My Story- Heather, mom of 2.

  My diastasis story goes back to my pregnancy with my first born son. When I am pregnant, I carry the baby straight out in front. My husband would often comment about not being able to tell that I was pregnant until I turned around and you could clearly see my humungous belly. I'm pretty sure I could get some small objects to orbit around me towards the end of the pregnancy.  I ended up getting a Modella maternity belt to help hold the belly up. After I recovered from my first c-section, I began doing sit ups to strengthen my abs and noticed that my belly protruded up in a football shape. At one point, my husband poked it down with his hand, but it popped right back up when he lifted his hand.  I had no control over the middle of my belly.  A few months later, I noticed that my abs were firm along the sides of my belly, but the middle was still flabby and soft.  A friend told me to do more sit ups to strengthen my belly. At that point, I was currently doing a work out video that had me doing 100 pushups and 100 sit ups.
  When my son was 1 1/2, I became pregnant again and grew just as big as I did with the first one.  The maternity belts in the department stores were not helping me at all with the pain and weight of carrying straight out in front, so my OB/GYN wrote a prescription for a medical grade maternity belt that I picked up from Sante Mama in Vancouver, Washington. While I was purchasing the belt, I noticed a pamphlet for the Tummy Team, took it home, and began reading about diastasis.  I realized that I probably had one ever since I was pregnant with my first child.  I asked my OB/GYN about it after I had my second child and she checked me and said that if I had one it was at most a 2 finger split and that the only way to fix it was with surgery and no surgeon would work with me until I was done having babies. For almost a year, I stopped doing sit ups, but still had a pooch and was constantly asked if I was pregnant. At one point a well intended lady said, "Oh you poor dear! Look what those babies did to your belly!"
  In the fall of 2011, I went to a free tummy check that the Tummy Team offered and found out that I had a deep 6 finger wide split.  It was encouraging to find out what was wrong with me and also disappointing to see how wrecked my body was.  I attended a 6 week Tummy Team session in the winter of 2012 and went from a deep 6 finger wide to a deep 4 finger wide split.  I "feel off the bandwagon" after the class ended and didn't do the daily exercises, but I still didn't do sit ups, jerk myself out of bed, and braced my tummy whenever I picked up my sons.  A few months later, my husband and I started talking about trying to have another baby, which motivated me to get back to healing my diastasis. I joined Fit2Be studios, which has immensely helped me to not get bored with tummy safe exercises. Now, my split seems to be flirting with the medium 2 finger wide mark (although I might not be measuring correctly. I think I am though).  I still have a ways to go, but I haven't gotten the awkward "When are you due" question in a long time.

Heather- mom of 2.

My Story~ Sarah, mom of 5 month old.

From Tummy Team client~

I first heard about The Tummy Team through my naturopath. I had been complaining about a sudden "pooch" despite the hundreds of sit ups and a paleo diet. She encouraged me to check it out. I lollygagged for a while, but then I got pregnant and she REALLY encouraged me to look into taking a class...and I am so glad I did! 

I took the prenatal course starting when I was about 12 weeks pregnant. I was by far the earliest along in my pregnancy, but was thrilled that I had a months to strengthen my core and to "practice pushing". I committed to doing my sets; my husband even joined me (he was sore after the first day!). I can't speak highly enough of how instrumental this class during my labor. Despite my wishes to have a natural birth, I opted to have an epidural after 22 hours of hard labor with no progression. Despite the epidural and not being able to feel where to push, my muscles retained the memory from my practice. I knew exactly how to push which is a great feeling for a first timer.

I've continued my exercises post labor (though not as frequent as I should) and I had a relatively flat stomach a mere 4 days after birth...it was pretty incredible. 

I highly recommend the The Tummy Team!

Thanks,

Sarah, mom of 5 month old baby boy

Your Story

We have heard so many amazing stories and we know that the story of others often help us find the healing we need.  We will be listing personal stories from our clients over then next few weeks. If you would like to send your story, we would love to hear it.  Simply send it to info@thetummyteam.com and put My Story in the subject line.  Your journey could help someone else.

Encouragement from Clients!

We at The Tummy Team truly love what we do!  We have each suffered from diastasis recti and core weakness issues.  We have each invested in learning how to heal and personally experiencing what we teach.  We never ask clients to do what we have not done.  We know how hard it is to be mom and still take care of yourself and how important it is.  We are passionate about clients being successful.  We believe these things set us apart. 

