If you're anything like me, you've tried your hand at a variety of fad diets: detox tea, HCG weight loss drops AND my least favorite, the juice cleanse -- in hopes of creating that airbrushed physique. After all, it's all about snatching that waist!
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So, when the opportunity knocked on my door to try waist training - you know, that little trend attributed to Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, and Yoncé's curves - I had to jump at it. Sure, I had a laundry list of questions: How does it work? Will it rearrange my insides?
I'm not usually a masochist and have a difficult time committing to anything that’s remotely considered a diet, but after about 30 minutes of myth busting, courtesy of Slim Girl Shapewear’s founder, Juliana Richards, I decided to give it a whirl. And so, after some back and forth about my measurements (bad time to eat Chick-fil-A) I settled on a latex everyday cincher.
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Here's what happened:
Week 1:
My package arrived and it was love at first sight. That is, until I had to get that sucker on! For 20 minutes, I finagled with placement and hooks. I’d hook two closures at the top and two at the bottom would come undone. It was a nightmare. Not to mention the apparatus gave me what my toddler called "back boobies." Not cute!
Needless to say, after about another 10 minutes, I enlisted the help of my 9-year-old daughter (who I'm sure I scarred for life) and BAM, we nailed it! Sure, I had to position myself on my bed - limbs raised, waving in the air like a bug on its back, but it got the job done!
Now, it was time to get to work. According to Richards, I was to wear the cincher for 4-8 hours a day. Only, it wasn’t a cake walk. In fact, just one hour after squeezing into my corset, I ripped it off in search of a Snickers ice cream bar. Judge me! Then came days 2 and 3 -- now on an empty stomach, I felt a little more optimistic about breaking in my new gear.
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Forget lying on the couch while binging on Netflix or scarfing down that Chipotle burrito during lunch though. Week 1 was all about adjusting, which included finding the right bra, bottoms and watching meal portions.
Week 2:
By the beginning of week 2, sliding into my corset was easy, breezy. I knew just how much to eat, when to eat it and what exercises worked while training.
Although I hadn’t reached my 8 hour/day goal just yet, I was halfway there. I could feel my abdominal muscles pulsing underneath my garment and upon removal, I saw the results of my labor: sweat, sweat and more sweat. So caution ladies, you’ll drip, drop, drip, drippity, drop - the activity, that is: running errands, sitting in class, hitting the gym. So, make sure your outfit choices breathe.
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Week 3:
After adjusting my diet: eating smaller portions, lean meats, fruit, veggies and taking a 30-45 minute walk each day, I was able to reach my goal -- 8 hours/day. In addition, I was able to tighten the cincher! While I was filled with glee over reaching my goal, it was like beginning all over again. Only this time, as I tightened the cincher, I felt the boning pressing against my ribcage, as if tiny little men in heels were tap dancing on my chest.
This is why ensuring your measurements are correct before placing your order is crucial ladies! I definitely feel I could’ve ordered a size up and avoided this annoyance altogether. As luck would have it, I was able to curb the pinching by wearing a small tank top underneath the trainer. At times this created a sticky feeling underneath my clothes, but it made my overall experience much more pleasant.
Week 4:
Pimp walking into Week 4, I felt satisfied with my experience. I sweated through just about everything I own, but I was rid of my "back boobies." I also dropped 10 lbs. and lost 3 inches around my waist.
Overall, I don't think waist training is for the faint of heart. Nevertheless, it’s my opinion, that when combined with eating clean and training dirty, it works! My advice? Know your size and commit – in the end, you’ll see results.
