What's the truth about waist trainers?
The simple answer-they do not help you lose fat nor do they change your body shape. Sorry ladies!
Women who choose waist training as a lifestyle, ongoing daily, with strict corsets such as metal boning may alter their shape by continuous compression of the floating ribs and decreased food intake, so this is where the idea that waist trainers cause your waist to shrink orginated from.Actual waist training involves going as far as even sleeping in uncomfortable corsets and has negative health reprecussions such as constricted breathing and digestion issues to name a few.
For those who just hope to waist train with belly bands and regular corsets, this however is not the case. Your fat just temporarily moves to the top and bottom of your corset and no fat is lost. Waist training for too long will actually weaken your abdominal muscles causing your midsection to in turn look worse.
So where DOES waist trainers and belly bands fit in? There are 4 reasons why I would use one.
1.) I want to sweat more in my midsection, understanding I'm not going to lose fat, just water/bloat
2.) I want to generate more heat in this area for some sort of thermogenic cream or gel that was applied before wrapping
3.) I want to temporarily look slimmer under clothes
4.) I'm using a trainer as back support circumstancially
With realistic expectations, using waist trainers or wraps can have a healthy place in your routine!