Have you read about a waist trainer and thought it looked like a no effort option to get a smaller waist? Maybe you didn’t even know exactly what one was. A waist trainer squeezes your midsection and is supposed to train your waist to an hour glass figure. Think corset. You know those antiquated undergarments that cinched your waist to its tiniest. It’s not exactly as easy as it may seem on the surface. In fact, you’re far better off doing it permanently with exercise and diet.
There are waist cinchers and waist trainers.
What’s the difference and which is better. Primarily, the difference is the fabric from which they’re made and how often you’ll wear it. Waist cinchers are normally more constrictive and used for those special occasions when you want to look your best. They’re temporary and more like the corset of days of old. Trainers are more comfortable and can be worn every day without a great deal of discomfort. It can be made tighter as your body adjusts to it.
There a few small benefits from a waist trainer.
You’ll have more of an hour glass figure when you wear it, but that effect is temporary and quickly disappears when you aren’t. It’s tight and warms the area, so you’re bound to sweat around the waist. You won’t lose fat, just water and when you take it off, you go back to your original dimensions. Just like wearing skin tight jeans, since it’s tighter around your waist, you might eat less. After giving birth, there’s some evidence that waist trainers can help women return to their original waistline.
Waist trainers don’t come without some problems, either.
Waist trainers can actually help your posture, unless you use it too often and depend on it, then it doesn’t allow the core strength to build, weakening them and leading to worse posture. If it’s too tight, it can reduce your lung capacity. The reduction can be as little as 30% to as much as 60%. Over time, it can lead to fluid build-up and even cause a problem with your lymphatic system. It can lead to acid reflux with the pressure forcing acid to back up and make existing acid reflux or GERD problems worse.
- A waist trainer can squeeze your organs together unnaturally and even change the position of the organs and how they function. It can cause rib fractures, organ damage and lowered muscle strength.
- If you use a waist trainer, make it a temporary use and do it in conjunction with a healthy diet and regular exercise. Don’t wear it when you exercise. You’ll get a better workout without it, since it restricts how you move.
- Another reason not to wear a waist trainer during a workout is that it makes breathing more difficult. If you can’t breathe as well, you won’t be able to go the extra mile to maximize your workout benefit.
- The only waist trainer we recognize at Next Level Fitness that really works are personal trainers that offer programs to help you narrow your waist, lose weight, build muscle and get healthier.
For more information, contact us today at Next Level Fitness