Does a waist trainer help lose belly fat

Women have been cinching their waists for centuries. The corsets on the market today have basically the same functioning principles as those worn 100 years ago. However, a recent spike in popularity could be attributed to celebrities like the Kardashians posting selfies of themselves working out in the gym with waist trainers.

Proponents of waist trainers claim it helps them shrink their waistline, have better posture, eat less, and enhance the effects of the waist trainer during their workouts — even if it does makes breathing difficult.

But do they really work?

According to a New York City Nutritionist, Brittany Kohn, “The corset physically restricts your stomach, and that can make it impossible to overeat.

“Cinching your waist also redistributes fat from your middle, so you look slimmer.” And since it’s so tight, you’ll sweat like crazy, and that can make you feel lighter. But once the corset comes off, your body will quickly return to its usual weight and shape”.

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Also, a 2010 study that looked into this actually found that most people who tried to lose weight while wearing a corset just ended up taking off the corset because it was so uncomfortable.

There is one actual potential plus: If you have a higher body weight, a waist trainer might give you temporary core support you may need to boost your mobility and flexibility.

If you’re considering using a waist trainer for extensive periods of time, it’s important you have all the facts and make sure you’re not causing more harm than good to your body.

Take a look at these 4 waist trainer tips that you need to know!

Tip #1: Choose the right size & style!

A too small corset won’t give you results more quickly and can even make you look bulkier. If you’re unsure about the fit of your Orchard Corset, try a corset sizing tool or send a message to a team of corset professionals and they will be happy to do a fit assessment with you!

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Tip #2: Play with your wardrobe!

You’ll notice that some silhouettes flatter a corseted waist better than others, professionals highly encourage you to lace up and play dress up to find the shape that makes you feel your most awesome.

Tip #3: Small tweaks can go a long way!

Try smoothing out the lower belly pooch. This trick is great for so many figures: whether you have loose skin from weight loss or childbirth, if you have a low hanging tummy that wants to escape down and out of your corset or even if you’ve just trained down so far that your soft tissue is displacing in a way that you don’t like. Readjusting your soft tissue to come up into the corset rather than down and out will help you to create a smooth silhouette from any angle.

Tip #4: It doesn’t get rid of body fat in the long run

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The problem is that waist training only makes you look slimmer while you are wearing the corset. Once you take it off, your body will soon revert back to its normal shape.

This is because wearing a corset will have no effect on the amount of body fat that you have. In order to get long-term results from waist training, you would need to wear the corset all the time.

Wrapping up

Our waists come with a glorious preset shape — and wearing a wrap or corset won’t change it without also causing significant damage. Additionally, waist trainers don’t actually work for weight loss or permanently change your shape to give you more curves.

While it’s fine to wear one for a few hours as part of a costume, wearing one on the regular could be unsafe. We say embrace your waist and shape just as they are, and if you want to lose weight, stick to good diet and exercise.

It's no surprise that waist training is in demand, especially with celebs like Kim Kardashian and Jessica Alba swearing by it.

But what is waist training, and does it work?

Waist training uses cinchers or waist trainers to reduce your natural waist size and accentuate your curves. Whether it works or creates problems for you is debatable.

So we did our research to help you decide.

Click on the sections below to understand waist training better, including its pros and cons and whether the practice works.

History of Waist Training

Waist Training Pros

• Achieving the Coveted 'Hourglass' Figure
• Weight Control 
• Improves Posture and Confidence
• Postpartum Waist Tightening 
• Bustline Support 

Waist Training Cons

• Feeling Discomfort
• Acid Reflux 
• Muscle Atrophy and Weakness 
• Breathing Troubles 
• Decreased Core Strength 
• Bones Reshaped 

Types of Waist Training

• Corset Training
• Waist Cinchers 
• Waist Trimmers 

Do Waist Trainers Work

Other Frequently Asked Questions

• Does Waist Training Flatten Your Stomach?
• How Many Hours A Day Should I Wear My Waist Trainer? 
• Is It Bad To Sleep With A Waist Trainer On? 

Waist Trainer Resources And Reviews

History of Waist Training

For thousands of years, women have used corsets as a mechanism to train their waist.

The basic premise behind waist training is simple. You wear a waist trainer that is laced tightly for a specified period – that is all. This constant constriction around your waist eventually works to reduce your natural waist size over time.

You can also wear waist trainers and perform various exercises such as stretching or pilates. A controversial means of reducing your natural waist size, waist trainers have their pros and cons.

Let's first have a look at the advantages of using waist trainers.

