What's the best way to work off a rather large gut /w a hernia?

[SunnyD]

For my wife actually - she's been complaining about the "remodelling" our three kids have done to her. She wants to lose some weight, but her "problem" area that she really wants to work on is the lower abdomen through the upper stomach, where she feels she has far too much there to be attractive. (Personally I'd rather hug a teddy bear than a toothpick... but that's my opinion and she wants to feel good about herself)

Anyway, just plain old situps/crunches are slightly risky and uncomfortable due to a hernia she had since she was born. This was supposedly repaired after the birth of our third child, but after 2 years it is starting to bother her again.

Are there any exercises which don't put as much physical strain on the midbody area which will tone the abdomenal muscles through the hips and be less cumbersome on the region of the hernia? I haven't been able to come up with anything adequate.

FYI - she's looking to drop I would guess several inches off the waist and tone and define ab muscles to the point of them being there, but not being "ripped". You know, the sexy womanly kind of belly.

 

[Amorphus]

crunches? lying down leg-lifts? dunno if the hernia will get in the way of that.

 

[Red Dawn]

Cardio if she needs to lose weight. Spot reducing doesn't work.

 

[Riprorin]

Cardio and diet.

 

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn
Cardio if she needs to lose weight. Spot reducing doesn't work.

The muscles need tone and definition though. Cardio isn't going to do that.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: SunnyD

Originally posted by: Red Dawn
Cardio if she needs to lose weight. Spot reducing doesn't work.

The muscles need tone and definition though. Cardio isn't going to do that.

If you have excess fat on your midsection toned muscles will still be covered by the fat. Cardio in the form of aerobicvs is probably the best thing for her. Have he talk with a trainer where she can explain her physical problem and let him/her set up an exercise routine for her.

 

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: Red Dawn

Originally posted by: SunnyD

Originally posted by: Red Dawn
Cardio if she needs to lose weight. Spot reducing doesn't work.

The muscles need tone and definition though. Cardio isn't going to do that.

If you have excess fat on your midsection toned muscles will still be covered by the fat.

I agree, but keep in mind she wants to solve both problems. So I'm not saying no to cardio, I'm saying cardio and what else to cover both issues. She wants some sort of definition to the area as well, not just take off the inches.

 

[Riprorin]

I don't know how you can strengthen muscles without straining them and strenghtening the muscles won't get rid of the flab.

I've been working out on a Gazelle Power Plus. It's advertised as a "total body workout", which it as you are working out with your arms too. However, while it does put some stress on your upper body and abs, it's not real stressful.

That might be ideal for your wife.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Sounds like she has a good excuse to have insurance pay for a hernia repair/tummy tuck.

 

[SunnyD]

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
Sounds like she has a good excuse to have insurance pay for a hernia repair/tummy tuck.

HAHAHA! Good one!

 

[Riprorin]

Drugs and surgery - the American way to fitness!

Seriously, if she really needs the surgery, go for it. She'll still need to keep the fat off after the tummy tuck though.

 

[PunDogg]

i would take some of the fat away from your diet and add some more protein. Then i would try to get your wife to strengthen her lower back, and if she can her hip abductors and her groin muscle(this will give you a stonger waist which in turn might give alot of support to her hernia). I would start out really really light, for a week or so i would just warm up by doing some walking then i would stretch, focusing on the hips and back. Continue to stretch and work on her hips and back for a week or two, this will give her flexiablety and some strength, then as she gets stronger(only she will know what is good for her, what she can or can't do) stretch the muslces even more, and maybe if she is up to it add some very light leg lifts and lifts for your back. I think with a better diet, more exercise, and alot of stretching and some light lifting. She should be able to help strengthen her back, hips and waist, this inturn helping with her hernia problem, and helping to strip her waist line. Hope this helps

Dogg

 

[Geekbabe]

I'm in the same boat,cardio and diet will help but only to a point,she'll most likely need surgery to fix the scars and loose skin and she needs to be be prepared for the unpleasant reality that as she succesfully reduces fat in that area she's going to have even more wrinkled,gross ugly skin,if you can't afford plastic surgery invest in blackout shades for your bedroom and a wardrobe that will allow her to keep her midriff area concealed and covered 24/.7


Btw,I agree with your wife,there's nothing more disgusting and gross than the aftermath of repeat abdominal surgery,I cry everytime I have to look at that area of my body it makes me feel shame like you wouldn't believe.

 

[melly]

Originally posted by: Geekbabe
I'm in the same boat,cardio and diet will help but only to a point,she'll most likely need surgery to fix the scars and loose skin and she needs to be be prepared for the unpleasant reality that as she succesfully reduces fat in that area she's going to have even more wrinkled,gross ugly skin,if you can't afford plastic surgery invest in blackout shades for your bedroom and a wardrobe that will allow her to keep her midriff area concealed and covered 24/.7


Btw,I agree with your wife,there's nothing more disgusting and gross than the aftermath of repeat abdominal surgery,I cry everytime I have to look at that area of my body it makes me feel shame like you wouldn't believe.

You have lovely children and grandchildren; please don't feel ashamed!

 

[Pliablemoose]

Originally posted by: SunnyD

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
Sounds like she has a good excuse to have insurance pay for a hernia repair/tummy tuck.

HAHAHA! Good one!

I'm really not kidding. Have her tell her doctor she's having urniary incontinence problems too.

 

[Geekbabe]

Originally posted by: xmellyx

Originally posted by: Geekbabe
I'm in the same boat,cardio and diet will help but only to a point,she'll most likely need surgery to fix the scars and loose skin and she needs to be be prepared for the unpleasant reality that as she succesfully reduces fat in that area she's going to have even more wrinkled,gross ugly skin,if you can't afford plastic surgery invest in blackout shades for your bedroom and a wardrobe that will allow her to keep her midriff area concealed and covered 24/.7


Btw,I agree with your wife,there's nothing more disgusting and gross than the aftermath of repeat abdominal surgery,I cry everytime I have to look at that area of my body it makes me feel shame like you wouldn't believe.

You have lovely children and grandchildren; please don't feel ashamed!

The worst part of it all is the fact that the damage was caused by repeated surgeries so I fully understand how the OP'S wife feels.I was cut straight up from pubic bone to almost the strenum on 4 different operations,lol,they've been in there so many times already,you'd think they'd just wise up and stick a zipper in there,it would make recovery easier.As it is,I'm doing everything I can to lose fat and exercise but unless I strike it rich enough to afford plastic surgery I'll just have to continue to live with the shame and humilation of the situation.

 

[Riprorin]

My wife had a c-section for the birth of our first child. She ended up with a 3" horizontal scar that's barely noticeable. She also had her gall bladder removed recently but they were able to get it out arthroscopically, so again she had very minimal scarring.

She's really benefited from the advances in surgery.

 

[Geekbabe]

Originally posted by: Riprorin
My wife had a c-section for the birth of our first child. She ended up with a 3" horizontal scar that's barely noticeable. She also had her gall bladder removed recently but they were able to get it out arthroscopically, so again she had very minimal scarring.

She's really benefited from the advances in surgery.

I'm glad to hear that she was able to benefit from surgical advances,abdominal scarring from surgery really isn't pretty to look at.