Simple Fix

The last several months, even before I was pregnant, I've been struggling quite a bit with lower back pain, hip tightness, and those infamous stomach cramps while running. It had been awhile since I had the cramps. And I figured the back and hip pain just meant I wasn't in very good shape. 

While perusing on the beloved Pinterest, I saw this picture of a rather fit lady, in a skimpy bikini with a red circle drawn around her stomach. The text said something about ending the low stomach pooch...

You'd think that being pregnant I wouldn't care about it, but I still look constantly for ways to improve. Wither now or later. So I thought "Eh...I'll check it out."

I was surprised it wasn't another one of those 'lets do 490 crunches and sit ups EVERY SINGLE DAY! Twice a day!' kind of things. 

The answer was simple. Tight hip flexors. Huh...fancy that. I bet that explains the hip pain.

They talk about an anterior pelvic tilts, and exaggerated lumbar curves. And that explains the lower back pain. 

There was a video on how to stretch your hip flexors.

Pregnancy has amplified all these 'symptoms', so I figured I'd give it a go. 

Just a few days into doing these stretches twice a day has made a HUGE difference! I have high hopes on being able to run more than half a mile without excruciating pain. I'll admit, the first couple of days made my lower back, and obliques sore in ways I didn't think they could be sore. That's probably has a lot to do with being pregnant, though. 

And with the hips where they're supposed to be, I'm sitting correctly, so that has helped with the lower back pain quite a bit too! I'm impressed. 

I suppose I'll do further research on stretching hip flexors. 

Here's the link. Check it out! 

One Exercise To End “Lower Belly Pooch”