“Waist training” was traditionally used to refer to the practice of using steel boned corsets for developing an overly exaggerated hourglass shape. By increasing the tightness of the corset, the waist trainer pulls in a female’s ribs and even rearranged her internal organs a bit to reduce her waist circumference effectively. The effect of waist trainer is semi-permanent, which requires continued use of corset even after reduction in waist size. More recently, celebrities such as Amber Rose and Kim Kardashian have redefined waist training by using latex waist cinchers while doing workouts. This practice is often referred to as “waist taming”.
Do Waist Trainers Really Work?
There are different views on this. According to Dr Caroline Apovian, M.D., spokesperson for the Obesity Society and a professor of medicine at the Boston University School of Medicine, waist trainers don’t have any permanent effect on the size, appearance and shape of your waist. They make you look or appear slimmer while you are wearing them but there is no evidence to the claims that they can actually trigger fat loss or reshape the body.
But according to some females who have actually used it, they are able to lose a couple of inches from their waist with continuous use along with following a healthy and well balanced diet. However, using a waist trainer is not a magical way to lose weight. Wearing a weight trainer may decrease your appetite but they don’t dissolve fat---they redistribute it.
Understanding the Differences Between Cinchers Vs Corsets for Waist Training
Do waist trainers really work? Before undergoing waist training you should know the difference between latex waist trainers and steel boned corsets.
Waist cinchers are type of shaping garments that typically target the belly or abdomen. A waist cincher is so designed that it provides a slimming effect when worn beneath your clothes. The majority of the waist cinchers are made up of a combination of latex or Spandex and nylon and some have plastic ribs or boning.
A steel boned corset is made from a strong and flexible fabric such as satin, cotton or leather and is reinforced with flexible rods of steel (steel boning) that gives the corset the required strength for cinching or pulling in your waist and producing an hourglass figure. By wearing a corset you can actually instantly reduce up to 3-6 inch from your waist depending upon the type of your body and the amount of fat present in your midsection. With the help of a corset you can re-shape your body with time (just like you use braces for your teeth) since it can be pulled using the laces. On the contrary, a waist cincher cannot reshape the body since they do not have laces, but have only hooks and eyes on the closure.
Does Using Waist Trainers Pose Health Risks?
After answering the question do waist trainers really work, let’s address the health concerns. There are plenty of critics who describe the dangerous effects of wearing a waist trainer but actually, when used sensibly and carefully it is no more dangerous than wearing a stiletto heel. The important thing is what you call safe waist training. If your corset is causing pain or great discomfort, then you should either loosen it or remove it. When worn properly, it should feel as if it is hugging you tightly.
The common adverse effects seen with waist training such as acid reflux, bruised ribs, back pain and shallow breathing are usually the result of tightening the waist trainer excessively, taking it to the extreme or wearing a garment of incorrect size (small size).
You can actually benefit from using waist trainers as they offer support and pain relief after injuries to the back.
Tips on Using a Waist Trainer Effectively and Safely
Make sure that you wear the right size waist trainer. It is uncomfortable to wear poor fitting waist trainers and by wearing a small size you won’t get faster results.
Waist trainers are available in many different styles so as to fit different body types. Choose a waist trainer that is appropriate for your body type.
Only wear your waist trainer for about 1.5-2 hours for the first time. Repeat this several times during the course of initial days of wearing.
Do waist trainers really work? If you are planning to waist train, remember to do it gradually. Don’t tighten your waist trainer to the point where it causes pain. It is recommended to gradually increase the time from 1.5 hours per day to about 6-8 hours per day over a period of 10-15 days.
Take a break in between. Even females who waist train aggressively take days off. You will notice that on some days you can wear your waist trainer for many hours and on some days you can wear it for only a few hours.
Combine waist training with a regimen of eating healthy diet and doing regular exercises. You should specifically focus on doing core strengthening exercises.
Don’t exercise while wearing your waist trainer.
If you have an allergy to latex, do not wear a waist cincher as they may be made of latex.
If you fall between two sizes, choose the larger size waist trainer. A waist trainer should be tight but not too tight. You will not achieve the desired results faster and may likely cause damage to both your corset and your body by wearing a corset that is smaller in size and too tight.
To get maximum results, buy a waist trainer of high quality that is made with spiral and flat steel bones and has a flat steel busk.
If you want to waist train while sleeping, then cinch your waist trainer around 1-1-1/2 inch lesser than when you are wearing it during the day.
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