Six Pack Or Kangaroo Pouch

Abs or Flab? Trim, Taut and Terrific or Fat, Flabby and Frumpy; Flat tummy or Mummy tummy; Six pack or Kanga pouch? Mmmm, it's a tough choice, but which one would you choose?

Ah yes, we all remember the time B.C.(before children) when we had a flat stomach and when the "midriff bulge" was something our mothers had. The corset was a relic and the girdle was what our grandmothers wore to keep their organs in place, something we would never need! Well, what goes around comes around they say. They were right!

It makes it really hard when we are made to look at all those slim teenies with jeans around their pubic line and crop tops, sticking their bare, trim tummies in front of our envious eyes. Really, they are so insensitive! We didn't go around flaunting our hipster tummies in the seventies did we?

I don't know about you but my tummy just appeared one day. All of a sudden, an outing to buy a pair of pants became a nightmare. I'm sure there was a secret pact amongst designers to make the waists of all pants smaller. The hips fitted well but to do up the waist band gave you indigestion. And you had to give up the idea of sitting down altogether. The advent of stretch fabric gave me hope until I noticed that the fuse or lining in the waistband didn't stretch. Who was the genius who thought of that? And then at last, the hipster was back. All the old memories of my youth returned and the promise of no waistband was a comfortable thought. At last I wouldn't have to look like a sack of potatoes.

Now the sack of potatoes was cinched under the spare tyre instead of over it, exposing all that flesh and a plumbers crack as well. There had to be a better way.

It wasn't until I was forced to take notice of what was happening under the flab before I stopped focusing on merely fitting into the latest fad.

One day last November,

I was getting into my car as I do every day to go to the shop, but this day I somehow left my right leg behind and with a ripping sound, it tried to detach from my hip socket....

The pain wasn't too bad. It only hurt when I moved or stayed still, so I eventually consulted a physiotherapist. I told her that I thought I was quite fit. I walked every day and ate well. But I couldn't seem to shift the flabby tummy. "Ah ha" she said. I might have been quite healthy (whatever that is) but my muscle tone around the pelvis was weak. This, she informed me, was very common in women in their 40's and mothers in particular. She gave me a bunch of exercises to do to strengthen the pelvic area and instructed me to start yoga. I was reluctant to add any more activities to my already packed agenda but there's nothing like pain and the prospect of a walking stick becoming a constant companion to motivate us into action.

The exercises worked on my pelvic region including the abdominal muscles. I learned that the abs are the body's central powerhouse. They create strength and stability, acting as a natural corset, keeping vital organs in place and lifting the diaphragm, making breathing easier. Movement in the arms and legs becomes more efficient. A strong stomach also lengthens the torso and improves posture and balance. It stabilizes the spine and provides a support structure for correct body alignment. And there's a bonus....a flat tummy!

So girls, don't do what I did and wait for an injury to motivate you into action. Strong muscles look great because they keep us upright, flexible and fit. Flab is the symptom of a deeper problem than how bad you might look in a swimsuit. Fab abs hold a hidden promise of health and a youthful body.

Of course, while you're in the process of firming those tummy muscles, we have a great selection of "Tummy Trimming" swimsuits in the "Slimming Swimsuits" section at www.suerice.com.au.

Happy Swimming



As one of Australia’s leading designers of swimwear, Sue Rice Swimwear Australia supplies an extensive range of designer women’s swimwear, including bikinis, maternity swimwear, swimsuit accessories and more.