For the Ladies - Bra Size Changes?

DarkFlutter
DarkFlutter Posts: 336 Member
in Motivation and Support
So I got fitted last night for new bras after losing almost 40 lbs.
Apparently lost 2 inches in the band size, but the cup size increased.

Went from a 44C to a 42DD. Both times measured at the same place, but by different people.

Has anyone else experienced this?


Have to admit though, I am liking the fit of the new bra so far.
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Replies

  • 126siany
    126siany Posts: 1,386 Member
    Yes. I think two things are going on:

    -First, MOST women are wearing too large a band size and too small a cup size. When most women get professionally fitted, they at least go down a band size and up a cup size. Sometime it's more drastic than that!

    -Second, I have the same issue that you do. When I first began losing weight (had about 40 to lose), my band size went down and cup size went up. My ribcage gets smaller before the girls do.

    With more weight lost and more exercise, both went down. When I lost the full 40 pds, I had gone from a 40DDD to a 34DD. At times in my life in which I've done a lot of running combined with some strength training, I've been as small as a 32DD/34D depending on the specific bra. So for me, exercise makes some difference.
  • newcomer9
    newcomer9 Posts: 38 Member
    ooo god for u. lol some people pay money for that kind of change lol. U'm I would say they've gottin firmer. Size maybe just the band, I've notice a smaller change.
  • stephcthomas
    stephcthomas Posts: 78 Member
    What most people don't know is that the cup size gets bigger by band size as well. A C cup for a 36 band is smaller than a C cup for a 38 band. Therefore it makes sense that if you haven't lost any weight from your breasts that you would need to go up cup sizes if you are going down in band sizes.
  • 126siany
    126siany Posts: 1,386 Member
    What most people don't know is that the cup size gets bigger by band size as well. A C cup for a 36 band is smaller than a C cup for a 38 band. Therefore it makes sense that if you haven't lost any weight from your breasts that you would need to go up cup sizes if you are going down in band sizes.

    Good point!
  • TXHunny84
    TXHunny84 Posts: 503 Member
    What most people don't know is that the cup size gets bigger by band size as well. A C cup for a 36 band is smaller than a C cup for a 38 band. Therefore it makes sense that if you haven't lost any weight from your breasts that you would need to go up cup sizes if you are going down in band sizes.

    REALLY!? This is news to me!! No wonder I can't find a new bra that fits! I thought I'd gone from a 36 C to a 34 B but the C seemed too roomy and the B too small(I'm literally busting out). So maybe I'm still a C afterall and I just need a 34C?... I'll have to check. Thanks for posting this!!:flowerforyou:
  • hula808
    hula808 Posts: 172 Member
    What most people don't know is that the cup size gets bigger by band size as well. A C cup for a 36 band is smaller than a C cup for a 38 band. Therefore it makes sense that if you haven't lost any weight from your breasts that you would need to go up cup sizes if you are going down in band sizes.



    Wow!I had no idea!
  • gnarlynoodle
    gnarlynoodle Posts: 99 Member
    What most people don't know is that the cup size gets bigger by band size as well. A C cup for a 36 band is smaller than a C cup for a 38 band. Therefore it makes sense that if you haven't lost any weight from your breasts that you would need to go up cup sizes if you are going down in band sizes.



    Wow!I had no idea!

    Interesting! I need to get fitted. Boobs was the first place I lost all the weight. Family and friends have no qualms about commenting on it, either. I'm not used to being small chested :(
  • DarkFlutter
    DarkFlutter Posts: 336 Member
    I highly suggest going to Lane Bryant stores for a free fitting!
    Very nice and descreet.
    They know what they are doing...can even help you find the best bra for you.
  • 126siany
    126siany Posts: 1,386 Member
    I highly suggest going to Lane Bryant stores for a free fitting!
    Very nice and descreet.
    They know what they are doing...can even help you find the best bra for you.

    IF you have a band size of 38 or higher.

    I went in there last year when I needed a 36 band size (smallest they carry). I told them what I needed, they said there wouldn't be many of those and 3 employees stood behind the desk gossiping about me while I crawled around the lingerie section on my hands and knees for 40 minutes to find the ONE bra of my size in the entire store.

    I got the message, believe me, which was don't go in there and make them feel bad by losing any weight. I'm getting livid just remembering it. I don't even shop there for friends and relatives who wear those sizes any more.
  • blackcoffeeandcherrypie
    blackcoffeeandcherrypie Posts: 486 Member
    My boobs don't change at all in size, I just get bigger or smaller round the ribs. At my thinnest I'm a 38d, at my fattest I'm a 44a. Obviously these are all the same cup size, it's just the band size changing.

