Physical Therapist:
"Your core isn't engaging at all, exercise can actually make the problem worse..."
12/26/2025 - By Emily V. First published at lifted.org
Summary: The hidden cause of a postpartum pooch and how I finally got rid of mine
"Let me ask you a few questions:
Do you still feel like your stomach sticks out no matter what you do?
Do you get back pain by the end of the day?
Do you leak when you sneeze, laugh, or run?
"You're not alone Emily."
my Physical Therapist continued...
“Many postpartum women go through the exact same thing you're going through right now.”
"It's called Diastasis Recti.
And it's when the connective tissue between your abdominal muscles stretches to make room for the baby during pregnancy.
Which shows up as a soft, rounded, belly bulge that seems to never go away.
But it's important to know that...
"Diastasis Recti can be healed without surgery, as long as you stop doing this..."
You've probably already tried:
Pilates
yoga
crunches
at-home youtube workouts
stretching
"Yes I have. And aren't those supposed things strengthen my core?" I asked."Emily. Diastasis Recti causes your deep core to become weakened.
And when your deep core is weakened, your body has no way to support the abdominal pressure caused by exercise.
Crunches and sit ups? These cause your rib cage and pelvis to come together, creating forceful pressure on the abdominal wall.
Planks? Cause the weight of your organs to push down and out onto the, already weakened, connective tissue of your abs.
High impact cardio? Can create significant force on the core and pelvic floor.
Yoga? Poses that arch the spine, like the up-ward facing dog, can overstretch the abdominal wall.
Exercise itself is not the problem. Exercise when you have a weak core is.
There is, however, a way to re-engage your deep core without traditional exercise.
"Have you tried EMS?"
"What's EMS?" I looked at her curiously.
“EMS stands for Electrical Muscle Stimulation." she said.
“Think of it like this,” she continued.
“Your brain's connection to your deep core is kinda like a light switch. And pregnancy didn’t break the switch, it just, turned it off.
So every time you tried Pilates, crunches, or ab workouts, your brain was flipping the wrong light switch.
It flipped the switch of 'hips and thighs' instead of the 'core' switch.
But EMS?
It goes straight to the right switch, and flips it on for you, even if your brain can’t.”
How EMS re-engages your deep core without exercise
“These pads here,” she pointed. "are what send the signals to your muscles."
"You place them over your lower abdomen, right where your deep core sits."
The pads felt cool as she pressed them onto my skin.
"You might feel a light fluttering at first.
I held my breath a little, there was a tiny buzz...
"Oh my God,” I blurted out, half laughing, half nervous. “Is that… my abs?”
“That’s them,” she said.
"That’s your deep core beginning to contract. You’re not doing any crunches, but the muscle is still working.”
It felt like a firm, rhythmic tightening and then releasing of my abs
“Right now, this device is sending the same kind of signal your brain would normally send to your core.
And over time, your will body start to remember how to do this on its own again."
How EMS flattened my stomach in just 60 days...
Week 1: Small shifts I almost missed
By the end of the first week, I started to notice a few small things.
There was no dramatic “before and after.”
And definitely no sudden burst of strength.
Just these little moments that caught me off guard.
Like one morning, I bent down to pick up my baby, and halfway up I realized…
I wasn’t holding my breath.
I wasn’t clenching my jaw.
I wasn’t terrified my back would seize.
It was such a small thing, but it stopped me for a second.
Almost like my body whispered, “Hey, I’ve got you.”
It stuck with me, because picking up my baby had always felt like an event.
But this time, it didn’t.
I just, did it. And didn’t think twice about it.
Week 2: Things stopped taking so much effort
Getting out of bed in the morning didn’t feel as stiff.
Standing to wash baby bottles didn’t make me shift my weight every few minutes.
And I wasn’t mentally scanning for pain every time I stood up, bent over, or picked something up.
I just.... moved.
Something was definitely changing.
Usually, every movement used to come with a mental checklist: brace, tighten, be careful.
But now, things were starting to feel more effortless.
Daily life started to feel a bit lighter...
Like my body wasn’t fighting me at every turn.
Week 4: I started to see physical changes
Week four was when I started to notice changes to my physical appearance.
I noticed it in the mirror first.
My stomach looked firmer. Less soft. Less, deflated.
And when I sat down, my belly didn’t push forward the way it used to.
The way my body was handling movement was definitely different.
