Day 13

All has gone awry.
Wearing the corset for 6 hours a day is just about do-able. However, 8 hours a day seems to be a problem.
I was in so much pain yesterday after 6 hours, that I admit..I gave up and took it off.
I'm giving it a break today. I will try 8 hours tomorrow, and if I succeed, I will continue for another week until I'm comfortable wearing it for 8 hours before reducing to 28.5 inches.
I think this is the best answer, as you shouldn't reduce until you are comfortable wearing it at the last measurement for the full time stated.

But then, what do I know? I'm making this shit up as I go along!

Please feel free to leave a comment. Are you a waist trainer yourself? Do you have any advice? 
It would be lovely to hear from any others out there.

  Look at this picture! She's looks so happy!

If only........

Day 6

Well, this week has been interesting to say the least. 

Wearing a corset everyday take some time to adjust to, I can tell you. 

If you wear it under clothes it's kinda ok, but you need to think about what you wear, as you don't want any lumps and bumps in the wrong place. 

Jeans are a no-go, but I don't really wear them much anyway. The problem with jeans is that the fabric is so thick.....the corset doesn't give a true inch measurement and it can get uncomfortable quite quickly, what with the thick seams and waists and all that.

I tend to wear skirts and tops, or it can look really nice over a dress.

One problem I discovered......when I dress in the morning, I put tights on. Fine you say.....well, yes...perfect. Until you try to go to the bathroom, and the waist of the tights is tucked right up under the tight corset and you sort have to dig the waistband out, just to be able to 'go'. So.....lesson one....if you wear tights, or anything that needs pulled down.......give yourself extra time! Don't be waiting until you're about to burst! Much swearing and cursing went on those first few days until I learned my lesson.

Another thing I have learned today.

Every day I have removed my corset by unlacing the back (even though it is a zip front). this is good practice as your corset will undergo less stress and it is easier to get on the next day.

Last night, I was so happy to get out of it after 4 hours, that I just unzipped without loosening. Which was fine until I put it straight on today without unlacing it.

The shape was wrong, I didn't adjust to the shape, it was digging into my ribs and all the wrong places. In short, it bloody hurt to wear.

I undid it, loosened it, and adjusted it, then re-tightened. Amazing! Really comfortable again.

So I will never again be putting it on with the day before's settings in place. 

Tomorrow is my day off....then on Thursday, Friday and Saturday I have to wear it for 6 hours a day. 

if this week is anything to go by, I'll adjust quite easily.

I had backpain for about an hour on the first day, but after that, it's like my posture is going 'Oh! OK...this is what we're doing now, OK!'

Bodies are amazing aren't they?

Illness and all that jazz

Well, it was all going well until 3 days ago. I came down with a cold, which quickly developed into the worst cold EVER in the space of 24 hours. I may be exaggerating a bit, but I haven't been ill for such a long time and I don't really get ill, that it just seems to have hit me really badly (also at the wrong time of the month, cos that's really, really what I needed at the same time, thanks).
Anyway, I haven't put the corset on since Thursday (it's now Sunday).
Thinking I may take a break for a few extra days until I'm properly back on my feet again, and as Wednesdays are my day off, I will be starting the proper schedule on Thursday. I don't have any idea whether I'll be needing to wear it in again for a few days, but I'm thinking of just launching myself right in there with tightening. If it's too uncomfortable, then I'll adjust it accordingly.
It's all a grand process of discovery!

Breaking in.....the story so far

Well, I'm now on day 4 of the breaking in.
It has gone so far thusly......
Day 1 (Saturday 30th March)- Managed to wear the corset for 4 hours. By the time I took it off, my back was really hurting and I really really was glad to take it off! I expected my back to hurt, as I know part of the initial process is the realignment of my posture (and, believe me, my posture was bad before as I am 5'9". I have always slumped).
Day 2 (Sunday 31st)- Corset worn for 6 hours. A little better today, but I really knew when my body had had enough.
Day 3 (Monday 1st April)- Put the corset on when I got dressed at 8.30am. Took it off at 8.30pm. Hardly noticed I was wearing it all day until about 7.30pm, so this is all good! It seems to be working! I've had to adjust it back down to 30" as it seems to be changing shape/ stretching to adjust to my body.
Day 4 (today)- Again, corset went on at 8.30am. Today is the first day I have worn it under my clothes as opposed to over. I have been sitting and driving all day. I notice it more when I'm sitting and driving. I had to change the angle of the rear view mirror in the car, as I don't slouch when I'm wearing the corset. 

Tomorrow will be my day off...as I have weigh in at Slimming World, and the damn thing weighs about 3lb on its own! Wednesdays will forever be the day off.

Stay tuned for further installments corset fans!

