Beautiful After the Belly

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

Latest Posts

December 5, 2012

AMAZING HERNIA REVERSAL and Diastasis Recti Repair during 4 week workshop!!

My favorite thing about doing workshops is the before and after results!!
I see some of the most amazing things!!

CLIENT NH


BEFORE
4 weeks later
Before
4 weeks later

DIASTASIS
waist
upper
middle
lower
Week 1
32.25

30

28.25
3
7D
4
Week 4
25.25

27

28.25
closed
3 S/M
closed

NH was told by several surgeons and doctors that SURGERY was the only answer for her hernia.  Of course!  This is the easiest thing in the world for a doctor to tell ANYONE with a hernia.  However, what they DONT tell you is you can fix a hernia was SPECIFIC INTRINSIC EXERCISES which all of my blog readers now know fondly as Seated Tupler Contraction exercises!! 

Also, what THEY don’t tell you is that hernia surgery has a HIGH REOCCURANCE rate for the return of hernia – some say 50%, some say as much as EVENTUALLY 100%…not to mention the not so fun part of RISK OF INFECTION, and STILL not really addressing the problem!!!! 

The problem being WEAK CONNECTIVE TISSUE because of a Diastasis Recti – or split in the Recti muscles.  This client with practically NO FAT ON HER BODY – had a severe diastasis of 7 D.  Anytime your recti are separated to a 7, you have a HIGH RISK of a hernia because its so easy for the thinned out connective tissue to get a tear or imperfection and part of an internal organ will pop through.

You can see you close the bottom and top parts of her diastasis recti completely (technically they were 1/8 to 1/4 of a fingerwidth – almost imperceptible – so I am calling them closed)  The middle  you can see went from 7 DEEP connective tissue, to 3 Moderate to Shallow connective tissue – which is a huge improvment in just FOUR WEEKS.  Any surgeon or doctor would tell you this is NOT POSSIBLE.   Also, note the WAISTLINE!!  I measure 3 places for the waistline – 3 inches above belly button, at belly button, and 3 inches below belly button – corresponding EXACTLY to where we measure the diastasis – really giving a full picture of the changes going on.  3 inches ABOVE the belly button, she lost SEVEN INCHES in just 4 weeks!  UNBELiEVaBLE!!  She also lost 3 inches AT the waist – though in the pics it looks like more to me.  

And CHECK OUT WHAT DID happen to her hernia.  You would REALLY ASK – WHAT HERNIA?????  Based on the latter pics.  It has completely reversed.  She says her friends and family are amazed, knowing how many doctors she consulted, knowing how far the belly button had been protruding…and in only FOUR WEEKS!!!  I am guessing by the time I have my follow up with this client in a month, her diastasis will have completed healing, her belly skin adjusted to the smaller belly, her waist in another 2 inches at the waistline.  That is a total of 10 inches across the midsection in Four weeks – and cosmetically INFINITELY BETTER!  No more taping of the belly button!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE working with women who have hernias.  Since I have reversed two of my own, including ONE WHEN I WAS 6 months PREGNANT with #4.
I have a particular fondness for helping people reverse theirs.  I would estimate approximately 60 to 70% of my clients currently have a hernia.  Maybe only half of those knew they had one  because many have never asked their physicians about it, or just thought that was “just what their belly looked like after having a baby.”

So, how did NH achieve these results???  This client did the program RELIGIOUSLY – she followed the Diastasis Rehab® Guidebook (can be purchased here on my site – right hand side) to the tee.  She wore her Diastasis Rehab® Splint and did ALL OF HER SETS OF EXERCISES.

Do you have a hernia?  Have you seen doctors and surgeons for it?  Does your belly button look odd?  Do you have burning or bulging around your belly or belly button?  If so, you probably have a hernia!!  There IS a natural way to heal your body and you HAVE the ability!!

October 15, 2012

Doing Tupler Technique Pregnant with Baby #5 in TOW!!

So many people ask me if they can do the Tupler Technique while pregnant!  YES!!!  In fact I wish EVERY Pregnant Mom would do these while pregnant!  It would sure prevent a lot of the distressed looking abdominals and diastasis I see POSTPARTUM!!

