Strength Training Benefit for Women, Bigger Boobs?

mmapags
mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
edited December 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I began training my lovely wife in a basic Starting Strength routine about a month ago. To fill in a little background, she just turned 53. She was bordering on underweight at 5'5" and 110 lbs with very little muscle mass and was completly untrained. her boobs were not small but kind of deflated, for lack of a better term. And she had very little muscle development or conditioning. She also has a mild form of Multiple Sclerosis.

Since begining strength training, she has expereinced various postive changes. Her muscle structure has started to develop nicely and her arms, her back, especially lower back, her hips, her butt, her quads and hamstrings have all gotten a little bigger and more firm and defined. Same with her traps and pecs. She has also gained about 8 lbs, mostly glycogen and water I'm sure. Unlike many of us, she didn't need to lose any weight. Her nutrition was never great. It has gotten better with a little more of a focus on getting adequate protien in a day and adequately fueling her workouts as she has had a time or two of being wiped out from inadequate intake.

But the most unusualy development has been the increase in her boobs! She's gone from about a 36B to a 36 C. They are larger anf firmer overall. So, what the heck would cause that?? (not that I'm complaining LOL). Breast tissue is mostly gladular and fatty. Why would strength training suddenly cause them to get bigger? Hormonal impact? Water weight? Would glycogen play a role? I would think that would mostly be a muscle tissue thing?

Anyone expereinced anything similar? Any thoughts on the physiology behind it?

Replies

  • DelilahCat0212
    DelilahCat0212 Posts: 282 Member
    Mine seemed bigger for awhile after I started Chalean Extreme. I think it's the glycogen/water underneath the boobs in the pecs. If it's permanent, good for the both of you but I suspect it will go away as her body adjusts.
  • rmhand
    rmhand Posts: 1,067 Member
    Those pecs she was working support her boobs. She built up the muscles that support that fatty tissue.
  • FireBrand80
    FireBrand80 Posts: 378 Member
    I began training my lovely wife in a basic Starting Strength routine about a month ago. To fill in a little background, she just turned 53. She was bordering on underweight at 5'5" and 110 lbs with very little muscle mass and was completly untrained. her boobs were not small but kind of deflated, for lack of a better term. And she had very little muscle development or conditioning. She also has a mild form of Multiple Sclerosis.

    Since begining strength training, she has expereinced various postive changes. Her muscle structure has started to develop nicely and her arms, her back, especially lower back, her hips, her butt, her quads and hamstrings have all gotten a little bigger and more firm and defined. Same with her traps and pecs. She has also gained about 8 lbs, mostly glycogen and water I'm sure. Unlike many of us, she didn't need to lose any weight. Her nutrition was never great. It has gotten better with a little more of a focus on getting adequate protien in a day and adequately fueling her workouts as she has had a time or two of being wiped out from inadequate intake.

    But the most unusualy development has been the increase in her boobs! She's gone from about a 36B to a 36 C. They are larger anf firmer overall. So, what the heck would cause that?? (not that I'm complaining LOL). Breast tissue is mostly gladular and fatty. Why would strength training suddenly cause them to get bigger? Hormonal impact? Water weight? Would glycogen play a role? I would think that would mostly be a muscle tissue thing?

    Anyone expereinced anything similar? Any thoughts on the physiology behind it?
  • poedunk65
    poedunk65 Posts: 1,336 Member
    We can pnly hope all women experience that!! HAHA
  • manderson27
    manderson27 Posts: 3,510 Member
    I started out as a 38dd but when I lost the weight my boobs got smaller and started looking very droopy. I was very sad because I loved my big boobies.:sad:

    But in the last 8 weeks since lifting heavy they have "perked" up... a lot.They are certainly smaller. But actually look firmer than when I was bigger. They no longer point south when I take my bra off, amazing. I even thought the other day that I could probably go without a bra in some clothes and I have never felt that way before.

    I am assuming it is the pec muscles getting stronger and tighter pulling them up combined with less weight trying to drag them down.

    I still have a nice cleavage in a push up bra so all good for me. :bigsmile:
  • amy1612
    amy1612 Posts: 1,356 Member
    Thats pretty awesome for her. My 'chest' has gotten bigger, but its all back, and not boob much to my partners sadness.
  • harlanJEN
    harlanJEN Posts: 1,089 Member
    Hmmmmmmm.

    Breasts are indeed mostly fatty tissue ..so weight training wouldn't make the breasts themselves bigger or Pam Anderson could have saved herself A LOT of $$. : ) AND I would be in a heap of trouble !!

    Strengthening the pecs would firm up the support structure.

    Gained 8 lbs? Maybe it all went to the boobs ??
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    Hmmmmmmm.

    Gained 8 lbs? Maybe it all went to the boobs ??

    You know Jen, that's what I originally thought but would water and glycogen go to breast tissue?? I would think it would go to muscle tissue?

    I'm sure the supporting tissue in the pecs is helping them "stand to attention" better but the acutal roundness and size has gotten bigger which is the (delightfully) confounding thing.
  • CoderGal
    CoderGal Posts: 6,800 Member
    There is still hope for me hahaha. I was a 34D and went to a 28DD so technically my circumference shrunk but I lost weight.

    I've heard of increasing boobs workout but I hear they mostly shrink them lol. Its probably the muscles and water weight making them look bigger/better...

    how do you know they went up a full cup? If she got bigger in the cup her underwire would now be digging into breast tissue on the underside of her knockers :p
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    There is still hope for me hahaha. I was a 34D and went to a 28DD so technically my circumference shrunk but I lost weight.

