The Pooch Club

[Asha]

Ok, I have resigned myself to the fact that most of the fat that collects in my body goes straight to the belly giving me a newly pregnant look. :rolleyes: even when i am very skinny, i have a pooch. the only time i didn't have a pooch was when i played basketball in high school and had 2 hours of grueling practice. since i don't have two hours a day nor the motivation to dedicate to that much exercise, i need to figure out ways to best disguise the pooch.

so i am not looking for ways to lose the pooch, but some tips of dressing to draw attention away from the pooch.

lets share some ways we hide our poochy bellies. :D

[Scoutesina]

You know I'm a card carrying member, even after my recent 27-lb. weight loss. My lower belly is smaller, but it ain't going away! :)

I avoid pleated pants, tucking shirts in, and belting dresses--though that's probably less poochiness related and more about my short waist and rectangle shape. If I have to wear a tight formal dress or something, I have been known to bust out the girdly-type underwear to try to hold in the pooch a little.

[totallymomy]

Lol count me in this club. My son is almost 3 yrs old but I still got this pooch in my belly. Wearing mid-high jeans with empired cut tops help hide it. Peasant blouses are ok too, coz theyre not fiting so they dont show off the pooch.

[fuzzy]

I prefer to call it my Molson Muscle...

[silvergrey]

I'm definitely an apple shape. I agree with what everyone else has said. What brands of jeans do you guys like? I like The Gap's boot cut b/c it has the perfect rise--not too high or too low. Usually, though, a higher rise also means a straight or tapered leg, which just looks silly on me.

[klanae]

I also am a member of the pooch club! All my weight goes to my belly, I wish some of it would go to my boobs and booty!

silvergrey- I like the "just below the waist" at old navy and they come in boot cut!

[thompso2]

I'm definitely a card-carrying member of this club!

I wear suits to work, and I've found that jackets with princess seams tend to flow smoothly over the tummy and camoflage it. Also, flat front pants are key; pleats just emphasize the bulge!

On weekends, I live in jeans and untucked tees! The jeans that fit me best so far are Calvins, but I'm going to check out the Gap and Old Navy next...

[Asha]

slivergrey - have you gone to gap recently to buy your jeans. i used to swear by gap and only bought gap jeans, but the past couple of times i went there they had such a poor selection of jeans and nothing fit me right. i guess, now a lot of their jeans are the skinny fit and not too many boot cut. arrgggh!!! say no to skinny fit jeans!

jess - what are princess seams? i am totally inept to suit terminology as i have never had to wear one to work.

klanae - i am going to have to try out the old navy jeans.

everyone is right that untucked shirts are key. i also find standing up straight and wearing heels helps too.

[totallymomy]

everyone is right that untucked shirts are key. i also find standing up straight and wearing heels helps too.

Heels also makes ur legs look longer and lean. Everytime I wear flats, its too comfortable that I tend to slouch easily, but with heels Its easy to be poised and standing well. (thats just basing from my experience)

[coquelicot]

Count me in as well. Even when I was 5'5" and 120 pounds, I still had that silly pooch. If I could just lose weight there, I'd be happy. I hate to see what it'll look like once I have children.

I'm too clumsy to wear heels most of the time. I might whip them out when I know I'll only wear them for a few hours and don't have to stand up much (like to church or a special event), but I'm generally a flats kind of girl.

I once read about an exercise that you can do to decrease your belly. You can do it from a sitting position. Contract your stomach muscles, count to 10, release, rinse, and repeat. Sort of like a crunch, but without doing one. I did it a lot while sitting in class in high school, and even on a largely pizza diet, somehow I lost weight. I haven't seen major results from trying this routine, maybe because I haven't stuck to it enough. Has anyone else tried it and seen results?

[kimthebride]

Literally, I had to tell my entire group of IL's over Easter this year:
"No, I am not pregnant again. I just have a wobbly belly now. Thanks for pointing it out." :rolleyes:

Things that help prevent prodding questions:
- Pants that hit right under the belly button. They kind of hold things in/smooth them out.
- NEVER wear pleated pants.
- Shirts that hit at hip level and are a cotton/lycra blend. They don't hang yet don't cling.
- When wearing button-down shirts & suits try to get more delicate or small buttons. Big suit buttons will 'tilt' as they trail over your tummy and emphasize it.
- Good posture. And old cheerleading coach called it Pinch A Penny: Act as if you are holding a penny between your butt cheeks - it makes you stand tall, shoulders back, head in line with your body. Really flattens the tummy!

[lil_geek]

I am definatly joining!! While I may have a few pounds to loose, I know it will always be around my middle!!