This is my THIRD pregnancy doing the Tupler Technique – my FIFTH one in all! 

USUALLY people show sooner and sooner with each subsequent birth.  Why?  Because the diastasis DOES NOT close on its own.  With each birth, if you don’t close the diastasis in BETWEEN births, you will show sooner and sooner with each pregnancy becuase of the weak connective tissue and the diastasis being wider and wider with each pregnancy.

So I get asked – Why don’t you show?  When are you doing to show?  Do you not show because of your “exercises” you do?  YES!!  Its ALL ABOUT PREVENTION!!!!!

6 weeks pg with #5



12 weeks pg with #5
19 weeks pg #5
  
 
5 1/2 months pg with #5
 
 
So what if you are in the MIDDLE of your pregnancy and you haven’t been doing the Tupler Technique all along?  NOT A PROBLEM!!  They are very intrinsic exercises and can be started at ANY point in the pregnancy.  I had a lady in one of my classes start when she was 7 1/2 mo. pregnant.  The class ended when she was 9 mo pregnant and she had totally closed her diastasis AS the baby was growing quickly and the belly was expanding quickly.  I have another pregnant lady in one of my classes that just closed hers as she is 6 1/2 mo pregnant after only 3 weeks!!
 
The ONLY DIFFERENT TO the Tupler Technique when you are pregnant?   DONT WORK THE KEGEL MUSCLE AT The SAME TIME (which naturally wants to work!)  While working the trasnverse muscle, you MUST RELAX the pelvic floor so you have the mind body connection for PERFECT PUSHING when it comes time for labor. 
 
BACK ACHES?  Keeping strong recti muscles are SO key to preventing pregnancy backaches!  If I ever find an achy lower back during pregnancy, then I bust out a set of Seated Tupler Contractions – and DONE!  Taken care of!
 
LAST THING – SPLINT SPLINT SPLINT while pregnant.  I can’t emphasize enough how much this has helped me!  I splint most nights and at various times during the day.  My diastasis is still closed BUT, it helps keep the recti together and keeps a strong mind body connection as the belly expands.  You will also show much less!
 
Here’s to one more pregnancy with the Tupler Technique!!!
 
 
 
 

September 21, 2012

Mom of Multiples with TRIPLETS before and after Tupler photos!!

I have commented before on how GREAT the Tupler Technique is for MOMS OF MULTIPLES!

I have been working with a cute mom in her late 30s who just had triplets.  When I first started working with her her triplets were about 4 months old  2 1/2 months ago.  She has done fantastically!

WITH TRIPLETS IN UTERO



Before Tupler Technique
After 10 weeks!

CLIENT A.R.

DIASTASIS
Waist

upper
middle
lower
Week 1
28 30 34
1.75
3
1
Week 4
27 30 32
1.5
1.25
1
Week 10
26 27 32

closed
1.25
.5

Client AR splinted all the time, and was very good about doing her 10 sets of seated tuplers after week 4.  (During the first 3 weeks, we build up to the 10 sets by doing 3 to 5 sets, then 5 to 8 sets).
She is very careful to watch her body mechanics of getting up and down correctly from bed, and from seated position  – not always easy with triplets needing things quite often!  This client has EXCELLENT form.  We noticed on week 10, her upper transverse was not engaging quite as much as the lower transverse, which is the ONLY reason its not completely closed!  Once her upper transverse muscle engages completely with the Seated Tupler Contractions, her connective tissue is in GREAT condition and the rest of the diastasis should close right away!  Also notice her overall inch loss in her mid-section – 7 inches in all!

For Moms of Multiples – TUPLER TECHNIQUE is SO IMPORTANT because of the intense foreward pressure of the uterus against that connective tissue.  Couple that with getting up and down INCORRECTLY and you have a reciple for ABDOMINAL DISASTER!  You MUST bring the recti together after birth, and shorten the overlengthened abdominal muscles.  Tupler Technique is the ONLY.WAY.TO.GO!!

August 1, 2012

Promotion for upcoming workshops – bring a friend and get a discount!!

