We’ve all seen them on Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter. Modernized corsets designed to create or emphasize the much sought after hourglass figure. While shape-wear has always been a staple in women’s fashion, the “waist cincher” or “waist trainer” was made popular in the past couple of years. With celebrities like Amber Rose, Jessica Alba, and the entire Kardashian clan, waist trainers have become a staple in Instagram Vixen Couture™.
How do they work?
Essentially, you wrap the trainer around your torso. There are three rows of hooks on one of the ends and a single row of hooks on the other. The wearer is supposed to connect the single row of hooks to one of the three rows. Each one of the three rows represents an inch. You’re supposed to start from the first row of hooks and through time and “training,” work your way to the third row.
There are two main types of cinchers: a latex and one for exercising. Yes, you can exercise in a waist cincher. The first is the hardest to put on, as the latex is a more rigid material. This one is meant to be worn for just 4-6 hours a day underneath clothing; however if you’re a first-time wearer, start with 1-2 hours and work your way up. This cincher is optimal for dramatic results and is best work underneath a garment for an event. It is very tight due to the construction of the fabric (think Elizabeth Swan fainting in Pirates of the Caribbean).
The second waist cincher is made for exercising. This trainer is made from a more pliable, flexible fabric and is worn over clothing (like a tank top or T-shirt). The idea is that while exercising, the waist trainer will cause you to sweat more around your torso and therefore burn belly fat (more on that nonsense later).
These cinchers can cost anywhere from $50-300; the latex ones are the most expensive.
Putting it on: my journey as an Instagram Vixen
So through a friend of a friend of mine, I purchased an exercise waist trainer. It came in a cute purple/black leopard print. I struggled with the first row of hooks, and after shouting ‘fuck’ for the umpteenth time, I’d finished. Now came the hardest part.
Breathing.
Keep in mind, this was the more flexible waist trainer and I was already extremely uncomfortable. My only two consolations were that my posture was perfectly upright and my breasts were now pushed up. I mean, they were perched and sitting up at attention. After taking a few selfies that I will never share with the general public, I got dressed. Admittedly, my stomach was flatter and my waist was, well, cinched. I did notice that the hooks and the boning of the waist trainer were visible through my grey dress, so I opted for my black one instead.
I spent the 30 minute bus ride doing yoga breaths and praying that my red face wouldn’t affect the color of my contour (I didn’t beat this mug just to have my work go unnoticed). I felt like my lungs and my gastro-intestinal tract had been put into an air-tight Ziploc bag and then shoved up into my chest. But I looked, as the kids say, “snatched.”
After a few more minutes, I got used to it and was able to go about my day. Surprisingly, eating wasn’t very difficult as long as I didn’t consume anything too heavy. I even tried to do my usual 4K run in it, but after 3 minutes, I had to run to the bathroom to take it off before I killed any more brain cells.
Final thoughts: Do waist cinchers work?
Yes and no.
If you’re looking for something to wear for an event and you want a svelte figure quickly (as long as you’re okay with being unable to participate in mundane activities like breathing or eating), they’re a go. Just make sure that you practice for a few hours; perhaps wear it around the house.
While I did notice that my waist had gone down about an inch, the results were short-lived. I wore the trainer for a month and had gone down to the final row of hooks. After two weeks of discontinued wear (my diet remained clean and I still exercised), I went back to “normal.” However, I did notice a sort of placebo effect it had on how I perceived my body image. When I wore it, I walked taller and admired how I looked in the mirror. Without it, I felt bloated and self-conscious.
As for wearing it during exercise, PLEASE DON’T DO THIS! It is very dangerous to wear anything that makes breathing difficult during exercise. Spot reduction (the belief that you can target and get rid of fat in only a specific area) is a myth and as appealing as these wraps and cinchers are, the results they yield are temporary. Any weight or noticeable difference can be attributed to the loss of water weight. That weight will be gained back after re-hydration. If you still wish to wear a waist cincher, you have every right to do so, but please know that you are just as beautiful with or without one.
Featured image via cottonbro on Pexels
This was such an interesting read! I love that you shared both the positives and the challenges of wearing a waist trainer. It definitely gives me a better perspective on whether or not to try it myself. Thanks for being honest about your experience!
I loved reading about your experience with the waist trainer! It’s so interesting to see the effects it had on your body and mindset. I’ve been curious about trying one myself, but your insights really helped me weigh the pros and cons. Thanks for sharing your journey!
