Week 2 With the Tummy Team {Healing Diastasis Recti}

Time for a Tummy Team update! I’ve now been doing the Core Foundations Program for almost 2 full weeks. And I am so excited! I’m definitely seeing a difference in my body, particularly in my abdominal area. The “before” photos are on the left, and if you compare them to the photos on the right, you can see that my muscles are strengthening and actually starting to hold me together!
Before, I had pretty much no muscle strength, and everything was hanging out the front, through my abdominal separation. Now, things are slowly being knit back together, and going back into place. It’s such a wonderful transformation to experience!
In the “after” photos on the right, I’m not “sucking in.” This is actually where my muscles “live” right now. If I were to suck in, it actually looks even flatter. For the purpose of comparison, I’m planning to wear the same exact clothes for the photos, and I’m making every effort to get pictures in the same angle so that I can see if there is improvement.
I couldn’t bear to show skin to the entire world, so I’m wearing a thin knit layering t-shirt that kind of gives you an idea without actually showing it all!
Before starting the program, I took my waist measurement and also measured my diastasis. My waist around the fullest point at the belly button was 37 inches.
For the diastasis, you measure at three points: upper, middle, and lower (there’s a video showing how to measure in this post). And in addition to measuring how many finger-widths your diastasis is, you also feel for the connective tissue, which is the part in the center.
Here were my starting measurements:
Upper: 4 medium  (“medium” refers to the connective tissue depth)
Middle: 4 deep (with pulse–meaning I can’t even feel the connective tissue, and I can feel a pulse beating there)
Lower: 3 medium
The above tape measure represents where my waist was when I started (37″). Here’s where I’m at now (34″):
After two weeks of doing the Core Foundations Program:
 
Waist: 34″
Upper: 3 medium
Middle: 3.5 deep
Lower: 2 shallow
I am extremely excited about my progress so far! To lose 3″ off the waist is amazing to me, and it’s all just my muscles beginning to hold me in instead of letting it hang out!
When I first started the program, I was very dedicated to going all the way with this. I was determined to wear the splint, even if it was uncomfortable.
I had no difficulty with the splint during the day. In fact, I loved the feeling of wearing it, since it reminds me to be aware of my muscles. Rather than being a crutch that hinders me, it actually helps me remember to focus on that area and keep my core activated.
It did take some time to get  used to wearing the splint at night. At first, it was almost unbearable. The first night started out fine, but then I woke up a few hours later and felt so uncomfortable that I ripped it off. The same thing happened the second night. I started out okay, but then I woke up about four hours later feeling like I was suffocating. Again, I took it off for the rest of the night.
The third night, I prayed before I went to bed, that I might be able to wear the splint all night. As with the other nights, I started off fine, but then I woke up a few hours later feeling a suffocating feeling. Instead of giving in to the feeling to take it off, I decided to distract my mind by meditating on Bible verses. It worked, and I haven’t had any trouble since that night!
Now I’m at almost two full weeks of wearing the splint at night, and I actually find it comfortable, and I know it’s helping my muscles and my connective tissue to heal. I’m so thankful for this, since I tend to be a kind of claustrophobic person, and I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to do this part of the program.
I love that the exercises to focus on are broken down week by week, so I don’t feel overwhelmed with too much information all at once. And I love the progress record sheets. They help keep me on track each day. The exercises are relatively simple to fit into my normal routine.
And, I just started using this Fit2B Tummy Creme (available from The Tummy Team under “Abdominal Splinting”–go to the part that says, “Purchase Your Abdominal Splint”), which will hopefully help with all of my loose skin and stretch marks. I’m not being unrealistic about this, since I know it can never be what it was previously, but I thought it wouldn’t hurt to do a bit of work with the skin and help it out as much as possible.
Kelly Dean uses this creme in her clinic on her Tummy Team clients, so I felt like that was a pretty good endorsement! I love the texture of it, and I love that it contains essential oils and other ingredients that are good for the skin.
It is recommended that you use a scrub of some sort before applying the Tummy Creme. Right now I’m using the Fit2B on Your Skin Define scrub, which is an exfoliant containing Jojoba beads, but any natural scrub (you can make this yourself) would work, too.
I use the scrub in the morning during my shower, and then I do some dry skin brushing and then apply the Tummy Creme. At night before bed, I dry brush the skin again and then apply more Tummy Creme. It feels so good and moisturizing!
I still have a long way to go, but I’m so thankful for every little improvement to my diastasis. I hope to be back with another report in a couple of weeks.
P.S. Kelly (the owner of The Tummy Team), has kindly offered a discount for my readers, which is good through March 2015)!
Use the promo code ARTFUL20 to get 20% off the online Tummy Team programs when you order here!
 

