A while ago I mentioned that I was doing Mutu and promised that I would give you a review when I was done. The review is below. Whether or not you do Mutu, however, I've learned the importance of taking care of one's midsection. I was motivated to get back in shape specifically because I hope to have more kids and I want to be strong and healthy while growing a family — in particular, I want to keep my core strong and healthy, since it's the core that undergoes so much during childbearing! It's worth knowing that there are things you can do before, during, and after having babies to get this strength.
We're not exactly fitness girls over here at LMLD. We like to eat good food and go on walks (and some of us enjoy running more or less occasionally). But we're not the type to jump on a workout program in normal circumstances. We're not sprinting up mountains or heading for the Crossfit joint anytime soon.
But, even so, we recognize that it's important to take care of yourself physically. And that it fits into our vocation as wives and mothers to do the best we can to keep strong and fit. This Mutu program appealed to me so much specifically because it's designed for mothers (Mutu = “Mummy Tummy”). Not only is it about addressing issue that might have arisen from childbearing, but it's organized to fit into the life of a mother realistically.
Some context:
Let's just say I’m not the tallest gal on the block, nor the one with the sturdiest build. And my babies haven’t been the smallest. Add to that the fact that, before childbearing, I never put much effort into maintaining core strength, and the result was a sad state of affairs in my midsection after Peabodee’s birth.
During my first pregnancy, I thought, “ooh, weird, my abs are separating.” I mentioned it a couple times, including to my midwife, but no one stopped me and informed me that that was not the norm nor the desired effect of pregnancy. What did I know? Everything about pregnancy was new to me, and I had never heard the topic of abdominal separation discussed.
But it definitely weirded me out, and I was concerned to have my stomach back in one piece after Finnabee was born. I asked for help and was given a few exercises to do at home. At my later check-ups, I specifically requested that the midwives check my midsection to see if things had bound back up again properly. They assured me that I was all better. Although I wasn't convinced, I didn't know what else to do but trust their assurance and move on.
Fast forward to my second pregnancy, which was under the care of a different midwife. Very early in the pregnancy the condition re-presented itself and I realized that my midsection was ill-prepared to carry another little one… who turned out to be not so little. Hello there, 9+ months of poor posture and 9+lb munchkin! Another blow. (I mean, a blow to my tummy. Obviously the munchkin himself is a blessing beyond belief!)
I finally got some clarity from this midwife and she did encourage me, after postpartum healing, to make some actual progress on regaining ground in the abdomen-strength area. The fact that there was something physically wrong really struck me when I happened to check my weight and discovered that I was below my pre-baby number, and yet looked heavier!
After several more months of casual searching, I realized that there's a name for what I was experiencing: Diastasis Recti. It seems like a little thing, and might come off as simply a cosmetic concern, but actually it can inhibit overall health when it's disrupting one's whole plan to get fit, and threatens to get worse with each pregnancy if not addressed. No one told me that, for instance, standing certain ways was aggravating my condition. And when I did feel up for exercise, no one was there to tell me that there were certain exercises that I should be avoiding because they were counterproductive to my healing! Finally… I discovered Mutu.
My review of the program is below. But first, I want to talk about the habits of movement we have as women and mothers in our modern world, and how adjusting them can make a big difference in the care we're taking of our core.
You can prepare your body for strong childbearing and/or recover after childbearing by making small adjustments in alignment.
Do you slouch throughout your day? I do! I find myself in positions that would make our old Irish Step Dance teacher turn over in her grave if she saw them.
The way that we tend to move, sit, and poise ourselves in our culture is counter-productive to our health in many ways, and especially unhelpful when it comes to building up our bodies in favor of healthy childbearing. We feel a lot of pressure to work out in order to look good and be strong. But if we spend, say, even 15% of our time in active exercising, we're making our lives difficult by having the remaining 85% of our time be wasted or actually working against us.
If you haven't had any babies yet, you can do a lot now to prepare to carry them well. (I was running three times a week and doing lots of walking the year that I got married, but I never did a thing to target my core! I had a tiny waist, but no idea that it was weak!)
Now that I've been introduced to Mutu, I realize that my habits were to slouch my way around through my day. Before kids, there were many months there that I just didn't move enough, period (hello, desk job!). And then when I did start to move more, I wasn't carrying myself well. Bending over instead of squatting, leaning around instead of standing up straight, flopping over instead of sitting.
When I was pregnant with Finnabee, I heard the advice that pregnant women should squat. Well, actually, we should all be squatting all the time! If you think about it, you need strong legs to support your midsection, especially when your midsection is going to be periodically increasing by up tens of pounds of extra person!
The first few weeks of Mutu (and all of it, really), are very big on building up squatting skills. I noticed a difference in walking up my stairs by week 3 — “wow, my legs are carrying me up instead of me sort of thrusting myself up in some vague way.”
So now I look for opportunities to squat. Ideally, back stays straight and your heels and thighs do the work. Core is engaged. (And yes, this is one reason why Western women have a harder time, in many ways, than women in traditional cultures when it comes to having babies — we hardly ever squat!)
Here are some more examples:
- Slouching at the sink (and I do a lot of dishes!). Leaning my belly into the counter, shoulders usually high and tense, all the pressure going right into my mid-section, no support from my legs. Bad.
- Instead: Setting my feet under my hips, rolling my shoulders back, engaging my core, lifting my chin, untucking my tail bone. Better!
- Slouching on the couch. Flopping down and leaning back with my weight gathering into my pelvis and hips, back curved around. Shoulders rolling forward. Not doing myself any favors.
- Instead: sitting so that my weight is on my “sit bones” (as they're referred to in Mutu). In this case, sitting cross-legged so that I can relax my legs while also sitting down on my bum instead of back into a rolled-up position with my ribs collapsing towards my pelvis. Back straight, shoulders down. Not only am I improving blood flow to my head, but I'm taking pressure off of my mid-section by using my skeleton properly. Better!
- Slouching in a chair (and especially at the computer!). Again, my skeleton is just flopping back, ribs caving in, and I'm not sitting upon my bum the way I should be. You can see how this is putting undo pressure on my tummy… and nor is it flattering!
- Instead: Sitting on the edge of my chair so that my feet are down on the floor, bracing me and providing support. Back straightened up, bum bones engaged, shoulders rolled down. (I can see that I still need to work on the alignment of my chin…) Better!
- This is one I catch myself at all the time: when I need to reach something that's slightly low but not really low. If I reach all the way down to the floor, I might remember to squat down instead of bending/flopping over. But when it's not a far reach, just a little reach… I simply slouch, belly first! It's so bad! I find myself doing then when buckling baby into high chair.
Instead: squat a little. Yes, it looks goofy (un-tuck the tailbone = rear does stick out a bit)! But it's not as though I looked good when I was slouching, is it?
- Another big one: (although I don't have pictures): carrying the baby. It's so easy to plop the baby on the hip, letting both hips thrust forward and one to the side, the back curving and belly going out with them. Better: square the hips over the feet, straighten up the back and roll the shoulders down, and hold the baby with the strength of the arm. This is also where proper baby-wearing comes in so handy to prevent bad posture!