We are launching the “BRING A BUDDY” promo for both the upcoming Oak Park and Yorkville
Diastasis Rehab Lose Your Mummy Tummy ®
workshops!

BRING 1 BUDDY – you both get $25 off your registration fee!
BRING 2 BUDDIES – you both get $35 off your registration fee!

In my experience, the people that come to workshops with friends tend to get MUCH better results because they have SOMEONE to share the experience with, with all the ups and downs and AWESOME RESULTS!

If you have a buddy to sign up with – contact me separately on my email:  bonniewayne1177@hotmail.com and I will get you squared away!

So BRING A BUDDY and see you soon!

June 16, 2012

AMAZING ALL NEW BEFORE AND AFTER PICS using the Tupler Technique to close the diastasis recti from the last workshop!!

Many of you have been asking to see more BEFORE AND AFTER PICS!!  Well, I have the lastest from the last Diastasis Rehab Lose Your Mummy Tummy®  Workshop which took place over 5 calendar weeks!  It is amazing to see what can happen in just FIVE WEEKS!

WINNER OF THE BEST BELLY AWARD:
V.A.

before
after
before
after

This client is very athletic, and this was the last piece of the puzzle.  She had great technique and it showed! Her waistline shrunk quite a bit – unbelievable the difference seen in the before and after pics!  Other parts of the waistline were measured and in all she lost 8 inches across her midsection in just FIVE WEEKS! You can note the significantly decreased protrusion of the belly around the belly button, the greatly improved tone of the recti, and an overall fantastic appearance!

DIASTASIS
waist
upper
middle
lower
Week 1
38
1
3

closed
Week 6
35
closed
1.5
.25

 

A.F.

before
after

before
after
The client had a C section that caused her to lose a lot of feeling and connective with her lower abdominals.  She splinted consistently, made HUGE headway and healed her connective tissue and improved her technique until it was rock solid! You can see in her pictures her belly size has decreased significantly.  If you look above and below the belly button in the frontal view, you can see how much the appearance has improved by decreased belly width, her belly button appearance and improved tone.
 

DIASTASIS
waist
upper
middle
lower
Week 1
32
3
5
5
Week 6
32
1
1.25
1.75
A.K.
before
after

This client really shrunk her diastasis and had GREAT technique and she splinted.  She was already active and athletic so this was the last piece of the puzzle. She closed her diastasis in the middle by DAY 2 of the workshop, which is 3 calendar weeks.  This is normally the most difficult as it’s the weakest point of the connective tissue. She lost 3 inches across her midsection and her connective tissue is now in great shape!  
 

DIASTASIS
waist
upper
middle
lower
Week 1
34
3
3
4
Week 6
32
3 shall
closed
.5
J.M.

before
after
This client closed her diastasis in the middle, the weakest point of the connective tissue, by DAY TWO of the workshop – which is 3 calendar weeks.  She improved her connective tissue signifigantly on the bottom and top. Her technique is great , she is very strong, and she splinted consistently. She lost 2 inches in her waistline and 4 inches across her midsection! Her technique was great!  You can see in her pictures that her recti have become more pronounced and her belly has shrunken.
 

DIASTASIS
waist
upper
middle
lower
Week 1
37.4
3S
3M
3S
Week 6
35
2.75 V
closed
3S

M.F.  

before
after

before
after
 Her skin on her pictures is so much improved.  This was a huge concern of hers since her frame was so small.  Her diastasis in two areas has deep connective tissue, which takes longer to heal and causes more of a “mummy tummy” than shallow connective tissue.  Her technique was great and she splinted consistently.  She cut her diastasis by ½ or more and her over all look of her belly is great improved.  You can see in the pictures on the side profile the skin hangs over much much less. In the top pictures you can see how much smaller her abdominals had become from top to bottom – we worked on shortening her over-lengthened muscles and this improved her apprearance greatly.
DIASTASIS
waist
upper
middle
lower
Week 1
29.5
3deep
4 deep
3 shall
Week 6
29
2.75s
1.75
1.75
C.C.  
before
after

The client had her work cut out for her for a workshop amount of time.  5 or 6 fingerwidths distance can take more patience, VERY CONSISTANT EXERCISES and impeccable technique.  Although this client didn’t get as many of the sets that she wanted to get in, she still CLOSED her diastasis in one area, and great improved the others, including making her lower connective tissue from deep to shallow which is a huge step in its healing! !  In the other two areas we measure in inch loss of her midsection she also lost 3 inches!  You can see in her pictures her recti muscles are much more toned and pronounced and the overall apprearance of her belly is much better.

