Beautiful After the Belly

Diastasis Recti, Hernias, C-section and Ab Scarring, Belly Button, Pelvic Floor

Latest Posts

June 23, 2009

Probiotics and Weight Loss – What is the correlation?


So one of my favorite websites to get GREAT information about taking care of yourself is www.realage.com from Dr. Oz and the other YOU Dr.

It is great because you can take a very long questionaire and find out what your “REAL AGE” is. When I took it 1 year ago, my real age was “24.” I would have been 22, but I had more than 4 major stressors at the time – new baby, moving, and a couple more.

The cool thing is they send you emails with GREAT information on the latest findings, tips – many of them weight loss related – all in pursuit to make YOU the healthiest version of yourself. I really love it. Here was one I found today that I thought was great because I have TOTALLY seen a difference in health in my kids (especially my asthmatic son) with the addition of probiotics in his diet.

Who knew they could help you LOSE WEIGHT? Here is the rundown:

A Legitimate Pill That Makes You Skinny?
You don’t have to be a celebrity with three chefs, two nannies, and a big-name personal trainer to emerge from pregnancy even more svelte and glamorous than you started. A little pill that boosts your health may help prevent pregnancy weight gain from hanging around.

The little pill is a probiotic supplement. Technically, probiotics are bacteria, but they’re a good type of microbe that we recommend taking daily to keep your digestive system running smoothly, beef up your immune system, and reduce damaging inflammation. You have 10 trillion bacteria in and on you, so you might as well choose to have the good bacteria that help keep bad microbes in check.

A new study from Finland found that pregnant women who started taking probiotic supplements during the first trimester — and kept up the regimen throughout the term of their pregnancies — had a lower percentage of body fat after delivery than women who ate the same diet but didn’t take the supplements. Probiotic takers were also less likely to have dangerous fat around their waists than the pill-free women were. (And researchers saw no harm to the supplement takers’ babies; in fact, other studies show that women on these pills had infants with less diarrheal and other early-childhood diseases.)

What’s the magic? It’s possible that good bacteria control inflammation, which somehow also helps control obesity. Or it’s possible that there’s something about balancing the bacteria that keeps fat in control (though it’s not clear how).

Either way, the probiotics that kept new moms svelte were the easy-to-find ones called Lactobacillus GG, and Bifidobacterium. Of course, you can still hire the nanny and the trainer, but we’d try these little bacteria first — they can cost about $14- $20 a month and might slim your waist without liposuctioning your wallet.

Do you take probiotics? Have you noticed any health differences? You can actually get a CUSTOMIZED probitic based on the 4 strains of good bacteriea that should be on your body. OUr Chiropractor hooks us up. They have to be refrigerated all the way home – so we have to bring a cooler. Pretty cool.

June 17, 2009

The pitfalls of PILATES


I LOVE Pilates – and so you must read this post KNOWING that. Pilates has become the IN and the ALL for many people – especially women.

One thing to understand is that the pilates that we do is ADAPTED Pilates. The original work of JH Pilates was mostly on machines.

One other thing to point out – JH Pilates was a MAN.

In the perspective of a Personal Trainer who specializes in helping Pregnant and Postpartum women LOSE and AVOID a “MUMMY TUMMY” I modify ALL, I repeat, ALL of the BACKYLYING Pilates exercises so they don’t increase the size of their split stomach muscles (DIASTASIS).

How must these exercises be modified? Very simple – if you keep your shoulders GLUED to the floor, and keep your belly button PLASTERED to your spine, you will be fine.

What happens if your shoulders come OFF the ground? Your transverse (innermost abdominal muscle) bulges forcefully forward. It is a forward forceful motion or pressure that CREATES a diastasis.

So for the pilates 100 – you may either keep your head glued to the floor if you are not as strong, or tuck your chin and lift your head like you were nodding YES. Also, my other problem with the teaser, is that your legs are at a 45 degree angle. If you cannot keep the small of your back on the ground for this, your transverse muscle is not strong enough, and you will have another BULGE OUT.

I frequently meet women who do pilates that have very large diastasis. This is because their instructors do not have that missing puzzle piece about the diastasis, the transverse, and how the two must be considered with every exercise taught.

The other PILATES NO-NO for pregnant or POSTPARTUM WOMEN (no matter how long PP) is no JACK-KNIFES!!!!! This creates a big bulge out and is one of the prime sources or prolonged split stomach muscles. Most people go in and out of bed this way. Once those shoulders come off the ground, that transverse bulges forcefully forward and widens your split.

