Exercises for Bust area

MissMollyMN

Alright, so I did something ballsy...two months ago I bought my wedding dress a size smaller than I was. I knew if I bought it to fit me then, I wouldn't have enough motivation to lose the weight and I even if I did I would just need to pay to get it fitted anyways.

GOOD NEWS is last night I tried it on for the first time since I started getting hardcore, I've lost about 12 lbs so far and it fits like a gem! The only thing is when I go to sit down it feels REALLY tight in my boobs. I know for some girls the boobs is the first place they lose, but apparently not me! I really really want to get them smaller and strengthen my back muscles as well. The dress is pretty much backless so I want to get my arms and back in the best shape possible!

I don't even think I have to lose that much more weight necessarily, just get toned! I have exactly two months...suggestions, workouts, anything is appreciated. ready...GO!

dbmata

So, why not just have them alter the bust? Otherwise, to lose in the bust, you just need to lose more fat, it will eventually come off.

To firm up though and start getting some muscles activated and hardened?

Swim, overhead press, bench press, pull ups, dips.

Just some thoughts, good job btw, and message me if you need a spotter. :laugh:

Chief_Rocka

Does not compute

MissMollyMN

Does not compute

What do you mean?

JoRocka

Bust =boobies = fat

chest = muscle

you can't work fat. Fat is just fat. muscles do the work.

So congrats on the weight loss- keep going- keep working out and keep watching what you eat. Then have it altered two weeks or so before the wedding if you still haven't lost any from your chest.

firstsip

You can't spot reduce. You can do certain strength training techniques (like bench press) to help support and lift the area, but not necessarily minimize.

Not to mention, many women lost form the bust area because breasts are composed of breast tissue AND fat; some women have more breast tissue than fat, and don't lose from the area much at all.

Chalk up the money and alter the bust--you'll look better and feel better.

MissMollyMN

You can't spot reduce. You can do certain strength training techniques (like bench press) to help support and lift the area, but not necessarily minimize.

Not to mention, many women lost form the bust area because breasts are composed of breast tissue AND fat; some women have more breast tissue than fat, and don't lose from the area much at all.

Chalk up the money and alter the bust--you'll look better and feel better.

But if it's already too small, can they really alter to make it bigger? I guess I'm not too familiar with wedding dresses and alterations, if they can do that, I definitely will! The money isn't really the issue, I just didn't think they could make it bigger only smaller.

Unknown

This content has been removed.

firstsip

You can't spot reduce. You can do certain strength training techniques (like bench press) to help support and lift the area, but not necessarily minimize.

Not to mention, many women lost form the bust area because breasts are composed of breast tissue AND fat; some women have more breast tissue than fat, and don't lose from the area much at all.

Chalk up the money and alter the bust--you'll look better and feel better.

But if it's already too small, can they really alter to make it bigger? I guess I'm not too familiar with wedding dresses and alterations, if they can do that, I definitely will! The money isn't really the issue, I just didn't think they could make it bigger only smaller.

Usually! Unfortunately, altering things larger often costs more than taking in... but again, it's your wedding dress. There ARE some dresses that a seamstress might argue can't really be let in/out more (my dress couldn't have been taken in a bit more, but would have ruined ~the integrity of the dress~ according to the woman doing my alterations), so hopefully you won't encounter that. Another option could be a minimizing bra, or at least minimizing cups (since you said your dress is backless).

VeganLexi

Wear a minimiser bra? Lose more body fat? I dunno...

Dresses can be let out if there is material available, do you know a dressmaker?

Good luck with your big day!

MissMollyMN

yeah, any exercises in that area may make the dress even tighter cause you'd be building the muscles underneath

I personally went up a cup size and down a strap size when I lost most of my weight, but now that I'm doing more chest & back exercises the strap size is going back up.

There is definitely areas that I could tone up too, specifically on my back where my bra strap cuts in.

p4ulmiller

*mutters*

There should be a law against making boobs smaller

*mutters away into the distance*

mirandajfoster

Insanity or 30 day shred I have heard they tone you up with out losing a lot of weight mainly inches

MissMollyMN

Insanity or 30 day shred I have heard they tone you up with out losing a lot of weight mainly inches

Thanks for the advice!