I could get down on the floor with my baby, and get back up, without planning my exit strategy.
I could go through bath time without my back tightening halfway through.
I even tried some yoga again, and for the first time, my core didn’t completely give out.
It felt like my abs were actually participating now, instead of my low-back doing all the work.
Like my core was finally starting to support my body again.
Week 8: Trusting my body again
By the eighth week, something was noticeably different.
But it wasn’t in the way I expected...
It wasn’t just that my back hurt less.
Or that everyday movements felt easier.
It was that I stopped thinking about my body all the time.
I didn’t realize how much mental space it had been taking up.
I wasn’t constantly checking in with myself before doing things:
Is this going to hurt?
Should I brace?
Am I going to regret this later?
I just, moved. And there was no "second-thought" about it.
My stomach started to feel like it belonged to me again.
And that surprised me more than anything.
Because ever since giving birth, my body had felt like something I had to manage,
...not something I lived in.
My body started showing up for me in little ways.
I stood longer while cooking dinner, without leaning on the counter.
I reached for things without that split-second hesitation.
And emotionally, I felt lighter.
It's like I finally didn't have to micro-manage every little movement.
My body felt like it was working with me again, instead of against me.
I wore clothes without constantly adjusting them.
I stopped thinking about my stomach every time I sat down.
I realized that feeling like myself again wasn’t just about trying to get my old body back.
It was about trusting my body again.
The Verdict: Is EMS Worth It?
This wasn’t some overnight miracle for me. And it wasn’t effortless in the way most products like to promise.
It worked because I was willing to give it a little bit of space in my life. Twenty minutes a day.
And then let my body do what it already knew how to do.
If you’ve had a baby, whether it was a year ago or ten, and you still struggle to really 'feel your abs' then keep reading....
If bending, standing, carrying, or even just getting through the day still feels harder than it should...
And if you’ve already tried “doing all the right things”, workouts, and ab routines, and walked away feeling frustrated....
Then you are exactly where I was right before I discovered EMS.
But I want to make this clear:
If you’re looking for a quick fix, or something that gives you instant abs, this isn’t it.
And if you're looking for one 'magical cure' to replace sleep, movement, or listening to your body, then this definitely isn’t for you.
EMS simply gave my deep core enough support to remember how to activate on it's own.
So if you’re reading this and thinking, “That’s me. I want to feel my abs again.” I get it.
I just wanted to stop feeling like I was living inside someone else’s body.
I wanted to stop second-guessing every movement.
I wanted to stop the emotional ups and downs that felt dependent on whether or not my body cooperated that day.
But what surprised me most about EMS wasn’t just physical changes...
It was how my self-confidence started to come back once my body stopped feeling unpredictable.
Once I wasn’t bracing.
Once I wasn’t constantly aware of my stomach or my back.
Once everyday movements stopped feeling like a risk.
I didn’t feel like a stranger in my body anymore.
I felt present again.
Capable again.
So, if you're here still reading and interested in trying EMS, let me make a few suggestions.
Don't just go shopping for any kind of EMS device, because there is a lot of BS out there.
Let me first show you what to look for, what to avoid, and how to know if an EMS device is actually worth it or not.
What to avoid when shopping for an EMS device...
Not all EMS devices are the same.
And after my one month trial of using my PT's device, I knew I wanted my own.
So I went down the rabbit hole of research, and what I found was frustrating.
On one end, there were the cheap ones from Amazon.
The kind that promise everything, cost next to nothing, and rely on sticky pads you have to constantly replace.
Half the reviews talked about uneven stimulation, dead spots, or even a device stopped working after a few weeks.
People were saying they felt more like vibrations instead of real muscle activation.
On the other hand was the medical-grade systems.
The ones used in clinics and rehab centers.
They work, but they also cost thousands of dollars, which just wasn’t realistic for me.
I wanted something more in the middle ground.
Not too expensive, but also not so cheap that it would break in a few weeks.
So I asked my PT for a recommendation, and here's what she had to say:
How to know if an EMS device is high-quality...
"First and foremost, avoid any EMS device that requires replacement pads or gels.
An EMS device should not require any replacement parts. If it does, it's a sign that the original parts weren't built to the level of quality we are looking for.
And it's a marketing ploy to get you to keep coming back again and again to buy replacement pads.
Second, take note of how many pads the device itself uses. The more pads the better.
