Exercising

I enrolled in a Boot Camp exrecise class and i have noticed significant tummy 'tuck' effect :) not to mention tighter rear and toned legs and arms..
I started going 3 days a week and now aim to get 5days at lease every other week it has been wonderfull and rewarding experinece.

Riley J. responded about a month or so ago with a great exercise for the waist. You should look it up because she went into detail about how they used to do the exercise in the military and how it did wonders for tightening the waist. Basically you stand with feet shoulder width apart and put a broomstick handle across your shoulders and hook your arms on the stick and rotate your waist back and forth holding in your abs and work up to doing it for an hour. She suggested doing it in front of the t.v. She explains it much better. I keep thinking I am going to try it but haven't yet.

The tightest moms I know do Body Pump and Pilates. Three claim they have not had surgery. They wear bratops to work out in and sometimes to pick up the kids. They are shrinking and look 20 to me.

I agree with Music Making Momma. I have had good luck with a combination of Body Pump (weight lifting to music) and Body Flow, a course that combines pilates, yoga and tai chi (spelling?, my least favorite part). If you don't belong to a health club or Y maybe you can find a pilates DVD or something.

I haven given birth but had multiple spinal surgeries where they take an anterior approach so my belly is carved like a Thanksgiving turkey.

Love, love pilates like the other moms have said. I have a class at 9 this morning with a killer teacher (in the best way possible).

I have started doing planks. Its like a push up, but you hold your body up off the floor. I get down on my elbows and stretch my body out. Using only my elbows and toes to support me. All the while concetrating on my core to help hold me up. I've been doing them a week and I can already tell a difference in how my pants fit. :) I do them at night and sometimes when I"m on the floor playing with the kids, so theres really no routine I use. I've also been thinking of getting the zumba for our wii, since I've heard zumba is fun. :)

I also do Body Pump & Pilates but not so "tight" , here but have noticed a significant difference.

Pilates! It helped me get back into a bikini after baby at age 41. I went to a class 2x a week with a teacher like a drill sargeant :-) If I were doing it myself, I would do it more times per week, because I can't ever work myself as hard as I do when in a class with a teacher.

pilates-great for waist area. Yoga-great for waist and other areas as well. Always eat a good protein packed breakfast (this is easier said than done for me) but it really does make a difference for your whole day and your brain, thinking etc. It doesn't have to be big-it could be boiled egg w/two pieces of whole wheat toast and water. You just need to have breakfast. Do your best to avoid unneccesary sugars; again, easier said than done for me but one day I'll get there. All the Best!

Get on your knees and hands. Lift one leg out straight behind you. Your back, head, and the whole leg should be level with the floor and not bent.

Swing your leg and head from left to right. Moving the whole body. This tones the hiney, uses the side muscles in the waist and upper body. It will define your waist more too. It should feel like you are trying to touch your nose to your foot as the foot comes around to the same side as your face.

Switch off frequently. You can pop down and do this exercise several times per day. I would say do 10 on each leg and see how it effects the shape after a few days. If it's not really showing then maybe do 20 at a time.

I would do 50 on each leg, 10 one leg, switch, 10, switch back, 10, switch, etc....

Hi, D.:

Have you thought about the Zumba dance?
There are many places that are doing that now.
Good luck.
D.

Try belly dancing, I know that sounds crazy but it really works and it's fun. You can get DVD's that start with the basics and move up to advanced. If you don't want to do it alone, get some other moms together and let the babies have a "play date" and you girls have a belly dance exercise class. It tones your waist, abs, hips, butt and thighs. Walking is the cheapest exercise around. Only requires a good pair of sneakers.
As for a meal plan ~ remember portion size! Use meat as a side dish, eat more fiber and whole grains, cut out white potatoes use sweet potatoes instead (they are great baked, french fried, roasted and mashed) You can eat them with butter and low-fat cheese/sour cream if you like but remember it should fit into the palm of your hand [No more than 3/4 of a cup potatoes max, 1/2 cup pasta or rice]. Lots, Lots Lots of fresh or frozen veggies. Serve two veggie servings with lunch and dinner plus a salad at dinner. IF you are going to eat bread, no potatoes, pasta or rice at that meal ~ choose one or the other ~ if you can't eat dinner without bread choose a small whole grain dinner roll and cut your other carb (rice, potato, pasta, corn by 1/2). Drink plenty of water, skip the diet soda it will make you gain weight around your waist line(latest research data) eat your fresh fruit for your snacks ~ a serving of banana is only 1/2 of the banana, so to get enough dairy try cutting it up in Greek yogurt (14 grams of protein in one serving) And NEVER SKIP BREAKFAST!!!!! Try Greek Yogurt, fresh fruit, 1/4 cup granola, coffee/tea. Try lots of fresh seafood ~tuna steaks, shrimp, sea bass, talipia, scallops, etc. Lean meat ~white meat chicken, white meat pork(lion), turkey cutlets, ground chicken and turkey instead of ground beef. Limit red meat to once a week or less. Try Canadian bacon or turkey bacon instead of pork bacon. Eats lots of different salads, use beans for good sources of protein as a change up from meat. One of our favorites is black beans seasoned with cumin, red pepper, onions, green peppers and cilantro served on top of a mixed green salad topped with 1 ounce of shredded cheese, 1 tbsp of sour cream and salsa and served with whole wheat tortilla chips. I make the tortilla chips by cutting a whole wheat tortilla into 8 triangles, spray with cooking spray, then season with garlic and sea salt and bake 375 until crisp. Watch them because it won't take long. Whatever you can roll up in a tortilla or put into a taco you can make into a salad and cut the calories! Use Lots of fresh herbs and don't be afraid to try new seasonings and grains ~ couscous or barley, humus dip and veggies, slip V8 into soup stock or exchange it for OJ in the morning. AND don't forget to have dessert! Sugar Free Jello with whipped topping, sugar free pudding, there are lots of sugar free cakes and cookies and desserts out there to choose from even cheesecake! If you need a piece of chocolate, opt for a good quality DARK chocolate, and eat nuts! Almonds, cashews, pistachios are great snacks. Try to stay away from processed foods ~ too much salt, fat, nitrates and additives.

You cant target fat loss, but you can tone that area. Your body decides where it wants to shed the fat unfortunately. You just have to burn it with cardio and strength training and hope that your waist isnt dead last on the list.

Choose videos that 'strengthen the core"(pilates and yoga) or attack abs directly...usually saying abs or 6 pack right in the title., and dont neglect your obliques (sides of your waist), the will give you the hourglass shape.

Decrease bad carbohydrates, add green tea and Greek yogurt to your diet.