I learned about all of this mainly from the Mutu System. I also found the blog Diastasis Rectified extremely helpful and have picked up a thing or two from Nutritional Movement (thanks, Rebekah, for the recommendation!). Spend a day thinking about how you move around your normal, everyday spaces and how you carry yourself. If you're like me, you'll find many areas where you can make small changes that will add up to a big difference in your ability to keep a strong core. I'm not going to advocate getting rid of all of the chairs in your home. But lesser changes have made a big difference to me, and now I see how much sense it makes for those of us who want to be up for childrearing in the long-term.
My Review of the Mutu System 12 Week Program
So, about Mutu. Down to the details.
Right off the bat, I will say that I'm a believer. I went into Mutu with the primary goal of closing my Diastasis Recti gap, which was about 2.5 finger widths wide when I began. I went through 9 weeks very faithfully, and then dropped off the bandwagon due to some things beyond my control. I have now dipped back in, starting at week 4.
My results? My DR gap is closed. I think I can still use some strengthening to work towards it staying closed the next time around, but I am very pleased with where it's at and certain that I was not going to get there without a focused routine and guidance. I also have ab muscles that I've never had before (not that one can tell to look at me) and better overall strength. (After all these squats of every description, I'm basically like Jason Varitek over here.)
What is the System, exactly?
The Mutu System is an exercise program and, for lack of a less absurd term, “lifestyle plan” geared towards helping women close DR, regain core strength, lose baby weight, flatten tummies, and address pelvic floor issues (like “leaky undercarriage”).
You buy a subscription to the “system” and you have access to 12 weeks worth of videos and accompanying materials (as well as the Mutu Mamas Facebook group in case you want to chat with other women in the program/who have DR/who have other post-partum-physical issues). It's designed to be done in 12 weeks, but the subscription never expires and you'll always have access to it. Ideally, after following it for the 12 weeks, you're strong and healed (or well on your way to healing) and can just keep it up as it suits you and your schedule, indefinitely.
The program is designed by Wendy Powell, who walks you through everything like a pal, with a manner that I must say is an impressive mix of encouraging and challenging (but mostly encouraging – there's a very strong “you can do it, mama!” vibe throughout all the materials). She's British and has a lovely accent and clear, calm, authoritative way of talking and presenting the material. She's pleasant and likeable and looks inspiringly great without coming off as aggressive or immodest.
There are “core” exercises and “intensive” exercises. The core exercises are to be done every day; the intensives are sprinkled throughout the week on your schedule. There are demo videos and written guides for each one, and then videos that are paced so that you can work out “to” them. You have your own account with a module that helps you record where you are in the 12 week plan.
It's called a “system” because there are other elements besides just the workout videos. Let me walk through them:
- Core exercises. These are what I think of as “low-commitment” exercises. Yes, you need to do them twice on a daily basis. But they don't take long, you don't have to do them all at once, and — crucially for me — you don't have to change clothes before hand or shower afterwards. I like to do them all at once, which means pulling up the video and running through it, then re-playing it and doing it again — takes 15 minutes. I do this during Peabodee's naptime and Finnabee likes to do it with me. Not a big deal, once it's in the routine, and boy does it make a difference in core strength!
- Intensive exercises. These are a bit more of a commitment. Each one takes about 20 minutes and they will work up a sweat. I still do them in my living room – there's no running or jumping – but I do change clothes to do them, so there's that added effort.
- Alignment. This has to do with the things I discussed above: learning better ways to sit, walk, move, etc. Really committing to this means ceasing to wear heeled shoes and embracing shoes that permit the natural rolling of the foot from heel to toe with every stride (or going barefoot). (Yes I did this, although I will wear heels on occasion for short periods of time, now that I'm stronger. And I'm more conscious about how they're working against me. I'm a barefoot girl in general, so this wasn't a big deal for me.)
In addition, Wendy encourages that you go on a ~20 min walk every day. It's a way to build movement into your routine and actively practice proper alignment so that it becomes built into your muscle memory. She also talks about proper stride for running, further on in the program. - Eating. There is a “Mutu Food guide” that basically outlines healthy habits. For the most part, it's about cutting out badly processed food and getting into whole foods. Drinking lots of water, getting healthy fats, and finding ways to incorporate healthy grains, etc. are other elements. This wasn't a huge deal to me, because most of this was already part of my life. What was a big shift was the choice to cut refined sugar out of my daily diet — something that would have been unthinkable to me a few years ago but which, I have to say, did feel really great.
- Breathing. This is tied into the exercise parts, above. As in pilates, there are important instructions as to how to coordinate inhaling and exhaling with each exercise move so that your muscles are properly engaged and challenged, and so that you're not aggravating any bad muscle patterns. The big thing for me here is learning how to engage your TVA (transverse abdominal muscles): in case you were ever tempted to look thinner by “sucking in,” you can quit that habit right now! (I learned that engaging the core muscles happens on the exhale.) Wendy shows you how to engage the core properly so that you can be protecting that area, practicing all the time, and constantly working to strengthen those muscles, no matter what you're doing.
There is also some material for learning deep-breathing relaxation, and understanding how this ties into your overall health and weight-loss efforts. But it's just a small aspect.
Is it realistic for a busy mom?
Well, it is a) designed to be done entirely at home and b) largely just a matter of incorporating changes into your existing routine (e.g., getting out for a walk, eating differently, perhaps).
I find that it is realistic for me, for the current season of my family life — but it is a commitment. Before I even started the program I took at least a few days to poke around the site a little, watch a couple of videos, and make a mental plan. I had to build it into my schedule. And I had to really want the results.
(Rosie says that it was a bit much with her three when she gave it a first go-round, but she's approaching it differently a second time around and is doing better.)
I like the fact that the core exercises, which are such a big part of it, are not disruptive to the flow of the day (again, not only are you not going to the gym, but as long as you're dressed comfortably, you don't even have to change clothes). But even these require a certain level of determination on your part. We all know that it can be hard to set aside 15 minutes for anything on a regular basis! But once you do so, and you build it into your routine, it's not that big of a deal.
A doable approach
Wendy eases you in. Week 1 struck me as peaceful and gentle – not overwhelming in the least. Week 2? I can totally do this. I'm pretty sure anyone can do this. Week 3? A bit surprised by the first Intensive workout and a bit sore after! By week 4 I was engaged and already feeling so much stronger and more alive – and by then I was already a third of the way done!
Bottom line: Is it worth it?
If you are already physically fit, or don't have any issues specifically relating to post-partum physical health (like ab separation or pelvic floor weakness), then you might be better off just figuring out whatever core strength exercises would be good for you and going with them. (And I do recommend that you do get/keep a strong core, so that you won't run into these problems when/if you do have a baby!) If you are looking at post-partum issues, as I was, and really just need a tool to walk you through the steps to building that strength back up and healing those specific problems, I do give Mutu a strong recommendation.
I had enough questions and concerns that I really needed someone to just stand there and tell me what to do. I also liked the aspect that I could log onto the Facebook group if necessary to get clarification on anything, because I like to know why I'm doing a given exercise or whether I'm doing it correctly. Short of having a personal trainer and DR specialist come to my home on a daily basis, this really seems to be to be the best possible option for someone in my position. (And actually, a personal trainer would be more difficult to schedule!)
As I said, my DR is basically healed. I have a much stronger core than I have possibly in my whole life. Another benefit that I experienced while in the midst of the program was a major energy boost: Getting out for a walk, whether it's sunny or cold, is just a great habit in any case and good for the psyche; focusing on eating healthy, energizing food and no sugar really did wonders; and the habit of daily moving, exercising, and stretching were obviously generating good blood flow, etc. It was work, but very rewarding!
