The Waist Training Journey

[teawrecks]

As a few of you may know, from me mentioning it in opinions here and there, or me just straight up telling you in excitement - I've started on the path of waist training. Some people know what it is, some don't. A lot of people just know the negativity it gets from people.

Statements like "It moves your organs and ribs around, how is that healthy?" or "Isn't it dangerous?" have been among the few things said to me already. And I'm only on day three.

Yes, waist training can, does and will displace some organs. But you know what else displaces organs? Pregnancy. Pregnancy displaces organs.

I'm fully aware that there's a difference - after a pregnancy, your organs resettle back into their rightful spots where they belong. When continuously waist training, your organs remain displaced. But that's a risk I knew before going into this, and it's a risk I'm willing to take.

Obviously waist training isn't a cure-all. Yes, it gives the immediate result of making a waist look more defined and toned and smooth. But once you take it off, whatever body fat you have, is still there. So your body will reshape to it's normal shape. Which is why you have to incorporate exercise and healthier eating into the waist training.

It's a psychological thing. You put on the corset, or waist cincher, and you see the tinier waist. You see how good you look, and you're inspired. You're motivated. You want to eat less, and healthier, because you know what you could look like. You want to hit the ground running because you see the benefits you could reap. But is it recommended to exercise in these things? Absolutely not, not in a tight one at least. One that is maybe a bit big on you, sure. The latex material in a waist cincher will make you sweat more and help a bit with any weight loss.

Just like all things, you have to use moderation. Don't wear a waist cincher or corset for 20 hours a day and expect everything to be fine. You're not using your muscles in your abdomen or your back when you're wearing one, so the muscles will get weak if you depend on it too long. At max I've gone 10 hours in a day so far, and that wasn't even continuous. I gave myself a two hour break inbetween both five hour time periods. At minimum I would do six hours.

So, to conclude, yes there are risks - just like there are risks with everything. But I'm excited and curious to see the benefits that may come from this journey.

In total, I've done 22 hours of waist training so far - it'll be 24 by the time I'm done today - and I've not only been eating less, and consuming healthier foods, but wearing the waist cincher makes me sit up straight. Which I've started to habitually do even after taking it off. I've not incorporated any exercises other than the physical labor I already do at my job, but that's something I'll work into my schedule once I've adjusted to the waist cincher. Two new things at once might be overwhelming, and the last thing I want is to overwhelm myself and make myself feel like it's too much and up and quit.

No, waist training isn't for everyone - especially if your body is still developing - and I'm not encouraging people to try it, but your body will tell you if things are going wrong with it. And if you listen to your body, then waist training cannot be all that dangerous for you. But I'm only on day three, so I guess it's just a game of wait and see at this point. Naysayers will not sway me to quit, only lack of results or feeling bodily harm from doing it will. After all, I'll try most things once.

[nalaa]

I think anyone who would risk their health permanently to lose a few inches of their waist, should be legally required to see a psychiatrist.

I would say the same applies to surgery but in that case there's an actual doctor around, whereas with this you're messing with your body all by yourself

"I'm fully aware that there's a difference ", I don't think you are. It's not just that organs fall back into place, it's also that pregnancy is natural and normal and so is your body shape. You body has been designed for hundreds of thousands of years to handle pregnancy. Which is why it's essentially you keep your bones and organs in place, to have a healthy baby. Your waist can only be so small for you to be able to carry a child.
Do you know the scene, where elizabeth can't breathe through her corset and falls into the ocean? Well that's not just a joke, that's a very possibility with tight corsets, they inhibit your ability to breathe
3.bp.blogspot.com/.../...x-James_and_Elizabeth.jpg

"You see how good you look, and you're inspired. You're motivated" motivated to do what exactly? Press your waist into ever smaller corsets? If you want to exercise, this not the way to go.

