What's the best exercise for the lower stomach after 2 c-sections?And for lifting and firming your bottom?
411614
First check with a REAL honest to goodness Doctor to determine if you are clear to exercise this region.\nThen go for the same great ab exercise that everyone else does - leg lifts, crunches (there are about 6 kinds), etc.\n\nBut, and this is a big butt (heh), be sure to compliment with good back exercises. If you develop the front without compensatory back exercises, then your body will suffer. Your overdeveloped front will draw your back out of alignment and you will look wrong and feel bad.\n\nSo concentrate on the front but compliment with overall body toning. Post C-section I'd recommend yoga (which is pretty much systematic stretches and toning) and/or swimming and stretching (if you don't go for the yoga).
510098
it sounds strange, but for real, try this exercise. Lay on your back, arms out to the sides. Bend your knees up and with your feet together, make figure eights in the air. Do as many as you can every day.  It tightens your stomach muscles.
339133
There is a pilates excercise that I like because it's the soloution to the "flat stomach + no pain" problem.\n\nYou get a pilates ball, and lay, with your upper body on the ball, and your knees stretched out and holding you up.  Do this while watching TV or a movie or something.  It doesn't make you that tired, and at first it's so unpainful that you can't believe it's working, but it is!
246847
I was back to work the following week.  I spent a day in the hospital and then home.  I took it easy for a while but 5 days later I was back at work but not pushing myself too hard.  Just keep a positive attitude in the hospital and that helps with the recovery.  I had 2 c-sections before and this was much easier.\nGood luck!
364708
After having a baby our bodies change but that in no way means you can not have back the tummy you use to have...even better :) Do ab exercises...lots of sit ups and give yourself time to get back in shape. If you work at it and take proper care of yourself, you will get back in shape before ya know it!! Congrats on your newbie :)
264826
Cardio exercises burn the most fat and will probably put the least amount of stress on you stomach. Try what feels the most comfortable to you. You could try walking, jogging, or biking.
982812
Core strengthening is where it's at.  Do some crunches, only lifting your shoulders a few inches and holding for at least 5 seconds; strengthen your back by lying face-down, spread-eagle, and lift one arm and the opposite leg a few inches off the floor, and alternate (TUCK IN YOUR ABS FIRST OR YOU'LL HURT YOUR BACK).  The cat stretch is good too.  On all 4's, shoulder width apart, let your tummy sag/sway back, and breathe.  Then raise your back like a frightened cat, pulling your belly button in as you keep breathing.  Repeat several times.  \n\nI also find it helpful to sit on an exercise ball instead of an office chair when I'm at the computer.  You'll strengthen your core without even noticing your doing it.  Good luck.  The best way to get proper excercises for your condition is to get them from a physio.
407927
I would not reccomend useing it . It alot of cases it can cause you to get sick or bring on contractions that are way to bad . It also can cause you to go into false labor . So what I would reccomend is that you start walking and as well you can also work on getting the baby in a heads down position  and ready to come down by placing your hands on your hips and then place your feet at shoulders width and squat until you feel preasure in your bottom . Try not to use your stomach muscles . If you find this to hard then you could brace yourself on the back of a chair . Kegel excersizes work as well . You can also lay on your back place a pillow under your neck and knees facing up open your legs from the knees outward and back in . I used these methods when I was 38 weeks and I gave birth on the 39 week . Good luck ! congrats !
670187
Swimming is the best exercise. Do stomach crunchs (where you go up half way) to flatten your tummy.
262332
For starters, I would try just doing some walking, just don't over do it.  Gradually increase the level of intensity depending on how your body feels.  I wouldn't go into doing crunches until after your 6 week visit, simply because since they have separated your abdominal walls, you don't want to risk the chances of getting a hernia.  Keep it light until the doctor gives you the okay to step up the exercises.