I loved reading your experience with the waist trainer! It’s fascinating how it impacted your daily routine and body image. I’ve been curious about trying one myself, but your insights are definitely helping weigh the pros and cons. Thanks for sharing such a detailed account!
Wow, this was such an eye-opening post! I’ve always been curious about waist trainers but was hesitant to try one. Your experience really gives me something to think about. I appreciate your honesty about both the positives and negatives! Would love to hear how you felt after the month was over—do you think it had a lasting impact?
This was such an interesting read! I’ve always been curious about waist trainers but hesitant to try one. Your experience really helps me understand what to expect. Thanks for sharing the pros and cons!
Wow, your experience with the waist trainer is so interesting! I’ve been curious about trying one but wasn’t sure how it would affect my body. It’s great to hear your honest take on the comfort levels and any changes you noticed. Thanks for sharing!
I found your experience with the waist trainer super interesting! It’s fascinating to see the daily struggles and benefits that came with it. Did you notice any specific changes to your posture or energy levels? I’d love to hear more about how it affected your daily life!
Wow, this was such an insightful read! I’ve been curious about waist trainers but wasn’t sure about the effects. It’s really interesting to hear about your experience—both the pros and cons. I appreciate your honesty and thoroughness in sharing your journey!
This is such an intriguing read! I’ve always been curious about waist trainers but was unsure if they really worked. Your experience gives great insight into the pros and cons. I appreciate your honesty about the challenges too! Would love to hear more about any tips you might have for those considering it. Thanks for sharing!
Wow, this was such an interesting read! I’m curious about your experience with the waist trainer. Did you find it comfortable to wear throughout the day? I’ve heard mixed reviews about them, and your insights really help! Thanks for sharing your journey!
This was such an interesting read! I’ve always been curious about waist trainers but was unsure about their effects. Your personal experience gives me a lot to think about, especially how it impacted your body and confidence. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing your experience! It’s really interesting to see the effects of wearing a waist trainer for a month. I’ve been curious about trying one myself but wasn’t sure if it was worth it. Your insights on comfort and results are super helpful!
This is such an interesting read! I’ve always been curious about waist trainers but wasn’t sure about the results. Your honest experience really helps, and I appreciate you sharing the ups and downs. Definitely considering giving it a try now!
I loved reading your experience with the waist trainer! It’s fascinating to see the effects it had on your body and confidence over the month. Your tips for wearing it comfortably are super helpful too. I’m definitely considering giving it a try myself!
Wow, this post was so insightful! I’ve always been curious about waist trainers but wasn’t sure if they actually worked. Your experience really helped me see the pros and cons. I appreciate the honesty about how it felt and the results you saw. Definitely considering giving it a try now!
This is such an interesting read! I love how you shared your personal experience with the waist trainer. It’s really helpful to know both the pros and cons. I’m curious if you think the results were worth the effort?
I loved reading about your experience with the waist trainer! It’s so interesting to see the ups and downs you faced throughout the month. Your honesty about the challenges and benefits really resonated with me. I’ve been considering trying one myself, and your insights have definitely helped me weigh the pros and cons. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing your experience! I’ve been curious about waist trainers but wasn’t sure if they really worked or if they were worth it. Your insights are really helpful! I’m especially interested in how it affected your daily activities. Did you find it comfortable enough to wear for long periods?
Wow, what an interesting journey! I’m curious about how you felt after wearing it daily. Did you notice any long-term changes? Thanks for sharing your experience!
Wow, this was such an insightful read! I’ve been curious about waist trainers for a while but was unsure about the actual impact. Your experience gives me a lot to think about, especially with the pros and cons you shared. Thanks for being so honest about the process!
Thanks for sharing your experience! I’ve been curious about waist trainers but wasn’t sure if they actually work. It’s helpful to hear about the ups and downs. Your honesty about the challenges motivates me to approach it with realistic expectations.
Wow, this was such an insightful read! I’ve been curious about waist trainers for a while but was unsure about the actual impact.
This is such an interesting read! I love how you shared your personal experience with the waist trainer. It’s really helpful to see both the pros and cons laid out so clearly. I’ve been curious about trying one myself but wasn’t sure what to expect. Thanks for the insight!
Wow, this is such an interesting experience! I’ve always been curious about waist trainers, but I’ve heard mixed reviews. Your honesty about the struggles and results is refreshing. Did you notice any long-term changes after stopping the waist trainer? I’d love to hear more about your journey!