    While we're on the subject it might be useful to recap how to measure your bra size. You measure round the ribcage in inches, and then add four inches if it's an even number, and five if it's an odd number. You then measure round the bust and compare it to the previous figure. One inch larger is an A cup, two inches larger is a B cup, three inches larger is a C cup, etc. Obviously if your band size goes down but your boobs remain the same, you will go up a cup size as there is now a greater difference between your boobs and your ribcage.
  • DarkFlutter
    DarkFlutter Posts: 336 Member
    I highly suggest going to Lane Bryant stores for a free fitting!
    Very nice and descreet.
    They know what they are doing...can even help you find the best bra for you.

    IF you have a band size of 38 or higher.

    I went in there last year when I needed a 36 band size (smallest they carry). I told them what I needed, they said there wouldn't be many of those and 3 employees stood behind the desk gossiping about me while I crawled around the lingerie section on my hands and knees for 40 minutes to find the ONE bra of my size in the entire store.

    I got the message, believe me, which was don't go in there and make them feel bad by losing any weight. I'm getting livid just remembering it. I don't even shop there for friends and relatives who wear those sizes any more.

    Sorry to hear you had a bad experience there.
    Every store I've been to the customer service is great. Course I am a plus size.
    They even congratulated me last night when I told them why I needed measured.
  • 126siany
    126siany Posts: 1,386 Member
    I highly suggest going to Lane Bryant stores for a free fitting!
    Very nice and descreet.
    They know what they are doing...can even help you find the best bra for you.

    IF you have a band size of 38 or higher.

    I went in there last year when I needed a 36 band size (smallest they carry). I told them what I needed, they said there wouldn't be many of those and 3 employees stood behind the desk gossiping about me while I crawled around the lingerie section on my hands and knees for 40 minutes to find the ONE bra of my size in the entire store.

    I got the message, believe me, which was don't go in there and make them feel bad by losing any weight. I'm getting livid just remembering it. I don't even shop there for friends and relatives who wear those sizes any more.

    Sorry to hear you had a bad experience there.
    Every store I've been to the customer service is great. Course I am a plus size.
    They even congratulated me last night when I told them why I needed measured.

    It probably comes down to the local employees. I don't think my Mom has ever had any trouble in her local store.

    I was caught off guard because I had re-stocked bras a few times in there when gaining and losing weight, so I was surprised when I hit persona non grata status. It's probably just that store, or maybe they were having a bad day.
  • SeaChele77
    SeaChele77 Posts: 1,103 Member
    Yep. I was a 34A, but now can fit 32B.
  • stephcthomas
    stephcthomas Posts: 78 Member
    My boobs don't change at all in size, I just get bigger or smaller round the ribs. At my thinnest I'm a 38d, at my fattest I'm a 44a. Obviously these are all the same cup size, it's just the band size changing.

    While we're on the subject it might be useful to recap how to measure your bra size. You measure round the ribcage in inches, and then add four inches if it's an even number, and five if it's an odd number. You then measure round the bust and compare it to the previous figure. One inch larger is an A cup, two inches larger is a B cup, three inches larger is a C cup, etc. Obviously if your band size goes down but your boobs remain the same, you will go up a cup size as there is now a greater difference between your boobs and your ribcage.

    YES! Great post! I actually need to do this all my bras are baggy on me right now but I'm trying to hold out until I am closer to goal weight.
  • sewerchick93
    sewerchick93 Posts: 1,438 Member
    Yup, when I started losing weight I was a 44DD, now after almost 80 lbs lost (none of which has been in the girls) I am a 36J
  • MizzTatiana
    MizzTatiana Posts: 116 Member
    Yup, went from a 34D to a 32DD. My boobs are the same size they always were, but my waist (I don't know what else to call it) just got smaller. :) I wouldn't be upset except that even though my boobs are still technically the same size it does seem like I lost some perkiness/volume. I used to work at Victoria's Secret back in the day, and recently went back to be fitted, and the woman tried to tell me that I was still a 34, but only about a B/C... uh... no! "A 34 rides up awful." I said, but I tried on a 32C, and a 32D anyway... and that didn't go well. Had a ton of boob just all hanging out over the top... :( so finally the woman had to admit, that yes, I in fact WAS a 32DD! A good push up bra in a size 32DD is a WITCH to find, and forget about shopping in the store for them... You can't find that size in a store, but even if on the rare occasion, you do, it's a granny bra... So I order mine online, and pay an arm an a leg for it, cus once you get into that DD range, they charge you an extra average of $10 or more just for that special size. Never mind that a 32DD is the same amount of fabric as a 34D.... but whatever...smh
  • MizzTatiana
    MizzTatiana Posts: 116 Member
    My boobs don't change at all in size, I just get bigger or smaller round the ribs. At my thinnest I'm a 38d, at my fattest I'm a 44a. Obviously these are all the same cup size, it's just the band size changing.