I find that wearing more fitted clothes helps. Granted, the fine line between fitted and tight is dangerous... anything ment to be worn lose or empire waited add's 3 months to the fake PG belly!!

[Asha]

coqueliot - i might have to try that exercise. i can't really do traditional sit ups bc of some medical issues. yeah, i really don't like heels a whole lot bc i am tall already and my dh is my same height. though, i find if i wear heels on a regular basis i get used to them.

kimthebride - i remember you posting about these awesome jeans in another thread. are they good with the tummy? can you repost them in this thread, please.

I hate to see what it'll look like once I have children.
if i do ever give birth to children, i have tentatively decided i will have a tummy tuck once i have finished having them all. i know it sounds vain, but my dh's mother has always hated the flab she developed from having children and it makes her feel very badly about herself. she actually wishes she could have a tummy tuck but now that she is much older and has health issues, she can't do it.

anything ment to be worn lose or empire waited add's 3 months to the fake PG belly!!
__________________

agreed! empire waste tends to add to the pregnant look, and i can't really wear most empire shirts anyways bc i have a longer chest and the seems always fall in the middle of my bb's rather than under them. not good.

does anyone else have problems with bloating? it frustrates me bc i think my pooch can grow literally inches throughout the day due to bloating bc of my sensitive stomach.

[lil_geek]

if i do ever give birth to children, i have tentatively decided i will have a tummy tuck once i have finished having them all. i know it sounds vain, but my dh's mother has always hated the flab she developed from having children and it makes her feel very badly about herself. she actually wishes she could have a tummy tuck but now that she is much older and has health issues, she can't do it.


does anyone else have problems with bloating? it frustrates me bc i think my pooch can grow literally inches throughout the day due to bloating bc of my sensitive stomach.

I have told DH that if I can have ONE plastic surgery in my life I would! My mom has awful stretch marks from me ( :( ) and has hated it all her life.

I get serious bloating too.. I think I have IBS type thing. But yes, makes it much more round. BLAH! At least I feel less alone!

[thompso2]

Princess seams are curved seams that usually run from the armpits to the hem, and they're meant to define the waist (like this (http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/2901298?Category=&Search=True&SearchType=keywordsearch&keyword=jones+new+york+in+All+Categories&origin=searchresults)). I find that they take the emphasis off the belly area.

I'm too much of a wuss to get cosmetic surgery, but if I ever did, it would be a tummy tuck!

[Asha]

thanks thompso2! i do find wearing fitted blazers do help minimize the pooch too. a couple of years ago i picked up some really cute ones at h&m.

[kimthebride]

kimthebride - i remember you posting about these awesome jeans in another thread. are they good with the tummy? can you repost them in this thread, please.
Lol! I was going to post them, but didn't want to seem repetetive. ;)

DKNY Soho Jean
http://slimages.macys.com/is/image/MCY/products/8/optimized/238198_fpx.tif?bgc=255,255,255&wid=273&qlt=90,0&layer=comp&op_sharpen=0&resMode=bicub&op_usm=0.7,1.0,0.5,0&fmt=jpeg

A basic jean with a touch of stretch for the perfect fit. Slight low front rise with higher back rise for coverage. Classic fit through hip and thigh. Five-pocket styling with plain back pockets. Boot-cut leg with 19-inch opening. In a sleek, dark wash. Available in approximate inseams: S = 30 inches, R = 32 inches, L = 34 inches.

Whenever I wear mine, I get told I look like I lost weight!

[Asha]

kim - thanks! you got them at macy's, right?

[kimthebride]

I know they sell them there, but can't rememebr which store I got them at. I was in Chicago at the time and going from store to store to store....

[beachlvr]

I'm a club member, too. After having three kids, and one c-section, the pooch is beyond large. I cope by never tucking in my shirts, which isn't the best way to do.

I may look for those DKNY jeans. I desperately need a new pair that fits correctly.

[kimthebride]

I was very pleased with them - just enough stretch, not too tight, hold their shape for a few wears without washing. And they even make my bum look good (a feat in itself!).

[silvergrey]

slivergrey - have you gone to gap recently to buy your jeans. i used to swear by gap and only bought gap jeans, but the past couple of times i went there they had such a poor selection of jeans and nothing fit me right. i guess, now a lot of their jeans are the skinny fit and not too many boot cut. arrgggh!!! say no to skinny fit jeans!

Skinny fit jeans are the devil when you have a stomach pooch! I did buy some boot cut jeans at The Gap recently, but it was their outlet store, so maybe they aren't carrying as many at their regular stores now.

