Dominique is a retired U.S. soldier, fashion blogger, full-time student and a busy mother of four. Losing weight has always been a struggle for Dominique, partly because "I JUST LOVE FOOD," she says. (We can all relate!) Over the years, she's tried numerous fad diets, but she couldn't maintain the discipline to make healthier food choices or limit her calorie intake. Plus, a knee injury from her time in the military made it difficult to maintain a rigorous working routine.

She tried waist training with the hope of slimming her figure in spite of these obstacles, and the results were far more dramatic than she expected. Dominique says she lost 6 inches from her waistline by sticking to a consistent waist training routine. We recently caught up with her to learn her secret.

1. Tell us a little about yourself.

I am 33 years old, a wife, a mother of four kids. I am a retired US soldier, a full-time student, and Domestic Goddess (stay-at-home mom). I am studying Political Science with future hopes of attending law school. Some of my hobbies include shopping, reading self-help books, yoga, outdoor activities with my family, cooking, and doing volunteer work. I like to volunteer at elderly homes, homeless shelters, and other charitable organizations. I’m also a huge DIYer and fashion blogger.

2. Why did you decide to try waist training?

I started waist training after the birth of my first child in 2004. I knew that long ago women would use corsets or other banding methods to reshape their bodies after childbirth…(thanks Mom!). I didn’t want to use corsets because they were a little uncomfortable, so I researched latex waist trainers and saw that I could use them to reshape my body and also lose weight in the process. So after my most recent delivery, seven months ago, I started waist training with the attempt to shrink my stomach back to size and hopefully lose a few inches.

3. What garments did you use, and why?

I started with the Classic 3-Hook latex Ann Cherry waist trainer. I started with this one because the description noted the garment was from Colombia and I know that the garments made in Colombia would be durable. After my first Ann Cherry, I purchased two more of the same kind, and I also started using the Hourglass brand. I did try the Amia and Squeem, but they are not in the same league as the Ann Cherry and Hourglass kind.

4. What were your first impressions?

The first time I tried the Ann Cherry, I could not put it on myself!!! My husband had to help me fasten the clips as I laid on the bed. It was not comfortable, but it wasn’t uncomfortable either. I felt like I wasn’t going to be able to breathe or bend over, but I quickly settled in after I noticed that after only ten minutes of wear, my core was already sweating.

5. What was your waist training routine?

I had a few waist trainers that I switched out for different routines. I would wear a waist trainer when I worked out, under clothes, or just walking around the house. I love waist trainers and they quickly became a part of my daily fashion. I started out wearing the waist trainer for six hours and then quickly progressed to 15-24 hours. I can sleep in my waist trainers now. On a typical day, I wake up, shower, use the Hourglass Amp Your Curves Waist Training Gel on my torso, and slap on my waist trainer of the day! By the time my husband is home from work, I’m done waist training. Not that wearing it around my husband would be a problem, because he likes it when I wear them for him!

6. Did the garment meet your expectations? How so?

The Ann Cherry and Hourglass garments more than exceeded my expectations. I thought of my first waist trainer as an investment in myself. I wasn’t really expecting to lose inches off of my waist, but I was hopeful. I thought waist training would be so uncomfortable based off of stories I had heard from others, but I found the best garments that were comfortable for me and stuck with them. I ended up losing six inches!

7. What were your diet and fitness habits during your waist training journey?

I tried to work out daily, but I have a knee injury from the military that was re-aggravated during crossfit and that took me out for a while. In fact, I was on crutches for a while during this experiment. Because I couldn’t work out, I was all the more determined to stick to my waist training routine. I did make healthy eating choices. That wasn’t too hard for me because I don’t like sweets (weird, right?). I munched on veggies throughout the day.

8. In the past, have you faced any challenges with weight-loss and/or fitness?

I have always been a heavy girl. Always. I’m happy with myself now, but growing up, it was brutal. I was teased by my peers and siblings. I think the insult that has stuck with me all my life was when someone told me I was so fat, I looked like a linebacker. So I literally tried every fad diet that came out, Herbalife, Metabolife, Slim Fast, Weight Watchers, Atkins, Hydroxycut... Nothing worked! The reason why none of these worked is because I JUST LOVE FOOD! (LOL!) I was never disciplined enough to make the right food choices or I just didn’t know when to stop eating. When I was wearing the waist trainer, it squeezed my midsection which made it very hard to overeat and I also felt fuller longer!

9. When did you start seeing results?

I mentioned earlier that my husband had to help me get the waist trainer fastened for the first time, but it only took about two days for me to be able to get into my trainer alone, because my midsection started shrinking after Day 1!!! No joke. I don’t want to be gross or anything, but this waist trainer is the best detox I’ve ever had! I never realized how much waste and other toxins are just sitting right there in the torso and the waist trainer clears all of that out. After four weeks, it was noticeable to everyone that I was losing weight and my curves were crazy! I was starting to achieve my hourglass figure. Now, eight weeks later, my curves are so much more defined, my stomach is tight and flatter, and I’m no longer able to fit plus size clothing. However, I still wear a size 13/14 because I can’t fit my #GAINS into a size 11.

10. Has anyone else noticed your results?

ALL of my friends have noticed my results. They all tell me that I look great and wonder how I stopped doing crossfit and still lost more weight than them! My butt receives the most compliments though. I used to be shaped like a box. Imagine Spongebob...that was me! Not anymore. People are quick to point out my “new” butt and ask if I have gotten implants. Nope! What I have found to be mind blowing is that my friends who are visibly smaller than me, weigh far less than me, but my waist is smaller than theirs! Like, how!? So definitely, when people see my waist, it’s always a conversation piece.

11. What would you say to others who are thinking about trying waist training?

Just TRY IT! Invest in yourself. You won’t regret it. Waist training is a lifestyle...not a fad. Be consistent, don’t give up...you’ll love the results!!