You know that I'm a fan of the MuTu System for healing Diastasis Recti and other physical issues related to childbearing. You can see my full review of the System here. This weekend, MuTu is 33% off — sale lasts through Cyber Monday! Thank you so much for using any of my links here on the blog – they are affiliate links and that little bit helps me out a lot!
A lot of readers bought the System back in July when it was discounted. I'm curious to know whether you've gotten started on it! Has it helped you? I hope so!
Click here to take advantage of the 33% discount! It'll be the last sale of the year! Make sure you use the code BF33!
Where I'm at these days with MuTu:
When Chickapea was about one month old, I saw a physical therapist to address pelvic pain. She gave me an exam and told me that my DR gap was four fingers wide (small mama/big baby problems I guess!). She suggested a plan by which I go in to see her twice a week for who knows how many weeks and that I start doing such and such exercises and stretches… Well, going to see her twice a week was just not going to happen without a tremendous life shift and expense for me (even though seeing her would have been covered through our cost-sharing ministry, just getting to her for those appointments when I have three little kids was an extremely daunting prospect!).
So I decided I would jump back onto MuTu right away and check in with her if the pain persisted.
Quite simply, within a few weeks of doing MuTu faithfully, my pain was gone.
About six weeks later, my gap was down to two fingers. (I also quickly shed my baby weight.)
Nowadays it's even less, sometimes less than one finger gap — depends on the day, honestly, and how well I've been able to keep up with all my exercises! The past few months have been extremely busy and I haven't been able to do much beyond my daily core exercises (in other words, I haven't gotten the intensive exercises in lately, and I miss them!).
[In the past few months I've realized that I'm also struggling with some gut health issues that are working against me in getting my core all the way back in shape. I'm trying to sort that out and I think that that will be a huge help to me in totally realigning my Transverse Abdominal muscles.]
In the meantime, I'm learning once again how important alignment is. All day long, all the time, I have to be working on these habits. Sitting on my ‘sit bones.' Engaging my core before I stand up out of a comfy chair after nursing. Holding my big baby in such a way that my back is straight, I'm not tucking my pelvis in, and I'm using my arms to hold him up (not draping him on myself and leaning into bad positions).
One big lesson I've taken away from this time through the 12 week program is to put my weight through my heels. So when I'm at the counter, washing dishes, at the sink, standing at the park — even when I'm sitting — I have to think “heels, heels, heels.” Take your weight off of the balls of your feet, press into the ground through your heels (and I'm talking about being in bare feet or flat shoes!), unlock your knees, un-tuck your pelvis, take a deep breath, roll your shoulders down, and pick your chin up. You'll feel better, taller, and more svelte right away! (Did you do that just now? Don't you feel better?)
Another key learning for me: I don't like the MuTu soundtrack. I find it very uninspiring and a bit dull. It took me this long to figure out that, when I watch the videos, I can turn the volume all the way down and turn some music up! Especially now that I know the videos well so I'm not really missing out on her spoken instructions. (This is probably obvious to most people, but I'm late to the party.) While I don't always look forward to turning on the workout video, sometimes I will really look forward to a chance to listen to some of my music — something that'll make my workout an actually fun time. Sometimes I'll dance a little between exercise sets. It's a major mood lift!
Some of you have asked about how much time it takes. If you're going to do it right, plan on at least 15 minutes a day devoted to your core exercises; and one daily walk. A few weeks into the program, you'll build up to an additional half and hour every few days for an intensive workout. You may have to take some time to adjust your eating habits as well, but that's just a matter of some strategizing about meal planning and grocery shopping — once you figure those things out, it'll just be part of your routine. (MuTu provides some food guidance!)
I find that it works best for me to get my core workout in first thing in the morning (that's the 15 min one) before the kids are out of bed so that it's out of the way. It also helps me to align properly all day long. That being said, if you only have time midday when your kids are napping, it is a lovely pick-me-up! And getting it in before bed is better than nothing at all.
If you have any cushion at all in your schedule, it is worth giving up a TV show or time online or some other non-essential thing in order to make space for this.
Whenever I have time for the full program, I feel energized, strong, and upright. Wendy uses the word, ‘vital' to describe how she wants MuTu Mamas to feel, and I think it's a very apt term! This helps me feel vital, even if things aren't perfect. I want to be vital enough to keep up with my kids and hopefully give them lots of siblings! I'm also grateful for MuTu because, although my tummy isn't totally healed, it has given me a very strong pelvic floor and I have no issues in that regard.