It's not going to be a magic trick for tummy-flattening. For one thing (for most of us), there are some changes to the stomach from childbearing that nothing is going to undo. Mutu did help me reclaim the shape of my core, but day to day and throughout the month, I still vary in whether I look a little dumpy around the mid-section. (I'm now figuring out that I may have some gut health issues to sort out, as my problem is bloating — I know that I'm not carrying extra weight.)
In full disclosure, I did receive a complimentary subscription in exchange for this review. Not only could my perception of the program be different, not having paid for it, but it also gave me extra motivation to do it well, because I wanted to make sure I was giving it the true college try so that I could tell you about it with accuracy.
Looking back, though, I can honestly say that I would definitely feel that it was worth the money to me, if I'd have paid for it (or at least bought the abridged version, the Focus Program – and I was looking at sale prices). Someone else could get the same results on her own, but I know that I needed help.
It's also worth noting that, unless you happen to have all the equipment handy already, you'll pay for more than just the program itself. You will also need a small ball and a few different types of pilates bands/loops, as well as small weights. There are a few other big objects that you can improvise, but a big exercise ball would be useful as well.
Speaking of sales — I wanted to write this post now so that, if you're interested, you could take advantage of an upcoming sale: the programs will be 45% off on July 6!
Any tips for success?
If you're gonna do it, plan for it. Don't try to start it tomorrow without having thought through how it'll fit into your days and weeks.
I did a lot of my Intensives at night after the kids went to bed. Otherwise, I did them during nap times or on the weekend when the kids were occupied with Dad.
Do the homework on the Intensives before jumping in. Once I realized that there were actually only 5 exercises and I was just doing them over and over, they became much more doable. But they caught me off guard at first.
The core exercises are fine to do with your bigger kids in tow, but I found (and I know that Rosie did too) that they're just not going to work with the baby/little toddler in the room. Too much temptation to sit on Mommy's head/lie across Mommy's back/play the drum on Mommy's tummy.
It really helps if you can enlist your wonderful husband to see you through some of the workouts you don't want to do. There were several nights when I said, “I could do my Intensive… or I could just sit here,” and the Artist stood up and said, “I'll do it with you.” Clutch.
Here's to having babies, healthily!
I hope I'm remembering everything… I will respond in the comments if you have any questions! This time around, the links above are affiliate links, which means I'll get a bit if you end up purchasing a Mutu program after clicking through – so thank you!
What other tips do you have for staying strong in order to/while rais(ing) a family?
{You might also be interested in: Ask Auntie Leila: Five Steps to Feeling Pretty After the Baby)
Kelsey says
What a great review, Deirdre! I’m so glad you’re bringing awareness to DR on the blog. Congratulations on closing your gap, that is a really big achievement!
My kids are basically the same age as yours, and my story is similar to yours. After the birth of my first- literally minutes after she was born – I just looked down at my tummy and it was like a giant crater. You could actually see the abdominal wall on either side with this sizable cavity in the middle. It was disturbing and I immediately looked away, but the effects of the DR were pretty physically and psychologically devastating. I wore an abdominal splint throughout my second pregnancy, which helped a great deal – I know Wendy Powell isn’t a proponent of splinting, but I really do think that splints have their place.
The big breakthrough for me came when I finally (this past January) started to see a local physical therapist. She specializes in women’s issues, and utilizes many of the techniques developed/popularized by the biomechanist Katy Bowman. (I cannot recommend Katy’s book , Diastasis Recti: The Whole-Body Solution to Abdominal Weakness and Separation, enough!) The smallest things make a big change. For example, stretching my chest and shoulder muscles to restore full range of motion means that I no longer flare my ribs every time I reach up, thus keeping my core neutral and avoiding undo strain on my linea alba. But I really needed the professional help in order to figure this all out! (And we had to pay out-of-pocket for the therapy, which was a sacrifice, but so worth it. Things were so bad that I had literally had no feeling whatsoever in my tummy area for almost three years. It’s restored now!)
For those not ready to make a large financial commitment, I always suggest Fit2B Studio, an online fitness resource that is totally safe for any core weakness and truly doable for moms. There is a membership fee, but you can pay monthly, and there’s plenty of info on the website that’s open to non-members. I even think Wendy Powell is a member! The founder is a Christian woman and so wonderful about encouraging women through these issues. It’s not rehab per se, but a great resource nonetheless.
This comment is turning into a dissertation, but this issue is so near and dear to me. I’ve gotten my gap from a 4 to a 1.5 and am hopeful of closing it. I am also much stronger and more aware of healthy movement, and I know my family will benefit from that. Honestly, I think Christ really blessed me with this cross and the support needed to carry it – He truly showed me through this experience how His power is indeed made perfect in weakness.
dani says
Thanks, that was super helpful!!!! I ordered the book you recommended from my library. (Thank you too, D, for bringing it up!!)
Kelsey says
Great! I hope you enjoy it! Don’t let it overwhelm you – it’s pretty technical, and the scope of changes she suggests is vast – just start with the basic exercises and take it from there.
Deirdre says
Thanks for sharing, Kelsey! I am also interested in Bowman’s book and have been thinking for a while now that I’d like to check it out at some point!
Camille says
I think a weak core (it was strong once, but I haven’t done much of anything since my first child was born and now he is 10 and has three younger siblings) is the cause of my back aches. Slouching certainly isn’t helping. Do you find this program focuses mainly on the abdominal area or has it strengthened your back as well?
Deirdre says
Camille, I imagine that it would be helpful to your back, if you’re interested in it. As I understand it, one’s back is really supported (or not supported) by one’s midsection and how one moves. And getting stronger legs and arms would be beneficial too, I imagine. (Maybe you’d just want to consult with someone who has more expertise than I, first!) I can’t say for sure whether it’s strengthened my back, but I think I am just stronger over all, so I would guess it has…
Lorelei says
Sounds like a great program! I’m doing physical therapy for pelvic floor/hip/low back problems right now( after 4 babies). Looks very similar to what I’m doing. My therapist specializes in women’s problems, especially after childbirth. I’m really glad I looked into it (at my midwife’s urging); because my pelvic floor is extremely weak. The therapist has a special tool for that will show you your pelvic floor at work on a computer. This was SO helpful for me, because I just couldn’t get the kegel exercises on my own!
Deirdre says
Whoa, interesting! Yes, a big part of the first couple of weeks of Mutu is just locating the muscles down there that need to be strengthened. It can be mysterious…
A says
Thank you for your review (and just the whole blog in general is excellent!). I started the program when you did, and had exactly the same experience. If it’s not too personal, could you please keep us updated on your progress with investigating your bloating issues? I was hoping the program would help with this, and although it strengthened me and gave me more energy, it did not fix the bloating. Basically, when I wake up in the morning I look normal (not a completely flat stomach, but normal-ish for a 32yo with three littles). By the end of the day I look pregnant with a lower belly pooch. Wendy explains a little bit of this in the MuTu program – those muscles are tired of holding you in by the end of the day – but I am seeing a huge difference in appearance. I only weigh between 125-130 so I know it’s not a weight issue either. Does this at all resonate with anyone?