"body will tell you if things are going wrong with it" - No, No it won't. Your body responds well to trauma and adapts well to slow change. It deals with it the best it can until it can't. That's why people have heart attacks and never even knew anything was wrong with them. Symptoms of a heart attack are sudden and drastic, but the cause isn't

Do what you want, but don't make this sound like a good idea, because it's not

[KDA20]

I have seen you mention this a few times over the past week and have been interested to see what the background to it was. From this take you seem to have a very sensible approach to it, I think it is a case of following your own advice
(1) Moderation, moderation and more moderation
(2) Don't become over reliant on it that is use it to hide things but use it more to encourage a healthy lifestyle to get that shape you want
(3) Incorporate and continue an exercise regime/healthy diet into your waist training lifestyle
(4) If on a diet always eat enough to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
(5) A final thing it was a personal tool in my case, you may have noticed that I mentioned a lot my own health drive and weight loss, posting lots of pictures on social media again it was a motivational factor I wanted every week to post how much I lost and show new pictures. Absolutely your choice but I found being very public about whole thing a great help.
A final, final thought and if you want keep us posted on your successes, do so or on the days you might need a bit of encouragement don't be afraid to ask - Best wishes and good luck on your new experience.

[aamina_m]

lol I love how you're trying to justify you're decision... I don't care about what you do but don't come on here making it sound like it's a good idea and encouraging other girls who are just as easily influenced as you that this is a good idea.

oh how i love the lazy girl's solution to making yourself look good...

I used to have an obsession with corsets. I always thought they were beautiful and I used to have them custom made for myself when I was a teenager. But I also studied them and understood their risks and I never wore them often. I only wore them on special occasions and they were an accessory to my outfits, not because I was trying to "waist train".

You know, if you work out and eat healthy you'll make yourself more attractive and you'll FEEL more attractive.

There is no such thing as "waist training" but thanks to idiots like Kim Kardashian, and her even less intelligent followers, this is now a popular fad that a lot of girls (and women) are into right now. I have close friends who are into this and I try to tell them to just work out properly and eat healthy, but they don't listen. And of course they won't listen because working out and eating healthy is actually hard work - it requires dedication and time spent on cooking, researching, and actually doing something strenuous like exercise.

But it's okay you can go ahead and do this, I don't really care, but don't go around preaching it and insisting it's a good option to young women and girls.

[Anonymous]

Personally I've never really been a fan of changing your body in unnatural ways - with few exceptions. Spray tans, plastic surgery, slimming pills all just seem like false advertisements for a product. I believe in changing your body in natural ways which are healthy and beneficial to your body and soul. Hard work always pays off.

So as you can imagine this waist training idea doesn't exactly appeal to me. Although you may look great at the end of it, your body has been manipulated and put into unnatural positions. It's also extremely uncomfortable.

However, like you I also wanted a tights waist, toned stomach and curvy hips. All I did was slightly change my diet to make things a little healthier, did home workouts focusing on all parts of my body - mainly ass and stomach to get toned and curvy. In addition, I also started focusing on my transversus abdominis which is the muscle that pulls the ring of your waist. There's many exercises you can do for this and it comes out with some amazing results! Posture is always key too, but that's just something you can easily get into the habit of.

So that's all just friendly advice. By all means keep doing what you're doing and I wish you the best luck with it. But I just want to make you aware that there are also much more comfortable, simpler, healthier and longer lasting alternatives which have extremely similar results!

[TadCurious]

You young girls out there, don't buy into what she's selling here.

[teawrecks]

As I said, if they're still developing, don't do it. The risks are faaaaar worse for a developing body than one that is already developed. And I'm not "selling" anything, I was giving my viewpoint on it and even stated it isn't for everyone.

[the_rake]

'I'm fully aware that there's a difference - after a pregnancy, your organs resettle back into their rightful spots where they belong. When continuously waist training, your organs remain displaced.'

Also, when your pregnant you're doing it because you want to have a child, not because you're trying to meet some societal standard of aesthetic perfection.

If you want to look good, you should do it the proper way: cardio, dieting and resistance training. Maybe throw in some yoga or pilates into the mix (they have numerous physiological and psychological benefits).

[the_rake]

'Obviously waist training isn't a cure-all... Which is why you have to incorporate exercise and healthier eating into the waist training... You put on the corset, or waist cincher... You see how good you look, and you're inspired. You're motivated... Just like all things, you have to use moderation.'