MissMollyMN

*mutters*

There should be a law against making boobs smaller

*mutters away into the distance*

Haha, yeah, I talked to my mom about this too and she said I might want to check with my fiance first before I start losing my boobs. lol

simsburyjet

Can you do push ups?. You will have great back and pectoral muscles,. as well as better arms and biceps.
I do not mean 10 a day I mean whenever you get a chance bang out push ups.. so 100s in a day.

firstsip

yeah, any exercises in that area may make the dress even tighter cause you'd be building the muscles underneath

I personally went up a cup size and down a strap size when I lost most of my weight, but now that I'm doing more chest & back exercises the strap size is going back up.

That's probably water retention, not actually an increase in size of muscles being built. Provided calories are still at a deficit, muscle isn't going to be getting bigger.

One of my sister's (who was very obese in high school) started lifting a few weeks before prom to get her back looking better in a strapless dress. The dress became too tight, and she has since sworn off weight-lifting as a "bulky" creation. She doesn't acknowledge the fact that she was a.) Eating an excessive amount of calories everyday and/or b.) She was dealing with water retention from starting a new workout routine only a few weeks before the event.

So, OP, that's something else to consider--changing up any routine (adding new things, or even increasing intensity/weight of anything) can and most likely will lead to water retention for a few to several weeks.

gourmetgal77

Me too in regards to the bra size - but even more of a difference - I went from a 36C to a 32DDD/34DD depending on the bra. Now that I have lost even more weight I think I need to go back for another sizing because my cup size seems to be getting too big.

yeah, any exercises in that area may make the dress even tighter cause you'd be building the muscles underneath

I personally went up a cup size and down a strap size when I lost most of my weight, but now that I'm doing more chest & back exercises the strap size is going back up.

lithezebra

So, why not just have them alter the bust? Otherwise, to lose in the bust, you just need to lose more fat, it will eventually come off.

To firm up though and start getting some muscles activated and hardened?

Swim, overhead press, bench press, pull ups, dips.

Just some thoughts, good job btw, and message me if you need a spotter. :laugh:

Unfortunately, the bust is the most difficult area to alter on a fitting dress, especially if you need to let it out. My suggestion would be to add a gusset under the arms, with the same fabric or a close match, if there isn't enough fabric in the side seams to be let out.

MissMollyMN

That's probably water retention, not actually an increase in size of muscles being built. Provided calories are still at a deficit, muscle isn't going to be getting bigger.

Agree with this, one of my friends (who is SUPER into weightlifting and is about the same size as me) said as long as I'm not feeding my muscles it is tough for women to bulk up.

tzig00

So, why not just have them alter the bust? Otherwise, to lose in the bust, you just need to lose more fat, it will eventually come off.

To firm up though and start getting some muscles activated and hardened?

Swim, overhead press, bench press, pull ups, dips.

Just some thoughts, good job btw, and message me if you need a spotter. :laugh:

Unfortunately, the bust is the most difficult area to alter on a fitting dress, especially if you need to let it out. My suggestion would be to add a gusset under the arms, with the same fabric or a close match, if there isn't enough fabric in the side seams to be let out.

Usually on wedding dresses there is an inch on both sides that can be taken out. There will more than likely have other alterations that will need to be like darts and things to make it fit just right, but I have been told when I bought my dress that they can typically let it out 2" without compromising the shape of the dress.

mariposa224

You can't spot reduce. You can do certain strength training techniques (like bench press) to help support and lift the area, but not necessarily minimize.

Not to mention, many women lost form the bust area because breasts are composed of breast tissue AND fat; some women have more breast tissue than fat, and don't lose from the area much at all.

Chalk up the money and alter the bust--you'll look better and feel better.

But if it's already too small, can they really alter to make it bigger? I guess I'm not too familiar with wedding dresses and alterations, if they can do that, I definitely will! The money isn't really the issue, I just didn't think they could make it bigger only smaller.

