It is a great time to get in shape. Not only do you have a lot of options when it comes to managing your weight, but there are many types of equipment that are available in the market which can help you reach your desired body shape. These days, you must be hearing the word "waist trainer" a lot.

The credit has to go to Kim Kardashian. When she posted a picture on her Instagram account of herself wearing a corset and showing her tiny waist, the whole world went crazy. Now, whether you are at your friend's birthday party, enjoying your break in your college or university or simply sitting at home surfing the internet, all you hear is waist trainer. 

Waist trainers have recently become the talk of the town and are gaining immense popularity. However, there are many confusions regarding them. By confusions, I mean people are not precisely aware of what it means and what it does. Sure, people have been using them a lot these days, but they are just blindly following the trend. 

If you are also one of those individuals, then you have come to the right place as this article will tell you everything you need to know about waist trainers, including the benefits of wearing them. Before we go further in detail, let's answer one of the most fundamental questions: What is a waist trainer? 

As the name suggests, waist trainer is a piece of tight garment that people wear to reduce the size of their waistline or give it a better and slimmer look. This constricting piece of garment can be anything- from a corset to shape wear. When people wear a waist trainer every day to work out along with a proper diet, that practice is called waist training. 

The whole point of wearing a waist trainer is the fact that wearing them makes people sweat more. It is quite effective when people work out. Usually, when people are exercising, it can be pretty hard for them to sweat. However, when someone is wearing a waist trainer, they are able to do so without much effort. 

According to Hour Glass Angel, the function of waist trainers is very simple: they prompt the thermal activity in your body to act and hence more sweat is produced. Not many people know this, but waist trainers are not new. In fact, back in the 16th century during the Victorian era, many women used to wear corsets. They called it tight-lacing. Pick out any Hollywood movie set in that era, and you will notice many women wearing them.

These days, however, people have been using it to get an hourglass shape. Corsets have not only been used for fashion, but many people have been using it in the medical fields as well. According to Emma Richards at OMG Waist Trainer, doctors suggest patients who are suffering from back pain to wear corsets.

How long do you have to wear a waist trainer to see results?

If you wear your waist trainer for 5-7 hours a day for 8 weeks straight you will be loving the results that consistency creates. Wearing your waist trainer while incorporating healthy eating and exercise will give you results even faster; every body is different so it depends on many factors but the average time it takes to see results is 8 weeks. After the first 8 weeks your results will become a snowball effect! 

Is waist training dangerous?

Normally waist training is not dangerous. However, if you are feeling extreme discomfort and severe pain in your ribs area, you probably have a waist trainer that is too small for you. Opt up for a bigger size to avoid negative effects of waist training. If used correctly, waist training is not dangerous. 

Is waist training permanent?

Waist training is semi-permanent and can leave lasting effects on your body if worn consistently. However, if you stop wearing your waist trainer all together you will lose your results over time. Once you are happy with your waist training results you can wear the corset for half the time as you were previously (about 3-4 hours a day)  to maintain your results.

Do waist trainers really help you lose weight?​

Wearing your waist trainer while working out can help you to burn more calories, keep your heart rate up and sweat more. This, in return, is what will help you lose fat. Wearing the waist trainer alone will not melt fat off your body but will move the fat to different, more accentuating areas. 

Does waist training make your hips bigger?

Waist training does not make your hips bigger, however it can give the effect because of a smaller waist. Wearing your waist trainer creates the desirable hourglass shape which may make your hips look somewhat wider in relation to the proportion of you waist. 

Does waist training flatten your stomach?

Waist training flattens your stomach when used with working out and a proper diet. Wearing the waist trainer alone without a change of diet or adding in exercise will make your waist area smaller but not necessarily burn fat off your stomach; it will make you have more of a hourglass shape. 

Can you sleep with your waist trainer on?

Sleeping with a waist trainer on is too uncomfortable for some, but others have no problem doing this. Try out sleeping with a waist trainer and see the lasting effects or come to terms with the fact that it just might not be for you. However, if this works for you it is an easy way to incorporate 5-7 hours of waist training into your life!

Does waist training really work?

If done consistently, waist training can transform your body shape and give you the desirable curves most of us want. To keep you motivated, track your progress by measuring your waist over time and see the results through progress pictures. This will be sure to have you waist train consistently because once you start seeing results you won't ever want to stop! 

