If you've had a Caesarean section, you may have stubborn belly fat that clings to your waist. The area around your Caesarean scar can appear flabby and be difficult to target during regular exercise. Sometimes excess skin can hang over your C-section scar, causing an unsightly bulge. Getting rid of the postpartum bulge can be difficult, but with the right diet and exercise plan, you may be able return your belly to its pre-pregnancy shape.
Step 1
Start an exercise program six to eight weeks after your Caesarean section to give your body time to heal. Talk to your doctor to make sure you are cleared for exercise before beginning a new routine.
Step 2
Start slowly. Begin your exercise routine with gentle exercise, such as walking or swimming. Strenuous exercise after a C-section could slow your healing and cause injury.
Step 3
Strengthen your pelvic floor and abdominal muscles to tighten the muscles in your stomach. Try a bridge pose by lying on your floor on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Tighten your core muscles and slowly lift your buttocks and back off the floor, then release the pose. Aim for four to eight repetitions of bridge pose each time you exercise.
Step 4
Work your whole body when you exercise. Perform abdominal muscle exercises to tone your stomach, but don't stop there. Combine abdominal exercises with other strength-building and fat-burning exercises to most effectively battle the C-section bulge.
Step 5
Eat healthy foods, but don't diet. Get at least 1,800 calories per day, especially if you are breastfeeding. Crash dieting could harm your milk supply. Eat when you are hungry, snacking on healthy foods such as apple slices and carrot sticks instead of processed, fatty or sugary foods.
Step 6
Breastfeed your baby. When you nurse your child, your body burns an additional 300 calories per day. Choose to breastfeed your child and you may help your body more effectively burn off baby fat.
Step 7
Consider surgery to remove extra skin around your C-section scar. See a plastic surgeon to determine if your skin has enough elasticity to recover on its own or if surgery is a better option for you. Your doctor may suggest performing a tummy tuck procedure to remove your Caesarean bulge.
