again all choreographed to the beat of the music. It's so much F-U-N!

Barry's Bootcamp: One Stop Fitness Shop

Barry's Bootcamp has an incredible reputation for drawing celebrities and fitness fanatics through its doors in major cities worldwide. They vow students will burn up to 1,000 calories per class! When living in the Big Apple I would workout quite frequently at Barry's Bootcamp. I started going regularly while getting ready for my Central Park wedding! My favorite time to go? Thursday afternoons at the Chelsea location. Each day trainers run students through workouts targeting a specific muscle group. Thursday is abs day. I found their formulas to be challenging but manageable. 'Barry's' - as its fans like me refer to it - now has more than 25 worldwide locations including Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, London, and Oslo. It was founded in 1998. Reps tell me today... more than 40,000 people visit their fitness studios every week.