I haven't had good luck in the past w/Old Navy, but maybe I just didn't know what style to try on. I'm gonna go check out the "just below the waist" style.

[Anna Low]

Count me in as a charter member. Mine is this strip of pooch along my abdomen that has always been there. Always. No matter how much weight I gain and no matter how much I lose, it never goes away. Sadly, I'm not sure there is anything that can naturally be done about it. Both sides of the family posess the same physical attribute - I was doomed from the start.

Flat front pants that sit just below the waist have been a godsend.

[Asha]

i almost started freaking out yesterday bc i thought my pooch had grown even bigger bc i couldn't button one of my pants, but then i realized that they were about two inches shorter on the legs. it's so bad that i was happy that my pants shrank in wash rather than me getting an even bigger pooch, and that i was happy to throw out a pair of pants rather than have my pooch get bigger.

[kimthebride]

LMAO!! I'd rather have a ruined pair of jeans than a bigger pooch, too. ;)

[Cr8nme]

I too am a member :o lol I too swear by the DKNY SOHO jeans after Kim posted about them... I now have abotu 3 pair and I must say that I got a size smaller than I would regularly wear because of the stretch and they aren't too tight... my regular size was a little big in the thigh...

[Asha]

cr8nme - do those jeans come in different washes or do you have three of the same color?

in the past, i have found that banana republic slacks are quite flattering on the pooch. though, right now i can't justify spending close to a $100 for a pair of pants when i don't have a "real" job. i used to get lots of compliments on my br pants back in my dating days.

[skraus75]

I just bought the Not Your Daughter's Jeans from Nordstrom during their anniversary sale. They are expensive but you can order a size smaller than normal AND they suck in your stomach and lift up your booty! :)

[wendalah]

I actually don't have a problem with skinny jeans--they emphasize my favorite parts of my body (my legs, butt, hips). I just wear with a longer top to hide the gut.

[tenofcups]

Oh yeah, I've definitely got a pooch. I usually wear a size 0 or 2 so I'm not big, but there's a distinct pooch. About 10 years ago, I decided that's just the way it is--I'd rather have a pooch than kill myself (and my back) with sit-ups.

I've really liked the lower rise jeans -- they seem to work best with the pooch and if they hit in the right place (maybe an inch below my belly button), they really minimize it. I also NEVER wear a tucked-in shirt, although I can wear short or longer shirts. For me, short sleeves are also a no-no. They always make me look short and stocky as opposed to either sleeveless or long sleeves. Like Wendalah, I can wear skinny jeans with no problem as long as my shirt is long enough.

Asha--I have IBS and my stomach can also grow significantly during the course of the day. Oddly enough, low rise pants have also really helped with that. When I used to wear ones that were higher and held in my stomach, the pressure (even when they weren't tight) would actually make my stomach expand. I *really* hope low rise stays around!

[Asha]

tenofcups - when you say low rise, how low are you talking? i normally wear jeans about an inch below the belly button. if i go any lower, i have a problem in the rear. i so understand about the pressure. my jeans fit fine in the a.m., but by the end of the day, i am really uncomfortable, and the tighter they get the worse i feel.

skraus - that's the funniest name for jeans!

wendalah - lol about you being here in the pooch club!! nah, i still can't do skinny jeans. my gut would just roll over the top. not attractive at all. plus, i have a thing against 80's fashion, unless its halloween.

[tenofcups]

Also just about an inch below belly button. But just a fraction of an inch higher or lower can make a difference. I can't describe the exact right place for them to fall, but I know it when I try jeans on if they're too high or too low, even if it's just by the teeniest bit.

I remember jeans in the 80s and 90s were at the belly button and as much as inch above -- ouch! I honestly had a lot more stomach problems then than I do now and I'm sure that's a part of it.

[isaacsmommy]

Oh, I so need to join this club. I just had my second ds 6 wks ago. I lost all the pg weight, but still need to lose some more. I don't think my tummy will ever tighten up no matter how much I lose because I got lovely stretch marks on my lower belly now :( .

[skraus75]

skraus - that's the funniest name for jeans!
It is but they are great. I'm a big fan! :D

[Asha]

isaacsmommy - don't worry i have stretch marks all over my upper thighs, but that's for another thread, i suppose. congrats on the birth of your child. :)

[Cr8nme]

DKNYJeans~I have 3 different washes... when I was at macy's I recallthere being about 5 different washes...they range from $48-$59

[lightview]

Count me in. I always had a pooch but now in my mid 40's, I look like I am three months pregnant and no kids to show for it... ;). I hope that if I lose the 15 pounds I am trying to lose it will at least shrink a bit...

