Waist Trainers: Do they really work? Reasons I would, and would not, suggest them

Waist Trainers have become a popular topic, endorsed by a slew of celebrities. Promising a trimmer, hour-glass shaped figure that every woman wants. And yes, admittedly after having a baby of my own, I no longer have six-pack abs and a flat tummy. Such is Mom Life.This is a sponsored post in which I received waist trainers at a discount in exchange for a honest review. This post contains affiliate links, but all opinions are 100% my own.

And yes, Kim Kardashian, I do envy your curves and seemingly complete flat stomach. And you owe it, to waist trainers (and maybe photoshop). They have been touted as an effective tool for exercise, weight-loss and toning of the body.

Waist Trainers - Do They Work?

But how do they work? Do they work? And are they safe?

I tried this waist trainer for the last week, and here is my opinion on their effectiveness, and how I would recommend you wear one (should you be interested).

The waist trainer itself…

The particular waist trainer I’m wearing is made of 100% latex. It has 3 rows of hooks (for a tight, not so tight, and looser fit) and 9 steel bones. It’s advertised to be used while working out, bringing heat to your midsection, helping trim off unwanted body fat. Also recommended for back support, and posture.

I, however, did not find this easy to workout in. Or, did I try very hard. I’m firm believer in being comfortable during your workout routine. Not to say this waist trainer isn’t comfortable – but I didn’t feel compelled to do yoga in it. I feel it’s far too stiff to get the right amount of flexibility I would

Waist Trainers: Do They Work?

need to have an effective workout routine.

And it is very WARM. I will not lie, I got kinda hot running around town in this thing. So I definitely do not want to do a mile long jog while wearing it either.

What I did do, is wear this while performing daily activities around the house, and out in public. It does provide a lot of back support, and I noticed a change in my posture. Plus, I did feel like it helped slim my stomach and made some tighter fitting dresses and tops fit nicer, and look better.

Are waist trainers safe?

This boils down to being a difference of opinion. Those who love them will say they are awesome, and advocate their use as a workout tool. Critics will say they are harmful to your health, and should be avoided at all costs. A product like this, requires careful thought of the purchaser. Of course, you want it to fit correctly, first of all. I would recommend using the manufacturer’s size chart, and being honest with your own size, when buying this product.

If you order a waist trainer that is too small, the best case scenario would be that it just doesn’t fit. The worst; wearing it for too long can cause you shortness of breath, and back problems. Which is why it’s very important that you buy one that fits-and another reason I wouldn’t recommend wearing one during exercise.

There’s no concrete, unbiased evidence, proving these to be dangerous to your health, or a reliable way to trim your stomach line. Everything I have found about waist trainers has been circumstantial, and either totally bashes them, or praises them. So use your own judgement when deciding if it’s right for you.

And be smart when making your decision, and measure yourself according to the size chart. I will say these do appear to run small, and while my size chart put me at a small, I did purposefully order a tight fitting waist trainer. If you want a more relaxed fit, or it’s your first time buying, I would recommend buying a trainer in one size larger than you are measuring, just to be safe.

Another thing I personally wouldn’t recommend, is using this as an appetite suppressor. Yes, the whole idea is to “train” your waist to shrinking. But anything that forces you to not eat, isn’t healthy. And, there just isn’t enough sufficient evidence to support that once you stop wearing the trainer, that your stomach will maintain it’s new shape. I can tell you from experience that once i took this off, my lil Mommy Pooch was still there. So it’s not a good idea to skip meals thinking that your body will transform into a perfect hour-glass shaped figure. Being hungry is never a good thing, and not worth going through to change your body’s appearance.

So why would I recommend this?

The only reason I would recommend this product, or any like it, is as a fashion accessory. If you want to feel more toned, and have a very tailored outfit you’d like to look nice in-consider a body shaper. Because some clothes just fit better, and look better, with them! When worn properly, a waist trainer isn’t much different than a pair of spanx. I found this brand to be comfortable, and really helped with my posture. But, I would not recommend this as a way to,

  • Lose weight
  • Use while exercising
  • Suppress appetite

 


Have you tried a corset, or waist trainer? What was your experience?

Waist Trainers - Do They Work? How I would suggest, and not suggest, using them

Author: Jasmine

SAHM to one little boy, and wife to a former member of the USMC. I blog about parenting, relationships, brands I love, and product reviews!

1 thought on “Waist Trainers: Do they really work? Reasons I would, and would not, suggest them

  1. I’ve been hearing about waist trainers for years and have been skeptical about how well they work. Sounds pretty uncomfortable, especially for the type of exercise I usually do. Thanks for a thorough review!

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