    I've heard of increasing boobs workout but I hear they mostly shrink them lol. Its probably the muscles and water weight making them look bigger/better...

    how do you know they went up a full cup? If she got bigger in the cup her underwire would now be digging into breast tissue on the underside of her knockers :p

    she doesn't typically wear an underwire but they are flowing over the the top and sides a little. I don't really know if it's a cup though. Just making a guesstimation.
  • invisibubble
    invisibubble Posts: 662 Member
    Wish this'd happen to me. I've deflated from like a 46D to a 34B.
  • blonde71
    blonde71 Posts: 955 Member
    Mine have perked up a bit and are a lot firmer. But if you talk to my hubby, he swears up and down that they are bigger BUT that's not what my bra is saying, lol.
  • mogletdeluxe
    mogletdeluxe Posts: 623 Member
    Congratulations to your wife :)

    I've lost weight, and whilst my gazungas aren't the epic sight they used to be, they're still half-decent and considering the amount they shrunk by they're not around my knees. I swear that this is because of lifting; I think my pecs are supporting them nicely! So even if it's not a size thing, boobs can appear to be firmer/fuller, sure!
  • shabaity
    shabaity Posts: 792 Member
    i have never in my life lost or gained cleavage via weight changes or exercises etc and I'm annoyingly well endowed to the point that without my past in marching band my doc worries that i would have spinal damage at this point so i wish her luck with that and wish i would actually lose some
  • harlanJEN
    harlanJEN Posts: 1,089 Member
    Wish this'd happen to me. I've deflated from like a 46D to a 34B.


    I've said it before ...it all depends on the person. Some folks have large(er) breasts because they are carrying extra weight overall. therefore, when lose weight, makes sense most of the boobs are going too. Some folks just have big breasts due to their genetic makeup. Those folks tend to retain breast size even with weight loss. Some folks are a combo.,I've grossly oversimplified this I'm sure : )

    ME? to quote a friend of mine : " Jen, no matter what ...you are gonna always have 50 lbs of tits". Wellll, maybe not 50, but yea. 52 lbs ago I was 44DD. 38DD at the moment. In the end, I expect I will settle in at 36DD. Strong pecs? I'm banking on those to provide me with added support now and in the future. So ...when you hear about my benching 150 ...it's all about giving the sisters a helping hand! Lol

    MICHAEL ! darn you for starting this thread ! Lol
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    Wish this'd happen to me. I've deflated from like a 46D to a 34B.


    I've said it before ...it all depends on the person. Some folks have large(er) breasts because they are carrying extra weight overall. therefore, when lose weight, makes sense most of the boobs are going too. Some folks just have big breasts due to their genetic makeup. Those folks tend to retain breast size even with weight loss. Some folks are a combo.,I've grossly oversimplified this I'm sure : )

    ME? to quote a friend of mine : " Jen, no matter what ...you are gonna always have 50 lbs of tits". Wellll, maybe not 50, but yea. 52 lbs ago I was 44DD. 38DD at the moment. In the end, I expect I will settle in at 36DD. Strong pecs? I'm banking on those to provide me with added support now and in the future. So ...when you hear about my benching 150 ...it's all about giving the sisters a helping hand! Lol

    MICHAEL ! darn you for starting this thread ! Lol

    LOL!! But I still have my orignial question. Does anyone know why this is happening?? What the physiology of it may be? No complaining mind you. Just want to understand because on the surface it doesn't seem to make sense.
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    Bump! Still looking for an plausible thoughts on the physiology of this phenomena.
  • CoderGal
    CoderGal Posts: 6,800 Member
    Bump! Still looking for an plausible thoughts on the physiology of this phenomena.

    She's pregnant :laugh:
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    Bump! Still looking for an plausible thoughts on the physiology of this phenomena.

    She's pregnant :laugh:

    At 53, menopausal and not having had a period in 18 months I guessing not. By not from lack of pratice on my part! LOL
  • MustangGirl05
    MustangGirl05 Posts: 17
    Congrats to Her!! I went from a 40C to a 32A , wasn't aware that was possible, will ask my Trainer about this & see if it helps me, Ha! Thanks!! 8)
  • melissaw78
    melissaw78 Posts: 214 Member
    I don't know any of the science to this, but I have gone from a 36C to a 36D. I can only speculate that I am improving the shape of, um, everything in the surrounding area. I thought at first it was kind of just optical illusion, because I am losing some fat in my midsection and upper body to a lesser extent, but this phenomenon is happening to me too.
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    I noticed mine look better now that I have some pecs starting to happen. Still little'uns, but you can't see the ribs between them anymore.

    I've been strength training for a year, but only in the past month have I started using free weights.
  • rocksyraeis
    rocksyraeis Posts: 194
    I don't know any of the science to this, but I have gone from a 36C to a 36D. I can only speculate that I am improving the shape of, um, everything in the surrounding area. I thought at first it was kind of just optical illusion, because I am losing some fat in my midsection and upper body to a lesser extent, but this phenomenon is happening to me too.

    Yay hope
  • dixiewhiskey
    dixiewhiskey Posts: 3,333 Member
    I don't know.. I've had two different experiences. When I first started working out after having my first child, I went down a band size but remained a B. When I lost a lot of weight after working as a backroom manager, my breasts actually went up a full cup. Boy was I happy!!

    This time around, I didn't take measurements but my 36C bras still fit.. I lost over 13" in the last 11 days since doing the Shred so I'm crossing my fingers that my breasts stay fabulous
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