Can I reduce my waist size by wearing a corset?
Yes, it does, if done correctly. It requires a sturdily built steel-boned corset that has enough of a curve in the waist to cinch it in, and enough room in the rib and hip area to allow for reduction when the corseter's waist becomes smaller. It requires the corseter to wear their corset often, for long periods of time, at a high enough reduction in the waist. If done correctly, in the long term there will be a difference in the corseter's waist. Our bodies are pliable, and our organs allow for some shifting around (especially women, during pregnancy), so over time, it's possible to make a difference in one's uncorseted waist.Of course, your corseted waist will always be smaller than your uncorseted one, but it is definitely possible to make a difference in your uncorseted waist. However, it's not permanent in the sense that if you stop wearing your corset regularly, your waist will eventually go back to its original measurement.Waist training to a certain reduction takes a long time - at the very least, many months - and it depends on each person's body. The presence and absence of muscle and fat can make a difference, as well as the size and placement of one's bones and organs. It depends on varying factors, but waist training always takes up a significant amount of time - it's certainly not a "trim your waist quick" scheme. It's a commitment and a progression.It should also not be mistaken for a replacement for exercise and good diet. Having a small waist is not the same thing as being fit and healthy, and it's actually easier to obtain a small waist when you are exercising and eating right. Waist training is neither a "get slim quick" scheme, nor is it a "get fit quick" scheme. It's a way to reduce your natural waist beyond what you can normally accomplish without a corset.
How badly does wearing corsets affect one's health?
If it’s not ridiculously tight, basically none. I started wearing one because I like form-fitting bodiced dresses (think 1950s) and they were built with the expectation you had some sort of foundation garment to keep your torso stiff.Then, I got used to it. It’s like walking around being hugged, or always wearing a weighted blanket. I also have a very large bosom, so the corset is a nice change from an underwire bra, and gives my back a rest.I spent about 6 months doing interpretive history wearing an 18th century corset (called stays) and came to love it. You can’t move your torso, but you soon become used to it. I was doing farm work, and quickly appreciated that they were worn for a reason. These women were wearing back-braces, which make it much easier to carry & lift heavy things. It’s a little awkward at first, but after a day or two you forget you are wearing it.If you were to wear a modern corset with spiral steel bones, your back would be straighter, you’d need to breathe differently (as your belly doesn’t have much room) and you’d need to learn how to move differently. The biggest challenge has been learning how to gracefully buckle my seatbelt in a compact car as a driver.If you are interested in wearing one, don’t let fear-mongers scare you too much. Pregnancy does just as much, if not more, to disrupt internal organs as a corset. Compared to a human in my belly doing flips and kicking my liver, a corset that holds up my back has minimal impact.This is my favorite off-the-rack starter corset: Camellias Taffeta Double Steel Boned Waist Training Corset Heavy Duty Waist Shaper at Amazon Womenâs Clothing store: They are sturdy for regular wear, and you can decide if you like it enough to invest in something custom fitted.