Waist trainers have been around since the 1800s. They have been worn by women for centuries, to accentuate their body shapes into a more desired hourglass figure that demands a small waist and curvy hips.
The practice fell out of fashion in the 1920s but peaked again in the 2000s with the steampunk movement. The recent trend has been brought along by celebrities like the Kardashians and Jessica Alba, who have posted photos and endorsed them on social media.
However, just like anything that most people don’t understand, waist trainers have been surrounded by myths and speculations. In this article, we are going to look at some of these myths and debunk them.
- They are dangerous
That is one of the most common myths you’ll hear out there. You will find a lot of critics saying how it is dangerous to wear a waist trainer.
Here is the truth. Anything, if worn the wrong way or in the wrong size, produces a less desirable effect. While a waist trainer can be a bit uncomfortable when you start wearing it, the discomfort will go away with time as you get used to it. Just like new shoes, the trainer needs to be broken in.
Make sure you order the right size and wear it snug, not too tight or too loose. If you feel pain wearing it, take it off. Don’t push too hard with your training regime, work gradually with the rhythm of your body, and wear the right size.
- They are bad for your back
That is so far from the truth. Waist trainers are great for your back. Wearing a trainer helps to straighten and realign your back while improving your posture.
Since they often have metal bones within them, they discourage you from bending your back while at the same time, relieve pressure from your spine.
Of course, wearing a trainer that is too tight or for too long does more damage than good. So you should make sure that you don’t overdo it.
- Waist training alone can help with weight loss
As much as we would like this one to be true, it is not. Sorry!
The work of a waist trainer is to shape your body. You will experience excessive sweating in the waist area and a loss of appetite while wearing it, but to have a great and fast result you will need to exercise and check your diet if you want to lose weight and shape your body.
On the bright side, wearing a workout trainer while exercising will boost your results.
- They are not good for postpartum
That is not true. A study by the International Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics found that women who wore a waist trainer after a C-Section delivery experienced less pain and bleeding than those who did not wear one.
When worn well and in the right size, postpartum waist trainers can help to support abdominal muscles that have stretched or thinned following pregnancy. Experts recommend that women who have had a natural birth to wear it for one to two weeks after birth, while those who have had a C-section can wear it for four to six weeks.
Conclusion
Looking at how far waist trainers have come, it is safe to say that they are here to stay. There may be a few changes here and there, but their use will remain the same. However, just like everything else, waist training requires a lot of discipline and dedication to work as it is supposed to. When worn well and in the right size, waist trainers offer a lot of benefits to women.