About 10 to 30 minutes AFTER the classes I teach are spent modifying people’s pilates moves to accomodate their POSTPARTUM bodies (even if it has been TENS of YEARS since having a baby).

FAST RULES TO MODIFY PILATES FOR WOMEN:
1) keep shoulders on the ground at all times
2) keep small of the back on the ground while doing back-lying pilates
3) keep your belly button GLUED to the spine (we call this 5th floor in my classes)

Do you do Pilates? Are there any exercises that haven’t felt right to you? Have you ever modified your OWN Pilates? What Pilates exercises do you love?

June 3, 2009

The misconceptions of….HONEY?!?!


After a comment from Mary the other day, I did some research on honey of all things. I found that a whopping 82% of people eat REFINED honey.

I did not even realize there was a difference between RAW and REFINED honey.

One is good for you and can help you maintain a figure.

The other – BAD BAD news…because it is all the good stuff taken out (like refined sugar, which is all most of us ever taste) and leaves us with a high-fructose corn syrup MIMIC that is 100 on the glycemic index.

What is RAW honey? Only a 60.

One benefit Mary pointed out on her comment was that if you eat locally produced honey it helps you build up antiodies towards local pollen which help eliminate your local pollen allergies.

Here are some other distinctions:

Raw honey is used by many cultures as a remedy for many health ailments, including ulters, digestive problems, and even seasonal allergies. Studies have shown honey to have antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antibiotic properties. MAny people use honey topically on cuts and bruises to help fight infection.

Raw, unprocessed honey is a superfood that provides antioxidants, minerals, vitamins, amino acids, enzymes, carbohydrates, and phytonutrients. According to the National Honey Board (NHB), (http://www.honey.com) , 82 percent of households currently use processed honey, which has been heated and pasteurized, and can contain botulism and High Fructose Corn Syrup, (HFCS). Processed honey is not as antibacterial, as raw honey, and is dangerous for diabetics and infants under 12 months old.

May Berenbaum, Ph.D., a University of Illinois entomologist, shares that “Honey has been used for centuries to treat a wide range of medical problems like wounds, burns, cataracts, skin ulcers and scrapes,” Various researchers worldwide are finding strong antimicrobial properties in some honeys. Raw honey is used by many cultures as a remedy for ulcers, digestion, bronchitis, and as an energizer, as well as many other answers to health problems. Recently, the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration, the equivalent of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, approved Manuka Tree honey as a medicine.

For more info on honey, check out www.naturalnews.com/022859.html

What kind of honey is in YOUR pantry? Were you aware of the difference between raw and refined honey?

If your supermarket sells raw honey too expensively, Farmers market usually has a person that sells raw honey that is comparable to the supermarket price for infintely better HEALTH and WAISTLINES!

May 27, 2009

NUTS about NUTS…do they just make you gain weight…or what?

So for anyone that still comes onto this blog – THANKS for being patient with my absence during a brief period of craziness and insanity in my life. I am still TOTALLY comitted to getting the word out there of how to look and feel great after “THE belly.”

SO, I feel as though nuts get a TOTALLY bad rap. I always hear from women, ” Oh, they have FAT.”

FAT itself is a TOTALLY misunderstood thing. It totally depends WHAT kind of fat it is. The GOOD KIND OF FAT HELP YOU LOSE WEIGHT!!!! It make me insane that so much of the world is still “scared of fat.”

The items that are toted “LOW FAT” often CAUSE you to gain weight. They are loaded with SUGAR or are some chemically altered substance that your body does not understand and caused inflammation inside you body, which causes weight gain (Dr. David Heber – Pres of National Weight Loss Registry).

So back to nuts….my personal FAV, and has been for awhile are cashews. I usually keep a bag of cashews, raw almonds, and raw walnuts in my car with me if I am doing errands and some in the house for a quick pick me up.

Since I had my 3rd baby, I found out 2 things.

1) I need to eat often of I get shaky

2) Its harder to lose weight after each baby

Cashews are one of my “safe” on the go foods that really hit the spot:

Eating Nuts Lowers Risk of Weight Gain
Although nuts are known to provide a variety of cardio-protective benefits, many avoid them for fear of weight gain. A prospective study published in the journal Obesity shows such fears are groundless.


The 28-month study involving 8,865 adult men and women in Spain, found that participants who ate nuts at least two times per week were 31% less likely to gain weight than were participants who never or almost never ate nuts.

And, among the study participants who gained weight, those who never or almost never ate nuts gained more (an average of 424 g more) than those who ate nuts at least twice weekly.

