(WHAS11) - You may not even know it, but some of your male friends or male co-workers could be wearing a girdle.
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More and more men are turning to tummy tucking, chest compressing, or body shaping underwear. I wanted to know more so I enlisted the services of WHAS11 News Editor Frank Stamper. He served as my 6'0'' 201 pound volunteer model. His normal waist measurement is 36''. After putting on a compression garment he waist was a dainty 34 ''.
I asked him how the nylon and lycra felt on his body. Stamper said, "It was tight, but there was no discomfort. The waistline felt great." And he said he felt like he could " . . . walk around a full day of work and nobody would probably notice you had the body shaper on."
That is probably true, but getting the tummy tucking tank top on was not easy. However, once it was on, Frank became sold on the compression concept. He asked if he could keep the garment sent to us by 'Underworks.' And I love this comment from Frank. Frank said, "I lost two inches, where can you go and in 30 seconds loose two inches?"
Well, the answer to that question has to be the internet. Dozens of websites now sell waist eliminators, chest compressors, 'mirdles', and 'manziers'. They go by several different names, but in the end they're 'girdles for guys.' Respectable publications like Time Magazine and The Wall Street Journal have written about them in recent issues. They aim to help hide the muffin top, love handles, moobs, man cans or whatever name you give to the fatty areas of your torso. And according to 'Underworks', business is very, very good. And customers are very happy. Just like Frank, who said, "You couldn't tell that you had it on. It was like you had a normal (t-shirt) on and you put your shirt on top of it. So nobody knows."
But the concept is not for everyone. We wanted to know if Louisville was ready for men in Lycra so,we brought out the contouring clothing in our newsroom and got some weird looks and comments like these from two women in the newsroom. "Can you picture a guy taking off his shirt and having this underneath?" "It's not like a tank top because as soon as he took it off everything falls out." And when we asked people to try it - at first, it didn't go well. A photographer, who will remain nameless (for now) said he would 'try it on', then later said 'maybe', then later was nowhere to be found.
However, after begging for a few more minutes we found two 'man girdle guinea pigs.' After a quick trip to the restroom, WHAS11 sports producer Kyle Brown talked about his new slimmer figure. "It feels like it takes a couple inches off. And I can feel it compressing you inside." I then asked Brown, if it is something he would wear long term? His answer, "It's inconspicuous, so that would be what would make me say I could wear it long term."
WHAS11 newscast director Dan Brindle was our last subject. Here is part of our conversation after he tried on the compression wear.
Don, "So, what do you think?"
Dan, "It's a little tight, I don't know if I could wear this to do any activity. I look better. I could wear it to work or a wedding or some place I want to look good, but it's pretty tight."
Don, "Does it feel like it is doing anything?"
Dan, "No, maybe just holding stuff in, that's all it feels like it's doing."
Don, "I think that's what is supposed to do."
Dan, "It's also feels a little heavy."
Don, "So, you're not saying you can leap tall buildings right now."
Dan, "No I feel heavier. I feel like I wouldn't be able to leap tall buildings."
He may not have felt light as a feather or as strong as Superman, but he did look slimmer. A co-worker said, "I thought he looked thinner, I thought his stomach looked smaller." Which you would think is a good thing. However, just because your girth is compressed in a girdle - don't assume less of you will impress everyone. "I personally would prefer to see the real man and not what he is hiding, " one staffer was heard saying.
If you want to buy a body shaping garment you will pay anywhere from $20 to $110 dollars. Some garments are straight up tummy tucking. Some compress your chest while others make your chest look more muscular. And some garments are high tech and help your posture and blood flow as they help you look leaner.
