Week 8 With The Tummy Team {Last Chance to Use Coupon Code!}

My final week with The Tummy Team Program, including my final thoughts and results.

Week 8 with The Tummy Team

I’ve hit the 8-week mark with The Tummy Team Core Foundations program! I’m amazed by all the knowledge I’ve gained about how to heal diastasis recti, and I can’t believe how much stronger my body is than when I started such a short time ago.
I took some final photos yesterday, and I’m sorry, but I was tired of wearing the same white shirt! So, in celebration of spring and color and completing the program, I decided to wear this bright pink one. It’s actually the same tee as the white one, but it’s just a different color.
Below, I tried to make a collage showing my progress. The full-size collage wouldn’t fit on my page, but if you click it, it should pull up the full-size version, which is easier to see.
I took my final measurements, and I’m including all of the measurements from my time in the program, so you can see the progress that’s been made in 8 weeks (there’s a video in this post that will explain exactly what and how I’m measuring).

Final Measurements

Before starting the program:
Waist: 37″
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
After two weeks of doing the Core Foundations Program:
 
Waist: 34″
Upper: 3 medium
Middle: 3.5 deep
Lower: 2 shallow
After four weeks:
Waist: 34″
Upper: 3 medium
Middle: 3 deep (but definitely not as deep as before)
Lower: 1.5 shallow (this part is almost closed!)
After six weeks:
 
Waist: 34″
Upper: 2.5 medium
Middle: 2.5 medium/deep (not as deep as last time!)
Lower:  1 shallow!
After eight weeks:
 
Waist: 33.5″
Upper: 2.5 medium
Middle: 2 medium
Lower: 1 shallow
I’m so excited about the progress that I’ve made over the last 8 weeks! As you can see by the above measurements, I still have work to do. The 8-week Core Foundations program isn’t meant to be something that you participate in and then you’re done. It’s more of a lifestyle change, and a life-long way of protecting, engaging, and working your core, leading to a core-strong lifestyle.

Final Thoughts

How do I feel after completing the program? 

  • I feel strong! 
  • My pain is gone! 
  • No sign of the umbilical hernia I was told that I had!
  • I have great posture. 
  • And I feel like participating in this program was one of the best things I’ve ever done for my health. I’m so thankful for Kelly and The Tummy Team!
Now that I’ve begun core rehabilitation, my plan is to continue working my core to complete the rehab process (using the techniques I learned from Kelly), and also to focus on tummy-safe workouts through Fit2B.
Even though I’m weaning from my splint during the daytime hours, I’m still sleeping in it, and I still wear it when I’m working out or doing any strenuous activity. Wearing the splint during these times simply helps protect the core that is still not completely rehabilitated and functioning at optimum strength.

How to Workout with Diastasis Recti

Here’s what I do before I begin a workout session:
1. Put the splint on over a tank top:
2. Put a t-shirt on over the tank top and splint:
3. Pull up one of the many tummy-safe workouts Fit2B has available (I love that I can work out with Kelly!).
4. I spend about 20 minutes in the afternoon working out, while my children are occupied with other activities. It feels so good to be gaining strength and function in an area that was so flabby, weak, and “dead” to me for around 13 years!
And here’s an interesting thing that happened recently. My younger brother went to see the doctor, thinking he had a hernia because he was experiencing pain in his abdominal area. Guess what his doctor told him–he has a diastasis recti!
Last week I sent him a picture of myself wearing my splint, and he sent this photo back to me:
My brother sent me this photo of himself in his splint!

So, yes, even men are not immune to experiencing a diastasis. My brother is pretty thin, but he does have a very physically strenuous job. However, the fact that he’s also dealing with this causes me to wonder if there isn’t a genetic component of abdominal weakness going on.

Now that I’ve completed the 8-Week Core Foundations Program with The Tummy Team, I won’t be regularly blogging about this subject, but I do plan to write very occasional updates as I continue to work at healing and strengthening my core. So, if this wasn’t a subject that interested you or applied to you personally, you may be glad that it’s over! But, if you’re one of the many women who suffer from diastasis recti, know that I do plan to give updates as I see continued progress and healing.
Just a few more days to use the coupon code!
Kelly (the owner of The Tummy Team), has kindly offered a discount for my readers, which is good through March 31, 2015–just a few more days)!
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. Thank you so much for your support!

16 Comments

  1. I enjoyed following your progress on healing your diastasis. I am just at the beginning of my journey and already noticing a difference! So good to know that progress can be seen in such a short time period. 🙂

    Reply

  2. Hi! I am 36 weeks pregnant and have a definite diastasis recti issue. I am planning to do the tummy team post partum. Would you be open to sharing your measurements today (several years later) did your muscles continue to close? Thank you!