It depends on the dress & how much fabric is there. I bought mine in a size 8 because it fit me everywhere BUT my waist. It only needed to be let out a smidge on both sides in the waist area in order to zip up the last little bit.
Hopefully these will come out, the blurrier one was at my first appointment, when I chose the dress. You can see it didn't zip all the way. The second is after I had the alterations done, the dress zips all the way, after being let out a little on each side. They can do that with darts at the bust, etc, but, in all honesty, it depends on the dress & the amount of fabric they're working with.

MyouTakaraTriesAgain

Hope this won't double-post. The site was down the first time I tried.

Gotta admit, I'm more scared about how many women in this thread (and a few others) who don't seem to understand how bra sizing works.

If your straps are cutting in, your bra DOES NOT fit. Not that I have room to talk; I haven't bought any new bras since I lost 20 pounds (but stores don't CARRY my size...)

Shameless plug for reddit.com/r/ABraThatFits

And here's their measuring guide: http://www.reddit.com/r/ABraThatFits/wiki/measuring

Getting a properly-fitted bra might be a big help.

MissMollyMN

Hope this won't double-post. The site was down the first time I tried.

Gotta admit, I'm more scared about how many women in this thread (and a few others) who don't seem to understand how bra sizing works.

If your straps are cutting in, your bra DOES NOT fit. Not that I have room to talk; I haven't bought any new bras since I lost 20 pounds (but stores don't CARRY my size...)

Shameless plug for reddit.com/r/ABraThatFits

And here's their measuring guide: http://www.reddit.com/r/ABraThatFits/wiki/measuring

Getting a properly-fitted bra might be a big help.

I'm not even wearing a bra with my dress so I don't think that is the problem...also I get measured at VS and buy all my bras there so I'm pretty sure they fit.

JoRocka

maybe not- Vickies is not exactly known for it's high quality service on bra fitting.

MissMollyMN

maybe not- Vickies is not exactly known for it's high quality service on bra fitting.

...they aren't?

firstsip

maybe not- Vickies is not exactly known for it's high quality service on bra fitting.

...they aren't?

They're the worst. Try getting fit at Nordstrom, or doing measurements yourself and plugging them into various calculators and forums online dedicated to helping women find good fitting bras.

However, like you said, the issue was the bust of the dress... too bad that condescending poster from earlier missed the comprehension train

ash8184

Try lifting heavy and focusing on your arms/shoulders. I'm by no means an expert, but from my limited experience, working the pecs will help your chest overall, and if you work your shoulders, that might help your overall chest circumference and you may lose a few inches? Just a thought.

UrbanLotus

Hope this won't double-post. The site was down the first time I tried.

Gotta admit, I'm more scared about how many women in this thread (and a few others) who don't seem to understand how bra sizing works.

If your straps are cutting in, your bra DOES NOT fit. Not that I have room to talk; I haven't bought any new bras since I lost 20 pounds (but stores don't CARRY my size...)

Shameless plug for reddit.com/r/ABraThatFits

And here's their measuring guide: http://www.reddit.com/r/ABraThatFits/wiki/measuring

Getting a properly-fitted bra might be a big help.

I'm not even wearing a bra with my dress so I don't think that is the problem...also I get measured at VS and buy all my bras there so I'm pretty sure they fit.

Sorry but this is pretty much a guarantee that they don't fit well and are crappy bras

UrbanLotus

maybe not- Vickies is not exactly known for it's high quality service on bra fitting.

...they aren't?

No. You might as well ask a random off the street to fit you, they don't teach associates how to fit/measure, and they vanity size their crappy bras. A well fitting bra might just make the difference in your dress - get to Nordstrom or a lingerie boutique before you try altering the dress (which should be able to be done)

ETA - oops just saw you aren't wearing a bra with the dress. Well, go do this anyway, just for life in general lol. And have the dress altered.

MissMollyMN

Yeah, my bras fit fine lol I don't know how that topic got switched.

Anywhoo, thanks for the advice everyone!