The more pads there are, the more surface area the device has to deliver the EMS pulses directly to your abdominal muscles.
So avoid devices that only have two pads. Four is ideal.
Last but not least, the device should be in the design of a belt.
This ensures that the EMS is delivered consistently and effectively to the muscle.
If the EMS product you are looking at works by sticking "gel pads" onto your skin, avoid it all costs.
These pads will slip off, stick to thin hairs on your skin, and are usually uncomfortable to use.
To make it easier for you, I can recommend the exact device I let you use for your 60-day treatment.
My PT's Recommendation...
A company called Apebornfitness has a product called "The Next Gen Ultra Stimulator", an EMS device specifically used to target your core.
Their product is designed to be worn as a belt, which is the same one you used here in my office.
I mainly chose to use theirs for a few reasons:
First, their EMS products are FDA-approved. Which is very important when dealing with any sort of recovery equipment.
Second, their product doesn't require any 'replacement pads'. The product works as is.
Third, their EMS pads cover your entire abdomen. Most other ones I found only have 2 pads for coverage.
And lastly, they had 60-day risk free trial. So I figured I'd give it a try for 60-days and if it didn't work, I'd get a full refund..
For me, after all the research I had done. This was a no-brainer.
Nowhere else online could I find such a high-quality device for a very reasonable price.
If you want to see it for yourself, you can checkout the product here and see they have to offer." she finished.
Physical Therapist:
"Your core isn't engaging at all, exercise can actually make the problem worse..."
12/26/2025 - By Emily V. First published at lifted.org
Summary: The hidden cause of a postpartum pooch and how I finally got rid of mine
"Let me ask you a few questions:
Do you still feel like your stomach sticks out no matter what you do?
Do you get back pain by the end of the day?
Do you leak when you sneeze, laugh, or run?
"You're not alone Emily."
my Physical Therapist continued...
“Many post-partum women go through the exact same thing you're going through right now.”
"It's called Diastasis Recti.
And it's when the connective tissue between your abdominal muscles stretches to make room for the baby during pregnancy.
Which shows up as a soft, rounded, belly bulge that seems to never go away.
But it's important to know that...
"Diastasis Recti can be healed without surgery, as long as you stop doing this..."
You've probably already tried:
Pilates
yoga
crunches
at-home youtube workouts
stretching
"Yes I have. And aren't those supposed things strengthen my core?" I asked."Emily. Diastasis Recti causes your deep core to become weakened.
And when your deep core is weakened, your body has no way to support the abdominal pressure caused by exercise.
Crunches and sit ups? These cause your rib cage and pelvis to come together, creating forceful pressure on the abdominal wall.
Planks? Cause the weight of your organs to push down and out onto the, already weakened, connective tissue of your abs.
High impact cardio? Can create significant force on the core and pelvic floor.
Yoga? Poses that arch the spine, like the up-ward facing dog, can overstretch the abdominal wall.
Exercise itself is not the problem. Exercise when you have a weak core is.
There is, however, a way to re-engage your deep core without traditional exercise.
"Have you tried EMS?"
"What's EMS?" I looked at her curiously.
“EMS stands for Electrical Muscle Stimulation." she said.
“Think of it like this,” she continued.
“Your brain's connection to your deep core is kinda like a light switch. And pregnancy didn’t break the switch, it just, turned it off.
So every time you tried Pilates, crunches, or ab workouts, your brain was flipping the wrong light switch.
It flipped the switch of 'hips and thighs' instead of the 'core' switch.
But EMS?
It goes straight to the right switch, and flips it on for you, even if your brain can’t.”
How EMS re-engages your deep core without exercise
“These pads here,” she pointed. "are what send the signals to your muscles."
"You place them over your lower abdomen, right where your deep core sits."
The pads felt cool as she pressed them onto my skin.
"You might feel a light fluttering at first.
I held my breath a little, there was a tiny buzz...
"Oh my God,” I blurted out, half laughing, half nervous. “Is that… my abs?”
“That’s them,” she said.
"That’s your deep core beginning to contract. You’re not doing any crunches, but the muscle is still working.”
It felt like a firm, rhythmic tightening and then releasing of my abs
“Right now, this device is sending the same kind of signal your brain would normally send to your core.
And over time, your will body start to remember how to do this on its own again."
How EMS flattened my stomach in just 60 days...
Week 1: Small shifts I almost missed
By the end of the first week, I started to notice a few small things.