Jenny says
I’ve always had a pooch, even before having babies. I tend to carry a little fat right below my waistline kind of in line with my hips. It is just the way I am built. I have a small waist (ordinarily) though, and that is my consolation!! No amount of diet or exercise has ever gotten rid of the pooch. By the end of the day, that pooch will stick out more if I’ve over indulged in starches. I have the best luck with bloating when I eat only 2 servings of a starch a day, for example oatmeal for breakfast and maybe a piece of cornbread with lunch. I also don’t each starch with my supper unless I must, for example pasta bake or something with a starch mixed in.
I hope this helps. At least know that you are not alone!!
Amelia says
Just something to think about, but I had a pre-baby waist that sounds exactly like yours and no diet or exercise helped, no matter how clearly my six-pack and showed. I thought I was just shaped in such a way that I carried some fat on my lower belly no matter what, but it actually was diastasis recti. So I encourage you to check for one if you haven’t already.
Jenny says
Thanks, Amelia for your reply! Do you really think it could be that since I’ve had it since I was a pubescent girl? Other than what Dierdre and others have written, I know nothing about this condition. I almost hate to say this, but if it is DR, at least I can work with that.
Amelia says
Yes, it’s worth looking into. I certainly had it by the time I was a pubescent girl. Maybe Google “diastasis recti tummy check” and look at a video or two to see how to figure out whether you have a gap.
A says
Thank you, ladies! I am glad to know I’m not alone! The pooch was there for me before babies as well. I have watched the videos on how to check for DR and I don’t think I have it, if I do it’s barely a finger wide. The only time I notice good results is when I have a few days in a row of not eating much or eating very few starches like Jenny. In general I just feel better when I mainly eat veggies and protein. I wonder if maybe it could be dairy causing bloat as well. And I guess it just comes down to working on not being so vain! Praise God for healthy bodies that have healthy babies, right??
Jenny says
Yes, to that A! At almost 10 months postpartum, I’m still amazed that I was able to conceive at age 38, carry a healthy baby to term, and have a relatively easy labor and delivery compared to my first baby 10 years ago. A healthy body is a marvelous thing and something for which to be grateful, indeed.
And yes to fighting the vanity, too!
Jenny says
I will definitely look up something online and check with my doctor. I can’t believe that until very recently when the topic was brought up here that I didn’t know about DR. Thanks for the follow up comment!
Deirdre says
Thanks, A! Yes, I find that I have similar symptoms: often feel much better and slimmer during the morning than at the end of the day! And some days are better than others. The reason I wonder if this has to do with gut health is simply that I *never* bloated before having kids. I literally didn’t understand what people meant when they said they felt bloated. Now I experience it all the time. Which makes me think that my diet per se is not the problem (since I eat better than I used to, if anything) — I think that I’m just processing food differently, and perhaps not as well.
My plan for right now is just to take a supplemental probiotic and see if that makes a difference for me…
A says
That sounds like a good place to start. Let us know how it goes!
Rebekah says
Another great resource for us postpartum moms is some form of manual therapy like visceral manipulation, belly massage, arvigo, etc. Also enzymes can really help. Sometimes those organs just get smooshed up with pregnancy and don’t resettle very well. These Therapies can really help. Its not always diet.
Claire says
Deirdre, I know this post was written a while ago — ddid you ever figure out the bloating component? I could have written every word of your comment below after having my third baby about a year and a half ago–I have tried probiotics and various things but have experienced no discernible improvement. Thanks so much for any advice!
“Yes, I find that I have similar symptoms: often feel much better and slimmer during the morning than at the end of the day! And some days are better than others. The reason I wonder if this has to do with gut health is simply that I *never* bloated before having kids. I literally didn’t understand what people meant when they said they felt bloated. Now I experience it all the time. Which makes me think that my diet per se is not the problem (since I eat better than I used to, if anything) — I think that I’m just processing food differently, and perhaps not as well.”
Amelia says
I second Katy Bowman’s “Diastasis Recti” book! My understanding is that MuTu is in significant part derived from Bowman’s work and I’ve gotten bad, contradictory, and counterproductive tummy advice before, so I went straight to the source to learn the underlying reasoning and the big picture. What is working for me is the changes to my everyday alignment, stretches and such that I can integrate into my everyday activities (e.g., hanging on the monkey bars at the park instead of sitting on a bench), and getting out for a well-aligned walk not on a paved surface. So far my gap has gone from about eight fingers to three.
I have had diastasis recti for as long as I can remember. Nobody ever explained to me that my alignment was pulling apart and pressing out my abdomen! Even back when I was young athlete with a body fat percentage in the teens, I had quite a pooch and did a lot of compensating work with other muscles to make up for a clearly (in hindsight) unstable core. Now I have a toddler and a baby and my severe diastasis recti let my uterus hang way forward during my pregnancies, likely causing my problems with baby descending, labor getting started, and postpartum hemorrhage. So…definitely not just a cosmetic issue. The upside: correcting things so I can do better at having babies is much better motivation than vaguely hoping for a flatter tummy! But I’m not sure about MuTu for me – I’ve tried exercise routines and always quit quickly because mentally, it just doesn’t work for me to stop doing everything else and just exercise for the sake of exercising, you know? Anyone else like that? I wonder if I could be more motivated for this specific purpose, but Fit2B Studio was useless for me for that reason (and their advice was just OK as far as I saw, not enough to help me), so I fear this wouldn’t be any better.
Deirdre says
Thanks for sharing, Amelia — so interesting! Yes, it’s not just cosmetic! I’m sorry to hear about the hard time you’ve had.
I hear what you mean about not wanting to stop things just to exercise for the sake of exercising. Mutu feels different for me because it is *fixing* something, not just vaguely getting stronger or looking better. I like the concentrated, fix-this-particular-muscle-or-alignment approach — and the rest of it is just stuff to integrate into daily life.
That being said, it sounds like you already have a good thing going and you’re making great progress, so maybe you don’t need another routine!
Rachel Meyer says
Helpful review! I’ve been considering this for a long time.
Would it be suitable to do this program while pregnant? Or would it be best to wait until after the next baby? How soon postpartum could you start?
If I intend to do this later this year, would the July sale still be a good deal? Or are there some features with a limited access time?
Deirdre says
I know that Wendy says that all the exercises are safe for pregnancy (with the obvious caveat of “listen to your body,” etc.), and I have it on good authority that it is totally doable at least early in pregnancy. I’m not sure how it would feel picking it up later on when you have a big belly to work around…
As for postpartum, I would say that it depends on your healing. Wendy talks about this in a blog post I think (you could search for it on the Mutu site) — the first week or two are very gentle, so they could be done not long after giving birth. I personally wouldn’t do any of the intensive exercises until probably at least two months after (going off of my two post partum experiences).
And yes, if you do want to buy it, I’d say buy it when it’s on sale and then get to it later. You’ll always have access once you’ve purchased it. And I have not been aware of it ever being available for such a discount.
Amy A. says
So glad to see your review and the comments are already a good source of information! My back went out (as in all I wanted was to be lying flat on the floor and I was clutching walls to get to the bathroom) 3 months after having my twins. No time is a good time to have your back go out, but that was . . . about the worst. I went straight to physical therapy and got some exercises for strengthening my core as well as my hamstrings and glutes. They really helped but I’m ashamed to say I’ve fallen off the wagon of doing them every day. It sounds like MuTu might be a good program for my SIL (currently expecting her third) and I to do together after her little one is born and she feels ready for it.