Recently, we received 2 emails that really encouraged us to continue being bold, genuine, personal and passionate about what we do and how we do it.  They gave us permission to share these with you.

"Hi Kelly..I spoke with you on the phone today and bought the 5-session package and have an appt Tuesday. (Just so you know who this email is coming from!) 

I watched the video clip on the website and read through more information and am so thankful to have found you!  I think its wonderful that you boldly put your statement of faith and also shared openly about the Lord on your video.  Knowing you are a sister in Christ just makes me feel even better about coming there for help! 

I am starting to think it might actually work to come there and I won't have to have surgery! It's hard to NOT get excited after reading even more success stories and hearing about yours.   

After trying to engage TVA for these 4 months and not feeling improvement, I have lost hope.  I researched hard and came across Mummy Tummy online and paid $120 for that program, they have you doing exercises on your hands and knees which I read on the website you have which sells the book that no longer is that a good idea.  

Thank you for being so authentic about your faith and your passion for what you do.  I wanted to say that I REALLY appreciated the part of the video where you talked about vanity and about what your husband said.  I kept telling my husband that I didn't want it to be about vanity and that if I have to look pregnant for the rest of my life but get to be the mommy to 3 beautiful blessings, then its worth it.  However, every time I walk past a mirror all I see is my pregnant looking belly.  As the pregnancy weight was lost other places, its just so prominent now.  I even had a friend question why my belly wasn't going back to normal this time like the other 2 pregnancies, that made me even more self conscious that my friends are noticing it all too. 

For me, it is not about vanity, I want function and I want to not feel embarassed when I go out in public.  I have no shirt to wear to church tomorrow that I feel good in because of the weird bulging.  

I am really looking forward to getting started.  I will definitely be dedicated 100% and am already in prayer along with my husband, that this will work for me. 

 

I will see you this week!"

 

The second comment was from a client we worked with months ago that had one of the worst separations I have seen and is still working to completely heal...

"Thanks again for getting back to me so quickly. Have I mentioned that you are so so good at what you do?! Giving lots of concrete useful info while conveying unflagging optimism and hope - so glad I found you!"

 

We work with clients suffering from all kinds of core weakness issues.  Bottom-line: You do not have to live as you are.  There are solutions and The Tummy Team can help you.

 

Success Stories

It has been too long since I have had a chance to post on this blog, I guess that is because we are pretty busy seeing clients and loving on our own families.  Always a balancing act.  I was reading over some comments from clients over the past 2 months and wanted to share.  I know when I was looking for answers to my issues- other women's testimonies were what helped direct me to the help I needed.  We hope these will encourage you as well and remember you are not alone and we (The Tummy Team) might be your answer.

" The Tummy Team program was great!  The first weeks were really hard to move and feel natural without feeling that I might make my tummy worse, but once I got my regular routine everything went very smooth.  I loved the way I gained awareness, strength and how I could build daily on my exercises.  I have already totally recommended this program to friends and family.  Thanks, I loved it and feel like it was 100% helpful"

"My overall experience with The Tummy Team was great!  Not only did I heal my diastasis totally but my posture improved and I lost 3 inches on my waist.  Also, most importantly, I am very aware of my core and how to use it in everything. I now engage my abs all the time and am so much more aware of my core all the time.  It is amazing the transformation in my stomach and my awareness.  People comment on my posture and you can totally see the improvement in the shape of my stomach, thank you!"

"I have 3 kids, one set of twins and I am a total fitness junkie (major crunches, running, Pilates, yoga).  Every thing went back very quickly in my body after pregnancy except my tummy.  I never got my waist back and always felt like I had to suck it in to get it flat.  I felt like all my organs fell down into my abdomen.  After The Tummy Team Program (really in only a few weeks) my tummy is flat again and I have my waist back!  I am absolutely referring everyone I know to the program, Thanks Kelly!"

"The Tummy Team has been a great experience.  My tummy has always been an issue.  I just had my fourth baby.  I feel stronger than ever.  It has actually helped me and my back when I hold the baby.  Kelly is awesome.  She is a great communicator and is super passionate about what she teaches.  She was so willing to help me be successful. I lost 2 inches off my waist and completely healed my tummy in less than 6 weeks.  I was shocked!"

"I had twins and a single pregnancy and after my twins my OB/GYN said I would need surgery to repair my diastasis.  I teach a fitness class and do '15 min of ab work' 5 times a week.  I thought my transverse abdominis muscle was strong.  The Tummy Team taught me to strengthen my transverse correctly and the difference was dramatic!  The exercises and lifestyle changes I have made have given me much more body awareness, transverse strength and I lost 2 inches off my waist and closed my diastasis in less than 6 weeks! Everyone needs to do this program!"