There was no dramatic “before and after.”
And definitely no sudden burst of strength.
Just these little moments that caught me off guard.
Like one morning, I bent down to pick up my baby, and halfway up I realized…
I wasn’t holding my breath.
I wasn’t clenching my jaw.
I wasn’t terrified my back would seize.
It was such a small thing, but it stopped me for a second.
Almost like my body whispered, “Hey, I’ve got you.”
It stuck with me, because picking up my baby had always felt like an event.
But this time, it didn’t.
I just, did it. And didn’t think twice about it.
Week 2: Things stopped taking so much effort
Getting out of bed in the morning didn’t feel as stiff.
Standing to wash baby bottles didn’t make me shift my weight every few minutes.
And I wasn’t mentally scanning for pain every time I stood up, bent over, or picked something up.
I just.... moved.
And one afternoon, I caught myself carrying the car seat (with baby in it), with one hand!
Something was definitely changing.
Usually, every movement used to come with a mental checklist: brace, tighten, be careful.
But now, things were starting to feel more effortless.
Daily life started to feel a bit lighter...
Like my body wasn’t fighting me at every turn.
Week 4: I started to see physical changes
Week four was when I started to notice some changes to my physical appearance.
I noticed it in the mirror first.
My stomach looked firmer. Less soft. Less, deflated.
And when I sat down, my belly didn’t push forward the way it used to.
The way my body was handling movement was definitely different.
I could get down on the floor with my baby, and get back up, without planning my exit strategy.
I could go through bath time without my back tightening halfway through.
I even tried some yoga again, and for the first time, my core didn’t completely give out.
It felt like my abs were actually participating now, instead of my low-back doing all the work.
Like my core was finally starting to support my body again.
Week 8: Trusting my body again
By the eighth week, something was noticeably different.
But it wasn’t in the way I expected...
It wasn’t just that my back hurt less.
Or that everyday movements felt easier.
It was that I stopped thinking about my body all the time.
I didn’t realize how much mental space it had been taking up.
I wasn’t constantly checking in with myself before doing things:
Is this going to hurt?
Should I brace?
Am I going to regret this later?
I just, moved. And there was no "second-thought" about it.
My stomach started to feel like it belonged to me again.
And that surprised me more than anything.
Because ever since giving birth, my body had felt like something I had to manage,
...not something I lived in.
My body started showing up for me in little ways.
I stood longer while cooking dinner, without leaning on the counter.
I reached for things without that split-second hesitation.
And emotionally, I felt lighter.
It's like I finally didn't have to micro-manage every little movement.
My body felt like it was working with me again, instead of against me.
I wore clothes without constantly adjusting them.
I stopped thinking about my stomach every time I sat down.
I realized that feeling like myself again wasn’t just about trying to get my old body back.
It was about trusting my body again.
The Verdict: Is EMS Worth It?
This wasn’t some overnight miracle for me. And it wasn’t effortless in the way most products like to promise.
It worked because I was willing to give it a little bit of space in my life. Twenty minutes a day.
And then let my body do what it already knew how to do.
If you’ve had a baby, whether it was a year ago or ten, and you still struggle to really 'feel your abs' then keep reading....
If bending, standing, carrying, or even just getting through the day still feels harder than it should...
And if you’ve already tried “doing all the right things”, workouts, and ab routines, and walked away feeling frustrated....
Then you are exactly where I was right before I discovered EMS.
But I want to make this clear:
If you’re looking for a quick fix, or something that gives you instant abs, this isn’t it.
And if you're looking for one 'magical cure' to replace sleep, movement, or listening to your body, then this definitely isn’t for you.
EMS simply gave my core enough support to remember how to activate on it's own.
So if you’re reading this and thinking, “That’s me. I want to feel my abs again.” I get it.
I just wanted to stop feeling like I was living inside someone else’s body.
I wanted to stop second-guessing every movement.
I wanted to stop the emotional ups and downs that felt dependent on whether or not my body cooperated that day.
But what surprised me most about EMS wasn’t just physical changes...
It was how my self-confidence started to come back once my body stopped feeling unpredictable.
Once I wasn’t bracing.
Once I wasn’t constantly aware of my stomach or my back.
Once everyday movements stopped feeling like a risk.
I didn’t feel like a stranger in my body anymore.
I felt present again.
Capable again.
