Customer Reviews

Lose Your Mummy Tummy

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(14)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I've been working out for years, and worked out throughout my pregnancy.

For someone who has some very basic experience with weight training and doing ab work, the only revelation in this book is the focus on working the transverse abs.

You needn't buy this book if you have worked out at even a lower level. Simply plug in "transverse abdominal exercises" in google and you'll get a number of sites which give you exercises for this part of the body on the web for absolutely free.

As for the author's contention that more traditional ab exercises, increase the size of the "Mommy Tummy", having checked with my phsyical therapist...not proven.

As for the book itself: The author suggests that it is "easy" to work in 500 reps of the transverse exercises she recommends per day..and this for a new mother! As a new mother, I was lucky to brush my teeth...even counting to 500 would have been beyound my sleep deprived, stressed out brain!

You can save yourself the cost of this book, and if you don't have time to look for exercises for the transverse muscles, by just "sucking in" your "gut" as many times a day as you can.

Let me start off by saying, this has to be the best tummy workout book on the market. In the past I have purchased so many books in hopes to get rid of the Kanga Pouch (flabby tummy) after my first child. Did not succeed....there was no connection, no results and boy did I try hard to get in shape. Those books were put away and sold on Ebay. Then after my second child, those thoughts of "oh gosh....have to start losing and pouch problems again, only this time it worsened - I was even more flabby" but HOW TO DO IT" was the question, did I mention I had fear again on looking for a book that would help. Well I came across this book by referral and I immediately rushed to purchase it as my source saw Ms. Tupler on TV and said it was the most incredible workout and interview she has ever heard and seen. My source I had to believe, it was my mom :-) and she knew the struggle I was going through. My purchase was made, received it....then the excitement started. I could not put the book down. Its reader friendly, easy to do, FUN, and not to mention easy to follow instructions and photo's doing the exercises. You can't go wrong with this book. This is definately a book that will not collect dust on the shelf..... mine is actually proudly displayed as a coffee table book for all to see. Anybody who has seen the book on the table always asks about it and they see the results it has given me, accompanied with a big SMILE. Fabulous investment. I truly wish this book was out while I was pregnant with both children, it would have prepared me to keep in shape and help at delivery time. OB/GYN's should keep this book in their offices for purchase also. Kudos to Ms. Tupler....a Terrific Trim Tummy Teacher. Check out her website and seminars in your town. You will not be disappointed only happy, proud of the results and best of all a great feeling of well being. Wishing everybody success and happiness.

After my second C-Section I developed diastasis but after the third C-Section it was very noticeable and all the running and aerobics I did didn't help me to develop my 6-pack abs again. I went to 2 doctors and they never once discussed exercises that may help or to stop the "crunches" I was doing which was making the stomach bulge worse. Both doctors suggested a "tummy tuck" which wasn't an option for me as I like to work out and they didn't recommend working out with that surgery - or picking up the baby for a time afterwards. In desperation I surfed the internet for any information and ran across Julie Tupler's book and suggestions so I bought it. In the year that I re-vamped my workout, the buldge is disappearing and muscle definition is reappearing! I recommend this book to anyone who has this problem. Age and time aren't a factor as to when you can start this program as I didn't start doing these expercises until my last child was 4 and I'm an "older" mother of 45!

A little about me: I am a yoga and Pilates instructor. I am also a mother of four and my last pregnancy was with twins. I have a diastasis recti and have spent a few years trying to "fix" it.

The good things about this book: First, she lays out what you shouldn't do. Shouldn't is important because you don't want to worsen- ie, widen- your abdominal separation. A lot of traditional abdominal moves (and some Pilates) will worsen that if you don't know what your condition is and what you need to be careful of. She also gives tips for holding a baby and getting through day to day life. In addition, the workout she lays out isn't just for the abdominals but also includes movements for upper and lower body.

What I didn't like: I felt, as did a previous reviewer, that her centerpiece exercise focused on the transverse abdominals. Yes, I completely agree that those are essential. However, my transversus is very strong but I still sometimes have the appearance of a "mummy tummy" because my rectus is much less developed. Because of the diastis, it's difficult to train. There are a bunch of other women in my position, I know. I was disappointed that this book didn't lay out ways to safely train that layer of muscles.

My next gripe was the way she seems to single out Pilates at times. Yes, the explosion of Pilates has meant that a lot of people are both learning and training Pilates without enough thought to safety, and some movements when done improperly can make the abdominal separation worse. However, the exercise Tuppler recommends throughout her book is also used in many if not most Pilates classes: essentially, its lateral breathing with an emphasis on transversus engagement. In fact, most well-trained Pilates instructors, whether Classical or not, will tell you that you need to master that movement to properly do Pilates. Maybe Tuppler doesn't realize that, but that's a big oversight.

Finally, I really didn't like the emphasis on the Splint Tuppler advises using throughout the exercises, which, by the way, Tuppler sells for about $35. Yes, she does also advise a scarf, but even so I can't help but feel like she's trying to sell me up.

I think this can be an effective technique for many people if you have an abdominal separation. However, it's not perfect and it isn't the only game in town.

