Physical therapists say the habit of constantly holding in your stomach can have consequences that go far beyond appearance. Maybe it was your mom telling you to stand up straighter. Maybe it was a fitness instructor constantly reminding you to pull your belly button toward your spine. Or maybe it was the cultural messaging that a flatter stomach is simply more attractive. For many women, after years of being told to “suck it in” — also referred to as “stomach gripping”— it just becomes a way