Benefits of Wearing Waist Trainers 

Now that we are done with what waist trainers are and what has been their purpose, let's discuss the numerous benefits of wearing them: 

A Slimmer Waist

One of the most common benefits of wearing waist trainers is the one which you would expect the most from it- a slimmer waistline. It can be pretty hard to believe, but the results are very positive. You can check it yourself. Put a waist trainer around your waist and voila! You will have a tinier and reduced waist size. In fact, according to Dr. Galyna Selezneva, a doctor at Dr. Rita Rakus, wearing a waist trainer can be a motivation for people to diet as well. 

Reduction of Headaches

People might find this hard to believe, but wearing a waist trainer can reduce headaches. It is a known fact that wearing it will result in you having a better posture (more on that, later). Once you have a better posture, the nerve of your spinal cord will be protected from extreme pressure and compression. As a result, when there is no problem between your spinal cord and your brain, you will suffer from fewer headaches. 

Sing in High Pitch

Shocking, isn't it? Well, you should get used to it considering the amazing benefits wearing a waist trainer has. Opera singers are known for wearing corsets during their performance. Since they are singers, who need to reach a higher pitch than an ordinary singer during their performance, adding pressure on the diaphragm helps them achieve that. This is not only beneficial for singers but for public speakers as well. 

Reduction of Weight

This benefit of wearing a waist trainer would interest the majority. Most people wonder whether wearing a waist trainer will result in weight loss or not. And the answer is: yes. But there's a catch. It works indirectly. Think about it. People keep on eating until their stomach is full. When your stomach contracts due to a waist trainer, you will not be able to eat a lot as it will feel like you have eaten enough. 

The Hourglass Figure

The hourglass figure is considered to be the most well-balanced and beautiful figure a woman can have. Though this is just a benchmark, remember that every body type is beautiful. No one needs to have a certain body to be called beautiful. We are all beautiful in our own way. With that being said, if you want to have an hourglass figure, then waist training will be perfect for you, according to The Kewl Shop.

Back Pain Relief

Another benefit of wearing a waist trainer that is very common is for back pain relief. This is something that I have seen with my own eyes. One of my friends was recommended to wear a real tight belt as a treatment for back pain. The most typical type of back pain is the one that happens in the lower area of the back. According to Corset, Waist trainers provide support to that side of the back.

Avoid Back Injuries

There are many misconceptions surrounding waist trainers. One of them is that wearing a waist trainer will make you uncomfortable. Nothing could be further from the truth. You will feel a bit odd at first, yes, but once you start wearing it regularly, you will get used to it. Not just that, in an unlikely case of an injury, your back will be protected from getting hurt. 

Eat Better

Interesting, isn’t it? At one point, you read how wearing a waist trainer will help you in eating less food and on the other, you are reading about how it will help you eat better. That is the thing about waist trainers; they help you in ways you can never imagine. Wearing them for a specific period of time will help the food you eat reach places where you want to gain weight. 

Better Posture

Many people have bad posture. The heavy bags we carry, the way we sit when we are using the computer- it all has an impact on our posture. Wearing a waist trainer, however, will set your posture right for you. It doesn't matter how bad your posture is, according to Aviddo Waist Trainer, you will be able to see the positive results after using it for a few days. 

Straightened Back

This is for every individual- student or employee, who has to spend hours sitting in front of a computer. There comes a time when after using the computer for a few hours, a person will unconsciously lean. He will not notice it until he starts feeling pressure on his stomach and back. But when you are wearing a waist trainer, you will automatically sit with a straight back. 

Better Asthma 

People who are suffering from asthma can benefit a lot from waist trainers. When people wear corsets, it improves their posture. When the posture is improved, it allows the lungs and the windpipes to relax due to which a person can breathe freely. 

Reduce Menstrual Cramps

A reason why a lot of women prefer wearing a waist trainer is also that it helps relieve pain which is caused by menstrual cramps when they are going through their monthly periods. The waist trainer is responsible for compressing the organs and that, in turn, helps in reducing the cramps. Another misconception is that compression can cause damage to the organs. This is just a myth, and it does nothing of that sort. 

Post-Pregnancy Bodies

All celebrity mothers, after giving birth to children are back on the screen like nothing happened. This fascinates women who also want to have a fit body after giving birth. According to Kim Kardashian and Jessica Alba themselves, they have been using waist trainers to get their old bodies back. 