Achieving the Coveted 'Hourglass' Figure

Many women start waist training because they want an hourglass figure. People believe this shape to be the most proportioned and flattering a woman can have.

Waist training helps achieve an hourglass shape by cinching your waist and accentuating the curves of your hips and bustline.

If you waist train correctly, you will see the results in a couple of weeks. If an hourglass figure is what you want, then waist training might be right for you.

Weight Control

If you wear a waist trainer all the time, you will realize that it is challenging to consume large portions of food.

That said, the thing to remember about waist trainers is that they cannot aid you in weight loss on their own. They only restrict the amount of food you eat. They do not burn any fat in your body.

Professor of Fitness at the California State University – Long Beach, Dr. Jan Schroeder, explains, "Corsets do not cause you to lose fat in the midsection permanently; they cause a redistribution of the fats and organs in the trunk to give you an hourglass shape." 

Reconsider your decision if you want to use waist trainers to lose weight.

Improves Posture and Confidence

Waist trainers help you maintain proper posture while standing and sitting because the metal bones in waist trainers make it impossible for you to slouch. They improve your position by providing the necessary support to your back.

As a result, many women claim they feel more confident when they see the changes in their waistline after using waist trainers.

When you wear waist trainers under your clothes, they make you look slimmer – which boosts your confidence even more.

Postpartum Waist Tightening

Lots of women want to go back to their natural waist size or abs after giving birth to a baby. Wearing waist trainers seems to help new moms recover their firm abs – Jessica Alba and Kim Kardashian swear by it.

Leah Keller, the CEO and Co-Founder of The Dia Method, shares, "Corsets, when worn correctly, act as a splint to physically approximate the two halves of the rectus abdominis. While corsets do not strengthen the abs or heal a separated abdominal wall on their own, they can support and speed up the healing process".

Bustline Support

Apart from accentuating your bustline, waist trainers also offer some support to it. This property of waist trainers is beneficial, especially for women with large breasts, because it helps reduce back pain and pressure.

The Cons of Waist Training

While waist trainers certainly have the benefits, they also have some side effects worth noting. Numerous experts criticize the use of waist trainers and think they cause more harm than good.

Feeling Discomfort

Wearing a waist trainer is bound to be uncomfortable because it is a garment that is tied tightly around your waist. Go easy on how tightly you wear it because if you are too aggressive, it will cause a whole host of problems.

Beware of signs such as bruising, shallow breathing, downward pressure, and restricted movements. If you have ever started experiencing any of these symptoms, then you have tightened the waist trainer too much.

Acid Reflux

Inside your abdomen, there is a complex network of your intestines, esophagus, and stomach. When you use waist trainers to reduce your waist size, it puts extreme pressure on these organs.

If you are wearing your waist trainer during meals, not only will it hamper proper digestion, but it may also cause acid reflux. The way you can prevent this is by removing your waist trainer during meal times or tying it more loosely.

Muscle Atrophy and Weakness

Who would not want a perfect waistline? However, there are people out there who go overboard trying to achieve this goal. Remember, moderation is essential when you wish waist training to be successful.

Using a waist trainer is a gradual process; the length of time you wear your waist trainer is supposed to increase day by day.

A word of caution, if you are wearing your waist trainer regularly and for long periods, it can cause muscle weakness and may even lead to muscle atrophy. Training your waist in an unhealthy manner may result in many other complications. 

Breathing Troubles

If you think wearing a waist trainer too tight will give you faster results, think again. When your waist trainer is excessively tight, it can and will constrict your diaphragm.

The effect is reduced breathing capacity with you restricted to taking shallow breaths.

Therefore, it is vital to ensure that you can breathe adequately, even after tightening your waist trainer. Lack of oxygen to your body can cause fainting, dizzy spells, and other hazards to your health.

Decreased Core Strength

When you wear waist trainers that are too tight for extended periods, it can reduce your core strength.

The abdominal core muscles become lazy because they depend too much on the waist trainers to support them. When you are using a waist trainer, there is no need for your abdominal muscles to do any work.

Over a period, they become inactive and switch off. Decreased core strength due to the prolonged use of waist trainers increases the chances of pelvic floor problems, poor posture, and back problems.

Bones Reshaped

Waist trainers can reshape your bones if worn continuously. Take a look at Catherine Jung, the Guinness World Record holder for the smallest waist (15 inches). Her pictures show reshaped bones from wearing a corset all of her life, throughout most of the day. 

Although corset production has come a long way since the 1940s, reshaped bones are a risk when taken to the extreme.

Be wary of corsets that put too much pressure on your shape. Ensure you are comfortable in your waist trainer and don't wear it for continuous periods.

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