5 Hidden Reasons You Cant Ditch the “Mom Pooch”

Whether you are 4 months, or 4 years postpartum, one of the biggest things I hear from moms is “I just want to get rid of this belly pooch”.

Maybe you’ve been walking every day.

Maybe you started lifting weights.

Maybe you have tried every viral workout you’ve seen.

But somehow, you still can’t get rid of that stubborn lower belly.

Truth is, there can be so many things contributing to the appearance of a low belly pooch.

Let’s talk about the 5 hidden things you may not realize that could be holding you back from ditching that lower belly pooch for good.

1. Posture- Rounded shoulders, forward head, always slumped down in your seat? If any of this sounds like you, you are probably putting your core into a shortened position through most of the day where it doesn’t have to turn on or work to keep you upright.
2. Un-healed Diastasis Recti-If you still have ab-separation you likely have that “mom pooch” or bread loafing effect. There is an imbalance somewhere in your core system that likely needs addressed in order to reduce the DR gap, and reduce the pooch.
3. Paradoxical Breathing- I’ve talked before about breathing and HOW important it is for your core and pelvic floor. In short, paradoxical breathing is when your chest/ribs move IN on INHALE and OUT on EXHALE. This is the opposite pattern of normal breathing. It may also show up as sucking the belly in on inhale and out on exhale.
4. Pelvic Alignment- Sometimes when our core support system is weak, we compensate using other muscles to stabilize our bodies while standing or sitting. Often this can translate into our pelvis being pulled either under, or being shoved forward. Do you notice while standing that you are often clenching or tucking your butt and the bottom of your pelvis is kind of jutting forward? Or maybe you're the opposite and you have a large sway in your lower back and the front of your pelvic bones are pushed out while your pubic bone is further back. The alignment of your pelvis deeply affects which stabilizing muscles can turn on, and influences the appearance of lower belly pooching or pancake butts.
5. Chronic stress- Are you chronically stressed? If so this could be a major player in why you’re not seeing the results you want. Stress can prevent you from calming down and connecting to your body. It can hinder body awareness and control which are important when trying to reconnect to muscles that are weaker or have not been used as often after periods of stress.

Now, you may only have one of these, or all of these. Being able to look at the whole picture and the whole body is my favorite part of helping people. Our bodies are AMAZING and so many things are connected. Which is why at Busy Bodies Wellness we don’t just give you exercises. We try to promote full body transformations. Our Master Class is going to be our most comprehensive class yet, diving into building habits, managing stress, and connecting your mind to your body so you can SEE and FEEL the transformation. If you are struggling with Diastasis Recti, Pelvic Pain, Heaviness in your Pelvis, or leaking pee, Book a call with me! I’d be happy to discuss which class options would be best for you, or if you’re wanting something more personalized, email us about our coaching availability!