My best tip for postpartum moms- use proper posture when pushing your stroller! I used to take a walk with my twins every afternoon once I felt ready (it was enormously good for all of us) but on hills I was leaning forward and pushing with my lower back, which I’m sure was part of the reason for my back going out. As I learned from my therapist, tuck in your tailbone, engage your core, square your shoulders, and let the power of pushing come from your legs. Keeping your elbows at your sides will also help when you’re not going around any corners. Also, squat instead of bending from the waist whenever possible (e.g. when picking up toys or lifting babies/groceries/laundry baskets). Finally, if at all possible, never twist and lift at the same time. This is a hard one for me but I force myself to line up with my baby on the changing table or in the car seat, pick him up and settle him in my arms, then turn and walk away, rather than doing the “grab and go”!
Deirdre says
Oh, poor Amy! That sounds so awful!
Interesting tips! (Although Wendy Powell is *always* saying “don’t tuck your tailbone under”…)
Amy A. says
Ha, well I should clarify that that advice was meant to be specifically for me and specifically while pushing a stroller. If you bend from the waist at about a 20 degree angle (as one might while pushing a stroller up a significant hill), you may find your tailbone “pops” up a little higher than it does if you engage your core and pull it back into a more neutral alignment, so that was what I needed to combat. If you engage your core in that position you’ll find that the tailbone almost tucks itself; you definitely don’t want to “overtuck”, so to speak, and round your lower back. I’m probably not explaining this very well, but I’m also not a doctor or a physical therapist so definitely listen to your body and your caregivers to address your specific issues.
Katie says
Thanks for this review. I was interested before when you mentioned MuTu, as I’m an avid reader/listener of Katy Bowman’s work, but I haven’t learned as much about others doing great work with the same alignment and movement evidenced-based approaches. Like other commenters, I can’t recommend highly enough the blog, podcasts, etc. at Nutritious Movement! I think I’ve been reading KatySays as long as I’ve followed LMLD, which is to say years, and both blogs have offered humor, insight, and common sense that makes me say, “Yes! Of course! Why did no one around me know this or tell me this before?”
I was reading KB before my first pregnancy, and thus was already paying attention to many of the alignment issues you describe so well above; and I had ditched the positive heels and was trying to become a good squatter. Noting of course that every *body* is different and there are a million x factors and who knows what else might otherwise have happened with me, it is still true that I didn’t encounter DR issues even as a petite person who has now carried two 9lb babies. I like to think that the good habits I was cultivating might have contributed.
The sink and dishes thing is so true. I never realized how weak my arms were (or at least how short on endurance I was) until I tried to get my tummy off the edge of the counter. I do wonder if it matters that as a shorter person I’m not proportioned properly for the counter height; I keep meaning to try a low stool at the sink and compare. I also hunch over by default when washing my face etc. at the bathroom sink, so every time, I have to consciously un-tuck and open up, just as in the high-chair photos above.
Katie says
Also: I find that babies and toddlers are VERY good role models for squatting. Armed with some natural-movement knowledge, it is easy to see the strength and effortlessness with which the littlest ones get up and down from play– easily in and out of deep, sustained squats. I freely admit to watching my babies and thinking, “That’s what I want to be able to do!” So it fits in well with the everyday care-taking routines to make a game of it and see what our strong bodies can do together. I now find I have a 3yo who will hold me accountable: “No, SQUAT, mama, like me!” And amazingly, I’m finding these days that I can, and even feel comfortable resting there with my weight on my heels. An all-ages family effort!
Deirdre says
That’s awesome, Katie! Yes, I almost mentioned that we should look to our toddlers for posture examples!
And I do think the height thing is an issue at the sink. My counters are quite high and my sink is deep. I probably would benefit from a stool, too…
Katie says
Yes, I hope to keep gradually mastering the squat as a regular sort of thing, while also encouraging my kiddos not to let go of it in the first place. They’re definitely the example-setters. Let’s see how we’re all doing a few more years down the road!
Katherine says
This is great! All you young moms, follow Deidre’s advice and you’ll avoid the problems I’m experiencing in menopausal middle age. I heard something about abdominal separation during my fertile years, but not much emphasis was given by my doctors or midwives. Now, I struggle with a left hip that very easily goes out of alignment and that also contributes to plantar fasciitis. Every time I bend slightly from the hips instead of slightly squatting, I can feel my hips complaining. My vaginal/floor muscles are very weak – coughing or sneezing fits in public can be embarrassing. I take a vigorous walk daily and eat well, but I my seven-pregnancies-gut still hangs on stubbornly, which limits my wardrobe choices (and it puts strain on my back). I want to be a more fit grandmother, so I want to improve my core strength, but it’s harder because of many years of bad habits.
Deirdre says
In case it helps at all, Katherine, Wendy does say repeatedly that “it doesn’t matter when you had your babies,” her program can help…
Melissa D says
That’s encouraging. I’m almost 7 years postpartum and even with treadmilling I feel like I’m permanently pooched out. Plus I had two almost 10-lb babies and a “small” 8.5-pounder inside of 4 years.
Is it TMI to ask about MuTu and how it helps with (ahem) undercarriage issues? I feel like I can’t sneeze or laugh without panicking a bit first.
Leila says
Melissa, I don’t know if or how Mutu helps incontinence, but recently I came across this post:http://breakingmuscle.com/womens-fitness/stop-doing-kegels-real-pelvic-floor-advice-for-women-and-men
with Katy Bowman’s advice about incontinence and kegels.
I know older women with the issues you mention who haven’t delivered a baby vaginally, so I think there are different factors maybe? I do notice that eating less sugar helps — certainly when I drink only water it helps — vs. sugary tea that has a diuretic effect.
See what you think about what she recommends about squatting.
Maggie says
Thank you for a clear and comprehensive review!
I think Deirdre and I have quite similar bodies, so I imagine I’d want to embark on a similar program if/when I have children.
The photos of you and your toddler doing the exercises together are so cute. 🙂
Deirdre says
Just make sure you do your core fitness now, Maggie! That’s my regret: should have been workin’ on my abs all that time…! 🙂
Annie says
This is way cheaper and easier to schedule than physical therapy!! I did about 12 weeks of pt last summer between babies 4 and five and although I was not entirely satisfied I was planning to do it again after baby 5 because I know my core was WAY stronger from PT and that felt great. It was a huge expense, especially considering babysitting (even with tons of help there from friends and family and great healthcare benefits) and a huge time commitment (2-3 appointments a week). I think I’ll give mutu a try this time!
Lindsay says
Deidre, this is so thorough and helpful! You even anticipated all of my questions. I just had baby no 4 two weeks ago, and I am set and determined to fix my core problems as soon as I get the all-clear to exercise. I’ve spent the past 7 years with terrible lower back problems, and of course the issues are related. Now if only I could get rid of that desk job that keeps me so immobile all day!!
Deirdre says
Congratulations, Lindsay! I’m glad you found this helpful.
If you are interested in Mutu, I do encourage you to get it when it’s on sale and start it soon – the first few weeks are very gentle so they’re not inappropriate for postpartum time (if things are well).
Lindsay says
Yes, I’m going to put the sale date in my calendar so I don’t forget! (And will purchase through your affiliate link, naturally. :)). Thank you!
Anamaria says
Thanks for the review and extensive comments on posture. So far, prenatal yoga ab exercises have prevented the split for me, but I know my posture is not the best and I need to keep up my strength. (For those currently and pregnant, I have found prenatal yoga to be extremely helpful in preventing these issues, building strength in a way safe for pregnancy, as well as preparing for birth and dealing with pregnancy aches.)
