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Any women here who have successfully whittled the waist? Specifically, the sides of the waist?
Over the years I've read conflicting reports about whether that can be done. Some say yes. Others say exercising the waist area increases those muscles, which enlarges the waist. I've observed many female athletes over the years...for the most part, they have thick waists. Some have a waist width that about equals their hip width visually from the front. OTOH, I've noticed that dancers, who certainly use their entire bodies, often have small waists.
I've also read that women's waists tend to enlarge as they age, due to loss of muscle. I'm in my 60s. My weight for my measurements is less than when I was in my 20s, but my waist is about an inch thicker.
Any thoughts on this? Health and increasing muscle are my first concerns, but if I could get an inch off my waist with a few exercises, I'd like to do that.
I suppose those are the obliques. Not the abs, not the lower back. The sides. The obliques actually stretch from sides to front, so...not sure. When you bend at the waist to the side and touch your calf....that area where you bend. That is one of the exercises for sides of waist.
Exercises won't really do it. Almost everyone's waist thickens somewhat with advanced age. But I have noticed that those who eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly and moderately have better, more proportionate physiques. I have noticed this in myself as well. Eliminate sugars and processed foods, especially starches, and do regular exercise such as walking, dancing, biking etc. with a little bit of weight training. As you pointed out, the women who are heavy into weight training have less waist definition due to overall muscle. Dancing and walking are great exercises.
I suppose those are the obliques. Not the abs, not the lower back. The sides. The obliques actually stretch from sides to front, so...not sure. When you bend at the waist to the side and touch your calf....that area where you bend. That is one of the exercises for sides of waist.
Yup..those are the obliques.
Here's a site I use with some exercises for the abs/obliques:
Thanks for all your responses. It doesn't appear that anyone who saw this post has successfully whittled the waist. I read lots of suggestions in various sources, but never have seen/read that someone has actually decreased the waist. So I'm guessing it can't be done, except for losing fat (which affects all areas of the body, but in some may come off the waist more than other areas).
The only thing I've seen where people can whittle the waist is a waist trainer. The results are temporary, not to mention uncomfortable. I'm not sure that's healthy, either...constricting the body that way.
I was just curious if someone had actually succeeded in doing that.
Thanks for all your responses. It doesn't appear that anyone who saw this post has successfully whittled the waist. I read lots of suggestions in various sources, but never have seen/read that someone has actually decreased the waist. So I'm guessing it can't be done, except for losing fat (which affects all areas of the body, but in some may come off the waist more than other areas).
The only thing I've seen where people can whittle the waist is a waist trainer. The results are temporary, not to mention uncomfortable. I'm not sure that's healthy, either...constricting the body that way.
I was just curious if someone had actually succeeded in doing that.
I think the best you can do is firm up those muscles which helps to avoid "muffin top" look.
If you overwork them though (body building type strength exercises with heavy weights) your waist can widen due to bigger muscle mass.
Thanks for all your responses. It doesn't appear that anyone who saw this post has successfully whittled the waist. I read lots of suggestions in various sources, but never have seen/read that someone has actually decreased the waist. So I'm guessing it can't be done, except for losing fat (which affects all areas of the body, but in some may come off the waist more than other areas).
The only thing I've seen where people can whittle the waist is a waist trainer. The results are temporary, not to mention uncomfortable. I'm not sure that's healthy, either...constricting the body that way.
I was just curious if someone had actually succeeded in doing that.
I think you're right, this requires losing fat.
Maybe look up exercises for reducing "love handles". Couldn't hurt to try these.
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