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What is a Waist Trainer?
A waist trainer is a garment that can be worn either under or over your clothes. It comes in many different styles and can take the form of a corset or shapewear. While some styles are made to look fashionable, others are made for the sole purpose of waist training — a practice that attempts to slim your waistline. In recent years, using waist trainers have become a trend among celebrities and models, especially while exercising. Some people try to maximize those benefits by wearing them casually and might even wonder can you sleep in a waist trainer?
This trend has since trickled down to large populations of people hoping to slim their figures and tone their muscles in the process. With only so many hours in a day, it’s natural for people want to take things a step further by sleeping in these restrictive garments. But what exactly are the real benefits of waist training and can you sleep in them? We’re here to explain it all.
Benefits of Using a Waist Trainer
Posture Correction
If you’re like many others around the world, you likely struggle with posture — especially if you work in a job that requires you to sit in an office chair for a good portion of your day. While those that have conditions such as scoliosis should refrain from using a waist trainer, it can help with posture for others. The restrictive nature of the garment forces you to stay in an upright position throughout the day.
You can even train your body’s posture after you take the waist trainer off. You should always start out wearing it in minimal increments, though; ideally one to two hours per day at the beginning, working your way up to eight to 10 hours per day. Even then, however, what’s best for your body can differ from others, so you’ll want to listen to your body’s needs. The ultimate goal here is to wean yourself off the use of a waist trainer.
Weight Management
A controversial use for waist trainers is for weight loss, but not in the way you might expect. While the only tried and true method for weight loss is healthy eating and exercise, some choose to use a waist trainer to help curb cravings. If you struggle with overeating, wearing a waist trainer while you eat may help you feel fuller due to the pressure placed on your abdomen. Over time, you can learn how to listen to your body’s needs better and know when you are full without the help of a waist trainer. And if you are looking to change your eating habits and diet, remember to always speak with your doctor about your options.
Waist Definition
The idea of increased waist definition is arguably the most popular reason why waist trainers have skyrocketed in popularity over the years. Long-term use of a waist trainer (in healthy increments) can help define your waist, such as the sought-after hourglass figure.
Some say they have lost inches from their waist due to dedicated use of this type of garment. However, everybody has a different body shape, and not every person will see the results that others do. It’s important to not have set expectations or arbitrary waist measurement goals related to the use of such a garment. There is still not enough data collected to confirm whether or not waist trainers change the size of a person’s waist in the long-term.
Can I Sleep in a Waist Trainer?
If you’re new to the world of waist training and are wondering how to make the most out of your time while wearing one, you may come to the question of “Can I sleep with a waist trainer on?” Ultimately, it is up to the individual to decide what is best for them. However, we do not recommend that you wear a waist trainer to bed for a multitude of reasons.
The Harmful Impacts of Wearing a Waist Trainer to Bed
While we have already discussed the benefits of wearing a waist trainer during the day, it’s important to also know your body’s limits. We always encourage our readers to speak with their doctor about using a product that may affect their health. And in this case, as you read on you will know exactly why we cannot recommend that anyone sleep with a waist trainer on.
Here are our top reasons:
Physical Health
It may seem fairly obvious, but it bears repeating: Your body’s organs need room. If you choose to sleep with a waist trainer on, you may be placing more stress on your lungs, stomach, bladder and other vital organs. The extra pressure of your body weight will push down on vital organs as you sleep. Long-term use and extreme tightness can even result in fractured ribs.
This may come as common sense, but it’s still worth stating: Your body’s organs need room! If you choose to sleep with a waist trainer on, you are placing even more stress on your lungs, stomach, bladder, and so much more. That extra pressure of your body weight will push down on vital organs as you sleep. Long-term use and extreme tightness can even result in fractured ribs.
Comfort
Your comfort is important for optimal sleep. When you don’t get enough sleep, your brain suffers the most, as well as all your other vital organs. Wearing a waist trainer to sleep may also cause you to wake up during important sleep cycles and make you more drowsy during the night. If your goal is fitness or weight loss, aim for uninterrupted sleep cycles whenever you can.
Body Image
Lastly, the highly overlooked aspect of body modification is the psychological impact of wearing a waist trainer nearly 24/7. While physical health is an important factor, we often forget that our daily habits have an impact on our mental health. The act of wearing an uncomfortable garment every night to the detriment of one’s body can be viewed as an extreme measure.
Is It Worth It? A Waist Trainer Alternative
It’s important to take care of your body, and there are so many ways to do it. However, taking risks and pushing yourself to your body’s physical limits is not always the right answer. If you feel drawn to waist trainers for their style rather than their assumed benefits, then a less-restrictive corset could be perfect for you. There are plenty of corset and shapewear styles that are both comfortable and fashionable. In this case, there is no need to sacrifice comfort for fashion. The best way to find a comfortable corset is to either order online and get fitted by a professional, or try on corsets in-person to find the most comfortable fit.
Finally, if you are pregnant, it is never recommended to use a waist trainer. As stated before, your organs need room to breathe, and restricting the abdomen is never a good idea for pregnant women. Instead, we recommend comfort for sleep, such as using a supportive pregnancy pillow. In fact, a good comfortable pillow is one of the most important factors in getting a good night of sleep and is much more beneficial than wearing a waist trainer to bed.
At the end of the day, it’s better to stick to the basics of health and wellness than follow the latest fad — and keep the waist trainer for the daytime.