I would be very curious to hear how you fit the exercise into your day, amidst giving each child some individual attention, keeping the house reasonably clean, making dinner, bringing dinner to new moms, paying bills, seeing friends, nursing the baby, etc. I have a two and a half year old and a six month, and I am struggling a bit with the structure of my day and fitting these things in to the week. Two months ago, my house was cleaner, but my toddler wasn’t getting enough attention from me or interaction with other kids! Now we are more in balance on that, but my dresser has hospital bills just filed with Samaritan all over it… The three of us take a walk almost every morning, so that is some activity, but it’s pretty short before the baby wants to nap (and she will nap ~2 hours in her crib but only ~20 minutes in the stroller, so). My husband and I are starting to take turns working out in the evenings, but we can’t do it EVERY evening or we never get time together, etc. Any advice on exercise and the rhythm of the day would be great 🙂 Thanks!
Deirdre says
Anamaria, did you see the post I did about using my planner? I linked to it above in the section about “is it realistic for a busy mama?” That post will give you some info about how I organize my time.
To be clear, my daily walk is with the kids, either in the double stroller or with my bigger walking beside me. I also sometimes count my grocery trip as the walk, since I can exercise the same principles and I’m moving for plenty more than 20 min!
I totally hear you – your task list and mine sound very similar! It is a challenge to fit the workouts in, especially the intensive ones. Again, taking a couple naptimes a week, maybe one or two evenings (it’s just 20 min – maybe while hubby is doing something on his own – and then you can hang out together), and/or a Saturday morning will do the trick to fit in the intensives. The nice thing is that Wendy gets that this is going to be difficult, and includes encouragement about this in the videos. You’re not expected to have a lot of leisure time!
Also, I will say that having my 2nd be 6 months old was still in the adjustment period for me, and probably just a few months later I felt more on top of things in my life!
Anamaria says
Thanks, Dierdre! I remember that planner post from when it appeared. We had just gotten the internet, so I took to heart that I should continue with my internet to-do’s (what I had to do when we did not have the internet).
The tips on when to work in twenty minute work outs are helpful- sometimes naptimes work, sometimes I can push it to the evening. Though Mutu looks like a great program, I won’t be doing that as I don’t have any pregnancy related issues I need to work on (except weight! ha.).
The baby is a much easier baby than her older sister was, so I really need to be reminded that six months is still in the adjustment period!
Kelsey says
Anamaria, have you ever heard of the book, A Mother’s Rule of Life? It’s popular in some Catholic circles – so much so that it’s become somewhat blase, I fear – but anyway, it’s all about time management as a mom. Basically, the author breaks down your priorities into the “five P’s”: Prayer, Person, Partner, Parent, Provider. The idea is that you have to put your prayer life and relationship with God first, (otherwise nothing else you do will be peaceful or grace-filled,) and then you need to fulfill your basic needs before you even begin to work on your relationship with your husband, parenting, or any other obligations you have around the home, etc. It sounds like you’re in good shape and already taking care of yourself fitness-wise, but I can tell other moms who might be reading that, for me, a weak core – and the pain and frustration arising from it – made all my duties as wife, mom, friend, neighbor, daughter really tough. So, sometimes, you just have to let other things go a bit and refocus on growing stronger. It’s tough to say no to things, but please don’t say no to the pleading of your body!
Leila says
I need to chime in and say that LMLD does not recommend A Mother’s Rule of Life.
Donna L. says
Yes, thank you for saying this! I was truly disappointed in that book….
Mary says
Hi Anamaria! I know you in real life 🙂 You are in a very hands-on stage right now…even in 6 months I bet your big girl will be playing for longer periods of time independently. Both my bigger girls seemed to really focus on intense imaginative play right around 3 years old, and be able to entertain themselves well. And in 6 months your baby will be so much more predictable and (once mobile) happy to entertain herself for longer. Then you will be able to fit more of what you want into your day. In the meantime…have you read Searching for and Maintaining Peace by Jacques Maritain? I return to that book in each postpartum period! (as in…a whole year after having a baby) I would highly recommend that book rather then A Mother’s Rule of Life. I only skimmed A MOther’s Rule of Life before putting it down in frustration. The author’s basic premise seemed to be that you CAN make time for everything important; you just have to schedule it all in. That may be true in some stages of life but I absolutely disagree with that premise if you have young, needy, somewhat unpredictable children. At this stage I think it is more important to focus on maintaining your peace despite the fact that you simply cannot do everything…even all the basic things! I wish I had great words of wisdom but I don’t. I’m slowly trying to figure out this stuff too, and I feel your pain!
Leila says
I also recommend Searching for and Maintaining Peace! It’s written by Fr. Jacques Philippe (not Jacques Maritain 🙂
http://amzn.to/29HWGnF
Anamaria says
Thanks Mary! Maybe I should make returning your phone call a higher priority 🙂 (I’m assuming Mary ST née G?). I’ve read a bit by him and its fantastic. I’ll check out that one. And give a few ND friends like you a call- I always enjoy it and get some wisdom too!
Nicole says
I’d love to hear more about your take on that book! (Let me know if there’s already a blog post about it!)
I read it when I only had one (very high maintenance) baby. I tried to make a crazy, hour-by-hour schedule to get our life “organized” but then felt like a failure when my 6-month-old refused to follow my schedule and nap/eat/sleep etc, when it said so in my schedule! I then basically gave up on the whole thing because it seemed SO very unpractical and not doable for moms with actual babies, who, you know, don’t necessarily do things on a rigid schedule. My husband sometimes asks when I want to implement a “Rule” of Life, to which I respond, “When I no longer have babies or toddlers. So, maybe…12-14 years from now?!”
Leila says
Nicole, I haven’t written a post about it, but maybe I should. Basically, I think it’s not helpful and for some, is truly crazy-making.
Yes, you need a rhythm in your life. A “rule” is fine if what you mean by it is this rhythm and a few things that you know you need to do to stay sane (ie take a shower lol). But prayer for a mother is something very personal.
And I just don’t like some of her ideas which I think are so out there that no one else could really do them (leave THE HOUSE every other Saturday??? um no).
Instead, read this blog 🙂 Check out the archives — we have realistic help for you! xoxo
Colleen says
I’d love to read a post by you about it! (Obviously not specifically picking apart her book, but your alternative advice…) I loaned my copy out to a friend and told her “you might love it but you’ll probably hate it…” I have always had mixed feelings when reading it and feel like I’m failing at my schedule that is supposed to prevent me from feeling like I’m failing at life. 😉
Leila says
Colleen, I really do mean this whole blog to be my way of expressing how a mother can find her way to living her vocation out with the right balance and devotion. I try to give you the inspiration and the tools to do it. There simply must be freedom. Unlike the way it would work out in a convent, one mother is not like another in terms of her “hours” of prayer (“hours” as in liturgy of the hours, not as in units of time) and her specific activities.
I hope that the cumulative effect of my posts is to assure you that you are not failing at life — that when you become competent at the “job” of running a home and raising a family, you let go of two things: perfectionism and comparison.
The problem with that book is that she assumes everyone has her (very rare, as far as I can tell) temperament and circumstances (also very particular — as all of ours are).