I am the founder of Stroller Strides, the country's largest postnatal fitness program. In my career, I read have countless books on pre / postnatal fitness. This book is indispensable for the mom who needs to work on her waistline (and who doesn't!). You have to understand the basics, the core exercises before getting back into a regular exercise routine. This book does just that. Stroller Strides gives it a THUMBS UP!

I bought this great book as soon as I saw it. I never knew that there was hope for the flab on my tummy after having three kids. I always thought the only way to correct it was by surgery. But now I have this book!

It tells detailed instructions on how to do each exercise and what muscle group it works. The part I liked was how it told me why the exercises I was doing made my stomach worse instead of better.

I talked to my friend, a certified personal trainer, and she said everything in the book is sound advice, no gimmicks. I've just really started all the exercises, and I can do most of them while I'm taking care of my kids (ages 3, 1 1/2, and 2 months) According to the author, it's for pregnant women and women who had surgery on their stomachs (c-section, hysterectomy, etc.) and even my mom.

I wasn't even going to really try to lose all my baby weight, but now since I feel I can work on my stomach without making it worse, I have hope.

I am the mother of five children, three of whom were delivered vaginally and two via c-section. To say that a "mummy tummy" can be a source of frustration and discouragement to mothers is an gross understatement! I read with interest about the author, Julie Tupler R.N., and her exercises in a magazine perhaps ten years ago and was very excited to learn about her book when it was published. I immediately purchased LOSE YOUR MUMMY TUMMY to help me lose my own twenty-year-old "mummy tummy" and will be sure that each of my four daughters has her own copy when she is expecting. I am currently and actively following Julie Tupler's program as described in the book.
LOSE YOUR MUMMY TUMMY contains loads of helpful information I wish had been available to me when I was pregnant. The book includes exercises that women can begin doing as early as a few days post-partum, as well as crucial information for those mothers who are coping with c-sections and episiotomies. There are two gentle, effective workouts and thoughtful advice and techniques regarding different aspects of the many daily physical challenges new mothers face, such as nursing, lifting/holding their babies, and using childcare equipment without injury. The exercises are illustrated with step-by-step photographs and are suitable for women of any age who want to get rid of their post-pregnancy-paunches, regardless of how long ago their babies were born.
The overall tone of the book is encouraging and positive, with an emphasis on respectful self-care and effective recovery after childbirth. I lent my copy of LOSE YOUR MUMMY TUMMY to a personal trainer at our health club and, having read it cover-to-cover, she enthusiastically endorsed it, saying the anatomical information and exercises in the book were "right on." The book is useful and helpful to mothers of all ages who are anxious to restore their pre-pregnancy figures and I heartily recommend it!

This is a truly excellent book which offers a comprehensive plan for protecting and strengthening stretched and separated abdominal muscles. As a qualified doctor (in a very different field!)it was a huge relief to finally come across an account of how exercising transversus helps a diastasis that makes sense in terms of my understanding of the anatomy of the abdomen. Instructions for the exercises are detailed but easy to follow after the first initial slower read-through, and the clear photographs also help. Advice about movements to avoid is also invaluable, and far more thorough than I have seen elsewhere.

Finally, and most importantly, it works! Even starting two and a half years postnatally, the upper part of my diastasis closed within weeks of starting the program, and my abdominal muscles are generally much stronger and better toned. I would highly recommend this book to any post-natal mum.

The information in Tupler's Mummy Tummy book is the missing link in postpartum care. I applaud Tupler's attempt to spread the word to women that they need to take care of their abdominals during the child bearing years. As a women's health physical therapist, I treat many women who have separated their abdominal muscles during pregnancy. I use Tupler's exercises with my patients and have had dramatic results. Patients who were told that they needed surgery were able to get their abdominals back in shape through exercise. Her emphasis on training the core and modifying abdominal exercises during pregnancy and postpartum is not only biomechanically sound advice but also whips women back into shape quickly and safely! I recommend this book to every Mom out there.

I am a mom with two small children. After my second pregnancy I developed a "mummy tummy" and lower back pain. People continued to ask if I was pregnant. My Obstetrician said my protruding belly was a diastasis recti and suggested surgery to bring the muscle together. My gynecologist told me to do sit-ups. I tried - sit-ups didn't help and I did not want surgery!

After reading "Lose Your Mummy Tummy" by Julie Tupler, I went to the author's website and also purchased the DVD because I personally learn better if I "see" what I am supposed to do.

The exercise program involves breathing techniques and an awareness of moving belly muscles. I was getting bored with the program and wondered if I was doing these simple exercises correctly, so I contacted the author. Ms Tupler answered my questions and told me that the book was based on recent research from Columbia University Dept of Physical Therapy and that this exercise program made the diastasis smaller during and after pregnancy. She gave me the encouragement that this program does work.

Ms Tupler told me that she was personally training a 50 year old pregnant woman who had a three finger diastasis and low back pain. In eight weeks the woman closed her diastasis (while her belly was growing with twins) and her back pain disappeared. I figured if a 50 year old pregnant woman could do it, so could I!

In a few weeks of following the exercise program described in the book, I was able to accomplish more than I ever expected from an exercise program. I discovered that it really wasn't difficult to incorporate the breathing techniques into my everyday life. Most important to me, I didn't have to have surgery to tighten my tummy.