Can You Get a Flat Stomach After Three Kids?

Getting your tummy flat after multiple pregnancies is not as hopeless as you may be thinking. With a bit of commitment and activity, you’ll wonder why you were concerned whether your belly would flatten. If you are struggling to find the time to exercise or are having trouble with diet and exercise, don’t worry. There are many effective solutions to match your dietary preferences as well your schedule.

Your Starting Point

• With three children, chances are good your life is, at times, hectic. Maybe it seems there is little time left for your own needs. To have that flat tummy back, you must find a way to set aside time each day for your own activity. Moderate exercise, at least thirty minutes each day, promotes the weight loss and toning you want. Can't seem to find thirty minutes at once? That’s OK. The American Heart Association confirms exercising in 10-minute increments is almost as effective as one 30-minute session.

  If your last delivery was complication-free, it is generally safe to begin exercising within days after delivery. If you are not sure you are ready to begin a regular exercise routine, talk to your healthcare provider before you start.

Dieting and Healthy Eating

• You don’t have to search very long before you find hundreds of diets and diet aids suggesting you’ll take off the pounds in a flash. What most fail to mention is that you may be able to lose the weight, but after you stop the diet or the dietary aid, the pounds usually come right back. To lose weight and maintain your target weight, choosing a healthy diet you can adopt long term is the best option.

  To lose weight, your body must burn more calories than it consumes. If your daily caloric intake is less than the number of calories you burn daily, your body will resort to burning fat for the shortage.Your body must burn 3500 calories to lose 1 pound of weight.

Helpful Diet Tips

• Include lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain fiber in your diet. These foods contain many of the vital nutrients required by the body, and, because of the fiber, they will help you to feel full longer. Also, control portion sizes. You may want to replace three larger meals with four or five smaller meals a day to avoid getting hungry and potentially overeating. Watch for junk foods and hidden calories. If cookies, soda, ice cream and heavy desserts are a weakness, eliminate them from your house. It’s easy to consume calories with just a taste here and there.

Your Exercise Routine

• Daily exercise will help you burn calories and improve your fitness level. The best exercise routine will include a combination of aerobic activity and strength training. Aerobic activities such as swimming, jogging, brisk walking, or bicycling are all good aerobic activities. Strive for at least thirty minutes each day, more if possible to help you meet your goals more quickly. Strength training is also an important component of a weight-loss program. Muscle burns more calories than fat. Don’t worry about “bulking up” by lifting weights. The hormones in a woman’s body don’t promote the same level of muscle growth as the hormones in a man's. Concentrating on your core muscles will help to tone the abdomen after pregnancy.

The Results

• Combining healthy foods with a good exercise regime will help you reach your goal of a flat tummy. Remember, there are no long-lasting shortcuts. Be patient with yourself. The results can give you a more fit and toned body for a lifetime.