Back support

A properly fitting HWLLPG (High Waist Long Leg Panty Girdle) offers excellent back support. Doctors learned long ago that a compression bandage (Ace bandage) around a sore muscle or joint makes it feel better, and the same holds true for girdles. They can be used during strenuous activity to prevent soreness, and they can be used after strenuous activity to relieve soreness, and I can personally attest to this therapeutic advantage. Also, doctors and insurance companies recommend corsets for back support, but a firm high waist girdle works nearly as well. Several readers have commented that they wouldn't dare taking a long trip without wearing a supportive girdle.

Bicycling is also very hard on a rider's back, and a smooth, firm girdle can be a big help during that activity. One of the reasons the recumbent bicycle was created was to reduce lower back issues. A girdle is a much cheaper alternative, unless the back problem is so severe that it doesn't help.

The overwhelming majority of men who have emailed me state that they wear girdles for back support.

Personal Appearance

A girdle helps a man look trimmer and makes his clothes fit better. It smoothens out those despicable love handles, and corrects Dunlop's Disease. The change in appearance can greatly enhance one's self image, self esteem, and confidence. I received these photos from a visitor in the UK. Notice the overall improvement in appearance and how much better his trousers fit. Thank you sir. Anybody else care to contribute?

It Just Feels Good

Girdle compression and support around the torso provides a wonderful, hugging feeling. Several gentlemen have emailed me the same comment: "it just feels good".

Weight Control

1. A girdle is a constant reminder to eat carefully.
2. A very firm girdle compressing a man's stomach will help him eat less at a given meal. The compression will give him a feeling of fullness sooner than he would have experienced without the girdle.
3. A girdle that starts feeling snugger than normal is a man's personal wake-up call telling him that he has recently put on a few pounds, and perhaps he should do something about it. A mere 5 pound weight gain will make a girdle feel differently than it did before the gain.

Holding Up Support Hose

One reader in Germany said he wears girdles for the specific purpose of holding up thigh high support hose. Support pantyhose was not comfortable for him, so he uses open bottom girdles with garter tabs (suspenders) to hold up the hosiery.

Hernia Compression

Richard, in the UK, wrote that he used a girdle to compress his hernia while waiting for surgery. The garment that the doctors wanted him to wear was complicated and very uncomfortable, so he switched to a good supportive panty girdle. The sad story is that the hernia operation was not completely successful; but the good news is that girdles help his condition very nicely and continue to be his support garment of choice.

Cross Dressing (CD)

Some men wear girdles just because they like to wear female garments, or like to look like women. Girdles make them feel and look feminine.

Erotica

Some men wear girdles because it makes them feel sexy or excited, and donning a girdle may cause them to have an erection. One gentlemen in New Zealand wrote that a particular lingerie shop he visits makes him wear rubber briefs before he is allowed to try on girdles in case of an "accident". He says it's difficult to don girdles over rubber briefs, but those are the rules.

What a Girdle Will Not Do

Size Reduction

If you are severely overweight, a girdle will NOT make you look three sizes smaller and it will not make you look like you've just lost 30 pounds. An adjustable corset might, but a girdle will not. However, it will pull you in somewhat and it will help smooth those love handles. I asked Sandi, at Frishman's of New York, for her opinion on this statement.

I need help with this "big man" issue please. I need to hear success or failure stories from really big gentlemen. Photos would also be extremely helpful and appreciated.

Feminine vs Manly Shape

I received an email from a reader in Australia. He wrote: "My wife would never approve of me wearing a women's girdle, but has no objections at all with me wearing a men's one. We take to view that woman's girdles are to make women more woman-shaped, and men's girdles are to make men more man-shaped, instead of 'letting it all hang out'. "

Sorry mate, I cannot concur with this concept at all. The girdle can pull in the tummy, and it can smooth out the love handles, but it cannot change the overall, basic shape of a man. The corset was designed to change body shape to a more feminine hourglass look, but the girdle stretches and does not have enough power to do that. Please notice the photos of men thoughout this site; I see no feminine shapes here. Also check out the corset sites below for additional information on body shaping. The first one explains the difference between a girdle and a corset: http://www.corsetiere.net/Spirella/problems.htm#Diff http://salc.wsu.edu/Fair_F02/FS18/Body%20Shaping/corsetry.htm The photo to the right by permission of a reader in the US.