440696
First and foremost, stay away from any ab machine you see on TV as they are simply a waste of money and barely effective.\n\nIt is also important not to confuse the term sit-ups with crunches which are the effective method to exercise your upper abdominals.  The abdominal muscles work just like any other muscle and have to be challenged as such. If you want muscular abdominals, you have to challenge them with resistance and good form just like you would your chest, your back or any other muscle for that matter. Targeting the correct energy system is imperative. This means you should never enter into the aerobic phase of this exercise, ideally keeping it under 2 minutes at most. \n\nThink of rolling a carpet and contracting fully on the top of the movement and squeeze. If you do them correctly, you shouldn't be able to do more than 30 crunches. Any more than that, and you're probably doing them half-azz, incorrectly or with a partial range of motion.\n\nFor the upper abs, focus on crunches which effectively work the abdominals better than sit-ups or any machine on the market.\n\nFor the lower abs, keep in mind there is very little muscle tissue there so decreasing levels of body fat is the most effective way to bring out the best in this area. Hanging leg raises, v-situps and reverse curls are among some of the best exercise for this region. Always make sure your pelvis curls up to maximize lower abdominal contraction during these exercises.\n\nAs far as fat loss and getting ripped goes, cardio, cardio, cardio. Abdominal exercises alone will never burn fat from your abdominal area.  You must do cardiovascular exercise to accomplish this.  Cardio is best in the morning, on an empty stomach at about 70-80% of your maximum heart rate for about 30-45 minutes. This combined with a common sense diet will quickly shed body fat so you can actually see those abs you've developed. \n\nI would encourage you to seek the advice and guidance of a personal trainer in your area for further education on these principles. Please ensure you start off at a very basic level for crunches and cardio if you are a beginner.\n\nHere's a good list of ab exercises:\nhttp://preventdisease.com/fitness/Strength_Exercises_abdominals.html
619228
Filipino,22,female, middle class.Sit ups in am and pm! Swimming is best for flattening stomach butt lifting and firming(legs, thighs, waist too!)Without tension on your legs and lower back becasue there's a little gravity on the water. Hope this help!
329656
Definitely sit ups, another thing you can do is pushus, yeah sounds weird but it does help somehow, you can also do this one exercise were you lay flat on your back, then putyour arms andhands flat on the ground as well, and keep them right by your sides without moving them and you lift you legs up 6 inches or a foot, the less you raise them the better the work out cause it really constricts and tightens up your lower abdomen muscles, well you lift your legs up striahgt together and then out them down the same way, don't bend your knees, don't let them drop, and do about 20 of these and then 30 and then 50 etc. as many as you can do as many reps and you will see some awesome results in a week if you do a lot of reps everyday a few times a day. It's the best thing I can think of, apart from running of course
745846
Couch exercise.. Lie on the couch with you legs on the arm and raise one leg at a time with controll. This will work your legs and the bottom of your tummy. Then on the carpet lean forward staying on your knees and do controlled push ups. This will work the arms and sholders and you can still watch tv.
431919
Do lots of tummy firming exercises such as sit-ups/crunches, reverse crunces, bicycle (alternate legs, back and forth off the ground whilst lying on your back). Also, try to pull your stomach in slightly/lock on your abs at all times (whenever you remember at first, until it becomes automatic). Especially ensure you do this while exercising. Good luck!
1087922
Try these \nCrunches\nLie on your back with your hands crossed across your chest or with your fingers on the sides of your head. Place your feet on the floor with legs bent. To begin the exercise, lift your torso, lifting shoulder blades off the floor and crunching your rib cage towards your lower belly. Hold for two counts, then lower slowly to the starting position. Repeat for 16 slow repetitions, take a brief rest and repeat for 1 or more sets.\n\nReverse Crunches\nLie on your back with knees bent, feet a few inches off the floor. Slowly contract the abdominals, focusing on rotating the pelvis up and bringing your knees towards your rib cage. Concentrate on letting your abs do the work. Hold at the top then slowly lower your knees to the starting position. Repeat for 16 reps, less if you feel your lower back arching off the ground. Rest and repeat for 1 or more sets\n\n\nBall Crunches\nLie face-up with the ball resting under your mid/lower back. Cross your arms over the chest or place them behind your head. Contract your abs to lift your torso off the ball, pulling the bottom of your ribcage down toward your hips. As you curl up, keep the ball stable (i.e., you shouldn't roll). Lower back down, getting a stretch in the abs, and repeat for 1 set 12-16 reps.\n\nOblique Crossover Crunches\nLie on your back with knees bent, hands behind your head. Keeping lower back pressed into the floor, lift your shoulder blades off the floor and then curl your upper body diagonally across your body towards your right knee. Contract your abs and obliques as hard as you can at the top of the movement. Lower back down and repeat for 16 reps on the same side before switching sides. Do 1 or more sets.
1107325
In Asia, we can opt for traditional body massages. This is not advised if we had gone through Caesarean. Massages help to firm up the muscles after delivery. These massages can be done in the comfort of your home. No equipment needed - only a pair of strong hands and herbal oil.\n\nThere are also lots of slimming centres here who offer slimming courses for after birth. They offer slim wraps and heat treatment to slim down the belly. Lots of  fanciful equipment may be used and will costs more as it is done at professional slimming centres.