DIASTASIS
waist
upper
middle
lower
Week 1
33.75
3

5.5
6
Week 6
33
closed
5
4.75 s

 

M.H.

before
after

This client had great success in bringing much of her diastasis closed! Her technique is great , she is very strong, and she splinted consistently. In the other two areas we measure in  inch loss of her midsection she lost 3 inches!  Many times more inches off come AFTER the diastasis is closed as you keep doing the exercises.      You can note in her before and after pictures the waistline is becoming more pronounced, her recti and more pronounced, her belly button has improved visually, and the bulge on one side has decreased significantly!
DIASTASIS
waist
upper
middle
lower
Week 1
32.5
3deep
4 deep
4
Week 6
32.2
.2
1.3
1.5 s

 

L.P.

before
after

This client improved significantly in her diastasis.  She halved it in the middle, and brought it down even more significantly in the top and bottom section of her diastasis!  Her pics show overall improvement of the belly area , her recti are much more pronounced, her belly button size decreased and her waistline will keep on shrinking – her technique is great and she wears the splint!
 

DIASTASIS
waist
upper
middle
lower
Week 1
33
3

5
4 mod
Week 6
31
.5
2.25
1

 SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO IN JUST FIVE WEEKS!

June 16, 2012

ALL NEW BEFORE AND AFTER PICS from the last workshop!!

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

DIASTASIS

waist

upper

middle

lower

Week 1

29.5

3

3.75D

2

Week 2

28.75

1.75

2.25

1.75

Week 6

27.5

.5

1.75

1.33

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

DIASTASIS

waist

upper

middle

lower

Week 1

29.5

3

3.75D

2

Week 2

28.75

1.75

2.25

1.75

Week 6

27.5

.5

1.75

1.33

June 16, 2012

ALL NEW Before and After PICS from the last workshop!!!

Many of you have been asking to see more before and after pictures – and I HAVE SOME!!
The following pictures happened in FIVE CALENDAR WEEKS!  I think you will be amazed to see what can happen in JUST FIVE WEEKS!!

WINNER OF THE BELLY AWARD
V.A.

HONORABLE MENTION
A.K.

<><> >

<><> >

<><>>

<><> >

<><>>

<><> >

<><> >

<><> >

<><> >

<><> >

<><> >

<><>>

<><> >

<><> >

<><> >

<><> >

<><> >

<><> >

<><>>

<><> >

<><> >

<><> >

<><> >

<><> >

DIASTASIS

waist

upper

middle

lower

Week 1

29.5

3

3.75D

2

Week 2

28.75

1.75

2.25

1.75

Week 6

27.5

.5

1.75

1.33

J.M.

A.F

M.F.

L.P.

C.C.

June 12, 2012

First experience buying a 1/4 cow, and why

So I have been looking for grass fed beef options for awhile, somewhat tepidly, not knowing exactly where to look, but keeping it in the back of my mind.

 

Nutrition and better ways to feed the body is such a passion of mine, so  I was so excited when one of my friends referred me to www.eatwild.com .  FINALLY I found a great way to search out local farms who sell GRASS FED  beef among other things (organic free range eggs and chickens.)

 

Although it took me a better part of 2 hours to find ANYONE from whom I could buy 1/4 grassfed cow from before NOVEMBER of this year…and that was back in early MAY!  Who knew demand was so high, at least in the burbs of Chicago?!

 

Finally I found a SUPER CUTE PLACE somewhat near hear that had delivery date of only 1 month – JUST enough time for us to eat through our deep freezer.