So, if you're here still reading and interested in trying EMS, let me make a few suggestions.
Don't just go shopping for any kind of EMS device, because there is a lot of BS out there.
Let me first show you what to look for, what to avoid, and how to know if an EMS device is actually worth it or not.
What to avoid when shopping for an EMS device...
Not all EMS devices are the same.
And after my one month trial of using my PT's device, I knew I wanted my own.
So I went down the rabbit hole of research, and what I found was frustrating.
On one end, there were the cheap ones from Amazon.
The kind that promise everything, cost next to nothing, and rely on sticky pads you have to constantly replace.
Half the reviews talked about uneven stimulation, dead spots, or even a device stopped working after a few weeks.
People were saying they felt more like vibrations instead of real muscle activation.
On the other hand was the medical-grade systems.
The ones used in clinics and rehab centers.
They work, but they also cost thousands of dollars, which just wasn’t realistic for me.
I wanted something more in the middle ground.
Not too expensive, but also not so cheap that it would break in a few weeks.
So I asked my PT for a recommendation, and here's what she had to say:
How to know if an EMS device is high-quality...
First and foremost, avoid any EMS device that requires replacement pads or gels.
An EMS device should not require any replacement parts. If it does, it's a sign that the original parts weren't built to the level of quality we are looking for.
And it's a marketing ploy to get you to keep coming back again and again to buy replacement pads.
Second, take note of how many pads the device itself uses. The more pads the better.
This is because the number of pads significantly impacts the effectiveness of the device.
The more pads there are, the more surface area the device has to deliver the EMS pulses directly to your abdominal muscles.
So avoid devices that only have two pads. Four is ideal.
Last but not least, the device should be in the design of a belt.
This ensures that the EMS is delivered consistently and effectively to the muscle.
If the EMS product you are looking at works by sticking "gel pads" onto your skin, avoid it all costs.
These pads will slip off, stick to thin hairs on your skin, and are usually uncomfortable to use.
To make it easier for you, I can recommend the exact device I let you use for your 60-day treatment.
My PT's Recommendation...
A company called Apebornfitness has a product called "The Ultra Stimulator", an EMS device specifically used to target your core.
Their product is designed to be worn as a belt, which is the same one you used here in my office.
I mainly chose to use theirs for a few reasons:
First, their EMS products are FDA-approved. Which is very important when dealing with any sort of recovery equipment.
Second, their product doesn't require any 'replacement pads'. The product works as is.
Third, their EMS pads cover your entire abdomen. Most other ones I found only have 2 pads for coverage.
And lastly, they had 60-day risk free trial. So I figured I'd give it a try for 60-days and if it didn't work, I'd get a full refund..
For me, after all the research I had done. This was a no-brainer.
Nowhere else online could I find such a high-quality device for a very reasonable price.
If you want to see it for yourself, you can checkout the product here and see they have to offer." she finished.
Physical Therapist:
"Your core isn't engaging at all, exercise can actually make the problem worse..."
12/26/2025 - By Emily V. First published at lifted.org
Summary: The hidden cause of a postpartum pooch and how I finally got rid of mine
"Let me ask you a few questions:
Do you still feel like your stomach sticks out no matter what you do?
Do you get back pain by the end of the day?
Do you leak when you sneeze, laugh, or run?
"You're not alone Emily."
my Physical Therapist continued...
“Many post-partum women go through the exact same thing you're going through right now.”
"It's called Diastasis Recti.
And it's when the connective tissue between your abdominal muscles stretches to make room for the baby during pregnancy.
Which shows up as a soft, rounded, belly bulge that seems to never go away.
But it's important to know that...
"Diastasis Recti can be healed without surgery, as long as you stop doing this..."
You've probably already tried:
Pilates
yoga
crunches
at-home youtube workouts
stretching
"Yes I have. And aren't those supposed things strengthen my core?" I asked."Emily. Diastasis Recti causes your deep core to become weakened.
And when your deep core is weakened, your body has no way to support the abdominal pressure caused by exercise.
Crunches and sit ups? These cause your rib cage and pelvis to come together, creating forceful pressure on the abdominal wall.
Planks? Cause the weight of your organs to push down and out onto the, already weakened, connective tissue of your abs.
High impact cardio? Can create significant force on the core and pelvic floor.
Yoga? Poses that arch the spine, like the up-ward facing dog, can overstretch the abdominal wall.
