The Truth About That Postpartum "Pooch" (And Why Crunches Won't Fix It)
You know that little "pooch" that never seems to go away, no matter how healthy you eat or how many workouts you squeeze in?
Maybe you've tried cutting carbs. Maybe you've done endless planks and sit-ups. Maybe you've even convinced yourself it's just something you have to live with now that you're a mom.
But here's the truth: it's not just fat.
And that changes everything.
What's Really Going On With Your Core
That stubborn lower belly isn't a sign that you're not working hard enough or that you need to eat less. It's the result of something much deeper—literally.
During pregnancy, your body goes through incredible changes. Your abdominal muscles stretch to make room for your growing baby. Your fascia (the connective tissue that wraps around your muscles) stretches too. And your deep core muscles—the ones responsible for stability, posture, and that "pulled together" feeling—get weakened and disconnected.
After birth, those muscles don't just snap back into place. For many women, they remain stretched, weakened, or separated (a condition called diastasis recti). The fascia stays loose. And the deep core muscles? They're still not communicating with each other the way they used to.
That's what creates the "pooch." It's not about body fat percentage. It's about weakened connective tissue and a core that hasn't been properly restored.
Why Crunches and Sit-Ups Won't Help (And Might Make It Worse)
Here's what most moms don't realize: you can't crunch your way out of it.
Traditional ab exercises like crunches, sit-ups, and even some planks can actually make the problem worse. They put pressure on already weakened tissue and can prevent your core from healing properly. They work the superficial "six-pack" muscles without addressing the deeper layers that actually need attention.
Think of it this way: if the foundation of a house is cracked, painting the walls won't fix the structural problem. You have to go deeper.
The same is true for your core. You have to retrain your core to function the way it was designed to.
What Core Restoration Actually Looks Like
Real core restoration isn't about doing more. It's about doing the right things.
It starts with reconnecting to your deep core muscles—your transverse abdominis, your pelvic floor, your diaphragm. These are the muscles that create internal pressure, support your organs, stabilize your spine, and give you that strong, supported feeling in your body.
When these muscles are functioning properly, everything changes:
Your posture improves
Your lower back pain decreases
You feel stronger and more stable in everyday movements
That "pooch" starts to flatten—not because you're losing fat, but because your core is actually holding you together again
This process takes time, intention, and the right kind of training. It's not flashy. It won't make you sore the way a boot camp class does. But it works—and it lasts.
Rebuilding Your Core in Your Season of Motherhood
When I work with clients online, we don't chase "flat stomachs." We rebuild strength, stability, and confidence through foundational core restoration—and we do it in a way that fits your actual life.
Because here's the reality: you're not going to have an hour a day to spend at the gym. You might be squeezing in workouts during nap time, between meetings, or after the kids go to bed. You might have interrupted sleep, a toddler climbing on you mid-plank, or a baby who needs you every 20 minutes.
And that's okay. You don't need perfect conditions to heal your core. You just need the right approach.
That means:
Short, effective workouts that target what actually matters
Exercises you can do at home with minimal or no equipment
A plan that adapts to your energy levels, your schedule, and your season
Guidance that helps you know what to do and why it matters
It also means letting go of the idea that you have to "bounce back" or look a certain way. Your body grew and birthed a human. It deserves to be treated with respect, not punished with endless cardio and restrictive diets.
You Deserve to Feel Strong Again
If you've been staring at that pooch in the mirror, wondering why nothing seems to work—I want you to know this isn't your fault.
You weren't given the right information. You were told to "just do more abs" or "lose the baby weight" without anyone explaining what was actually happening inside your body.
But now you know. And now you can do something about it.
You don't have to live with a weak core, nagging back pain, or a belly that doesn't feel like yours anymore. You can rebuild. You can feel strong, stable, and confident again—not someday when life slows down, but right now, in the middle of the beautiful chaos of motherhood.
Because you deserve to feel at home in your body. And your core? It's ready to come back—you just have to give it what it needs.
Ready to start your core restoration journey? I help moms rebuild their strength from the inside out with workouts that fit their real lives. Try my app free for 7 days and see what's possible when you train your core the right way.