What woman wouldn’t want to drop three dress sizes in a flash?

Tannel Lambe knows the secret.

It’s not a diet, but a garment called the Ardyss Body Magic Shaper. It’s an all-over body sleeve that helps to tuck in the stomach, pull up the bum and stick the breasts out in a more flattering way.

“It visually takes off about 15-20lbs, depending on your body structure,” she said. “It gives you a more defined curve and slims your rough edges out.”

The 38-year-old has struggled with her weight throughout her life. At one point she weighed almost 400lbs.

But now, when she walks down the street people remark on how good she looks.

“They are amazed and they say, ‘Hey what are you doing with yourself?’”

Sometimes she pulls up her shirt to show them the body sleeve.

If it’s cheating, she doesn’t care.

“Women wear make-up to enhance themselves,” she said. “We wear bras. What’s the difference?”

She’s also lost some weight.

“I was working in retail for years and I often didn’t have time to eat right,” she said. “I was eating late at night. I also think we tend to eat a lot of processed food. I am trying to eat better food now.”

A change in job also helped boost her fitness level. Ms Lambe now works at a day care — a workout in and of itself.

She’s lost about 25lbs in about eight months and had to switch to a smaller Ardyss Shaper.

“It’s still a work in progress,” she said. “I’m getting there.”

She’s so happy with her own results that she partnered with a group of women to sell Ardyss Shapers to other people here. Ms Lambe also went into business with a friend, Chalyce Zuill. The pair host parties where they sell the Shaper, slimming jeans, nutrition shakes and other weight loss products.

“Their attitude and demeanour changes as soon as they put it on,” Ms Lambe said. “I find it very satisfying when they just get this big smile on their faces. They just beam. They stand a little taller. They walk a little prouder.”

She said a lot of plus-size women are judged because of their weight.

“I used to worry about it more when I was younger,” she said. “Not so much anymore, although sometimes you do wonder if you were passed up for a job because of your weight or overlooked for something because of it. I’m healthy. I don’t have diabetes or any other weight-related issue. Sometimes if you go to a fast- food place people give you a look that says ‘Shouldn’t you be ordering a salad?’”

One of her frustrations is that not enough stores in Bermuda sell plus-size clothing, and those that do can be a bit pricey, or the clothing seems to be for older people.

Her business is still in the fledgling stage, but she’s already worked with a range of ages — teenagers to women in their 50s. Most of her clients just want to look and feel better about themselves.

She admitted the Ardyss Shaper isn’t for everyone.

“I will experience my first summer in it this year,” she said. “You have to get used to the confinement. At first, it is a bit tight. It is made out of a spandex material. Eventually, it just becomes like wearing underwear. Now, I feel naked without it.”

Each garment costs $175.

Her ultimate goal is to become a health coach, and she has just started an online degree programme.

“In the last two years I have really started pushing for my goals,” she said. “I need more revenue as I have two children, and I also want to be happy with what I do. I love helping people and making them happy.”