[Juliebird18]

So I am planning to try and conceive next month. I am down to my prepregnancy weight but my belly looks pudgy. I feel like I still look pregnant sometimes. I am really upset about it.

I also feel like I don't have time to exercise. I have baby in daycare all day. My gym has a daycare but I hate to leave him after I have left him all day. By the time he goes to bed, I am so exhausted I am ready for bed.

Now I am afraid that having a second baby will make it worse. I am so upset about this. I want my belly back

[KatieHeitman]

I totally hear you. I have had a pudgy belly since probably for a few years before DS1 was born. It didn't get any worse after having Josh. In fact I weigh less that I did before I had DS1. I have no motivation to exercise. Before this big move happened I had started the Jillian Michael 30 Day Shred at home. It was kicking my butt. If I get some motivation sometime, then I will restart that. Since I stay home, I will do it during their nap time or after they go to bed at night. Maybe you could get a workout video for at home and do it after he goes to bed, that is if you can find the energy, or else maybe get up earlier in the morning and do it. We are also going to TTC again, #3 for us. And I just think hey, at least I won't look pudgy anymore and won't have to hide it. I'll look pregnant instead.

[KMH]

I'm the same way...I'm below my pre-pregnancy weight, but nothing is the same shape anymore I have found, though, that even doing a few situps every night before I take my bath really helps. It has made a difference in how I look, but an even bigger difference in how I feel since I'm at least doing something.

[I<3HelloKitty]

I don't do a lot of exercise either, though probably more than before I got pregnant. I'm pretty much resigned to being flabby until I'm done having kids. DH told me I could get a tummy tuck when I'm all finished since that's what his mother did. It doesn't stop me from wearing a bikini when I swim, flab, stretch marks and all. I figure if people don't like it, they don't have to look.

[forest]

I think my shape has changed quite a bit after having both kids. To get back into my old clothing I had to get about 5 pounds lighter than I was when they fit before. I have really never had a totally flat belly. I have one of those shaping tanks (like Spanx but not as expensive) and I love it. It does a great job of giving me that flat belly look.

The top I have is like this, they are awesome.

[amhk]

I am also below my pre-pregnancy weight, but still have a pudgy belly. Last winter I got into a very light exercise routing- walking on the treadmill, some light weights for arms, and lunges, squats, etc. It made a big difference in the way my belly looked after about a month, but then I fell off the exercise wagon. Now that I am pregnant again, I am hoping to start walking again or am afraid I will look slightly pregnant for the rest of my life.

[Trish36]

Oh yes that lovely post pregnancy belly....like all of you my belly has excess skin and just hangs out and makes me look like I'm 5 months pregnant some days. I have gone for a consultation with a plastic surgeon and he basically told me that when you don't have great stomach muscles to start out with (and sometimes even if you do) and depending on how big you got or if you had multiple pregnancies or babies, the muscle in your stomach splits and doesn't go back together again. So you have a huge gap (well....mine is huge anyway) and no amount of excercise is going to fix that. You can lose all the weight but you will still have that little belly because there is no muscle to hold it in. you basically need surgery to correct the problem and get rid of any excess skin.
It's $$$$$ but oh so worth it IMO. Some day when I can save up enough money I will be getting a tummy tuck.

[Juliebird18]

I thought i had decent abs but i did have a csection but the were cut. I guess i will have to get a tummy tuck after my bambinos are all born.

[inyourhonor]

Yeah even if I were skinnier I would still have the pudge. Especially where my c-section scar from my oldest is.

I told my husband when we're done having kids and we can afford it, I want the "mommy make over"