Ok, fair enough. This seems like a sensible attitude. Not everyone accommodates my desire to put on mass (muscle), even when I am going about things in moderation, so I can understand the sentiment.

[Mekkalyn]

A fit person will look much different than someone who goes through waist training. This morphs your body. Losing weight and getting toned will not give you the same shape. That's why people do it. Most people do waist training AND exercise to get toned up. This just gives you a way tinier waist than you could ever get naturally.

[the_rake]

@Mekkalyn yea see my comment retraction underneath...

[Mustachekitteh]

The only thing that would make me not try that. Is hearing how it caused some women to develop pneumonia. Due to it causing you to do more shallow breathing. Which I've had pneumonia before and it's not fun. Plus I have asthma so I don't know how safe that would be.

Though hearing it could help your back posture then that makes me really want to try it. Since no matter how I sit I never feel like I'm sitting right so I'm just in pain. :(

I'm trying to look up more facts about this. Though I'm just finding websites stating how bad it is. Though I don't trust those since they don't look like trust worthy research.

[teawrecks]

It helps your back if you manage to get into the habit of remaining your upright position when you take the waist cincher / corset off. But if you go back to slouching when you take it off, it's not going to help. Because wearing it for an extended amount of time actually weakens your core, without doing proper exercises to ensure that you core stays strong.

But yeah, I mainly found negative websites myself which inspired me to just go ahead and try it so I can see for myself.

[Mustachekitteh]

This one website is saying 1 con is Chafing. So I guess people should rub Vaseline around the area that it covers.

Plus if a corset could help fix this muscle spasm issue I keep having in my waist area. Then Yeah I will really want to give it a try. :D

[RJGraveyTrain]

In general, if you are safe, waist training isn't dangerous but it hasn't been proven to change the shape of the body permanently. I only know because I had a friend request I help her look it up. It is just a temporary fix to achieve a particular silhouette.

news.health.com/2015/03/10/what-is-waist-training/

It can be dangerous really if people aren't careful and if they allow it to obscure their psychological state on what is a realistically healthy body - to use your mentioning of "eating less." I'm not saying you're telling people to be anorexic by any means, but some people could take such a thing too far.

Overall for a temporary change in silhouette, sure, it's fine, but in reality the only way to change your body shape is consistent working out and a healthy, proper diet.

Overall though good take, very informative.

[teawrecks]

I know it's not permanent, I didn't go into it thinking it would be permanent. I'm not that big of a moron lol. But as I mentioned, it's psychological. So when it makes me look temporarily thinner at the waist, it inspires me to work out more and eat better, which is what primarily will change my shape.

[RJGraveyTrain]

If that's what works for you, by all means, it isn't something I'd personally suggest for most people again because it CAN (not necessarily WILL) cause women to form an unrealistic view about their body and subsequently form the opposite problem by becoming anorexic. I've seen it happen to too many of my plus sized friends that, for me personally, I'd only ever suggest a healthy diet and healthy exercise routine. It's absolutely your choice to do otherwise, I'm not saying you're wrong for it, but for me, it just doesn't seem beneficial for anything more than a temporary fix of vanity.

[teawrecks]

The thing is, I'm not unhappy with myself. But I know it would be beneficial to work out. Yet I can't get motivated to work out... until I put the waist cincher on and then I feel inspired. So, yeah, it's not for everyone - as I stated in my take - but it works for me.

[RJGraveyTrain]

As long as it works for you and you have a healthy mindset then all the power to you.

[Queen_naki5]

I'm a firm believer that your shape is just your shape. You can do all of the waist training in the world, but ultimately what really works is diet and exercise. I got a smaller waist from eating better and doing moderate exercise then I did when I brought this waist trainer that I thought would do wonders for me from Amazon. Sometimes a little bit goes a long way.

[aamina_m]

Wow finally someone who uses their head. Agreed.

[Queen_naki5]

@aamina_m yes and what matters is that someone is healthy. Not how small their waist is. A small waist= vanity, not health.

[CHARismatic110]

I'll say what I say to anybody that uses these, to each their own. It's not something that I'm a fan of. And for some strange reason when girls start waist training, they become big headed. As long as you don't become that way, have at it.

[teawrecks]

Don't plan on it.

