Here's the thing:

You have a love affair with an hourglass figure.

Which only makes sense; I mean, have you scrolled through Kim K's Gram lately?

But, sadly, you're not a Kardashian (unless you are!)

And workouts may feel like a lot of work.

Sigh

You can't quite up your game by hiring a personal trainer long-term (how are you supposed to afford all those new dresses — yeah, those you thought you could never wear because they would make you look like a potato) once you've achieved your ideal body shape?)

Before you get discouraged, decide to give up already, and begin to drown your failure in a tub of Ben & Jerry's…

I have a suggestion for you. 

Hear me out before you decide to shut me out.

I can't tell you that you do not need to work out — no pain, no gain, yeah?

But what I can tell you is working out after breaking into a waist trainer is a surefire way to make a workout feel like a little less work-y.

Mentioned below are 3 tips on how to get the best out of your waist trainer belt.

1. PLAY BY THE RULES

Anybody can make cookies. 

But not everyone can deliver the taste our taste buds crave for.

You must get your ingredients just right to perfect your recipe.

In much the same way, you would want to buy a waist trainer that is not only a perfect fit for your body but also made up of just the right material.

Most people end up buying the wrong size, which is why it is no surprise that they find the results unflattering.

There are also those who buy a low-quality waist trainer so that it is stretched too thin; the cheap material can leave them feeling highly uncomfortable, and sometimes even with some symptoms of allergy.

You don't want to be one of them.

(Here, I would like to assume you just nodded your head in agreement, because if you didn't…)

So how does one decide on the right size...

(Check out our size guide here)

And the right material?

Look, while on your waist training journey, you could really use some air for breathing. So, do not buy a size that appears to be remotely tight. 

If you're torn between two sizes, opt for the one that is relatively bigger.

With regards to material, you're ideally looking for a trainer latex-made with 96% cotton. Waist trainers for women that fit the said description are easily available  for men and women here.

2. STRIKE THAT BALANCE

If waist training is a brand new experience for you, start small. 

You cannot just push yourself into doing something so hypertensive out of whim.

Prepare and familiarize your body with the new garment. You probably want to gradually increase the length you wear one. 

Do not exceed the two-to-four-hour limit for the first week; in case otherwise, you can feel sore — may end up weakening your abdominal muscles, or compromising your quality of breathing. (If you cannot breathe deeply, forget about losing some of that belly).

It is when waist training almost becomes an everyday ritual, that you can max it up to 8 hrs. Also, take your comfort level in consideration — overdoing something never helped no one.

3. LEARN BEFORE YOU LEAP

It is often believed that waist training will eventually lead to weight loss.

(But hey! Do not just believe everything they say)

 It is only partially true; the aim of waist training isn't weight loss, to begin with. It is, in fact, primarily used to reshape and slim that waistline.

A study meant to determine the effect of waist training on weight loss concluded — well — inconclusive results.

Having said that, weight loss may or may not occur owing to multiple factors.

It is also possible the reduced size of the waist is perceived as weight loss. The firmness of the trimmer pushes body fat towards your hips and upper thighs, leaving your body fat composition unchanged.

When you begin waist training, conscious and unconscious decisions are made by your body. Your appetite is likely to reduce. Even if it doesn't, people usually start waist training with a combination of an exercise regime and an improved eating plan. If you can manage to reach a calorie deficit, your weight will melt off.

Making the most out of waist training means faster results. But how attainable and realistic is it?

If you were to pick two people with the same waist to hip ratio, weight, and height — with all other variables held constant — your results will still differ.

You see, your body is very different from mine. Which means faster results are only subjective.

It also means that your story of how you lose X pounds will be independent of mine.

Besides, we all write our own stories anyway. 

Are they ever the same? No.

It is but these contrasts that lay out reasons to make each story uniquely complete.

So, have you already begun writing your waist training story?