    While we're on the subject it might be useful to recap how to measure your bra size. You measure round the ribcage in inches, and then add four inches if it's an even number, and five if it's an odd number. You then measure round the bust and compare it to the previous figure. One inch larger is an A cup, two inches larger is a B cup, three inches larger is a C cup, etc. Obviously if your band size goes down but your boobs remain the same, you will go up a cup size as there is now a greater difference between your boobs and your ribcage.

    YES! Great post! I actually need to do this all my bras are baggy on me right now but I'm trying to hold out until I am closer to goal weight.
    Oh no! Don't hold out!!! Don't do that to yourself!! A good bra is ESSENTIAL!!! If your girls aren't properly supported, you're gonna hate yourself later when you are at your goal weight. What most women don't know is that the muscles that hold the breasts up are VERY thin and fragile, and once theyre gone, that's it, they're gone, you can't get repair them without surgery. Go splurge on a new bra today, PLEASE!!!
  • kittyr77
    kittyr77 Posts: 419 Member
    Yeah my boobs are the same but my ribcage is thinner.
    I was a 34gg now a 32h.
    There's a shop in UK called bravissimo and it has dozens of beautiful bras all different styles, patterns, colours etc starting at a 28 back and up to a L cup i think. My favourite shop lol!
  • MarisaLWood
    MarisaLWood Posts: 44 Member
    Yup--went from a 40D to a 34DD/32F(!)--depending on the style of the bra--with 60 pounds lost. Since the whole idea behind my losing weight was reducing the likelihood that I'd lose a breast to cancer, I guess I should have been careful what I wished for :wink: I definitely DID keep the breasts, so much so that a female co-worker noticed!

    I think whether or not you lose anything up there when you lose weight depends on how much of the breasts is fat and how much is glandular tissue. I have "dense" breasts for my age, i.e. more than 75% of what I have is glandular tissue.
  • gnat45
    gnat45 Posts: 833 Member
    I lost both band size and cup size. Went from busting out of 34DD to between 32C and 32D.
  • heatherloveslifting
    heatherloveslifting Posts: 1,428 Member


    I think whether or not you lose anything up there when you lose weight depends on how much of the breasts is fat and how much is glandular tissue. I have "dense" breasts for my age, i.e. more than 75% of what I have is glandular tissue.

    Well *kitten*! My doctor actually told me mine are dense. :( So really, nothing can be done naturally?! They are going nowhere. I want cute bras!!! Deep breath...
  • painauxraisin
    painauxraisin Posts: 299 Member
    I now have bras that I could use as bird hammocks or caps for highlighting your hair!
    It's true thou that as your band size gets smaller your cup size has to go up. Just compare a 32 c and a 38 c bra's cups! There's quite a difference.
  • MichelleLaree13
    MichelleLaree13 Posts: 865 Member
    The cup for a 32 B is the same as a 30 C and a 34 A. As the band goes up the cup decreases. It is weird.
  • maremare312
    maremare312 Posts: 1,143 Member
    Not yet enough to change sizes, but my sports bras are feeling a bit loose and things are just feeling smaller in general.
  • jensauce
    jensauce Posts: 150 Member
    this is one thing i'm NOT looking forward to...was a 32A before i gained weight, and now i'm a 34C...not excited to lose the boobs, they are fun to have =/
  • OooLaurenooO
    OooLaurenooO Posts: 227 Member
    Only lost half a stone so my difference isnt that dramatic..ive gone from 36D to 34DD. But oddly they look & feel bigger to me. :indifferent:
  • myfitnessval
    myfitnessval Posts: 687 Member
    YUP. i lost like 2-3 inches and i've gone from a 38DD to a 36DD or a 38C
  • SelenityJ
    SelenityJ Posts: 168 Member
    I've gone from a 38 D to a 40 DD. Both increased recently. I splurged on a new sports bra and it fits well under my tops and even the top half mocks a cami like undershirt so one can't tell that it's part of the bra. Although I've been losing inches everywhere else. Actually, I need to go and take my measurements again for my hips, waist, and neck... I've been so amazed at my band and cup size changing that I feel like I have a mini department store of bras from 38 C's and D's to 40 DD's!

    I'm not about to complain unless my back starts hurting.
  • birdieaz
    birdieaz Posts: 448 Member
    Yes it surprised me. I was a 36D and have been wearing a 34C, but it turns out I'm actually a 30DD or 32D. There is a bra size calculator thread on MFP and that is what prompted me to go get fitted at Nordstroms. Was so tired of my bras not fitting right.
  • HannahsReturnToFitness
    HannahsReturnToFitness Posts: 86 Member

    Apparently lost 2 inches in the band size, but the cup size increased.


    When you lose in the back size and your breasts stay about the same size, you have to go up in the cup to accommodate for them. For example a D cup is not the same size through all the back sizes. A 30D is smaller than a 38D. So, when you go down in the back, you go up in the cup :)

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