Amazing Observations...(flat stomach anyone?!)

[RachelEkdahl]

Hello everyone!

I thought today that I would share some general, but AMAZING, things that I have observed (and figured out) since starting T-Tapp.

The first and only thing that I will share that I learned before T-Tapp is the most effective way I've found to keep a flat stomach. In her workouts, Teresa makes a point to talk about "sucking in your stomach". In my short life, the one area I have never really had trouble with is my tummy. Now, I admit I've never had kids or anything that should cause my stomach to be a problem area, but I believe that even when I do I know how to go back to having a flat stomach. The secret is sucking in your tummy! I've heard it said in all kinds of different ways; belly button to the back bone is one of the main ones.

But the secret is not only doing while working out, but ALL the time until it becomes a habit. When I was younger, I was very self conscious about my body (though I looked better then than I ever will! What is wrong with us girls?) That self consciousness though is what I now believe led to my flat stomach. I was constantly "sucking in" because i didn't want my tummy to look fat. In turn, all of those muscles in my core were constantly tight. As I got older, I remember a few seasons (mostly when traveling out of the country for a few months...eating food to please people I stayed with) when I felt that my tummy wasn't as flat as normal. Now that I look back, there seems to be a connection: the more I ate until I was "full" (you know, when you finish eating and either immediately or about 15 minutes later you're thinking, "wow, I really shouldn't have eaten that much!) the less I was able to suck in my stomach. Eating more caused me to "relax" those tummy muscles and let it all stick out.

So, once I realized that, I began again trying to eat until I'm "satisfied" not all the way to the "full" point. But also I made a conscious effort to suck in my stomach at all times: driving, sitting, standing, exercising, walking, running...AT ALL TIMES. I know you're thinking, "well Rachel, don't you ever RELAX?!". My answer to that is YES, of course I relax! After you've "sucked in" consciously for a while, you are able to suck in subconsciously and learn to relax even while activating those muscles!

SO, that is just a general, personal observation that I have made. If you'd like to see a picture of my flat stomach (some of my friends like to say I have a 'six pack', but that sounds a little manly to me) for yourself, just let me know. And believe me ladies, I don't EVER do crunches or sit ups or anything like that (well I did in high school, but that is just because the coaches made me, lol)...even though I couldn't convince some people of that. I know everyone is not the same: I believe I gain muscle really easily, which could be a good AND bad thing. I can "bulk up" VERY easily, which is not something I want to do. That is why T-Tapp has been so amazing. I can see muscle definition in my legs and arms where I've never noticed it before. Also, I realize people have different BODY TYPES, which is something else Teresa talks about. I love the way she describes it, because it gives more options than just 'fruit' shapes (apple, pear...you get it). I believe that I am a combination body type and I am blessed with about 5 inches between my ribs and hips. NOT ALL PEOPLE HAVE THAT MUCH ROOM, and I know that, so even as hard as you may suck in, you may never have a flat stomach.
BUT, I will let you know that while I may have a flat stomach, I GUARANTEE that I do NOT have a flat BUTT or thin legs. My lower body is DEFINITELY a challenge for me (why can't we suck in our legs??? lol...). I have a bubble butt and tend to get cellulite on my thighs and even calves. So that is the area I am now focusing on...but I'm not worried!

You know why? Because I feel healthy! Which leads to my next observations (which are not nearly as complicated...sorry for the length of this post!):

First, lets just say my digestion system is LOVING T-Tapp. I didn't realize it was even POSSIBLE to poop every day, much less HEALTHY and NECESSARY!! (sorry if that is a little blunt!) But now I know what a healthy digestion system should look like, and I know that my body should be ridding itself daily of the bad stuff.

Second, I have literally just realized HOW BAD coke (soda, pop, carbonated beverages...whatever it's called) is for you!! I think I've always known how bad it is...but I've never thought it was bad enough to QUIT DRINKING IT. So, I did a little test: my husband and I quit drinking cokes for 1 MONTH (I'm in the last week!). And guess what?! I've lost about 3 pounds in the last 3 weeks! My jeans fit looser and I generally feel better and healthier. Here is a link to an interesting site: (http://www.westonaprice.org/Soft-Drinks-America-s-Other-Drinking-Problem.html)

Anyway, I probably won't give up coke completely...but I will definitely be limiting it significantly.

SO, I guess that's all for now. If you actually made it through this whole thing, let me know what you think! I am no expert by any means, but I am willing and excited to learn more and more about health and fitness.

Thanks for reading, and I hope to hear from you soon!

