Girdles come in all shapes and sizes, from panty girdles to girdles for men. In the middle, you find girdles that shape your buttocks and thighs along with your middle, ones that only go around your waist and full body-suit girdles. In a society where looks seem to matter most, girdles help people feel confident when their bodies don't match the "ideal" images of beauty.
Function
A waist girdle hides bulging fat to make your midsection appear thinner, firmer and smoother. But if you think the girdle will actually improve your core muscles, think again. Instead of flattening or tightening muscles, it will only temporarily hold in and move around fat so it appears flatter and more even.
Health Concerns
You can temporarily hide your fat with a girdle, but you won't be able to ignore the state of your health forever. Too much fat around your middle has more serious consequences than an unattractive appearance. It can lead to health problems like diabetes, stroke, heart disease and even ones you wouldn't think of, like dementia and cancer. Women with waist circumferences over 35 inches and men with ones over 40 inches are more likely to die earlier than people with smaller waist circumferences.
Solution
If you want a smaller waist, tighter abdominal muscles and to live a healthier life, follow the tried-and-true method of a combination of diet and exercise. Both factors will help you lose fat and weight, which will make your middle smaller along with the rest of your body. Exercise has the added bonus of firming muscles to give you a tighter waistline.
Core Exercises
In addition to working out your whole body to reduce your total body fat, perform exercises to target your core and gain muscle in that area. Len Kravitz of the University of New Mexico recommends choosing five to 10 abdominal exercises that you perform for eight repetitions each for three to five days a week. The key is to change the exercises every couple of weeks so your body does not become used to them. Since the midsection includes numerous muscles, work all the muscles by incorporating exercises that tighten and hold your ab muscles, bring your torso up and down and rotate your torso from side to side.
References
- Morris Designs: Fine Compression Wear
- MayoClinic.com; Can Wearing a Girdle Help Tighten Stomach Muscles?; Edward R. Laskowski; Oct. 14, 2010
- North Dakota State University Extension Service; Prairie Fare: Belly-Busting Girdles May Benefit Appearance, Not Health; Julie Garden-Robinson
- University of New Mexico; SuperAbs Resource Manual; Len Kravitz
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