The anxiety comes because she apparently has the ability to order things exactly as she likes, but maybe the rest of us are a little bit less in control. But we can’t ALL be failing at life 🙂
I know people who have been thrown into actual despondency by that book, and that leads me to conclude that I am right — that it’s too particular.
Instead, just go read our archives 🙂
Leila says
Annamaria, the key to finding time to do what you want to do, including finding time to pray, when you have a busy household, is to have your menus planned and your laundry under control. Really. That is why I have extensive posts on how to do those two things.
Go to the menu bar and take a look!
I promise you that when you get these two things settled, you will not feel that your life is out of control.
Anamaria says
Thanks! My food and laundry are definitely under control, not quite in the way you lay out as we only have three food-eaters in our house, but in a way that works for us right now. But sometimes that is all that is under control, not for lack of trying but lack of finding a daily rhythm that includes things besides the essentials (nursing the baby, diaper changes, meals & meal clean up especially sweeping up food from the floor, taking the toddler potty, getting the toddler some time outside, a load of laundry here and there, naps, shower, etc). My husband thinks I spend too much time in the kitchen, but we are having pretty basic food: a one-pot meal for dinner (that we eat for a few days!), sandwiches or a quiche (eaten all week by me, with fresh veggies, sometimes crustless to save time) for lunch, bread and cheese for breakfast. I’m making bread, but in the breadmaker. I’m not spending a lot of time on the internet or something. Maybe I need to make better use of the ten minutes when the girls are playing together or the baby is asleep and the toddler is reading books to her baby doll? I’m not sure.
It’s more what a daily/weekly rhythm with a baby and toddler, when the youngest isn’t really old enough to play with the older one, so she needs some interaction with other kids each week and with me each day. That is what I need help with. It seems my friends either ignore their kids or ignore their house (not totally, but more or less). Trying to find a balance in the day. They also all have older kids who can play together.
Ellen says
This is a great review and very informative not only about the program, but also about poor posture and how to correct it! I don’t have diastasis recti (I don’t think so at least) but I know my core could use strengthening. My lower back in particular is in sad shape. I’d like to know if you think that nursing makes this all difficult? I feel like it’s hard to nurse in a back and core friendly way, and you do it so often for so long, it really becomes a problem! Do you have any tips, or is this not an issue with others and I’m just not doing it right?
Kelsey says
Ellen, nursing does make it more difficult, for two reasons. First, most of us embrace a “nursing posture” that is very slouchy. The solution is to choose a chair which allows you to sit fully upright, on your sit bones, with a neutral pelvis, (all these terms can be further explained by the various resources everyone is mentioning,) and to bring baby up to the breast instead of lowering yourself to the baby. Think nursing pillows or stacked regular pillows – you want to keep your ribcage and shoulders lifted and back.
The second issue is that nursing prolongs the release of several hormones that were also dominant in your body during pregnancy – relaxin, progesterone – that make your tissues sort of loose. So it can be tough (but not impossible!) to fully heal while still nursing. As your baby starts to wean and your cycles return, this lessens, but it’s my understanding that the hormone thing resolves only after complete weaning. (Assuming you are not pregnant at that point!) Even during nursing, you can improve things, just know that it might be a slow process.
There is also something to be said for the exhaustion and depletion that can occur with exclusive nursing, so stay as rested as possible, eat as well as you can, and take your vitamins! (Many swear by the helpfulness of collagen – from homemade broth and/or quality gelatin – in healing their cores, though I don’t have experience with this.)
Katie says
I seem to come out of the newborn-nursing phase feeling so slouchy and myopic– there’s so much curled-up, close-up time around the clock. Even trying to keep some alignment goals in mind, it’s hard not to just snuggle in and cope. Once the baby’s a more established nurser, though, it’s been more possible for me to hit a stride. I try (try!) to minimize the “outsourcing” of baby-holding to pillows and self-propping on furniture, to let my skeleton do its proper work as Deirdre said above, even to nurse cross-legged on the floor or standing up, etc. Easier said than done but I’m paying closer attention with baby #2 and I really do feel stronger this time. My sense is that every little bit helps– might not be transformative, but that the good effects are cumulative of varying and dynamic posture, and of changing out of static, habitual alignments whenever we think of it. Which for me means it’s nice that every day is a fresh start. =)
Katie says
Not nursing-specific, but here’s a video of Katy Bowman discussing baby-holding that helped me wrap my head around some of this: http://youtu.be/3CaNN8DiIn4
Ellen says
Thanks! My baby (he’s my second) has been weaned for a year, and it’s only been since then that I’ve been able to feel improvement in my strength and fitness, but as I face being open to more babies (God willing!) and the prengnancy and nursing period afterwards, I’d like to have more of a game plan going into it! As an aside, while talking with a girlfriend this weekend about how draining (literally!) pregnancy and nursing can be, I thought of that scene from Princess Bride where Count Rugen tells Wesley “I’ve just sucked one year of your life away. How do you feel?” Haha! I know, that’s an exaggeration, but sometimes it feels like that; babies suck the life outta you!
Maureen says
As someone who is currently 5 months pregnant and still nursing my toddler, this is all sounding a bit discouraging! I try to watch my posture most of the time and get some exercise (and oh boy, do I squat a lot to get to toddler level), but I also need to put my feet up a fair bit due to varicose veins. But everything in its season, right? As long as we can get some gentle exercises in, we should make it through the pregnancy and nursing stage.
Deirdre says
Maureen, I’d say you’re a step ahead of the game just for being aware! I think that I was being quite oblivious while I carried around my (nursing) toddler and sat in terrible positions and lifted things (moving into our current home) during my second pregnancy. I think that did set me back quite a bit! Being conscious of these things is definitely the first step, so good for you!
Amelia says
When I am at home, my favorite nursing position is laying down on the ground on my side, bottom arm up under my head. I don’t even need to roll over to switch sides during a feeding.
Ellen says
Amelia, I’ve tried that and my boobs just don’t work that way! Haha! Maybe I need to have a few more kids before they can handle that. 🙂
Dixie says
Ellen, have you tried lying on the floor on your back with your shirt up and just letting them nurse however they want? Works best at 9+ months of course. But that way they do all the work (and it’s good for their neck control development). I used to do that when I was really tired. They come up with some pretty funny positions: lying across you, sitting next to you and leaning over, lying tummy-to-tummy.
Amelia says
Ha! I totally hear you on that. I am, ahem, massively endowed and it does give me more options for nursing positions, LOL.
Nicole says
Is the 46% off automatic on the mutu website on the 6th?
Deirdre says
I believe so… I imagine they’ll advertise it more, closer to the date. I got the info from them and there was an indication that they’d be saying more about it soon.
Ashley says
I’m glad to hear it worked for you! I’ve been working on healing my DR and it’s been a slow process for me. I tried Mutu a few months postpartum and after doing that for a few months and seeing no difference I grew discouraged and started looking around for more information. I then found Katy Bowman and her work has really changed the way my family lives and moves. Like a few others have said, I highly recommend her work! I want to close the gap though! Maybe it’s time to revisit Mutu. I did the older version of the program so I’d be curious to see what changes have been made.
Mrs. Pickles says
Thank you for this review!! I’ve been waiting for it ever since you first mentioned Mutu. I’ve always generally known I should be keeping a strong core, but I was never sure what exactly was safe and productive. So glad to hear a program like this exists!