    Reply

    1. Hi Abby! So sorry to hear you’re dealing with diastasis too. I completed the Tummy Team program 3 1/2 years ago, and I still highly recommend it. My diastasis is currently at 2.5, which isn’t considered fully closed, but still way better than it was when I started, when it was at a 4. After completing the program, I got a terrible cough for several months, and that didn’t do my diastasis any favors. I know I could get my muscles to close the rest of the way if I took the time to consistently work on it. Also, I’ve gained some weight in the waist area (thanks to pre-menopause and some health issues). The key to success with this program is to be consistent, which isn’t always easy, especially during busy or trying seasons of life. Hope that helps!

      Reply

      1. Thank you! Yes it does! I also have what the dr. thinks is a hernia near my belly button, so I can’t tell how much separation I have on that side with the hernia, but looks like 3 on the other side. I do a lot of bending and applying forward force in my job as a massage therapist. I am really hoping to be able to return to work fully! It’s a bit scary!!

        Reply

        1. I know it can be so difficult to deal with, especially when a hernia is involved. I hope you’re able to make a full recovery!

          Reply

  3. Thank you for sharing your story! After my first pregnancy I was left with two hernias- one umbilical and one above it, plus a pretty severe abdominal seperation. I’m now near the end of my second pregnancy and am terrified of how I will look. I get so many comments now about how I must be having twins but having researched diastasis I know exactly why I look so big. It’s nice to know there is hope and I really appreciate your story.

    Did you ever see a physical therapist? If so, is what The Tummy Team offers greatly different from your experience with PT?

    Reply

    1. So sorry you’re dealing with diastasis, Krissy! I never saw a PT, I just used The Tummy Team program (and Kelly is a PT).

      Reply

  4. I came across your post after searching for Diastasis Recti. I know the post is from several years ago. How were your results long term? Do you still have to wear the splint? I am so tired of looking pregnant! my last birth was 2 years ago, and my diastasis is still severe, and I have an umbilical hernia too.

    Reply

    1. Hi Cindy! Getting involved with The Tummy Team was one of the best investments I’ve made in my journey towards a healthy body. I’m not gonna lie, this program requires a lot of self-discipline to implement. You have to be consistent with it in order to see results. I no longer wear the splint. In fact, you only wear it for a certain number of weeks and then she begins to wean you off of it. So, rather than relying on the splint, you’re using your own muscles to hold yourself together while at the same time building up your core strength. What you learn in The Tummy Team program is more of a lifestyle change, so it’s not that you do the program and then you’re done. In addition to the exercises that help heal your diastasis and umbilical hernia, you also learn how to sit, stand, and move in a way that supports and builds your core, integrating these movements into your everyday life. These are exercises that I still do today, in order to maintain and continue to build core strength. I still highly recommend it!

      Reply

  5. I have completely enjoyed reading your story, and also appreciate the discount offer. I just found your blog today, via the links from the Tummy Team page, and thought to myself "bummer, I missed the earlier discount by a month!", but it looks like there's a special mothers day discount now. Yay! My DR isn't quite so deep, but at a yr post partum with my 4th boy, I'm tired of the belly. Also struggled with a mild bladder prolapse shortly after his birth, and believe the DR/core strength (or in my case, lack thereof!)/prolapse are all tied together. The feelings of helplessness, hating how I look, feel, etc., SO familiar. Wish every mother learned about this before baby #1 came along.

    Reply

    1. Thank you, Priscilla! I'm so glad you found the Tummy Team in time to use the current discount! 🙂

      I know what you mean–I wish every mother could be educated about the possibility of diastasis and keeping a strong core throughout her mothering years. It's so much better to prevent a problem than trying to fix it later!

      I hope you have great success with healing and strengthening your core!

      Reply

    1. Hi Shera,

      Yes, they do have a prenatal program! I have several friends who have done the prenatal program and were very happy with how it not only protected them from DR (or if they already had one it helped with that), but also how it prepares you for labor. They also have prenatal splints available.

      Reply

  7. Hi Joy,
    God laid you on my heart weeks ago when I read your blog and I have been faithfully praying for you. To see these amazing results only proves what a mighty Lord we serve. May He continue to heal your body. No Pain–I love it! Joi (with an i instead of a y, I think my mother wanted a boy)

    Reply

    1. Aww, that is so sweet of you to pray for me, Joi! That means so much to me! I'm so thankful for the amazing results I've had in such a short time. I know I still have a ways to go, but I'm hopeful that the Lord will continue to heal me. Thanks again so much! ♥

      Reply

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