[GirlsLie]

Girls and what they do to their bodies makes me so sad sometimes.

[Unhappy_Sock]

Just... why? I don't get sever body modification. You can get a lovely shape without redesigning your internal organs. I have an underbust waist finches and when worn it does give a great figure, but that isn't anything to be proud of. It's engineering. You can eat healthy without a waist training regime... I just think it's stupid, I'm not trying to be mean but to me it says "I value my looks over my health".

[Anonymous]

There are other options to look better, but I actually don't mind if anyone uses waist training. At the end of the day, it's their decision and I'm not going to tell them it's sad or I feel bad for them because I don't.

A little bit off topic, but I have to use a corset 23 hours a day because of scoliosis so that the curve doesn't get worse. Medical reasons, the first week was hell, but you get used to it.

[vishna]

You should really follow up with this and post pictures along the way of a non-celeb, non-sponsored woman on a journey. It would be something I would love to see, especially after reading your well written MyTake.

My one question is how will this affect you or anyone who wants to have kids after re positioning their organs?

[Anonymous]

Sorry, but I have to be honest. Women should stop being lazy, get off their ass, and stop seeking unhealthy, risky ways to achieve a look they'd like instead of putting in hard work.

[teawrecks]

I mean provided the fact I mentioned exercise and yet you're bitching about women being lazy, I'm gonna go out on a limb and say you didn't read the whole thing.

Talk about lazy.

[Opinion Owner]

But are you REALLY exercising routinely with intensity or are you doing ineffective workouts and relying on messing with your rib and organ structure to get the waist you want?

[Opinion Owner]

Your assumption is wrong. I read the whole thing. I'm sorry but you come off as another one of those chubby, bigger girls who's lazy and looking for an easy way out to get the results you want. There are plenty of bigger, more chubby women who have busted their ass by staying focused, dieting regularly, and embracing intense workouts without doing something as risky as waist training.

[teawrecks]

I don't wear my waist trainer when I exercise so no, I'm not relying on it.

[KRIEL55]

women dont wear waist trainers as a lazy way of losing weight, its to shape your waist and give you a curvier silhouette. i dont wear one but my friend does and she was already naturally skinny with a kind of curvy body, but now she's got that hourglass figure she looks amazing, got me considering getting one!

[aamina_m]

I agree with you... although I completely understand the dedication required to work out and eat healthy (I've been doing it for 17 years) but it's difficult to convince other people otherwise.

[aamina_m]

To the opinion owner - I did read your entire article and I still don't think you know what you're talking about.. just because you work out doesn't mean you actually know what you're doing.. I know many girls like you who don't really know how to properly work out and use these waist trainers. Some of them are girls who are close to me and I've told them many times they could work out with me to get better results and ditch these stupid fads they always seem to find and follow.. but they're stubborn and they don't want to.

She probably just didn't want to read your article.. that's not lazy. that's a choice.

[Opinion Owner]

KRIEL55 Interesting. I didn't know that. Your friend is still an idiot for risking messing up her internal organs just so she can be more objectified

[Cookies_AndMilk]

Or... waist slimming exercises. Those should be good enough and won't make your body look bizarre.

[Anonymous]

Why do this shit to yourself? If you want a decent body that much, To risk mass damage to yourself, Why not just go to a gym instead for a few weeks / months?

This just seems like a lazy cop-out from working out...

[Mekkalyn]

Because working out will never get you the same look.
The waist training literally displaces your organs and moves around your ribs... you can't do that at the gym.

I definitely think it's a huge risk for very shallow reasons, but to each her own, I suppose. I just hope she doesn't hurt herself or regret doing this down the road. It's a huge life changing thing that shouldn't be taken lightly.

In my opinion, you should never do something that will move around your organs and ribs permanently. They were made the way they were for a reason.

[Phoenix98]

Or you could just eat right and go to the gym, just saying lol kind of a lazy option, dangerous to, I mean it's your body but be careful.

[Anonymous]

Instead of doing waist training , you should hit the gym , work out at home go running all those things are natural ways and healthier way. You are a chubby girl and no matter if you want to use the waist trainer to get your waist more define if your not a hourglass shape you won't ever get a small waist. What u need to do is burn calories because whenever you put the waist trainer all squeezing makes your upper back fatter.