I’ve noticed that I bloat whenever I eat wheat. I discovered this a couple years ago when my husband and I were doing the Fat Flush Plan. You start off eliminating pretty much all potential allergy-inducing foods the first two weeks, and then reintroducing them one by one to see how your body reacts. (It’s pretty strict at first, and therefore not intended for moms exclusively breastfeeding — because you’re just SO HUNGRY all the time, so not a good time to diet!) Once my baby #6 is getting more of his nutrition from solids than from me I’ll pick it up again.
It’s amazing how much motherhood changes your body in ways you don’t expect! The pro-biotics should help a lot with digestive issues. Have you tried making your own kefir? I did it during my last pregnancy and ate it in smoothies or on my cereal. It’s also really good over sliced fresh peaches.
Deirdre says
I haven’t ever gotten into kefir… maybe now would be a good time!
I agree; I never thought to expect intestinal changes from having babies, although I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised!
Karen M says
My mom just started drinking kefir and is telling everyone about it. It has noticeably improved her skin, which was starting to look rather paper-thin and now has a healthy glow and actually less wrinkles. Her entire digestive tract is functioning better and she feels amazing. She prefers kefir to the probiotic pills, which is what I take due to a small dairy intolerance.
Anitra says
I was just thinking about core strength today. I’ve always had low back pain, and 3 kids later, it’s worse than ever. I’m sure it’s mostly due to bad posture… but, in my defense, EVERYTHING seems to be designed for women 4-6 inches shorter than me (I’m 5’9″). I’m bent over all the time when doing dishes, cooking, doing laundry, etc. Add in a very heavy toddler (38lbs I think) who still wants to be carried all the time, and you have a recipe for serious back pain!
I need to get help with posture and better exercise habits!
Mary Clare says
Hi! Could you talk a little more about the healthy eating component? I’m wondering just how detailed it is. In other words, is it like the rest of the program where they just “tell you what to do” and make it easy to follow? Or is it just a set of guidelines of what to eat and what not to eat? I’m looking for something that has menu ideas, recipes, even a basic pantry list. Thank you!
Deirdre says
Hi Mary Clare,
I would say that it’s closer to a set of guidelines than a full package of “telling you what to do.” Basically there is a list of general principles to follow, and then a downloadable PDF with more in-depth info. It includes explanations, ideas, suggestions, a few recipes, etc. But you’re still going to have to make your own plans.
(For the most part, it’s basically paleo — if you read Wendy’s PDF and then did some shopping around online, I imagine you could find meal plans someone else has made that would work for you.)
I hope that helps!
Tori says
Do you need any special equipment to do this program? And by special equipment, I mean…anything at all. Because I have none, haha.
Deirdre says
Tori, you do need some basic pilates-type equipment. They sell the basic stuff on the Mutu site (https://mutusystem.com/shop/the-mutu-kit-bag) — I imagine you could find these things cheaper, elsewhere. You also might want a big pilates ball and some other large items to function as bigger weights (I have used a backpack stuffed with some heavy books as a weight, and a rolling chair instead of a big pilates ball).
Deirdre says
Oh and hand weights. You will need those. Mine are 3lbs each.
Leila says
Marshall’s/TJMaxx/Homegoods always has this kind of equipment for cheap.
Leila says
My two cents about back aches, besides the main point here of strengthening core muscles, is to become very aware of one simple thing you do many times a day, most likely: Getting in and out of the car/van/truck.
Take note of how you are lifting your baby/toddler and getting him in his seat. Are you twisting and leaning from the shoulders?
Take especial note of how you get yourself in and out of your own seat. Do you grab the steering wheel and twist? Do you sort of lever yourself in and out?
I had such bad back pain for the first time in my life when we went from an SUV, which is more upright, to a Subaru outback, which is lower and has a deeper seat. But I didn’t realize for a long time that the change had anything to do with it. It was so bad that at night it almost made me yell to turn over!
When I finally realized what was happening, I worked on getting in and out more slowly and using my core muscles, rather than my arms, to get my body in place. Since I’m so hasty about everything, I was sort of leveraging myself in and out using the steering wheel and giving my body a twist every time.
Since then my back has been fine.
Leila says
About nursing:
Please, moms, do not make nursing a chore or worry about whether nursing is preventing you from healing, ruining your posture, or harming your core.
Our bodies are designed to feed our babies. When you nurse the baby, you should be as comfortable as you can be, whatever the circumstances. Yes, sofas and such can be too soft — I always liked having a few small throw pillows around so that I could be comfortable. You can pop one behind your back and one under your arm — you can get tendonitis with your arm supporting the baby’s head but nothing supporting your arm. If you are a bit short, you can end up slumping one way, and if you are a bit tall, you might be scrunched up. It’s fine to be mindful.
However, I firmly believe that one of the most important benefits of nursing a baby is that it makes us SIT or LIE DOWN and RELAX multiple times a day. This is a feature, not a bug!
In fact, as I’ve written in my nursing posts, even if you are not breastfeeding your baby, you need to be sure to incorporate this aspect into feedings. It’s much, much harder with a bottle, which can so easily be propped or held by the baby. Cuddling, resting, relaxing, sleeping — this is what nursing the baby offers us.
Remember, nursing while lying down is normal and often solves a lot of problems. Just make sure you are supported in a way that makes you able to relax your muscles. When nursing the very author of this blog post, Deirdre, I found that I had tendonitis in my left arm — couldn’t figure out what it was, until I realized that she was only comfortable nursing at night on my left side, and I had my arm wrapped around her in a too-flexed fashion to hold her close to me. Once I propped that arm with a pillow, the tendonitis disappeared.
Common sense, ladies. And a sense of peace!
Katie says
This is very true. Since I commented above about trying not to rely on pillows, etc. I should note that this (losing the props) is what did help me feel relaxed and not stiff or cramped or otherwise encumbered. I’m sure others’ mileage may vary, but I suppose the key learning for me was to discover that it was even an option NOT to use all the propping items, since no one had taught me to sit or lie otherwise. In that case it worked for me to change things up and use my body differently. I should also note that with my first baby, it just did. not. compute. how to lie all the way down and nurse. I couldn’t figure out the geometry of it whatsoever. But a month or two after the birth of my second baby, it clicked. Different baby, different preferences, perhaps? But all of the sudden I could put her in bed with me, relax completely, and we both enjoyed a beautiful combo of nursing, rest, and sleep.
Mary Eileen says
This comes at the perfect time for me! I’ve wanted to do something about my moderate DR situation since my first baby. Will definitely be jumping on the sale!
Sarah says
Probably not coincidentally, I can’t seem to connect to the MuTu website this morning, via these links or Google. Has anyone else been successful?
Sarah says
An update, in case anyone else is experiencing the same issues: I did eventually get through. It took a while (and a LOT of refreshing my browser), but I did ultimately manage to buy it today with the discount. If at first you don’t succeed…
Karen M says
Snagged it!
I went to PT for DR after my second baby in 2010 and reduced it from 4 to 2 fingers. I later got it down to less than one finger by going to a Christian yoga class twice per week. I have been steady at 1-1.5 fingers since baby 3 in 2014. I have a strong core and am pretty awesome at planks, if I do say so myself, but I know that the DR is not being helped with planks! My diet is good, so now it is just a matter of repairing the DR.
Thanks for the review, LMLD! I wouldn’t have purchased it without your go-ahead! :).
Deirdre, good luck with continuing to strengthen your core!
Paul says
I have really bad posture. I slouch all of the time but I think that I am too fat to get good posture.