Other Posts in This Series:

This post contains my affiliate links. Thanks so much for your support!

22 Comments

  1. Hi Joy. I just found your blog while stumbling around the internet researching the Tummy Team. I signed up for the 8 week program today! I bought the Tupler splint and DVD years ago and just never really managed to do it. We welcomed out 7th daughter into our family in July and I am tired of looking pregnant all the time. The only time I am happy with my body is when I am pregnant – but reading your story really spoke to me. My midwives were also able to really “fee” the baby because of my lack of muscle. I also ended up having a c-section with both my 6th and 7th babies after natural birth center births with the others. I had no idea I was at a greater risk for that because of my diastisis. The last time I checked I was at a 6 and fairly deep. I measured my waist today and came in over 40 inches. I also have chronic back pain and it hurts to even get out of bed in the morning. I am really hoping this works. Your story has encouraged me!

    I also enjoyed poking around the rest of your site getting ideas for organization and time management. Thank you so much!

    Blessings.
    Cristie

    Reply

    1. Hi Cristie! So glad you found me here. My heart goes out to you regarding the diastasis. I hope you’re able to find relief from that through Kelly’s program—in my opinion, it’s the best one out there.

      Thanks again for stopping by and for letting me know you were here! Blessings!

      Reply

  2. Hi Joy and your story is giving me hope! I also have this condition and have been finding it difficult to realize that it is an actual thing. I currently measure at 39 inches and I am hoping this program will help me!
    Do you know if it is still possible to get any discounts on the tummy team program?

    Reply

    1. Hi Robyn!

      I know, it’s such a difficult condition to have to deal with. My heart goes out to you. ♥ The Tummy Team is such a great program! I highly recommend it. They don’t currently have any discounts available that I’m aware of.

      Hope you have a great week!

      Reply

  4. Dear Joy,

    Thank you so much for doing these posts. I am suffering as well. I am not the type to exercise, never really have been. I know that I need to do something, it has gotten to where it is painful at the end of the day to pick up my little ones. All this to say I was wondering how long it takes and how many times a day? Do the Tummy Team people help if you need it or is this a fly solo program? How many different exercises are there? I am trying to decide if this program is right for me. The cost is not terrible yet makes me pause, my husband is on the verge of a career shift and a potential down turn in income for a while and a move. I am having increased difficulty being mom to my younger children. We have a 15, (we did not think we would have any more, little do we know, by God's grace we were wrong)5, 4, 21/2, and 6 month old. I am almost 40 so I NEED to do something! Thank you for reading my questions, I think that you could relate to my situation. I am so grateful for your blog so refreshing, encouraging!

    Grace and peace to you my friend,
    Heather

    Reply

    1. Hi Heather,

      Thanks for writing, and I'm sorry to hear that you also suffer with this. I'm only at week 3 of the program, but so far I'm very impressed with it. It is so much more doable for me than the Tupler program (even though it's similar, and Kelly is licensed to teach the Tupler technique and it's what she used to heal her own diastasis).

      The Tummy Team program starts out slowly and in a very manageable way, and then they gradually introduce new things to work on each week. So, each week there is a new set of videos to watch and new things to be aware of and to focus on.

      The Tummy Team people are very available to help, and they also highly recommend a personal Skype session, where they can personalize the program for you. There is also a private Facebook group for Tummy Team clients, and there's lots of help available there.

      How long it takes can vary from week to week, but the main focus is to change the way you do things in your everyday life, in order to build a stronger core. So, they teach you how to integrate the exercises into your everyday activities. Some of the exercises can be done while you're brushing your teeth, showering, working in the kitchen, driving, and even while you're sitting down to eat a meal.

      For me, this program has been one of the best things I've ever done for my health. I love it, and I'm thrilled with the changes I'm seeing and feeling in my almost-40-year-old body!

      Hope that helps!
      ♥Joy

      Reply

    2. Thank you this is very helpful!!!! Sorry for the to much information…. Was tired and I do not know what last night. I am so glad it is working for you! Will pray that you continue and get to a very strong place.

      Heather

      Reply

    3. Thank you, Heather! And, I didn't think you shared too much information. I totally understand just wanting to find out if the program would be a good fit. Hope you have a great week!

      Reply

  7. Hi there! I just found your blog while browsing blog links on another blog. Looks like we have lots in common. We homeschooled all 3 of our children and our last is finishing up her senior year now and two of our three were born at home. BTW, your results are amazing! I'm gonna look into that. I followed you so I'll be back!

    Reply

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