My friends who have gotten into MuTu have all told me that they love it. It works. I can attest to the fact that it is not an overnight fix, but it is a flexible approach that will get results if you follow through. I can't often leave the house for a run (and running might not even be advisable when you're healing your core and pelvic floor), but I can set aside 20-30 minutes to getting moving in my living room!
And for anyone reading this who doesn't have babies yet: I encourage you to do this or some other program that will strengthen your core! Hindsight is 20/20 — if I'd have known that this would be my challenge now, I would have been on top of my core workouts back in the day! And even if having babies was a while ago, according to Wendy, it's never too late to heal your Diastasis Recti.
Now of course, you know me and you know that I am all about thriftiness! So I only want you to buy this if you really need it and will actually use it. If you'd like to comment below or send me an email to ask further questions, feel free! I'll be honest. Again, thank you so much for using my links here when you purchase!
Any tips from other mamas using MuTu? Did you buy the program in July?
Janet says
Deidre, does one have to be a new Mom to use this program? In other words, can a 65 year old with bad posture, weak core muscles and a desk job benefit? Thanks for the inspiration, too. If a young Mom and wife like you can find time to do this anyone can!
Deirdre says
Hi Janet! You don’t have to be a new mom. I have no doubt that it would help you with core strength and posture and be a good counter to your hours at the desk! That being said, I don’t know what else is out there as far as core strength programs and whether this would be the best one for you — but I’m sure it would be good. Wendy’s instruction videos talk about being a new/relatively recent mom, so maybe you wouldn’t find they suited you perfectly… But I think that’d be a minor thing. 🙂
Emily says
Would you recommend using this program even if you’ve never had kids (not married yet) and don’t deal with diastasis recti, simply to strengthen your core?
Deirdre says
Emily, yes I would. If I had had it six years ago, I’m sure I’d be in a better place now. I think you’d really like it and benefit from it. That being said, I don’t know what else is out there as far as core workout programs, so I don’t know if it’s the *best* one for you… But I’d be surprised if you found something better, with such a holistic approach!
Logan says
I think there wouldn’t be harm in doing this program before you have kids, but I think it isn’t as challenging as it could be for someone who hasn’t been weakened by pregnancy. I think I would have found this program to be almost irrelevant to me pre-pregnancy because it is so low impact and the stomach routine is so gradual. That being said, I was very athletic before pregnancy and maybe if you are not used to regular exercise this might be the ticket. I do think Mutu has been really great for me having had kids and I appreciate Dierdre bringing it to my attention! The music is terrible though! 😉
Katie says
I signed up and it was much harder than I thought (so for everyone that thinks week 1 is easy – go you!) and my normal level of activity is just walks. I walk a lot, but don’t do any other sort of activity. It is similar to pilates and physical therapy exercises I’ve had to do for poor muscle tone / injury. So maybe I am in a particularly weak spot, and if you are athletic like Logan, maybe this would be that challenging. It’s a bit late now to act on it for the sale, but I thought about doing this since Dierdre’s first review. And now that a whole host of medical issues are being resolved, perhaps I can have children and it is good to be strong for that.
Also, Dierdre, I don’t know if this would help at all, but I am in the reintro phase of the whole 30 and was shocked what foods my body does not tolerate. At least currently as I refuse to think of forever since I landed on a fairly restricted diet, and the foods did make a pattern so I can address the underlying health issue. However, in the meantime, all of my troublesome symptoms are alleviated and I feel like a normal person again. I think as I heal I will likely be able to add some of the foods back in. I hope you get better.
Kelsey says
I bought the program back during the Memorial Day sale and I really like it. I had my fourth baby the same day you had your baby 🙂 I was on track for a while during the summer. Once we started up homeschooling again, and with the baby sleeping so erratically I fell out of the routines I had established. But now baby sleeps through the night and first thing in the morning I do the intensives and core workouts before anyone else but baby is up. He plays on the floor and laughs at me. I feel soooo good when I keep up with it. I love that it customized for moms, so many other programs can end up doing more damage to DR! The walks are harder for me to get in because we live in the PNW. I think Mutu is a wonderful resource!
Deirdre says
That’s awesome, Kelsey! Thanks for the comment!
Melanie Vogel says
I want to try it for sure. I’m pregnant with my 6th babe and I know I’m going to need a little wagon to drag body parts around in afterwards.
