You know those shiny, smiling instagram photos of the mom with 6 kids standing on the beach showing off her 6 pack abs of perfection? Those abs that are strong and slim and tight and don’t have an ounce of fat or extra skin? Yeah…. that’s not me.
I had twins. My belly will never be the same. The skin that so lovingly stretched to keep those babies safe and sound for 9 months decided to stick around and remind me everyday how blessed I am to have those babies.
That being said… I am not one to give up, or give in, or not care. Or not do the best thing for my body (and my self-esteem) and tighten that belly up! So, I have. Mostly. I have a little ways to go, but I’ve made a lot of progress in tightening my belly skin. It’s taken a few years of research and product testing, but I’ve found the 3 best things that work for me. And I’m going to share them with you!
I’ve tried way more than three, but these three tips/products are what yielded significant, visible results, helping my shrink my belly a full inch and make it look more taut and toned. Here they are. Take what you want and try it. Or try them all. It’s a pretty simple regimen, actually.
Secret 1: Warm Lemon Water in the morning (12-16 oz)
There are so many benefits to warm lemon water first thing in the morning! And, by first thing, I literally mean get out of bed, head straight to the kitchen, make the lemon water and sit down and drink it. Right then. First thing. Here’s whats even better and my secret weapon, have a 16 oz bottle of water right on your nightstand. When you wake up in the morning, while you’re sitting in bed, grab that water and drink the whole before you even get up. Then go make the lemon water and drink that. Yes, you will have to pee! Probably alot, but that’s good for you too!
Why the water very first thing in the morning? Here’s what makes it amazing:
Rehydrates your body
Increases your level of alertness
Fuels your brain
Jumpstarts your metabolism
Strengthens your immune system
Helps flush toxins from your body (including those toxins that cause inflammation and bloating in your belly!)
Supports healthy weight loss
Great for your skin! Dehydration is one of the primary causes for the development of wrinkles in your skin, dark patches, and deep pores in the skin. Keeping your body hydrated as the day starts, helps promote a sustained flow of blood to your skin and releases toxins from your system.
Now, on top of these benefits, add a second glass of lemon water to your morning routine. Lemon water benefits your skin for a few reasons.
Vitamin C found in lemons may help reduce skin wrinkling, dry skin from aging, and damage from the sun. How water improves skin is controversial, but one thing is certain. If your skin loses moisture, it becomes dry and prone to wrinkles. A 2016 laboratory study showed that a citrus-based drink helped prevent the development of wrinkles in hairless mice.
The biggest benefit I noticed in myself drinking lemon water in the morning: a less inflamed, flatter belly throughout the day. Improved skin texture – ie, the “wrinkles” on my belly have smoothed out quite a bit. I’ll take a flatter belly and smoother skin any day. I have seen enough improvement in my own belly to keep drinking water plus lemon water every morning.
Secret 2. Skin Rolling
You’re going to think this is weird. I did too. But then I did it. Holy.Cow. I was shocked at the results. Skin rolling is sort of like self-myofascial release that you can do with your fingers by picking up the skin on your abdomen and “rolling” it between your fingers in the direction that the underlying muscle runs. Rolling your skin can release or loosen “stuck” fascia underneath the skin and generate or promote tautness as the skin is stimulated and manipulated. Very similar to foam rolling on large muscles groups, except it’s for your belly. Skin rolling may hurt initially, or leave red marks, but the slight pain will subside over time, as the rolling helps to “unstick” your fascia and create smooth, unwrinkled, tight belly skin.
I’ve been teaching skin rolling to my clients now for almost a year, and they love it. I learned the art and science of skin rolling from Dr. Sarah Duvall. You can watch her tutorial here. Please note – this is not a one and done thing. Be consistent with skin rolling! Every day. 5 minutes a day, More than once per day is ideal. Give it a good 30 days of consistency. I think you’ll be pretty happy with the results. Around the 3 week mark, my belly had shrunk an entire inch around the belly button and my c-section scar faded significantly.
Secret 3. Collagen and Turmeric
Supplements are seriously a mom’s best friend. I’m talking quality, clean, nutrient dense supplements made with real food. The BEST healing comes from the inside out. My 2 favorite supplements to deal with loose belly skin are clean-sourced collagen and Mellow Yellow Turmeric Powder. Here’s what they do:
Collagen: Collagen is the building block of the connective fascial tissue that runs between the two rectus muscles. It’s that connective tissue that needs to be tight in order to pull your muscles back together.
Good quality, clean-sourced collagen can help to rebuild that tissue to repair it be taut again. It’s not a definite cure, but some women have seen great results in the appearance of their belly by using collagen. Myself included. Collagen is also a long-term thing. Don’t take it for 3 days and think your belly will disappear. Give it 6 months. You can get collagen from different sources, including making your own bone broth.
But for the quickest route, it comes in powder form that you can add to smoothies, shakes, coffee, juice, oatmeal., anything really. Here are my two favorite brands: Joyome Collagen Complex, Zint Collagen. I like these because they source the cleanest, purest form of collagen from grass fed animals. Be sure to get the collagen and not the gelatin because collagen is tasteless and dissolves easier.
Mellow Yellow Turmeric Blend: This powder is a power house blend of super foods that fights inflammation, regulates hormones, and eliminates bloating, all of which are wonderful for contributing to glowing, tighter skin. The ingredients in this powder contain a natural way to reduce anxiety, stress and inflammation. You’ll also enjoy better sleep and wake up feeling well-rested! It’s a total win.
And, you can save 15% off every order by using code ALPHAMAMAS at checkout. No limit. Check out the Mellow Yellow Super foods here and their other clean powders. I love this stuff.
So, there you go. My three best secrets to tightening that loose belly skin. Remember that healing takes time. There is no magic bullet, but there are certainly natural remedies that will help with the healing process at the fascial and cellular levels. Commit 6 months to these practices and I know you’ll see improvement. Be sure to snap photos so you can track your own progress. 🙂