Exercise itself is not the problem. Exercise when you have a weak core is.
There is, however, a way to re-engage your deep core without traditional exercise.
"Have you tried EMS?"
"What's EMS?" I looked at her curiously.
“EMS stands for Electrical Muscle Stimulation." she said.
“Think of it like this,” she continued.
“Your brain's connection to your deep core is kinda like a light switch. And pregnancy didn’t break the switch, it just, turned it off.
So every time you tried Pilates, crunches, or ab workouts, your brain was flipping the wrong light switch.
It flipped the switch of 'hips and thighs' instead of the 'core' switch.
But EMS?
It goes straight to the right switch, and flips it on for you, even if your brain can’t.”
How EMS re-engages your deep core without exercise
“These pads here,” she pointed. "are what send the signals to your muscles."
"You place them over your lower abdomen, right where your deep core sits."
The pads felt cool as she pressed them onto my skin.
"You might feel a light fluttering at first.
I held my breath a little, there was a tiny buzz...
"Oh my God,” I blurted out, half laughing, half nervous. “Is that… my abs?”
“That’s them,” she said.
"That’s your deep core beginning to contract. You’re not doing any crunches, but the muscle is still working.”
It felt like a firm, rhythmic tightening and then releasing of my abs
“Right now, this device is sending the same kind of signal your brain would normally send to your core.
And over time, your will body start to remember how to do this on its own again."
How EMS flattened my stomach in just 60 days...
Week 1: Small shifts I almost missed
By the end of the first week, I started to notice a few small things.
There was no dramatic “before and after.”
And definitely no sudden burst of strength.
Just these little moments that caught me off guard.
Like one morning, I bent down to pick up my baby, and halfway up I realized…
I wasn’t holding my breath.
I wasn’t clenching my jaw.
I wasn’t terrified my back would seize.
It was such a small thing, but it stopped me for a second.
Almost like my body whispered, “Hey, I’ve got you.”
It stuck with me, because picking up my baby had always felt like an event.
But this time, it didn’t.
I just, did it. And didn’t think twice about it.
Week 2: Things stopped taking so much effort
Getting out of bed in the morning didn’t feel as stiff.
Standing to wash baby bottles didn’t make me shift my weight every few minutes.
And I wasn’t mentally scanning for pain every time I stood up, bent over, or picked something up.
I just.... moved.
And one afternoon, I caught myself carrying the car seat (with baby in it), with one hand!
Something was definitely changing.
Usually, every movement used to come with a mental checklist: brace, tighten, be careful.
But now, things were starting to feel more effortless.
Daily life started to feel a bit lighter...
Like my body wasn’t fighting me at every turn.
Week 4: I started to see physical changes
Week four was when I started to notice some changes to my physical appearance.
I noticed it in the mirror first.
My stomach looked firmer. Less soft. Less, deflated.
And when I sat down, my belly didn’t push forward the way it used to.
The way my body was handling movement was definitely different.
I could get down on the floor with my baby, and get back up, without planning my exit strategy.
I could go through bath time without my back tightening halfway through.
I even tried some yoga again, and for the first time, my core didn’t completely give out.
It felt like my abs were actually participating now, instead of my low-back doing all the work.
Like my core was finally starting to support my body again.
Week 8: Trusting my body again
By the eighth week, something was noticeably different.
But it wasn’t in the way I expected...
It wasn’t just that my back hurt less.
Or that everyday movements felt easier.
It was that I stopped thinking about my body all the time.
I didn’t realize how much mental space it had been taking up.
I wasn’t constantly checking in with myself before doing things:
Is this going to hurt?
Should I brace?
Am I going to regret this later?
I just, moved. And there was no "second-thought" about it.
My stomach started to feel like it belonged to me again.
And that surprised me more than anything.
Because ever since giving birth, my body had felt like something I had to manage,
...not something I lived in.
My body started showing up for me in little ways.
I stood longer while cooking dinner, without leaning on the counter.
I reached for things without that split-second hesitation.
And emotionally, I felt lighter.
It's like I finally didn't have to micro-manage every little movement.
My body felt like it was working with me again, instead of against me.
I wore clothes without constantly adjusting them.
I stopped thinking about my stomach every time I sat down.
I realized that feeling like myself again wasn’t just about trying to get my old body back.
It was about trusting my body again.
The Verdict: Is EMS Worth It?