Sara Boyle says
You made me laugh! And I had 6 (my youngest is almost 16), and I wish I had paid attention to my pelvic floor 15 years ago. Get it!
Amme says
Mutu was such a discouraging experience that I had to avoid it completely for a while to recover, which really shocked me. It just made my gap worse despite me being an alignment nerd and following the instructions very cautiously and attentively. I don’t understand at all why it hasn’t worked. It’s true that I didn’t stick with it for more than a few weeks, so maybe if I just kept on it’d change. However, my gap has been as wide as eight and was down to 3-4, then after starting Mutu it was back up to 5-6, so continuing seemed really risky and after I stopped it did gradually return to my 3-4 plateau. I have SI joint issues and wonder how much worse it might get in future pregnancies, but I don’t know what to do now to help. The only advice they gave was to find an affiliated physical therapist. I live in a major metropolitan area and even if I had the money to blow on trying that, there isn’t one within 300 miles. So…maybe I’ll try it again, as it’s been a handful of months, but it’s been unexpectedly upsetting because the program leaves me no options but I bought it with hope thinking that I was finally going to get on top of looking like I’m in my third trimester when I’m two years postpartum with only two kids so far, not to mention the functional deficits of a split core.
Deirdre says
Oh no! I’m so sorry to hear that, Amme! How strange! Were you doing the breathing properly, do you think?
Amme says
Yes, I was quite fastidious, including regarding the breathing. The only thing I can think is that maybe something else was going on, unrelated to Mutu, that was causing the widening. I suppose if the same thing doesn’t happen again, it was some kind of fluke.
Jenny says
I did buy it in July! I did really well for a few weeks and then everyone got sick and our homeschooling year started and I fell off the bandwagon. I really want to complete it!
Deirdre says
Yes, I technically have yet to complete all 12 weeks consecutively! It’s a hard task in the midst of family life, for sure! But some is better than nothing. And I’ve found that, once I’ve gotten to a certain point, I can sort of maintain it with just the core exercises…
Melisa says
Hello, Deirdre,
So I’ve been thinking about getting/doing this program, and the 33% discount is a definite incentive! After 8 babies (1 c/sec., 5 VBAC’s, 2 c/sec.’s) I’ve definitely got what I call my ‘perma womb’ going on. I love, too, that this improves posture (I’ve always slouched) and helps with leakage issues (maybe I can go on our trampoline with the kiddos and not have to worry about accidents 🙂 Is this something I could do in my family room if I have lots of children (ages 1-18) wandering about? Are the women in the DVD’s going to be dressed in such a way that I’d be embarrassed for my sons to see them? (Does that make sense?) Any insights you can share would be helpful. Thanks!
God bless,
Melisa
Dixie says
Melisa, I have the basic Mutu and I would have no concerns about my children seeing the videos. The exercises are not the sort that would need to be done in private and the woman is dressed in the tighter kind of athletic clothing but it is not immodest (no cleavage). The videos are very professional and health-focused and are not designed to show off how “hot” she is like some workout videos. You might not want your kids to watch the introductory videos, depending on your comfort level, as these discuss birth and its results, but they are still tasteful and use euphemisms when possible. Hope this helps!
Melisa says
Yes.. this is helpful. Thank you! 🙂 Melisa
Deirdre says
Yes, I agree with Dixie. The photos of Wendy that you see around the site are exemplary of what you’ll get in the videos. Nothing beyond bare arms and tight leggings. I guess if you’re talking about teen sons, you might make some discretion decisions there…. But it’s nothing that I’d be concerned about kids seeing.
Nicole says
Yes, she’s one of the best “exercise ladies” I’ve ever seen, clothing and attitude-wise! But, as to doing them with many little people in the room…my input is pretty much…nope. I have a fairly long living room (PLENTY of space) but wouldn’t ya know? Everyone ends up getting thisclose to me while I’m doing them. It’s really frustrating and often makes me get much angrier at my kids then I’d like. They also love the equipment and will constantly be stealing my bands and weights while I work out. I can reliably do an intensive with just my 4.5 year old around (she will be really helpful about handing me what I need and even try doing the exercises with me!), but the 3 and 1.5 year olds are WAY to unpredictable and too fond of jumping on a prostrate mommy. I recommend just waiting till the littlest ones are napping or asleep or outside with someone else.
Deirdre says
Oh yes. I was just thinking of the modesty question. But if we’re talking logistics, kids do complicate it immensely!! I have the same issues as you, Nicole!
