Bye Bye, Waist Trainers! Hello, Compression Leggings?
Ahh... the Instagram aesthetic—Kim K in the face (via contouring) and Fashion Nova model in the waist. The pursuit of the “perfect look” has women across America and even the world going through extreme measures to have a picture-perfect body, from getting Brazilian Butt Lifts (BBLs) to prolonged use of waist trainers.
While BBLs are a huge financial investment, getting a waist trainer on Amazon.com costs as little as $10. To some, the use of waist trainers might seem harmless; however, some medical professionals are concerned about the lasting effects they can have on the body.
Now, as a move wear company, we do sell pieces like our patent-pending built-in compression leggings to help give your body an hourglass look. So, speaking about the waist training community isn't us throwing shade. However, we want women to know that they have options to achieve the look they want; it is not always about losing weight.
Today, let’s explore if you should ditch your waist trainer for built-in compression leggings or take alternative measures to achieve that waist slimming effect you desire.
What are waist trainers?
A waist trainer is a modern-day corset that’s elastic and uses Velcro, zippers, or hooks to help cinch in the waist. Essentially, the goal is a waist slimming look that accentuates the hips and butt—almost like a Barbie look. While waist trainers may be used in fitness to help promote sweating in the abdominal region, some people wear them with the false hope that their waists will eventually be trained to look slim without changing their diet and working out.
What are experts saying about waist trainers?
In the medical community, there’s a huge consensus that waist trainers don't work.
According to the featured article on WebMD, What You Need to Know about Waist Trainers, waist trainers are a temporary fix that’s good for reducing water weight in your midsection.
Some of the reasons for the disdain for “waist crushing” garments is their long-term effects. Your internal organs such as your kidney and liver become misaligned when they’re being crushed by the intense pressure of a waist trainer. Also, you can jeopardize your lung capacity when your diaphragm, the primary muscle responsible for respiration, is compromised.
Alternative to wearing wear waist trainers
1) Wear compression leggings that have a slimming effect.
What are compression leggings?
Compression leggings are our proprietary invention (patent pending), where Tribe 35 uses compression technology built-in into our Corset Legging. Regular leggings are used for everyday activities. However, the Corset Legging is used to accentuate your curves by causing butt lifting and cinching of your waist at the same time. Designed with moisture wicking fabric, they were developed for fitness workouts, everyday use, and comfort. We don’t play into the adage that beauty is pain. We’re not saying it’s painless all the time, but it shouldn’t send you to the ER.
One great benefit of wearing women's compression leggings is that they can help prevent blood clots from traveling to the heart or lungs during prolonged sitting, like at your work desk or on a plane. (If you suffer from blood clots, please consult your doctor to confirm the use of compression leggings).
Women who are pre or postpartum can use compression leggings, especially those that are high waisted to support their body throughout its transition.
While we champion our built-in compression leggings for giving the hourglass without the "side effects," we're a brand that encourages at least 35 minutes of movement to help facilitate the type of results you want.
2) Improve your diet
Belly fat and love handles are common problem areas for women. Here are dietary habits that can help reduce belly fat:
- Limit alcohol consumption
- Cut back on carbs
- Cut back on sugary drinks and soda
- Drink plenty of water
- Boost your metabolism
- Increase your protein intake
- Add apple cider to help with inflammation
3) Choose fitness exercises that target belly fat and love handles
There are many workouts that can help reduce belly fat and love handles, starting with running and power walking. Prevention.com lists the 15 Best Exercises to Lose Belly Fat, According to Personal Trainers, giving you a more comprehensive look of which exercises align with your fitness level.
4) Improve your stress levels
Easier said than done, we know. We're not dealing with a boss who micromanages the littlest things or running errands the entire weekend. What if we told you that stressing out adds to your belly fat? Well, when you're feeling stressed out, the body has a visceral reaction, which causes the adrenal gland to produce a hormone called cortisol. Cortisol increases fat retention and increases appetite.
One thing about the fitness world or the body transformation community, there are subcultures. You have your gym rats, weekend warriors, runners, bikers, juicers, clean eaters, etc. Overall, there’s no quick fix or magic bullet that will help you achieve your desired body or fitness goal. Whatever you do, choose the fitness or eating lifestyle that has the least amount of complications.
