My client has had 2 caesarians. With cardio, core training, good nutrition- how much ab tightness can she get back?
My client has 2 kids, the youngest is 4 and both delivered through caesarians. She has lost most of her baby weight, and we include lots of core training in her routines. Any suggestions on what else we can do and how realistic is it for her to expect her abs to return to pre-pregnancy firness/strength? How much more difficult is it to lose this baby fat than with vaginal deliveries?
I thought I might chime in on this because I am in the same boat as your client 🙂
I think the answers already provided have been great:
1) You can not spot reduce by doing tons of ab work. Muscle and fat are two distinct tissue types and you’re not going to turn one into the other by doing lots of focused core work.
2) To lose weight, you have to expend more calories than you consume (through diet, exercise or the combo).
3) Strength training & increasing lean muscle mass help boost metabolism (along with lots of other great benefits).
4) Pelvic floor and transverse-specific exercises would be great to include for your client.
ALL GREAT RESPONSES, and really great tips for a variety of clients.
Congrats to your client for making progress already. I think I would just add that the best weapon is consistency over time. No quick fixes, no fad diets and no immediate miracle results. Stick with it.
I had a c-section with my twins (who are almost 4) and had my best body ever about a year after they were born. I had a second c-section about a year ago and it’s been a little tougher to come back from it, but that’s my own fault & I recognize that (a little busier, a little more stress, a little less will power & more bad habits :).
I think it’s important for us to have realistic expectations as to what’s possible. The strength of the core and body composition can be addressed with training BUT there are some things that exercise & good diet are not going to fix. My skin on my stomach will never be the same as it was before carrying twins without a surgical fix; however, I was able to work hard, overtime, consistently to get the definition and strength back in my core.
best of luck to you and great advice everyone.