Reshaped Bones

If worn continuously, waist trainers can reshape your bones. You can ask Catherin Jung, the woman who has the smallest waist- which is just 15 inches. She holds the Guinness World Record for that. She has worn a corset all her life, and her photos prove that. These days, however, reshaped bones are considered to be a risk. 

Athlete Training

Celebrities aren't the only ones who are crazy about waist trainers. Athletes also use them in many of their sports. Swimming coaches encourage their swimmers to wear corsets, so they have a more composed form. Not just swimmers, bodybuilders and runners have also started wearing corsets after they found out the several benefits that waist trainers have to offer them. 

Now let’s discuss some positive psychological results: 

Improving Confidence

Many women who feel low just thinking that their body is not attractive. Women who are going through the adulthood phase, especially are in a competition to look better than the other. Stress, sometimes, leads to depression and overeating, which is opposite to what they want. Waist training comes to the rescue in such a situation. After doing waist training for days, you will be able to see the different and the new you in the mirror which will improve your confidence. 

Feel Warm and Comfortable

There is something about the comfortable arms of mothers that children find solace in. Wearing waist trainers will give you exactly that kind of comfortability and safety. Not just that, it will also protect you from the cold. It should be noted here that if you are still feeling anxious or depressed even after wearing a waist trainer, then you should definitely consult a doctor and not rely on the waist trainer alone. 

Healthy Lifestyle

A healthy lifestyle is a better lifestyle. It can be achieved with the help of a waist trainer. According to Work out Smile, one of the biggest challenges of having a better lifestyle is to keep yourself motivated. However, a waist trainer will aid you in overcoming it. For example, if you are presented with the option to eat junk food, you will say no to it when you remember that you are wearing the waist trainer for a reason.

Changed Perception

Apart from the health benefits, one psychological advantage of wearing a waist trainer is that it makes people feel and think that they are slimmer. As a result of this psychological perception, people who wear waist trainers feel even more motivated to lose weight and look thinner. Since people who are wearing corsets feel like less eating, this will help them to lose weight. 

Put on Your Favorite Jeans

According to My Med, wearing waist trainers can be a quick way to wear jeans that you haven't been able to fit into for a while. This makes sense when you think about it. When you wear a waist trainer and put on jeans, your waist will be reduced, which will make it easier for you to wear your favorite jeans. It is to give your tummy a rather flattering appearance. 

Before We Go

Now that you have read and understood what a waist trainer is, how it works and the numerous effects it has not only on the health of an individual but also on the mentality of a person, it would be much easier for you to understand what you are getting into the next time you think of wearing a waist trainer. If you are a visual learner like me, then you will find this video quite helpful as it is showing results of a woman who has actually used a waist trainer and got positive results. 

To summarize the article above: A waist trainer is a very tight garment- a corset or something else, that you wear around your waist. People have been using it since centuries for a number of reasons, including fashion, medical and other personal reasons. It has many benefits. The major ones are: 

Weight loss: Due to its bounding nature, it encourages people to eat less. And as a result, they lose weight. 

Better posture: Those who have a bad posture will find a waist trainer really useful considering it wraps around your waist and any time you are leaning, you will feel uncomfortable and straighten your back. 

Midsection contouring: Flaunting your body at the beach will not be a problem for people who were suffering from low self-esteem. 

Supports your back: One of the most common types of pains is the one that people feel in their lower back area. A waist trainer acts as a support to the back and is often recommended by doctors to patients who are having trouble with their back. 

Reduces waistline: Wearing a waist trainer will help you in reducing those extra inches around your waistline. 

No more headaches: Headaches are caused by the interaction between the spinal cord and the brain. When your spinal cord has problems, it sends signals to your brain which causes headaches. So when your spinal cord is in perfect shape, there will be no more headaches. 

Before I end, please note that if you are a beginner, you need to take one small step at a time. Don’t work on too many things at once. If you want to have a better posture, then work towards that. If you want to relieve yourself from back pain, then wear a waist trainer for that. 

In this world where everyone is obsessed with having a back like Amber Rose or Kylie Jenner, don’t end up hurting yourself. If you go for all things at once, you will not be able to achieve either one of the benefits. So remember, as Jemma Simmons from Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D said ‘The steps you take don’t need to be big. They just have to take you in the right direction.’