GUEST POST: By Lyndsey Halik, Owner of abdominalFIX in Bellingham, Washington. I met Lyndsey in New York at our Tupler Technique® training, and as a teacher and mother of three, she has encouraged me on many levels and appreciate her wisdom and great insight. In this article Lyndsey defined the stages of dealing with a Diastasis I see in my clients every day, and has put it all together into words that make such sense I want to share it with you all! Enjoy and relate!
FIVE STAGES OF GRIEF DEALING WITH A DIASTASIS! When I was in high school I learned about the Five Stages of Grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. As a Tupler Technique® licensee I have noticed that my clients go through a similar process that I like to call the Five Stages of Diastasis Healing. These stages are: denial, anger, bargaining, determination, and achievement.
Stage 1 Denial
When people find out about diastasis recti their initial reaction is to believe that they don’t have one. Many people think that their protruding belly is caused by abdominal fat or that they have a weak core because they haven’t done enough sit ups and crunches. When you tell them that they should “check their belly before they wreck their belly” they simply smile and nod and then ignore you. After all, if it is such a wide spread problem surely they would have heard of it before.
Stage 2 Anger
At the point when someone realizes that they have a diastasis they often become angry. They are angry that no one told them about this condition sooner. They are angry that all the crunches, sit ups, v-sits, and Pilates 100s they’ve been doing have only made this condition worse. They are angry that they spent all these years thinking that nothing could be done, aside from surgery, to flatten their belly.
Stage 3 Bargaining
Once the anger subsides people normally start to bargain with themselves. I’ll eat healthier and it will get better they may think. I’ll suck it in and look better. I’ll try wearing a compression garment. I’ll have surgery. I’ll do all these things and it will go away. In reality none of these things will work or have a permanent effect. If you don’t truly strengthen your core a diastasis will persist or return even after surgery.
Stage 4 Determination
Individuals who are in stage 4 have decided that they will make a change for the better. They realize that the Tupler Technique® is the only research based exercise program that can heal diastasis recti. They sign up for a class and are committed to the program. They are determined to follow all four steps of the Tupler Technique® because they know that it will work!
Stage 5 Achievement
The achievement stage can be reached after 6 or more weeks of following the Tupler Technique®. These individuals have healed their diastasis and lost inches around their waist. Back pain is no longer an issue for them. Their bellies are flat and they are feeling great! They have a feeling of euphoria at doing something that others said couldn’t be done without surgery! A feeling of pride for sticking with it and getting the great results!
What stage of diastasis healing are you in?
Thanks, Lyndsey – so true and you have put it into words we can all relate to! Check Lyndsey out at: www.abdominalfix.com.