Study authors concluded, “Frequent nut consumption was associated with a reduced risk of weight gain (5 kg or more). These results support the recommendation of nut consumption as an important component of a cardioprotective diet and also allay fears of possible weight gain.”
Practical Tip: Don’t let concerns about gaining weight prevent you from enjoying the delicious taste and many health benefits of nuts!


Spread some nut butter on your morning toast or bagel.
Remember how many great childhood lunches involved a peanut butter and jelly sandwich? Upgrade that lunchbox favorite by spreading organic peanut butter and concord grape jelly on whole wheat bread.
Fill a celery stick with nut butter for an afternoon pick-me-up.
Sprinkle a handful of nuts over your morning cereal, lunchtime salad, dinner’s steamed vegetables.
Or just enjoy a handful of lightly roasted nuts as a healthy snack


Heart-Protective Monounsaturated Fats

Not only do cashews have a lower fat content than most other nuts, approximately 75% of their fat is unsaturated fatty acids, plus about 75% of this unsaturated fatty acid content is oleic acid, the same heart-healthy monounsaturated fat found in olive oil. Studies show that oleic acid promotes good cardiovascular health, even in individuals with diabetes. Studies of diabetic patients show that monounsaturated fat, when added to a low-fat diet, can help to reduce high triglyceride levels. Triglycerides are a form in which fats are carried in the blood, and high triglyceride levels are associated with an increased risk for heart disease, so ensuring you have some monounsaturated fats in your diet by enjoying cashews is a good idea, especially for persons with diabetes.

Do you eat nuts? Which do you eat? What do you do with them?

April 29, 2009

Does house-closing complications lead to ill health?

I am hoping not because we are having our fair share of them.

Go to our home blog: www.bonnieandbrianwayne.blogspot.com

to read the whole story.

So far the health is good – but I am so utterly and emotionally drained that I put myself to bed at 9:30 last night. That is 3 hours early.

So while I talk myself out of giving in to a hot fudge sundae with nuts and whip cream at DAIRY QUEEN – 2 blocks away – I will then do some mediation and some stretches.

…And a hot shower!

April 17, 2009

Can I give stuff with ASPERTAME to my child? How does it affect weight loss?

One of my “soapboxes” is sweeters. There are so many sweetners that are designed to sound “healthy” like “NUTRA” sweet, or “Splenda” (tastes sweet because its made from sugar, the commercials say), and Sweet and Low.

All of the have CARCINOGENS (you know,the cancer causing agents) in them.
For example, The 1976 Groliers encyclopedia states cancer cannot live without phenylalanine. Aspartame contains 50% phenylalanin

Beyond that, several scientists believe that aspartame might cause altered brain function and behavior changes in consumers. And many people have reported the following side effects from aspartame:
Fibromyalgia Syndrome and symptoms of Fibromyalgia
Multiple Sclerosis symptoms
Dizziness
Headaches
Menstrual problems

Aspertame actually turns into Fermaldahyde (Another MAJOR carcinogen) in your body and has adverse affects on your brain. This is because it is two amino acids bound by deadly METHANE, which converts quickly to Fermaldahyde (known to cause MANY problems in brain and nervous system, immune system, a DNA (genetic) alterations) in the body.

How was Aspertame approved? How many chemical agents get approved by the FDA – powerful lobbyists. The dangers found in trials and studies – squelched.

It has been know to cause brain damage in infants because it literally excites the brain cells to DEATH! It is BANNED in Europe for children’s products.

Pregnant women, PLEASE do not consume this. Aspartame dangers are the result of its chemical structure, and its use during pregnancy and by children is one of the greatest aspartame dangers of all.

ALSO SCREAM IT FROM THE ROOFTOPS – think of diet soda:
Aspartame also causes weight gain by other mechanisms —Causes unstable blood sugar levels, which increases the appetite and causes cravings for sweets/sugar. Thus it is particularly toxic for those with diabetes or epilepsy.

Causes fluid retention giving the body a puffy and bloated appearance. This makes people look fatter than they are and increases cellulite.

(quoting from the same doctor about weight gain)
After having been consulted by thousands of overweight people suffering with problems concerning the liver and/or metabolism I can assure you that aspartame will not help you in any way, indeed it will help you to gain unwanted weight.

Here is some more info on this:

The dangers of aspartame poisoning have been a well guarded secret since the 1980s. The research and history of aspartame is conclusive as a cause of illness and toxic reactions in the human body. Aspartame is a dangerous chemical food additive, and its use during pregnancy and by children is one of the greatest modern tragedies of all.

Why haven’t you heard about aspartame poisoning before? Partly because the diet industry is worth trillions of American dollars to corporations, and they want to protect their profits by keeping the truth behind aspartame’s dangers hidden from the public. When NutraSweet® was introduced for the ‘second’ time in 1981, a diet craze revolutionized America’s eating protocols and a well-oiled money machine was set into motion changing modern lifestyles.