"I am 28 years old and I have 3 kids and I had 1 miscarriage. My main reason for wanting to do the tummy team was to help my back. I have really bad lower back pain and have been desperate for something, anything to help. Little did I know that not only would it help my back pain, but help me lose inches, help my issues with hemorrhoids, and help me deal with some of my unknown stashed pain from my miscarriage. After the first visit Kelly had me rub my stomach, which to me just seemed weird, but what she knew that I didn't is that I had mentally blocked out that area and in order to change somethings I need to feel and become more aware of that area again. After that emotional encounter, I could feel the transverse muscle SO much better and things really started to change. This program is so much more than just losing your belly, it's about A LOT more. Too many times us moms shove ourselves, our needs, and our well being in the closet cause we have too many other little lives to care for and so we suffer. This program reminded me to be a better mom I have to take care of myself and I was amazed at what simple practical way we can do that. Thank you tummy team for all you did!! and Yeah for no more hemorrhoids!!  "


These are real clients with real success.  Every one that sees us has a different story.  We work a lot with moms but we see men, children and women who have abdominal weakness unrelated to motherhood too.  We love what we do and we believe in it because we have been there.  We see each client individually to help you have a custom rehab program that will help you be successful.  www.thetummyteam.com has more information.  We hope to work with you soon!

Kelly Dean, PT

Tummy Team Prenatal Workshop Feedback!

The Tummy Team works with a lot of expecting moms helping them prepare their bodies physically for the "marathon of labor".  We are passionate about the prenatal portion of our program as so much of the damage that occurs to the abdominal wall does so during pregnancy, labor, delivery and those first few weeks post postpartum.  So much can be prevented by having the education and the strength we offer in our workshops. 

We had 4 ladies finish the 6 week class last night and here are some of their thoughts....

" I felt the information presented was unique from other core and prenatal classes.  I came to the class with a diastasis from a previous pregnancy and feel confident that I can continue to heal it prenatally and postpartum.  I loved the information on how to incorporate engaging the core in everyday actions.  This was exactly the support I was seeking, thanks so much!"

"This was such great information.  I am looking forward to using what I've learned in labor, delivery and postpartum"

" The overall experience was very good and made me consider things I've never considered  before.  The instructor had an excellent ability to explain the mechanics of what needs to happen and why it is important.  I especially liked the emphasis on working these exercises into the daily routine.  I could consistently do a little here and there and be much more mindful of my movements."

"This workshop was very helpful and enjoyable and I feel much more confident for labor.  The classes were great and Kelly was awesome.  I would recommend this class to all my mama and mama to be friends."

We would love to hear your story too... if you have gone through the prenatal workshop with The Tummy Team- tell us about your experience!  We are passionate about helping moms recover quickly and be "mom" as soon as possible. 

Check Your Belly before You Wreck Your Belly Campaign!

The Tummy Team is excited to announce the....

                                          

 

Awareness Campaign!

"When your belly gets worse or won't go away with exercise, it may not be fat.  It may be your organs sticking out," said Julie Tupler, RN, the creator of the Tupler Technique® and President of Tupler Inc.  "Checking your belly for a diastasis before starting your New Year's fitness resolution may be one of the smartest things you can do for yourself because it may help stop you from wrecking your belly.  At our press briefing on Monday, we will show you how to check your belly for a diastasis.  If you know you have a diastasis, then there are certain exercises to avoid because these exercises may make the belly even bigger.  When the abdominal muscles separate the connective tissue stretches sideways and becomes weaker.  When you do planks and crunches, you are creating intra-abdominal pressure that pushes against the connective tissue.  This force makes the separation larger.  Trauma to this abdominal connective tissue can tear it away from the muscle and cause a ventral hernia."

As part of this campaign,

The Tummy Team will be conducting

FREE BELLY CHECKS

on the following dates:

1. Saturday, December 10 at 12noon-3pm

2. Friday, January 6, 2012 at 2pm-6pm

WHERE: Sante' Mama Wellness Center, 

113 NE 92nd Ave, Vancouver WA 98664

360-253-2229

We would love to help you see how truly strengthening your core from the inside out will flatten your tummy, relieve back pain, improve your intestinal function and pelvic floor strength.  Come see us for a free diastasis check and the opportunity to learn how The Tummy Team can help you and others you love.

Kelly.