Does Shapewear work and how?
In short – YES, it works!
Over the last 10 years there has been a lot of misinformation and false advertising in various media. It is important to know all the facts (good and bad).
Results depend on what your goals are and how determined you are. If you use appropriate shapewear for a specific goal and use it properly – you will see the desired results.
For example, if you are looking for a simple solution to ‘’polish’’ your figure in order to look your very best in your desired outfit but not willing to commit to daily use or add any additional changes to your lifestyle, shapewears material composition and compression rate will smooth out the edges, and all that seamlessly without showing under your outfit. The shapewear garment simply pushes fats or compresses them in desired areas of the body. In this method, results are temporary (only while wearing your shapewear).
This is common among celebrities and ‘’A’’ listers while attending various events and exhibitions. A quick google search can demonstrate that, from Hollywood to Bollywood.
If you are looking for long-term results and are dedicated to achieving those results, again shapewear can help. Various waist trainers and other shapewear models have been designed to assist in achieving those result. To be clear, waist trainers are not ‘’magic over-night solutions’’. Quick google search on this topic will show you just how many people have a negative outlook on waist trainers in general. I believe this is due to the fact that in vast number of those arguments the idea of waist trainer is confused with corsets and waist trainer in general being used incorrectly (to tight, wrong model for the use etc). Another example of this analogy would be – consuming vitamins is healthy and important for your body, but taking to much of them will pose serious risk to your health! If you genuinely want to achieve long-lasting results, various changes are required… but all very worth doing, if I may say. A healthier, more balanced approach to your food selection and amounts consumed followed by physical exercise (in any form that suits you) will be the predominant factors. Shapewear is there to further help in achieving those dreamed results. By providing a pre-determined silhouette and a ‘’thermal barrier’’. For example, a latex or neoprene waist trainer (sweat suit) captures the heat produced by your body during physical activity and by doing so it increases the body temperature overall and promotes more effective fat oxidation (According to a 2010 study in the journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism). Additionally, by constraining the body in a pre-determined shape for overall extended period of time coupled with ”heat targeting” that specific area, the body effectively starts shaping into that form as more fat is burnt in the targeted area.
THINGS TO REMEMBER
It is important to note that careful consideration is necessary when selecting your shapewear. It should not constrict your breathing to enable most efficient workout, while it should be tight enough to provide best results.
While wearing your shapewear or waist trainer in particular, special care should be given to your abdominal and core muscles as they are less active due to shapewear support. So it is important to dedicate some exercise time to those muscle groups after wearing your shapewear.
How much time is required – that depends on your determination and willingness, as well as body type. Short term result will become visible quickly (within first weeks), but long-lasting results will not happen over-night. We must point out that there are physical limitations to our bodies that no one can go safely beyond. Respect your self and your body.
And always, make sure you sufficiently hydrate during and after body-shaping exercise sessions, to avoid dehydration or any other potential issues.