This wasn’t some overnight miracle for me. And it wasn’t effortless in the way most products like to promise.
It worked because I was willing to give it a little bit of space in my life. Twenty minutes a day.
And then let my body do what it already knew how to do.
If you’ve had a baby, whether it was a year ago or ten, and you still struggle to really 'feel your abs' then keep reading....
If bending, standing, carrying, or even just getting through the day still feels harder than it should...
And if you’ve already tried “doing all the right things”, workouts, and ab routines, and walked away feeling frustrated....
Then you are exactly where I was right before I discovered EMS.
But I want to make this clear:
If you’re looking for a quick fix, or something that gives you instant abs, this isn’t it.
And if you're looking for one 'magical cure' to replace sleep, movement, or listening to your body, then this definitely isn’t for you.
EMS simply gave my core enough support to remember how to activate on it's own.
And for me, that was enough to finally start trusting my body again.
So if you’re reading this and thinking, “That’s me. I want to feel my abs again.” I get it.
I just wanted to stop feeling like I was living inside someone else’s body.
I wanted to stop second-guessing every movement.
I wanted to stop the emotional ups and downs that felt dependent on whether or not my body cooperated that day.
But what surprised me most about EMS wasn’t just physical changes...
It was how my self-confidence started to come back once my body stopped feeling unpredictable.
Once I wasn’t bracing.
Once I wasn’t constantly aware of my stomach or my back.
Once everyday movements stopped feeling like a risk.
I didn’t feel like a stranger in my body anymore.
I felt present again.
Capable again.
So, if you're here still reading and interested in trying EMS, let me make a few suggestions.
Don't just go shopping for any kind of EMS device, because there is a lot of BS out there.
Let me first show you what to look for, what to avoid, and how to know if an EMS device is actually worth it or not.
What to avoid when shopping for an EMS device...
Not all EMS devices are the same.
And after my one month trial of using my PT's device, I knew I wanted my own.
So I went down the rabbit hole of research, and what I found was frustrating.
On one end, there were the cheap ones from Amazon.
The kind that promise everything, cost next to nothing, and rely on sticky pads you have to constantly replace.
Half the reviews talked about uneven stimulation, dead spots, or even a device stopped working after a few weeks.
People were saying they felt more like vibrations instead of real muscle activation.
On the other hand was the medical-grade systems.
The ones used in clinics and rehab centers.
They work, but they also cost thousands of dollars, which just wasn’t realistic for me.
I wanted something more in the middle ground.
Not too expensive, but also not so cheap that it would break in a few weeks.
So I asked my PT for a recommendation, and here's what she had to say:
How to know if an EMS device is high-quality...
First and foremost, avoid any EMS device that requires replacement pads or gels.
An EMS device should not require any replacement parts. If it does, it's a sign that the original parts weren't built to the level of quality we are looking for.
And it's a marketing ploy to get you to keep coming back again and again to buy replacement pads.
Second, take note of how many pads the device itself uses. The more pads the better.
This is because the number of pads significantly impacts the effectiveness of the device.
The more pads there are, the more surface area the device has to deliver the EMS pulses directly to your abdominal muscles.
So avoid devices that only have two pads. Four is ideal.
Last but not least, the device should be in the design of a belt.
This ensures that the EMS is delivered consistently and effectively to the muscle.
If the EMS product you are looking at works by sticking "gel pads" onto your skin, avoid it all costs.
These pads will slip off, stick to thin hairs on your skin, and are usually uncomfortable to use.
To make it easier for you, I can recommend the exact device I let you use for your 60-day treatment.
My PT's Recommendation...
A company called Apebornfitness has a product called "The NextGen Ultra Stimulator", an EMS device specifically used to target your core.
Their product is designed to be worn as a belt, which is the same one you used here in my office.
I mainly chose to use theirs for a few reasons:
First, their EMS products are FDA-approved. Which is very important when dealing with any sort of recovery equipment.
Second, their product doesn't require any 'replacement pads'. The product works as is.
Third, their EMS pads cover your entire abdomen. Most other ones I found only have 2 pads for coverage.
And lastly, they had 60-day risk free trial. So I figured I'd give it a try for 60-days and if it didn't work, I'd get a full refund..
For me, after all the research I had done. This was a no-brainer.
Nowhere else online could I find such a high-quality device for a very reasonable price.
If you want to see it for yourself, you can checkout the product here and see they have to offer." she finished.
