While doing a search at my local library's website on mummy I came across Lose Your Mummy Tummy in the results and decided to put it on hold. On the front cover is says "For moms of any age - no matter when you had a baby" so I figured it might be worthwhile.

Unfortunately this book is really geared towards new moms, but there are some aspects that can apply to moms. There is a preface by model Elle Macpherson talking about how helpful the Tupler technique was her in returning to her old body after she had her babies. Then there is an introduction by Gae Rodke, an OB/GYN, about the effect she has seen on the moms who use the Tupler technique and those who don't.

Then the rest of the book is written by Julie Tupler R.N. (the creator of the technique) and Jodie Gould. Tupler first tells us what a mummy tummy is, proving anatomically correct illustrations and terms that describe what the diastesis is that is what actually creates the mummy tummy where no matter how much weight you lose you can still have a saggy tummy if your muscles don't come back together.

The book is only 140 pages long. It has a chapter on using the Tupler Technique in the first two weeks postpartum, a chapter on using it after you've had a c-section, a chapter on using it for all sort of aches and pains, another chapter on using it to help prevent injury, one chapter on other exercises to help with your mummy tummy, and a final chapter that includes photos and instructions on how to do a 30 minute workout.

This book really isn't geared at all towards women who had their babies years ago, like me, but it does gives tips for women who have had babies recently. It talks about things like breastfeeding, about how certain pilates exercises can make your diastesis worse, and has some quotes from doctors on their thoughts about how to handle that tummy flab.

The writing is relatively easy to understand. The directions for the exercises make sense however because some of the descriptions are given in the chapter on the first two weeks postpartum you basically have to read the chapter (even if you aren't in your first 2 weeks postpartum) to be able to understand what is being talked about in the later chapters. I wish she had just described the moves again so each chapter could stand on its own.

The photos are in black and white but definitely do help you see the position you should be in for each exercise and as well as other things, like how to hold your baby, and many exercises show more than one photo to show the different parts of the actions you'll be taking. I did find the instructions rather cold and boring at times though. Everything is written with an understood 'you' : "put your arms", "expand your belly", "straighten your neck". I mean it gets the point across, but I wish it had been more friendly in a way.

The very final portion of the book, the post(partum) script talks about taking care of yourself: get a babysitter, exercise your brain, etc. It talks about enjoying motherhood as your work on getting back to your old life (and body).

I have to say I didn't really like the format and how geared it was toward new moms when the cover implies differently, but I did learn some things and will probably use some of the exercises when I think about it.