Laura says
I also had success with mutu. I started to help with an unstable pelvic girdle. It was amazing to feel how much stronger my abs became in a short time period. My dr gap was 2 fingers which is considered normal, by within 2 weeks, it was less than one. I recommend it to all my mom friends. For tummy troubles, check out “The Perfect Health Diet”. It was written by a scientist couple who were trying to solve nagging health issues. My library system had it. It’s described as paleo perfected (more starches than typical paleo plans). It healed my gut, and it’s fascinating.
Deirdre says
That’s awesome, Laura! And thanks for the book recommendation! I’m very interested and I’ll try to look into it!
Dawn says
I love MuTu! I’m curious to hear how strict you are about wearing minimal/no-heel shoes.
Deirdre says
Hi Dawn! Yes, I am a stickler! It’s just not worth it to me to put heels on more than very occasionally. (In the summertime it’s easier though, when I’m wanting to be in sandals anyway. It’s harder to find winter shoes that have ‘zero positive heel’ on them.) I guess I’m getting old. 😉
Victoria says
I used Mutu for about a month over the summer. I was amazed by how quickly it pulled my tummy back together…but, alack, it seems you have to keep exercising to maintain the results! What sort of world do we live in? 😉 I was doing this before the kids woke up, but ever since the school year started I just haven’t had the time…I’m glad you posted this; I may push myself a tad harder because I’m concerned that if I get pregnant again I’ll have some of the same discomforts I had last time.
Jennifer says
I found Mutu very helpful after my last baby, and for me it fixed things much better than going to the physical therapist (which I did after baby number three). I’m currently 27 weeks pregnant and I can’t do all of it anymore. I’m curious – what workout did you do while pregnant? Despite having gotten much stronger, I’m back to the usual severe hip pain I have had at this point with the last few babies. Any suggestions? Thanks!
Laura Austin says
Robin Long at the Balanced Life has great pregnancy workouts. Many of them are free on her YouTube channel. And she has advertised and used the MuTu system. I saw her mention it a couples times and then finally went for it when I read Deirdre’s post last summer. http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZZBp71NETYEYRYpP1gO9z3DXcHKVitKm
Jennifer says
Thanks! I will check it out.
Catherine says
Any tips for getting the walk in with littles around, especially in the cold/dark weather? Been struggling with that these days.
Dixie says
Is it possible to take the children with you? It would be good modelling for them, and “outside every day” is a wonderful thing. As they say, “There is no such thing as bad weather — only inappropriate clothing.” If you bit the bullet and really bundled them up, could you do it on all but the worst-weather days?
Anamaria says
I almost always go with my girls. The almost four year old usually rides her balance bike (let’s her get energy out but doesn’t slow me down) and the almost two year old is mostly in the stroller. She is getting old enough to want to walk a little, so usually she does that one stretch. We bundle up a lot when it’s very cold. Occasionally I walk in the evening by myself, even though it’s dark, and just make sure if I’m listening to something it’s only with one ear! I find a daily walk helps us all, in many ways, and rarely regret the effort to bundle up. Today, in fact, I wished we did so sooner so we could walk more! Also, in the winter it’s usually right before lunch or after naps that we go- a little warmer and sunnier!
Laura Austin says
Thank you for this post! I purchased in July and started the program, but completely gave up. I was enjoying it though! I need to make changes in my routine to make time for exercise each day. Hearing about your experience is so encouraging. And I’m going to try playing my own music!
Axon says
Thank you for updating…I bought and “did” the program a year ago per your recommendation but I definitely need to revisit it. And I never did get the walking in! I am four years postpartum and while I don’t know how big my gap is, I do know that I am having a LOT of pelvic pain, and I am trying to avoid going to the doctor/PT for it. My hips hurt all the time and it feels like I have very low cramps much of the time, but I am honestly thinking that it is from misalignment! Is that similar to what you experienced? Could I just be WAY out of whack?!
Joanna says
I read your full review when I became pregnant with baby number seven last year. I didn’t purchase the Mutu system because I couldn’t afford it. Instead I followed all of the posture recommendations you highlighted in your review and followed them faithfully throughout my entire pregnancy and beyond. Squatting insteading of bending over and not leaning into the counter and sink were the two biggest changes I implemented. I was able to keep my core strong, keep back pain at bay, hold my two-year-old all the way through my pregnancy, AND my abdominal separation was only one finger tip length a few months after I gave birth to my son! I can’t thank you enough for your extensive review!