Big Breasted Success?

I finally found a sports bra that fit, nothing special, and they still jiggle a lot (just finding one that covered the girl's completely was a chore. I did the C25K program, now I run (ok, jog fast but it's running to me) and can for over 30 minutes if I choose too. I'm also strength training with a trainer at my gym.

I've lost almost 35 lbs and very little from my chest. I do plan on a reduction some day.

I'm a 38F (yes you read that right....an F!!!!)

they are cute and have no support or they have support and look like fort knox. who wants to go to bed with fort knox tits?..

between "the girls" and my wimpy ankles, there is no running in my life. however........ i have survived. and will continue. i'm a 34/36 DD by the way

I have just been waiting for this thread! Though am actually thinking of posting a blog post on this topic as I have a LOT to say!

First off, I'll give my credentials, having lost 35 lbs I am now a 32G. In the past I have been as high as a 36G but have also been a 36/34 F, E and for a long time I thought that DD was the biggest bra I could find (screw you Victoria Secret!) I've also learned a LOT by being in contact with a specialty bra store in Ottawa, Brachic, which specializes in high quality bras for all sizes (up to N I believe).

When I started running I quickly experienced all the problems that have been expressed here, sore back, bouncing girls and pain in the sides, even though I was wearing what I thought was a decent sports bra. I thought about doubling up but that is NOT the way to go. I did some research and discovered that most of the "sports" bras at the majority of stores are rated for high level (high impact) activity for sizes A-C and "moderate" activities for anything above that. This made me really angry because, frankly, I will not allow my breasts to dictate my exercise activities!

I started doing some research and found out about the Enell Sports Bra which I have used for the last 5 years. It is a great bra, high compression, cements those girls in place and is effective for all kinds of running (I've completed 4 half marathons and a full marathon in my Enells.) The only downside to this bra is that since it has 12 hooks on the front the bottom three hooks will wear out over time which can cause some issues as that is where the bra takes most of its impact. Recently I've also been trying out the Freya Sports Bra because it is a back closure and it allows me to have 2 boobs in my running photos rather than the uni-boob caused by the Enell.

Ok that said, here are the important things to know when you are wanting to do high impact activities while sporting big breasts:

1) GET FITTED. And this goes for your regular bras too, your breasts change regularly, as I said above mine have changed sizes up and down quite a bit in the last 5 years and they are likely to continue to do so. A proper bra fitter is a LIFE saver.

2) SIZING MATTERS: double boobing, hanging over the sides, under boobage, or that "stuffed sausage" feeling is not because your breasts are too large, it's because your bra doesn't fit right. If your cups aren't the right size increasing the band size will NOT make you feel better about yourself. If you wear an underwire the centre part should sit against your breast bone, the wire on the sides should be under your arm pits, NOT up in your breast tissue (that causes chafing! ouch!) Once I admitted to myself that I am not a DD and decided to invest in properly fitting bras (because they are more expensive) my confidence went WAY up. A properly fitting bra is like a 10lb weight loss instantly.

3) KNOW WHERE YOUR SUPPORT COMES FROM: 80% of the weight of your breasts should be supported by your bra cups and back band, NOT your straps. If the weight of your boobs is entirely hanging off your shoulders your back gets sore. That's just the way of it.

4) INVEST IN A GOOD BRA: I know that specialty bras are expensive. My Enells are about $75 bucks a piece and my Freya cost the same, but it is ABSOLUTELY worth it. I have 3 Enell bras now that I have purchased over the last 5 years and my 1 Freya. That is a total investment of $300 in sports bras. However, I run on average 5 times a week, cycle a couple times a week and have used these bras to do Jiu Jitsu, hiking, weight training, and Dance Central on Kinect. (among various other activities that make the girls bounce). Exercising 5 days a week means that over the course of those 5 years my bras have cost me a whopping $0.23 per day of exercise. If you only exercise twice a week for a year a $75 bra averages out to $0.72 per day of exercise. How much do you spend in your running shoes? your gym membership? a good bra is TOTALLY worth it.

5) LEARN TO LOVE BODY GLIDE: Especially if you are going to be running with big boobs, Body Glide is your best friend. Boob chafing is a horrible experience (I have permanent scars from repeated blisters under my breasts) that can be mitigated by the proper application of Body Glide. If you're going to do the activities sometimes you have to adjust to the necessary products required to do it successfully. (also works wonders to prevent thigh rub, and blisters on the feet).

and finally

6) LOVE YOUR BIG BOOBS! While sometimes losing inches off your chest is necessary if your frame can't support the weight of your boobs (my mom had a reduction when I was 8 so I've seen this first hand) you should try everything you can before you resort to surgery. My mom was never properly fitted for her bras, never willing to invest the money in the proper sizing and support and I think if she had been she may have rethought her decision to go under the knife. Now let's be clear, I am NOT saying that reductions are never a good idea, for some people they are absolutely necessary, but this is a very painful procedure that will change you forever. While you're making the determination about what you need to do, try investing in garments that may just make you love what you have right now!



This is a photo taken from last years Westfest in Ottawa, a local festival. We were doing a parade/demonstration for the importance of wearing properly fitting bras. I've done this walk twice and it is AMAZINGLY empowering. (I'm the one right smack in the middle LOL) This was a couple months before I started here on MFP!