[teawrecks]

I do have an hour glass, and I am exercising on top of wearing it. Damn, people have selective ass reading on this website.

[Fugue]

The painful things we do to maximize mating options...

I'd talk if torturers put that on me.

[teawrecks]

It's not that bad at all, actually. lol

[Elena_the_Star]

I don't understand why use that trainer if all that exercise and diet is going to do all the work? You can get upto a 24 inch waist without it and cmon anything below it is unnatural.

[asiag299]

I have a natural 21 inch waist though? Does that make me unnatural?

[asiag299]

I've already talked to my doctor and I'm done growing so am I doomed to be unnatural in your eyes.

[aamina_m]

the entire concept is just really stupid and it baffles me that girls get into things like this...

waist size is unique for everybody's frame.. so if you're naturally a 21" waist, great for you. Nobody cares and not everybody needs that. I'm curvy but fit so I also have a tiny waist (accomplished through eating healthy and training properly). Unfortunately most girls don't know how to train properly so they need to temporarily feel good about themselves with silly fads made popular by other silly women.

[nalaa]

@asiag299 Marylin Monroe was 22 inches. What she meant to say is that there is a physical limit of how low you can go naturally, without risking your health

[asiag299]

@nalaa ohhh I thought she was trying assume that lower than that was unhealthy or something when it isn't thanks for the clear up :)

[asiag299]

@aamina_m I never said anyone cared so what are you talking about? I don't get into stuff like this I asked a question because what she said was offensive towards me when what's natural should never be called unnatural. I don't know why you're so defensive when I never said anything to you. I'm curvy as well so what's with pointing that out? Also never stated that everyone needs a 21 inch waist. Your whole comment is based off of things I've never said or mentioned.

[Elena_the_Star]

@asiag299 You are an exception. Most people DO NOT have a waist below 24.
I am sorry but promoting these waist trainer, which are a concept grown out of corsets, is this why corsets were discarded? The reason people can find mostly negative websites about waist trainers is because they are UNHEALTHY. It makes me furious to see that after all the struggles of proving that corsets were harmful, this fad is being brought back in another form. Do you know that girls were made to wear corsets from age 8? and all day and sometimes and all night to have a 15 inch waist and sometimes their hands were tied so they cannot remove it while sleeping? Some of them were also whipped by their aunts/ mothers to keep them in place. Imagine growing up like that. These stories have horrified me to the core and nothing will convince me that these waist trainers are good for us.
You want a nice, small waist? get up and exercise and eat a balanced diet!
"Pregnancy also displaces organs" this is like saying

[Elena_the_Star]

@asiag299
Pregnancy also makes us fat so being fat is healthy!. That is a DIFFERENT thing. Why do you need to have a unnaturally small waist? If everybody had a 22 inch waist or something I would understand but with the exception of you, nobody has.
Back to you, now if some girl comes and says but I have a naturally 15 inch waist, so I am offended by this comment, should I apologize to everyone? Read between the lines. You are exception, this comment was not meant for you. Goodness Gracious.

[asiag299]

I read between the lines and then I asked a question

[aamina_m]

I agree with @asiag299 it's just very frustrating when people try to make something very unhealthy seem healthy. This is why women stopped wearing corsets - it's very unhealthy. You can justify it all you want, do whatever you want, but don't promote something to people who can't think for themselves and might follow a fad and do something unhealthy to their bodies because they don't understand how it works

[Elena_the_Star]

@aamina_m What I wrote is against corsets, not pro-corsets. If that is what you mean, read my comment again.

[Mekkalyn]

I think @aamina_m was referring to the main post, not your stance on corsets.

[Anonymous]

If you're interested, you can also implement the stomach vacuum exercise. It naturally pulls in your waist and strengthens the muscle that lies over your stomach. That way you have a slimmer waist and flatter stomach

[teawrecks]

Hmm, interesting. I'll look into it.

[Mustachekitteh]

That exercise sounds like what I always have to do when I'm doing breathing tests at the doctors. :D

[Opinion Owner]

Well good luck, you look lovely.