Dieting alone does not reliably result in weight loss. For some it's because it's very difficult to stick to a strict diet. I find that the simplest way to keep a diet is to eat when you're hungry. I can't stand being hungry. I may eat five or six times in one day. And there's nothing wrong with that. It's all portion control and smart nutrition. There are some foods it's better to avoid, but to be honest I don't feel as though I've sacrificed much in my quest for a smaller waist. I have realized one thing. To keep the weight off, and have the maximum amount of comfort and progress as a tight lacer, you can't think of it as a diet. It's just the way I live now. I'll never go back to the traditional ‘3 square meals a day ' way of eating.
There is a theory, that wearing a tight corset is like an external gastric band. People think I'm wearing it solely to limit my food intake or some such nonsense. It's entirely possible that you will feel full sooner while wearing your corset than you would otherwise. In my opinion, eating past the point that we are full is one activity that leads to a lot of excess weight gain. Yes, I love food and it is delicious. It will taste just as good a few hours later, so I'll put the extra away and stop stuffing myself. That was my mantra for the first month of tight lacing. It's much easier to do so now. The corset may help but it's also your will power and desire to be fit.
It is also important to drink eight glasses of water a day. Many people say this, and I agree, for so many reasons. Hunger can often be thirst in disguise. If you feel hungry and you've just eaten, drink a glass of water and wait before eating again. When starting on a new diet, if you had previously been less than properly hydrated, begin drinking eight glasses of water daily. Within a week you will find that you've lost weight. This can be very encouraging. Not to mention how your skin will improve when you are properly hydrated. When waist training, drinking a lot of fluids will minimize cramps and gas, making you more comfortable in your corset as well.
I would recommend that you avoid carbonated drinks, all sodas and pop included. Not only are they empty calories, even the diet ones will eventually cause problems. As your waist becomes smaller with successful tight lacing, there will be less room for the bubbles. This can lead to gas and cramps. You'll look fab in your corset, you don't want to ruin it with a loud belch. For those of us who love soda, this may be tough. I drink more tea now, tea counts as water in my book.
A tight lacer’s diet should only minimally contain foods that take a long time to digest, like red meats. I am very fond of steak, so that was a tough one for me. Also minimize foods that expand in your stomach when water is introduced, like rice and pasta. Growing up, I ate rice everyday. It's part of my culture. I do substitute vegetables for rice a lot more now. That may have contributed to my speedy progress in waist training. You can still waist train without changing your diet, but I feel that for optimal results, dieting and tight lacing go hand in hand.
Rather than focus purely on the foods you can't have, I'll discuss the wide variety of healthy foods that should be part of anyone's diet. My diet consists of plenty of salads, vegetables & fruits, cheese, protein, poultry, fish & other seafood, whole grain bread & other high fiber foods, and chocolate. Happiness is a very important part of a successful diet. For me, chocolate = happiness. Your happiness may vary, of course. Here is a typical day's worth of meals and snacks. Water is consumed throughout.
Early morning: large espresso flavored protein shake
Mid morning: oatmeal with fruit and nuts
Brunch: cup of soup & crackers
Afternoon: salad (my favorite is antipasto: lettuce, tomato, cucumber, black olives, artichoke hearts & mozzarella with Italian dressing)
Late Afternoon: large fruit smoothie (the JJ special: mango puree with frozen pineapples, strawberries, peaches, blueberries and nonfat vanilla yogurt)
Evening: Supper is the one meal I share with others, so it may contain things that a tightlacer might like to otherwise avoid. In moderation it is fine. I recently made a filet mignon with mushroom risotto and roasted zucchini and squash. My plate differed from those of my family. They are not dieting so they received large servings of the risotto, which contains rice. I had more roasted vegetables. Since the cut of meat I used is small by nature, I had a regular serving of it.
Sneaky Late Night Snack: Even if your dinner was filling, sometimes you have that irresistible compulsion to peer into your refrigerator hours later, looking for something to snack on. This is when you can either blow your calorie count to smithereens, or keep it in check. I bought a box of chocolate flavored Fiber One bars just for these moments. I do not actually count calories, but if I did I quietly take pleasure in the fact that my daily intake would be within respectable parameters. I don't believe in the myth that if you eat after a certain time whatever you eat is destined to become cellulite or fat, and cling to your hips or thighs for the rest of your days. I eat when I'm hungry, and that's that.
Next time, we'll discuss the tight lacer’s exercise regimen. When combined with regular tight lacing and a sensible diet, it can produce amazing results. If you have any questions or suggestions, please send them to nytightlacer@gmail.com