The first 12 week plan

Week 0

Breaking in- over corset 30” for 4-6 hours a day

Week 1

Mon.,Tues.,Weds. - Measure over corset 29 inches and wear for two hours; Thurs.,Fri.,Sat. - Measure over corset 29 inches and wear for four hours

Week 2

Mon.,Tues.,Weds. - Measure over corset 29 inches and wear for six hours; Thurs.,Fri.,Sat. - Measure over corset 29 inches and wear for eight hours

Week 3

Mon.,Tues.,Weds. - Measure over corset 28.5inches and wear for two hours; Thurs.,Fri.,Sat. - Measure over corset 28.5 inches and wear for four hours

4. Repeat week 1- 28.5

5. Repeat week 2- 28.5

6. Repeat week 3- 28

7. Repeat week 1-28

8. Repeat week 2- 28

9. Repeat week 3- 27.5

10. Repeat week 1- 27.5

11. Repeat week 2- 27.5

12. Repeat week 3- 27

The breaking-in period

So, after finally calming down post corset delivery, here we are....officially at the first week!
At last! Hurrah!

This week, I shall be wearing the corset loose (by loose I mean, my actual true waist size- 30") in order to break it in. This is important because if you wear it too tight, too soon, you can break or damage the material (not to mention yourself!). As this piece of corsetry needs to last for a long time, we don't want it damaged in any way!

During the breaking in period, the corset will mould to your particular shape, taking on the feel for your curves and contours as well as your body getting used to the feel of the corset.

I will be wearing it for as long as I can every day (aiming for at least 6 hours). I have bought a corset that I can wear under clothes as well as over, so I have the most versatility possible. It's also reversible, silver one side, black the other.

Next week, I shall be starting the training process. I have made a diary, so I have a realistic idea of how far/fast I can go, but I will be going slowly. I estimate it will take at least 3 months to get down 2 inches. Although, it is adaptable, so I can change it if it feels wrong.

Day 1 of breaking in

It arrived! Finally!

Will settle down and write a proper post when my heart stops racing! Eeeeeeeeeeee......the 24" waist is within sight.

In the mean time....

Still waiting for the corset delivery. Not so patiently.
I have bought a Steampunk style dressmaking pattern and am toying with the idea of making my own corsets.
I have realised that upholstery and curtains are ideal material for corsets, and have bought a couple of old tapestry/ brocade style curtains to use. (Also cheaper than buying material).....(do you remember when people used to make and knit their own clothes because it was cheaper than buying ready made?)

I'm actually quite excited about it and am picking up all the bits (eyelets, boning, cording, etc) from ebay.
The only thing I'm worried about is my sewing machine not being able to cope with it. Maybe I need specialist needles. I must investigate this further.

Oh and the shorter skirt! Can't WAIT to make that one!

Denied or delayed?

Well, this is awkward. I start a blog and within an hour I receive an email saying my corset is out of stock and will now arrive in 3-4 weeks.
Now let's not get into the disappointment I'm feeling and the run-ins I'm having with this company (let's just say, this is the second time in as many weeks I've had trouble). Let's just forget all that and say, the training will start when the corset arrives.
Thank you for your patience and know this.....your patience is probably better than mine.
I'm off to have a little cry.

The beginning

I have just purchased my first proper, heavy duty, waist training corset. 
It should arrive tomorrow. EEEEEEE, excitement!
I have been looking for a waist training diary/blog to follow, and having come up lacking (surprisingly) I have decided to start my own. So here I am.
Background story..... I am a 43 year old mother of 3. Over the last year I have lost 3 stone with Slimming World, but have found that despite looking great and feeling all slinky again, I have regained my waist at the cost of all my other curves.
Don't get me wrong! I am very happy that I'm a good, healthy weight again. I am more active, I sleep better, I feel better, I dress better etc etc. But I would dearly love to have some kind of curvature going on.
My solution is to waist train.
I've always loved corsets, but have only recently realised that they are not just for going out, special occasions and wearing OVER clothes. I am currently a size 30" waist, which is great! (I haven't had a 30" waist since before I had my children!) But I also only have a 32" chest. So the overall image is 'stick'. Not the look I am aspiring to.
My initial aim is to get to a 24" waist. I understand this is a long process. It may take me a year or more, but I'm hoping it will be worth it in the long run. I'm also hoping my posture will improve (I'm quite tall, so I have spent the majority of my life hunching).
I am prepared. I have researched waist training regimes and plans to get a guide of time/ size etc. (Harder than it looks, there isn't much free advice out there).
I have cleared my plan with my doctor.

So....here we go! The plan begins as soon as the corset arrives! 
See you all back here soon! (Hopefully!)