THE MUMMY TUMMY
which is what I specifically do my training, classes and seminars about. I found out about it when I was pregnant with my 2nd child. I didn’t think I had “split stomach muscles.” But when I was getting up from laying on my back, I saw this really weird (to me ALIEN-LIKE) ridge that was protruding from my belly. I was TOTALLY grossed out by myself.
So I purchased the book that Tami, my sister, had been telling me about called “Lose Your Mummy Tummy” by Julie Tupler. She had learned about the split stomach muscles called “diastasis recti” in Physical Therapy school.
So we got the book, and the video and started encorporating the exercises into classes we were teaching.
Then one fateful day I contacted Julie Tupler by email and told her I thought her work was brilliant and did she have any training programs. Well, I didn’t expect an email back in all honesty, but not only did she respond, she said – after many phone conversations – that she could train us and come an do a presentation and meet us in person.
So now (rigorous training programs later) my sister and I are the only ones in the midwest certified to do “Maternal Fitness” registered classes.
But the greatest part for me is that I can help women bring their diastasis together. They FEEL so much better about themselves, not to mention they LOOK better.
I had one girl in one of my classes close her diastasis from a 5 fingerwidth diastasis, to a 2 1/2 fingerwidth diastasis in ONE WEEK, which was STUNNING!
I will post more about the exercises but I think EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THIS. Your OB-GYN can tell you that you HAVE a diastasis, but are not trained to tell you how to BRING IT TOGETHER!!
One woman I taught last night was MAD. She told me, I have been doing CRUNCHES all these years (HORRIBLE HORRIBLE FOR PREGNANT AND POST-PARTUM WOMEN!!!!!) only to find out that THEY WERE MAKING THINGS WORSE!!”
OK…I’m convinced now that I need to go buy that book. Tami told me about it during my first pregnancy, and I meant to buy it then, but never did. I want to learn how to make my waist shrink like yours!!!!
By the way, would you be interested in doing a guest post on fitmepink to get more traffic to your blog? Let me know if you’re interested in doing a “post swap”. My e-mail address is robyngadd@gmail.com We can share readers…I really love reading yours! Let me know…no pressure!
I can’t wait to hear more, Bonnie! I think I still have about a 2 fingerwidth diastasis. I wish I could come out to Illinois and do some classes with you!!! Want to come and have a visit to Colorado this summer?
Hi Bonnie! I linked to your family blog from your husband’s facebook page (we went to high school together) and then saw your post about this blog. I have been meaning to write you for a few weeks now, but we were in the process of moving. I have a 2 year old and I am 4 months pregnant. While I was able to lose the weight between pregnancies… I had a severe “mummy tummy”. I stay at home now with my son and can work out while he naps (or the gym we are joining has child care too). I had a few questions…
1) Do you have any recommendations for pre-natal at home fitness tapes?
2) Is the treadmill an ok option for a pregnant woman to use as part of my physical fitness during my pregnancy?
If you have the time to email me back with this information I would really appreciate it. My email is mon_umbaugh@yahoo.com
Thanks for the advice on the blog, good reading!
Bonnie,
I sell Julie’s products on my website. She is wonderful. I met her in LA last year during a tradeshow for Mom 2Be products. We stayed in touch as her products are best sellers on my site. I’m glad that you too are getting the message out about diastasis and helping women close the gap. Julie should sell shirts that say, “No forceful foward movements” as it resonates in my head daily 🙂