 

SO WHY GRASS FED?  WHATS THE BIG DEAL?    If you watch the documentary FOOD INC from some eye opening info.

 

HERE IS THE GIST:

 

Among their findings:

 

In comparison with grain-fed beef,

 

GRASS FED BEEF IS:   
    

  • lower in overall fat (thus calories, too)

  • lower in saturated fat
  • higher in Omega-3 fatty acids, which have been shown to be valuable in   promoting heart health and preventing diabetes
  • lower in harmful Omega-6 fatty acids
  • higher in valuable vitamins and minerals, including vitamin E, the B vitamins thiamin and riboflavin, as well as calcium, potassium and magnesium
  • higher in conjugated linoleic acids, or CLAs, which may have powerful cancer-fighting properties.

 

Though its harder to find, you can definitely find 100% grass fed.  Many places finish their cows off with corn to fatten them up – takes away from all the benefits!  We learned today at the farm  we went to, to pick up our meat, that if the pregnant mom of a cow has grain, it cant be considered 100% grass fed because it has had a trace of grain in its life!  Pretty stringent from the American Grassfed Assoc, but great for quality control. We were also happy with this place – no antibiotics with the animals, no growth hormones, no chemicals in the ground.  They are 100% organic!
 

We also saw today at this farm how the moms give birth to the calves and then are weened naturally, always being somewhat near the calves after weening and then separated, so they can still smell them.  Then they go to a nearby pasture where they can still hear them.  I loved seeing that firsthand!

 

We then saw how they roamed freely eating grass and how there was a river through the property they could drink from.  Our kids got to even pet them.  When we informed the kids that the cow they were petting is the hamburgers we will be eating, all four just stared at us blankly.  Silence.  I think it was too hard to correlate hamburgers with a large living animal in front of them.  Over their heads 🙂

 

I am not a huge meat eater myself – maybe once a week, but we are excited to be on this journey of healthier eating!

 

My next homework?- finding chickens and eggs!

May 25, 2012

AWESOME NEW RESULTS of closing the diastasis recti with the TUPLER TECHNIQUE® with CASE STUDIES

I have seen such great things happening lately I had to post them!! These are just some of the great case studies for healing the diastasis recti with the Tupler Technique I have going on – WITH TOTALLY ROCKIN RESULTS!!!
CLIENT HP
Client HP was a first for me – a very roomy TWELVE FINGERWIDTHS diastasis with VERY DEEP connective tissue, and thought she would give this a shot before tummy surgery.  For my 5 weeks with her, we had our work cut out for us!  I couldn’t believe the quick improvements I started seeing in so little time.  She has now BROKEN my personal training record of bringing her diastasis together the most fingerwidths in the smallest amount of time – an astonishing EIGHT FINGERWIDTHS SMALLER in just FIVE WEEKS!!  Her connective tissue is healing and is actually shallow now on the top and the bottom!  Ask ANY surgeon and they would tell you this is NOT POSSIBLE.
THE PROOF:
DIASTASIS
waist
upper
middle
lower
Week 1
35.5
3
12
8
Week 2
2.75
9.5
7
Week 3
1
8.25
4.5
Week 4
34.5
2.75
5.75
3.75
Week 5
1
5.5
3.25
Week 6
33
1
4
2.75

CLIENT JG

This client had THREE hernias when she came to see me.  Though her diastasis wasn’t too wide, her connective tissue was so thin in three places that those organs  poked through,creating her 3 hernias.  Well helping clients reverse hernias is a particular love of mine, since I reversed my own during pregnancy.   Her 3 once very large hernias are nearly gone – the faintest traces which will completely disappear once the connective tissue has finished healing and that last little bit of diastasis recti is closed.
DIASTASIS
waist
upper
middle
lower
Week 1
 31.5
5
5
4
Week 6
2.75
3.25
3
Week 8
 28.5
1
2.25
closed

 

CLIENT SH

A cute mom in her 30s with 4 kids, she closed her diastasis completely and now has ROCK SOLID ABS in only 5 weeks!