[kristin]

Found this thread while doing a search for good "mommy" jeans to wear. I've had major problems finding pants to fit this fall. After 2 babies in two years, I have no abds at all, just a big blob that actually shifts from side to side when I walk (yuck, yuck, yuck). It literally feels like it is detached from my body. Still a size 6- 8, but my clothes just don't fit like they used to.

Will definitely dry the DKNY jeans. I did find awesome cargo pants at Ann Taylor Loft that fit great, they sit just below the belly button and actually have these side tab things that you can adjust a little for a better fit. Although I may just like them because I can wear a size six in them ;) Any other suggestions for pants that flatter this mama pooch?

Also, any other exercises that you've found that help get rid of the pooch. I've been running 3-4 times/week for about 40 minutes and do 150 crunches on an exercise ball as well as bicycle crunches and flutter kicks every day, and this pooch has not budged in the past 6 months. My DD will be 1 year old in October, and I'm really mad at myself for not getting this pooch off. Any magic exercises?

[Asha]

kristin - are the cargo pants still out at ann taylor loft? do you know if they come in long?

this may sound silly, but i find that certain types of dancing help the abs. i can't really do traditional sit ups bc of medical issues. don't laugh - the twist is great, and also latin dancing (i can really only do meringue.) is good for the abs too. when nobody is home, i crank up the music and dance around in my living room. its my fave type of exercise.

[endymion411]

DKNY Soho Jean

A basic jean with a touch of stretch for the perfect fit. Slight low front rise with higher back rise for coverage. Classic fit through hip and thigh. Five-pocket styling with plain back pockets. Boot-cut leg with 19-inch opening. In a sleek, dark wash. Available in approximate inseams: S = 30 inches, R = 32 inches, L = 34 inches.

Whenever I wear mine, I get told I look like I lost weight!

another member of the pooch club here!

i bought these jeans a few weeks ago while i was visiting my parents and LOVE them! they have just the right amount of stretch in them to smooth over all the right places and they are incredibly comfortable. i'm hoping to find them somewhere here and buy a couple more pairs

[kristin]

Asha -

The ATL cargo pants do come in long, just check out their website. I'll try to post the link below, not quite sure if it will work :

www.anntaylorloft.com/atlLMProductPage.process?RestartFlow=t&Merchant_Id=1&Section_Id=65&Product_Id=76583


Interesting point about dancing - my sister was encouraging me to sign up for a belly-dancing class, she said it was a really good ab workout. Might have to try it - thanks!

[QueenDillyDally]

Joining in here! Another gal with a pooch! :rolleyes:

[Asha]

well, i tried on the soho jeans today, and unfortunately they don't work for me. they fit great in the ab/butt area, but they are much too big for me in the thighs. oh well.

[Cr8nme]

Asha~ I loved them at first and I just realized that they are too high on my waist! I would like something a little lower... which takes me back to my gap curvy jeans

[Asha]

cr8nme - dkny also has so-low jeans that aren't too low but lower than the soho jeans. i tried those on bc they were supposed to be slimmer in the leg, but they were still too big for me in the leg. they were trying to convince me to buy the skinny jeans, but there's no convincing me.

[Cr8nme]

Yeah they didn't work for me either... I might give up until I lose enough weight to wear "cool" jeans. Right now I am a 10-12

[kristin]

I had the same problem with the soho jeans - great fit in the abs/butt, but huge in the thighs. I thought they would shrink, so I bought 2 pairs and had them hemmed. Another $100 down the drain, sigh.....
Any other jeans/pants suggestions?

[Bloomwood]

Funny. I am not a ATL shopper, but with my PP body, I have been quite the frequenter! I have 2 pairs of the cargo pants. I love them!

Banana Republic has a new fit out - contoured fit - I tried a pair on today and like the fit alot. I was in the market for a dressy pair of black pants in my pp size. I thought they were very flattering.
http://www.bananarepublic.com/Asset_Archive/BRWeb/Assets/Product/410/410020/main/br410020-00p01v01.jpg

For jeans, I am a big fan of the Joe's Socialite for the curves. The Honey's are billed for curvy women, but I don't think they are as helpful for the belly.

[Asha]

bloomwood - i need to check out banana republic again. i used to swear by their pants bc they seem to be made for a slimmer leg and are long enough for me. right now, i just can't justify spending nearly $100 for pants. oh well!

[ihearttx]

Just a little FYI..DKNY Soho Jeans are on sale at Macys..at the store at least...for $23!!!! I bought 4 pairs yesterday in four different washes.