As a size 2, I never thought I'd need shorts with a tummy-control waistband. But a few years ago, a surgeon took about 2 feet of my large intestine out. Somehow, instead of looking lighter, I came out of the hospital with a belly so swollen I could have passed as six months pregnant.
Fortunately, I discovered a pair of top-rated shorts that promised to provide a slimming effect and a comfortable fit for my sensitive stomach, thanks to a stretchy, shaping waistband. Could these shorts give me my summer back and boost my self-esteem? I had to find out.
Ododos Tummy-Control Yoga Shorts
With a $22 price tag and almost 13,000 five-star ratings, these slimming shorts almost seemed too good to be true.
I ordered a size small and braced myself for them not to fit. Post-surgery, I had to start unbuttoning my denim shorts (which I only wear when it's too hot to wear joggers). I also stuck to low-rise bottoms with drawstrings I could let out. These shorts are the total opposite.
They have a wide, high-rise waistband
These shorts fit me so well, I could probably get away with telling people I had them tailored. The high-rise design hits just below my belly button and instead of a drawstring, the bottoms are made with an extra-wide waistband. Fortunately, they're also made out of four-way stretch fabric, so there's plenty of wiggle room if I need it.
Initially, I was worried about the wide waistband rubbing against my incision, but it wasn't a problem. If anything, they covered and protected my most vulnerable region. I've managed to wear them everywhere, from doing chores around the house to covering seven miles of rocky terrain in Montana's Beartooth Mountains.
Chafing? No. Slimming? Yes.
These shorts never caused me any chafing, even when I got them wet during stream crossings. The seams are flatlocked, so I never feel them. Clearly, whoever designed these shorts checked all the boxes — including adding pockets! There is one on each side and they're big enough to fit an iPhone (or, in my experience, a can of bear spray).
As someone who usually wears shorter shorts, I didn't think I'd be crazy about the 9-inch inseam that I accidentally ordered (these shorts are also available with a 5, 6 and 8-inch inseam). However, I now subscribe to the theory that longer shorts can be far more flattering and certainly more slimming. In black, these shorts act like an optical illusion to elongate my legs.
My swollen belly didn't last forever, but I was thankful for a pair of shorts I could rely on to comfortably get me through the day — and I still wear them to this day. They always do a fantastic job of making me feel less self-conscious and more confident.