DIASTASIS
waist
upper
middle
lower
Week 1
 31.5
5
5
4
Week 6
2.75
3.25
3
Week 8
 28.5
1
2.25
  0
CLIENT JG#1 This client had her abdominal surgery scheduled for 9 months – she wanted to make sure it was at the perfect time of year, when her mother could stay for the unavoidable horrible recovery period, a break in the demands of her job, etc.   She had done physical therapy for 6 months with NO CHA NGE OR IMPROVEMENT. She found me while browsing the internet and thought she would give it a last shot.  We had only 1 ½ weeks until she had to make a massive down-payment for the surgery.  She also had a hernia, scoliosis, and week pelvic floor.
 After  just 1 1/2 weeks, her diastasis significantly improved and her hernia got so small that she couldn’t even feel it, and wasn’t sure if she still had one.  She progressed very quickly in strength and technique capability and splinted .  She cancelled her surgery at the 1 ½ week mark and has since shrunk her waistline and now has rock solid abs.
DIASTASIS
waist
upper
middle
lower
Week 1
28
3.5
1.5
1.5
Week 6
25
.75
–
–
CLIENT JG#2
This client also has 4 kids and a small frame.  She is also in her 30s.   She closed hers in just 5 calendar weeks and has achieved great strength, rock solid abs, and OF COURSE CLOSED her diastasis!
DIASTASIS
waist
upper
middle
lower
Week 1
29.5
3
3.75D
2
Week 2
28.75
1.75
2.25
1.75
Week 6
27.5
.5
1.75
1.33
Week 10
27.5
.75
closed
.5 VS
CLIENT RF
This client is a teacher in her late 20s and a mom of 2 kids.  Her technique was fantastic , she splinted, and she closed everything right up in 2 weeks.
DIASTASIS
waist
upper
middle
lower
Week 1
31 1/2
3
3
3
Week 2
.25
1
2
Week 3
.25
1.5
1.25
Week 6
27
closed
closed
closed
 There is no reason to think “this is just how it is from now on” after you have a baby!!
AWESOME NEW RESULTS of closing the diastasis recti with the Tupler Technique

April 3, 2012

My doctor says I need surgery for my diastasis recti – I BET YOU DONT

I would say nearly 100% of the clients I see for a diastasis recti that HAVE SEEN a doctor or surgeon specifically about their diastasis recti are TOLD that they need surgery.

WHY?

First of all, doctors learn about diastasis recti for 1 paragraph to 1 page in med school.  Thats it.  Its not what they DO, its not what they specialize in.  Its not where they make their bread and butter.  The 2 second solution is to refer their patient to a surgeon.  Also, its most likely what they learned to do in residency – REFER TO A SURGEON.

I have found MOST do not know how to measure a diastasis recti.

They few that THINK they know how to measure, often measure incorrectly, or insufficiently.

I have had some clients that get a CAT SCAN to find out what their diastasis recti measures – SO NOT NECESSARY!!!

I had one client whose diastasis was 1 on top, 1 in the middle, and 1 on the bottom (measured in fingerwidths) who was told SHE NEEDED SURGERY.  I was literally incredulous!  That is practically malpractice!

Diastasis Recti are VERY COMMON – UP TO 98% of postpartum women have a diastasis recti.  So ODDS ARE if you are reading this, YOU HAVE ONE and can benefit from doing exercises that will close your gap, bring in your waistline, and put your organs back into their correct position.

Same things with Hernias!  Julie Tupler was at the Hernia Conference AGAIN this year, promoting the Tupler Technique as an ALTERNATIVE TO SURGERY FOR HERNIAS!!!  In her words, “Its “Mesh” and ME [at the hernia conference].  (Mesh meaning the companies that sell mesh to the surgeons).  Hernias can VERY VERY often be poked back INSIDE the connective tissue by bringing the recti together, and healing your connective tissue THROUGH the Tupler Technique.

So before you spend THOUSANDS of dollars and THOUSANDS of hours and minutes in pain and recovering, LEARN THE TUPLER TECHNIQUE!
My next post I will highlight some case studies about this!

Have you been told you needed surgery?  Did you look for other options once you were told you needed surgery for a diastasis recti or hernia?