After more than twenty years of aspartame use, the number of its victims is rapidly piling up, and people are figuring out for themselves that aspartame is at the root of their health problems. Patients are teaching their doctors about this nutritional peril, and they are healing themselves with little to no support from traditional medicine.

OTHER articles I have state how Nutrasweet pays off both the AMA and the FDA every year, and have TRIED the same thing with Canada, but the bribe by them (Canada) was not accepted.

I used to give my kids “icebreakers” from Aldi. YIKES – not anymore!!!!
Have you heard about Aspertame dangers before?????
What else have you heard?

April 17, 2009

Can I give stuff with ASPERTAME to my child? How does it affect weight loss?

One of my “soapboxes” is sweeters. There are so many sweetners that are designed to sound “healthy” like “NUTRA” sweet, or “Splenda” (tastes sweet because its made from sugar, the commercials say), and Sweet and Low.

All of the have CARCINOGENS (you know,the cancer causing agents) in them.
For example, The 1976 Groliers encyclopedia states cancer cannot live without phenylalanine. Aspartame contains 50% phenylalanin

Beyond that, several scientists believe that aspartame might cause altered brain function and behavior changes in consumers. And many people have reported the following side effects from aspartame:
Fibromyalgia Syndrome and symptoms of Fibromyalgia
Multiple Sclerosis symptoms
Dizziness
Headaches
Menstrual problems

Aspertame actually turns into Fermaldahyde (Another MAJOR carcinogen) in your body and has adverse affects on your brain. This is because it is two amino acids bound by deadly METHANE, which converts quickly to Fermaldahyde (known to cause MANY problems in brain and nervous system, immune system, a DNA (genetic) alterations) in the body.

How was Aspertame approved? How many chemical agents get approved by the FDA – powerful lobbyists. The dangers found in trials and studies – squelched.

It has been know to cause brain damage in infants because it literally excites the brain cells to DEATH! It is BANNED in Europe for children’s products.

Pregnant women, PLEASE do not consume this. Aspartame dangers are the result of its chemical structure, and its use during pregnancy and by children is one of the greatest aspartame dangers of all.

ALSO SCREAM IT FROM THE ROOFTOPS – think of diet soda:
Aspartame also causes weight gain by other mechanisms —Causes unstable blood sugar levels, which increases the appetite and causes cravings for sweets/sugar. Thus it is particularly toxic for those with diabetes or epilepsy.

Causes fluid retention giving the body a puffy and bloated appearance. This makes people look fatter than they are and increases cellulite.

(quoting from the same doctor about weight gain)
After having been consulted by thousands of overweight people suffering with problems concerning the liver and/or metabolism I can assure you that aspartame will not help you in any way, indeed it will help you to gain unwanted weight.

Here is some more info on this:

The dangers of aspartame poisoning have been a well guarded secret since the 1980s. The research and history of aspartame is conclusive as a cause of illness and toxic reactions in the human body. Aspartame is a dangerous chemical food additive, and its use during pregnancy and by children is one of the greatest modern tragedies of all.

Why haven’t you heard about aspartame poisoning before? Partly because the diet industry is worth trillions of American dollars to corporations, and they want to protect their profits by keeping the truth behind aspartame’s dangers hidden from the public. When NutraSweet® was introduced for the ‘second’ time in 1981, a diet craze revolutionized America’s eating protocols and a well-oiled money machine was set into motion changing modern lifestyles.

After more than twenty years of aspartame use, the number of its victims is rapidly piling up, and people are figuring out for themselves that aspartame is at the root of their health problems. Patients are teaching their doctors about this nutritional peril, and they are healing themselves with little to no support from traditional medicine.

OTHER articles I have state how Nutrasweet pays off both the AMA and the FDA every year, and have TRIED the same thing with Canada, but the bribe by them (Canada) was not accepted.

I used to give my kids “icebreakers” from Aldi. YIKES – not anymore!!!!
Have you heard about Aspertame dangers before?????
What else have you heard?

April 14, 2009

FLATTERING WORK OUT WEAR???

Its really hard to find CUTE workout wear that lasts in my opinion. Either it gets saggy in the bum, or it stretches out in the knees, or it fades, or it tears or SOMETHING.

So, when I was out in New York I heard from several fellow fitness people – LULULEMON

BUT, they warned, they are really expensive.

BUT, they said, they are REALLY FLATTERING

AND, they said, they make your BUM look CUTE. EVEN the higher sizes, if you know what I mean.