God Bless,

[eshlemania]

Rachel,
Wow!! What a wonderful story and tips on flat tummy. Thank you so much for sharing (tummy sucked in tight!! )

[jhn3mom]

Hi Rachel,

Great observations! I am one, though, who has held in her stomach since I was about 10 years old, and continue to every day because if I didn't I'd look about 5 months pregnant! I still don't have a flat stomach! Even when I've been at my thinnest I still had a big pooch below the belly button. Sigh! Doing the Organs in Place move along with Half Frogs has helped reduce the pooch, but I don't think it will ever go away. Sigh! It is the first place weight gain shows up every time! It was great to read about the body types and what the areas of concern are, otherwise I would try and try to look like Teresa! Which I'll never be! LOL! I do have the flat butt and thin legs, though and very little cellulite, so what Teresa says really is true about being a short torso! I do love t-tapp, though, and have seen so many positive results as well~ weight loss, inch loss, stronger muscles, improved posture, and on and on....

Oh, I LOVED your wedding video!!! It was like I was watching a music video! Looks like it was a beautiful wedding and fun party afterwards! Congratulations!

[Joyfirst]

There are probably more than one reason for belly's to stick out, but I agree with Rachel - I read about it in the book Think Yourself Thin. I think though that if we exercise a lot and get used to suck in the tummy, it happens to me automatically. I guess keeping it in for an hour creates muscle memory.

[RachelEkdahl]

Thank you all for your comments!

Heidi I'm VERY jealous of your thin legs and flat butt! ;oD I am so glad that God created us all differently so that none of us could be exactly perfect (though sometimes I feel like he created a few perfect looking people...no fair!) Anyway, I'm so glad you liked the video, I love them too! I'm so glad to be married to my best friend.

Thanks!

[momto7boys]

One 'visual' that helped me was Charlotte Siems saying to suck in like you're trying to zip tight jeans! :-) This has really helped me know what it's suppose to feel like. Thank you for your post! Keeping this one with my files! :-) Also, still waiting for your wedding video to download. Can't wait to see it!

Blessings,

[fruitvine]

Great observations, Rachel. This is along the lines of "lift ribs, set lats" which you really can't separate from belly button to spine, at least not if you're doing it correctly because of the inter-connectedness of our muscles (which gives us that lovely shoulder-to-hip alignment--basically good posture--that is a cornerstone of T-Tapp). Teresa Tapp told her teenage models they wouldn't have to do sit-ups to get a flat stomach if they did this. It even works for moms of twelve children who think their abs are hopeless.

[farebear]

Just thought I'd add my two cents; not sure if its worth that much!

I totally agree about the sucking in the tummy thing! Before my first pregnancy through college and teenage years, I learned to suck it in all the time, to the point of not having to think about it anymore. I've always struggled with my weight, and I've never really had a flat stomach. But sucking it in did train me to have good posture and keeping those muscles tight wasn't something I even had to think about.

Then.... first pregnancy. Gained 80 pounds, stopped working out, and stopped SUCKING IN! Now, 5 and a half years later, 5 pregnancies (I've had 2 kids, 2 miscarriages, and I'm 20 weeks pregnant), and a lot of weight gain and loss later, I still haven't gotten back that beloved habit of sucking it in all the time. Kind of hard now as I'm showing and there's me plus baby to suck in, but I'd love to develop this ingrained muscle habit again. This post is a great reminder to just do it every time I remember and hopefully it will make me stronger for this pregnancy and after! Add that to T-Tapping as often as I can, and I hope this will be my easiest and least unpleasant pregnancy and recovery yet!

Okay, rambling stopping.

[Clarity]

(Rachel, didn't read it yet but just want to say YEAH.. I'm not the only one with long posts )

Now I'll go and read!

[Clarity]

Great post Rachel. At your age (don't have a clue what age you are...) I didn't know that stuff, yet I didn't need it.... sorry I was one of the kind no weight problem.

Well, now I do, for emotional reasons... but I have learned to suck in few years ago and I do it when I think about it, if I do it few times on consecutive days, it shows, I feel my abs (I don't see them but I feel them. So my guess is, there are somewhere in there...!) So it's a great exercice, no equipment needed!

For the soft drinks I did say bye bye 6 years ago after a real wake-up call. I didn't drink that much of that but just.. enough to make it bad in my body. Crazy what is in all the drinks!!! So now it's a NO NO situation. Been there, done that.

Congrats on your open mind. It's really refreshing to see a young mature woman taking charge of her health! Good for you and yours (see that all the family is T-Tapping )