the mom-flap challenge
If you have one, keep reading; if you don't, go away. We don't want your kind here.
I'm talking about the "mom-flap." Or more precisely, that small midriff tire of extra chunk that the blessing of a baby bestows on the mother. I've blogged about this before. Because while I'm not a big girl and I didn't change completely post-baby, I definitely gained something more than just a bundle of joy: I gained a rim of chub around the midsection. Sometimes I call it my blog-flap, and sure, my sedentary work life doesn't help matters of the midsection...but the main the reason I have a pillowy waistline goes back almost 4 years to the arrival of Crabtot. And almost 4 years later, I don't think I can continue to dismiss the marshmallow midriff as "a little extra baby weight."
I first noticed my mom-flap during the highly unusual occasion of my attending a yoga class. I did a sitting twist and realized that I had to physically regroup my mid-chunk in order to properly complete the pose. Not cool. Of course, at the time, I resolved to deal with the problem constructively, and I did: I stopped going to yoga.
But today is the day when I vow anew to dissolve the mom-tire. With your help, ladies. I need at least 5 of you to sign on with me and pledge to work on your respective mom-flaps. Let's say 5 minutes a day. Yes, some of you hyper-fit mommies are laughing at me but I've got 2 words for you (or 1 hyphenated one, actually): C-section. Oh indeedy, for some of us with very little in the way of stomach muscles, 5 minutes of unadulterated abdominal toning will feel like 5 solid years of biathlon training. Over an open fire. While being poked with a giant red-hot stick.
I've never been very good at motivating myself to be fit. I always have a fitness plan, but it starts tomorrow, next month, next year. As a result, I haven't done one single sit-up since having Crabtot. Which brings me to the 5-minute challenge. I don't believe that with a 5-minute exercise routine I will be able to go from the Mommy one-piece suit back to the bikini, much less au naturel. That said, I think 5 minutes a day would do something. And something is better than nothing.
So, dear virtual mom-friends, I ask you to sign up for the Crabmommy Mom-Flap Challenge. Put your name in the comments and take a vow with me to spend 5 minutes on your abs, 5 days a week, doing whatever it is that you think you need to do to work those sleepy muscles again. Once I have 5 takers, I will begin my exercises and we can check back in after a week and see who's on top of their game. Without the group to motivate, I can't promise I'll stick to my promise. Because I'm the kind of girl who needs serious encouragement to make things happen. I'm the kind of girl who could, in other words, really use Xtina Aguilera's trainer; failing that, I'm looking at you.
So, please, join me. My abs depend on your participation.
Are you in?
Well, no. I'm actually not in, but then I have a good excuse (inappropriate gender). But if you want some inspiration you should check out the story of Dara Torres, the 41-year-old mother of one who is trying to be the first American swimmer to participate in five Olympic Games and the oldest female swimmer in the history of the games. Pretty amazing. And this woman is RIPPED!! I mean, like SCARY! Big story in the NYTimes Magazine on June 29. And please don't hate because she's rich and beautiful.
I'm in. In fact, I'm going to start right now as my mom flap has a two year head start on yours. We can do it. Yes, we can!
I'm in... for a few weeks at least until bump no.2 starts growing. All I've done since having baby no.1 two years ago is going for a run 5 times. In two years! And now a second one on the way I'm panicking... will I ever get back into shape???
harpa, tagsis, great stuff. inky, go away. inspiring? intimidating you mean, the sort of thing that sends a Crabmommy straight to the Gummi bears...
Oh Crabmom, why? Why would you want to force your loyal readers into this kind of torture? I had just decided to throw away my skinny pants and wear the mom flap as a badge of honor. But I can be peer pressured into a workout as much as the next girl I guess. I can't committ to 5 whole minutes though, that really seems excessive. I will agree to 25 situp/crunchy things, and 10 girly style pushups, which is as many as I think I can do without collapse. Does that count?
Jeez. Okay, don't hate ME because I'm rich and beautiful!
I'm in, my little one just turned two and i want to look sexy again. I hope I make it past the first week...
In the spirit of sisterly competition, I am in. And just to one-up my sister (who is commenting as dmatlick and the reason I am in) I will be doing 26 crunches and 11 girly style push ups...HA! I am sure the one extra of each will more than compensate for the fact that I have birthed 3 kiddos to her 1...I can see my ripply abs now!
I don't have a flap as much as a sort of "muddly" spot smack in the middle of what used to be (a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away) a taut abdomen. I find it highly annoying, and the flabbish look of it makes me inclined to lay there and review how I got stuck with this stomach, and the four boys responsible for it are all running about with perfectly FINE abdomens!
I'm in. 5 minutes. Even I can pull that off (she says, howling with laughter at the very idea of sticking with this).
okay i guess i'm in. how dare you ask us to put forth some effort? isn't motherhood tiring enough? sheesh! i'll strive for the full 5 minutes but not sure if i'll accomplish it. i have some dusty pilates video that might work, or i might just have to take 5 minutes to do 5 sit-ups.
I've been casting my mom-blah a loathing eye for months now. Perhaps, if I did something more than give it a glare, it might just pay attention to me. Count me in, too.
I am on the late freight, but I am in. I need some motivation, especially after a few of the older women at my church told me that I need to work on getting my belly in shape. They were over 60, so I gave them a pass on the comments.
I'm in! (A little late, but ready to go!)
Ok, I'm in too. I actually do go to the gym a few times a week. (I manage to avoid the exercises that hurt or are too hard, which might explain why I do not have a six pack for all the time I spend there!) So count me in and I hope you can find some expert that can somehow make me do the exercises that will give me back some "core" strength. (That's what they call it at the gym.) Maybe then my back will no longer hurt from carting around these little people.
gals,
I posted my first mom-flap progress report up here 2 days ago...do check it out and share your progress, or lack thereof. If it's the latter (or if, like me your exercising seems to be making the tum-tum worse), take courage! And stay tuned. I will post some of the best tummy tone-up tips known to mom (to total no more than 5 mins) once I have test-driven the various suggestions that have come my way. If you have any, please do tell.
i'm in - 2 babies later - i have the curtain - yuck
Londa says "I'm in!!" After these 3 kids, I need to do something!