Waist Trainer Diaries; Entry One

*Note, this video was taken two months into my waist training. 

I had not 'lost an inch' from my waistline until into my third month.

Okay so when I first got my waist trainer, my fiance had to help me hook it up- and that was no easy feat! I had to exhale all of the air out of my lungs, hold my breath- and he would attempt to secure a fastener. It did not always work on the first try and I'd have to exhale everything out again and hold my breath until he struck success!

Once completely 'hooked in', I mused at my figure. Honestly it looked very strange to see myself with such a small waistline. It was like I had entered a weird dream from cirque du soleil and I was a member of the 'freakshow'!  As I walked around in the trainer, I felt like 'Lucy' in a 'I Love Lucy' scenario;  remember the one where she was covered in a head-to-toe body cast? It was so alien to wear this contraption, my walk seemed odd and stiff. I could not bend forward at all (let alone touch my toes) I would stumble backwards and forwards like a little kid learning to walk.

This first time, I attempted to sit in bed to read with it on, my body was like, "Oh hell - no!" It was unruly and uncomfortable. I thought, "Am I really gonna go through with this?" I propped myself up with a bunch of pillows, but could not get comfy... No problem, I have a 'standing desk', I thought to myself. I will just do some work in the office standing up. Then about 30 minutes into my first 'wearing', my kidneys screamed at me just how they did when I wore the belt a year earlier; read my blogpost The Corset for more on that.

It was then I knew this was nothing to play around with. I honor my body and my health. To impose such sudden restriction on my organs is a big deal, and I do not want to walk a path of vanity with this experience. There was no way I was going to ignore my body signals. I then took off the waist trainer, and boy did it feel good to breathe again! I realized my breathing was so restricted while wearing it. It felt good to take a deep breath, and then another.

I decided to get into a rhythm, knowing my body felt harmonious to wear it up to 30 minutes at a time. Every other day I would ask my fiance to help me get hooked in again and each day my body told me when my time was up at half hour increments. Then after two weeks, I was able to find a little more comfort and wore it for 45 minutes, then an hour and then two hours became my norm by the end of my first month. I felt breathing was easier, though I still could not move very well in it.

Into my second month, I was better able to breathe and was able to fasten it all by myself. My body adapted and felt harmonious with it on for between 2-3 hours at a time. Though I still could not sit down with it on. Three hours became my new goal each time I wore it. I decided to wear it every day for two weeks, up to 3 hours each time. I was pretty successful and breathing became easier...Sighhhh!

Come by for my next Waist Trainer Diaries; Entry Two where I will talk about having your cake and eating it!!! Yes, we will discuss eating and cooking with the trainer on, and the journey of beginning to exercise while wearing it too. See you then...
Love,
Tuesday
www.tuesdaymaythomas.com

Waist Training- Why?

Why am I waist training?... I never once thought about having a smaller waistline, in fact I never thought about it, because I didn't really think it was possible. As I have learned to love and accept myself, a new conversation has birthed between me and my bones, muscles, organs and skin.

I always thought I would be stuck in a body I hated and that it would never really change. I have learned my body is a living, breathing, malleable organism that is ever shedding and growing anew. I understand now, more than ever- that my body's health, energy and physique are direct reflections of my thoughts, feelings and affirmations... not only about IT, but about everything I think and feel about life and the universe as a whole.

I strive to experience peace, joy and simplicity. I am done with the inner fight and ‘self sabotaging’ self-hate. As my life heals, my body heals. Old molds of who I thought I was drop away and my body hungers to explore new and exciting dimensions of self. As the divine feminine is allowed to dance and play through my body, I want to dance, decorate and celebrate my form. I call it lovin' on my body.

Let it be known the love always begins on the inside and change is not sought because what abides is unloved and must change. Change is born through complete acceptance and love in the now. That love draws me to explore- like a scientist, like an artist- the abilities of my body, and this is one way I am loving to experiment! Stay tuned.... 

Love~ Tuesday

www.tuesdaymaythomas.com

Waist Training- The Corset

In Spring of 2014, I learned a new dance. Upon finding my Staff of Power through the Divine Feminine I learned my very own Snake Dance. My body showed me how. And your's can show you too.

I danced to shed skins and bid farewell to those battered parts of Self that were ready to die and be reborn. 

                                                ...

The body, once 'set free' said to me; "Purchase a corset." So I did. It had been a year since I started my 'Beautiful Body Blog'... I had just turned forty-two, and my first book was about to be published.

With the birth of my first-born (book) coming, I felt anxious and ungrounded. So many parts of myself had come unraveled over the four years it took to write Confessions of a Spiritual Apprentice. I had spent so long writing and reviewing my life's story, that I wasn't sure who I was anymore. 'That was me then...who am I now?'

Thus .. the call of the corset! I shopped around, read reviews and decided to 'try' it out with a less expensive version for $50 I found on the internet. In the meantime, I accosted an old belt from my closet. It was thick and wide. I would belt that sucker on until my figure looked like an hourglass. Only thing is, I could not take wearing it for more than two hours at a time. It would feel fine., okay maybe strange., okay very difficult... and then out of nowhere, my kidneys would begin screaming at me, sending sharp pangs through my side body. I knew it was my body's way of saying 'take it off!'. So I did. 

Finally the corset came! After much anticipation, I was disappointed. I know,... you get what you pay for. I knew it was not the 'real thing' when ordering it too...but I did have high hopes it would be something I could at least work with! Upon putting it on, the clasps did not stay in place and the boning was way too soft to have any affect on my shape. After several attempts to work it, I had to realize 'it' was not working at all. 

                                                                                                                      ...

A year later, I am experimenting with Waist Training. Keep an eye out for more Beautiful Body posts on my journey. xo Tuesday    
www.tuesdaymaythomas.com