Toning your mum tum
Understanding the changes in your tummy after pregnancy and the toning that really works
Whether you had a flat tummy before you got pregnant or just flatter than it is after having a baby, it's not uncommon for some mums to want to get their tummy toned.
So we have put together some top tips for helping to tone your tummy should you want to.
There’s always someone who’s tummy ‘pops’ back weeks after birth, some just naturally return quickly to how it was and some spend money on tummy tucks and personal trainers. So what’s the option if neither of these are you but you want to tone up?
Patience! Don’t expect your tummy to just go back to its pre-baby state, after all it took 9 months to grow to carry your baby so it makes sense it will take at least a similar amount of time to tone it back up but chances are it will still be different to your pre-baby tummy, after all, it has homed your little one for nine months.
Key factors that affect how long it may take
Factors to help lose the weight include
Safe, healthy ways to help your tummy return to its pre-pregnancy state
Breastfeeding burns extra calories to make milk – can be as much as 500 calories a day, so if you are breastfeeding, you may find the weight starts to go quicker. Contractions that shrink your womb are also triggered by breastfeeding which can help your tummy muscles return.
The age-old advice of eating healthily and gentle exercise is absolutely key to helping your tummy. This includes eating your 5 a day everyday and pack in fibre-rich foods that include seeds, lentils and oats.
Even if you’re not in a fitness mindset, all new mums can begin pelvic floor exercises and work on gently toning up lower tummy muscles as soon as they feel ready. This may help you to get back to your pre-pregnancy shape.
It helps to limit or even avoid sugar if you're trying to tone up.
Cut back on caffeine. As tempting as it is to rely on tea and coffee to get you through those early weeks if you drink too much the stress hormone cortisol gets released and this also stored fat around your waist and stomach.
Take fish oil. These can help food digest more quickly and activates the enzymes in your body that burn fat more quickly.