AND, they said, they will last a long time.

AND, they said, you can wear them to work out, or you can wear them as DRESS PANTS to a nice dinner or whatever.

They are VERSATILE, they said.

AND, they said, the REVERSE GROOVE PANTS, are black with both a foldover AND high waist band option on one side, and ALL BLACK on the other side.

TWO PANTS IN ONE!

There is even “DENIM” reverse groove pants that literally LOOK like Jeans, but are SOO comfortable, and you can go workout with them after dropping the kids off at school, and then look totally presentable for that doctor’s appointment.

So I am determined to find me a pair, but I DON’T want to pay $100 ish dollars (usually between $80 and 140 for pants).

I have been stalking the website http://www.lululemonportal.com/ where all the lululemon pants, or many of them anyway, are on display that are selling on ebay. I just missed an auction where some REALLY cute ones went for $33. I was really bummed.

COME TO FIND OUT, if you get a pair on ebay, and you live near a lululemon store, you can take it there and they will hem it for free, as long as they are clean.

If you have enough dough to spend on FULL PRICE in store, then before you leave they will have them custom hemmed for you if you want.

SWEET.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE WORKOUT WEAR? Do you have a preference? Is it worth it to you to invest in some nice workout clothes? Would it make it easier for you to WANT to work out, instead of putting on some sweats?

April 7, 2009

DIASTASIS RESULTS – what can 6 weeks do?

So I measure the diastasis of the women I teach on the 1st day of class, and 6 weeks later, on the last day. I give them each “homework” to do for the class.

They have to do 5 sets of 100 Seated Tuplers PER DAY to keep up with the progression of the class and to get results.

They are required to avoid ALL JACKNIFING, especially in and out of bed.

Many of them purchase “splints” to approximate their recti, which they wear at all times, but ESPECIALLY when they are lifting things, or exercising. This is diferent than those wide belt-like things they give you at the hospital, which rest on bones – pelvis and ribs. A SPLINT goes IN BETWEEN your ribs and pelvis to bring them closer together. This is a MUST for women who are over a 3 fingerwidth diastasis.

So, just a couple of results from 6 week class that just ended:

Virginia had a 4 fingerwidth diastasis in ALL THREE PLACES YOU MEASURE (3 inches ABOVE the belly button, AT the belly button, and 3 inches BELOW the bellybutton). When I went to remeasure her, she said “I think I forgot how to measure myself.” I measured her and she had COMPLETELY closed the diastasis in ALL THREE PLACES. No wonder she thought she FORGOT how to measure – she couldn’t find it anymore!

Jennifer is 6 months PREGNANT. She measure a 2 on top, 3 in the middle, and 2 on the bottom. Even though her belly is rapidly EXPANDING (constant forward force which creates or enlarges a diastasis) she CLOSED her diastasis on the top AND the bottom.

Normally I don’t measure after 1 week, unless I have been specifically asked. PATTY, a girl in a different class, asked me last night to measure her after 1 week. She was a 5 FINGERWIDTH DIASTASIS in ALL THREE PLACES. She had gone to a 2 3/4 on top, 3 in the middle, and 3 on the bottom, in ONE WEEK. That is SPACTACULAR and QUICK results.

A girl I am doing private training width, has a 5 fingerwidth diastasis all the way down. A SURGEON told her the ONLY way she can get it back together is with SURGERY. Well, with all due respect to his training, that is ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE!!!!!!!!!!

March 31, 2009

Is this causing your "mummy tummy"

So I realized that in all of my blog posting I have never posted REALLY about

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.

After I had Tyler it took me 5 months to CLOSE my diastasis. I was VERY diligent with the exercises. I did have a setback at about the 3 month mark because I was doing them WRONG and closing the BOTTOM part of my diastasis but enlarging the upper portion of my diastasis. However, after babies # 2 and #3, I was able to go from a 32 inch waist to a 25 1/2 inch waist. (I will say after #3, it only took me 11 weeks, because I was doing the exercises TOTALLY correct.)

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!!”

She told me she would do CRUNCHES and actually get like a charley horse/spasm type of thing happen. I have had many women tell me this. In this woman’s case, she had a 5 fingerwidth diastasis. When she would do crunches, her abdomen would come forcefully forward, and it was not her muscles doing this – since she had a separation, but her INTENSTINES bulging forcefully forward. AND THIS IS VERY COMMON!! ( Its only a thin piece of connective tissue holding all your intestines in if you have a diastasis.) I told her to take that anger and to tell all the women that she knows!!!
It is HARD information to find and EVERY WOMAN needs to know about it!